Oh Great. Just What I Needed To Hear. Not.

[Justmehere]

My new psychiatrist is terrible for many reasons and I'm currently searching for a new one.

Last week he told me that every 6 years of stress takes 1 year off someone's life.

Which kinda stressed me out to hear.

It makes me upset to even write it now - especially when he said it just after I told him about my suicidal thoughts coming back recently (they are gone now.)

I just needed to vent and share this. Maybe I'm weird for a comment like this bothering me.

 

[WillyKat]

That's pretty insensitive. How would anyone ever think such information would be helpful? Agh!

I have a bit of a bias against psychiatrists, which may be a little unfair, but its based on a very bad experience I had the first time I sought counseling. Typically (not always), psychiatrists aren't trained in how to talk to people. They are medical doctors first, and talking therapists second. Some are fine at talking therapy, but that's due to their training.

If you're shopping for a new shrink, I would advise searching for a psychologist, one that specializes in trauma-related issues. Psychologists *are* trained to talk to people. I would also advise you to pick two or more, set up get-acquainted visits, tell them you're shopping around and looking for the right chemistry, and pick who you think you can work with. If those don't work out, try again.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Julesnaz]

Well I'm gonna die young then. Hope it's not true haha

 

[Shaan]

@Justmehere I agree with @WillyKat. My psychiatrist was so rude he asked me to go visit a psychologist if I wanted to talk instead of take meds. He also said somethings that triggered me. Don't pay heed to that sort of nonsense.
Just move out and meet a psychologist. They are kinder people and would treat you better.
I have heard that stress does diminish your health in some ways and people with stress tend to age fast and I feel so because I see me and my sister and I feel even though I am younger I do look much older. Or maybe that's just in my thoughts. My mum has diabetes because of stress and I always wish I can manage to control mine before I reach that far. But I take a little more than her. Your psychiatrist could have put it in a much better way than say such a thing! And besides he doesn't hold your life to say that. Don't worry, just take care of yourself and you will live as long as you want :).

 

[Justmehere]

Thanks for the support.

@WillyKat @shann - I think you are right on that it's time to move on from this guy and find someone who knows how to talk to people.

@WillyKat - good point. This doc is really only trained in medication administration, not really in trauma therapy. Or basic people skills.

I do have an amazing trauma therapist and I "only" need someone who can prescribe meds. It would help if they could manage to not be massively insensitive too. Sigh. :/

My therapist recommended a nurse practitioner, and I'm hoping maybe I can find one that is not $400 per hour and is not a jerk too.

@Shaan - I have an autoimmune disease and I'm really tuned in to how stress makes things worse. It's tough but you are right. Being stressed about it won't help me anyhow!

He overwhelmed me every time I went in. Every time. He wanted to do too much therapy stuff, and he was awful at it. I kept telling him I'm already working on this in therapy, can we gets back to discussing medications?

During this same appointment he told me I need to realize that when I tell when triggered, it is not a good communication tool. Um, yeah, I know, I already feel like crap about it.

 

[WillyKat]

Ah, OK. You have both. When I was taking meds, I switched my Rx over to my GP doc.

 

[Justmehere]

Yeah, my general doc was following me for meds until my therapist said it's time to get my ADD under control. Then my general doc said it's time to see a psychiatrist. This doc is the one I ended up with.

I hope I can find a better one fast!

 

[Shaan]

During this same appointment he told me I need to realize that when I tell when triggered, it is not a good communication tool. Um, yeah, I know, I already feel like crap about it.

Yes that's right but let him tell that properly! I think we need people to handle us gently rather than the way people generally do. If a psychiatrist can't help us walk through it, then who can?

 

[Emsy.77]

Exactly @Shaan. My psychiatrist isn't very caring and understanding with my PTSD. And yes they in my eyes should be the ones we can trust to say anything too. Definitely find a new one it's your right to do that!!! Good luck....@Justme

 

[littlelostchild]

I want to give you some hope. I have an excellent psychiatrist. He is my primary therapist as well and I see him weekly for my PTSD, etc baggage. I do take meds and we do CBT with other talk therapy.

If you need your psychiatrist for the meds, there will be one out there who has a reasonable way with people - yours sounds like he needs sensitivity training.

Good luck

 

[FindingMyself88]

I am sorry Justmehere, I would DEFINITELY look for another psychiatrist! I am really blessed to have a great one through the school. She is free as long as I continue to see the school counselor periodically. I doubly lucked up in that, because normally students get interns instead of actual MDs, or in my case PhD. I think it was because both my pdoc and my T referred me and my pdoc told them that she suspected PTSD.

My Psychiatrist is amazing over all! She is a sweet older lady! She only works part time at the office because she also does ER psychiatry as well. She always sets aside an hour for me instead of just 30 minutes so that we can talk a little. She has just now bumped me up to not seeing her for 2.5 months, we had been at a month until I got my new trauma T. The ONLY downfall with her is it is hard to reschedule if needed and with her being older, she has had to cancel some due to sickness. But she allows me to email if needed and has been a tremendous support for me to get and train Bristol.

I say all of this to say, keep your head up and keep looking. There may be fewer excellent psychs than there are jerks, but there IS some out there, you just have to find them!

 

[Lucycat]

@Justmehere I am sorry that you were upset by the psychiatrist.

However I like that kind of doctor - I like to be given the facts straight. I don't know if you are familiar with the UK TV show 'Doc Martin'? It is a fictional story about a rural GP who has communication issues and always tells it blunt. I would love him as my doctor. There is none of the trying to second guess what he actually means.

I believe that knowing the significant effects of stress, motivates me to do something about it - like continue with the therapy even when it is so difficult and distressing. My GP repeatedly warns me of the health risks associated with smoking - and it has worked, I gave up.I know I cannot 'give up' being stressed by I can do things to reduce it.

Maybe I'm weird for a comment like this bothering me.

Not at all. I guess it struck a nerve?