Jan 19
2021
Myths About Psychiatrists Do More Harm Than Good
Seeing a psychiatrist doesn’t have to be difficult, challenging, nor scary. Or, maybe you’ve been told myths about how seeing these mental healthcare providers isn’t going to help you or that they aren’t going to know how to help you or approach you with care, kindness, and compassion.
The reasons to see a psychiatrist are many, and being an anti-psychiatrist does you a lot of harm in the long run. The most prominent myths about psychiatrists’ care can be detrimental to one’s mental health and lead to an individual’s harm. The following are some of the most dangerous myths about care from a psychiatrist.
My Primary Care Physician Handles All of My Care
Individuals suffering from a mental health disorder often think they can rely solely on their primary care provider for all of their medical needs. Still, mental health is a specialty care area that requires advanced knowledge, training, and education beyond that which can be provided by a general practitioner. In other words, your regular doctor is not equipped to handle mental health issues.
When their patients require mental healthcare, general practitioners refer these patients to respected and qualified mental health professionals, which means a psychiatrist.
Only Weak People Need a Psychiatrist
Seeing a psychiatrist is not a sign of weakness, and the people treated by psychiatrists aren’t crazy. They have a mental disorder beyond their control and have nothing to do with being weak or strong. Likewise, people suffer various chemical imbalances that cause mental illnesses in their brains. This is a medical condition, not a weakness.
People See A Psychiatrist To “Sit On A Couch and Talk About Their Feelings”
This is one of the most common misconceptions about psychiatrists exacerbated by movies and television and exaggerated tales from ages past. Unfortunately, while widely untrue, it’s one of the most popular misconceptions about psychiatry. Psychiatrists work to ensure the comfort of their patients. While this might be on a couch, it can range from a chair or a conversation between a table or even a walk-and-talk through a park. The objective is comfort – comfort for the patient and the psychiatrist.
Additionally, they’re not just going to talk about your feelings or your childhood. They want to understand things their patients encounter and the nuances of their lives. They work to discover challenges and pains their patients face, including talking about a patient’s childhood and feelings.