Side effects of seeing a psychiatrist?

Question

I have wondered for a while if there is something wrong with me mentally. So I'm going to get diagnosed by a psychiatrist.
I made the appointment mostly because I'm secretly hoping he'll tell me I'm the normal kind of crazy... Aka a healthy woman... but now I'm wondering what if they find out I actually have a condition, can that end up on my record?
Could it destroy my chances of fostering or adopting one day? Or for a job background check?
My father has manic depression... So I'm just wondering if I'm about to do something that I will regret later... Better left unknown? I'm not planning on taking medication anyway. I just want peace of mind... Which may end up backfiring if they tell me I have something I didn't even consider. I'm a hot mess so anything could come from this...
Any advice? I'm in the USA btw.

Answer

ER nurse who works with psych patients here: out of sight out of mind is THE WORST way to handle possible mental illness, as it is with any illness. More often than people think, conditions can be managed without medication. Yes, medication can be needed and it is something you would have to talk to your doctor about if that time comes. However, it is essential that you be evaluated if you think something might be off. Would you ignore stomach pains that wouldn’t go away? No, you’d probably see your doctor. It shouldn’t be any different with mental health. 
As far as background checks for a job, no it won’t effect it. I don’t believe the foster system can see it either (HIPAA laws). The only way they would see it is if you were charged with something and deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Answer

try to see a therapist first instead of seeking a psychiatrist. It sounds more like you just want to talk through some things that you are going through instead of a medical diagnosis.

Answer

I'm a therapist and that answer is complicated.  I treat first responders who have to take polygraphs at some departments before they can be hired. I recently had a patient who has been a first responder for 10 years denied employment at a new department because he said he was in therapy for PTSD and they deemed him a liability.  
As for foster care, you need to carefully decide whether that is something you can handle with any sort of mental health issue. These are kids who are often traumatized, abused, neglected, and do not function like "normal" kids. They will not love like other kids, they will push you away, say awful things, maybe do awful things because they've come to know adults as unsafe. I suggest reading Building the Bonds of Attachment by Dan Hughes to get a taste for it.
All that being said please seek help if you feel you need it. One way to get around anything being "in your mental health record" is to not use your insurance (in the US). You'll pay out of pocket but there is no paper trail to your insurance that could come up later as a pre existing condition.

Answer

Thank you everyone ♥

Side effects of seeing a psychiatrist?

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