[Gentle Lamb]

How does one go about looking for an advocate?

I need someone who can speak for me, confront difficult people, like office personal in a DR's Office. Some of these people are accusatory, insulting and just down right rude! I need someone who can and will support me when these types of people turn on attack mode!

Is there such a person or do I have the wrong idea of what an advocate is and does!?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Gentle Lamb

How does one go about looking for an advocate?

I need someone who can speak for me, confront difficult people, like office personal in a DR's Office. Some of these people are accusatory, insulting and just down right rude! I need someone who can and will support me when these types of people turn on attack mode!

Is there such a person or do I have the wrong idea of what an advocate is and does!?

most mental health treatment providers can bill insurance plans to do advocacy work but most mental health treatment providers will net speak for their clients. fight their clients battles. what they do is accompany their clients to doctor appointments, court, and such to make sure the client is being treated respectfully. if they notice someone not being treated correctly they send in a report of what they have ...witnessed. Advocates cant get involved by confronting fighting with bad treatment providers. they give their own point of view based on their professional relationship with you. that point of view may or may not be the same as yours.

short version every treatment provider in the USA is over seen by supervisors and ethics boards. the reports of bad treatment goes to them, then the supervisors and ethics boards investigate all sides then they take action depending upon the outcome of the investigation. any one of your treatment providers or social service agency can tell you how to send in a complaint on the treatment providers that you feel are not treating you right.

[Skeezyks]

Hello Gentle Lamb: The term "advocate" is, from the Skeezyks' perspective, a much used... much abused term that can & does mean different things to different people... & organizations. In general, I would have to say that a "professional advocate" (someone who is employed to provide advocacy services by perhaps a not-for-profit organization) is probably not going to be someone who would provide the kind of on-going relationship it sounds as though you need & want. These kinds of "professional advocates" typically just get involved for a limited period of time to try to help solve specific problems within their areas of concern & expertise. Such "professional advocates" are often employed by consumer organizations such as mental health or developmental disabilities advocacy groups. Sometimes health-related organizations may also employ persons as patient advocates.

The type of more on-going relationship it sounds like you're wanting may be something that would be more in the realm of a volunteer program where people volunteer their time to be sort-of a big sister / big brother type of support person. Here again, though, this type of program is one that would be most likely to be operated by a not-for-profit consumer-type organization... the same kind that might employ professional advocates. So, either way, my thought would be that what you might do is to see if there are some not-for-profit consumer organizations in your area that focus on the types of needs you have, such as either general or specific medical concerns, mental health, physical disabilities, etc. Even if the particular organization(s) you contact don't provide the types of services you need, they may know who does. It may take some digging to find what you need. Good luck!

[Gentle Lamb]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Hello Gentle Lamb: The term "advocate" is, from the Skeezyks' perspective, a much used... much abused term that can & does mean different things to different people... & organizations. In general, I would have to say that a "professional advocate" (someone who is employed to provide advocacy services by perhaps a not-for-profit organization) is probably not going to be someone who would provide the kind of on-going relationship it sounds as though you need & want. These kinds of "professional advocates" typically just get involved for a limited period of time to try to help solve specific problems within their areas of concern & expertise. Such "professional advocates" are often employed by consumer organizations such as mental health or developmental disabilities advocacy groups. Sometimes health-related organizations may also employ persons as patient advocates.

The type of more on-going relationship it sounds like you're wanting may be something that would be more in the realm of a volunteer program where people volunteer their time to be sort-of a big sister / big brother type of support person. Here again, though, this type of program is one that would be most likely to be operated by a not-for-profit consumer-type organization... the same kind that might employ professional advocates. So, either way, my thought would be that what you might do is to see if there are some not-for-profit consumer organizations in your area that focus on the types of needs you have, such as either general or specific medical concerns, mental health, physical disabilities, etc. Even if the particular organization(s) you contact don't provide the types of services you need, they may know who does. It may take some digging to find what you need. Good luck!

What is so hard for me is that, I am an easy target, for certain personality types! nothing that I ever do prepares me for such people! They are bullies who bully me! And I just do not know how to handle them or what they do!? This one has triggered some really bad anxiety attacks! And I am very fearful of her, esp. if she targets me in front of others (I hate scenes and public humiliation of all kinds)!

[Gentle Lamb]

Originally Posted by Gentle Lamb

What is so hard for me is that, I am an easy target, for certain personality types! nothing that I ever do prepares me for such people! They are bullies who bully me! And I just do not know how to handle them or what they do!? This one has triggered some really bad anxiety attacks! And I am very fearful of her, esp. if she targets me in front of others (I hate scenes and public humiliation of all kinds)!

Should I report her to the DR. that she works for!?

[kecanoe]

I think it would be a good idea to report her

[Gus1234U]

i relate so strongly to what you posted, Lamb. i recently had one of those run-ins with a new doc, and when i filed a complaint his 'peers' at the clinic decided i was a 'troublesome patient' and 'recommended that i find services elsewhere'. there is no elsewhere for me, where i live is remote and substandard. so, consider carefully before taking on a medical community.

also, Skeez gave some excellent information. the agency i contacted was the state Cross-Disability Coalition. they are going to try to get me some ADA accommodations. i am not holding my breath.

another agency which i have tried to use (without much success) is called an Independent Living Center. they are supposed to help people with disabilities to remain in the least restrictive living environment possible. they are staffed by people with disabilities, by charter. if you have trouble finding one, call the state Division of Rehabilitation and ask for a referral.

finally, there is NAMI (National Association for the Mentally Ill), it's actually family members of people with a Dx, who are often more compassionate and better informed than the professionals.

i wish you all the best.
if you would like to try to get an accommodation under the Provisions of the 1990 Federal 'Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), i might be able to help you write that out.

PM me.

Originally Posted by Gentle Lamb

How does one go about looking for an advocate?

I need someone who can speak for me, confront difficult people, like office personal in a DR's Office. Some of these people are accusatory, insulting and just down right rude! I need someone who can and will support me when these types of people turn on attack mode!

Is there such a person or do I have the wrong idea of what an advocate is and does!?

Here are a number of lists of agencies which will help ou find you one:

- local mental health association
- local mobile crisis unit
- church or spiritual place of worship
- support group
- peer support program
- college of physicians and surgeons
- and even your Health Region itself

Regarding the last one. A good friend recently started ECT treatment. She has a trust issue and was worried about inappropriate behaviour during the period she was out by anasthetic. The Health Region provided her access to third party 'minders' who stay with her throughout the process.