Therapists I Could Live Without

[trapped]

Psychiatrists I Wish I Had Never Met...

So I know there's been a thread with therapists we wish we had never met and the dumb things they've said... what about psychiatrists? Haha... this was inspired by the WORST 90 minutes of my life today when going to see a psychiatrist for a consult. It's so dumb. I hate taking western medications too... I'm willing to see a dr of oriental medicine who specializes in psychiatry and take herbs and such, that has always worked better for me in the past. Plus, this doctor was a moron.

Here is how our conversation started, and revolved around the fact I brought Darwin:
HIM: So when are you going to grow up and become an adult and stop carrying around a stuffed monkey?
ME: I don't know, but it'll probably be a hell of a lot sooner than the time it'll take for you to grow up and become a gentleman instead of such a jacka$$
HIM: That wasn't nice
ME: You're not nice
HIM: Are you always this hostile?
ME: Only when I'm dealing with insensitive bastards like yourself

Then a bit later on, we start talking about coping mechanisms.
HIM: So, you seem to have a lot of stress
ME: Yeah
HIM: So how are you handling it?
ME: I'm struggling with anxiety and nightmares, but overall doing well given what's all going on.
HIM: Well, what do you do to cope
ME: Well, if I have a flashback, I play with play-doh or smell a candle or color in a coloring book or hold Darwin, and those things seem to help
HIM: No, I meant acceptable coping mechanisms
ME: Why aren't those acceptable?
HIM: You're too old
ME: For what?
HIM: To... you know... be acting like such a baby.
ME: Oh. Well, I think you're too old too- for having worked in this field for as long as you have, and still being a clueless idiot with no manners or sense of compassion.

Then later we were talking about what medications I take, including supplements. This is from the supplement part.
ME: Well, I have started taking L-Theanine again, and that's helped. And I take whatever my acupuncturist gives me if he gives me any herbs, without asking what they are, cuz they all taste gross but work.
HIM: So you're into that Asian medicine shit?
ME: Yeah... I think we already established that about 30 minutes ago.
HIM: Yeah... but, I didn't think you'd be taking any of their supplements and herbs and stuff
ME: Why?
HIM: Well, they shouldn't be working for you
ME: Why "shouldn't" they be working for me, as you say?
HIM: Because you're not... well, you know... Asian.
ME: :doh:

Okay... perhaps I was just a tad bit of a biatch to him today? When I left, I wasn't sure if I should go back to see him for my next appointment, or call and cancel it and just run like mad as far away from him as I can get!

 

[Akita]

Trapped: did this guy get his degree out of a cereal box or did he just walk into the building one day, said his was a psychiatrist and they said "you're hired"? Yeah, I could sense a little "biach" but he really wasn't professional about well... anything, not to mention the lack of common sense that asian supplements work on people who aren't asian too. :crazy:

My first therapist that I had since I was a kid was when I was 16, she basically blamed everything on hormones.

 

[growingpains]

I had a sports injury after being very fit and trim which lead to me not being able to participate in the sport. I had undiagnosed PTSD at the time and became depressed and gained weight fast which did not help (due to not being able to exercise since I was on crutches). My therapist said I looked fat. I said she looked anorexic (she did), and that it as messed up to tell a person who is suicidal that they look fat when they already have body and weight issues. I think I called her a name that rhymes with witch after that and left her office early. Luckily I have had 2 fabulous therapists after that.

 

[gdf]

After reading this thread, I am feeling A LOT less crazy over changing therapists this last time...

Thanks for the thread.

 

[Tija]

Wow, Trapped, I feel SO sorry for you! This psych has the compassion of a door knob. I would RUN, run like the wind !!!!!

 

[trapped]

Wow, I feel SO much better after hearing some other people agree with me that the psych was a tool... I almost was starting to feel bad, and starting to feel like I needed to call to appologize to him for some of the things I said. I'm thinking maybe I won't make that phone call after all though.

 

[CCurry]

This was so much fun reading, so many stories out there. Okay I have to add for my bf just prior to us meeting he was seeing a psychologist who kept hitting on him to go out! Months later after we got together she sent him a text in the middle of the night to call her. When he called the next day she told him that she got let go and if she needed him to testify for her, would he? Ummmm, NO!

