I have a new therapist (today was my 2nd session), who is not only unwilling to prescribe me a new AD, but also tried to intimidate me by threatening to make a call and send me to a psych hospital
The AD that he had prescribed had the side effects of strong headaches, constant nausea, dizziness, burning skin, agitation, extreme anxiety..My sleep problem became even worse than it already was and my anxiety was so bad that I couldn't leave my room. I started to feel very depressed from not being able to be productive, so I stopped taking it.
I explained to him that, while I realize that I have to give an AD time to take effect, I do have a limit of side-effects I can endure. If a med makes me so sick that I can't even leave my room for a few days then I would rather not take it.
He replied that I don't know anything about side effects and meds and should trust him, because the med apparently worked for all his patients. He didn't want to hear about how depressed I felt or how much I tried to go outside despite the side effects. I often have the impression that mental health patients don't get taken seriously at all. Just because I suffer from anxiety and depression does not mean that I can't make an objective assessment of a situation. Now I have to give it a try again with this AD and try to take it for a week or two.
At the same time, I asked him about therapy (especially cognitive methods to deal with anxiety) but he refused to do anything today, because I hadn't taken my AD. I felt like a schoolchild being punished for doing something against the rules. I'm supposed to get help.. He doesn't seem to be the most open-minded or flexible person either.
His idea of treatment is to 1) assure me that nothing will happen if i have a pa and 2) send me outside for self exposure therapy. I have been self exposing myself for the past years and he knows that. Nevertheless he won't think of any other way to help. I asked if he could come with me to places but he wasn't happy about that idea. (In the end he agreed if it was a place in 5 min distance) Even though he is certified in CBT he doesn't want to do it with me; at least not anytime soon. I came up with different approaches he could use but he hadn't heard of some and he said he didn't believe in others. He also told me I'm too 'active' and I shouldn't read psychology books because they would 'confuse' me.
The therapist also tried to forbid me to go to other specialists, despite the fact that going there seemed to have had a positive effect. (I'm talking about natural therapists and medical professionals who deal with my physical issues) He wants me to quit seeing these professionals, because he felt violated when I also saw others. When I told him I was able to sleep with the help of a naturapoathic therapy he said it's only a placebo effect. When I showed him my medical results he just said that they aren't THAT bad. I'm so exhausted from this session
Was it really rude form me to tell him I want to continue seeing other therapists? Also, I don't find it very professional when a therapist applies a black or white thinking (either my way or no way). I thought we are both supposed to work together in finding a solution for me. This (in my view) involves trying out different meds until we find a good one and also using each session to learn some new techniques. I pay for one hour sessions and today he kicked me out after 40 mins.
Sorry for this long post. I think I need to cool down

[Raging Quiet]

I'm sorry you are going through such a difficult time.

I think it's easy to get immersed in the therapy world and sometimes it helps to get your head belonging back to you.

[WikidPissah]

I am not sure what country you are in, or if you have a choice in professionals...but...I would kick this guy to the curb ASAP and find another. He is too egotistical to help you.

Sorry you've gotten stuck with this bean-head.

[Syra]

Originally Posted by chocmouse

Was it really rude form me to tell him I want to continue seeing other therapists? Also, I don't find it very professional when a therapist applies a black or white thinking (either my way or no way). I thought we are both supposed to work together in finding a solution for me. This (in my view) involves trying out different meds until we find a good one and also using each session to learn some new techniques. I pay for one hour sessions and today he kicked me out after 40 mins.
Sorry for this long post. I think I need to cool down

I think it's your decision whether to see other therapists. It's your body, not his. I once had a psychologist tell me he woudln't treat my child if we didn't leave the early intervention services being offered, because he didn't want his reputation risked by contaminating it with other things. I don't want someone with that big an ego. His treatment of me (or my family) is about me(or my family), not his reputation.

I agree with you about working together, rather than submitting control over to the professional.

This sounds like it was very difficult, and invalidating. I get the picture of you being his project, rather than you consulting with him, and taking advantage of his skills and expertise. Is that what it was like?

If you have the option to find a different psychiatrist, you probably should, and you might consider finding a separate therapist from the psychiatrist. For many, having the medical and the therapy aspects of treatment separate makes for a better arrangement.

@ WikidPissah:
Thanks for your post. I'm not sure what to do. I'm in Europe and the way my insurance works is that I only get to change therapists a limited number of times. My insurance then refunds me for the main part of my therapy sessions. Because I already changed therapists twice I'm worried that I won't be able to switch again without being told that I have to pay on my own. Another thing is that I don't have a guarantee that the next therapist will be more helpful. At least this guy is willing to give me ADs and see me each week, as opposed to my last therapist who only did talk therapy every few weeks.

@ Syra
Exactly like you said, I often had the impression that the therapists I saw were more interested in maintaining their reputation, then helping an individual get better. It's a shame that your child had to go through that. Did you find a good therapist in the end?
Yes you are correct; I'm kind of a project and not a collaborator or an equal partner. I have no say in the decisions, which is outrageous to me, because I am the one taking health risks, not him. And I don't appreciate his mean comments like, 'why does it matter if you have side-effects from ADs, since you have weird symptoms from anxiety anyway?' : (

@ 1914sierra

Thanks, I will go to some sort of group therapy soon. My insurance only pays for doctors, so I can't really go to a therapist without a medical degree, because I woudl have to pay it myself. This therapist promised to do behavioral and cognitive therapy as well, once I take my ADs, so I hope that will be helpful.

Thanks again for everyone's posts Sometimes I'm very insecure if I reacted in an acceptable manner, since I'm so cut off from reality. Going to doctors feels like going into a fight and trying to not get run over. I appreciate all the feed-back and input.

