Seeking A 2nd Opinion

[Seasounds]

@GWhizz, you weren't silly, you were pro-active: to clarify, I did mean to communicate exactly what you said; speak up (as you did for what the Provider doesn't pick up, while you also let the Provider share their thoughts-some are 'more controlling' than others, in this regard. (Believe me, I've been in your spot,)

My experience is the sufferers input is essential, because Providers always come into a situation with their bias. And the Provider's reflection to sufferers can give us a place to respond-confirm, clarify, or deny. Being active, adjusted to the temperament of the Provider, has served me well. (One provider kicked me out, another Provider embraced my input.)

I really liked your thread, as it brought awareness, to me, of how all the aspects (sufferers words and Providers openness and knowledge) need to "click" to find the right diagnosis.

Depression is what "showed" for me first-from the deep loss of safe love. Anxiety came to the forefront, as I engaged the world-pressing through old limitations (i.e. physically moving, thinking for myself, speaking up), that before, brought retribution.

 

[Anarchy]

OMG! What's the film with a particularly psychopathic quack who's up on medical malpractice charges, explaining in very condescending terms, that he is in fact "god"? seems like the god delusion extends beyond the cinema.

On a serious note, my friend was seeing a good therapist through a charity. I'll be speaking to them over the weekend, I'll PM you if I get any info on who and where. It was certainly in your city.

 

[GWhizz]

Thanks @change yes it was postnatal depression at 1st that my gp came up with, but that was because I just told him I was feeling low and unable to enjoy being a new mum - until I met my T who liaised with my gp about the trauma and a possible need for psych input (as she didn't feel therapy alone with her was helping, in fact she worried she may cause more harm). Together my gp and T felt it was much bigger than a 'passing depression' as the psych team put it to me many times. For some reason the psych team completely dismissed the notion that depression can be actually secondary to something upsetting! Thanks for validating my feelings, it means a lot.

Thanks @Anarchy that would be great. So good to have your links back to Dublin :-)

 

[Kefira]

Given that your assessor was woefully uneducated about PTSD, I'd say that you should indeed seek out another opinion by someone who is qualified and has experience with treating the disorder. This man clearly does not.

This. And so much everyone else said. A lot of really good advice to help the second opinion hopefully go as smoothly as possible.

I think the most important thing, though, is that YOU (rightly) felt dismissed and insulted. And you want to seek a second opinion. That's totally within your rights, it sounds more than valid from what you said, and for what it's worth I really hope that you get someone compassionate and qualified in your corner the next time around. Having had my fair share of under-qualified therapists and doctors, I'm really sorry that you've had to deal with this. It's really hard to go looking for help from the system that's supposed to provide it and get a slap in the face instead.

 

[Chava]

Sorry you aren't being heard...very frustrating. Are they maybe only competent in handing out meds as solutions? Like if they can just call it depression they can narrow down the medication options? My first therapist was like that. I was really self-destructive but with minimal info I was "depressed" and Prozac would fix me. It only made me more F#cking crazy. Hope you find some help for your troublesome symptoms.

 

[GWhizz]

@Chava unfortunately when I look at their website it seems they deal mainly with depression and alcohol/drug issues, and certain mental illness such as bipolar, schizophrenia etc - that's not to say these clients may not have underlying trauma etc as root issues, but it seems the service focuses on treating the depression or addiction / substance abuse, over deep-seated causes of mental ill health. They also are my only service for mental health in my locality and you need a gp referral to get a psych consult in Ireland and they can only refer you within your catchment area, unless you can afford to go privately. A private consult would currently cost me a weeks wages and I don't have that kind of money right now unfort. Yea it just seems all meds or nada, and I'm 3 months pregnant right now so I don't fancy any meds if I can avoid them.

@Kefira thank you. Yes they don't seem at all knowledgeable or educated about any trauma related disorders. They just told me on Monday that I don't have a mental illness or fit a full diagnosis - even though they admit they haven't done a full assessment yet, never asked about my symptoms/history etc - I think they completely dismiss and downplay anxiety disorders as if they're non-significant. Apparently they only see real clearcut disorders such as schizophrenia as worthy of their help. I guess that's why ptsd has been called the hidden mental torture, as a lot of mental health professionals still fail to see the impact that it's symptoms can have on a person's functioning. But because I'm seemingly normal when it comes to my mental perception, reasoning etc, I can't fit a diagnosis at all!

