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Natascia is a brilliant psychologist and I would recommend her wholeheartedly. She helped me through a rough period in my life. She is very open and understanding. Very pleasant and goes above and beyond for all her patients.
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A psychiatry consultation involves a conversation between you and a psychiatrist to find out what might be wrong and to come up with a management or treatment plan to help with the problem.
Psychiatry is a medical field that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health conditions. A doctor who specializes in psychiatry is called a psychiatrist. There are several reasons why someone chooses to have or is referred by their GP to see and consult a psychiatrist. These include:
Worry, fear, and anxiety
Problems adjusting after experiencing stress or major life changes
Depressed
Bad/low mood that does not go away
Thoughts of hurting other people
Suicidal thinking
Hurting themselves on purpose
Being unable to sleep, relax, or wind down
Having too much energy
Obsessional thinking
Constant negative thinking
Feeling jumpy or on edge
Feeling like people want to harm you or after you
Delusions (fixed beliefs with no basis in reality)
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not actually there)
Memory problems
Disjointed, rushing thoughts
Hyperactivity, poor concentration and attention
Agitation, violence, or emotional outbursts
Out of control drug or alcohol use
Problem gaming, gambling, or other addictive behaviors
Insomnia or other sleep problems
Problems around body image, dieting or eating
Conditions that begins in childhood, such as childhood anxiety, intellectual disability, and autism.
Mental health conditions that may be diagnosed and treated in psychiatry consultations are as follows:
Anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Depression and bipolar disorder
Phobias
Personality disorders
Paranoia and schizophrenia
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Sleep disorders, such as insomnia
Eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia
Addictions, such as alcohol and drug misuse.
Psychiatry consultation is usually needed for people with long-term, terminal, or painful physical health conditions to provide psychological support as well.
During your first psychiatry consultation, your psychiatrist will do an initial assessment. The first consultation is usually the longest as it should give your psychiatrist time to listen to you and hear your whole story.
Be prepared to answer lots of questions. Your psychiatrist will ask you about the problem that brought you to see them and general questions about your life and thoughts. It might be hard to answer open-ended questions, but remember that there is no wrong way to answer the questions and your psychiatrist will guide you through the interview. To get the most out of your psychiatry consultation, you should come prepared so you can be specific. If you feel comfortable, you can also share the goals you would like to achieve from the treatment. All the information you give can help your psychiatrist develop an individualized treatment plan.
You will also be asked about your medical and psychiatric history, both personal and family. Therefore, make sure that you prepare the following:
A list of medications you are taking
A list of any and all psychiatric medications you may have tried in the past and how long you took them for
Your medical concerns and any diagnoses
Family history about a psychiatric problem, if there are any.
Your psychiatrist may also want to speak with members of your family and speak with other health professionals.
Next, your psychiatrist may take your blood pressure and do a basic physical checkup, including taking your temperature and weight. In some cases, other testing or scans may be ordered.
Based on the information your psychiatrist gathered and the test results, they will make a full diagnosis. Then, the next step is to create a treatment plan. A treatment plan consists of a combination of therapies that suit your needs, personal preferences, age, and family situation. Your psychiatrist may prescribe medication or suggest other treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or counseling.
Your psychiatrist may continue to manage your treatment or you may be referred to see other health professionals, such as a psychologist.
Your next psychiatry consultation will typically be shorter than the first. In general, you will discuss how the medicines or treatments are working, and give a concise overview of how you are doing. Your psychiatrist or other healthcare professional will decide whether your medications or treatment need to be adjusted or not.
You can leave the hospital or clinic as soon as your psychiatry consultation is finished. While your length of stay will depend on your circumstances, you usually do not have to stay in Johannesburg any longer than you want to.
No recovery time is needed after the psychiatry consultation itself. You should be allowed to go back to your normal activities, including work and exercise, immediately after your treatment. Note that it is normal to feel emotionally drained or overwhelmed after a psychiatry consultation. Therefore, it is okay to rest after your consultation and return to your daily activities when you feel ready.
Your recovery will start after treatment, which will depend on your specific condition and the type of treatment you undergo.
If your psychiatrist prescribes medications, make sure to take it as directed. You will probably need to see your psychiatrist regularly if your psychiatrist is providing you with psychological treatments. In addition, you may be suggested to go back to your GP for a regular checkup. They may also refer you to see a psychologist, social worker, or other therapists.
In most cases, you may need to attend more than one psychiatrist consultation. However, if your GP refers you to attend a psychiatry consultation only for a management plan or second opinion, you may not need to go back for another consultation.
Psychiatry consultation is the first step of treatment for mental health conditions. Consultations have high success rates in diagnosing your condition and finding out the reason for your problems. There is typically no risks involved in psychiatric consultations. Discussing your past, problems, family history, and treatment goals can bring up sensitive issues that may cause you to feel a lot of emotions.
You may be able to see other mental health professionals, such as a clinical psychologist, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, or other therapists. They usually provide therapy. However, they cannot prescribe medication.
Before psychiatry consultation, you may experience symptoms that can interfere with your ability to function in work, school, or social environment, but you do not know the reason or the condition that you have. After the consultation, your psychiatrist should be able to make a diagnosis and help you with creating a treatment plan.
