Anxiety and social worker

[Natalie22]

Hi,

I recently had an appointment with a mental health social worker and I discussed a recent appointment and some medications I was taking.

She was very adament that I should get new doctors and start fresh and stop my medication as she has read that medications such as ssri's and antidepressants do damage to the brain.

I explained to her that I had already swapped a specialist and I was not going to do it again. 

She has made me feel really uncomfortable and I don't feel that I can go back again as she has made me feel worse.

Thoughts please.

[Petal22]

Hi Natalie22,

Im so sorry you have experienced this I understand the confusion you must feel.

Please trust your doctors, if you have any questions regarding your medication you need to confide in them.

Im currently on a antidepressant and I’m grateful that they are available.

You are under no obligation to go back to see this mental health social worker, trust your gut feeling.

Im really sorry she has made you feel uncomfortable and worse.

We are here for you in this friendly supportive community thank you for reaching out to us.

[On The Road]

Hi Natalie22,🙂

Thanks for your reaching out. I'm sorry that you don't have a good experience with this mental health social worker. As Petal said, you don't have obligation to go back to her.
I wonder that the situation the mental health social worker had this kind of power over you regarding prescription, as you described, that she required you to change doctors and stop the medicines prescribed by the psychiatrist.  In fact, I would say an empathic and respectful relationship and effective communication to present your interests are perquisites before any opinions and interventions.

Feel free to share more here if you're comfortable, we are here to listen.

[geoff]

Hello Natalie, as said, this social worker should not be telling you this as she is not qualified to mention, especially as she has only read about this.

We all read up on the net to check out the medication we're taking and what type of illness the net tells us, but we can never be sure whether to believe it, simply because we tend to associate any little fact we're told and then presume that's exactly what we have.

Your decision not to see her again is absolutely valid and thoroughly agree with you, because sometimes certain people tell us what they believe, but in actual fact, they are totally wrong.

Geoff.

Life Member.

[Sophie_M]

Dear Natalie22,

We appreciate you finding the courage to post about your concerns about the mental health social worker you saw recently. As you are already experiencing, we are a very supportive and helpful community.

You have received excellent advice from some of our community champions. We are pleased that they are so willing to help other community members.

We are concerned about what you said the mental health social worker told you, and would encourage you to consider reporting it to the person's employer, or to the Australian Association of Social Workers. It is our understanding that mental health social workers are not licensed or qualified to provide clinical advice about medications.

We would encourage you to call our fully trained counsellors on 1300 22 4636 if you would like assistance with sorting through any distress this situation may have caused for you. They are available 24 hours per day, every day of the year. You may also call Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you prefer.

Warm regards,

Sophie M.
 

[Natalie22]

Thank you .

I have no obligation to see this social worker, I can ask for a referral to someone else but I live in a country town and my choices are limited.

It was suggested a couple of weeks ago by my specialist that I see a psychologist by a specialist but to be honest I have not had great experiences in the past so I am quite reluctant.

Currently my medication is being managed by my neurologist . I know that sounds really weird. 

[Natalie22]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I don't think I will go back as I don't feel comfortable.

[geoff]

Hello Natalie, having your neurologist manage your medication is not strange as this happened when I was seeing one, that's before my doctor/psychologist took over.

They would have more knowledge of your symptoms than a social worker.

Geoff.

Life Member.

[ecomama]

Hey Natalie22, welcome to the forums. I am so glad you're here. 

I think that Social Worker is WAY WAY waaaaayyyy out of line. 
Medications is what a Dr prescribes. Not Social Workers! 
They may have their personal opinions on this whole shebang but directing you in such a black and white way would make me want to run too. 

You ALREADY have a Neurologist looking after you for goodness' sake. If you trust the Neuro and feel the meds are working then what's the issue? 
If not, then you speak with your Neuro or your GP or BOTH. 

Follow your instincts on this one. 

I think this is a topic to phone 1800RESPECT about. 
You can call anonymously of course. 
But they can also give you loads of support in the meantime until you find a new Counsellor. 
In fact both the BB and RESPECT Helplines will offer lots of names of Counsellors, so don't despair over this. 

You have us too, 
LOVE EMxxxx