How To Talk to a Doctor about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) could range from habits that would get you described as super neat and organized, to habits that would leave even passive onlookers staring at you strangely.
If you are at the extreme end of the scale, don’t feel like you have to bear the burden yourself: talk to a doctor.
Know more about OCD
It’s a good idea if you’re already armed with basic information about this condition before you hold a consultation with your doctor.
Know where to get help
Contact your local major hospital and request to be referred to their psychiatry department. You could also browse for listings of mental health centers near your area.
Remember, your goal is to get help from a mental health professional, though you could also contact your family doctor and ask for his referrals.
Have a detailed list of your symptoms
Your doctor won’t be able to witness your symptoms 24/7, but you would. List down symptoms of your OCD behavior and include details such as what time of the day you exhibited the behavior, what events preceded it, and how you were feeling when it happened.
If you have grown accustomed to exhibiting OCD behavior, you might want to enlist the help of a friend to observe their occurrences.
Get to the bottom line and make sure that you understand the treatment options
Remember, your goal here is to come away from the consultation with the treatment plan completely clear to you. If the doctor uses technical jargon, don’t hesitate to ask him to explain to you in layman’s terms.
Have a notebook and pen and take down notes while he is talking. Afterwards, repeat to him the treatment procedure he outlined to see if you understood it well.
Ask questions
This is your health and well-being and it’s very important that you be proactive about it. Ask about the possible side-effects of the treatment procedures, and ask how they could affect the quality of your life.
Ask your doctor about a possible timeline; for example, how soon does he believe your condition will improve, and how he expects the improvement to be manifested.
Bring along a trusted friend or relative
It’s a smart move to bring somebody along with you, to help you remember the details of the consultation. She might also be able to think of questions to ask the doctor for you (details of the treatment that you may have overlooked).
Also, she will serve as the representative of your family and loved ones and she could ask about ways that your family will be able to help you all throughout your treatment.
Get practical advice
Apart from the treatment options, ask for some practical advice on how you could counter your OCD tendencies.
Throughout his years of practice the doctor would know of practical tips that would help you cope better. You should also ask for ways to help your family and loved ones cope, too.
Be upfront to your doctor
Don’t be shy or embarrassed about sharing your symptoms and feelings in as much detail as you possibly can. He’s a mental health professional: he’s heard it all.
Talking with your doctor about obsessive compulsive disorder is all about being as detailed as possible and coming prepared.
Give your health the value that it deserves, and be proactive about ensuring you’d get the best possible treatment for your situation.