How do I find a good psychiatrist?

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In my 20's I suffered from what, in this forum, we might call executive dysfunction - running and hiding from stressful work and issues. At the time, we called it depression, and medication seemed to smooth it out.

Since then, I've come to suspect I'm on the high-functioning region of the autism spectrum.

So now, at 50, I'm debating going back to a psychiatrist, and seeing if 25 years of progress in the field could help me improve my life. But I have no idea what to look for. Some quick google searches turn up mostly child/adolescent psychiatrists. I'd be interested in seeing feedback from other patients, but I don't know if that is possible.

For some additional background, I struggle with weight, sleep, and exercise. I also find being social a burden, which is a special concern because my wife and three kids would really appreciate more of my time and attention.

Please give me your tips for finding a good psychiatrist.

Thanks!

Welcome to Wrong Planet.

Without knowing the general area where you are from it hard to say but I can give you a general idea of what type of professional to look for. A psychologist is generally better then a psychiatrist for an autism assessment. Preferably a psychologist who has knowledge of how autism presents in adults. That type of professional can be hard to find as for a long time autism was thought to be a childhood condition. While this is changing a lot of residue of that type of thinking remains.

A place for recommendations are your local or regional autism association. If there is a local Autism or Aspergers meetup or support group for adults that is another place to look for recommendations. Due to the pandemic most of these are online for the time being. Like Wrong Planet most these groups accept “undiagnosed” members.

Thanks for the reply! I'm in the Columbus, OH area, and I'm not particularly looking for an autism diagnosis. I just want help with my specific issues. I also want to review my medications and see if they are still the best ones available for me. But I figured that a therapist with some autism knowledge would be more useful to me.

I would probably suggest a psychiatrist who is familiar with the Polyvagal Theory and integrates it into their practice.

A psychiatrist can proscribe medication a psychologist can not.

If you are autistic your symptoms may be caused or exacerbated by the autism. Thus you might be treating symptoms but not the or a cause. That is not necessarily bad. We do this all the time, every time we take cold medication for example. It could be problematic such as treating cancer pain with pain meds only. Don’t worry Autism is nothing like cancer.

The best answer is simple,looking online or in the yellow pages does not give you an idea of the quality of psychiatrist one may be.

If you a general practicioner medical doctor I would ask them,I know there medical not psyche but they know people and they all went to medical school and your medical doctor would have the best idea of the best psychiatrist in your area.

Also if you have a master's of social work type talk therapist they would have great knowledge on the subject.

So talk on the phone or in person to one of those two people if you have them.