How do you decide you need to see a psychiatrist and tell your family?

I’m so sorry that the support wasn’t there. It’s hard to fathom. I’ve been an avid reader since childhood, so I’ve always felt mental health care is as important as treatment for heart disease or diabetes. Not a moral issue, but a medical one.

Sending positive vibes and well wishes to all who are hurting and in need of care.

Thank you for your note. I feel sometimes that I can’t tell my daughters, have some issues with some sisters so I don’t tell them, and I have told my husband but he doesn’t know what to say. Maybe hold me, say you love me and WE will get through this together. My husband has no clue

Thank you. I think my comment about being scared is more from having to go through the new meds routine. They can make things worse…. I need to sit my husband down and talk after my appointment.

jania59,
Your reply to Celia, brought tears to my eyes and an ache in my soul for you. It hit home for me too. About 5 years ago, one of my daughters, she was 40@ that time, told me on a phone call " you have no idea how your health problems have ruined my life." If ever there was a single thing that could make me have a heart attack, that would have been it. I sobbed for the remainder of the call. I was stunned and I let it erase every good thing I had ever done as her mom. It hurts just as much 5 yrs later. I know that she and her husband (highschool sweetheart) have had problems throughout their marriage and still do. I could drag on, but I won't. I wanted to share this, so when I say, I share in your, sister to sister problems, and daughter to mom problems.
I won the lottery with my hubby, my 2nd and I am his 4th wife. Okay, you can stop your OMG SHOCK & 😝 LOL. He's a bit older than me, so maybe he got most all of his "no clue " typical of men attitudes out with his previous 3 wives. For a bit more levity...
Hey, anybody reading this, if you know of a good book for husbands, please share with all of us 🤪‼️ or maybe we could all pitch in and write a book. We could all get super rich. Then we could afford to find the crème dela crème doctors that are super smart and we could maybe feel better ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 I'm so so sorry your husband is not the rock that you need him to be. Like I said in a previous post, mental illness is a real bitch/gremlin, that hurts us in so many different ways, like difficult daughters and clueless husbands. Ps, did you get my DM? Keep sharing with us, we all need to know, somewhere, out there, someone's thinking about us. Shelley

Celia16,
Thank you.

I absolutely 🩷🩵your last sentence, I wish there was a way to send it as a blast post, so everyone on Mayo could see it and read it and then print it out and hang it up, where they would see it over and over and over..realizing that there really are kind and caring folks, like you, wishing them well.
Shelley

jania59,
I'm so sorry you are suffering, and it appears you are suffering in silence without any support.
Re: telling your family, mdk1960, gave a great option. If telling your family is scary, and they don't already know you have been suffering and on medication, mdk1960 option is a KISS immediate solution. Then you can focus on what doctor options are available and best for you, now!! I buried this part of my reply, so you wouldn't write my reply off. You stated at the end of your post, I am scared.....if you are scared you will seriously harm your self and don't have or want to tell friends or family, then , right now, call or text 988 or another warmline(you are hurting and overwhelmed, but not suicidal) or a hotline ( you may be suicidal). These are very short term fixes, but they will listen and may have suggestions for how you move on and/or tell your family. Depression and anxiety are bitches/gremlins to live with. I wish I didn't know this, but I do, mine are kicking my ass 24/7. OMG, don't they ever get tired of attacking us. I am sending good vibes to you, lol, like that is gonna help, right. Good good luck Shelley

In reply to @jania59 Someone already asked if you needed to tell your family about seeking mental health support, so I won’t repeat it. It’s private for a reason. Not everyone thinks it’s important, but it has been very helpful for me. I’m not sure there’s a DNA test for helping the choose a perfect drug, and I would be interested in how that works out. Having said this, I would recommend that you find someone a professional who can provide you with the support you deserve.

Mental health has been pushed to the very back of progress in healthcare. There have been several campaigns to increase access, support, and melt the stigma away.

Do you need to tell them?