Getting Medical Treatment

Talking With Your Doctor

Even your closest friends or family members might not completely understand your condition. Your doctor can help you here by explaining the course of treatment you've worked out together, as well as giving friends or family members some additional insight into the nature of your medical condition.

Your doctor can also explain to your family and friends how they can help you as you recover, as well as how they can be active support partners over the course of treatment (see Talking With Family and Friends).

Remember, with your permission, your doctor will tell your family or friends only what they need to know to understand the course of therapy you're on. Your doctor is your partner in managing your condition and will keep your confidential information just between the two of you.

Talking With Your Doctor About Medications

Here are some questions to ask your doctor to ensure you are getting the most from your medications:

- What are the brand and generic names of the medicine? 
- How does it work? 
- How soon should I expect results? 
- How and when should I take the medicine? How much should I take and for how long? 
- How long do I need to keep taking the medication after I start feeling better? 
- Are there any foods, drinks or activities I should avoid while taking the  medication? 
- What should I do if I miss a dose? 
-What side effects can I expect and how long do they last? What should I do if I have these side effects? 


How Can Medications Help?

Medicines don't work the same for everyone. If you don't notice an improvement in the way you feel or if you begin to feel worse, talk with your doctor. Your doctor can change the dosage of the medicine you take or might give you a different medicine to try. It's important that you do not stop taking your medicine without first talking with your doctor. Doing so could make your symptoms worse and could cause complications in some people. Some people suffer relapses when they go off their medications before their doctors say they should.

It is also important for you to keep your doctor informed about what other drugs or medications (including alcohol) you are taking.

Therapy

A skilled therapist can listen, encourage and support you as well as monitor your progress. He or she can provide understanding, feedback, advice, information and education. Therapy offers a supportive, one-on-one relationship and can help you develop an action plan for putting yourself back in control of your life and your emotions.

What Do I Need To Know If I'm In therapy?

Three types of therapy are:

Cognitive therapy: Cognitive therapy helps you identify and change pessimistic ways of thinking and viewing the world. A therapist can help you learn to recognize this feeling as well as help you to identify the situations that bring these thoughts and learn to see them in a more positive and realistic way.

Behavioral therapy: The focus in behavioral therapy is on changing the current behaviors. It uses techniques such as scheduling, self-control therapy, social skills training and problem solving.

Interpersonal therapy: This type of therapy helps you deal with conflicts you have with other people -- your partner, boss, friends or family. It aims to resolve conflicts, improve social skills and help you become more involved and in touch with others in positive ways.

Choosing A therapist

The first question in choosing the right therapist is, "Where do I find a good therapist?". In smaller communities, it should be relatively easy to find three or four therapists who have established good reputations. In larger cities, there will likely be a larger selection, and narrowing the field can be more difficult. When you choose any specialist, ask for referrals from people you know and trust. Here are some people who can give you referrals:

Your doctor: Ask your doctor or other healthcare provider for names of therapists he or she respects.

Friends: Talk with friends whose opinion you value and ask them for referrals.

Co-workers: Colleagues at work could know some good health professionals. If your company has an Employee Assistance Program, your representative should be able to offer referrals.

What Is Important To You?

The fit between you and your therapist is important. To have a good fit, you need to figure out what traits you think are important for a therapist to have.

Doing A Phone Interview

Once you have found a few names and know what is important to you, you need to do a little more research. You can gather much of this information in a brief, initial phone conversation with the therapist. Most therapists are willing to spend a few minutes on the phone discussing your problem and their practice. During this time, you can get some impressions about whether this is someone with whom you could work:

Fees and hours: Find out how the therapist works and about the fees. Some therapists offer a "sliding scale," which means the cost for an appointment is based on your income. If you have limited times you could meet with a therapist, you might want to ask about the office hours. Ask: How often do you like to see people like me? What are your fees? Do you take insurance? Is there a sliding fee scale?

Impressions: Check your impressions against your "What Is Important?" checklist. Ask yourself: Does this therapist seem to understand me? Do I feel a sense of confidence and hopefulness from this therapist?

Make the first appointment: Re-evaluate based on your first experience with the therapist. Some people might find it useful to decide in advance that they won't make an appointment during the initial call, but only after they've had a chance to think about the call and make comparisons among potential therapists.