Sorry to rant on but I'm just so much more confused by it all the more I consider it. And at the same time, I'm going a bit mad at the fact that I still only manage 1-2hrs sleep per night if I'm lucky and still have only part memories of certain past traumas coming back to me. I just want help with or at least recognition of my symptoms. The fact that they failed to even acknowledge the insomnia, nightmares etc is a red flag to me in itself.

 

[Chava]

unfortunately when I look at their website it seems they deal mainly with depression and alcohol/drug issues, and certain mental illness such as bipolar, schizophrenia etc - that's not to say these clients may not have underlying trauma etc as root issues, but it seems the service focuses on treating the depression or addiction / substance abuse, over deep-seated causes of mental ill health.

I loath when specialists and mental health people try to squeeze you into their small area of specialty. I can relate to all of those issues and have been treated for addiction, so on some level I really understand working on some of that directly, even if the underlying stuff is trauma. But it would probably serve them to diagnosis you with something they think they can treat. If it's your only option is there anyone there you at least could click with or is the tone not good among any of the available therapists.

They also are my only service for mental health in my locality and you need a gp referral to get a psych consult in Ireland and they can only refer you within your catchment area, unless you can afford to go privately.

That just stinks. I've been pretty lucky but my insurance is changing and I probably won't have coverage for the therapist I see for very long. It's really stressful. I feel like I need to search for some half-rate treatment that's really different or some version of what I tried and quit. Sorry..

 

[GWhizz]

@Chava I'm to meet the consultant psychiatrist on Wednesday to discuss changing teams. The thing is they have 2 psychologists on their team but the one I'm seeing is due to leave for maternity leave in a couple of weeks - my belief is she wanted to close my case asap before she goes. She never even told me they had a 2nd psychologist on their team, just told me she needed to wrap things up really soon as she won't be around. I even asked her if she would have someone covering for her while away, even a locum, because she refused to complete my assessment, and she denied there would be anyone to take over her cases. It wasn't until I contacted the head psychologist of the service to enquire about how to change team to get a full assessment, that I learned there was in fact a 2nd psychologist on my current team! My feeling is, from the people I've met so far (consultant psychiatrist, his registrar, the psychologist and social worker), they all take what the consultant says as gold as he's the team leader, and so no matter what I say to anyone, only a psychiatrist can legally diagnose in Ireland, so none of the others are willing to - nor do they seen to care even - challenge his stance on ptsd. I'm just hoping changing team may help, but again I worry what he'll hand over about his opinion on me to a new team. Surely I can legally refuse to allow him to transfer any of my information based on confidentiality? I just need a completely new start in there without him potentially influencing or screwing up a different opinion/diagnosis.

 

[anthony]

I was given some useful UK and irish links which show 15-20% of cases present as delayed onset and so I brought this up with my team

I've always disagreed with their statistics... because this forums says quite differently, running since 2006: https://www.myptsd.com/threads/when...appear-after-the-initial-traumatic-event.209/

 

[Chava]

Good luck if a new team works out...maybe weigh out for yourself if knowing if they can help with symptoms has similar weight to actual diagnosis. Is it worth letting the diagnosis go or does it mean you might not get appropriate help or feel certain validation? A lot of therapists understand trauma without being certified in dealing specifically with it, but have other tools for managing the emotional regulation, etc. How can you work with these people if they are your only option? It sounds like you feel sort of trapped.

My new insurance is going to suck and not cover my private practice therapist. I could get a new trauma therapist but of those within the new network, none have the somatic focus which would really be key for my symptoms (and also just how I feel best within therapy setting). My closest option might be a pain psychologist (PhD. psychologist with pain and neuropsych focus)...she's likely understand the trauma connection, but not be a trauma therapist, though maybe have some tools to help me just have a better time day to day in light of chronic pain stuff. I don't know, it might be a crapshoot. But I understand it's far from perfect, so our part seems to be that looking for best fit when our providers or network seems limiting, or we don't agree with diagnosis...figuring out where we have choices, even when it seems like their aren't any great options. I quit one doctor because I didn't like being diagnosesd with anorexia! (okay, that was shitty on my part because I was anorexic, but I couldn't deal with recovery at the time and didn't want to change a damn thing). I hope something works out for you.