Dealing With Dismissive Doctors

[sam23]

Hi,

I'm new here. I'm just wondering if anyone else has dealt with a similar situation to the one I find myself in.

I have acknowledged that my childhood was very traumatic. I was exposed to the threat of serious injury and death (verbal threats of strangulation etc., physical abuse that never severely injured me but as a child I was terrified and remember fearing for my life at least one time). I experience the symptoms of PTSD and score very highly on any psychological tests I do. I identify with much of C-PTSD too, and reading about this disorder was a revelation. For the first time ever all my psychological problems made sense and they had a clear reason.

However, when I brought this up upon meeting a psychologist for the first time she outright dismissed me, saying people will look for things to relate to on the internet. This was pretty horrible and made me doubt myself. I don't remember it very clearly but I'm sure she told me that C-PTSD occured following more severe, entrapping situations than mine. I felt totally invalidated, and brought it up when I met with a woman from a charity I was referred to for domestic abuse survivors. She said a similar thing, that C-PTSD was for the people who go to A&E with severe injuries from their partners or whatever.

This is wrong to me because the official diagnostic criteria does not support this. I DO fit the criteria, for it says threat of death or serious injury can count, and this was a reoccurring event throughout my childhood. I even dissociated when I was a child, I must have been 11 or younger. I didn't know what was happening I just knew that when I got stressed (from my dad hitting me / throwing furniture around or whatever) I would try really hard to remember the sequence of events but I blanked them out, so this held me back from telling my mum because I didn't even remember exactly what happened. She always took his side and made me out to be a liar or delusional or deserving of it anyway. :):):)

I don't know what to do because I am so, so sure I have PTSD and I need help, but I'm scared of being dismissed again. I have triggers relating to my trauma, I get some form of flashbacks (My brain repeats "get off of me!" when I am triggered, not entirely sure where this even comes from but there it is). I so clearly am suffering from trauma, and I was in an abusive relationship too, so I feel I really need help. I'm scared to keep asking though and be dismissed again. The women didn't even know me or my life, they could have asked further questions to gain a clearer picture, but they never. They just dismissed me, like I was a silly child.

Is this common for abuse survivors? Does it sound like I have PTSD? Will I ever be taken seriously by medical professionals?

Sorry for the rambling message. If anyone can offer any help or insight I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[BlueOrange]

I have no doubt that you have experienced trauma. I have no doubt that you need help. I'm not convinced that you have PTSD.

Diagnosing a mental disorder is a tricky business. It's not something that you can do for yourself, and it's not something that can be done over the internet.

So reflect on that first line a little more: I don't doubt that you've experienced trauma, and I don't doubt that you need help. I'm hoping that those things matter more than the application of a specific diagnostic label.

The question that really matters is this one: "What help do you need?" A diagnostic label is a means towards getting help. Assuming for a minute that you had the right label that gets you the right help, what would that help be? What is the problem that you are having now that you need help to resolve? You'll have more productive conversations with therapists if you can tell them what your current difficulties are, and you'll get more effective help from internet forums too.

 

[Justmehere]

Some professionals get weird when someone walks in convinced they have xyz. It's not helpful for the professional to be so dismissive and it can be incredibly upsetting and invalidating.

I have found a few bad apples too - but don't let that hold you back from finding someone that will listen and hear you out and discuss your symptoms and concerns with you in a respectful manner.

I had initial consults with 7 counselors before I chose the one in with now. I was doctor or diagnosis shopping, but trying to find someone that would listen, validate, and respectfully help me reduce my symptoms.

If you are with the NHS, I don't know if that limits your choices in providers and getting a second opinion - but if that is an option, I'd encourage you to seek it out with someone who is trained in more than one trauma technique, who can help you figure out if you do or do not have PTSD from complex trauma and more importantly, what would help you find some relief for the suffering you are in.

P.S. We don't use trigger warnings here as a rule. As described in the community constitution: "MyPTSD does not use trigger warnings. Mind reading what could be a trigger for another is a negative thinking style, a problem all PTSD sufferers need to correct at some level. Whilst some view its use as a courtesy, it is impossible to know what will, or will not, trigger another person, regardless the graphic detail contained. After all, this is a space where those affected can discuss trauma and its consequences." (Check out: Community Constitution | My PTSD Forum)

 

[shimmerz]

I identify with much of C-PTSD too, and reading about this disorder was a revelation.

I agree with @BlueOrange here.

Trust me, if you are truly suffering from C-PTSD in it's 'active' form, saying that you 'relate to it' is like saying that you 'kind of' feel labour pains.

C-PTSD is not something that one relates to in its full glory - it is something that eats you alive.

