Psycho-Babble Psychology Thread 389992

Shown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.

therpaist/psychiatrist question

Posted by rubenstein on September 12, 2004, at 13:18:40

I am a graduate student at a university thus I utilize the health services that the university provides. I love my therapist, but my psychiatrist is another story. She is a very nice lady, but she is shy and doesn't take charge of my meds leaving much of the decisions up to me. I end up feeling really bad about any decision I make and guilty when things go bad again because of my choice of medication. I don't know what to do. There is another psychiatrist on staff, and I could see him but I would feel so guilty for leaving this nice lady. I just don't feel like I can be honest with her about some stuff, and I feel really uncomfortable talking to her about anything. I don't know what to do....just stick it out....or switch and risk being thought of as a problem patient. If my medicine was in order this wouldn't be a problem but I am in total chemical upheaval as of late becuase of all these changes. Any ideas on how I could best handle this.
PS I have trouble at times being assertive, perhaps that is the problem???
PPS Its actually kind of ironic becuase I am a conductor whose job is to be assertive....ah the personas we can inhabit are fascinating sometimes, eh?

Re: therpaist/psychiatrist question » rubenstein

Posted by Klokka on September 12, 2004, at 15:39:05

In reply to therpaist/psychiatrist question, posted by rubenstein on September 12, 2004, at 13:18:40

Hi rubenstein,
I haven't dealt with anything quite like this, but just had a few thoughts. Maybe you could try asking questions about medication in such a way as to encourage her to express what she thinks would be better fitting for you. Or outright say that you're not sure you should be making your own decisions about medication. If you think it would be best to see the other psychiatrist, you could try phrasing it something along the lines of "I think we're having some trouble finding an effective medication. Maybe Dr. Soandso might have some other ideas which could help?" You should also be able to just call and make an appointment through reception - hopefully if you explain you're looking for a second opinion there won't be a problem with that. (Though that depends on the way the health services are run.)
I can relate to feeling guilty about leaving a pdoc. I felt a lot of guilt when I considered seeing someone other than my old pdoc (there was a major communication problem: she wouldn't believe me when I complained of side effects and rarely spoke at all) and I didn't even see her as particularly nice at all. In retrospect, I so wish I had - I was overwhelmed by my problems and needed better medication management and needed therapy, and wasn't going to get it as things were. I ended up going back to the clinic and seeing another pdoc (after my old one left) and that has been going pretty well, but how much suffering could have been avoided if I hadn't been afraid to ask for someone else? Ultimately you are there to be treated and you have the right to adequate treatment. Try and see it as you would any other medical problem, where the thing to do would be to go find a second opinion if you're not satisfied with the first. I know it's easier said than done, but it's something to keep in mind.
Hope this helps, and that you find some way of dealing with this. It sounds like a really uncomfortable situation to be in.

Re: therpaist/psychiatrist question

Posted by rubenstein on September 12, 2004, at 16:20:07

In reply to Re: therpaist/psychiatrist question » rubenstein, posted by Klokka on September 12, 2004, at 15:39:05

Thinking about seeing another doctor as a second opinion really clarified some things for me. Thanks so much for your input. It is hard taking charge of one's health care and I guess we all have to be our own best advocate. Thanks for sharing
((()))

Regarding your original post here Rubenstein

Posted by Susan47 on September 12, 2004, at 20:06:42

In reply to Re: therpaist/psychiatrist question, posted by rubenstein on September 12, 2004, at 16:20:07

Why does it matter if you're thought of as being a problem patient, and why do you think that's what would happen if you switch psychiatrists?

Re: therpaist/psychiatrist question

Posted by Daisy Elizabeth on September 12, 2004, at 22:38:16

In reply to therpaist/psychiatrist question, posted by rubenstein on September 12, 2004, at 13:18:40

It also might help to have your therapist talk to your pdoc about what your therapist sees as your symptoms, improvements, etc. I had my T do this once when I was at a very low point and I wasn't sure that I was able to communicate w/ my pdoc adequately b/c I was so out of it. It felt very reassuring to me and both of them seemed to find it helpful. Just an idea...

Name issue » Daisy Elizabeth

Posted by daisym on September 13, 2004, at 19:45:59

In reply to Re: therpaist/psychiatrist question, posted by Daisy Elizabeth on September 12, 2004, at 22:38:16

Hey Daisy Elizabeth,
This is totally forward and self-serving but I was wondering if you would mind changing your name to ElizabethD...or some variation. I've been Daisym on this board for a year and I'm afraid we are going to confuse people. Dr. Bob said I should just ask you if you minded. If you do, then I will just try to warn people that there are two of us... I hope you aren't offended. I want you to feel welcome and keep posting. I just had an experience with two Karen's and it got hard to keep straight.
Let me know.
Thanks,
Daisy

Re: Name issue

Posted by Daisy Elizabeth on September 14, 2004, at 9:07:42

In reply to Name issue » Daisy Elizabeth, posted by daisym on September 13, 2004, at 19:45:59

> Hey Daisy Elizabeth,
>
> This is totally forward and self-serving but I was wondering if you would mind changing your name to ElizabethD...or some variation. I've been Daisym on this board for a year and I'm afraid we are going to confuse people. Dr. Bob said I should just ask you if you minded. If you do, then I will just try to warn people that there are two of us... I hope you aren't offended. I want you to feel welcome and keep posting. I just had an experience with two Karen's and it got hard to keep straight.
>
> Let me know.
>
> Thanks,
> Daisy
Not a problem. I understand. I just need to ponder a new name...

Re: Name issue » Daisy Elizabeth

Posted by daisym on September 14, 2004, at 11:27:06

In reply to Re: Name issue, posted by Daisy Elizabeth on September 14, 2004, at 9:07:42

How about "Queen Elizabeth" ??
Thanks for understanding.
-D

Re: therpaist/psychiatrist question

Posted by Passerby on September 16, 2004, at 23:08:06

In reply to therpaist/psychiatrist question, posted by rubenstein on September 12, 2004, at 13:18:40

I suspect my straightforward answer will make certain individuals unhappy but I will try again anyway. Your therapist SHOULD be talking to your psychiatrist. It should be an integrative approach if your treatment is ever going to work. While ultimately you need to communicate with both of the doctor and the therapist (and thus, the suggestions about seeing another psychiatrist are good ones), mental illness is a combination of biological and emotional issues. Therefore, you want to treat both and make sure you are treating them as one disease. If the two professionals are not talking then hypothetically one could be treating you for a chronic depression and another for mild (as an example). It is the same as if you were to have a physical illness that potentially was made worse by medication you were given for the mental illness; your general practitioner, if he were a good doctor, would talk to your psychiatrist before telling you to discontinuing the medication.
And, this type of integrative treatment is what has been proven to be most effective in treating depression, as shown in recent trials.