Which Online Resources Are Good For Anxiety
As mental health is more widely discussed in our daily lives, there are quite a few resources available to help individuals cope with their anxiety and depression. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America has a list of online resources you can scroll through and see what resonates with you. The Anxiety Resource Center also has a multitude of resources available.
There are many online therapy options out there for you to find support if you have symptoms of depression. If one doesnt work, consider trying out another to find one that works best for you.
How To Choose The Best Online Depression Help For You
To find a suitable option for online depression help, decide which aspects of therapy are most important to you. This could include a treatment plan that includes unlimited messaging or frequent video calls. You may value having a strong connection to your therapist and feeling that they understand your needs. If youre paying out of pocket, choose a platform that you feel offers value for the cost.
Make sure you feel comfortable disclosing information to your therapist and feel free to switch to a new one if your current therapist isnt the right fit. That said, remember that results are not immediate and it may be best to give the treatment a few weeks before you decide if it is working. Talk to your therapist about adjusting your treatment plan as needed.
What Can An Online Psychiatrist Prescribe
Online psychiatrists can prescribe most of the same psychiatric medications as an in-person medical doctor, with a few exceptions: They cant treat patients who require ongoing care for a chronic illness that might need physical exams.
They also cant prescribe controlled substances, ADHD medications, or medications that are highly subject to abuse.
Whats the reason for this? With riskier medications, its better to work with a provider who can physically follow up to check that youre doing OK.
Online medicine is wonderful for its convenience, but it cant always take the place of face-to-face interactions with a professional, especially when you have a complicated mental or behavioral health condition like bipolar disorder.
But dont worryif an online psychiatrist cant help with your specific medical concern, they will provide suggestions and a referral about where to seek care next.
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How To Talk To A Psychiatrist & Get A Prescription
Every online psychiatrist works a little differently, so check around until you find one that best suits your needs.
For example, if youd like to talk to one of K Healths affiliated doctors or licensed therapists, download the app and follow the prompts to connect with someone who can help.
Through the messaging feature, your doctor will ask standard questions youd hear at any clinic about your symptoms, medical history, allergies, and current medications.
Theyll also ask when you started noticing symptoms and how much theyre interfering in your daily life. Once your doctor has the information they need, they can diagnose you and suggest a prescription, if necessary.
As long as your situation fits within the parameters of what an online psychiatrist can prescribe, you can get your prescription shortly after that initial consultation.
Other online providers and therapy services operate through video sessions or phone calls. These psychiatry sessions are often similar to in-person visits, and you can talk confidentially about whatever is on your mind.
Again, if appropriate, the provider can prescribe medication or a refill.
The best part of using telehealth for psychiatric care? There is zero wait time, so you can be in and out of your appointment much faster than if you had to ask off of work to drive across town.
Online mental health services are also discreet, compassionate, and accessible no matter where you are.
The Depression And Bipolar Support Alliance
- Key specs: multiple support groups meeting weekly, online and in-person groups
- Why we chose it: groups available for specific people, such as military veterans, BIPOC communities, caregivers, children, and people recovering from substance.
- Pros: specialized groups available to get support from people with similar experiences, more than 600 support groups available, programs available for adults and children
- Cons: not led by trained mental health professionals, not best suited for people in crisis
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is on a mission to inspire resilience, hope, and connection in people experiencing mental health conditions, like depression and bipolar disorder. The organization features resources and aid, including more than 600 peer-led support groups.
Not only is the vast amount of groups impressive, but theyre also effective. The organizations website states that participation in a DBSA patient-to-patient support group improved treatment compliance by almost 86 percent and reduced in-patient hospitalization.
DBSAs wide variety of support groups include specialized cohorts for military veterans, young adults, BIPOC communities, caregivers, and people with co-occurring substance abuse.
The online national support groups are hosted on Support Groups Central and are offered on multiple weekdays and times, making them very accessible.
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How Do I Know If Im Depressed
While its normal to experience various moods and emotions due to different situations and circumstances, major or clinical depression occurs when you frequently feel sad, hopeless, or helpless for no apparent reason. You may experience low moods and lose interest in activities you used to enjoy.
Other psychological symptoms of depression include feeling irritable, unmotivated, and indecisive. Physical symptoms include low energy, sleep issues, and digestive concerns.
