When you're experiencing declines in your mental health, you can't simply push away negative symptoms and hope for the best. These types of symptoms won't go away on their own; external interventions are needed to properly remedy and address mental health concerns. By seeking outpatient psychiatric treatment in Colorado, you can receive an accurate diagnosis of your mental health and get the care you need to alleviate symptoms.
But how do you start the process? And what should you expect from your psychiatric treatments? Let's dive into these questions and others together.
When to Seek Out Psychiatric Services
Because mental health is unique for everyone, it can be tough to know when you should seek out diagnosis and treatment. From one day to the next, you may experience some troubling mental health concerns, and these usually disappear within a few days for many people. However, when those symptoms become more frequent and disruptive in everyday life, you may need some psychiatric support. If you experience some of the following key signs and symptoms, it's time to contact a psychiatric professional for diagnosis:
- Persistent and intense emotions (e.g., overwhelming feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, or others, etc.)
- Difficulty functioning in daily activities (e.g., trouble with work or school, relationships, self-care, etc.)
- Changes in sleep patterns (e.g., insomnia, consistently oversleeping, etc.)
- Changes in appetite and weight
- Concerning changes in thought or behavioral patterns (e.g., thoughts of self-harm or suicide, feeling unable to get up in the morning, etc.)
Diagnosis Before Treatment
A proper diagnosis is the first step in receiving an effective psychiatric treatment to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Psychiatric professionals are the only mental health experts who are qualified to accurately diagnose individuals; you cannot receive an official diagnosis from other professionals in the mental health field. Before you can get started with any outpatient psychiatric treatment in Colorado, you'll need to meet one-on-one with your psychiatric professional to conduct a thorough evaluation of your mental health history, symptoms, and any other relevant factors.
The length and logistics of this evaluation will vary from one provider to the next, and by the patient too. Some providers may only schedule 30 minutes for this evaluation, and others may take a deeper dive into your familial history as well. At Larson Mental Health, we always schedule 90 minutes for new patient evaluations to give our team the chance to ask an abundance of questions, fully understand your unique circumstances, and begin developing a strong relationship with each patient.
Before making an official diagnosis, your provider may schedule additional evaluations or mental health assessments to ensure the accuracy of your diagnosis. For instance, at Larson Mental Health, we ask all patients with focus-related difficulties to take an FDA-approved assessment called the QbCheck. This evaluation provides an accurate, standardized, and objective measurement of ADHD-related symptoms, which greatly supports our staff during the diagnosis stage.
Your Options for Psychiatric Treatments
Once an official diagnosis is made, your psychiatric provider at Larson Mental Health will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. You'll discuss the details of your assessments, all possible contributing causes for your symptoms, and the treatment options we believe will be most reliable for improved mental health. In most cases, your plan will integrate one, some, or all the following treatments:
- Prescription medications - From stimulants like methylphenidate to mood stabilizers like Divalproex, your provider can determine the ideal prescription medicines at the appropriate dosages for you to reduce and improve mental health symptoms.
- Psychotherapy - By pursuing treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with medication management, you can talk through and process the deep-rooted issues that are negatively impacting your mental wellness.
- Complementary Therapies - Many alternative treatments like electrical stimulation or neurofeedback can be great supplemental therapies to add to your treatment plan. Even small lifestyle changes like yoga, meditation, or dietary supplements can work wonders for your mental health.
You'll work closely with your psychiatric expert to determine the ideal mental wellness treatment plan for you. Over time, you'll schedule 30-50-minute check-in appointments with your psychiatric professional. These check-ins are to make sure you're making good progress and to refine, adjust, and improve your personalized treatment plan to encourage more optimal outcomes.
Get Started with Your Psychiatric Treatment in Colorado
Has your mental health taken a hit recently? Do you struggle to balance the responsibilities of everyday life with recurring symptoms? Whatever the case may be, our psychiatric experts at Larson Mental Health can help you find the path toward improving mental well-being. We specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide array of mental health conditions and disorders, and we provide a warm, welcoming, and friendly approach to treatment.
Contact our team of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) today to get started. Or just schedule your appointment online on your own and you'll be on the right track for your psychiatric treatment in Colorado.