Good psychiatrist in Galway

softmee

I think i am depressed and i need to see some good psychiatrist. Psychologist wont help me as i know what my problems are and dont need anybody to analyse me.
Does anybody know a good psychiatrist in Galway? Do i need request from my GP and how much does it cost?
This weather does not help.
Thanks

Jester Minute

I can't help you with Galway, but this site provides lots of good, free information and might save you a lot of silly bother in your search for and dealings with professionals.

http://www.guidetopsychology.com/

Well done for realising that there is a problem and willing to get help. Depression is still something that is shunned upon in this country, it's totally idiotic. Any way - here are lists of counselors and psychologists in Galway. Both links may have the same lists, but either way, they might help.

softmee

Thanks a lot. I was trying to find some information online myself but its confusing.
I used to think people could deal with it themself by good diet, positive thinking ,healthy life style etc, but sometimes it takes to long and if you feel sad and tired every day maybe its better to get some help..
Natural ways are not always better... :pac:

- i just looked at your links and as i said i am not looking for psychologist, but for psychiatrist ,because only they can give me some pills..

Talking to someone about your problems is natural. However you may not be aware that there is a Personal Issues forum where you can discuss such problems anonymously, if you don't want people to know who you are.

Just saw your update, are you sure you need pills? Perhaps you might be better off if this thread got moved to the Personal Issues forum, where you can get better advice on it without the risk of some unhelpful comments.

softmee

I was just hoping someone from Galway may know a good doctor.
-and i dont care to much about stupid comments. :rolleyes:
-and i dont think i need to talk to any strangers (psychologist is a stranger too)
I was studying psychology myself for a while and i am aware of my problems.
I just need to find where to look for a dr. Thanks

Well if this is how you're going to respond when someone offers their help, then what exactly is the point in asking whatsoever? You're completely unwilling to accept help. If it's a doctor you're looking for, then do a search on this forum - it's been asked many many times.

skelliser

go to your gp and ask to be referred to the mental health unit in the hospital. They have a day hospital in ballybane in which they run clinics.
The downside is it might take months because of the chronic underfunding and cuybacks.

Xiney

talk to your GP - I'm pretty sure you'll need to get a referral from them.

mathepac

I'm not sure all the previous posters understood OP's request fully.

@softmee, maybe you could discuss matters with your GP in the first instance and if appropriate you can request a letter of referral to the local mental health services, or to a specific psychiatrist in your local area if you get a recommendation. It might help if you could state if you wanted to see someone privately or through the public health system.

I am unable to recommend a specific psychiatrist to you but this list of services may help - HSE Galway mental health services - http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/Lho/Galway/Mental_Health_Services/Mental_Health_Services_in_Galway.html

softmee

I know what kind of help i need and its not true i am unwilling to accept. :rolleyes: I am just not looking for psychologist, thats all.

-and if it's been asked many times about psychiatrist could someone please direct me to the thread?

thanks

doubleglaze

softmee wrote: »

I think i am depressed and i need to see some good psychiatrist. Psychologist wont help me as i know what my problems are and dont need anybody to analyse me.
Does anybody know a good psychiatrist in Galway? Do i need request from my GP and how much does it cost?
This weather does not help.
Thanks

Softmee, fair play to you for knowing what you need. Your post is very clear: you are NOT seeking recommendations for a psychologist, NOR the Personal Issues forum, NOR a GP, but a psychiatrist.

I don't know any psychiatrist, but I hope that someone here will be able to recommend you one, whether on this forum, or by PM (private message). If you fail to get any recommendation for a good psychiatrist, then the best thing would be to go to a good GP (recommendations exist for them on this forum, but this is the first thread I've seen seeking recommendations for a psychiatrist). As far as I know, you cannot see a psychiatrist without getting a letter of recommendation from a GP. So, to see a psychiatrist, I thing you'll have to pay the cost of a GP visit, plus the cost of a consultation with a psychiatrist. A consultation of 20 minutes with a gynaecologist would cost maybe 100 euro, so that might give you some rough idea of the cost of the psychiatrist.

All the best with it.

softmee

Looks like poor people cant be healthy at these times... 100 for 20 min visit is immoral! :rolleyes: Thanks for understanding me doubleglaze.

Xiney

The public system takes a couple of months (not sure on the exact waiting times) to get into but you can see a psychiatrist for free.

