I don’t want my parents to know about my Schizophrenia diagnosis.
I don’t want my Psychologist to tell them either.
But my psych is adamant on telling them about it.
I’m not suicidal nor want to hurt anyone.
I’m 27 years old.
This has to be a violation of the HIPPA Act.
Hopefully you won’t mind me asking; why don’t you want to tell them?
Perhaps you could mention that your having mental health problems and are getting therapy?
It’s your life and you can share as little or as much as you need to.
meh… you’re old enough to make that choice…
When I first had schizophrenia… my mentality was - ‘’ it’s a lifelong illness… what’s the point of getting my parents all stressed out about it if they can’t do anything about it’’ So I kept it a secret for 1 year until one day I had my dad over the phone talking like the schizo people // haha, so I was like, they too are in on it? that’s when I told them everything about the dictionary definition of schizophrenia.
Telling them and having therapy with them along with my Psych will stress them out.
I don’t feel comfortable about it either.
I feel weird about it
I just spent 10 minutes reading HIPAA, and the answer to your question is ambiguous (at least to me). It mentions a “direct effect on your health,” but I could not find a definition.
My parents surprised me by being totally cool about it. My dad went off to google what it was, and decided it was just a wibbly wobbly version of autism, and my mum decided it was just god talking to me, pretty much. They didn’t really connect with the whole real or not real aspect, and I played down the delusions.
Telling them hasn’t really affected my life much, I just feel more comfortable knowing that if things get bad, or if something happens to me, then it would not come as a surprise.
But I agree morally it should be your decision and not your Psychs.
I personally feel better talking with people that are close to me about my illness, but I think you are an adult and your choice in this should be respected. I think your psych disrespects your boundaries and privacy if he/she will tell your parents against your will. I don’t know about the law where you live, but I know in my country my team wasn’t allowed to tell my parents anything except if I gave permission to inform them. I think they would not even be allowed to tell people I’m in treatment there. I hope you find someone who knows about your laws.
Do you live with your parents, Jackie? If so, there may be good reason why your psychologist feels they should be informed and be part of your therapy. If you don’t live with them, then I’m not sure I understand why your psychologist is so insistent.
I’m sorry I don’t want to sound rude but is there a reason why you wouldn’t want your parents to know about your Schizophrenia diagnosis?
I think in most cases it’s important that immediate family members know about your DX.
I can understand if you don’t want certain distant relatives or friends to know about your SZ diagnosis but parents really should be informed about it.
But of course it is ultimately up to you
I live in the USA.
I do live with my parents, although I can tell them on my own terms later on and not feel forced to tell them.
Schizophrenia doesn’t always let you choose the ideal time. I’m sorry, in this case, I agree with your psychologist. I think your caregivers have a right to know your diagnosis and be properly educated on how best to help you manage it.
That’s too bad. I just think I’m on the wrong meds still and that’s why I’m not really getting better in my paranoid thoughts.
I’m on Zoloft, Klonopin, and Xanax. I want to get off the meds that I don’t need and get on the right meds.
I can only get my meds through the mail. My Pharmacy closed in my small town. The nearest Pharmacy is now 50 miles away. I need to stop taking the Klonopin and Xanax so I can get all my meds through the mail.
It’s all about the scheduling of the meds.
When I was working as a certified pharmacy technician we had to take several classes on HIPAA. Basically yes, it’s illegal for him/her to release any medical information about you to anyone else without your consent. That includes therapists/psychologists.
When I was first hospitalized they notified my parents instead of my wife, she was in rehab. I was 38.
It’s likely he feels that you need support outside of therapy and from the immediate loved ones you have to help you instead of having to keep secret about it.
Under his guidance they might slide into a smooth acceptance and awareness of the illness and it’s nature.
I’m sorry you’re going through this.
I would side with the pdoc. At the end of the day though it is totally your call and you’re right, legally, it’s totally your choice as an adult to have non-disclosure regarding private treatments or therapy.