Aa
Misdiagnosed
Has anyone had experience with misdiagnosis by a psychiatrist and bad experiences on meds?
I presented with generalised anxiety and was given valium which made me ill, then other drugs including antipsychotics in one big cocktail.
I was 18 at the time - had no knowledge of drugs or of the limitations of doctors in their diagnoses- it was the worst experience of my life. My parents knew that the meds were doing me no good, and although I suspected it, I was too affected to be corehent or clear in my thinking.
I have never felt the same in my head and I was wondering who I should see. . Psychiatrists tend to label me as crazy when I express my concerns. .
I presented with generalised anxiety and was given valium which made me ill, then other drugs including antipsychotics in one big cocktail.
I was 18 at the time - had no knowledge of drugs or of the limitations of doctors in their diagnoses- it was the worst experience of my life. My parents knew that the meds were doing me no good, and although I suspected it, I was too affected to be corehent or clear in my thinking.
I have never felt the same in my head and I was wondering who I should see. . Psychiatrists tend to label me as crazy when I express my concerns. .
good point. Question what a doc does or says and especialy a shrink! If they give you that haughty, arragant look then they are the wrong doc, ie, one who thinks they are superior to us. I have seen many travesties committed by shrinks and to me they seem the most incompetent and unstable of all todays MD's. A doctor friend of mine also agreed on this point.
My mother in-law, whom I was close to, died from nursing home neglect. During the course of her "maltreatment" I asked questions.... and tried to advocate on her behalf. My biggest mistake was in believing that the DOCTORS knew what they were doing, and cowering to authority, accepting their quick answer and ignoring my intuition.
Because I wasn't a strong enough advocate, she suffered. In our society, it would be illegal to allow an ANIMAL to suffer the way she did.
Now I do the best to educate myself on every aspect of my care, and the care of my children. I was removed from my pediatricians practice because I wouldn't allow them to continue there attempt to get blood (after several pricks and digging) from my 5 year old!
If we don't stand up for ourselves.. who will?
Baaaaa ;D
Because I wasn't a strong enough advocate, she suffered. In our society, it would be illegal to allow an ANIMAL to suffer the way she did.
Now I do the best to educate myself on every aspect of my care, and the care of my children. I was removed from my pediatricians practice because I wouldn't allow them to continue there attempt to get blood (after several pricks and digging) from my 5 year old!
If we don't stand up for ourselves.. who will?
Baaaaa ;D
I may be seeing a psychologist in dec jan - hehe funny how my GP pbly doesn't even believe me when she nods sympathetically as I tell how my woes. But if the psychologist she referred me to doesn't want to know about it, I will be leaving her and asking for anther one until I get someone openminded. I love that there are other people out there like me who are not just sheep, Baaa.
Sooo true. I started with zoloft, then switched to lexapro, then cymbalta, then prozac, and now back to zoloft (all in one year). I originally got off of zoloft because of nausea.. however I was told by my pharmacy, to take it with food, and I never had a nausea problem again. My pharmacy told me.. not the dr, despite me complaining of nausea with almost all of the anti-depressants I tried.
No, unfortunately, a lot don't care. What they care about is fitting you into a 15 minute or less cubby hole of time, and collecting their money.. My doctor is truly elated when I don't have any complaints because he can't wait to usher me out the door.. lol
No, unfortunately, a lot don't care. What they care about is fitting you into a 15 minute or less cubby hole of time, and collecting their money.. My doctor is truly elated when I don't have any complaints because he can't wait to usher me out the door.. lol
Kat, It sounds like your shrink is a mainstream type shrink of today. Many don't even speak English well. They just give you pills and no "therapy". It is a lot of guessing, which pills to give you as Psyciatry isn't an exact science and too make it worse, Most don't even care. I get my lexapro from a regualr MD. all the best
You are so right. I remember watching "Nuts" with Barbara Streisand and Richard Dryfus, and believing that psychiatry was a nobel profession. I actually wanted to be a Psychiatrist as a teenage until my "Teacher" stated "Kathy there are just some people who aren't meant to go to college". I was pulling a c in Psychology, at the time.
Psychiatry relayed on tv, movies etc. doesn't show the real situation. My psychiatrist doesn't even look up from his laptop computer to talk to me. He doesn't LISTEN .Now that I have found out what works for me, I am going to work the system. I just need him to push the pills.. the rest.. I will work with my therapist.
All the best =D
Psychiatry relayed on tv, movies etc. doesn't show the real situation. My psychiatrist doesn't even look up from his laptop computer to talk to me. He doesn't LISTEN .Now that I have found out what works for me, I am going to work the system. I just need him to push the pills.. the rest.. I will work with my therapist.
All the best =D
I can't imagine what it must have been like for you being only 18 and going through this. I am 36, and have pretty good knowledge of mental health issues, and it was still terrifying to trust my doctors doling out psychotropic medication. Me at 18, shy, nieve, gulliable, would have definately been institutionalized.
The irony is so true! The mental health system is supposed to make you feel better but often it does the opposite. I tend to get that feeling.. "Its bad enough John Q Society doesn't understand, where do I go when these PROFESSIONALS aren't getting it?" That's a despairing feeling. There's nothing like the loneliness of mental illness, and the workings or nonworkings of the "professionals" can take a mildly depressed person and make them suicidal!
Your outlook is great! I inturn wish you the best =D
The irony is so true! The mental health system is supposed to make you feel better but often it does the opposite. I tend to get that feeling.. "Its bad enough John Q Society doesn't understand, where do I go when these PROFESSIONALS aren't getting it?" That's a despairing feeling. There's nothing like the loneliness of mental illness, and the workings or nonworkings of the "professionals" can take a mildly depressed person and make them suicidal!
