Embracing the Breakdown: Finding Growth Amidst Stress with Your Anxiety Therapist in Cincinnati

Update in 2024: Although the pandemic has improved, many of us feel like there’s a constant stream of urgent stressors leading to a crisis. I hope this information can help you process your experience if you’re struggling.

A global pandemic, racial injustice, the election... and winter’s coming. If you’re feeling like this year is a never-ending avalanche of stress, you’re not alone. Even those of us who are professional stress managers are falling apart. It might sound silly to say there’s anything good about overwhelming stress, breakdowns, and burnout, but hear me out. There are good things that can come from 2020, even when it feels like the world is burning down around us. We can see this as an opportunity for growth as people, families, and communities.

My definition of a mental breakdown is an event or series of incidents in which you experience overwhelming emotions, physical symptoms, and/or relational conflicts that reach a crisis point where you can’t function normally. It’s truly awful to experience. But I want to share some of the good things that can come from completely losing it: 

The Wake-Up Call: Insights from Your Anxiety Therapist

We are busy. We get into routines and ruts, and we have a lot of blind spots. We don’t often see the stress creeping up. You might be irritable and snapping at your partner or kids, and think it’s just a bad day. However, a full-on breakdown can really wake you up to how bad you’re feeling. And don’t underestimate the power of your body to scream that something is wrong! This can look like back pain, headaches, fatigue, or even more serious health problems. Sometimes you have to get to rock bottom to realize that you’re at a crisis point.

Breaking Down Barriers: Building Connections with Your Anxiety Therapist

Your family, friends, or co-workers might not realize you’re struggling. Even if you tell them you’re stressed, or they see you drinking more and more, or plowing through bags of chips after work, they might not think it’s that bad. It’s easy to assume that someone is just having a bad day or week, or that it’ll get better on its own. The 2020 stressors are not letting up, and sometimes a meltdown is super helpful in showing others just how bad you’re struggling.

Navigating Change: Practical Steps from Your Anxiety Therapist in Cincinnati

The end of your rope is a great place to make big changes. When you feel that bad, you’re pretty motivated to get relief. This is a great time to start problem-solving. Does this mean a job change? Getting more help with your kids? Committing to a self-care routine that used to seem self-involved, but now is essential? Look at everything that’s overwhelming you, write it down, determine what’s in your control and what isn’t. If it’s not in your control, explore how you can change your reaction to the stressor, or work toward influencing change. Ask for help determining how you can change the things within your control, because during a breakdown you might not be able to think of all the possibilities.

Self-Discovery Journey: Understanding Yourself with Your Anxiety Therapist

Breakdowns usually come when stress has been bottled up and we haven’t acknowledged it. You may not have told your family, friend, or partner what’s going on. When the floodgates open, it’s a wonderfully vulnerable place to be (as long as they’re a good support). When you let someone into the darkness, and they meet you where you are, bonding happens. Your relationship deepens. Trust is built when someone sees you at your lowest, and gets down with you to start digging out. You also connect deeply if you share your struggle with someone who has been there, or who is there right now (hello, support groups). A mental breakdown also builds relationships if you ask for help. Whether it’s helping with emotional support or something tangible, that builds a bond with the helper. 

Gratitude in the Chaos: Finding Strength with Your Anxiety Therapist

For most of us, 2020 is not the first year we’ve been overwhelmed by stress. The reality is, we might have breakdowns several times in our lives. If this is you, then it’s a great time to reflect back on these points of crisis and pull out the themes. What led up to each of those? How were they similar? When you can see the patterns, you can take an honest look at yourself and see what needs to change long-term. 

For example, you might look at various times of overwhelm in your life and see common themes of perfectionism, lack of boundaries with others, or trying to prove your worth through achievement. This gives you more concrete problems to start working through. You can also look back at the times you’ve been more calm and stable, and sort out what it was about those times that is consistent. This might be that you had a regular yoga practice, you were seeing friends every week, or you had a good sleep schedule. Plan to implement those things in your routine as non-negotiables. And because your partner or family has seen what happens when you don’t prioritize these things, they will probably be on board with you taking care of yourself.

