[Bipolarchic14]

I have only been to three psychiatrists the third being today and I have yet to find a decent one! So my session starts with her saying " Okay so you are here for anxiety and is that all? Me- "ummmmmm Noooo! I have a lot of anxiety going on but my primary diagnosis is bipolar 2. Now, I don't expect a lot out of my p- docs, I don't even expect them to care about me, but I do expect you to know my diagnosis before I enter your office. So then I am talking to her about my anxiety and how i wake up in the morning with it at times and it at times affects my job! So she decides its in my best interest to write a prescription that may cause severe drowsiness and I should not drive when taken......well that should be interesting so I either can't drive to work, or I can have someone take me so I can snooze at my desk all day. You're a life saver doc, thanks for the help...NOT!!! So now that I am done venting my questions are:

1. Do others on here have difficulty finding a competent p-doc?

2. Does anyone know a website that gives an ample supply of reviews on p-docs. For example healthgrades is to incomplete and not enough reviews.

[Tucson]

I find the chance with a good doctor is less than one out of four. And most of that is through referrals which should be to the more competent doctors.

I am interested in doc reviews too.

[wiretwister]

my pdoc is cold as ice,, always right in his eyes, and very quick to jump down my throat about my cutting my meds.....but I really think he has my best interest at heart,,, i know confusing for me too...

[lilypup]

Have had mine 26 years but am panicking as he is getting ready to retire. I got him through a referral from my T at the time. I am hoping my pdoc will turn his practice over to someone he has a lot of faith in. I would also go the referral route. Ask anyone you know with a MI. Ask your GP. Do you know any docs personally? Try them.

Good question! Finding a competent p-doc is difficult; finding a truly talented p-doc is like finding a truly talented hair stylist: One in a million.

[littlemiss44]

I have an excellent pdoc. I go to a clinic that is called western psychological and counseling. They have both pdocs and therapists there. He listens to me, asks about how I'm truly doing, asks about what skills I'm using to help etc. I found him because that's where my insurance directed me to. Maybe try and find Similar clinic where they have both. I like it cause my therapist and pdoc can compare notes on me.

[Oninna]

It's taken me 8 years to find a good pdoc and it was a miserable experience. I think I found a pretty good one but he's still one of those doctors that just prescribes meds and doesn't do much talking.

Your healthcare provider might have reviews on their website. Mine does and it's pretty helpful. They're rated by patients on multiple characteristics and it's very well done.

[BipolaRNurse]

Reading these posts makes me even more grateful that I got lucky the first time. My internist basically just picked one, eenie meenie minie mo, and that was how I wound up with my wonderful Dr. Awesomesauce (my nickname for him). I'm afraid of losing him---I can't imagine 'clicking' with anyone else as well, but he's been thinking about going back to full-time private practice. I can't blame him, but I'd sure hate it if he left.

[thickntired]

Hi,

Maybe this will help.

Shrink Rap: What Makes a Good Psychiatrist?

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by littlemiss44

I have an excellent pdoc. I go to a clinic that is called western psychological and counseling. They have both pdocs and therapists there. He listens to me, asks about how I'm truly doing, asks about what skills I'm using to help etc. I found him because that's where my insurance directed me to. Maybe try and find Similar clinic where they have both. I like it cause my therapist and pdoc can compare notes on me.

That is actually what I am at. A clinic that focuses on bipolar disorders. The therapist i have, has been great but the p- docs, I feel like they'll hire anyone. Hey,
Maybe I should apply! She did not offer any advice for the residual symptoms i discussed and tried to end session without giving me my refill for my lamictal...I was like, the main reason i am here is for my refill...oh yeah I should give you another prescription for that..well yea...say what do you do again?

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by lilypup

Have had mine 26 years but am panicking as he is getting ready to retire. I got him through a referral from my T at the time. I am hoping my pdoc will turn his practice over to someone he has a lot of faith in. I would also go the referral route. Ask anyone you know with a MI. Ask your GP. Do you know any docs personally? Try them.

I don't know a lot of people with a smi but I may try my GP. I tried getting a good referral from insurance but they don't provide reviews.

[Creative1onder]

Originally Posted by Bipolarchic14

I have only been to three psychiatrists the third being today and I have yet to find a decent one! So my session starts with her saying " Okay so you are here for anxiety and is that all? Me- "ummmmmm Noooo! I have a lot of anxiety going on but my primary diagnosis is bipolar 2. Now, I don't expect a lot out of my p- docs, I don't even expect them to care about me, but I do expect you to know my diagnosis before I enter your office. So then I am talking to her about my anxiety and how i wake up in the morning with it at times and it at times affects my job! So she decides its in my best interest to write a prescription that may cause severe drowsiness and I should not drive when taken......well that should be interesting so I either can't drive to work, or I can have someone take me so I can snooze at my desk all day. You're a life saver doc, thanks for the help...NOT!!! So now that I am done venting my questions are:

1. Do others on here have difficulty finding a competent p-doc?

2. Does anyone know a website that gives an ample supply of reviews on p-docs. For example healthgrades is to incomplete and not enough reviews.

I think that these mental health professionals lack compassion and real awareness, understanding for person what they are experiencing and how they are affected. And they don't always know and judge accurately what condition is you have, the kind and severity of it and their main way of helping is to tell you to take medication and do things to help yourself. Just cos they are professional doesn't mean they know better and are right and can be trusted.

