Question: Therapist or Physician

Should I see my primary care physician first before a therapist? I’m not sure if I have a mental health issue but something is wrong, I think. I’m angry all the time at home and I’m always tired. I did try to call and make an appointment with a therapist but they never called me back. Does that mean my “somethings not right” doesn’t qualify as I need a therapist? I had blood work done early last year and my primary said everything looked fine. 
I wasn’t sure where to put this so I apologize if it’s in the wrong section.

If you feel it's something medical that a physician can help with, go to the doctor. If you think it's just psychological, I'd say just skip the doc and go to a therapist. Although, some docs will prescribe you drugs for depression or anxiety, so if that's all you're looking for, you could probably save yourself the trouble and just go to the doc.

So, I guess do you want to get to the root of it or do you just want drugs?

TheRealCallie said:

If you feel it's something medical that a physician can help with, go to the doctor.  If you think it's just psychological, I'd say just skip the doc and go to a therapist.  Although, some docs will prescribe you drugs for depression or anxiety, so if that's all you're looking for, you could probably save yourself the trouble and just go to the doc.  

So, I guess do you want to get to the root of it or do you just want drugs?

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I’m not sure. Honestly. I’d like to find the root of the problem because my marriage and household is suffering but what if there isn’t a problem and I’m just a horrible two faced person? Drugs and therapy probably don’t fix those things.

Liparks said:

TheRealCallie said:

If you feel it's something medical that a physician can help with, go to the doctor.  If you think it's just psychological, I'd say just skip the doc and go to a therapist.  Although, some docs will prescribe you drugs for depression or anxiety, so if that's all you're looking for, you could probably save yourself the trouble and just go to the doc.  

So, I guess do you want to get to the root of it or do you just want drugs?

Click to expand...

I’m not sure. Honestly. I’d like to find the root of the problem because my marriage and household is suffering but what if there isn’t a problem and I’m just a horrible two faced person? Drugs and therapy probably don’t fix those things.

Click to expand...

Maybe you just need a place to vent your frustrations without taking it out on your family.  I would say a therapist for that.  A therapist could also give you coping mechanisms so you don't lash out or anything like that.

Doesn't a general practitioner refer you to a therapist?

Liparks said:

Should I see my primary care physician first before a therapist? I’m not sure if I have a mental health issue but something is wrong, I think. I’m angry all the time at home and I’m always tired. I did try to call and make an appointment with a therapist but they never called me back. Does that mean my “somethings not right” doesn’t qualify as I need a therapist? I had blood work done early last year and my primary said everything looked fine. 
I wasn’t sure where to put this so I apologize if it’s in the wrong section.

Click to expand...

If you trust your doctor, maybe seeing them would do a bit of good first. A lot of physicians will refer you to a therapist.

Yeah. In Australia, you just can't walk in off the street to a therapist or any other specialist. You MUST get a referral from your GP first. I thought that was the same everywhere. Some say this is a bit of a scam to make money for the general practitioners, but I think it's a good idea. If you have a good GP (and everybody should, as there definitely are quacks out there), he or she will properly assess you and not give you drugs if you need a specialist or not refer you to a specialis if you need drugs. In fact, the GP might suspect you need drugs, but will still refer you to the specialist to be sure. The specialist can prescribe the drugs, if needed.

I would agree to seeing a GP first. In addition to what people have already mentioned, they will rule out anything medical. If they suggest medications, it does not mean you need to take them. You can tell them that you would like to explore other options first. You're in the drivers seat.

Any good GP will eliminate physical causes and refer you to a therapist that would be appropriate for you.

Any good therapist will ask you if you've been to a GP to potentially eliminate medical causes.

Whether or not you choose medication, I believe that your success rate climbs dramatically when under the care of both a GP, and a therapist.

You guys were more helpful than Google. Some of the places in Casper offer a walk-in services and reading some of the websites they don’t say to go see your primary first. Even when I called and talk to a receptionist at one place she didn’t mention that either. Anyways, thank you everyone.