This post is in partnership with Doctor On Demand. All opinions are my own.
The reason I keep writing about mental health is that talking about it makes me think about it. Thinking about my mental health is new for me.
I’m used to being depressed but ignoring it for years at a time. I’ve always carried around a nebulous awareness of the fact that I have depression and anxiety, but only truly acknowledged it when something traumatic amplified it — maybe a breakup or a stressful work situation. Today, I’m making an effort to be purposeful about not ignoring the way I feel, and that effort alone is helping me not be depressed. Does that make sense? I hope so.
Usually something pops up to remind me to take stock of my mental health. Sometimes it’s a rainy day that makes me feel blue, and I’ll think, “Oh yeah, have I been keeping up with my yoga?” Other times it’s simply the continuing presence of my gratitude journal that I write in nightly. But this month, my reminder was that May is Mental Health Month.
This month, I was able to book a free appointment with a doctor through Doctor On Demand, who sponsored this post. Because of Mental Health Month (and because I’m in tip-top physical health lately!) I decided to use the opportunity to discuss some concerns about anxiety during my appointment.
I wore pajamas to my Doctor On Demand appointment. It was dark out because the doctor I chose works nights!
Booking the appointment was extremely easy. You can start by choosing a doctor that is board certified in your state, or you can start with an appointment time and see who’s available. You can make an appointment even if you don’t have insurance, and the cost of a standard visit is only $75.
This is a 180 degree difference from booking a regular appointment for healthcare — the average wait time for a doctor appointment is 18.5 days, while the average wait to see a psychologist or psychiatrist is 25 days. I only waited 1 day for my appointment, and that was just because I didn’t want to do it the same day I booked it!
My cat grudgingly came to the appointment with me
When it was time for my appointment, I signed in, coffee in hand, and waited for my doctor.
My doctor was warm, professional, and thorough. I loved her! She helped me talk through a few anxiety-related concerns and together we decided to make a change to my medication to address them. She was able to send a prescription to my usual pharmacy, and I picked it up later the same day.
Video chatting with my doctor!
It’s really nice to be able to quickly see a doctor about mental health when you need it instead of making an appointment and suffering or worrying for weeks until the appointment comes. And if you need more in-depth mental health treatment, you can be referred to a Doctor On Demand psychologist or psychiatrist or just schedule an appointment yourself.
I could see Doctor On Demand being perfect for digital nomads, people who work long hours, and busy moms (read a report about moms & mental health here). Appointments can be done from a computer or there’s a Doctor On Demand app that allows you to be seen no matter where you are, for mental health or other medical concerns like allergies, cold/flu, acne, UTIs, etc.
For Mental Health Month, I encourage you to take the time to check in on your mental health like I did. Are you doing okay? Have you been prioritizing self-care? Are there concerns you’d like to discuss with a doctor? If there are, try Doctor On Demand and address them right away so you can get on with your life! Download the Doctor On Demand app here.
Janell Poulette says
May 30, 2017 at 11:15 pmI really need to try this doctor on demand things, it sounds so convenient! I get so busy sometimes and leaving the house without the kids can be impossible, so i feel like this would benefit me.
Marielle Altenor says
May 30, 2017 at 10:21 pmThat’s a fantastic service. There is still too much stigma when it comes to talking about mental health. A lot of people avoid getting help because they are ashamed to admit they have a problem. So are afraid to see a doctor that service would be so very useful.
Amanda Love says
May 30, 2017 at 10:18 pmThat’s awesome. I have never tried Doctor on Demand before but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. I think it’s definitely worth a try. Especially since it’s convenient and it’s really going to help in times of need.
Carol Cassara says
May 30, 2017 at 10:15 pmThis doctor on demand is really convenient. It’s nice to know that you found a doctor who would assist you and give you advice on what to do next. I think it’s really important that we have something like this in case we need a doctor ASAP and have no time to drive to a hospital.
Our Family World says
May 30, 2017 at 4:54 pmThis is one of the reasons why I love technology! It bridges the gap, shortens the waiting time and provides users the privacy and convenience of speaking with a doctor in the comforts of home!
Shannon Gurnee says
May 30, 2017 at 2:30 pmDoctor on Demand is a really great service! I’ve used it before and loved how easy it was to use!
Ora Lee Gurr says
May 30, 2017 at 2:09 pmHow awesome that the cat went along with you to your doctor’s appointment. It’s so good that Doctor on Demand is available online from the comfort of home for physical and mental concerns.
Jeanine says
May 30, 2017 at 1:32 pmMental health is so important and think more need to be more aware of that! Doctor on Demand is something I will be using often as I cannot get to my doctors office with 7 kids often.
