Question: What Should I Ask My Doctor About Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment?
Treatment for social anxiety disorder (SAD) may come from a family doctor, mental health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, or other counsellor.
Answer:
When meeting a medical professional to discuss treatment options, it is important to have a list of questions to ask. These questions will help you determine if the provider is a good fit for you, find out more about the options available to you such as benefits and side effects, and learn how treatment will be paid for.
Below is a list of potential questions to ask your treatment provider.
- Have you treated social anxiety disorder before? (If not, can you refer me to someone who has?)
- What standard treatments are available?
- Are there alternative or complementary treatments?
- Are there lifestyle changes that I can make? (diet, relaxation practices, exercise)
- How long will treatment last? (In the case of therapy, ask about the length and frequency of sessions)
- How long will it take for me to feel better?
- What are the side effects of medication treatment?
- Which medications are the best for my situation, and why?
- Can I recover from SAD?
- How can I pay for treatment?
- Do you accept insurance plans?
- Do you offer a sliding scale (for therapy)?
