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How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Unknown userMember22 June 2016, 6:39 am AEST

How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Hey, I understand that the Psychiatrist is there to help, but barely 30 minutes in, and they have a clipboard and pen, and say, do you have suicidal ideations? Do you ever use/ abuse drugs / medications? Etc.

I just feel that saying '"well, I think about wanting to die pretty much constantly, and I take amphetamines for 4 days and nights with no sleep, I barely eat, and I currently have about 27 different projects on the go varying from learning lock picking and programming to scratch building the ultimate Bluetooth headphones....."

without a little bit of context, ease in, lubrication, etc, that things might not end up particularly well for me.

Anyone get that/ do that?

Cos sometimes I'm not entirely sure it's the best approach. But then again, my previous 3 psychiatrists all ended up prescribing me what I told them to, without any useful contributions, even after all the cards were shown.

so I don't have the greatest faith....

27 replies

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In response to: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Unknown userMember22 June 2016, 10:56 am AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Hi @Former-Member,

Thanks for your post!

It’s an interesting point you raise about how to go about sharing with your psychiatrist. Sounds like you’ve got lots to talk about but you’re not quite sure where to start, or feel like saying it all at once might seem abrupt? Is that right?

It’s really important for your psychiatrist to know about the things you mentioned, so I wonder, even if the delivery is a little abrupt or clunky, perhaps it’s still good to try and get across what’s going on for you however you can? The more information they have, the better they are able to help you.

I wonder how others feel about this? I’m sure this comes up quite a lot as sharing in that space can often feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable. Does anyone have any thoughts for @Former-Member?

All the best,
supernova.

In response to: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

SnuchuSenior Contributor22 June 2016, 11:30 am AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

I always reveal my cards to my psych doc, no matter how ashamed I am about the issues. My doc usually helps me out, but not always, so I just suggest to you that you should at least try. Just be honest.

And then just ask them what they think, instead of asking for which meds you want to be on.

In response to: Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

hope77Senior Contributor22 June 2016, 2:52 pm AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

sometimes i can't identify my feelings and the doctor suggest something i either agree or disagree. if he gives me adivice and i disagree i tell him my point of veiw if i'am able to put it into words if not i tell him next time i see him

In response to: Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor22 June 2016, 3:00 pm AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

I went to psychs in a time they didnt jump straight to those questions and so somehow I did not get to articulate my own issues with SI for decades. Maybe they knew and I knew, but the actual vocalising of it myself didnt happen for a long time. I went with being open and honest .. but you have a very important point, humans are complex and it often takes more than the hour to get to core issues.

As well as the important issue that to really help they need to develop rapport... which takes time.

In response to: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Unknown userMember22 June 2016, 4:09 pm AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

@Former-Member, I don't find psychiatrists helpful myself, think they're there for 'the system' more than individual people.

A GP can write scripts for you, so why not get them to & see a psychologist for proper therapy / counselling (real help). Maybe go to a psychiatrist once a year for a review, or when necessary.

Not sure of your history, if you're an active client with a Mental Health team (case managers, clinical nurses, social workers, psychs...), if you're voluntary or on an order to attend. You can do both - get counselling elsewhere as well, probably best not to tell them though.

I asked a Psychiatrist once if i could get counselling elsewhere while seeing her - she said no. I was going through a really distressing time, distressed & needed to start trusting someone.. She didn't want me seeing anyone else as well as her & i listened to that, and endured waiting for relief. I took the massive amounts of mind numbing double barrel antidepressants, and paid my $55 gap of her $200 fee for the 50min hour. After 6months (4visits), still distressed, i asked her what was wrong with me. She said "i haven't decided what's wrong with you yet" It made me feel even more hopeless & helpless. That was the year before my girl died & I don't know but maybe if my family got better care / helped, and I was supported being a better mum - might my 13yo girl wouldn't have died that year with acute asthma. I wish i didn't presume psychiatrists were the best at the top of their field. They're not! But that's my experience.

Psychologists have since empowered me with tools within myself to access 24/7

In response to: Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

SimonaSenior Contributor22 June 2016, 6:48 pm AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

The first time i met my very 1st psychiatrist was late last year. He was distracted with his dictaphone. Something was not working. He was not as forward as yours. He finally turned to me and smiled and asked something along the lines of "So how are you?" and "Are you on any prescription medications"?. I was having one of my better days. I was able to talk. I even brought along a folder filled with printed out copies of my journal so that he may look into my world in his own quiet time. But he didn't accept it. He was afraid he may lose it he said. I did feel deflated. I write better than i speak.

In response to: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Unknown userMember22 June 2016, 6:55 pm AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Thanks everyone.
Thanks @Former-Member, I'm on a number of meds rated from S4 to S8 that I was told GPS have trouble / can't prescribe / get authority for long term / with repeats.
I'm not sure as to the specifics of this, but I'm pretty certain no GP I've ever met would prescribe the insane cocktail that I'm currently experimenting with 😉

I try not to be_too_ hard on them if you think of them like doctors that study and specialize something that can't really easily or at all, be identified, categorized, treated, cured, and comes on a million different forms. Especially if you consider a large number of mental illness cases likely aren't at all.
They are hunting invisible creatures in the dark, and the only person that feels they are there can't usually even properly describe the creature anyway.
So under those circumstances, I'm sure they try their best.
Most anyhow.

In response to: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Unknown userMember23 June 2016, 1:17 am AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Oh my gosh ×alice_darkfae, - S8's & 4s & Amphetamines. GPs might have issue with this, but not usually with a letter of recommendations. Bit of a minefield for, you sound experiences though.

Hi @Simona�,, don't,
Don't worry, i've never met a shrink that will read my diaries. But sometimes they let me read bits out in a session. Bottom line, they don't take work home with them for their own sanity, and of cause - money. They're never free. Last years counsellor wouldn't even answer emails, said he only does face to face interaction wtf! Unless Of cause there's money in it for him - making an appointment. Its nor perfect and i guess there is safety for all parties in strong professional boundaries. It sucks but its all we have to work with. Let them ask you what they want to know. It'll matter then. Have you tried a good Psychologist?

In response to: Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

SimonaSenior Contributor23 June 2016, 9:37 am AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Hello Tawney : ) Thank-you for your kind input. Yes i did have a psychologist at the beginning of the year. I had 2 sessions with him. I couldn't speak much but i was trying. During the 2nd session he asked why i'm not taking the medication and i told him why. Then i received phone call that he is currently unable to treat me but perhaps in the future.

In response to: Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Unknown userMember23 June 2016, 9:56 am AEST

Re: How many people tell the truth on their first appointment with a new Psychiatrist?

Hi @Simona

Sorry your psychologist wasn't able to keep treating you. It's frustrating to start opening up to someone and then have to go back to square one. Have you found someone else?

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