Dawn McAlexander says
May 30, 2017 at 12:10 pmSometimes life gets the better of us. It is good to know that there is help available instantly, without having to leave the comfort of our homes, to help keep us all healthy and happy.
Alissa Apel says
May 30, 2017 at 10:50 amI love that doctors are moving to emails, and video chats. I do wish my allergy doctor had a way to send photos over their email system. That would have made it handy to send my CT scans over from the ENT office to them.
Audrey McClelland says
May 30, 2017 at 7:42 amI LOVE Doctor on Demand! We use it a lot to save ourselves trips to the doctor’s office. I had no idea they offered mental health services. That is wonderful!
Natasha says
May 29, 2017 at 10:41 pmMental health is DEFINITELY important, and for those of us who don’t like stepping out of the house, Doctor on Demand in a great send! I know that there are days that I hardly want to move, and talk, and even this could be a reason to get me up and out of the bed, but I’d still feel safe enough about not having to leave my house.
Jennifer says
May 29, 2017 at 5:31 pmIt’s so good that you are taking charge of your mental health! I think one of the hardest things to go through during depression is seeking help. Sometimes you feel like the way you feel isn’t serious enough for help or you may be embarrassed to share your feelings with someone. It’s so good there’s a service like Doctor on Demand for patients who need help!
Anita Anderson says
May 29, 2017 at 4:43 pmMental health can be changing when you don’t know where to go or have more information. I like this program as you can be seen from the comfort of your home via a computer.
Marcie W. says
May 29, 2017 at 4:40 pmWow, Doctor On Demand is really reinventing the house call. I think everyone can benefit from seeing a psychologist and I love the idea of receiving that type of care from the comfort of my own home.
Chanelle says
May 30, 2017 at 4:24 pmReinventing the house call is a great way to put it!
Brandy says
May 29, 2017 at 2:44 pmMental health is so important but sometimes we just get so busy we don’t realize it’s off until our anxiety is on high or we feel totally sad, tired, etc. This is a great post, glad you wrote it and I hope it helps others!
Chanelle says
May 30, 2017 at 4:25 pmI hope it does too! 🙂
Annemarie LeBlanc says
May 29, 2017 at 2:29 pmI will have to check this out. My pet peeve is waiting in line. I don’t think I deserve to wait that long (18 days!) for a doctor’s appointment. That’s just not right. Doctor on Demand looks like a real good alternative to seek medical professional advice/consultation.
Neha says
May 29, 2017 at 2:20 pmThis is such an inspirational post, I mean I have been facing anxiety and I think that this helped me to get out of some. Really I just use this technique of keep my self busy the whole day. That’s it.
Cinny says
May 29, 2017 at 1:49 pmThe hours are much more convenient for many. Sounds like it could definitely be helpful.
Sarah Bailey says
May 29, 2017 at 12:37 pmDr On Demand sounds like such a great service, it is wonderful they can help with mental health issues as getting an appointment quickly is a must in such situations.
Brett Beyer says
May 29, 2017 at 11:04 amDr. On Demand sounds like an amazing service! When I needed to make an appointment for my son’s anxiety, it took FOREVER! Kind of like how you said the average wait for a therapist is 25 days.
It would be so nice to get something faster for a more immediate need.
Tracy @ The UnCoordinated Mommy says
May 29, 2017 at 10:56 amThis could help so many people! Especially new moms dealing with post partum depression. I can only imagine they don’t seek help because they don’t have time. Thank you for sharing!
Bill Sweeney says
May 29, 2017 at 10:17 amDr. On Demand is a great service. We’ve used it a few times when we were feeling a little more under the weather than just a common cold. I’m glad to know that they have mental health services as well. It is extremely difficult for people struggling with mental health to make appointments at times.
Jaime says
May 29, 2017 at 8:48 amWe have access to a similar service that my employer covers (so it’s free for me to use.) It’s so helpful – especially on weekends or during the holidays! I’m glad you had a good experience with Doctor on Demand!
Janella Panchamsingh says
May 29, 2017 at 8:04 amI have always wondered if DOD was a good service or if they really had the same credentials as regular doctrs
Chanelle says
May 30, 2017 at 4:25 pmThey do indeed – it is a very rigorous process to be hired as a doctor for them!
Robin Rue says
May 29, 2017 at 7:09 amDoctor on Demand is awesome. We have used it a few times for different things. It’s a nice option to have.
Heather Johnson says
May 28, 2017 at 7:17 pmMental health is such an important issue. We as a country need to do better at taking care of the mental health of all people living here.