Quick-Reference Guide
Who should I see?
Use this table as a starting point when you are not sure which door to knock on first.
| If your situation is... | A good first step | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing stress, grief, or a rough patch in life | Counsellor, psychologist, or your family doctor | Talk-based support is often enough |
| Worry, fear, or panic that is hard to control | Family doctor, then a psychologist or therapist | CBT and similar therapies work well for anxiety |
| Low mood for more than two weeks | Family doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist | Therapy, medicine, or both may help |
| Hearing voices, seeing things, or strong unusual beliefs | Psychiatrist or urgent medical assessment | Needs a medical evaluation and often medicine |
| Mood swings with periods of very high energy | Psychiatrist | Bipolar disorder usually needs medical treatment |
| Trouble paying attention or sitting still since childhood | Psychologist, paediatrician, or psychiatrist | A full assessment is needed for ADHD |
| Memory loss or confusion in an older person | Family doctor, then a neurologist or geriatric specialist | Many causes, some of them reversible |
| Problems with alcohol or drugs | Family doctor, addiction service, or psychiatrist | Withdrawal can be dangerous without supervision |
| Thoughts of suicide or self-harm | Emergency services or the nearest hospital | Immediate safety comes first |
| You are unsure | Your family doctor | A safe, easy place to start |
The professionals at a glance
Titles and training differ between countries, but these are the usual roles.
| Professional | Medical doctor? | Can prescribe? | Typical focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrist | Yes | Yes | Diagnosis, medicine, severe or complex illness |
| Clinical psychologist | No | Usually no | Assessment, psychological testing, therapy |
| Counselling psychologist | No | No | Emotional, work, and relationship issues |
| Psychotherapist | Varies | No | Longer-term talk therapy |
| Counsellor | No | No | Guidance and support for life problems |
| Psychiatric nurse | No | Sometimes | Ongoing care, medicine monitoring, support |
| Social worker | No | No | Practical help, family and community resources |
| Occupational therapist | No | No | Daily living, work, and coping skills |
| Neurologist | Yes | Yes | Diseases of the brain and nerves |
| Peer support worker | No | No | Sharing lived experience and hope |
Common conditions at a glance
Each condition below is described in more detail in Volume 2.
| Condition | Core experience | Usual first treatments |
|---|---|---|
| Generalised anxiety | Constant, hard-to-control worry with tension | CBT, relaxation skills, sometimes medicine |
| Panic disorder | Sudden waves of intense fear with body symptoms | CBT, breathing skills, sometimes medicine |
| Social anxiety | Fear of being judged in social situations | CBT with gradual exposure, sometimes medicine |
| Phobia | Intense fear of a specific object or situation | Exposure therapy |
| OCD | Unwanted thoughts and repeated rituals | CBT with exposure and response prevention, medicine |
| PTSD | Re-experiencing, avoidance, and alertness after trauma | Trauma-focused therapy, sometimes medicine |
| Depression | Low mood or lost interest with changes in sleep and energy | Therapy, medicine, or both, plus activity and support |
| Bipolar disorder | Episodes of depression and of elevated or irritable mood | Mood stabilisers and other medicines, therapy |
| ADHD | Ongoing inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity | Education, skills coaching, sometimes medicine |
| Autism | Differences in communication, social interaction, and sensory experience | Support, adjustments, and skills-based help |
| Schizophrenia | Psychosis plus changes in motivation and thinking | Antipsychotic medicine, therapy, family and community support |
| Eating disorders | Harmful patterns around food, weight, and body image | Specialist therapy and medical monitoring |
| Substance use disorder | Continued use despite harm and difficulty stopping | Medical support, therapy, mutual-help groups |
| Insomnia | Ongoing trouble sleeping with daytime effects | CBT for insomnia, sleep habits, medical review |
Therapies at a glance
Many therapies overlap, and a good therapist often blends several of them.
| Therapy | Main idea | Often used for |
|---|---|---|
| CBT | Change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours | Anxiety, depression, OCD, insomnia |
| Behavioural activation | Rebuild rewarding, meaningful activities | Depression |
| ACT | Accept difficult feelings and act on values | Anxiety, depression, chronic pain |
| DBT | Skills for emotions, distress, and relationships | Intense emotions, self-harm urges |
| Psychodynamic | Explore past experiences and hidden patterns | Long-standing relationship and identity issues |
| Interpersonal therapy | Improve relationships and role changes | Depression |
| EMDR and trauma-focused CBT | Process traumatic memories safely | PTSD and trauma |
| Family therapy | Improve communication and support at home | Youth problems, psychosis, relationship conflict |
| Group therapy | Learn and heal with others who share an experience | Many conditions |
| Mindfulness-based programmes | Train attention and acceptance | Recurrent depression, stress |
Medicine groups at a glance
This table describes groups of medicines in general terms. It does not list doses and does not replace a prescriber’s advice.
| Group | Used mainly for | Good to know | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antidepressants | Depression, anxiety, OCD | Often take several weeks to work; do not stop suddenly | |
| Anti-anxiety medicines | Short-term relief of severe anxiety | Some can cause dependence and are used with care | |
| Mood stabilisers | Bipolar disorder | May need regular blood tests | |
| Antipsychotics | Psychosis, bipolar disorder, severe agitation | Side effects such as weight gain and drowsiness need monitoring | |
| Stimulant and non-stimulant ADHD medicines | ADHD | Require careful prescribing and review | |
| Sleep medicines | Short-term sleep problems | Not a long-term answer; sleep habits matter more | |
| Medicines for addiction | Alcohol, opioid, and nicotine dependence | Work best alongside counselling and support | |
A WORD OF CAUTION Never start, change, or stop a psychiatric medicine without talking to the prescriber. Some medicines need to be reduced slowly, and mixing them with alcohol, other medicines, or herbal products can be unsafe. Keep a current list of everything you take and share it with every health professional you see. |
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Warning signs at a glance
Contact a professional soon if you notice any of these for more than about two weeks, or sooner if they are severe:
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Persistent sadness, emptiness, or irritability
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Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
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Big changes in sleep or appetite
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Constant worry, fear, or panic
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Withdrawing from friends, family, work, or school
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Feeling worthless, guilty, or hopeless
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Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
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Using alcohol or drugs to cope
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Strange experiences, such as hearing voices or feeling watched
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Thoughts of harming yourself or others
WHEN IT IS AN EMERGENCY
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or you are thinking about ending your life, contact your local emergency number or emergency service right now, or go to the nearest hospital. Do not wait.
All 35 chapters · 183 stories from real life · 61 Hindu shloks for the mind · Psychology for Everyone – A Mental Well Being Series