​In today’s fast-paced world, mental health is increasingly acknowledged as crucial to our overall well-being. Despite this, many people hesitate to seek help, often unsure of when it’s necessary. Consulting a local psychiatrist can be transformative, offering clarity and guidance. Let’s explore ten compelling reasons to consider utilizing the expertise of mental health professionals.

​While some emotional distress is an unavoidable part of life, prolonged feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, or hopelessness that hinder daily living should be addressed. These symptoms might indicate conditions like depression or anxiety disorders. A psychiatrist for anxiety or a psychiatrist for depression can assess your situation, provide a diagnosis, and tailor treatment options to your needs.
 
Many people believe that persistent emotional distress is just par for the course and something we simply have to live with. Let’s address that. Pretty much every person on this planet feels sad or anxious once in a while. For instance, perhaps you feel anxious about starting a new job or feel sad because you had a bad day, etc. All human beings can benefit from strategies that help us cope with occasional anxiety or sadness.
 
However, persistent chronic depression or anxiety that impacts your overall well-being needs to be addressed. Anxiety disorders and clinical depression can affect every aspect of your life and seeking professional help can truly make a huge difference.
 
Whether you are struggling with social anxiety, post-partum depression, seasonal depression or simply feel like you are constantly on edge (“a bundle of nerves”) or perhaps you feel empty and disconnected, speaking with a local psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist can help.

​Altered sleep patterns, appetite, or persistent fatigue might suggest mental health issues such as depression or bipolar disorder. Psychiatrists are medical doctors as well as mental health experts, so they can identify the roots of these symptoms, addressing both physical health challenges and psychological aspects through appropriate treatments.
 
It can be helpful to determine if your issues are caused by a physical ailment, a mental health condition or perhaps a combination of these factors. Additionally, it’s important to note that physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach issues without medical explanations can be stress-related. A psychiatrist can diagnose these conditions and offer treatments to alleviate both physical and psychological discomfort.

​Overwhelming emotions or behaviors can disrupt your ability to function. If you're struggling at work, school, or in personal settings, a psychiatrist can provide medical and therapeutic solutions to restore balance and enhance quality of life.
 
For instance, for people with ADHD, the inability to manage daily stress or routines effectively can affect mental and physical health. This also can be true for those with depression or anxiety. When you find a psychiatrist, they can help determine which therapy strategies might be the best fit for you and, if needed, prescribe medication to manage stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, or mood-related issues.
 
Additionally, if you find yourself struggling with relationships, this also can stem from mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or personality disorders. Frequent conflicts, withdrawal, or the inability to connect with loved ones due to emotional or behavioral challenges can make life very unpleasant but talking with a psychiatrist as well as a psychologist or therapist can help.

Constant worry, obsessive thoughts, or intrusive memories that disrupt your focus or peace of mind. These troublesome thoughts can signal a mental illness such as an anxiety disorder, post-partum depression or OCD. A psychiatrist can offer therapies (talk therapy, CBT, DBT, etc.) and medications to address these challenges as well as recommend types of therapies designed to help with these unpleasant, intrusive thoughts.

Sudden shifts between highs (euphoria, excessive energy) and lows (sadness, lethargy) that feel uncontrollable or disruptive can indicate some type of bipolar disorder. A psychiatrist provides specialized care, offering therapies and medication to stabilize moods.
 
Many people mistakenly believe that bipolar disorder and similar mood disorders can be impossible to treat, but this is simply not true. Finding the right combination of therapy, lifestyle changes and medication can make a huge impact and allow you to live a happier, healthier life.

Using substances to cope can signal deeper issues. Addiction impacts mental and physical health, as well as relationships. We typically think of heading to a rehab facility or treatment center for addiction but meeting with a local psychiatrist can be an excellent option, as well.
 
