Svetlana Haivoronska, Psychologist for children, adolescents, and adults, Psychotherapist

The first consultation with a psychiatrist helps to build a full picture of your state and to understand what type of help is appropriate.

To prepare for the consultation, it is worth making a short list in advance: what exactly is troubling you, when the symptoms started, and how they affect sleep, appetite, work, studies, or relationships. If you have discharge notes, test results, or a list of medications/supplements you take, bring them to the visit or prepare them for an online consultation.

It is also useful to write down your questions in advance, for example about possible diagnosis, treatment options, side effects of medications, and next steps.

It is worth seeing a psychiatrist if anxiety, low mood, sharp mood swings, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, sleep or appetite disturbances persist for more than 2 weeks and interfere with your daily life, while symptoms are getting worse.

You should also get in touch if you notice paranoia, hallucinations, a feeling of losing control, thoughts about harming yourself, or recurring thoughts of not wanting to live.

Consulting a psychiatrist does not mean the situation has to be severe. Early help often makes it possible to identify the causes faster, create a safe support plan and avoid a worsening of symptoms.

During the first visit, the psychiatrist will carefully listen to your complaints, ask clarifying questions about the history of the condition, lifestyle, previous treatment and possible risk factors.

This is done to understand the situation more accurately, not to judge you as a patient. After the consultation you will receive a preliminary explanation of your state and practical recommendations for next steps, which can include additional diagnostics, psychotherapy, medication, or monitoring. The treatment format is selected individually.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with higher medical education who diagnoses and treats mental disorders and prescribes psychiatric medication when needed.

The psychiatrist can assess your state, establish or clarify a diagnosis, and choose a treatment plan, including medication. A psychologist usually works with emotional distress, behavior, and emotional processing without prescribing medicines. A psychotherapist provides structured therapy using appropriate psychotherapeutic methods.

If you are not sure whether you need a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, the clinic administrator can help you choose the right specialist based on your request.

One of the common myths is that a visit to a psychiatrist automatically means hospitalization, registration, or losing control over treatment.

In reality, the first step is a conversation and clinical assessment. Treatment options are discussed with the patient, and all information about the consultation is confidential. You can consult a psychiatrist not only in crisis situations but also as soon as symptoms appear.