Are you good at expressing your needs to your pdoc/mental health team or does. this hinder the help you get?.
I think i’m articulate but it’s been written that before that I’m unable to adequately communicate need.
I know when under pressure it’s been said I have difficulty expressing myself clearly . I wonder how many of us think we are getting our thoughts across clearly but to the listener we are being obscure and/or vague.
I am horrible at expressing needs, and I get frustrated when people get it wrong!
No, I was never good at expressing needs…or anything else for that matter. But, it seems like my doctor was good at reading between the lines and seeing the severity of my problems anyway.
I think that I am being clear to my pdoc but because time is limited I feel as if I sometimes rush my concerns to her - so I might not be as clear as I think I am being. Lately I have been more assertive and direct with her - last time I saw her I feel that I expressed myself clearly. I am learning to ask her questions or talk to her as soon as I sit in the chair, so this way little time is wasted. I think she feels that I “complain” a lot - but I have to let her know exactly how I am feeling - I dont care.
Because I have some more time with my therapist, I am more relaxed and do express my needs to her - I do most of the talking it seems
These days I’m of the opinion that my time is as valuable as my doctor’s and that he works for me. If I have issues or concerns they will be addressed regardless of how long my session is supposed to last. If my doctor resists then I’ll find a new one.
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My doctor does not resist, but my sessions with her do not last very long, usually 10 or maybe 15 minutes - only a couple of times she saw me for half an hour (rare) I guess with my insurance and her very busy schedule my time with her is limited, but she will go over if needed and she does answer all of my questions/concerns.
Good thing I see her 2x a month - this way she gets a better sense on how I am doing
In the UK you usually get 10-20 minutes and even if you can change pdoc, which is not easy, that’s unlikely to change the time you’re allotted.
I see mine once every three months. I think I need to see him a bit more often. I’m actually sort of looking for reasons to dump him and go to another clinic. The clinic I go to now is horrible, just plain horrible. My doc seems good though so I’m torn.
If you can see him more often and this is what you need - why not - My sessions are so short that 2x a month seems to make up for the shorter sessions
Things are a little different here.
It’s funny, if you go to a regular doctor they’ll take as much time as you need to go over your issues. Psychiatrists often think they can cut you off after a certain time regardless of whether your concerns have been addressed or not.
I’ve had good psychiatrists who get things done, I’ll drop any psychiatrist who doesn’t. There’s always more fish in the sea, and more psychiatrists in the phone book.
I am down to see someone every 6 months. I guess that’s because I’m fairly stable not in the way of being near recovery but don’t deviate much from the level I’m at. Like a lot of chronic patients I have social problems that are seen as secondary to whether and how much symptoms are present.
I’m not sure, I really hate going in. I hate spilling my guts. I’m also not sure I really need to go more often on a regular basis.
I had some breakthrough symptoms not long ago and called the clinic to see about a small increase in my meds. They gave me a lot of hoops to jump through, having to go to their walk-in clinic instead of the guy just bumping up the meds cause I asked. This makes me want to change clinics.
My symptoms change and fluctuate so much that I asked her if I could see her more often 2x a month works great for me
I had the issue of whether to increase meds a while back. Pdoc left the option open and to tell the depot clinic if I thought it should be. However when I told the depot clinic I was for it there was little response, certainly no we’ll pass that on to the pdoc. Something tells there hadn’t been communication between the pdoc and the depot clinic on the issue.
No, for me it is difficult to explain my needs; I must practice before I visit my doctor.
I have the same experience that you write: under pressure I have difficult expressing myself.
Tolteca.
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I can’t express my needs until I become angry or desperate and begin just saying what it is.
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When I was first crumbling… I didn’t want to tell my doc anything about anything because I was mad and I didn’t want to go to hospital. I said nothing… and then I would get mad that this doc was so bad at helping me.
Then I did a 180 and I began to overwhelm my doc with my “needs” I would write pages and pages of things that were bothering me and hand them to him. There is no way he could read all that in 20 to 30 minutes.
So then I would e-mail so many times letting him know every little thing that was in my head and how I was feeling.
He asked me to stop doing that.
Now I’m trying to find a balance between saying nothing and sending a full book. But I think I’m doing better at expressing my needs.
The biggest thing that I’m feeling better at is swallowing some pride and asking my family for help when I need it.
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i take written information, journal , notes in with me…
…otherwise i talk about aliens , other universes, spaceships etc…which by the way is my favorite topic…in case you have not noticed !?!
take care
It seems like more club houses, drop in centers are what is needed. Sometimes a psychiatrist/psychologist is a paid friend. Why not be among other people like yourself? A more natural social setting.
The only thing I’ve asked for from my shrink is help with being able to do things. The suggestions so far are medicine related which I’m happy enough with.
I agree wholeheartedly with that. Unfortunately in the UK places you can go as and when you need them are being systematically phased out. “Social inclusion” is the big buzz phrase and integration with mainstream society everything.
The trouble is mainstream society is still generally quite stigmatising towards severe mental illness and doesn’t want much to do with those that have it. Those with severe mental illness are often quite anxious and fearful of mainstream society because of it.
Also a drop in is much easier to go to if you are one of those that has difficulties with social interaction as it is a place you can feel safe with people who have a mental illness or are sympathetic/understanding about it.