Positive experiences with psychiatrists?

Hi @Former-Member

I think just like any doctor you have to find the one that suits you and you are comfortable with. I hadnt seen many pyschiatrists but pyschologists and found some were great others I didnt connect to so it made no difference.

I did however see a pyschiatrist recently as my BPD was never really managed by my GP so after seeing a new GP I asked to have an evaluation after about 3 years of being on meds that werent really helping. I was glad I did this as I found out how under medicated I was and with the added complication of menopause my BPD became worse. He had increased my anxiety medication which has helped a great deal (only on anxiety meds) and suggested that I do a evaluation every 12 to 18 months. I found him really good but again it depends on who you get and how willing you are to be very honest about your feelings not matter how disturbing they may seem.

But one thing I found very important in my journey, you need to take control of things. (ie.if you feel your meds arent working see a pyschiatrist and question your meds and how you have had no luck etc) When I left things up to the doctors I wasnt managed I wasnt even asked how I was doing, and for years I was on the wrong dosage which didnt help, you need to be persistant and stick to your guns if you dont feel something is right.

Take care

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@Funshine wrote:

Can i ask please, did you give your psychiatrist your history over a while, or did you kind of get it out in the first appointment?

Thanks again

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Hey @Former-Member I hope you are feeling ok with this. I've always found psychiatrists really helpful, so I hope you have a similar experience.

As for history they generally get it all in the first go, if they can. I've found them caring and concerned and want the best for you. I've found that they won't push you, if you don't want to talk about something they'll respect that.

In general I've found psychiatrists to be very caring people, especially my current one. She looks after me and at her core she is a very genuine and caring person. I'm glad I see her.

Hi @Former-Member @mrkotter @Change123

I have had my psych for about 3-4 yrs. He is okay, although at times when he annoys me I have told him. I remember once I was so angry with him but couldn't tell him so I wrote him a letter and gave it to him the next session. He told me he never realised how what he said upset me. But at least he knew.

I just find it hard at times because my session is only 1/2 hour and it's really not a long time when you start to talk.

I guess the good thing about my psych is that when i want to go back into hospital he admits me and understands why i want to go back. I know that my psych genuinely understands the pain i am in with regards to my parents abandoning me. He really does get it. He is European so he understnds the value of family and how close families can be.

Hi @Former-Member,

I've had mostly very good experiences with psychiatrists over 25 years of treatment.

But it's true that psych meds can be difficult to get right. This is why I think it's usually best to have a psychiatrist prescribe and monitor them, as they are the specialists in this area. I've been given many different varieties of meds for my bipolar, to try find the most helpful types and combination. I find coming on and off them can be very unpleasant, but usually for relatively short periods of time (a week to six weeks usually). Going on and off them slowly is usually desirable and I find it's best if I keep other commitments during that time to a bare minimum. It can take a fair bit of patience and endurance during these times and it's important to remember that any extra crazy feelings happening around then are likely to be because of your body getting used to them or clearing them out. But when a good type or combination is found, I can then go for long periods of time on the same meds with only minor tweaks to the dosages in response to my current state of being.

I too have taken leaps of faith with unknown GPs and psychiatrists. Some of these have not worked out. But I did find both my current GP and psychiatrist this way. I've now been seeing my GP for nine years. She is intelligent, gentle and thorough. I've been seeing my psychiatrist monthly for about 2 years (found him myself via google search of the local area and then ringing around to find out who would agree to bulk bill me). I find him great, both in terms of medication and for the counselling he gives in the sessions (as BlueBay said, these are each about half an hour). The counselling I receive from my psychiatrist is not as detailed and long as I've encountered with psychologists but I have found his approach (and that of other psychiatrists) more informal and spontaneous, more human-to-human. I haven't had the best experiences with psychologists.

Similar to what mrkotter said, in my experience the broad history is usually taken in the first and second sessions, but each session after that will involve becoming more familiar with the story to some extent. Also depends on how open we are, and where the emphasis is placed in our minds (if that makes sense!) I still don't tell my psychiatrist everything, for what I consider to be good reasons, but this does not affect his ability to treat me well. As Change123 suggested, taking some control over things seems important. I'm fairly proactive about my treatment, but at the same time really value my psychiatrists wisdom, perspective and knowledge.

@Former-Member at the end of the day remember psychiatrists are people, some you connect with well and others not so much.

I've had many experiences with psychiatrists over the years, both in the public and private sectors. I have horror stories from both unfortunately. However, these days, I see a great psychiatrist who thankfully bulk bills me so I am not out of pocket and it helps keep my healthcare affordable (I have private health insurance too to pay each fortnight). My psychiatrist doesn't hurry me and allows me to talk freely about things (however if he thinks I am withholding he might give me a little nudge to speak my feelings). He keeps all my sessions with him private and doesn't permit my partner to sit in on sessions. At first, this was a concern but now I can see his reasons for it (I tend to withhold my feelings and clam up a bit in company). I am also lucky in that having private health insurance, if I need hospitalisations (which I have numerous times), he is my treating psychiatrist in hospital.

I find my psychiatrist really helpful and reassuring. I have a fear he will take my freedom from me and hospitalise me against my will (this is what happened to me once when I was extremely unwell and not able to make life saving decisions for myself), however he has reassured me it is highly unlikely that will ever happen again. He is getting old however and is soon to retire, so I'll be on the search for a new doctor soon enough.

@Former-Member. I got my first and only psychiatrist when I went to hospital last year. He chose me. My referal was sitting there. Other psychiatrists looked at it and refused to take me on. Only reason I could see is I was on Workcover and lived hours away from Melbourne. But this Psych took me on.

He was just what I needed. He was the opposite of a stiff suit wearing psych. Very down to earth. Listened to me. Listened to the Psych Nurses who were monitoring me. He was respectful. He really made sure I knew why he was recommending a particular medication. The only negative - was he didn't take me off one of the sleeping meds before I left hospital.

I agree with what others have said. Make sure you are working as a team with your Psychiatrist. You want to know what meds, why, how long, other therapies, etc. You want to be able to question his opinion and have your concerns answered. Team work. Just as with your gp or any other health care professional.