Mental Health Series - TIPS FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR PSYCHIATRIST

The following recommendations can make the experience with your psychiatrist more helpful and satisfying:

1.- Remember to verify with your insurance that your provider is in network or if you need a referral from your PCP, before you schedule your appointment.

2.- The day of your first appointment make sure you have directions and try to get there 15 to 20 minutes early to fill out new patient paperwork.

3.- Be always on time for your appointments. Your therapy time is very important, and every minute counts.

4.- Remember to take with your photo ID and health insurance card with you the day of your appointment.

5.- Write a list including all the prescriptions or over the counter medications, herbs, vitamins or  supplements that you are currently taking and any medication allergies.

6.- Make sure your records from previous providers are sent before your appointment, that way your Psychiatrist can review them beforehand and have a better idea of your history.

7.- If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment call 24-48 hours in advance. Same as your time, your provider time is also important.

8.- Write down all your symptoms and for how long you have had them. And all the questions you want to ask your doctor as well.

9.- If you don’t understand something, ASK. Your provider will clarify the information for you.

10.- Remember to make your follow up appointments at the end of your visit and get an appointment card with the date and time, as well as the recommendations provided during the current visit all  written so you won’t forget.

11.- Don't worry. Your provider is there for you. Use your time wisely by asking important questions and paying attention. If you don't understand ask your provider to repeat or explain in a way that helps you understand. It might be helpful to bring along a notebook and pen to write down everything said so that you don't have to try and recall from memory.

Do you have tips that can help others? Please list them in the comments below. Thanks!

Maintaining a Positive Attitude

People are always telling me I have a great attitude. I mostly shrug it off and say, "I'd rather have a positive attitude than deal with the opposite."

The more I think about it, the more I have realized that I really do have a really good positive attitude about life in general.

Right now, I'm going through some serious stressors.

• One of my dearest friends died last week. I'm attending his services this weekend.
• My mother-in-law went through a series of strokes and is hospitalized. 
• I'm trying very hard to get a handle on my new business, Succeed at Writing, and learning how to market, gain clients, and create services.
• I have suffered with TMJ/TMD pain issues for ten years. Since last October it has  been so serious that I've had to change my eating habits to only eat smoothies or very soft food. No chewing allowed.  I had an MRI that showed the two joints that help you open and close your jaw are not working properly. I've seen two oral surgeons and I'm scheduled for an outpatient procedure at the end of the month to correct it.
• I have carpel tunnel syndrome in my right hand. I've had it in my left hand and had it surgically corrected. I've been told by doctors that I cannot get it corrected in my right hand until my jaw is fixed.
• I was scheduled to go to Arizona last December to see my new grandson when he was born, but my doctors told me I couldn't travel while I had these jaw issues. So, I had to cancel my flight plans. He's now two months old and I've yet to see him except in pictures.
• My granddaughter turned six yesterday and while talking to her she begged me to come out and visit. It was so difficult trying to explain to her that I couldn't travel until after my surgery. I truly hated disappointing her.
• Because my mother-in-law is hospitalized, my husband has scheduled a trip to see her this weekend, so I will be left alone. (I'll have my dog and parrot to keep me company.)

Any one of these things can cause a Bipolar trigger and send me into a tailspin. I'm using positive thinking techniques to get through each of them. I'm also using tools I've learned through therapy to find ways to keep myself distracted from the pain/discomfort/stress of any one of these issues and most specifically, being left alone while my main support person leaves for three days.

I'm trying very hard to maintain a positive attitude through all of this. I think that I'm definitely blessed that none of my issues are truly so serious that they are debilitating. There are other people in the world who are in a much worse condition than I.

I'm attempting to keep the worrying to a minimum. Worrying doesn't really accomplish anything. It does cause stress and I've done well to keep from sinking into an anxiety episode.

I'm keeping busy with various projects. I'm going to be a workshop presenter at the next Florida Writers Association Annual 2014 Conference. So, I am working on the handouts I will give the attendees.

A business plan must be created for Succeed at Writing, so that is another project I am working on. I've been working with a business coach who lives in Sweden. He has been tremendously helpful in keeping me grounded and following correct procedures along with giving me the right amount of positive encouragement to be excited about the future plans for my company.

I am a board member for the Florida Writers Association and also the Board Liaison between the FWA board and the Writers Group Leaders. I make sure they are kept up to date on all communications and help answer any questions they might have. I also read all of their meeting reports and give them positive encouragement.

I'm attempting to keep at least two weeks ahead on my blog, Your Writing Coach, so that at any time, I am prepared in case of an emergency.

I'm presenting a workshop in May, titled "Finding the Time and Commitment to Write" for a writing group near me. This is an exciting workshop to give because of the anticipated group participation.

As you can see, I have plenty to keep me busy. Some might think I'm overloaded, but I'm not. I compartmentalize each task and schedule work on each one on a calendar I keep open on my desk. Seeing it there gives me the feeling of comfort in knowing that I'm in control.

I love what I do. I enjoy helping writers succeed. I am excited about the path my new business is taking. Physical problems aside, life is pretty darn good. Why shouldn't I have a positive attitude?

I can give you some tips on how to maintain a positive attitude:

• Prayer. Reading God's word.
• Don't focus on the negative side of any situation.
• Do only what genuinely makes you happy.
• If stressors occur, keep your mind focused on positive outcomes. 
• Worrying doesn't help. It only causes stress. It doesn't accomplish anything.
• Find distraction opportunities. Read. Watch a movie. Work on a puzzle of any type. 
• If you have a dog, take him/her for a walk. 
• Take yourself for a walk.
• Call a friend. Chatting to another person always helps me keep perspective.
• Remember, there are other people with far worse issues. 
• Volunteer your time, if it works in your schedule. If it doesn't, it will only stress you out.
• Stay connected to family and friends.
• Don't read newspapers or watch the news or listen to news type talk radio shows. I have stopped this and feel so much better. I do have a link with CNN that sends me anything of extreme importance. Other than that, I have barred all news shows from my home.
• Maintain balance in your life. 
• Nourish your dreams.
• Form a support team for yourself and use it.

What about you? Do you maintain a positive attitude? How do you maintain it? I'd love to know your tricks and tips.

Five Minute Friday - Afraid

This is my first attempt at the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday. 

So, today's prompt word was "AFRAID". 

I am naturally afraid of everything. I take that back, I worry about being afraid of everything. I am afraid my husband will get in an accident while commuting to work. I’m afraid my children will lose their jobs or have some terrible illness befall them. I’m afraid that my grandchildren won’t know love or happiness or the beautiful innocence of just being a child.

I’m afraid that some kind of illness will take over my parrot, Bailey, or my dog, Jack. I love them so much and they are so much of a support system for my Bipolar Disorder therapy and me that I don’t know if I could handle having something happen to them. I take anti-anxiety medication all day long, just to keep a tamper on my run away anxiety and worry and fear. It helps. It gives me hope that my fears are unfounded and just nasty voices in my head whispering my deepest fears to me when I least expect it.

I haven’t always been afraid. I used to ride sport motorcycles and ride on the back of my husband’s sport bike going 140 miles per hour. I loved the way I could stare fear down and have it back down, not me.  Those days are gone. Are you afraid of something in your life? How do you handle it?