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12084418 tn?1423353193

Why do Psychiatrists never listen?

I have been diagnosed Bipolar I for 14 years, I'm 33 years old.  They say it sometimes takes ten years to get a real diagnosis.  I believe I had it as a child so that could be accurate.  I have yet to see a psychiatrist inpatient or otherwise truly do more than write nonstop and barely listen as they push pills on you.  My latest shrink, I wanted to talk to him about trying Latuda.  I'm dealing with a lot of mixed episodes and I've come to realize I'm mostly dealing with deep depression filled with manic rage.  SO, I wanted to talk to him about trying that medication which was a big step for me since I've had devastating side effects with a litany of anit-psychotics.  The doctor without explaining anything really about the new medication he was going to give me Latuda...  I told him I didn't think my lexapro was working.  And that I couldn't keep my lithium down anymore.  I kept throwing it up.  My insurance prevents me from seeing another clinic.  Today I nearly checked myself into a  mental hospital again.  I just want help.  I don't understand why a psychiatrist who is at least a therapist too.  And maybe, just maybe......just neurologist to understand the brain.  I'm acutely aware something is wrong with my brain.  My father was bipolar.  But I just don't understand why its too much to ask that the man pushing pills on me would listen to me.  Where I'm truly at.  Not five minutes and you have your scripts emailed to your pharmacy.  Which floored me, because the man didn't give me a mood stabilizer and wouldn't address the issue.  Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I am asking to much.
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1551327 tn?1514045867
It helps to have a plan when you go in.  Before I see my psych dr I always have my plan layed out.  There is a mood tracker on Medhelp that can help you track your day to day symptoms unless you are already journaling.  It is not that you are asking too much, you may just be asking the wron questons.  We are a difficult group to work with and you have to understand that.  We are always in crisis mode by the time we ask fo help and it is difficult to get stable at that point no matter what medicineyou may try.  If it gets too bad then checking into inpatient is no a bad idea.  There is nothing wrong with asking for help.
Other than that you have received some great advise from the members on this forum and I wish you well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh, there are a few people out there who definitely do not listen in the medical and health professions, just like in other fields, careers, and jobs. In your case, I can see how it is a problem, since you can only go to the one clinic and it doesn't help you so much that you feel like checking into a hospital.

Have you said anything about it to the doctor?

I would talk to the doctor about it. Since you cannot readily change doctors, I would just come out right from the start, as soon as I sit down, that he is not listening to me.  Treat it like what you would do in a  a relationship, especially a business and professional relationship, because essentially, that is what it is. I do that all the time. When I am not happy about things, I say something about it. For one, putting it on the table, gives a person something to work with and know there is an issue. Otherwise, when nothing is said, there is no issue on the table. He probably doesn't even know that it isn't a satisfying experience for you and that the relationship between you and him is not working. Tell him you want more information on Latuda. If he is just going to write out scripts and not even talk to you, he can just send in prescriptions to the pharmacy and have you pick it up, and not waste your time or his to bother to come into the office. By basic medical standards, he has to see you to see how you are doing, and he has to document it, especially if he is going to be paid by an insurance company or keep his license, among other things.

I don't think it would hurt to say, Hey, I think there is something we need to talk about that's been bothering me, and this is it. Keep it to what he is actually doing and not doing. It makes it easier for him to see and for you to see whether it is being addressed. If he still continues, and he totally ignores you, then it is out the door, and at least, you know you tried to do something about it, and it really was not working out.

If he works on it, and it gets better, it usually makes the doctor experience and relationship much better for the both of you. I enjoy good relationships with all my doctors and therapists, and right from the start, it is because I set the tone of how I would like to work with them on getting me better. Most doctors like to succeed in helping to get someone better in the practice.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There are 3 mainstream branches of mental health, the MD(doctor), therapist(talker), and the pharmacists(Psychiatrists and chemists). There are specialists in neuroplasticity, genetics, nutrition, etc..., but they are not part of the main stream recovery system. The reason I find that psychiatrist don't listen, not even as much as other pharmacologists, is because nobody is qualified to teach them anything, they are the top of the food chain in recovery. I guess my point is, you are asking why a chemist doesn't do talk therapy, but that is not what they are trained to do. My talk therapist asked if I was trying to be offensive when I said, "You chose talk therapy over chemistry, though you still push the pharmaceuticals." I affirmed that I was sharing reasons I admired her, because she is not only trying to help me get the right pills, but arrange my mind as well. I told her that I admired that she took a drastic cut in pay to be a therapist, because I know she is smart enough to study the chemistry and make more money as a psychiatrist. She chose to be an MSW, rather than a Pdoc, because she actually wanted to work WITH people, not just prescribe meds. Anyway, if you want talk therapy, I suggest a talk therapist, like CBT, not a chemist, like psychiatry. Psychiatrists job is to administer and monitor meds. They are like the anesthesiologist in surgery, their role is not the biggest part, but critical in acute situations. You are asking the anesthesiologist to be the physical therapist, well, they get paid too much for that, so you have to find a therapist that will fill in where the Pdoc doesn't cut it, or that is my opinion anyway. I can barely get a Pdoc to call me back, much less spend the time to discuss my inner turmoil. I am in a rural area though, so our resources are pretty well tapped out.

Anyway, if a doctor isn't helping, then I think it's time to find another one. Maybe it appears as if you are stuck, but that perception is rarely the truth. If you look hard enough and long enough, you will find a better fit. It took me  many months to find my doctor and therapist, by searching the web and Yellowpages, I was convinced there was no help for me here. Well, once again, I was wrong. I kept searching and asking around and found a therapist who doesn't advertise, to prevent herself from being so impacted by the local crazies. There was no obvious choices for me, but there were still choices, it was just hard to find them. I would look for a better doctor or therapist, someone who does this kind of work because they care, not just because it is their job.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I hate doctors that don't listen too! My old doc who retired was wonderful. She always asked me about how I was doing and if my writing was going well and how my daughter was. She of course prescribed my meds, but she at least was interested in my life. You'd think, as a doctor, you'd want to listen and know about your patient's life. I really miss her. Now I'm having trouble finding a doctor who will listen to me and isn't just interested in what meds I'm taking. It's unfortunate.
Helpful - 0
794366 tn?1418009395
I have been feeling that way a lot lately with my doc. I have bipolar depression with anger. The anger, I think, is due more to stress that I am dealing with. He asks me a question and then in mid-sentence cuts me off. So I really never get to tell him what I am going through and how I am feeling. Just like you said fax the script to the pharmacy and "I'll see you in 2-3 wks." It infuriates me so. I feel at times that I am going crazy. Hard to find joy in life when you are severely depressed but I am trying my best with a counselor and mindfulness therapy, proper nutrition, exercise and the right vitamins. I know I need medication but it seems that he runs his office like an assembly line. No real human contact. Don't the medical schools teach humanity and empathy anymore?  
Helpful - 0
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