To receive a clinical depression diagnosis, you must exhibit symptoms of depression for at least 2 weeks.
Can You See A Psychiatrist Online
An online certified psychiatrist is very similar to an in-person psychiatrist. They have the same medical training and background.
The biggest difference is the way online doctors operate. Psychiatrists who work online see patients through video, phone, text, or a combination of these options, making them easily accessible to people who have trouble commuting, dont wish to see a doctor in public, or cannot access local care.
Doctors like ours at K Health are also available on short noticewe can chat with patients instantly 24/7.
When searching for telepsychiatry services, make sure you see someone who is certified, licensed, and HIPAA-compliant, meaning theyre committed to keeping your information confidential. Also check if your health insurance covers care with your online provider.
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What Are The Different Types Of Depression
Two common forms of depression are:
- Major depression, which includes symptoms of depression most of the time for at least 2 weeks that typically interfere with ones ability to work, sleep, study, and eat.
- Persistent depressive disorder , which often includes less severe symptoms of depression that last much longer, typically for at least 2 years.
Other forms of depression include:
- Perinatal depression, which occurs when a woman experiences major depression during pregnancy or after delivery .
- Seasonal affective disorder, which comes and goes with the seasons, typically starting in late fall and early winter and going away during spring and summer.
- Depression with symptoms of psychosis, which is a severe form of depression where a person experiences psychosis symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations .
Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder also experience depression.
How Do Doctors Test For Depression
To assess your symptoms of depression, a clinical interview is conducted by a professional, such as a medical doctor, licensed mental health therapist, psychiatrist, or nurse practitioner. The test usually includes gathering information from you about the depression symptoms youâre experiencing.
Providers may also choose to utilize a variety of different psychological measures, like the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 , the Beck Depression Inventory , or other similar forms.
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Which Lab Tests Can Help Make The Depression Diagnosis
After reviewing the information from your appointment, including the signs and symptoms, patient history, family history, and physician exam, your doctor may ask for some lab tests to rule out a physical condition that may be causing your symptoms. Certain viruses, medicines, hormonal or vitamin deficiencies, and illnesses can cause depression-like symptoms. Your doctor will also want to review all medications youâre taking as well as the alcohol or recreational drugs you may be using.
How Can Depression Symptoms Lead To A Depression Diagnosis
To be diagnosed with major depression, you must have at least five of the symptoms listed above with at least one of the first two nearly daily for at least 2 weeks.
Depression symptoms can last weeks, months, or sometimes years. They can affect personality and interfere with social relationships and work habits, potentially making it difficult for others to have empathy for you. Some symptoms are so disabling that they interfere significantly with your ability to function. In very severe cases, people with depression may be unable to eat, maintain their hygiene, or even get out of bed.
Episodes may happen only once in a lifetime or may be recurrent, chronic, or longstanding. In some cases, they seem to last forever. Symptoms may appear to be precipitated by life crises. At other times, they may seem to happen at random.
Clinical depression commonly goes along with other medical illnesses such as heart disease or cancer and worsens the prognosis for these illnesses.
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How Do Online Support Groups Compare To In
Online support groups can help reach people who may be hesitant to attend a face-to-face meeting. The widespread network of users and the 24/7 access can make online forums an effective and easy place to gather.
A 2020 study found that pairing online and offline peer support groups helped participants facilitate social relationships, promote friendship and community connectedness. The study found that online and offline support groups complemented each other in addition to ongoing mental healthcare.
As online formats, like therapy and support groups, gain prominence, additional studies are needed to indicate whether one is more effective than the other.
What To Look For In Online Depression Help
In addition to knowing the type of help youd like from a therapist, be sure to keep these important tips in mind when searching online resources:
- Qualifications: Make sure to research your potential therapist. They should be licensed to practice and have had a bit of experience, especially in the topic youre interested in receiving treatment for. For online therapy, in particular, make sure your potential therapist is available to practice in your state.
- Privacy and safety: Go through the online resources privacy policy to make sure they have a data sharing policy in place and how they maintain confidentiality in their online sessions.
