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Two+ Years Of Chaos, No Trust

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whiteraven

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In mid-2014, my psychiatrist of 14 years terminated our relationship by certified letter. He had not brought it up at the previous session, had never said anything about terminating, and the letter indicated the reason was because I was having trouble keeping up with my bill. I owed him/the center he worked for 58.00 at the time I received it.

I was devastated when I received his letter. I was angry, in shock, very upset, and I was plunged into a depression and anxiety deeper than any I had ever known. I replied to him (in writing) and got no response. I wrote to 3 members of the Board (he was medical director of the center at the time), and got no response. When I requested my records be sent to my psychologist, he received a couple of pages that included the last couple of pages of doctor's notes, but that's it. No discharge summary, no medication doses or dates, etc....

Since then, I have been unable to even think about going back to a psychiatrist. I've been through 3 primary care docs, all of whom have (legitimately) betrayed me in a variety of ways, and I'm now without one. I have no real friends - I did, but they, too, betrayed or moved away from me. The only person I trust even just a little bit right now is my therapist.

So, I have been seeing him for about 4 1/2 years. I like him and he's caring in that unconditional sort of way.
He is a Zen priest (as well as being a clinical psychologist), which means he kind of doubles as a teacher for me, in a spiritual sense, since I am Buddhist and this part of my life is critical to my well-being.

I have a long history of depression and was diagnosed with DID in 1998. The severe complex PTSD symptoms started several months ago, but my life has been in almost constant turmoil since 2014. My therapist has been compassionate and kind, allows me to come even when I can't afford to, and has also invited me to train in his mindfulness groups, as often as I want, free of charge. I've gained a lot in these past 4 years. But I'm feeling so bad these days. I do only what I must. The rest of the time, I sit. Over the holidays, I stayed inside for 5 days straight, and all I did was watch television, be with my cats, and sit on the computer. I *couldn't* do anything more. It's not exactly depression. I don't know how to describe it. There is almost a physical something under the surface of my skin, a tingling but not quite. A pain, but not quite.

I just wish I felt better. I wish I could do. This feels like it will never, ever go away.
 
This is the main reason why I am afraid of talking to a psychiatrist or therapist period. It's all about the money with people these days. I cried reading this because it's sad. The people that are licensed to help us isn't helping to relieve our stress unless we pay them. Then you have to worry about them telling your business to a manager or elsewhere without getting tired of you. Please keep looking for another therapist. This is really sad. This website is a therapist and it's free! Im so sorry this happened to you
 
Thanks for responding, Lauren. Yeah, the whole situation with the psychiatrist was just devastating for me and really opened my eyes. I think it seriously eroded my trust in professionals in general, because I truly thought he cared about me for me, and the money was secondary. I mean, I understand that it's their job and all, but I guess I always believed that if you became a doctor, you did it first because you wanted to help people. I've really taken a long, hard look at my whole perspective on medicine and psychiatry since then (and it wasn't stellar to begin with) and I have become very, very skeptical and reluctant to be a part of the system.
 
Whiteraven,
I'm very saddened at your situation and appreciate and honor your sharing. I have been involved with some good and not so good therapists and "helpers" in this field. I completely understand your reluctance to trust professionals after having this type of experience. It's unfortunate that some people that go into the helping professions like counseling and psychiatry often times have traumas of their own. Some professionals may have healed more than others and when they aren't practicing good self care, they may lose touch with the humanistic side of the profession. Then you add to the different levels of self care that professionals practice in their lives while going through their own life circumstances contributing to either appropriate or inappropriate interactions with their clients. That being said, it by no means excuses that type of termination of a long term therapeutic relationship. I hope your current therapist is able to re-establish the trust you so deserve and need in order to continue on your healing journey. Blessings ~
 
Thank you, UniqueSunflower. I so appreciate being heard.
In mid-2014, my psychiatrist of 14 years terminated our relationship by certified letter. He had not...
@whiteraven the holidays seem to get harder each year (I'm in EMDR Therapy at this time). Understand how you felt like being with your cats and watching tv and being on computer, and not wanting to interact or connect. Pro. comp. ptsd is very difficult to deal with and especially during holidays for me and many here I have had the privilege of reading about their hollow-day experiences. And DID must be hard to cope with as well?

In a group therapy setting many yrs. ago, this man (don't remember his health creds) looked at me and said, "Well, you don't have anything to share with the group, so we'll go on to so in so's name" (I had just been released from mental hospital for suicide attempt - slit wrists deeply - and he made me so angry; he sent me a Christmas card with a bunch of superlative words on it. I asked him about it - and he inferred that I use so many superlatives. (Again, at this time, I was being misdiagnosed and taking six-seven rx's for the wrong dx). And I was emotionally, mentally, and in every way you can think of bankrupt and shut down; and here's this "professional" making fun of me - sitting with my wrists bandaged and dead inside.

One psychologist looked at me and said "You had a shitty mother, Jade!" And another one would not allow me to talk about my past, not that at this time was I wanting to do so, yet, what was I to speak about, if not the past that nearly killed me? And on and on. Talk therapy never helped me one bit. Helps others I am aware of this, not me.

EMDR Therapy is helping by numbing/desensitizing brain (horrific memories). @whiteraven you are doing the best you are able - please don't be so hard on yourself. You're on this forum for a reason. And psychiatrist treated you in the last days of your working relationship abysmally and appallingly. Shame on him. Karma. It bites hard. I (we) are here for you now; talk and talk to us about whatever, whenever. I (we) are listening and sharing back with you. You are not alone, anymore. ((((((hugs)))))) JadesJewel (it's late hope you are warm and cozy with your feline family). JadesJewel
 
@whiteraven the holidays seem to get harder each year (I'm in EMDR Therapy at thi...
@whiteraven Talk Therapy (Cognitive) in a therapeutic setting never helped; on this forum reaching out and receiving gifts of heartfelt support and inspiration - this type of sharing (talking) with members here who speak my native language (ptsd), well, I am learning so much and also realizing for the first time in my life - I am not alone, anymore. I love this forum. Blessings. JadesJewel
 
@whiteraven I am so sorry this happened to you. This makes me so sad to hear. I truly hope you find someone that you are able to talk to and won't betray you like the others did. Betrayal hurts so much and I am so sorry this happened to you. I can't offer much but I can offer hugs and a listening ear.
 
Sometimes I feel like it's pointless to let out your life to them because they will start judging in the inside. Not all therapists do this so it makes it more difficult when bad apples spoil the rest it seems

Thanks for responding, Lauren. Yeah, the whole situation with the psychiatrist was just devastating...
 
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