Seeing a psychiatrist for the first time can feel really stressful, especially if you’re not sure what to expect or had bad experiences seeing psychiatrists in the past. It’s quite common for patients to feel really nervous seeing a doctor (White Coat Syndrome, for example), so I can imagine how much more anxiety-inducing it would feel to see a psychiatrist, especially since more personal questions about your history are likely to come up. After the first appointment, my new patients often tell me how anxious they were leading up to the appointment and how long they’ve been putting off seeing a psychiatrist out of fear.
Your mental health is extremely important, so I hope that anxiety won’t get in the way of you receiving the treatment and support that you deserve. Knowing what to expect during your first appointment might alleviate some of this stress, so check out the article I wrote for Healthline HERE on things to know before attending your first psychiatry appointment!
