<p>Looking for information regarding getting help for DS. He is currently in a long term engineering co-op at a prestigious company, far from home. Having trouble adjusting - in college he is at the very top of his class but feels he is at the bottom of the interns at this company, mostly due to not having as much education in the area he works in as other interns have. </p>
<p>Normally handles stress well (he is a rising college senior with over a 4.0 GPA), but recognizes that he is having trouble sleeping, having anxiety about his work performance and is wanting some coping mechanism/someone to talk to/medication if necessary. He does not think he will be able to complete the co-op if he doesn’t get some kind of help.</p>
<p>He is open to finding some sort of mental health assistance. What should he be thinking about? Is there a disadvantage to having a mental health medical record? Should we do this on a cash basis instead? Therapist? How to find one? Psychologist? Psychiatrist? How to find someone in an area where you don’t know anyone? Should he start with a physical instead and then look for a recommendation there?</p>
<p>These days, with so many people in therapy, it is not a stigma to seek it. </p>
<p>Does his school offer counseling through student services? If so, they are very used to working with these type of issues. If not, I’d suggest starting with a psychologist. If he has a medical insurance plan, you can search their website for a list of providers in the area. </p>
<p>I highly recommend him making an initial appointment with a couple of therapists - interviewing them to see the best fit for him. This is not at all unusual to do, and will increase his odds of finding someone comfortable for him to work with. The psychologist will make a referral to a psychiatrist if it looks like a medication evaluation is indicated.</p>
<p>If he’s under your insurance, you (or he) can call insurer to find our what psychologists in the area sriund his job are covered by insurance(if it matters to you). Agree it could be helpful to see several to find a good fit. Since he’s working, he will have to ask if they can see him outside of work hours and see whether they have openings for new patients. Can also ask to be put on list to be called if there are openings sooner due to cancellations. Good luck! Your S is lucky to have your support!</p>
<p>I think the biggest challenge in this kind of situation is the wait. Waiting for an appointment and then, if medication is decided on, waiting until the medication starts to work.</p>
<p>I agree to look at a list of providers in his area that are accepted by your insurance. You may want to limit this search to providers who can prescribe medication if it is warranted. Otherwise, he will have to wait, yet again, for an appointment with a psych person who prescribes.</p>
<p>It is great that he is willing to get some help with his anxiety. Reassure him that their are sooooo many people who have the same issue and it is very, very treatable.</p>
<p>All this advice is very good; just wanted to suggest that while he waits for an appointment, he might try exercise. Buy a rowing machine, or just walk (at least 1.5-2 miles) everyday. Get an inspirational podcast to listen to while walking. Not at all downplaying his legitimate feelings, but it’s hard to wait. And sometimes nice to feel like you are doing something about the problem. Being outside has lots of clinically, research-supported positive benefits.</p>
<p>Do this initially on a cash basis. These things follow people around and can be used as red flags by employers. This occurs even if laws are meant to prevent discrimination. If he is overweight and snores, consider a sleep study to rule out sleep apnea.</p>
<p>I disagree with speculation that you don’t want mental health treatment in his files.
I know lots of people, some with very restrictive security clearances who have sought help at times.
I would agree that some psychiatrists expect to be paid upfront because they don’t take insurance, but it is * much healthier* to have help when you need it, than go without it.
& it can be fairly expensive not to use insurance.</p>
<p>He may find he needs two providers. A psychiatrist to prescribe medication ( temporarily)that can provide relief while he finds a counselor that can help him sort out what’s going on.
I’ve often thought the best therapists were MSW’s.
They are taught a pragmatic approach which had speedier results than psychologists I’ve seen.</p>
<p>Does the company have any sort of human resources department that can help him find a mentor or peer support? From what you have described, it does not sound as though he has a history of anxiety or mental health problems, but is feeling insecure and lacks support from his coworkers and managers. This is a universal problem for young people entering a competitive work force, and many large companies have resources and strategies to help. </p>
<p>Agree that sleep is critical to facing stressful situations successfully. As a first step he may want to talk to a primary care physician and perhaps try a sleep medicine to see if that helps.</p>
<p>Many pulmonologists are certified in sleep and can evaluate his sleep habits and order a sleep study as needed. Agree that exercise is an important mood elevator and sleep enhancer. The consult with the sleep specialist and sleep study should also be cornered by most insurers.</p>
<p>I’ve consulted with several psychologists over the years, as have both of my kids. S had no trouble getting a top security clearance and we had insurance pay for all counselors. The cash price for each would have been more than I wanted to pay out of pocket. I had no trouble getting my dream job, which included a background check, even though I’ve seen counselors over the years for various issues.</p>
<p>While waiting for his appointment please remind him that the first job is extremely difficult for people who are A students because nobody is grading them. This leaves you feeling like you must be doing a bad job, since nobody is telling you you are doing a good job. It is awkward to go to the boss and say, “how’m I doing?” but it can be a helpful thing to do. It is also hard for A students to accept if they are in a situation that is not working out well. So what if he doesn’t do well in this situation? It is not the end of the world. It is a learning experience. He will find a situation that fits even if this situation does not. This is a hard lesson to learn and especially if you’ve not experienced failure in the past.</p>
<p>Two other simple things to try: Vitamin D and fish oil. EXTREMELY important. This is information I have gotten from multiple doctors, including my sons’ psychiatrist and my ob/gyn. Vitamin D is helpful for improving mood, and fish oil can help you think better. Both my sons have serious mental illness, and along with their meds, they get both of these every day.</p>
<p>^^Second the idea of Vit D. And I’m not talking the cute 500-1000 mgs you get at GNC…I’ve been on as high a dose as 20,000. Really helped with my seasonal affect disorder.</p>
<p>Before jumping into therapy, is there a local “Y” that he can join? They should have student rates. He can set up a schedule for swimming or the gym and he could try yoga. Many Y locations offer counseling services. He is in a strange city with no support system, with his grades, it sounds like he has good study and coping skills. Is he able to bike? Is he eating well? Is it cool, dark and quiet in his bedroom? Is he drinking too much caffeine? Have him try melatonin before bed. Is it possible for you or another family member to visit for a long weekend?</p>
<p>Find a doctor who specializes in anti-aging/hormone therapy. They will run the yes, find the imbalance, and fix it. A psych or your average md will run no test, and just have him try drugs until one works. Some people do have great success with antidepressants and anti anxiety meds, but the way I mentioned is testing the source and not the symptoms. It is hard to find a good hormone doctor, don’t go to an endocrinologist.</p>
<p>I say that because I was sick for a long time and I learned about hormones, because I thought that was my problem for a long time. </p>
<p>You’d be surprised how a vitamin deficiency, bacteria infection, hormone imbalance can effect someone mentally.</p>