Many people do not know the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist. Because of that people often end up either spending too much money or not get the results they desire. Because of that Connecting the Dots has decided to explain it all.
Understanding that there are different types of mental health providers is the first bit of information. When it comes to selecting the right one, it is important to know the strengths and weaknesses of each type. It is also important to be able to self diagnose how much help is needed based on the symptoms. When you know this you can not only save some money, you will also be spending your money more efficiently.
Before you select a mental health provider you should first know how much help is needed. Like a physical sickness or injury there are degrees of severity. You don’t need to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance for a runny nose. On the same note you should not put a bandage on a broken leg.
To make it simple there are 3 classifications for mental illness being mild, moderate and severe. Depending on what condition exists, some mental health providers are not qualified to deal with it.
The symptoms for Mild mental health problems are any or all as follows;
- Being depressed at certain times of the day but not all day.
- Being upset about a death or the end of a relationship.
- Concern about employment or self health.
- Difficulty or the need to rely on others to avoid relapse of a previous addiction to a substance.
Moving up a notch to Moderate mental health problems some of the providers and therapy types do not pack enough of a punch to deal with moderate problem. Finding out about that will be later in this series.
Symptoms for Moderate mental health problems are any or all as follows;
- Being upset about a death or the end of a relationship.
- Concern about employment or self health.
- Difficulty or the need to rely on others to avoid relapse of a previous addiction to a substance.
- Being depressed 24 hours a day for more than a month.
- Fear of not being able to cope with life.
- Thoughts of harming yourself including suicide.
- Lack of ability to perform tasks at home or work.
- Not bathing or eating regularly.
- Inability to remain focused on anything other than your problems.
- Lethargy.
- Fatigue.
- Non restorative sleep.
There are no statistics available pointing out how many people fall in the moderate classification. People who are here do require professional help. Many times mild cases resolve themselves with just one situational change, but much less frequently the case with moderate.
Moving up all the way to sever cases, this is where you will find people with the most significant problems. People with sever mental health problems frequently feel they have no problem. That one symptom is the signature symptom that helps people quickly identify sever mental health problems.
Symptoms for Severe mental health problems are any or all as follows;
- Inability to recognize there is a mental health problem.
- Inability to distinguish between hallucinations and reality.
- Being depressed 24 hours a day for more than a month.
- Fear of not being able to cope with life and taking what may be viewed as unusual actions.
- Thoughts of harming yourself or others including suicide.
- Lack of ability to perform tasks at home or work.
- Inability to hold employment.
- Unprovoked aggression.
- Not bathing or eating regularly.
- Inability to remain focused on anything other than your problems.
- Lethargy.
- Fatigue.
- Non restorative sleep.
- Inability to socialize.
Next in part 2 we will start to match provider types with each of mild, moderate and severe mental health problems.
Next Part 2 here
