What has your experience been with the mental health system?

Question

I have had negative experiences when seeking treatment for my bipolar disorder. What kind of experiences have my fellow loonies : ) had with psychiatry etc.? Any suggestions on how to find competent professionals?

Answer 1

c**p, I'm still suicidal, still want to self harm, and they have closed my file at cmht and my GP wont give me my script so i cant get my meds, the NHS system for mental health is a joke

Answer 2

JussyLee,

I guess I have had my share of bad experiences. Lately things have been looking up.

When I first tried to seek help for my problems, I hear voices, depression, anxiety and the list goes on, I felt really unsure of the Mental Health Field. I knew nothing about meds, doctors or what to expect. I was very frightened. When I first landed in the Hospital I thought, it's over now, I thought my life was doomed. I never even knew they had meds for my voices, or that I was experiencing anxiety. I didn't know how to explain my fears and what I needed.

After my first visit to the Hospital I educated myself. I spent hours on my computer reading, I joined a support group on line for people that hear voices, there I learned from people just like me.

One of the main things that I have learned to find a doctor in any setting, is asking the right questions. For therapy I asked if she had ever worked with people like me, how did it turn out, other training and anything that fits your needs. I also believe there are so many differtent kinds of therapy now, you must educate yourself and see what fits you best. Pdoc is a different story, I think you'll know in the first five minutes. I say that because I don't like a lot of meds and ask so many questions. They must have a good bed side mannor or I ask for another one. You have to remember their the ones who are going to hear all your complaints about side effects, weight gain, it's not working and any other fear or question that pops in your head. I want someone who has answers and is compassionate. Not I'm the doctor do as I say. I know I expect a lot.

I think it is imparitive to stay incontact with your doctors, never decide to go off a med without their knowlege, or skip appt. without at least a phone call. If you can't make a therapy session try to have it over the phone.

Always remember that it is your choice to change doctors at anytime for any reason. You are the important one here. You need to speak up if there is a problem.

I hope this helped a little. Feel free to email me anytime.

Take care and never give up!

Cella

Answer 3

Find a Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance support group in you're area.  If you're in a metro area there should be more than one, so attend a couple 'til you find one that feels right.  Then ask the others with bipolar who they see.  That's probably the easiest way to pick up references if you don't know others with the illness or have a therapist/other person to give you names.

I was first diagnosed when Kaiser was my insurance.  I saw two different psychiatrists there in the year months it took me to switch insurance.  The first was okay but hardly ever available.  The second was an arrogant ***.  I knew more about some meds than he did (150mg of Lamictal is an extremely high dose, wtf, no, it's not).  My therapist referred me to a pdoc in private practice.  She's great.  Even if I'm hypo or depressed, I'm treated like a regular person with ordinary respect and curtesy plus allowances for twit hypo memory.  She also works with me on meds, hasn't expected me to stay on anything with significant side effects, and has let me test how much I can reduce dosages to find minimums needed.  I can't give anything but glowing reviews, especially compared to the last two pdocs and I've heard even worse stories about some of the jerks out there.

Answer 4

mine so far has been ok. though at times i am unsure as to how much it is helping. it has definitely made a difference though.

Answer 5

Maybe you can get a referral from your primary care Doctor or ask friends if they no of someone you could see.

Answer 6

the only thing the so called mental health professionals care about at the end of the day is how much money they gonna get.

and its more of a bonus for when they have to give meds or put someone in a mental hospital because it means more money .lol simple as and I'm 15 and i know this.

you get them laughing at you when you tell them something and  then they pretend too listen.

Answer 7

I'm going to be honest. People get burnt out very easily in mental health jobs and so when it comes right down to it, most mental health professionals don't care anymore. It takes a while but you have to just keep trying until you find a therapist you like & that will help you. If the person your seeing isn't working for you then sit down and make a list of what you feel you need to feel more secure in that relationship and try to talk to the therapist about it. If you try and it doesn't help talk to the front desk/office manager and see about getting a new therapist.

It's like if you went to a hair stylist and they didn't do what you wanted at all, your not going to keep taking time out of YOUR life, paying that person for doing something your not happy with right? Just remember, they maybe be doctor's or therapist's or whatever but when it comes down to it, they're YOUR employee's. Your paying them for their time! Don't go crazy but don't let them bullshit you, because they will.

Just like finding the right medication takes time. Most people think, well I've been on 3 different mood stabilizers & none of them have worked yet so I give up. Everyone is different and it may take a while to get all that stabilized & get you on the right one. Just try to hang in. It's not always going to be easy, but it will be okay, eventually. Just hang in there!