How can I prepare for a first appointment with a prescriber?

You have taken a great first step by scheduling an appointment with a prescriber to talk about mental health treatment options. Thinking about what to say and ask during your first appointment can be overwhelming, but a little preparation can help you feel more comfortable and prepared to advocate for the help you need. After all, you are the expert on yourself and your goals, needs, and preferences. 

You may find the following suggestions helpful to prepare for your first appointment with a prescriber: 

• Gather information about your medical history. Be familiar with and ready to share your history of prior diagnoses, symptoms, and medications (including any side effects). If you need assistance getting this information together, your previous medical provider or your pharmacist can help. It’s also helpful to have information about your family medical history. 
• Prepare by doing a little at-home education on mental health. You may wish to start by visiting NAMI’s “About Mental Illness” webpage for some information about mental health conditions, symptoms, and possible treatment options. Learning some basics will help you ask more specific questions during your appointment.  
• Make a few notes about what you’ve been experiencing. Note down the symptoms you have, why you are seeking mental health treatment, and what recovery looks like to you.  A few examples of concerns that might help your prescriber understand you better include:  
  • “I feel sad all the time. I cry nearly every day.” 
  • “I get so anxious about talking to other people that sometimes I can’t make myself go to work.” 
  • “Sometimes I have so much energy that I only sleep 2 or 3 hours a night for days at a time.” 
  • “I feel anxious a lot; I’ve noticed that people are following me.” 
  • "My energy is so low: I feel like I've lost my motivation to do anything. I'd like to feel more energized and ready to tackle life again." 
• Create a list of questions to ask about working together. Some possible questions to ask a are: 
  • Have you worked with people similar to me? For how long?  
  • What is your approach to treatment?  
  • How will we work together to set goals and assess my progress?  
  • What are my medication options? What kind of improvements can I expect to see? What should I do if I’m not seeing improvements? 
  • Can you carefully explain any side effects I might experience? (weight loss/gain, changes in energy or sleep, restrictions on alcohol or caffeine consumption, other interactions to look out for, etc.) 
  • How can side effects be addressed?  
  • How often will we meet? Are you available between appointments to address medication and other concerns, such as refills and emergencies?  
  • What’s the best way to reach you for a routine request?  
  • How do I reach you in an emergency?  
• Assess the relationship “fit”. After the first few appointments, it is important to consider whether you connect with your prescriber. Ask yourself: 
  • Did you feel comfortable talking to them? 
  • Did you feel like they cared about what was important to you?  

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Email: helpline@nami.org