[o.kay]

I hope this is the right place to post this:
I'm a professional in my community. I had been seeing a psychiatrist for over 3 years. He left the area, so I stopped seeing him about a year ago.
While at work I ran into an important client and his sister. He introduced us to each other. She asked if I lived around here. I said no. She said that she could swear she knows me from somewhere. His sister was my psychiatrist's medical assistant.
I'm keep asking myself "so what?"... But it has got me so stressed.

Anyone ever deal with this?

Well luckily she will probably never figure it out, or if she does, she will have the common sense to know why you responded as you did. I think she has keep a certain level of confidentiality at this point regardless of you not seeing that psych anymore, anyway.
I know it must have been a shock, but try not to worry too much about it. It does suck when the world gets TOO small tho, doesn't it?

[Sometimes psychotic]

I'm not sure what the problem is. I'm a professional scientist and everyone at my work knows that I have heard voices etc. I use them as a support network in case I have another break. Maybe it's because it's harder to hide my condition I had to tell them but its nice being out of the closet.

[chumchum]

Originally Posted by o.kay

I hope this is the right place to post this:
I'm a professional in my community. I had been seeing a psychiatrist for over 3 years. He left the area, so I stopped seeing him about a year ago.
While at work I ran into an important client and his sister. He introduced us to each other. She asked if I lived around here. I said no. She said that she could swear she knows me from somewhere. His sister was my psychiatrist's medical assistant.
I'm keep asking myself "so what?"... But it has got me so stressed.

Anyone ever deal with this?

I have had to deal with this and it is actually not something you need worry too much about. I work in early childhood education and was being seen for depression and bipolar. I knew the office coordinator because her daughter went to my center. She and I became very good friends and my private care never became known at work. She is very professional and knows that confidentiality is crucial and breaking it has dire consequences for her. You are safe and I am sure she will not figure it out and if she does she knows many people in your community who have sought help.

[0w6c379]

Let's hope she never makes the connection and, if she does, I hope for your sake she has the sense to keep quiet. I have had a terrible experience myself when the two worlds collide. Cannot go into details but my case has caused me a lot of distress, embarrassment, loss of sleep and emotional heartbreak. In your case, even if the woman tells her brother you were at the office would she really remember the details of your case to repeat them now? I'm sure she knows about the importance of confidentiality.

[healingme4me]

My employee, saw me go into my appointment. She was there, for other reasons, at that point. But considering, I know what she has from being merely co-workers, at one point, I am not worried.

However, I do feel for you. The reality, is these places can be busy little offices, and you'd be surprised at how many people, 'you'd never expect to see in there', are there.

Perhaps, taking the non-challant approach, and if, and only if, it becomes an issue, let go of worry?

Hang in there. That medical assistant, would be breaching the privacy laws, would they not

[BipolaRNurse]

HIPAA (known in simpler terms as the 'privacy laws') prohibits anyone who works in any sort of healthcare environment from discussing patients, or even disclosing that you've been in their facility. It doesn't matter how familiar a healthcare worker may be to you individually.

I have a good friend and former co-worker who's also bipolar, but right now we don't talk about our meds or therapy sessions. We don't even discuss the fact that we're both patients in the same clinic, because he's an occupational therapist at the skilled nursing facility where my sister is, and thus we have a 'working' relationship again. So there should be no reason for that medical assistant to say anything even if she does make the connection.

There is a lot to be stressed out about in our world, but one's medical visits and privacy regarding them shouldn't be one of those stressors. There are serious consequences for breaching patient confidentiality and I'm sure she's aware of them. Try not to worry too much, 'K?

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by chumchum

I have had to deal with this and it is actually not something you need worry too much about. I work in early childhood education and was being seen for depression and bipolar. I knew the office coordinator because her daughter went to my center. She and I became very good friends and my private care never became known at work. She is very professional and knows that confidentiality is crucial and breaking it has dire consequences for her. You are safe and I am sure she will not figure it out and if she does she knows many people in your community who have sought help.

am so very glad this worked out for you as it does for others, but unfortunately, for me the opposite was true, and I've not been able to completely recover from this! It's sometimes a fine line, unfortunately1

[Perna]

I guess I might have said something along the lines of, "I use to know your former boss". That would have kept it formal enough to suit me and, presumably, her brother would not have been unduly curious or unprofessional to "dig" to a place where he would feel differently about you than he already does. I know I am "compatible" with what my parents, siblings, good friends, etc. do and some of them are therapists/assistants, etc. but it does not interest me that greatly? I have my own life and they have theirs. Getting further removed would be even less interesting?

[almostthere]

Hi! this is "almostthere" talking to u.... so listen carefully....

U have nothing to worry about. I was in therapy, and rehab, detox programs, for the better mhalf of fourteen years... that's right... fourteen years....

I've met and seen people who have claim to recognize me from the programs I was in to the unwarranted embarrassment of my wife who wanted to keep such a thing secret and protect her "dignity"....

Anyway, I think um have nothing to b concern about.... u have done nothing wrong but 2 seek help like all of us are entitled too.

Don't dwell on it too much.... rememebr u r not alone.

Keep moving forwad.

I hope this mis some help to u.

Regards

"amostthere"

Originally Posted by o.kay

I hope this is the right place to post this:
I'm a professional in my community. I had been seeing a psychiatrist for over 3 years. He left the area, so I stopped seeing him about a year ago.
While at work I ran into an important client and his sister. He introduced us to each other. She asked if I lived around here. I said no. She said that she could swear she knows me from somewhere. His sister was my psychiatrist's medical assistant.
I'm keep asking myself "so what?"... But it has got me so stressed.

Anyone ever deal with this?