Getting a new psychiatrist
So, we're switching psychiatrists again.
We've had enough of the kookie one we're been seeing for the past couple of years. This makes.... pdoc number 5. *sigh*. (The first 3 moved away-- no love lost there, the last lady was a jerk with no bedside manner, so we've been with this guy.)
However:
This guy has had us worried for a while now.
1. When we go, it feels like its our 15 minutes to babysit him.
2. We wonder a lot if he is just sleepy, or dipping into his own drug samples a little too much.
3. He doesn't return phone calls to reschedule appointments until the last minute; changed the phone number and didn't let clients know; new phone number (IF its the correct number) has no message so we don't even know if we cancelled with the right person or not.
4. He repeatedly asks us "are any of the alters acting up" ? Uh... no. We aren't acting up, thanks. And by the way, we're PEOPLE, and we're LISTENING AND TALKING TO YOU. Hello? Stop talking about us in front of us.
5. There are more reasons, but those are plenty to talk about in public.
Our husband is a therapist, and got us an appointment with a psychiatrist through his work. Unfortunately, husband already told the doctor about our DID, ED, SI, PTSD. Y-U-C-K.
We were hoping to not go over some of those things with doctor #5. More like a "I'm [notice the singular] here for depression and anxiety meds, thanks." Oh well. Husband was trying to help out, and did us a nice favor by setting us up with his friend, so hopefully this will work out.
We have a really nice GP, its too bad that we can't go see him. He is nice and friendly, but unfortunately he can't prescribe a bunch of psyche meds I guess. Although we have our worries about him sometimes too. We saw him the other day, and one of the first things he did was grab our leg and say "You're too skinny-- you need to gain some weight." ha ha! Obviously the guys on something. But he's really nice, and good for when we need antibiotics and flu medicine. He doesn't know anything else about us though. We did have a doctor who knew about our DID... I think our therapist even talked to her once. I can't remember what happened to that lady. I think she went to work at another clinic farther away.
So we will be starting over again, the whole "Tell me about yourself and what meds you are on" thing on Wednesday. Here's hoping.
Posted by pilgrim | Filed under:
I have a great therapist, just not so lucky with psychiatrists and meds.
I used to have a group to go to for DID, but that group no longer exists. Which is fine, because I hate groups anyway.
I have a great therapist, just not so lucky with psychiatrists and meds.
I used to have a group to go to for DID, but that group no longer exists. Which is fine, because I hate groups anyway.
I have a great therapist, just not so lucky with psychiatrists and meds.
I used to have a group to go to for DID, but that group no longer exists. Which is fine, because I hate groups anyway.
(1) What do you feel you need a psychiatrist for?
(2) Have you spoken to your husband about respecting your confidentiality and letting you choose whom you disclose your symptoms to?
(3) Good luck
1. Meds.
2. Its really no big deal.
3. Thanks.
i'm sorry that i don't know the american medical profession structure well. you have your T, who is a psychologist. and a psychiatrist, who you need to subscribe meds. does the psychiatrist also act as your T? why do you have two doctors? wouldn't it be better if it was the same person?
i'm sorry that i don't know the american medical profession structure well. you have your T, who is a psychologist? and a psychiatrist, who you need to subscribe meds. does the psychiatrist also act as your T? why do you have two doctors? wouldn't it be better if it was the same person?
i'm sorry that i don't know the american medical profession structure well. you have your T, who is a psychologist? and a psychiatrist, who you need to subscribe meds. does the psychiatrist also act as your T? why do you have two doctors? wouldn't it be better if it was the same person?
My psychiatrist is not my therapist.... not sure how to explain how it works. It may be that SOME people have the same psychiatrist/T. Or psychologist/T. However, I have:
1. My therapist, who I go talk to for 2 hours a week-- just for therapy.
2. A psychiatrist, who I go see just once every 4-5 months, just for a medication check-- they prescribe meds, go over symptoms (depressed? suicidal? anxious?) for about 15 minutes. Its in/out/here's your prescription/ see you in the summer kind of thing. Psychiatrists (at least ALL the ones I have met) seem to be very expensive and have no bedside manner. I wouldn't want to spend any time with them. Just the 15 minutes once every few months is plenty long enough. :)
And I have a really good therapist. Two hours of therapy a week isn't long enough for all of us to get our talking done.
I hope that clears things up some?
I go to a therapist who is a psychologist 1 to 2 times a week and see a psychiatrist once a month for medication maintenance. My psychiatrist does not do therapy but does speak with my regular therapist about what's going on and does keep tabs on when I am in the hospital and so forth. Sounds like yours is very similar.
thanks pilgrim. that explanation did help.
i hope your T gets things sorted out with the insurance company. i read the post about the letter she wrote and i definitely agree with the others that she likely wrote what she wrote as a means of explaining that she believed there was no other therapist better for you.
sometimes in business you get further stating things backwards .. that is "fine, here's what's wrong with her if you think you can do better go for it" vs. i've worked with this patient for many years and it would be detrimental to her treatment to switch therapists. to your T it's the same thing. but to the insurance company she has challenged them which puts them on the defensive which for your T is a better place for them to be.
anyway, i hope it works out for you all.
I was lucky enough to find the perfect therapist and perfect pdoc on the first try. Love them both. But yeah, have been to bad docs in the past with horrible bedside manners. When I was in DC the pdoc there was lovely. Loved her so much. I wish she lived down this way. Good luck with the new pdoc.
Do you do group therapy? I'm starting one in August.