New medicine provider

[Punky143]

I'm meeting with a new med provider this week. I'm so nervous about so many things. I have DID parts and as much as I want to believe they won't come with me that just won't be the case. Im not the kind of person who just tells all. It's taken the parts years to slowly open up to my therapist and it's an ongoing thing. The thought of simply telling a stranger about having parts is terrifying mostly because of rejection or misinterpretation. We are extremely sensitive to how people react to us and with those observations it determines our honesty.
What can I expect at this appointment? What will be some questions? How long is the appointment?
My parts and I thrive off from predictably and we have no idea what's going to happen. Suggestions wanted. Thank you

 

[whiteraven]

Im not the kind of person who just tells all. It's taken the parts years to slowly open up to my therapist and it's an ongoing thing. The thought of simply telling a stranger about having parts is terrifying mostly because of rejection or misinterpretation.

I can completely relate. This is one of the reasons I refuse to see a new psychiatrist and don't share much at doctor's appts that are necessary (but you would be surprised at how many just *aren't*).

What can I expect at this appointment? What will be some questions? How long is the appointment?

I prepare all of my conversations in advance, and I try to anticipate what the provider might ask and what I'm willing to share. Not much you can do if an insider shows up (but when mine were very active, I was mostly able to communicate that this was not a time for them to be out), but other things you can control. Good to be asking these questions.

Oftentimes, a provider will have a website with info about new patients. Have you checked? You didn't mention if this is a mental health provider or otherwise--that would change the way I presented in the appointment. For regular med providers, I don't share anything anymore about my DID and only sometimes mention my PTSD (if I think it might be relevant, and usually only in subsequent appointments).

For mental health providers, I would likely give a *very* brief statement ("I was dx with DID", and maybe how it affects me day-to-day). But I don't do mental health providers anymore, so I'm not 100% sure.

You should be able to call the office and ask how long a typical first appointment is. The times are generally set--30 min, 45 min, etc.

They'll want to know meds you take, meds you've been on and how you responded (or not) to them, health issues you've had and/or currently have, and maybe what you hope to gain from medication.

Probably other stuff, but I think these are the basics.

Best of luck!

 

[RainbowSearchParty]

I like to have conversations with myself ahead of time about expectations. Sometimes that means talking and it feels like talking into the void, but it seems to help. Stuff like letting the insiders know that the adult will run the appointment. I make the little ones promises, too. That if they allow the adults to run the appointment, they can have a cupcake and a nap with our stuffed animals.

I also worked really well with a med provider for years without telling her about the DID. I think she maybe guessed it after a while, but meds aren't about parts, per se, and it's easy enough to just talk about PTSD. Maybe start there? You don't have to disclose everything in the first appointment.

 

[Punky143]

I can completely relate. This is one of the reasons I refuse to see a new psychiatrist and don't share much at doctor's appts that are necessary (but you would be surprised at how many just *aren't*).


I prepare all of my conversations in advance, and I try to anticipate what the provider might ask and what I'm willing to share. Not much you can do if an insider shows up (but when mine were very active, I was mostly able to communicate that this was not a time for them to be out), but other things you can control. Good to be asking these questions.

Oftentimes, a provider will have a website with info about new patients. Have you checked? You didn't mention if this is a mental health provider or otherwise--that would change the way I presented in the appointment. For regular med providers, I don't share anything anymore about my DID and only sometimes mention my PTSD (if I think it might be relevant, and usually only in subsequent appointments).

For mental health providers, I would likely give a *very* brief statement ("I was dx with DID", and maybe how it affects me day-to-day). But I don't do mental health providers anymore, so I'm not 100% sure.

You should be able to call the office and ask how long a typical first appointment is. The times are generally set--30 min, 45 min, etc.

They'll want to know meds you take, meds you've been on and how you responded (or not) to them, health issues you've had and/or currently have, and maybe what you hope to gain from medication.

Probably other stuff, but I think these are the basics.

Best of luck!

Thank you for the information. This is a psych med appt and I too plan on giving a very brief mention of having parts and how it effects me daily. If I don't then I can only imagine how confusing I'd sound.
Take care