Sometimes, your doctor will say things that you might not agree with. His diagnosis might sound like it doesnt incorporate all of your symptoms, or you may think that he is not treating the whole disease. How do you handle that situation? Thats when you get a second opinion. So how do you find the doctor and how do you approach this practice?

The first step is to talk with your therapist and see if he or she has another doctor whom they recommend. If they do, then that is the route you go, making an appointment there. Otherwise, you can ask your primary care physician if they have any psychiatrists whom they recommend. Or you can ask your psychiatrist, telling the doctor why you want a second opinion.

When you go to see the other psychiatrist, you will need to give them back-story as well as the diagnosis given by the original psychiatrist. Tell this doctor that you are looking for a second opinion. Tell him or her why. Detail what you think is being missed, or what your problem with the original diagnosis is. Then see what the new doctor thinks. If the diagnosis is different, ask for the two doctors to confer. Otherwise, you should feel at ease that you are getting the best treatment for your symptoms.