Do you see many patients who are terrified of 'wasting your time' by booking an assessment?

Question

I keep delaying contacting a psychiatrist because I'm scared my problems aren't 'bad enough' and I'll be wasting your time. Is this a feeling you come across often, and what would you want someone like me to know?

Ashley Marie Marchini · Answer

No, often times patients symptoms are more severe then the patient perceives them to be. Getting an assessment can also identify other mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression and other mood and personality disorders. Often times patients believe "this is just the way it is" when trying to function with ADHD, however, treatment options are available and can be life changing for a lot of folks.

Dang Bao An Nguyen · Answer

From a clinician’s perspective, this is a concern I hear very often. Many people delay booking an assessment because they worry their problems are not “serious enough” or that they might be wasting a clinician’s time. I want to reassure you that this is not how mental health professionals view care. When someone comes to see me, my role is not to judge whether their concerns are worthy. My role is to listen, understand what they are experiencing, and help determine what kind of support might be helpful. You do not need to have a diagnosis, a clear explanation, or even the right words. Feeling unsure, minimizing your struggles, or worrying about being a burden is very common, especially with anxiety, stress, or low mood. Mental health care is also not only for crisis situations. You do not have to wait until things feel unbearable to ask for help. In fact, reaching out earlier often makes things easier to manage and can prevent symptoms from becoming more overwhelming. From a clinician’s point of view, an assessment is never a waste of time. Even if it leads to reassurance, guidance, or simple coping strategies rather than a diagnosis, it is still meaningful care. If something is affecting your well-being or taking up a lot of mental space, it deserves attention. You do not need to be “bad enough” to reach out. Seeking help is a reasonable and responsible step.

Ivy Rose Poulin · Answer

Yes—this is something I see very often. Many patients come into an assessment already apologizing, minimizing their symptoms, or framing their concerns as "probably nothing." The fear of "wasting the provider's time" is deeply ingrained, and it almost always comes from past experiences where they felt dismissed, rushed, or judged. Stigma also plays a huge role, especially when symptoms don't fit neatly into a lab value, imaging result, or visible injury. Patients worry they won't be able to explain themselves "well enough," that their symptoms will sound vague, or that they'll be labelled as lazy, anxious, or exaggerating. When someone has previously been told to "just push through" or "Get over it," it teaches them that their suffering isn't legitimate unless it reaches some extreme threshold. By the time they do seek care, they're often already carrying shame alongside their symptoms and experiencing additional challenges such as low self-esteem, depression or anxiety. What's important to say clearly is this: Assessments are precisely the place for uncertainty. Patients do not need the right words, a diagnosis, or a polished explanation to deserve care. Sorting through unclear, overlapping, or hard-to-describe concerns is part of the healthcare providers' role—not a burden. In fact, early conversations often prevent problems from becoming more complex, chronic, or distressing. I also think healthcare systems unintentionally reinforce this fear by emphasizing productivity, time limits, and "appropriate" reasons for visits. Patients internalize the idea that unless they're acutely ill, they should stay quiet.  That's not only unfair—it's unsafe. Creating a space where patients feel believed, not rushed, and not judged can be profoundly healing. Simply hearing "I'm glad you came in" or "You're not wasting my time" can undo years of silence. Those moments matter more than we often realize.

Jody Cabrera · Answer

Taking steps to help take care of yourself is never a waste of your time or my time. Self-care if often neglected because people don't recognize the value of a healthy mind. Self-care is self-love. I wish every patient would take the time to reflect on their own mental health and reach out for support early and often.

Judith, Timothy Mutie · Answer

Yes—this is one of the most common concerns mental health professionals hear, and many people delay seeking support for exactly this reason. A large number of individuals worry that their struggles are “not serious enough,” that others have it worse, or that they are wasting a clinician’s time. This often reflects anxiety, stigma, or a habit of minimizing one’s own distress rather than an accurate measure of need. In practice, providers expect and welcome people across a wide range of concerns—not only those in acute crisis. Mental health care is not limited to diagnosing illness or prescribing medication. It also includes helping people understand their experiences, offering reassurance, normalizing symptoms, and discussing coping strategies or preventative approaches. Sometimes the most valuable outcome of an assessment is clarity or validation, and that is never considered a poor use of time. Importantly, the belief “I’m not bad enough to deserve help” is something clinicians hear often and take seriously. When distress leads to self-doubt, avoidance, or prolonged suffering, it is already affecting quality of life. If it feels easier, you can approach an appointment as a consultation rather than a commitment. You are allowed to ask questions, explore options, or decide together that no immediate treatment is needed. Most providers would much rather see someone earlier than later. You do not need to justify your distress—if something is affecting your well-being, that alone is reason enough to seek support.