Having a mental breakdown can feel scary and defeating. You might even be frustrated with yourself that it’s happening. But if you look at the benefits, you can start to appreciate and even feel gratitude toward the breakdown. By allowing the feelings to come, and acknowledging what your brain and body are trying to teach you, you can take the opportunity to make long-term changes in your life. 

Ready to find growth amidst the chaos? Click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with an online anxiety therapist in Cincinnati to explore how therapy can support you. Or call/text 513-461-2045. Online therapy in Indiana and Ohio.

Finding the Right Psychiatrist in Cincinnati: A Step-by-Step Guide

You’ve made the decision to see a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation, and now you don’t know where to start. Finding a psychiatrist can be overwhelming, so I’d like to help walk through how I help clients find and schedule with the right person who can help.

Leveraging Referrals: Your First Step in Finding a Psychiatrist

The easiest way to find a psychiatrist is to get a referral from one of your other providers. Often a primary care office will have someone they regularly refer to, or have a list of doctors. Your therapist might have someone they like, or know who is in the area, who is taking new patients, and who to stay away from. You can also ask your OBGYN! They treat a lot of anxiety and depression, and will usually have a psychiatrist they’ll send patients to if their symptoms aren’t getting better. 

Navigating Insurance: Ensuring Coverage for Your Mental Health Needs

If you need to use your insurance, you will want to make sure the psychiatrist is In-Network. You can call the number on the back of your insurance card, and they’ll give you a list of who is nearby. While you’re talking with them, verify how much you’ll pay out of pocket for the appointments. You can also do a search on your insurance company’s website by location. This will give you options to start narrowing down. 

Utilizing Online Resources: Tips for Finding Psychiatrists Near You

Look for “psychiatry near me,” or by region like “psychiatrist Oxford Ohio” or “psychiatry in Cincinnati.” This will bring up a list to review. Remember, not everyone reviews their psychiatrist so don’t let the lack of reviews dissuade you! It does help though to see if they have good reviews, and especially if they have a website. You might also see Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (NP) or Physicians Assistants (PA) in the list as well.

Making the Call: Steps to Schedule Your First Appointment

Once you have a name or a list of names, start calling. You want to ask, “Are you taking new patients?” first, and then “How soon is your next available appointment?” With a shortage of psychiatrists, some practices have waiting lists of a couple of months. If that’s the case, decide whether you can wait that long and keep trying other offices if you can’t. 

Ask about the fee.

While many psychiatrists take insurance, some do not. That doesn’t mean you can’t use your insurance, though! If you have Out of Network benefits, then you may be able to get reimbursed.  Ask if they provide a receipt for insurance. If paying out of pocket, ask what the fee is for the first appointment, and then for follow-ups. You can ask how often you’ll typically see the doctor so you can plan for that financially. 

Review your options and schedule.

You might call a few places to get an idea about the practice and availability. When you’re ready, book your first appointment! The initial assessment will be a longer appointment (around an hour), so plan around that. Understand that you might not get your ideal appointment time, but once you’re in the system, follow-up appointments are easier to schedule. Those are typically 15 minute med checks. 

Exploring Telehealth Options: Accessing Psychiatrists from Anywhere

Psychiatrists in private practice, as well as those using online platforms like Teladoc or Doctor on Demand, are available via telehealth. They will be licensed in your state, but might live elsewhere. The benefit of this is they’re easier to get into and the scheduling is easy for you without the drive. The downside is that they can be harder to get ahold of if it’s through one of the apps. It’s been hit-or-miss for me to collaborate with those types of providers, so consider that. You can also get started online while you’re waiting for an in-person appointment. Laws and clinic policies vary on prescribing controlled substances (typically used with ADHD, panic disorder, or insomnia) via telehealth.

I hope this makes it easier to get an appointment with a psychiatrist. If you’re having trouble finding someone, feel free to call me at 513-461-2045 or click here to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to help guide you to the right person. If you’re looking for help with online anxiety counseling in Cincinnati, or online therapy in Indiana or Ohio, you can read more about how I help here.

