They may be more long-term such as a deep depression that causes everyday life to appear distorted or out of control. People often seek psychotherapy when they have tried other approaches to solving a personal problem. For example, people who are depressed, anxious, or have drug or alcohol problems may find that talking to friends or family members is not enough to resolve their problems. Sometimes people may want to talk to a therapist about problems they would feel uncomfortable discussing with friends or family, such as being sexually abused as a child. Finding a therapist to talk to who is knowledgeable about emotional problems, has patients' best interests at heart, and is relatively objective can be extremely helpful.
Psychiatrists use a wide range of treatments.
These include many forms of psychotherapy, psychotropic and other medications, and hospitalization according to the needs of each patient. Psychotherapy is a systematic treatment method in which, during regularly scheduled meeting, the psychiatrist and patient discuss troubling problems and feelings. The physician helps patients understand the basis of these problems and find solutions. Treatment may take several sessions over a few weeks, or many sessions over several years. Medications are useful and helpful in many instances when an evaluation suggests that medications may correct imbalances in brain chemistry, which are thought to be the cause of many mental disorders.