Having said that, past traumas may be something that you want to delve into with a therapist if you believe they are affecting you. I would be careful though as I meant what I said above about it eating you alive when activated and therapy can do that to you.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I agree with all.

First I will say that it is dangerous to try to self diagnois anything, but most especially a mental disorder and it would be very irresponsible for any of us to say you sound like you have PTSD as many trauma survivors dont.

PTSD is just a bunch of symptoms. It did, for me, help to gain the diagnosis as I could say "oh, thats what this is" but it didnt change my therapy at all. I went to my therapist and when I let out my trauma, I started telling him my symptoms today intermixed at the time I told him about my trauma and then a few years later came the PTSD diagnosis.

I know its hard not to self diagnosis. I actually really know this well as I did self diagnosis BPD but it was super obvious and was the first and fast diagnosis when I got to therapy.

So I get it but remember that this is first dangerous and second, it might be wrong. There are a crap ton of mental disorders that look like PTSD but isnt.

And it didnt change my therapy at all. It may have focused it a bit but thats it.

So id first look for a trauma therapist, specifically. And try to find one with a lot of experience. This will come with talking to them but it would be my first focus.

Then id tell them about your trauma and your symptoms today. I wouldnt mention PTSD, let them do that, thata their job.

 

[Abstract]

I think there often seems to be confusion about what PTSD is and isn't and a lot of hurt, invalidation and confusion can result from these alone. It now seems to be common for people to think that when difficult or even traumatic experiences continue to effect them long term it equals PTSD. That that is the definition. The truth is that there are a huge amount of conditions or situations as a well as long term pain and suffering that are related to painful experiences that aren't PTSD. PTSD is only a small fraction of the long term effects of experiences like these.

Diagnoses isn't only reliant on ticking the boxes. There are visual physiological and other indications of it being the problem the person is dealing with. Re living or flashback symptoms are also specific and have to meet criteria about frequency etc.

I'm not saying you don't have PTSD. Just that your thinking about what makes someone diagnosable is maybe a bit off. If you do have it then its important to go to a psychiatrist and get a proper formal diagnoses. If it turns out you dont have it then it doesn't for one minute mean you haven't suffered terribly and are not suffering still. It doesn't invalidate you. It's not a black and white situation of PTSD or nothing. Different conditions have many crossover symptoms and its usually what the person doesn't have that separates them rather than what they do have.

So far the symptoms you describe don't seem to match (although they certainly match with you being deeply affected) but there is only so much one can communicate in a post so its important to see a pdoc. I wouldn't go the CPTSD route if you are going to do so though as that will be much more tricky.

Your other alternative is to leave off labels and find a good trauma therapist and rather just work on healing. Describe your experiences and symptoms rather than labels,

 

[EveHarrington]

Patient: Hey doc, I'm really worried because I am having abdominal pain and bleeding. There is a history of colon cancer in my family. Could this be colon cancer?

Doc: You stupid people who Google symptoms and think that there's something wrong with you! Go home and stop wasting my time! You are FINE!


Seriously-------this would be unheard of, right? It's pretty much the same sort of situation but with physical symptoms. No doc would ever (well almost never) treat a patient this way.

My point is that you found horrible professionals who should be stripped of all credentials. Please try to find a trauma professional.

And play their stupid game. Do not say you suspect PTSD rather that you think you're suffering the effects of ongoing child abuse. I think many professionals have an inferiority complex and believe no patient could ever know more than they do. But in the end it's your body and you know if something is wrong. The truth is that these Docs (hahahahaha Apple iPhone Freudian slip! It autocorrected docs to Dicks lmao)------these docs will never know the full extent of the experience of being a trauma survivor. You can't learn everything in a book or even from treating trauma patients for many decades.

 

[Nessa7]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet that you should keep in mind is that C-PTSD is not in the DSM. If you find a therapist that is a good match, they may not be willing to diagnose anyone with C-PTSD.

My therapist saw me for several months before diagnosing me with PTSD. I think it is understandable for a therapist to not be ready to diagnose you so early, but I agree with you that your therapist didn't handle this correctly. I think it is worth questioning if you will be able to trust this therapist to be validating and if you will be able open up to them.

 

[Freedomfighter]

Hi,

I'm new here. I'm just wondering if anyone else has dealt with a similar situation to the one I find...

If you read up on the internet and you are showing the symptoms of the disease then you know that the disease applies to you. That applies to physical diseases too.

I had a ton of regular medical doctors that never gave me the correct diagnosis, so there are most likely psychiatrists out there that do that too. However, to simply dismiss the concerns of a patient certainly does not speak for that individual.