An addiction psychiatrist specializes in treating addiction by uncovering its causes and suggesting various therapies to support recovery. Keep in mind, that many people suffering from addiction also suffer from issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD and other issues. An expert psychiatrist will diagnose all of these issues and develop a treatment plan that addresses whatever struggles you might be facing.

Whether you suffered from years of trauma or a specific traumatic event, you may need professional help to move past this trauma. Trauma-related psychiatric symptoms may include suffering from repeat intrusive thoughts or flashbacks regarding the trauma as well as heightened emotional reactions, such as being quick to anger or easily startled.
 
People with trauma might also practice avoidance behaviors such as avoiding people, places or situations that remind them of traumatic events. Additionally, you might find yourself dealing with persistent negative thoughts such as guilt or shame or perhaps you feel emotionally numb and disconnected from the world. All of this could be related to trauma.
 
As a psychiatrist for PTSD, I want to reassure you that there are many excellent treatment options for people with PTSD. Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can be highly beneficial and provide you with many coping strategies. Options such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), exposure therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and medications all could be helpful as well.

Have you felt disorganized and unable to focus throughout your life? Do you constantly miss appointments or deadlines? Do you constantly procrastinate even though this can cause you some extreme stress? You may have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD.
 
While many people associate ADHD with impulsive or risky behaviors, and these are certainly possible symptoms, many people with ADHD suffer from inattention and forgetfulness. And, many people, especially women, were not diagnosed in childhood.
 
The good news is that we have many excellent treatment options for ADHD, and an ADHD psychiatrist can provide you with a diagnosis, a treatment plan and possibly medications to help ease these symptoms. As an adult ADHD psychiatrist, I have worked with many adults to help them manage their symptoms and gain a better hold on all aspects of their lives.
 
Of course, I also meet with patients who suffer from cognitive issues that are not related to ADHD. For instance, changes in memory ability, difficulty concentrating or impaired decision-making can be caused by something other than ADHD.
 
For instance, this could be due to dementia, anxiety, depression or even trauma. As a medical doctor, I also know that this could be caused by issues such as thyroid problems or sleep disorders. If these types of symptoms are new changes, it is important to look at both your physical health as well as mental health.

If you are having thoughts of self-harm or harm to others, please call 988 immediately. This is the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline, and compassionate, trained professionals are available to help you 24/7.
 
Thoughts of self-harm or harming others require immediate intervention. Consulting a psychiatrist ensures safety and provides necessary support through crisis intervention, therapy, and medication. If you have been having these types of thoughts, please access care immediately. Again, if you are having a psychiatric emergency, please call 988. These thoughts can be so horrible to experience, but help is out there and people truly do care, so please reach out.

​Mental health is vital to our overall health, and professional help can be key to navigating life’s challenges. Whether facing emotional distress, life changes, physical symptoms, or severe issues like addiction or self-harm thoughts, a local psychiatrist can provide the support and treatment needed.
 
If you need to find a psychiatrist, I offer services as a psychiatrist in Thousand Oaks and also serve local communities such as Westlake Village, Simi Valley and other nearby locations. Whether you select my services or another provider, seeking help can be the first step toward a healthier, more balanced life. Remember, seeking help signifies strength and can lead to a more fulfilling life.

​When we conduct an internet search, we often use the variable “near me” to find restaurants, shops, plumbers, electricians and so forth. Many people often search for a bipolar psychiatrist near me or a psychiatrist near me. However, these days, with telepsychiatry, the location of your doctor’s office is not as important as it has been in the past.
 
What Is Telepsychiatry?
Telepsychiatry or telemedicine is simply providing health care services using technology and it’s become more and more popular as the years have passed, especially during the pandemic when it became a necessity to ensure public health.
 
But telemedicine isn’t as new as you might think. In 1959, the University of Nebraska established a two-way television to provide instruction to students and within a few years, this system was used for video consults from the university to state hospitals.  In fact, the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute linked with the Norfolk State Hospital to provide psych evaluations via television.
 
