[still_crazy]

you know, those counselors who shouldn't be counselors. doctors who should not be MDs. that kinda thing.

I filed a medical board complaint against an ex-shrink. Bad move on my part. Now, I'm considered a "trouble maker," and its...not...fun.

I go to a community/public mental health clinic. Its free on disability. Anyway, I think my records aren't exactly being kept confidential, and I'm not sure who's involved. A former counselor who received a subpoena for my records has a part time job at a satellite office doing drug counseling. The records are electronic, so I'm thinking he or his cronies might be logging in and getting info.

The other possibility is that its the ex-shrink--who has now gone from private practice to working in the community mental health system in this state. I kinda think he might be able to access my records, which is lame.

This is frustrating. I live in a small town, so "trouble makers" don't do well. My once estranged people have forgiven me, so now I'm a trouble maker + "Schizophrenic" (actual diagnosis: Bipolar I, not that it matters...) from a "good family," which mainly serves to p!ss people off.

Ugh. Your thoughts, anybody?

[Victoria'smom]

Can you go out of the area?

[still_crazy]

not really. I'm working on finishing a degree online, but that's still no guarantee of a job. My people supported me when I lived out of state for 1 year, and that didn't go well. Its rough...I need my people, I need support, but this community has turned hostile. I mean, one set of my neighbors will yell stuff out at me that clearly comes from records somebody has of my problems.

[Victoria'smom]

That's really messed up. Have you talked to any of them? Could your family be talking behind your back?

[still_crazy]

I don't know what to do, honestly. My parents are busy professionals and when I tried to tell them about the neighbors, they were initially saying "take your meds." ugh. Now, my mom believes me, but she needs some kind of documentation, and...and...its getting rough.

[JustJace2u]

It's against HIPAA rules for them to disclose your records to anyone without your consent.

[still_crazy]

I know, but see its a really conservative area. My people used to be what I've heard some people refer to as "rinky dink middle class," and the docs tried to drive us apart.

Now, the doctors told people I was 'severely narcissistic' and needed 'humbling experiences,' so my life was hell. I apparently actually had severe mental problems, and all these 'humbling experiences' made things 100x worse.

so, now the neighbors will talk really loudly--deliberately loudly enough for me to hear--about my 'narcissism' and how I need to 'know my place in society' and 'move out into a trailer park,' etc.

my parents are now not rich, but not "rinky dink middle class," either. good for me, since they're behind me and they have some clout, but it p!sses a lot of people around here off, including some mental health 'professionals' since, you know, im supposed to 'accept yourself for who you really are' and 'know your place in society' and 'you made poor life choices' and...my favorite...'better luck next time.'

I don't know what to do. This has been going on since I was put in a private, for profit hospital, age 20. My parents wouldn't let them put me in a homeless shelter, so they set out to make my life hell on earth. I'm 32 now, and I lived out of town for 2 years, in another part of the state...i suspect people found me in the other state.

ugh.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm sorry. I'd try moving to a larger ar
ea if you can..

[Shazerac]

Oh my God that is awful. deep sympathies. What they did was against HIPPA laws big time! Unfortunately unless you have deep pockets for an attorney to sue you probably need to leave the area as soon as you have a chance.

(((Still crazy)))

Can you use your phone to record the neighbors screaming at you? Don't make it obvious or they will of course stop.

You said your mom believes you. Is there "any" chance what you are experiencing "might" be delusional? I only ask because I had a delusion at one point that I had been diagnosed with narcissism and was being "humbled" by people. It was delusional in my case thank goodness. That doesn't make it feel any less real at the time. The mind reacts like it's actually happening because that is how delusions work.

I hope you don't take offense at my suggestion is might be delusions. I'm not saying it is, just asking if maybe it might be?

Small towns can be a nightmare....so can large ones....gossip is like wildfire and the more people it touches, the faster the fire overtakes everything.

I hope you get some relief from this situation. My delusions made me think I was being "kept in my place in society " and that they were trying to seperate me from my "people" to isolate me more and cause deeper torment. My heart goes out to you. ((Hugs)))

Yes, I would document all these situations and occurances.

As for your records, any health care professional you have dealt with will have been communicating them with one another. Example, each of my two psychiatrist, family physician, and phrenologist (kidney specialist) cc ('copy') one another about every exam or visit I make. I believe they are required to do so. Consequently, I am rther hesitant to go to the clinic when I am sick or have a minor emergency as evey person I come in contact with will read all my psychiatric information.

I myself had bad and questionable experiences with a psychiatrist. I reported her to the provincial medical authority (College of physicians and surgeons). It was then I discovered that she was actually a GP who offered psychiatric services. This went all the way to a small court where she tried to paint me as delusional. In the end however, I won my case and she is no longer allowed to practise psychiatry. It was a long, difficult, and emotionally draining process. But, I am glad I persisted.

The downside however is I made for myself reputation of being difficult. It was hard to find a new psychiatrist as there was a reluctance to take me on.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

Yes, I would document all these situations and occurances.

As for your records, any health care professional you have dealt with will have been communicating them with one another. Example, each of my two psychiatrist, family physician, and phrenologist (kidney specialist) cc ('copy') one another about every exam or visit I make. I believe they are required to do so. Consequently, I am rther hesitant to go to the clinic when I am sick or have a minor emergency as evey person I come in contact with will read all my psychiatric information.

I myself had bad and questionable experiences with a psychiatrist. I reported her to the provincial medical authority (College of physicians and surgeons). It was then I discovered that she was actually a GP who offered psychiatric services. This went all the way to a small court where she tried to paint me as delusional. In the end however, I won my case and she is no longer allowed to practise psychiatry. It was a long, difficult, and emotionally draining process. But, I am glad I persisted.

The downside however is I made for myself reputation of being difficult. It was hard to find a new psychiatrist as there was a reluctance to take me on.

You may request your psychiatrist not share info with other docs. Mine does not share info.


WC

[st0psign]

I have one question... Why would someone who's not on your case, more importantly not being paid to be on your case, give a ***** about you or your records? not trying to make it sound like you're not interesting or unimportant (I'm sure you are), but I wouldn't waste my time reading about random patients in someone else's files... know what I mean? Sounds like this could be a little bit of paranoid thinking maybe?

Exactly. Unless you come across the health professional for a medical reason they CANNOT look at your file in the first place. When drawn a record is made. The looking at files is screened and strictily enforced.

What I was referring to in my response was say if I go to a clnic with an ear infection, the doctor who sees me is privy to my file. I think what the original poster was inferring was the random access of one's information.