You probably won't have much control over who it is you see though.

softmee

I dont mind to spend some money -its my health, but i need to know where to go. Thanks

Stroke Politics

softmee wrote: »

Looks like poor people cant be healthy at these times... 100 for 20 min visit is immoral! :rolleyes: Thanks for understanding me doubleglaze.

If you are working, you can claim some part of what you paid against your tax using a Med 1 form.

Having had a positive experience with a psychologist and a negative one wit a psychiatrist, can I suggest that you be open about your options? A cognitive behavioural psychologist helped me come to terms with some things that happened to me a long time ago that caused me to spend most of my twenties and some of my thirties living with a big black cloud over my head. The psychiatrist was more of a doctor, and just kept giving me a repeat prescription. That was my experience at the time, and everything started to go right for me once I started on the cognitive behavioural therapy. Best of luck to you.......

Sardonicat

OP, you seem to have a pretty good handle on what is going on with you. Your first port of call is your GP. You may not need further referral, GPs can prescribe the types of med you want. But that will be up to you and your GP. Best of luck and well done for being proactive.

dapto1

I wouldn't completely discount a psychologist. Very few mental health problems can be dealt with by simply just getting some pills. As others have said I think going to your GP is the best option. Good luck with it!

softmee

Thanks to everyone. I know how important psychotherapy is but seriously - i know how it works and i also know myself and there is no serious trauma in my past life or anything like that. I am ok, i just need some chemical support to help my body, my brain to go back to normal after some stress etc.
But, if there is somebody who was depressed and met also a good psychologist -any suggestions welcome. I know how good and how bad they can be and i dont want to waste my money and time to hear about what i already know.

softmee

Sardonicat wrote: »

OP, you seem to have a pretty good handle on what is going on with you. Your first port of call is your GP. You may not need further referral, GPs can prescribe the types of med you want. But that will be up to you and your GP. Best of luck and well done for being proactive.

I didnt know that GP can prescribe psycho-active/tropic pills!

LawnMower Man

GP can prescribe anti depression meds , psychiatrist etc will just take a load of money off you and prescribe similar meds.

dapto1

Sounds like you had a bad experience with psychology yourself, OP! Best of luck with it.

Also it's worth noting that types of psychotherapy can have exactly the same physiological effects as medication. For an interesting read about neuroplasticity I recommend The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge.

Again, best of luck with it and I hope it works out for you!

Mrs OBumble

softmee wrote: »

Thanks to everyone. I know how important psychotherapy is but seriously - i know how it works and i also know myself and there is no serious trauma in my past life or anything like that. I am ok, i just need some chemical support to help my body, my brain to go back to normal after some stress etc.
But, if there is somebody who was depressed and met also a good psychologist -any suggestions welcome. I know how good and how bad they can be and i dont want to waste my money and time to hear about what i already know.

Also worth noting that psychology and psychotherapy are different things. Some psychologists are trained in the latter, some aren't. Also, psychotherapy is a long term process, you won't get benefits in only a few weeks.

OP, something else to be aware of: GPs can prescribe (some) psycho-active drugs. But not all GPs have the same levels of knowledge and interest in the area, and (as with posters here) some don't favour drugs. You may need to persist or even try a couple of GPs to get what you need.

jkforde

LawnMower Man wrote: »

GP can prescribe anti depression meds , psychiatrist etc will just take a load of money off you and prescribe similar meds.

have you any direct experience to back this broad broadside or just a general bias based on third party hearsay?

softmee

JustMary wrote: »

Also worth noting that psychology and psychotherapy are different things. Some psychologists are trained in the latter, some aren't. Also, psychotherapy is a long term process, you won't get benefits in only a few weeks

I never said they are th same and i thought this is obvious. Psychology is the science and psychology the treatment but as i also mentioned i am not interested in psychoteraphy. I am aware what its all about and no thank you.
I still know nothing and i dont belive nobody was ever depressed and seeked for help.
Please pm me if you have a good experience with psychiatrist.
( by good experience i mean he/she prescribed you pills that helped)

Xiney

softmee wrote: »

I still know nothing and i dont belive nobody was ever depressed and seeked for help.

Well, you're wrong there for a start.

But it has been MY experience that pills only do so much and seem to mask the problem more than treat it.

I would have liked to have gone for therapy at the time but was put off by others' experiences of the Irish system tbh.

Sardonicat

softmee wrote: »

I didnt know that GP can prescribe psycho-active/tropic pills!