Also, the psychiatrist who fell asleep during the sessions! Nothing but the best of the best!!

 

[Tija]

CCurry - A long time ago, my doctor fell asleep on me . I was in the midst of telling him about my car accident and he was writing notes. After a few sentences, I looked back at him and his head was bowed and was out like a light. It was a funny moment because it felt like I was talking to myself outloud :wink:

Tija

 

[heather q]

I also had one that fell asleep on me while I was talking, it didn't seem to bother her, but it really bothered me. There was another one, female, who on the second appointment rattled on and on about everything I'd told her the first time as if she'd recorded it, I felt like I was her one and only client. After she stopped yackking, there seemed to be no reasong for me to say anything. I got up and walked out. Didn't say a word, nothing to say.

I gave up on therapists for a few years. I'm doing ok with this one that I nearly gave up on last May, he's a little more open to what I need, so that is a huge improvement, he is intent in supporting me during this process. That works for me.

Heather

 

[Monarch]

I thought being in the hospital was the worst ever, these psychologists came and interviewed me, I signed something saying I would talk to them. Tehy asked me a bunch of questions with a tape recorder between us, some of which I couldn't/wouldn't answer, I was there because I got overwhelmed by flashbacks and tried to kill myself. Great idea to grill the suicidal girl about her trauma. Got out of the hospital and kept getting bills from these Dr. and my insurance wouldn't pay because they were out of network, which noone told me. I never paid them, wrote letters, called them, called my insurance comp. it was almost 2k, not a small bill.

Same hospital visit, I was in the "lock down" section because of the suicide attempt and after being there for 3 days (it was a 72 hr. hold but weekends don't count) I asked why I wasn't on the other side of the door with everyone else. Both the nurses and the group therapists told me they didn't have any beds over there and when one opened up I would move. I go to the next group session and everyone is talking and this girl says " wow, it is nice I have a room to myself" then another girl said the same thing. I of course got pissed yelled at the group leader that they were all liars and stormed back to my room and proceeded to punch myself in the arms over and over again and tie the bed sheet around my neck and twisted it as hard as I could. Then all they could say was, see when you act like that you have to stay here. Don't freakin lie to me when I am already in a bad place and maybe I won't react like that.

I would kill myself before I ever went to the hospital again.

 

[heather q]

This is where being honest and trusting screws us up, my biggest fear is being hospitalized, it's not death. If I feel threatened by a therapist who threatens as one did to hospitalize me, it just makes for years more of recovery. I still have crap I have to work through from a therapist who was over-powering me, I stayed in that therapy and moderated my actions and functions until she decided I could leave. I was so scared of her, I basically behaved myself for two years of 'treatment,' I realize now that she replaced my mother, that was why I was afraid of her and was under her thumb for so long, I was just too scared. I guess I've learned a lot from where I was back then, but now that I'm getting better I'm also having lots more stuff to deal with. You'd think it would get easier, it doesn't, the healthier you brain thinks you are the more crap it throws at you/me.

Heather

 

[SpringRain]

As I leave the forum to try and build a healthier life I thought it appropriate I post part of the reason here. I spent six months with a wonderful therapist who said I was safe and could tell her anything and this was our safe zone, she was in it for the long haul. I felt so safe with her. This week she dumped me via text message. Last week things were great, this week she can't treat me anymore. She won't take my calls or answer messages I leave her. Hello feelings of abandonment and betrayal and utter devastation. But, you know, I'm done. I'm done with this thing called PTSD. I'm done with therapy and treatments and focusing on it. It's time to say goodbye to my old "friend" ptsd and walk away. I am making a decision to start a new life. Denial? Maybe. But I've given the therapy route an honest and true try and now I'm going to try and get over this period of utter devastation and abandonment and build a new life. i'm going to build it my way, the way I want it. And so, no more therapy, no more forum, no more ptsd - I've just decided I'm better - just as soon as I get over this! Ha ha. Seems appropriate to leave on one of my first posts!! Be well all - and much healing to you all, however it comes.

Rain