NASA also had a huge impact on the development of telemedicine in the United States and abroad. The NASA program began out of necessity, as a way to provide health care to astronauts while they were in space. Eventually, however, NASA expanded their telemedicine efforts to help people in rural areas, particularly on Native American lands, gain better access to health care and even in areas such as Armenia, after a catastrophic earthquake.
 
While telemedicine isn’t new, it’s taken off during the pandemic and many people prefer telepsychiatry to traditional in-person doctor visits. There are several reasons for this, including.
 
1. Telepsychiatry Can Be Less Stressful
My offices are based in Thousand Oaks, just north of Los Angeles, and we are famous for our traffic. Driving around LA freeways can be stressful, to say the least, and with telepsychiatry, you don’t have to leave your home and worry that you won’t make an appointment on time due to an unexpected accident or roadwork.
 
Many people also feel more comfortable meeting with an online psychiatrist in the privacy of their home. They can find a cozy, comfortable spot, grab a cup of tea and feel secure in their home. Many of my patients say this is a huge reason why they enjoy telepsychiatry.
 
2. Telepsychiatry Is Convenient
Telepsychiatry only requires an internet connection to work, so you can meet with your doctor from just about anywhere on earth. This makes it easier to schedule appointments, even if you are out of town. It also reduces the time needed for appointments because you won’t have to drive back and forth from the doctor’s office. This tends to make it easier to schedule appointments around work commitments, school and other obligations.
 
3. You Can Pick The Best Doctor For You
In the past, if you needed a bipolar disorder psychiatrist, you were pretty much limited to finding that “bipolar psychiatrist near me,” and that doesn’t always provide you with the best match for your needs. With telepsychiatry, you can find a doctor that matches your needs and one with whom you feel in sync, even if you live in another county or state.
 
Treating Bipolar Disorder
Treating bipolar disorder is one of my areas of specialization, but I also treat co-occurring disorders that often accompany bipolar disorder. To provide you with effective treatment, we must properly diagnose all of the issues you face and come up with a plan that not only treats bipolar disorder but any other disorder you might have.
 
There are many co-occurring disorders common with people who have bipolar disorder. For instance, you might also have an anxiety disorder or perhaps ADHD. Many people with bipolar disorder also have substance use disorders, such as alcohol addiction or drug addiction. Additionally, there may be physical ailments that need to be addressed or perhaps eating disorders.
 
While the presence of a co-occurring disorder can make it more challenging to find a proper treatment, it is by no means impossible to find solutions for bipolar disorder as well as other mental health disorders you might have. The first step is to come up with a comprehensive diagnosis that truly gets to the bottom of what’s going on with you.
 
In many cases, it often seems like psychiatrists rush this process, but my philosophy is that diagnosis and treatment planning takes time. It’s not something we can solve in a single appointment. I usually spend several sessions with a patient before planning out treatment. This provides us with time to look at all of the issues you face and find a plan that can help you manage it all.
 
Treatment often includes medication, and this is another reason why a proper diagnosis is so important. A medication that might work for one type of mental health issue might not be the best fit for another disorder. We also want to come up with additional aids such as cognitive behavioral therapy and even changing your dietary habits and adding exercise or meditation to your daily schedule to help reduce stress and keep your body as physically healthy as possible.
 
In the end, I provide the diagnosis and treatment plan, including medication if needed. But we also will find additional resources for you, such as a good therapist, psychologist or even a support group, depending on your needs. And I can help with all of this online using a HIPAA-secure telepsychiatry platform.
 
The most important fact I can leave you with is that bipolar disorder can be treated and there is hope. Our philosophy is that psychiatric disorders are not a weakness. They are a biological disease that is often treatable.
 
But rather than searching for a “bipolar psychiatrist near me,” I highly recommend that you consider telepsychiatry instead. This can open up your options and result in better treatment for your bipolar disorder and any co-occurring disorders you might have. Take a look around my website to see if my philosophy seems to match what you need and then give my office a call to set up a consultation.