Addicted To Drugs? How A Psychiatrist Can Help You

If you are addicted to drugs and are ready to get help, you should consider seeing a psychiatrist. There are psychiatrists that specialize in treating people with addiction problems. Keep reading to learn how this doctor can help you so you can be free from your addiction. 

Helps with Detoxification

If you currently are doing drugs, you will need to go through a detoxification process. This will get the drugs out of your system so you can start treatment. A psychiatrist can help you get through detox because there are medications the doctor can prescribe you to help with withdrawal symptoms you will have. These medications are not addictive in any way and can make the whole process go much easier on you.

A psychiatrist can be especially helpful if you also have another type of mental problem, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, or depression. They will know the types of medications to give you that will not affect the medications you currently take for your mental health problem. 

Talk With You

Once you are off the drugs, the psychiatrist will sit down and speak to you. They will ask you about your history and when you started doing the drug you are addicted to. This can help them determine why you started taking the drugs in the first place. If the psychiatrist feels there is a need, they can prescribe medications to help you in the beginning stages of your treatment. They can also treat any other psychiatric disorders you may have. 

In some cases, an underlying mental disorder may be one of the reasons why you started doing drugs. For example, if you have severe depression, you may have started taking drugs to help you feel better. This is why it is very important to treat the underlying problems along with treating your drug addiction. 

Tips for Finding a Psychiatrist

Finding the right psychiatrist is important as you need someone you feel comfortable working with. This is because you are addicted to drugs and treatment may take some time. The doctor will want to see you back periodically to see how you are doing and how you are doing on any medications they gave you. They will monitor the medications and up or lower your dosage if needed. 

Ask your medical doctor if they can give you the names of some psychiatrists in your area. If you look on your own, make sure the psychiatrist is licensed for the state you live in. If you want a psychiatrist that works with people that have drug addictions, ask if they specialize in addiction psychiatry.

The psychiatrist that you choose can give you much more information on how they can help you with your drug addiction.

For more information, contact a local company, like Altium health.