We know that people with diabetes have about twice the rate of clinical depression as those without diabetes. And depression seems to hit people with diabetes with a double-whammy. They miss more days from work and report a much poorer sense of everyday well-being and health than people with either depression alone or diabetes alone. The fear of getting diabetes complications, or living with them once they appear, increases the risk for depression. The anger or guilt related to complications can cause a person to become depressed if he or she does not express these feelings or learn to cope with them. If you believe you may be depressed, a good place to begin your search for a mental health worker is to talk with your diabetes healthcare team. Ask if they know someone who works with people who have diabetes and understands the issues you face. You also need to check with your health insurance company to see if there are any therapists in your network.
Choosing A Mental Health Professional
The first step is to choose a mental health professional. You can see a social worker, psychologist or a psychiatrist. Social workers talk with people and their families about their emotional or physical needs and help find financial and other support services. Psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology. to achieve this, they spend about 6 to 10 years studying how people think, feel and behave. their training usually is in clinical psychology, counseling psychology or educational psychology. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health and mental illness. they offer counseling and can use medication to help their patients manage their mental illnesses.
Before You Go
think about your goals for therapy. Decide what you hope to gain from your visits. you may find it helpful to interview several mental health specialists before you choose one. In order for them to help you, you need to feel at ease and be able to relate to them and their style.
6 Questions To Ask
- Are you licensed in this state?
- What insurances do you accept?
- Do you prescribe medicines as part of treatment?
- Do you work with people who have diabetes?
- What should I do to prepare for my first visit?
- What style or method of therapy do you use?
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