Just like physical health, mental health is important and should be taken care of. Mental health is considered good when can feel, think, and react in ways you need. However, poor mental health is when you find it difficult to manage how you feel, think, and act to your daily stressors.
Many people have poor mental health from time to time – and that doesn’t mean they are mentally ill. Mental illness is when you have ongoing poor mental health affecting your physical, mental, and social well-being.
Whether you have poor mental health or mental illness, a psychiatrist can help you. Let’s talk about who psychiatrist is, how they are your mental health knight, and where you can find the best psychiatrist in Richmond, VA.
Who Is a Psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses. They can prescribe medications to treat mental health issues as they hold a medical degree and are trained in psychiatry.
Like any other physician, your psychiatrist may also perform physical exams and order diagnostic tests. They are more skilled in the doctor-patient relationship and use psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, and other therapeutic communication techniques to diagnose and monitor mental health problems.
The American Psychiatric Association issued the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) that directs psychiatrists.
How Does a Psychiatrist Take Care of Your Medical Health?
Following are some of the ways by which a psychiatrist takes care of your mental health.
They Diagnose and Treat Your Mental Illnesses
Over 200 types of mental illnesses can affect how you handle stress, relate to other people around you, and make healthy choices. Some of the main types of mental illnesses your psychiatrist can diagnose and treat include:
- Bipolar and related disorders
- Depressive disorders
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder
- Anxiety
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Sleep disorder
- Personality disorder
- Eating disorder
These mental disorders exhibit a wide range of clinically identifiable symptoms that your psychiatrist can pinpoint. Depending on the symptoms, they may recommend some lab tests and use psychological evaluation to find the right diagnosis.
Once a mental illness is diagnosed, a psychiatrist treats it using medications, psychotherapy, and/or other treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or electric convulsive treatment.
They Identify Your Roadblocks to Good Health
Not only does a psychiatrist identify and treat your illnesses, but they also pinpoint obstacles to your optimal health and happiness. These obstacles may include stress, perfectionism, and procrastination which can severely impact your relationships, healthy functions, and performance at the workplace.
Once your roadblock to a healthier and happier life is identified, your psychiatrist teaches you some ways to remove these roadblocks. They encourage you to look at your choices and develop ways to positively change your life, such as identifying stressors, situations, behaviors, thoughts, and social issues and developing coping strategies to manage your health and well-beingbetter.
Psychiatrist in Richmond, VA
If you or your loved one have a mental health concern, contact our licensed psychiatrist at EPIC Health Partners for thorough assessment and personalized treatment. Our mental health providers offer a comprehensive range of mental health services, including psychiatrist services, mental health skill building, outpatient therapy, addiction recovery and treatment services (ARTS), intensive in-home services, and comprehensive crisis services, to help you feel better.
If you would like to know more about our services or make an appointment, contact our staff today at (434) 835-4601 or fill out this secure request an Appointment online form.
