Title: Talking to Your Doctor About Your Mental Health - familydoctor.org
Headings: Talking to Your Doctor About Your Mental Health
Talking to Your Doctor About Your Mental Health
Do I need to see a doctor?
What will my doctor do for me?
Path to improved health
Things to consider
Questions to ask your doctor
Resources

Content: It can be hard to open up about your feelings, especially with someone you don’t know very well. But your doctor is trained to deal with sensitive issues. They will be supportive and professional, and you won’t tell them anything they haven’t heard before. Refer to your notes. It’s common to forget half of what you were going to say once you get in the doctor’s office. That’s why it’s important to write things down beforehand. If you use the notes you’ve prepared ahead of time, you won’t have to worry about forgetting important details. Understand the diagnosis process. There is no simple blood test or scan that can tell you if you have depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or another mental illness. Sometimes it can be challenging for your doctor to be able to name the specific condition you have.