Navigating Anxiety Treatment in Cincinnati: Do I need a Psychiatrist vs. Counselor?

When you’re at your breaking point with anxiety or depression and are ready to reach out for help, you might be wondering who can help you. One big question is whether you need to see a psychiatrist or a counselor. It’s important to know the difference, so you can get the help that’s right for you. I’d like to explore what each professional does, so you can be on the road to feeling better. In my next blog post, I talk about the ins and outs of scheduling with each.

Understanding Psychiatrists: Medication Evaluation and Management

Psychiatrists have gone to medical school, and got specialized training in treating mental health disorders with medicine. A psychiatrist is going to be well-versed in antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, mood stabilizers, as well as antipsychotics for more severe illness. They have also had training in screening for any medical causes for your symptoms. They may run lab work or ask your medical history to determine if something is contributing (like a vitamin deficiency, thyroid issue, anemia, etc) before writing a prescription. 

Typically, a psychiatrist does not provide much counseling. 

Your first appointment will be a diagnostic assessment, where you answer a lot of questions to determine what the diagnosis is, then discuss treatment options. This may take an hour. Follow-up appointments are usually 15 minute medication check-ups. So you’ll talk about your symptoms, side-effects, and any changes they’ll want to make. You’ll usually see a nurse as well to take vitals and your weight to monitor any changes. 

Psychiatrists are people, too, and they are all different! 

Some may take more of an interest in your lifestyle and stressors. Some may suggest therapy exercises, books, or even diet and supplements. Some may not talk at all about this and simply treat your symptoms medically. They should ask if you’re in therapy, if you’ve tried it, and offer to refer you if you’re interested. You may also see a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or a Physician’s Assistant who are also trained and able to prescribe medications (state laws vary on what they can prescribe, and if they have to collaborate with a physician). A great psychiatrist will be open to talking with your therapist so you can have a team approach to your treatment. 

Understanding Counselors: Therapeutic Solutions for Symptom Relief

A counselor or therapist is generally a Masters level professional trained in the treatment of mental health disorders. We do not prescribe medications (there are outliers where someone is doubly-licensed though!). They may have a Masters degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Psychology (depending on the state, they might be required to have a PhD or PsyD in Psychology). We are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat the same mental health disorders that a psychiatrist would; however, we treat with therapeutic techniques like talk therapy instead of medications. 

Each therapist is trained differently.

There are a variety of evidence-based treatments that can help you based on your specific problem. In the initial appointment, which can last 45-90 minutes depending on the counselor, you’ll be asked a lot of questions about your symptoms, environment, medical history, family history, and goals for therapy. We’ll want to know what medications you’ve taken, if any, as well as any relevant lab results or medical problems contributing to your symptoms (referring you to a doctor if needed). 

If you have a medical issue that is likely causing your anxiety or depression, then we’ll want that assessed and treated before digging into therapy. A great therapist will want to collaborate with your PCP (primary care provider) or psychiatrist so you have a whole team approach to treatment. 

Some counselors have more experience with medications than others.

We also have various beliefs about medications. This is important for you to know and to know yourself when deciding on a therapist. For instance, some clients don’t want to be pushed to take meds. So you don’t want a therapist who routinely refers everyone to psychiatry! Or on the flip side, if your medication is working well for you and you want to continue, you may not do well with a therapist who doesn’t believe medications should be routinely prescribed. 

Navigating Treatment Paths: Collaboration and Communication

Most of us have been trained to work with you where you are, regardless of personal belief, and have a base knowledge about medication. Often in my practice, this is an ongoing conversation. Many people want to try therapeutic or lifestyle changes before starting medicine. If therapy isn’t helping, it’s our responsibility as professionals to seek to understand why, and to change course, or make a referral to a different therapist, doctor, or psychiatrist if it’s appropriate.

I hope this helps to understand the difference in your options for medication or anxiety therapy in Cincinnati. Ready to embark on your journey to better mental health? Call/text me at 513-461-2045 or click here to schedule your free consultation today for virtual anxiety therapy in Cincinnati. Online therapy in Indiana and Ohio.