Clinical Psychiatry | Auckland Psychiatrist
Specialist Assessment & Treatment
Anxiety
Depression
OCD
Bipolar
PTSD
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Psychosis
ANXIETY
Are you suffering from anxiety issues that are affecting your personal life, holding you back professionally and disrupting your social life?
Auckland Psychiatrist specialises in the diagnosis of anxiety symptoms and treatment. Our experienced psychiatrists will help you manage the anxiety symptoms and identify the best way forward with a suitable bespoke treatment plan.
What is Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety symptoms can differ from person to person, and so can their severity. Each individual tends to exhibit different anxiety symptoms, with some displaying just 1 or 2 symptoms, and others suffering from more. You may be experiencing fear, panic, worry or unease, feeling worried or nervous all the time, feeling tired, unable to concentrate, dizziness, faintness, indigestion, diarrhoea, feeling irritable, restless or tensed and sleeping difficulties (e.g., insomnia), irregular heartbeats (palpitations) or increased heart rate, sweating, muscle tension and pains, breathing heavily, twitching or tremors, and hyperventilation (breathing fast).
Can medications help with anxiety disorder?
Anxiety medication may help NZ patients to feel less anxious and cope better so that they can start to enjoy life and deal with problems more effectively. While there are different types of anxiety medication available in NZ, it is not necessarily a given that you will require them for treatment. Your doctor will assess your conditions, closely monitor your progress and may decide to prescribe anxiety medications if they feel you could benefit from them.
depression
Are you or someone you know is suffering from a depressive disorder?
At Auckland Psychiatrist, we have extensive training in the depression assessment and depression treatment and can prescribe depression medication to our patients in NZ. It’s normal for everyone to feel sad or upset from time-to-time, but if these feelings are intense, persistent or are affecting your quality of life, you may be suffering from clinical depression. Seeking help and support for depression can be daunting, but it really is the most important step you can take. At Auckland Psychiatrist, we can provide the best depression treatment. It’s always important to have a thorough depression assessment initially so that you can be certain about the diagnosis is and plan the treatment that’s going to be right for you. Our psychiatrists will work closely with you to understand your difficulties, the root cause of your condition and to provide you with the necessary tools to move forward and lead a happy, fulfilled life.
Bipolar Depression
Depression can be categorised into different types of the disorder based on the symptoms you are experiencing. Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, includes episodes of intense depression, or mania, interspersed with periods of extreme happiness or undue irritability. Bipolar Disorder can result in self-destructive behaviours, and feelings of euphoria that others around you may not understand, which can affect your relationships.
Depression Treatment
It can be difficult to identify when you are suffering from depression because the condition lowers self-esteem and feelings of confidence in your own judgment. Ironically, you may be more likely to think you’re making a fuss about nothing at a time when you most need help. But with depression, feelings of sadness are persistent, draining, unhelpful, and most importantly, not your fault.
Depression Medication
Depression medication is available in NZ to treat patients with severe depression. There are different families of antidepressants that treat depression, anxiety and related mental conditions. In recent years, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have become widely used as depression medication in NZ. These drugs work to help keep serotonin in your system for longer, regulating the feel-good chemicals in the brain. Many patients report favourable results with SSRI depression medication in NZ. A combination of antidepressant medication and psychological therapy is most effective for depression treatment.
OCD
How can we help with OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, known as OCD, is a mental health disorder, in which individuals have repeated unwanted thoughts, feelings or behaviour. OCD symptoms can periodically worsen and take over a person’s life. Although it is never too late to get help, early OCD treatment can help keep the symptoms of OCD and its disruptions to your daily life, to a minimum. With an accurate diagnosis from our OCD specialists in Auckland, most people can overcome their obsessive-compulsive behaviour with adequate psychological OCD treatment. Our OCD specialists in Auckland can work closely with you as part of a tailored treatment plan to address the source and triggers of your obsessions and/or compulsions, helping you to manage these and regain control of your life. Get in touch with us today.
What are the common OCD symptoms?
OCD sufferers experience intrusive unpleasant thoughts, fears or images (obsessions) that cause doubt and uncertainty. They may consequently engage in repetitive rituals and behaviours (compulsions) that are time consuming.
How is OCD treated?
OCD is treated with a range of medications including SSRI medications. Adjunctive psychological therapy is also beneficial.
BIPOLAR
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a condition that can affect your mood, making it swing from one extreme to another. If you are suffering from bipolar disorder, you have episodes of depression during which you feel low and lethargic alternating with episodes of mania during which you feel high and overactive. Symptoms of bipolar disorder depend on which mood you experience at the time. Unlike mood swings, in bipolar disorder, each mood can last for several weeks with some people not often experiencing a ‘normal’ or ordinary mood.
What are the common symptoms of Bipolar disorder?
In Bipolar depressive phase, you can experience depressed mood or despondency, uncontrollable crying, anxiety, loss of interest or enjoyment in activities, withdrawal from family and friends, excessive guilt. In Bipolar manic phase, you can experience symptoms of elevated mood, increased energy, unusual talkativeness, racing thoughts, little need for sleep, inflated self-esteem, spending sprees and marked irritability.
How is Bipolar disorder treated ?
Bipolar disorder can be effectively treated, but there is always a chance it will reoccur. That is why at Auckland Psychiatrist, we encourage our patients to practice ongoing awareness, and we are always available should they need any further help. An important aspect of treatment is also to determine what might have triggered a bipolar episode and work at minimising its negative impact. We work with our patients to identify key emotional or social triggers and anything that might interfere with the treatments prescribed.
The major goals of treatment are to:
Treat and reduce the severity of acute episodes of mania or depression when they occur
Reduce the frequency of episodes
Avoid cycling from one phase to another
Improve the patient’s overall quality of life
If you would like to talk to someone about Bipolar Disorder Mania treatment and help in Auckland, please get in touch with us at Auckland Psychiatrist to arrange an appointment.
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by a range of symptoms that may include intrusive memories, avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event, negative changes in mood and cognition, and heightened arousal responses such as irritability or hypervigilance. These symptoms can significantly impact daily functioning and overall quality of life. Treatment often involves a combination of psychotherapy and medications. Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are commonly prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety associated with PTSD. Additionally, other medications, such as benzodiazepines or prazosin, may be used to address specific symptoms like insomnia or nightmares. It is important for individuals to work closely with their healthcare providers to determine the most appropriate treatment plan tailored to their unique needs.
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. At Auckland Psychiatrist, we offer comprehensive assessment and develop tailored treatment plans for individuals diagnosed with ASD. Our experienced clinicians utilize evidence-based approaches, including medications for co-existing mental conditions such as anxiety & depression.
PSYCHOSIS
Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, are mental health conditions characterized by significant disturbances in thought processes, perceptions, and emotions. Individuals experiencing these disorders may encounter symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking, which can severely impact their daily functioning and quality of life. Treatment often involves antipsychotic medications, which are designed to manage these symptoms by targeting neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly dopamine. These medications can be effective in reducing psychotic symptoms, improving overall functioning, and allowing individuals to engage more fully in their lives. However, it is essential for treatment to be closely monitored by a healthcare professional, as responses to medication can vary and side effects may occur. Psychotherapy and psychosocial support are also important components of a comprehensive treatment plan, aiming to enhance coping strategies and improve social skills.