A communication difficulty

When my mother and I met with my psychiatrist, I learned, my lack of words and body language does not convey what I am feeling. As a result people misinterpret me. I feel my psychiatrist is doing the same by mistaking my silences as anger or other negative emotions. I have told her on two separate occasions, it is almost always due to thinking about her questions and auditory processing difficulties but it just doesn't seem to get through.

I know communication is a problem for me. It is one of the main reasons why I am seeing this psychiatrist. Any suggestions on how I can straighten this misunderstanding out, without going on and on and on. Apparently, I do that and would like to avoid it.

Is it an idea to write a letter to your T to clear these things up? And ask for your T to convey back to you what he/she read in your letter. How the T understood this? Just to make sure you both are clear on how you communicate? You need to feel like your T understands your communication to further discuss things or else the risk is that you won't accept anything T says because T must have misunderstood you.

I would really make sure you trust in T understanding you in some level first, so you can then trust T to come with solid advise and observations. And don't be afraid to keep clarifying things if you are unsure.

See if you can catch yourself being too quiet for too long and speak up, smiling and saying something like, "I'm sorry, I'm just thinking about what you just said". People need feedback from us, not just so they do not misinterpret but so they themselves feel better about themselves and what they are experiencing, that it is "correct" or not.

You cannot clear up another person's misinterpretations without yourself communicating in the moment. Not speaking is a comment and that you are having "difficulties" is a negative statement in itself. No, you may not be angry (or you may, how does anyone know? Just saying you are not, later, has no bearing on the moment) but if you are too much in your own head that you don't interact, then that is usually fear/anxiety (of not getting it "right" or of being misinterpreted, etc. :-)

Thank you lemon80s and Perna.

After some thought, I think the letter writing suggestion is the best way to deal with this. I will ask my doctor to reply in writing before we discuss it. This will give me time to think about her response, thoroughly.

I will make an effort to reply promptly to my doctor's questions. People have pointed out my pauses can make them feel uncomfortable.

My doctor knows, I have central auditory processing disorder. Sometimes, I think she forgets.

Hi little_didgee,

I'm sorry that this is happening.

You've told your Dr that you have Central Auditory Processing Disorder and yet she's misinterpreting your silences - this needs to be cleared up. You don't need the extra stress of your Dr pulling you up for things that are out of your control.

Could you also give her some literature that explains this disorder when you write the letter to her?

I hope for your sake that you can get this sorted soon.

Bluey

This will be resolved.

A family member was at my last appointment. My doctor asked this individual how she overcomes communication difficulties when dealing with me. This may be my doctor's attempt to understand the issue.

I was thinking about explaining what auditory processing is like in my letter. I could also attach some literature.

My doctor did admit she needs to work on her patience. She works primarily with people who have major mental illness. I have autism spectrum disorder and generalized anxiety disorder so I am different than what she is used to.

That sounds positive, little_didgee.

I hope your future sessions with your Dr go well.

Bluey