Should I Continue Going to A Psychiatrist?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Earlier this year, I kept having dreams/suspicions that someone was after me. </p>

<p>After nearly dying in an accident and seeing other strange things happen, I finally told the authorities about my suspicions. I was hysterical when talking to them because I was upset about so many things. Seeing my frantic state, the policewoman to whom I spoke recommended that I go to the ER (there was one other cop with us). I obliged, which I now regret doing. </p>

<p>The ER later sent me to the inpatient psychiatric unit. I stayed there for several days and was given medication.</p>

<p>Upon my discharge, I got a prescription for the medication and referrals to a psychologist and psychiatrist. I no longer see the psychologist due to transportation issues. I also stopped taking the medication within days of my discharge because of the side effects.</p>

<p>Thus far, I’ve had two outpatient appointments with the psychiatrist. The first, which was roughly two weeks after my discharge, went well. During the appointment, I admitted to not taking the medication and having acted irrationally. That is, instead of going to the police, I should have beefed up our home’s security and installed more lights around the residence. The psychiatrist didn’t object to my withdrawal from the medication. And since he saw that I was thinking more clearly, he decided to temporarily take me off it and take a conservative treatment approach. I saw him for a follow-up appointment roughly a month later.</p>

<p>During the second appointment, I told the psychiatrist about another issue that I was experiencing: my existential crisis (which was loosely related to my suspicions). I told him that I questioned the purpose of life. I also told him that I’m seeking real truth since so many of the things that we believe in life are illusions. I also told him that I was disheartened by the materialism, hate, and superficiality that is so prevalent in our society and that I was searching for true meaning and inner peace. </p>

<p>He told me that I sounded like a schizophrenic and that I should get on with my life, get a stable job, and stop indulging in such thoughts. My family is upset that I confided so greatly in him. I (perhaps naively) felt that I should confide in him so that he could truly understand me, thereby hopefully providing better care. </p>

<p>I have another appointment next month. I, however, no longer want to see him. During the last appointment, he strongly insisted that I’m schizophrenia, which I no longer believe. I’m not hearing voices, seeing things, nor acting out. I’ve had a rough life, and while there are times when I fear the people from my past, I’m no longer as scared as I was earlier this year. I now realize that I can’t worry about things over which I have no control. If I’ve done everything in my power to stay safe, why worry?</p>

<p>In retrospect, I regret having gone to the ER, having taken the medications, and having made the outpatient appointments. I’m beginning to question the ethics of the psychiatry profession and wonder if they often make arbritrary, hasty, and unsubstantiated diagnoses. (Please see the Washington Post article below) </p>

<p>What I need now is an exit strategy. I worry that the doctor will label me as schizophrenic–a label which has serious consequences. On the other hand, I can’t lie to him and tell him that I don’t mull over existential questions or that I’m fully content with the world in which we live. (I did, however, agree with his statement that I should improve my employment situation, which is something that I’m working on.) He has a very probing and inquisitive personality, so I can’t vaguely answer questions nor evade them.</p>

<p>Should I just cancel the appointment for next month? If so, how should I do it, and what should I tell the receptionist? Also, it takes at least six months to make a schizophrenic diagnosis. If I cancel the appointment, can he still make a diagnosis, and will that haunt me when seeking health insurance or applying for certain jobs? Who could access these medical records, and what would they make of them? What should I do at this point? </p>

<p>I feel trapped.</p>

<p>I incidentally chanced upon this Washington Post article a few days after my discharge. It made me think about many things. Please read it when you get the chance.
Here’s the link: <a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/psychiatrys-bible-the-dsm-is-doing-more-harm-than-good/2012/04/27/gIQAqy0WlT_story_1.html[/url]”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/psychiatrys-bible-the-dsm-is-doing-more-harm-than-good/2012/04/27/gIQAqy0WlT_story_1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

2

<p>Yes, you should keep seeing your Psychiatrist.</p>

<p>Reading your post, it is very apparant and clear to me that you have not taken your medication.</p>

3

<p>First, unless you are a demonstrated harm to yourself (threatening suicide or other form of self-harm) or to others, you cannot be forced into psychiatric treatment. So unless there are more factors here, no one, including your psychiatrist, can force you to continue to see him.</p>

