How long do you have to see a psychiatrist for?

It depends on for what reasons one is seeing the psychiatrist.

Let us have introduction on what is all psychiatry and what psychiatrist does

Usually other than personal affairs, people choose to see psychiatrist when they are having emotional, behavioral problem or drug related problem, when family members bring them for opinion, or when some specialist refers them for opinion. Major psychiatric disorders (we call them as disorder which is a clinical condition rather than a disease as these donot have known infective agent like bacteria, virus, fungus that can cause this) are

1. psychotic disorders - person has loss of reality, holds false beliefs, claims to see or hears things which are not able to see or hear

2. mood disorders-predominant abnormality is in the persons feeling state, it can sadness, most of the time known as depression or it can be cheerfulness sustained for longer than usual known as hypomania or mania. In both these conditions there is altered mental and physical activity

3. stress, anxiety, somatoform and adjustment disorders-when faced with stress ( any life event can be stressful either happy or sad event) disturbance in emotions and behavior happen and is either more than that is expected or persist longer than that is expected will lead to this group of disorders, unnecessary worries without stress, excessive irrational fear about place or item, situation, unexplained bodily complaints, hysterias, obsessions and compulsions come under this category.

4. Substance related disorders-it can be harmful use or dependence on substance (another name for 'drug of abuse potential) and these substances might also cause conditions that resemble all the above conditions

5. Personality disorders-histrionic, passive aggressive, antisocial, borderline and other types come under this

6. Organic psychiatric disorders-psychiatric disorder (it can any one of the above) occurring in presence some other medical or traumatic effect on brain matter which can be demonstrated by imaging or laboratory tests

7. Childhood or Geriatric (Old age) psychiatric disorders-any of the above conditions can occur at extremes of these ages

We think twice to go to a doctor for physical pain, and for emotional pain we attach stigma

People seek on their own psychiatrist for

Opinion regarding their psychological problems

Opinion regarding their loved ones

To see how psychiatrist actually looks like

To seek second opinion for diagnosed psychiatric conditions

To know about treatment options available

To know about medications side effects

To know about the possible consequence that can with treatment and without treatment of the diagnosed psychiatric disorder

To know about the possible transmission risk among the couples or to their offspring

To seek psychotherapy (special kind of talk therapy to heal emotional, or behavioral problem)

Most who come on their own might have minor doubts and need not have to visit again

But those brought or referred might turn to be having bigger problems. Major problem with psychiatric disorder like psychosis it takes away one's awareness that he is mentally ill requiring treatment. Other who are aware avoid due to stigma

Most psychiatric conditions are not curable but they are all treatable (controlled and prevented with medications or psychotherapy or use of both is the most commonly employed technique)

Many people with psychotic, mood or substance use disorder recover totally while some continue to be well sometime lasting years but again having similar illness. Having once psychiatric disorders puts person at all life at risk for having another similar disorder.

Stress related disorders persist as long as stress is there or they achieve mastery over the situation. Persons with better social and economic stability do well.

For recurring psychiatric disorders medications need to be for longer time, visit to psychiatrist nearest one even if they change places need to be periodical, till the science comes with ' cure' for these.

One need to get rid of myths like-medications are controlling me, as long as I am on medications I am ill, medications have more side effects than benefits, I am on medications means I am weaker person to control my own emotions and behavior, medications are altering my thoughts and emotions (they are actually giving you back your control over them)