- Forums and groups: If youre interested in connecting with individuals who are going through similar experiences, check the online resource for forums, apps, or group chats where you can read about and share your own story. Keep in mind, however, that anyone can reply and may not be a certified professional. It could be helpful to discuss with a licensed professional before venturing out into forums.
- Price: Check various websites and what type of services they offer for the price. Make sure you have a set budget aside, and dont be afraid to ask for any hidden costs. You can also check their websites for information on insurance coverage.
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Should I Still Go To Therapy
Support groups can act as a sounding board for your feelings and provide a positive environment, but they arent a replacement for therapy.
Unlike mental health counseling, support groups are facilitated by peers. While these peer-led groups can be filled with insightful tips and shared tools, they shouldnt be used in lieu of a licensed mental health professional.
If youre experiencing depression, contact your doctor to discuss your symptoms and consider speaking with a mental health counselor.
Changes To Depression In The Dsm
While the DSM-5 doesn’t introduce any new diagnostic tests for depression, it does promote a new integrated approach for clinicians to diagnose mental health disorders.
Clinicians who were used to using the older methods for diagnosing depression didn’t have to completely change how they approached the process with the DSM-5, as the new integrated approach is compatible with previous assessment tools.
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Tests And Scales For Depression
Medical and mental health professionals use established, research-backed guidelines, screening tools, checklists, and other criteria to help them make a diagnosis of depression.
A provider can use these tools to guide them through observing and talking to a person who might be experiencing symptoms of depression. For example, taking note of whether a person is showered and appropriately dressed, the tone and speed of their speech, and other aspects of their appearance and demeanor can provide clues.
Asking direct questions about a person’s day-to-day life and their feelings can also provide valuable insight into the cause of a person’s depressive symptoms. In some cases, a person may have symptoms of depression but not have a major depressive disorder.
Providers also use these guidelines to go through a list of other possible causes for a person’s symptoms that might be easily overlooked. Certain medical conditions and medications can cause symptoms of depression that will generally improve once the underlying cause is addressed.
In these cases, the guidelines may suggest that a provider refers the person to a colleague for additional testing or examinations. For example, if a doctor thinks a person’s symptoms could be stemming from a brain lesion, they may want them to see a neurologist or have an MRI scan.
How Does It Work
After your mental health test, you will see information, resources, and tools to help you understand and improve your mental health.
Please note: Online screening tools are meant to be a quick snapshot of your mental health. If your results indicate you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, consider sharing your results with someone. A mental health provider can give you a full assessment and talk to you about options for how to feel better.
This website is an informational resource. We are not a crisis support line. If you need immediate help, you can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting or using the chat box at 988lifeline.org/chat. You can also text MHA to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Warmlines are an excellent place for non-crisis support.
For all other screening-related questions and non-emergency support, please use MHAs Contact Us form.
Mental Health America Inc., sponsors, partners, and advertisers disclaim any liability, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of these screens.
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Take A Mental Health Test
Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.
Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible.
Consider Seeing A Psychiatrist First
There’s a tendency for some new patients to visit a counselor or psychologist for their initial mental health evaluation rather than a psychiatrist. This can be beneficial for many people, especially if your case is not severe, but for others, it’s often not enough.
Only psychiatrists are also medical doctors, which means that they are able to prescribe medications.
If your depression stems from a chemical imbalance, talk therapy will not be sufficient to treat you. It’s best to make your initial visit to a psychiatrist, who can both prescribe medications and offer you psychotherapy if it’s needed. This two-pronged approach of medication and talk therapy is often the most beneficial to patients.
Psychotherapy is a broad term for a variety of different verbal and psychological techniques that are employed to help an individual work through their mental health condition or source of underlying stress. These techniques include but are not limited to psychoanalytic therapy or psychodynamic psychotherapy, behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy . Oftentimes, other mental health professionals in the field such as counselors and social workers will draw from psychotherapeutic techniques and use them with their clients.
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How Do I Know Which Option Is Best For Me
Try to think about what you need the most. Is it a trained therapist? A connection with peers? Someone to listen to you? Support surrounding a specific condition?
Once youve figured out your biggest need, you can look for a site that fits your criteria. If, after a certain amount of time like 1 month you dont feel its the right place for you, its OK to search for another site that may be a better fit.
Are Video Visits With An Illness Doctor Online Covered By My Insurance
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Illness doctors who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
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