<p>Second, if you are correctly reporting his comments (labeling you a schizophrenic and then telling you to get a life), this person is not behaving professionally. To the best of my knowledge schizophrenia is no longer a a psychiatric diagnosis (I could be wrong there).</p>

<p>Third, I think you do clearly need professional therapy. It needs to be weekly, not monthly visits to a psychiatrist. (Today psychiatrists typically do not engage in therapy but rather treatment with and monitoring of psychotropic medications like Prozac). If you have a doctor, ask him/her for a referral to a qualified therapist; if you belong to a religious group, priests, ministers, and rabbis can also make such recommendations. Failing that, look up therapists in your area on the internet. Many good therapists will allow a free intake/evaluation appointment, where you can size each other up.</p>

<p>Finally, the first meds often do not work. You need to be willing to try again, be absolutely honest with your doc about side effects etc., but try until you find what is right for you.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>

Honestly, I don’t think these are silly concerns. While health information is supposed to be private, it’s astonishingly not so much, anymore. I don’t think a future employer has access to medical records, but insurance companies definitely do, although the information may be limited to medications and doctor’s names.
When my Dd went to get insurance on her own, she went through an agency because she had been denied the first go-around. The agent told her about a clearing house for insurers where they can see whatever meds you have been on for the last seven years in the state of California. Even things like birth control medications, as well as her doctors, are listed in this report, (which is available to you if you write and request it, with proper identification.) She got a copy of hers so she could more accurately describe her health history in her next application, and she was finally accepted. Our hunch is that she was denied originally because she had failed to put down some of the docs and treatments that she had forgotten about.
Anyway, my point is that yes, this is a concern, but it should not keep you from employment or from insurance provided by work. The only trouble might come if you apply for individual insurance, and then might be a problem if you are on a lot of different medications, as I think they are concerned about the costs. </p>

<p>If you don’t want to see this psychiatrist any longer, call their office and cancel. Before doing so, I would find a therapist- a psychologist who specializes in young adults (you are a young adult, right?),- who you connect with, and set up a time schedule for the next month or so and see how it goes. Be sure to let your old psychiatrist know that you have made an appointment with this new person when you cancel with them so they can be assured that you are getting care. Your primary care doctor can recommend a psychologist who is covered by your insurance and who works with young people.</p>

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<p>This sounds like what a lot of us sixties kids went through in our early adulthood. Not terribly uncommon issues for young people, but perhaps there were other signs that concerned him he didn’t inform you of? In any case, if you are not satisfied, you need to look elsewhere.</p>

<p>You probably will benefit from someone to talk to, and a good therapist with years of experience with young adults is what I would suggest, not a psychiatrist.</p>

5

<p>I don’t know if you should go back to your psychiatrist, but I will say that while local jurisdictions vary tremendously in terms of if and when involuntary treatment is required, unless you are clearly a danger to yourself and others, it is rare for an adult to be hospitalized involuntarily. Exceptions might be when an adult is “gravely disabled”, but not an immediate danger. For most that get hospitalized and called schizophrenic ( the diagnosis exists, but is very unpopular unless you are a poor minority), a LOT more would have to have happened than what we are reading here. </p>

<p>It sounds like you have reasons to mistrust the psychiatrist, but isn’t there someone in real life you can trust more than strangers on the internet?</p>

<p>PS; it doesn’t take six months to make the diagnosis. you have to have had certain SYMPTOMS for six months.</p>

<p>With regard to the DSM</p>

<p>"Frances wrote in a 2010 Los Angeles Times op-ed, referring to the explosion of diagnoses that led to “false ‘epidemics’ ” of attention deficit disorder, autism and childhood bipolar disorder. ". I’d have to agree with that, but schizophrenia? Not so much.</p>

6

<p>Moonchild offers extremely good advice, especially on how to handle the current psychiatrist.</p>

<p>When you first saw him/her, you should have been given a HIPPA form to sign (from: Health Information Privacy and Protection Act). Doctors are legally forbidden to release ANY medical information to anyone but you unless you have signed a HIPPA release. (Though not familiar with CA, I’ll wager Moonchild’s daughter’s medical info ended up in that database through a HIPPA release.) You can revoke your HIPPA authorization at any time by sending the psychiatrist a letter saying that you are revoking it.</p>