Whilst the information presented here has been accurately sourced and verified by a medical professional for its accuracy, it is still advised to consult with your doctor before pursuing a medical treatment at one of the listed medical providers
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Johannesburg is the most populous as well as the largest city in South Africa. There is a lot to see and do in Johannesburg. Home to the Apartheid Museum, it is the perfect place for anyone who loves history and wants to learn more about the country’s past. There are also MOAD and MuseuMAfriCA that exhibit the city’s art and history. Other than the museums, the metropolitan city has a number of other things to do, such as enjoying Gold Reef City, shopping in its many markets, and visiting The Cradle of Human Kind.
Today, people have found a new reason to visit Johannesburg: medical tourism. Although it is not as widely known as other medical tourism destinations in other parts of the world, the city has seen a steady rise in medical tourists. The urban city features public and private medical centers with the highest standards, well-trained medical practitioners, and cutting-edge technology. Most of the medical centers have English speaking doctors, nurses, and staff, so there is no language barrier for foreign medical tourists. Plastic surgery, particularly tummy tuck, is one of the more popular procedures since it is much cheaper here than in Western countries.
While Johannesburg is not a popular tourist destination, there are a number of things to see and do in the city. The city is mostly known as Nelson Mandela’s home and has an array of astonishing museums. Those who love history and want to learn about the country’s struggle will enjoy the Apartheid Museum. It exhibits the story of apartheid through photographs, film footage, clippings, newspaper, and artifacts. Mandela House in Soweto Street is also worth a visit. It was once Nelson Mandela’s home. The museum showcases photographs, paintings, as well as awards and recognitions earned by Nelson Mandela.
One of the most popular places is the Lion Park. The safari park offers an amazing chance to watch lions and several other animals up close. There are also other activities such as animal interactions and hand-feeding a few animals, such as ostriches and giraffes. Other than the Lion Park, Pilanesberg National Park is famous among wildlife enthusiast. The national park is filled with opulent ecosystem and wildlife. Tourists can experience a safari and spot lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, zebras, and over 300 bird species in their natural habitat.
Johannesburg is popular for its art and you must visit the Maboneng Precinct where you will find art-studios and shops selling art pieces. Wits Art Museum is another great place to admire African art. If you want to know more about the culture, Lesedi Cultural Village is the best place to go. Here, tourists can learn more about traditional South African culture and a chance to encounter people of Zulu, Pedi, Ndebele, Xhosa, and Basotho origin. Other places including SAB World of Beer, Gold Reef City, Holly Hill, Market Theatre, Constitution Hill, and Mary Fitzgerald Square are also a must-visit.
Johannesburg experiences a subtropical highland climate. The summer, which runs from October to April, is characterized by hot days with thundershowers in the afternoon and cool evenings. The temperature is mostly mild during the summer. January is one of the hottest months, with an average maximum daytime temperature of 25.6 °C. The summer has an extreme UV index, sometimes reaching as high as 14-16. Therefore, tourists must wear sun-protective clothing and apply sunscreen during the day to avoid sunburn.
In the winter, the city enjoys sunny days and cold nights. This season is dry, and the average maximum temperature is around 16 °C. In June and July, the temperature can drop to 4.1 °C and occasionally drops below freezing at night. The freezing temperature causes frost, but snow is rare. It is advisable to bring warm clothing during this season.
International visitors usually arrive at O. R. Tambo International Airport, also known as Johannesburg International Airport. It is Africa’s busiest airport and the primary airport that serves domestic and international travel. The airport connects South Africa with various cities all over the world, including London, Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Singapore, and Sydney. It is the hub for South Africa’s largest domestic and international airlines, South African Airways. Budget airlines such as FlySafair, Mango, and Kalula operate flights from this airport for an inexpensive travel option.
Johannesburg has a vast public transport system. The Gautrain rapid-rail is safe and fairly easy to navigate. The rail also links the city center with O. R. Tambo International Airport. For efficient transport, tourists can opt for the Rea Vaya bus service that has a circular route through the city and is useful to explore the City Center at a reasonable cost. Many locals will use the minibus taxi network, but it can be pretty confusing for foreign tourists. Passengers need to know a route to their destination, hail the minibus taxi from the street, and once they have arrived at their desired destination, they need to make a hand signal to stop the minibus.
Metered taxis are available but can be quite expensive. The taxis are mostly found outside hotels. Since there are only a few places to hail a taxi in the street, the best way to hail a taxi is by phone. Be careful because many taxis do not use meters so tourists would need to negotiate the price before getting in. The most reliable metered taxis are Orange Cabs, Quick Cab, and Zebra Cabs. Uber is also available for safer, quicker, and more affordable transport.
All visitors who wish to enter South Africa must hold a passport valid for at least 30 days after the expiration of their intended visit and must have at least two unused pages. Passport holders of more than 60 countries can enter and stay for up to 90 days in the country without a visa. Other nationals not listed in the visa exemption agreement must obtain a visa to the nearest South Africa embassy or consulate. The South Africa Immigration Department also offers Medical Treatment Visa for medical tourists.
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