[Creative1onder]

Originally Posted by littlemiss44

I have an excellent pdoc. I go to a clinic that is called western psychological and counseling. They have both pdocs and therapists there. He listens to me, asks about how I'm truly doing, asks about what skills I'm using to help etc. I found him because that's where my insurance directed me to. Maybe try and find Similar clinic where they have both. I like it cause my therapist and pdoc can compare notes on me.

Is this a private clinic where you see pdoc and T? Is it costly? Is the quality better privately? People shouldn't have to go private. And those on low income aren't able to afford much.

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by Creative1onder

Is this a private clinic where you see pdoc and T? Is it costly? Is the quality better privately? People shouldn't have to go private. And those on low income aren't able to afford much.

I do see both at the same clinic. It's a part of a hospital. I have not been to a mh professional outside this setting. I spend about $5000 a year on medical mostly going to bp2. That's expensive to me but maybe not so much to others.

[Wander]

For me it took me until the fifth psychiatrist to find relief from my symptoms, and that was over a thirteen year period. There seems to be a lot of badly delivered psychiatric services all around so to find a good one is a wonderful gift. I believe most psychiatrists mean well in all they do. My current psychiatrist I have had for almost two years and he is excellent in both suggesting options of medication so I can make an informed choice and offering great psychotherapy. I see him once a month for about half an hour at the moment and it is working well.

[Creative1onder]

I don't think you can always feel comfortable talking to openly and trusting the professionals in their opinions and approaches.

[loophole]

So many quacks just pushing brands for big pharma... u don't hear too my psychiatrist belch out lithium.. or other forms that don't pay big pharma much..... I think that's the real issue in many circumstances and pretty darn sad..... people got real in some cases life threatening disorders and some quacks are withholding meds from them just because it hasn't been on a commercial in the last 10 or so years.. that's my personal opinion... just left my p doc after 2 years.. starting new and just started lithium. .. I hope for good things... (se can stay off the convo of lithium here though please)

[~Christina]

I am lucky ..I have a wonderful Pdoc that works with me... Him and I both would always agree to a treatment... He understands my refusal to take any meds that cause weight gain that is a deal breaker for me.

But on the flip side I know alot of people that just want a doctor to tell them what to take and when to take it. .... So the bossy type pdocs do serve a purpose for patients that prefer to just follow orders.

Finding a good Pdoc is about as hard as finding someone you would want to marry sometimes.

Just keep looking .

[tigersassy]

I found a psych nurse practitioner on Monday that I really liked. Her and my psychiatrist are both from the same health center just at different locations. I really hope the psychiatrist is as good as the NP was. I think it's a good thing but their practice doesn't do anything with big pharma. Which is good and bad.

[Victoria'smom]

My former pdoc was awesome. Someone that i would have hung out with if he wasn't my pdoc. He really had my best interest in mind, right down to telling me i was hindering my quality of life but never making me feel less than or forced to take medicine. Even was fully willing to gi diwn non medical pathways with me if i choose no meds. Everyone here knows how difficult i can be.

Before that i had a horrible pdoc, one that scared me out of the system. She hated me, no I'm 100% sure. Every time she saw me she'd scold me for how I felt, threatened IP, re dx/added dx me and change my meds. She treated me like a child and just took into account what my husband thought. By the end she had me as mood disorder nos, & eating disorder nos

[DelusionsDaily]

I don't know...but my old pdoc distinctly stated that mental health professionals are crazier(sorry that's the word he used) than the clients they see. He was actually more an arrogant, pompous a $ $ usually. He caught me way off guard with his less than professional comment.

[Twigs92]

I have had past issues with anorexia, and am still not fully honest about ED behaviours with my pdoc, but she insists on only prescribing me Seroquel, which I'm too scared to take.

[venusss]

Few reasons:

Many shrinks went to the field to solve their own problems.

Medical model. What do you expected from a person who believes in this model? I mean the whole "I am normal, you have a broken brain..." cannot result in decent interraction.

And from I see on MH communities... some shrinks are ****ing dense. The way they dismiss complains of their clients, all the power plays... I am not sure where the "trust your doctor" **** comes from. Probably from the doctors who cannot earn trust by authority or wisdom....

[Auja11007]

I've had this problem too. My current P-doc has been treating me since 2008 but she really doesn't care about my personal well being. I've gone to her office in tears only to get a pat on the back and a prescription change.

I had a P-doc back in 2009 that treated me during a voluntary hospital stay that I loved. He would actually discuss and address my concerns with medication changes we were trying. I tried for a long time get in with his office but still have had no such luck. It is hard to find a dr of any kind that you can have a good patient/dr relationship with.

I work in the medical field and I do know that is difficult for a dr to know your previous history without your records and they usually ask the standard questions because they all believe in different medical theories and practices. It can be frustrating having to tell your story time and time again BUT drs that are thorough and interested in true treatment should be asking these questions. It's when they don't that patients should be concerned.

Hang in there. I know it's exhausting but can be beneficial in the long run. I'm trying to keep this in mind myself.

I found searching for general psychiatry in my area with specific hospitals or clinic groups has helped me narrow down my search. I look for their clinical interest and education background to help determine if they would be able to treat me better than my current. Healthgrades is very sparse with their reviews if I come across something I will most certainly share it.