Your outlook is great! I inturn wish you the best =D
Shrinks!, these are the worst of all MD's. It used to be a specialty but now I think it's more for those that want an easy way into medicine. It's the only MD that doesn't have to touch a patient and I think it appeals to some. I seen many bad shrinks and misdiagnoses. I go to a regular md for anti-depressants if I need them. all the best
heh. . yes, I had in total 6 docs at different stages.
Pbly 3 at the same time with different opinions who as I recall were feuding with one another; one was my regular psychoanalyst, one a crisis team doc and one a referred doc by my psych for a second opinion. One didn't think I should be on the meds, one thought I was anorexic because I wouldn't eat - in fact I couldn't eat because the nausea from the pills was agonizing. One thought I was deliberately throwing up my pills! So she'd double my dose - in spite of my protests. It's almost laughable in its ridiculousness except that it was tragic at the time. And also bewildering because I was a very naieve 18 yrold at the time.
That was a number of years ago. . and since then I persevere with varying levels of depression and stress, fatigue and pain. I have since become aware of a few longterm conditions associated with medication use (antipsychotics) that may explain my symptoms of pain so I'm going to examine this in a rational manner!
Overall I try to focus on the positives in my life. One aspect of my depression is my experience with the mental health system - which is ironic, i guess. But honestly, if your experience has been different - better, then more power to you and I wish you every happiness and good wellbeing.
Pbly 3 at the same time with different opinions who as I recall were feuding with one another; one was my regular psychoanalyst, one a crisis team doc and one a referred doc by my psych for a second opinion. One didn't think I should be on the meds, one thought I was anorexic because I wouldn't eat - in fact I couldn't eat because the nausea from the pills was agonizing. One thought I was deliberately throwing up my pills! So she'd double my dose - in spite of my protests. It's almost laughable in its ridiculousness except that it was tragic at the time. And also bewildering because I was a very naieve 18 yrold at the time.
That was a number of years ago. . and since then I persevere with varying levels of depression and stress, fatigue and pain. I have since become aware of a few longterm conditions associated with medication use (antipsychotics) that may explain my symptoms of pain so I'm going to examine this in a rational manner!
Overall I try to focus on the positives in my life. One aspect of my depression is my experience with the mental health system - which is ironic, i guess. But honestly, if your experience has been different - better, then more power to you and I wish you every happiness and good wellbeing.
My psychiatrist.. I have determined.. Is just a pill pusher. Over the last year I have had withdrawal symptoms from all the antidepressants I have tried.. and as of the last bout, he still seemed suspicious of my complaints. Though when I search the net, the very same complaints are reported all over. He may be educated about pill pushing, but he isn't educated about patient experience.
I have been seeing a therapist for the last 10 years, on and off. It is only recently that I started meds. My therapist is sort of a purist. She'd rather I not take meds, but my life has been so much better on it, than it has been off it. I wish I could have pursued the med route, back when my oldest was little. I would have definately been a better parent to her. I am making up for time lost in depression now, and our relationship is 100% better.
As Verona stated, it doesn't sound like you have a good psychiatrist. I think it would be great for you to get a therapist so that in a way you will have an advocate on your side too, incase at some point you change your mind about taking meds.
Good luck!
I have been seeing a therapist for the last 10 years, on and off. It is only recently that I started meds. My therapist is sort of a purist. She'd rather I not take meds, but my life has been so much better on it, than it has been off it. I wish I could have pursued the med route, back when my oldest was little. I would have definately been a better parent to her. I am making up for time lost in depression now, and our relationship is 100% better.
As Verona stated, it doesn't sound like you have a good psychiatrist. I think it would be great for you to get a therapist so that in a way you will have an advocate on your side too, incase at some point you change your mind about taking meds.
Good luck!
In Australia we have a system whereby people in pyschiatric emergencies can access a crisis service - you ring them and they come to you since you are on their list of high priority patients. I was on this list because they had initially given me valium at t he hospital - the effects of which threw me into a whirlwind of hysteria and confusion.
When you contradict or doubt the diagnosis or care provided by psychiatrists in this country, the norm is for them to label you as difficult.
Then when you say that you are feeling sick from your meds they say it is all in your head and that you are psychotic. In my opinion, doctors aren't used to being wrong and admitting their mistakes nor are they used to being contradicted or questioned. I will admit a majority of the patients they treat are actually psychotic. But surely it is not beyond their expertise to admit when they are wrong and assess the concerns of the patient.
I will never take medication again - not willingly anyway. And if I ever feel the need to talk to anyone it will definitely not be a psychiatrist - a therapist will do .
When you contradict or doubt the diagnosis or care provided by psychiatrists in this country, the norm is for them to label you as difficult.
Then when you say that you are feeling sick from your meds they say it is all in your head and that you are psychotic. In my opinion, doctors aren't used to being wrong and admitting their mistakes nor are they used to being contradicted or questioned. I will admit a majority of the patients they treat are actually psychotic. But surely it is not beyond their expertise to admit when they are wrong and assess the concerns of the patient.
I will never take medication again - not willingly anyway. And if I ever feel the need to talk to anyone it will definitely not be a psychiatrist - a therapist will do .
well if your psychiatrist and lableing you crazy they arent very good psychiatrists. get one that will work with you as a partner in your health and get into therapy as well.let me know how you progress.
Love Venora
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