Posted by Anxiety and depression are the two most common diseases that almost all people have nowadays. Both diseases may look alike but both are different to some extent. In Anxiety, people have feelings like sadness, fear, nervousness, and worry all the time even sometimes without any reason they get worried. But in depression, people have sad, low, and hopeless feelings. These diseases are increasing day by day on a large scale as last year 19.1% of adults were diagnosed with anxiety disorder. And 21 million adults have major depression issues in 2021 which is considered 8.3% of the US adult population.
If we go back to some past years like in 2010 then depression and anxiety diseases started in adults of 18 and more but now we can’t believe that 50% of the children face the issues of mental disturbance at the age of 14. You see this rate is increasing at a higher level that’s why treating those diseases also becomes a more critical factor for the infected people. While in the condition of anxiety and depression, it becomes difficult for the patient to travel to hospitals that’s why they prefer online psychiatry which is convenient for them because they get treatment in their comfort.
But for those who want to take the help of online psychiatry but don’t know how the online treatment works or when they search for a therapist near me then which platform is right for them? So worry not! I’m here to help you to know how online psychiatry can assist you with the condition of anxiety and depression.
Importance of online psychiatry
Online psychiatry which is the branch of telemedicine is the process of providing mental health services via some digital platforms. The demand for online psychiatry is increasing day by day, especially after COVID-19. A study shows that in 2020 the telemedicine rate increased by 45% at the start of the COVID-19 epidemic. Not only during COVID but also widely used after COVID because it is a very convenient and easy way to receive psychiatric care in the comfort of their home. The people who find it difficult to attend in-person sessions due to any reason like shortage of time, physical disability, or geographical distance prefer online psychiatrist care.
How Online Psychiatry Works
Finding Online Psychiatry Services
It is important to first find the right platform or provider according to your needs. As there are different providers available online then choosing the right provider is important. Let me tell you how you can choose the right online psychiatrist in Pakistan. First consider that the platform provides different licensed therapists and psychiatrists who provide therapy through online video calls, phone calls, and messaging. Then communication to those providers must be flexible and convenient all the time. Finally, it is important to verify that the providers on the platform you select have the license to deliver psychiatric care in the area you live in. Consider the platform’s privacy policies, communication choices, and cost.
Initial Assessment
Now if we see the provider side then online psychiatry works similarly to the traditional method. First of all the psychiatrists do an initial assessment in which they gather all the necessary information including the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and current mental health status. This step of initial assessment helps providers to develop a personalized treatment plan according to the patient’s current mental condition.
Treatment Plan Development
Then after the initial assessment, the psychiatrists will make a treatment plan based on this assessment and the patient’s condition. This plan highlights the different therapeutic approaches, medication, or a combination of both. They will assess the severity and nature of anxiety or depression and suggest medication accordingly.
Regular Sessions
As part of the treatment plan psychiatrists will suggest regular sessions to patients. These sessions will be conducted by the psychiatrists through video calls, phone calls, or can be through messages in some rare cases. These sessions depend on the service provider and patient preferences that are most comfortable for them. Basically, the purpose of these sessions is to know the patient’s mental health, see their progress, solve any issue related to their mental health, and then change the treatment plan accordingly.
Continuous Monitoring and Support
The main difference we can see here between the traditional psychiatrists treatment and online psychiatrists treatment is that if you face any issue like the medicine that providers suggest you may not be suited to your health then to solve these types of problems you may go to the psychiatrist and discuss this issue. But in an online system, psychiatrists provide you with continuous monitoring and support. Patients can contact their psychiatrist anytime and can discuss all their problems virtually during their sessions which can be very useful during stressful times.
Is Online Psychiatry Right for You?
Now you may have a question about whether an online psychiatrist is right for you or not. Then I would suggest to you that online psychiatry has many advantages but it may not be the right choice for those who are in severe condition and need intense treatment. You first analyze the complexity of the disease, a person’s comfort level, and requirements for in-person checkups, see whether this treatment can be handled virtually or not, and then make a decision that is right for you. However, online psychiatry can be a very practical and successful choice for many people who are struggling with mild to serious anxiety and depression.