Mohamad Matout · Answer

Thank you for asking this. Yes, this is a feeling I encounter quite often, and you are certainly not alone in it. Many people delay reaching out because they worry their struggles are not “bad enough” or that they will be wasting a psychiatrist’s time. I want to reassure you that this fear is both common and understandable. It often comes from a place of self doubt, guilt, or a habit of minimizing one’s own suffering, rather than from any objective measure of whether someone deserves care. From a clinical perspective, this concern itself is meaningful. Feeling unsure about whether you are allowed to ask for help, or questioning the legitimacy of your own distress, is often an important part of what someone is experiencing and absolutely worth exploring. As a psychiatrist, I do not see assessments as something that can be wasted if a clear diagnosis is not made. A psychiatric evaluation is not reserved only for crisis or severe illness. It is a space to gain clarity, understand where you are on the mental health spectrum, and determine whether what you are experiencing is causing distress or interfering with your life in ways that matter to you. It is also important to talk about timing. Mental health care, like physical health care, is most effective when concerns are addressed early. We would never tell someone they are wasting a doctor’s time by checking a persistent symptom before it becomes serious. Waiting until things feel unbearable often makes them harder to treat and more exhausting to carry alone. I would always rather meet someone who is curious, concerned, or uncertain than someone who has waited until they are completely depleted or in crisis. If there is one thing I would want someone in your position to know, it is this: you do not need to prove that your pain is severe enough to deserve attention. If something is worrying you, affecting you, or making you question whether you need help, that alone is a valid reason to reach out.

Munira Noorani · Answer

Yes—this is something we see very often. Many people considering a mental health assessment worry that they might be “wasting our time,” that their symptoms aren’t serious enough, or that someone else might need help more than they do. This concern is especially common among people experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma-related difficulties, or long-standing patterns of self-doubt and self-minimisation. In reality, this fear itself is often a sign that support could be helpful. People who worry about being a burden tend to downplay their own distress, compare themselves to others, or believe they should be coping better on their own. Mental health concerns do not need to reach crisis point to be valid, and you don’t need to be “at your worst” to deserve care, understanding, or professional input. At Fastreat, assessments are specifically designed for people who feel unsure, confused, or simply want clarity. You don’t need to arrive with a diagnosis, a clear explanation, or severe symptoms. Many patients come because something feels off, overwhelming, exhausting, or difficult to manage—and that alone is a completely valid reason to book an assessment. Clinicians never view assessments as wasted time. Early conversations can provide reassurance, insight, and practical guidance, and can often prevent difficulties from becoming more severe. Even when a formal diagnosis isn’t made, patients frequently leave feeling validated and better informed about their mental health. There is no threshold of suffering you must meet, and no competition for care. Seeking help does not take anything away from others. If you’re worried about wasting time, please know that your concerns are taken seriously—and you are always welcome to reach out.

Pippin O'Neill · Answer

Many patients advise me at the beginning of the call that they don't want to waste my time.  By the end of the call the patients are thanking me for actually listening and telling me it was the best 40 min they have spend discussing their mental health.  I think the root cause is many providers are busy and are unable to take the time to listen and have been very dismissive due to a time factor.  I have allotted a full 40 minutes to listen to your story and at the end of our discussion if we don't come to a conclusion then we will book another visit to make sure we are able to make you feel heard as well as not dismissed.  Looking forward to hearing your story!

Tasmiah Rahman · Answer

This is such a common feeling, and I want to start by saying you are not alone in this. I hear this concern from patients all the time, often right at the beginning of an appointment. Many people worry they are “wasting my time” or that their problems are not serious enough to deserve care. That hesitation usually does not mean their concerns are small. It usually means they have been carrying a lot quietly and have learned to minimize their own distress. You do not need to be in crisis, at rock bottom, or falling apart for your concerns to be valid. Mental health care is not only for emergencies. It is also for understanding patterns, reducing day to day suffering, improving how you function, and helping you feel more like yourself again. If something has been weighing on you enough that you are questioning whether to reach out, that alone tells me it matters. Many patients assume they are “not sick enough” because they are still functioning on the outside. They go to work, show up for others, and get through the day. But functioning does not mean thriving, and it does not mean you are not struggling. Anxiety, attention difficulties, low mood, emotional exhaustion, or feeling off without knowing why are all very real and valid reasons to book an assessment. From my perspective as a clinician, there is no such thing as wasted time when someone is seeking clarity or support. My role is not to judge whether you meet some invisible threshold. My role is to listen, understand, and help you make sense of what is going on. Sometimes that leads to a diagnosis, sometimes to reassurance, and sometimes to practical strategies. All of those outcomes are worthwhile. If you are hesitating because you do not want to take up space, I want you to know that you are allowed to take up space in your own healthcare. You do not have to justify your pain to earn support. If this question resonates with you, that is often a sign it is worth reaching out.

Valérie GUIMOND · Answer

Good morning,  It is important to keep in mind that, as healthcare professionals, we are here to help you in any difficult situation. A person’s concerns are never considered a waste of time for a professional. It is true that some situations may seem less serious than others, but addressing distress early, before the problem escalates, is important. Taking the step to seek a consultation in itself, and opening up to someone you do not know, can already be difficult, as it requires exposing one’s vulnerabilities to a stranger. It is important to acknowledge this discomfort during your first visit. A relationship of trust will gradually develop over the course of subsequent meetings.

Do you see many patients who are terrified of 'wasting your time' by booking an assessment?

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