I do not know whether they can or not. OP,in your original post you said you thought you were depressed, so I assumed you were referring to the more common anti-depressant meds. Your GP will decide whether or not you require referring to a psychiatrist, and you can request a referral if you would like one if the GP does not think it is absolutely necessary.

dodgygeezer

Hi softmee, you have four options. I work as a doc in this area.

1. Discuss your symptoms with your GP. GPs are trained to treat mild to moderate mental illness - the hospital specialists would be flooded otherwise.

You probably need medication if your mood is PERSISTENTLY and PERVASIVELY (ie infects all parts of your life) low for more than a couple of weeks with marked problems with sleep, appetite, energy, sex drive, concentration, interest, enjoyment. There may be thoughts of life not being worth going on with or overt suicidal thoughts.

You seem to know where you are at and you seem clear that you need meds. I would just say that you only need medication if you have the "biological" symptoms outlined above which almost always accompany the low mood. You are right - when depression reaches a certain point talking therapies alone can do little to alleviate the distress. However, I would say not to rule it entirely - research has shown that the best outcomes are for a combination of meds and talking therapies. There are psychologists and counsellors attached to the Psych Unit. GPs unfortunately rarely have direct access to them (unlike the UK).

2. Attend your GP with a view to obtaining an appointment in outpatients in the Psych Unit at the hospital. As other posters have said this can take a few months (REMEMBER YOUR GP CAN TREAT YOU DURING THIS TIME) and it's likely you would be initially seen by a junior doctor in an often busy outpatient clinic. That doctor would take a full history and would (hopefully) discuss your case with the Consultant before initiating treatment. At least it's free.

The 4 Consultants in the Unit are Prof Colm MacDonald, Laura Mannion, Sheila O' Sullivan and Elisabeth Walsh. I'm obviously biased but all are experienced, enthusiastic and competent. Psychiatrists should be the doctors with the best manner with people and most have a neccesary sense of realism (and humour).

3. If you really don't feel well or don't want to be treated by a GP, ask them for a referral letter to UCHG A+E or else just go there yourself with no letter (frowned on a bit). The on-call Psych junior doc will assess you and will often arrange for a prompt follow up appointment in a clinic or Day Hospital. I'm a bit out of touch but I think there is a hefty fee for A+E these days. (Other posters - do you have to bring cash ??!)

4. Make an appointment with the private Consultants that the were helpfully listed above. You should check the fee first. The advantage is no delay in being seen, you should have longer sessions with them and you should have their mobile number if you run into problems.

Money shouldn't make a difference but in this brutal and grossly unfair world it does.

It's often a thing that fades markedly in depression - but try to keep hopeful. You are taking the right step in seeking help. It's remarkably common - although not spoken about much - and most people recover. You are probably sick of hearing the obvious but looking after the basic boring things will help your recovery - diet / exercise / routine / keeping up social contacts with family and friends / avoiding mood altering substances / meditaion helps some

Good luck on your journey.

softmee

Thank you very much dodgygeezer, this helps a lot.

moonandstars

Deleted User wrote: »

Well if this is how you're going to respond when someone offers their help, then what exactly is the point in asking whatsoever? You're completely unwilling to accept help. If it's a doctor you're looking for, then do a search on this forum - it's been asked many many times.

She has stated she does not want to see a Psychologist. She has stated this. She didn't ask for advice to go onot the issues forum she asked for a good Psychiatrist where she can get the right medication.
And you do not know her exact issue, she could be depressed, bipolar..you are not a doctor you are just someone on a chat page.

moonandstars

LawnMower Man wrote: »

GP can prescribe anti depression meds , psychiatrist etc will just take a load of money off you and prescribe similar meds.

Not exactly true. In general GPs are not qualified enough to diagnose and prescribe medications. If a person has a serious mental health condition, a GP will sometimes refer them to a Psychiatrist.. (a good GP).
Alot of GPs tend to throw anti-depressants at people as they see depression as a an almost blanket mental health condition amoungst people. There are different types of depression and mood disorders doctors really are not qualified to deal with.

biko

Thread is one year old. Why are you digging it up?

moonandstars

biko wrote: »

Thread is one year old. Why are you digging it up?

Well I didnt actually realise. And I have an opinion so why not give it?

If the thread is not meant to be touched then why is it still open?

It's just an opinion, not a big deal really.

biko

Yeah, no biggie. Digging up old threads is usually not ok as the info in the thread is only valid at the time of posting, usually.
Btw, should anyone be interested - there is a Psychology forum here.
Also check out www.mentalhealthireland.ie
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