Difference between psychiatrist and psychologist?
September 1st, 2009 by admin | Filed in Anxiety Symptoms
I have been having a lot of physical health issues lately (numbness/weakness in limbs, chest discomfort, trouble breathing, visual disturbances, etc.). I’ve had blood work, x-rays, CT scan, MRI, seen a neurologist… no one can find any thing wrong physically. My doctor insists that all my symptoms are related to stress/anxiety and wants me to see either a psychiatrist or a psychologist. So my questions are: Will seeing either really be able to help with these physical symptoms? Which would be better to see in my case?
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Tags: anxiety, blood work, chest discomfort, ct scan, mri, neurologist, numbness, physical health issues, psychiatrist, psychologist, visual disturbances, x rays
Although it is possible that your symptoms are related to stress/anxiety, unless they occur spontaneously/suddenly (e.g., you panic when you enter the mall, can’t breathe, legs go numb) and remit suddely (after the attack, you are back to normal), there is something more going on here.
Just because your docs couldn’t figure it out, they want to pass you off to a shrink. This is NOT always the appropriate move.
Is it possible that your symptoms are solely related to panic attacks? Sure. It is equally possible, however, that there is a very real physiological problem that your docs have not yet found. Docs are notorious for shipping off patients to the shrink when they are at the limits of their knowledge/expertise.
Lyme disease, for example, could explain all the symptoms you have described above.
My best advice to you is to see a RHEUMATOLOGIST. They are skilled at taking diverse symptoms and making sense out of them. Be SURE to be screened (at a GOOD lab like Igenex – not a bigbox lab like Quest/LabCorp) for Lyme disease.
In answer to your question, psychiatrists are medical doctors with precious little training in psychotherapy (they are mainly script writers). Psychologists are also (non medical) doctors (i.e., Ph.D.s and Psy.D.s). They are highly trained in the provision of psychotherapy. In two states (i.e., NM and LA), psychologists with the prerequisite training have now obtained prescription privileges, and legislation is pending in several other states.
Best of luck to you in your treatment process,
~M~
Psychiatrist is a Medical Doctor….can diagnose mental illnesses and prescribe medications……. Psycologist has a psychology degree, is not a Dr and can not prescribe medications.
Psychiatrist would be better for your case because if needed they can prescribe meds. If you just need therapy, then you would see a psychologist
A psychiatrist is a psychologist who also is a medical doctor – an MD or DO. The psychiatrist can prescribe drugs – a psychologist cannot.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and can prescribe medications to help with your symptoms and also is a therapist. A psychologist is a therapist that can not write prescriptions but is a great listener. It does sound like you are dealing with a big stresser in your life from the symptoms you are having. It may benefit you more to go to a psychiatrist to kill 2 birds with one stone. You can talk out any problems you may have and receive any medication that could help you. Good luck…
A psychiatrist can prescribe medications; a psychologist cannot. Go see a psychiatrist.
Sounds to me that you have some anxiety disorder going on there.A psychiatrist is your best bet because you may need some meds to deal with it if its that bad.I caught mine before it got that bad and now I take no meds at all.Good luck and I’ll be praying for you.Sharon Weyandt