Dismissal of anyone's concerns is a form of abuse and I am quite surprised that the therapist did that to you. I have superiors who do that regularly, simply dismiss the problems an employee has, it is a poor form of communication and it clearly speaks of someone who does not respect the person that is having a problem. For instance when mentioning time restraints to one superior that I am placed in due to having two part time jobs a supervisor dismissed my concerns and reprimanded me for a mistake that in actuality was smart thinking. Very poor behavior indeed.

Run from "anyone" that does that to you. My abusive ex was an expert in that kind of action.

 

[Sandstone]

People who have been invalidated as children may ask for help in a way that expects invalidation, and often receives it. This may be what is going on here.
NHS Mental Health Services are desperately short of money and want to avoid taking on expensive long term patients. This may be what is going on here.
People who are suffering look for explanations and can be drawn to the more extreme ones. This may be what is going on here.

Based on your post, you might have PTSD, but you might have other conditions too. Can you tell us more about the day to day symptoms that made you seek help in the first place?

 

[PTSDfree]

She told you that you're just finding people to relate with on the internet? Why would she think doing something like that is wrong? Is it because it doesn't make her any money? What a prick! :mad:

Regardless of whether or not you have PTSD, you've been through a traumatic childhood and most of us here can relate to that. I don't think C-PTSD is regarded as a "real" disorder (it should) in the DSM anyway. Most therapists and psychiatrists that I've found don't really "get" non-combat trauma and just go by the stereotypes of PTSD suffers. :banghead:

 

[Neverthesame]

What you find on the google, is the basic overview of a series of symptoms which may or may not be present in a patient complaining of some malady.

The reason doctor's get defensive when it comes to google doctoring, is because there really are only so many symptoms. The human body is only capable of feeling so many different things. Just looking at symptoms, then slapping on whatever meets the most tic boxes, is the totally wrong way to go about it.

For example.
Person walks into docs office, says "Hey, whats up doc? Im feeling this."

• Stuffy nose
• Fever
• Aching muscles
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Abdominal cramping
• Coughing
• Sore throat

What could it be?
Well, first most obvious.The current strain of influenza virus. Or it could be.....

1. Chicken pox
2. Typhus
3. Tuberculosis
4. Syphilis
5. Eastern equine encephalitis
6. Rhinovirus (common cold. Yes. They can get that bad)
7. Hepatitis A,B,C,D,E
8. Salmonellosis
9. HIV
10. Smallpox
11. Rubella
12. Lyme disease
13. Anthrax (yes seriously)
14. Malaria

Just to name a few.
Why can so many different diseases all share the same symptoms?
Simple.
All of the symptoms I listed above are not caused by the diseases impact on the body. Especially not within the time most people seek medical treatment. 24-48 hrs after initial onset of symptoms.
The symptoms are caused by the immune system's first line of defence.

Stuffy nose, caused by the mucosa of the nose and throat thickening from excess production, to catch disease particles and other irritants, so you don't get sicker, or catch a secondary infection.

Fever- The body overheating itself to provide a less appealing environment for microbial growth. Many infectious diseases, are at their most efficient in terms of ingestion and cell division at 37°C (98.6°F) By raising the body's core temperature, the body can slow the progression of disease in time for the immune system to create antibodies to properly fight the infection. This is also why your muscles ache. The heat has to come from somewhere.

How do doctor's know what's causing what?
Well, here's where the medical school stuff comes into play. But the most important thing that the doctor relies on besides their education, is experience.

Patient walks into docs office in Canada, complaining of Malaria. First question asked of the patient is not going to be what bug bit you?
The question is going to be "When did you last travel abroad?"
If the patient has never left the country... Then it's safe to rule out malaria.

Now I know that I'm talking physical infection when the topic is psychological. It's not that different. Though it more complicated. Which makes an accurate diagnosis more important.

With infectious diseases, a throat swab sent to a lab for a culture, will yield a physical answer fairly quickly.
There is no such swab test for psychiatric assessment.

It relies on the knowledge and experience of the psychiatrist performing the assessment. As well as the honesty and candidacy of the patient.

When someone goes into a psychiatric assessment with a preconceived idea of what diagnosis they are going to walk out with, they will tend to sway the responses they give to that end. They aren't doing it consciously, or with malice of forethought. (Though some do.)

It doesn't mean anyone who has ever heard of a psychiatric disorder will be misdiagnosed. It does mean it can be harder and more lengthy process of getting to the root of the problem.

No one wants to misdiagnose a patient. It's a waste of money and time for all involved.

I'm not saying either way about you OP, or anyone else. I am neither qualified or interested in playing "Internet Doctor".

But this is why people cringe when they hear "so I was reading on Google..."

EDIT: Spelling error.