I'm going to continue going for another few weeks and if I don't get better I will ask him to refer me to someone else.

[scorpiosis37]

I agree with those who suggest that you ask to see another psychiatrist (if your insurance will allow it). If you do ask to see another PDoc, does the recommendation HAVE to come from this doctor? If not, I would recommend asking your insurance to refer you or, if your insurance allows you to choose, do some of your own research and find a doctor who you think would be a better fit. For instance, are you allowed to call a few doctors and ask them some questions before committing to see them? That's typically what we do here in the states. It usually makes for a better fit. If you ask this guy to refer you, he will probably refer you to someone he likes, who probably works much like he does. In that event, I don't see you liking that doctor any better.

I can chose my pdoc on my own, so a recommendation from another pdoc wouldn't be necessary. I just thought it migh tbe better to have a recommendation, rather than search online for people, but I can come across unhelpful therapists either way. Unfortunately, here it's not usual to call doctors and ask questions before coming for an appointment. They want the full hour fee = )

[bluemountains]

I definitely would find a pdoc/therapist who respects your thoughts on YOUR treatment! Is it common where you are to have the pdoc also be your t? My pdoc does not do therapy, only the medical issues surrounding my illness. She expects me to see a therapist and bring input from these sessions in order to help with a treatment plan.
Bluemountains

It depends, but from what I learned, most people only have either a therapist or a pdoc. I believe money plays a big role. Of course some people have a private insurance, which pays for both specialists, but I'm not in that category.
I know, I wished I had someone who took me seriously and even respected me. When I read through the psychotherapy threads and see how close the relationships between a therapist and a patient are I almost get a bit jealous ) It's not like that here at all (at least according to the people I met). I don't need someone who is very nice or someone I have a good connection with. Those things are great if you can have them, but for me they are extras.
My main wishes are that the therapist takes me seriously and finds a personalized solution for me (rather than give me the same ADs and talk therapy he gives to all his patients).

[unaluna]

Another obvious question (my 2nd this week) - have you tried taking your meds with or without food, in the morning or at night? I find if I take everything at night before bed, I fall asleep and nothing too much bothers me, whereas before, trying to take stuff during the day was making me more nuts.

[wotchermuggle]

Wow. I'd be running away...fast.

[Sabra]

[quote=chocmouse;3120626]I have a new therapist (today was my 2nd session), who is not only unwilling to prescribe me a new AD, but also tried to intimidate me by threatening to make a call and send me to a psych hospital

Chocmouse,

Were you a danger to yourself or others? I don't know how it works where you live, but one can't be hospitalized without cause.

The therapist also tried to forbid me to go to other specialists, despite the fact that going there seemed to have had a positive effect. (I'm talking about natural therapists and medical professionals who deal with my physical issues) He wants me to quit seeing these professionals, because he felt violated when I also saw others.

Holy craporama............... he feels violated!!!! I don't believe it is ethical for a doc to suggest you stop seeing other professionals who treat you for other issues. Please don't stop seeing others who help you. I'm thinking this dweeb isn't going to be helpful.

I told him I was able to sleep with the help of a naturapoathic therapy he said it's only a placebo effect. When I showed him my medical results he just said that they aren't THAT bad. I'm so exhausted from this session

He belittles other treatments that you find helpful. He then minimizes information that you believe would be valuable in treating you. His arrogance knows no bounds.

I don't know if there is a system for rating doctors, it would be helpful to have more info about him. Can you check and see if he has any complaints lodged against him? He doesn't come close to meeting the basic standard of care.

I truly hope there is some way you can change doctors.

Regards,

Sabra

@ hankster, thanks for your post. The thing is I have to take 2 meds, one at night and one in the morning. I already asked if i could take the morning med in the night and was told no..(can't remember a reason..maybe it interacts with the other med I am taking at night..) However I have a feeling even if I took it at night I would still not be able to sleep because the nausea was pretty bad. (I couldn't sleep much for 3 days because of the nausea)

@wotchermuggle, yes that was my first reaction as well =) I will stick to this guy for another few weeks and try the meds though. Otherwise I might end up with my insurance refusing to pay for a new therapist..A help is better than no help at all

@Sabra,
No I wasn't a danger to anyone. I was just telling him what side effects I experienced and he was got unnecessarily dramatic. We actually agreed that in case he cannot help me he could refer me to an impatient program. He seemed to think that I would be scared of going to hospital and would do anything he said to avoid that.
Thanks No I don't want to stop seeing others either. It's not like I'm seeing a number of therapists for the same issue. I'm seeing one for my mental health issues and a few for my physical issues. It seems like whoever I consult he/she believes to have the answer.
But in my view, a human being has a very complex mechanism and so there is no one specialist who can help, but rather one needs a team of specialists to address all (mental;physical;social;spiritual...) parts that aren't healthy. He obviously didn't like my view.
This therapist actually has a lot of titles/diplomas and seems to be very well respected among the pdoc community here. As for patient reviews..I couldn't find any. There are some sites that have reviews but here in Europe they aren't that popular so I hardly ever find info on a doctor that way. I wished there was a more transparent method to compare doctors.
It helped a lot to hear about others opinions on this matter and to see that I'm not totally crazy to have the opinions that I have. Thank you everyone

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by WikidPissah

I am not sure what country you are in, or if you have a choice in professionals...but...I would kick this guy to the curb ASAP and find another. He is too egotistical to help you.

Sorry you've gotten stuck with this bean-head.

Or maybe you two are just not a good fit.