<p>But the important thing here is to follow up on Moonchild’s advice and seek out a good young person’s therapist. You will be glad you did.</p>

7

<p>I trust Shrinkwrap- this is his/her field. Agree with what is said in that post.</p>

8

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<p>This is a very good point. We can only speculate.</p>

<p>Can you make an appointment with your primary care doctor? He or she can discuss all of these concerns with you and make a referral that can get you started. At the very least, it makes sense to get another professional opinion when a serious diagnosis has been suggested.</p>

9

<p>You’re not required to give the receptionist a reason why you’re canceling the appointment. Just call and tell them you’d like to cancel. If they ask you for a reason, be honest and say you didn’t “click” with the psychiatrist. Nothing wrong with that. I agree that current psychiatrist doesn’t sound professional. (I’m not a professional or licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, but what that “professional” did flies in the face of everything I learned while earning my BA in Psych.)</p>

<p>I agree that you should look around for a professional who specializes in young people. If you really don’t want to be on meds, look for a good psychologist. They won’t refer you to a psychiatrist for meds unless they think it’s absolutely necessary, but they can make a diagnosis (if needed) and give you some alternative coping strategies. I’ve never heard of a psychologist simply suggest to “get a life” and “stop indulging in these thoughts” without giving any help or strategies on how to do so.</p>

<p>The last thing I’ll say is if you do end up on medication, be careful of the “med loop” (not a real term, just the best way I can think of to describe it.) A lot of people on psychological medication take the meds for a while, start feeling “better”, then stop taking them, which of course leads to a downward spiral.</p>

<p>I definitely think professional psychological council, once a week, would be beneficial for you. I know there’s still a stigma around therapy, but it really can be helpful if you find a professional you get along with.</p>

10

<p>■■■■■, guys. ■■■■■.</p>

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<p>Really?</p>

11

<p>I did speak to my mother and best friend about this issue. I came here because 1)It’s anonymous and 2)there’s a ton of good advice on this forum, and I’ve gotten a lot of helpful advice from other forums throughout the years</p>

<p>A previous poster advised that I talk to a religious figure about my issues, and that’s actually something that I’m seriously considering.</p>

12

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<p>Of all the psych message boards in all the towns in all the world, they walk into College Confidential for advice.</p>

<p>I think Reed college students are bored.</p>

13

<p>Yes, continue going for psychiatric treatment. If you don’t like your psychiatrist, find another. I think I’m on my fourth or fifth. Finally found one I liked. It’s worth it to get to that good one.</p>

14

<p>If you have a trusted minister, rabbi, priest, whatever, yes, do go talk with him/her. They are trained to help, and will certainly know good therapists. Don’t give up. You deserve good treatment, and don’t stop till you’re getting it!</p>

15

<p>^ The * to that statement being … as long as your religion believes in therapists and treatments. My ex’s mom’s church didn’t believe in mental illness and everything could be cured with prayer. Because of it, my ex’s borderline personality disorder wasn’t diagnosed until his 20s despite the fact that it caused major problems throughout most of his teenage years and early 20s.</p>

16

<p>The college student community (including parents, etc.) is easier to talk to sometimes than registering on a health board. After all, the OP believes he/she is not schizophrenic.</p>

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<p>Whatever for? Were your suspicions real? I know sometimes my mind plays tricks on me.</p>

<p>That said, I feel you. Antipsychotic medication is evil man. Eeeevil. It drains the colour out of life if your dose is too high (I was on 3 mg/day risperdal). However it is a necessary evil as I do tend to freak out and plunge into existential despair without it. (I am also co-prescribed Wellbutrin which actually neutralises and reverses a lot of the side effects of the risperdal.)</p>

<p>I do note the nature of your “suspicions” remain elusive…do you really think you need more security around your house?</p>

17

<p>Thanks for the suggestions, everything. I’m going to cancel the appt with the psychiatrist and speak to my priest about these existential questions. I think that a lot of people think about these questions (what really matters in life, what is truth, how do I find true fulfillment, etc).</p>

<p>I, however, was wondering: what repercussions will my hospital stay (which was several days) and everthing occuring therafter have when I apply for individual health insurance? Do you think that it could drastically raise my premiums? I don’t have any pre-existing conditions.</p>