[Detia]

Actually I titled this because I had my first appointment with a psychiatrist and she honestly scared me quite a lot. I was so glad to have a friend and the therapist in the room with me.

Well not only was it rather intense to answer her questions, but because of the SUI thoughts I've had she kept heavily insisting that I go to a place called a Crisis Bed for a few days. She was so... strong minded about this that I was a little afraid that she would make me go. I don't really want my parents to know that I'm seeing a therapist yet.

But my therapist said that we could talk about the Crisis bed after we left the room and that I could relax. ( xD; I was showing obvious signs of stress and anxiety.)

Another thing was her accent, I had trouble understanding her. ALSO! I prefer to laugh things off a bit either as a nervous tick or just to show that I'm coping. Humor, tis how a lot of my friends and family deal with things. I felt like she snapped at me: "Is no laughing matter!" Which hushed me up really quick and furthered to intimidate me.

So I have a question, does anyone else have a really scary pdoc?

I used to have a very scary pdoc. I lack a better word for her than b**ch. But once I started taking control of my mental health care, I've had good pdocs. In fact I've loved all my pdocs I've chosen since then. If you aren't comfortable with this pdoc, its probably not a good fit. There is nothing wrong with "shopping" around for the best pdoc for you.

[Detia]

How would I do that?

Well, its just a matter of going to different pdocs until you find one you like. It took me about 3 trys. I would recommend asking your therapist or other knowledgeble people about what pdocs they would recommend. Tell them what you are looking for in a pdoc, if you know. You can also search online. And as with therapists, degrees don't matter that much. My pdoc is a DO which is different from your usual MD but he is one of the best pdocs in Kansas City and is almost impossible to get into. I'm really glad I found him. For me I needed a pdoc who wasnt completely absorbed into the medications. I needed a pdoc who cared about what was going on in my life and would try his/her best to help even if it did not involve medications. When my pdoc has suggested the hospital for me it has always been in a gentle manner. There is no forcing me to go. He will usually suggest to me and sometimes my parents even though I am 18 now, that the hospital might be an appropriate setting for me. But when my t thinks differently he is very comfortable stepping back and agreeing with her on the basis she knows me better and sees me more often. I guess I just need my pdocs caring and flexible. It might help you if you wrote out a list of traits your ideal pdoc would have. You probably wont find the perfect pdoc, but if you look hard enough you can find one that will make you very happy.

[chicken_wing]

I am on my third pdoc in a year's time. The first one refused to listen to me and wanted to believe whatever he wanted to believe. The second betrayed my trust! Ugh. The third one, I've had for about a month now, and she seems alright.

[sugahorse1]

I've been through 3 pdocs in 2 years.
Still not sure I like my new one. It takes time to find the right one, and at the moment I'm relying on my T to help me find a new one, or encourage and support me with the existing one.
I see my T much more often, and she knows me, so it's important that she's so very involved.
My current T and pdoc also sometimes speak to each other to help me; that's important to me too.

My first pdoc was a bit scary. It probably didn't help that he was a male. But he did ask a lot of questions which wer justifiable to get a good understanding, and then promptly made me go to hospital for a few days...! Therafter I just felt like a number with him, and I really didn't appreciate that.
My second pdoc was an eccentric, female, feminist. At times quite scary!
My current one is very professional, but I feel she sometimes doesn't take me serious e.g. the severity of my depression, the sui thoughts... So that's why I'm thinking of leaving

[Detia]

Kat, that sounds like the kind of Pdoc I would like... I will try to talk to my T in our next session about possibly seeing a different Pdoc. I do know what I want and I have a good idea of the kind of treatment I want/need. Typically I can deal with my problems using my support system of friends and family, as well as research. This has just been the one thing that I have been unable to overcome.

Chicken_Wing, I'm glad that you have a pdoc now that seems to be working for you. It seems like 3 might be the magic number! haha

Sugahorse, my Pdoc takes my SUI thoughts and all very seriously. However it seems that my T already knows how I feel about things, even though the session with the Pdoc was the only real time I had with her so far. Being a new patient and all. I agree that the Pdoc and T conferring with eachother is important and I know that I'm already going to encourage them to discuss me together.. or just request my T to sit in every session with my Pdoc. That way the T has first hand knowledge of what goes on between me and the Pdoc...

At the same time i know that can cost time that the T might not have.

But thank you all for responding! I feel a bit better about the idea of requesting a different Pdoc. I'd feel bad if I offended the woman... Which might be my major draw back.

[sugahorse1]

This is your health - the last thing you need to worry about is offending someone else

[Detia]

I suppose you are right Sugahorse, thank you.

[sugahorse1]

Let us know how it goes

[Detia]

I talked to my T about being intimidated/scared of the Pdoc... She said that she believed that the Pdoc was having on off day, being extra concerned and whatnot. So we made a deal that my T would sit in on the appointments with the Pdoc so as to help me calm down, or to make sure that the Pdoc and I understand eachother.

Cause some of the problem was that it seemed like I or the Pdoc was a bit flustered or that we didn't understand eachother's wording. So my T can step in and make sure we understand eachother. I have an appointment in a few weeks, so I'll see how it goes!

[Omers]

I walked out on a couple Pdocs like that. One told me I had anger issues because after waiting an hour and a half for my appointment I was upset that she had not read my psych eval. She said her receptionist over booked her and I should be grateful she saw me at all!!! Then, in her broken english she dismisses my eval because the woman who did it has a "Spanish" name... correcting her and telling her that no, the woman is Cuban and VERY qualified seemed to cement the fact that I had anger issues.... OMG what a disaster.

In contrast my current Pdoc... Calls everyone "hun" always talks in a quiet reassuring (but not insulting) tone, dresses funny and gets her hair dye at Walgreens! She introduced me to her (HOT) husband and I have seen pics and heard stories about her kids. She is warm and nurturing. Her first priority is always me and how I am feeling then the other stuff... if we have to go over our time then so be it. She trusts me to know myself and my needs and keeps any kind of hospitalization a very last resort. Oh, and I dare anyone to top her resume in the state. I work with one Pdoc for 3 years, through countless med changes and two hospitalizations before she said I was too much for her to work with. Current Pdoc had me stabilized in 3 visits and has me on the best med combo I have been on with the lowest side effects. Good ones are out there they are just hard to find.
I would trust T and give the Pdoc one more honest try but if it doesn't work I would start asking bout someone else.

[Detia]

Thank you very much Omers. I am glad that you've found the right Pdoc for you, she actually sounds pretty awesome!

So far I'm really stable with my treatment, so I'm not yet discrediting my Pdoc's ability to help me... I just am concerned that I might omit information to prevent a strong reaction or any kind of hassle. However if I find that she is unwilling to take what I say into real consideration, considering my treatment, then I will take the advice of all of you and not be afraid to request a different Pdoc.

Thank you guys so much for the support, advice and for sharing your experiences too. I really appreciate it.

[Omers]

I have a great Pdoc and I still forget things all the time! I bring a list with me of things I think are important. A lot of times I forget I even brought the list so I put it in my check book on top of the next available check so that if I forget to give it to her I can give it to the receptionist to put in her mailbox when I pay my bill.

[Detia]

xD that sounds like a good system, Omers. I've had a few people suggest to me to write down what I want to talk about so that I don't forget, or if I think it's something really important for the T or Pdoc.

[velcro003]

Oh, I LOVE my pdoc!!! He's really sweet and caring and lovely. My T recommended him to me. :heart I go to him even though he's not covered by insurance.

[Detia]

=3 I'm glad to hear you have a great Pdoc, Velcro! xD Even if he isn't covered by insurance.