Communicating with psychaitrist?

[Zoostar84]

Hey everyone.

I have recently changed psychiatrists and had only a couple of sessions with her. As i'm unfamiliar with her way of dealing with her patients I am a little concerned because I'm unsure as to how to effectively communicate to her how depression is impacting my life. She may have a list of general questions she will ask and then I answer them and give an example. I don't see this as being very productive. I am seeing my psychologist on monday and I have an idea that I will present to her before seeing my psychiatrist. It involves written communication. Three pieces of paper each with one word written on them. I read them out and talk about each word and how each correlate and impact my life.

I hope I have explained this well without mentioning what each of the three words actually are.

Would like to hear your thoughts

[geoff]

hi Zoostar, I remember asking my psychiatrist a question then another one but got no answer from him, but there were issues I would have liked to know, but was dumbfounded when he didn't answer, if however your psych does ask you a question and you give her an answer then you expect this topic to be discussed, but if it's not then you wonder why you are seeing her.
You want feedback from her and not talk as if you are talking to a recording machine, but when seeing a psychologist all questions are discussed, and you can discuss the pro's and con's, especially what is upsetting you, and if you find it difficult to talk about then the psychologist will tackle it from another angle.
I'm not suggesting that all psychiatrist's are all the same, because a lot of people on this site do see one which means they are happy with them, but my own experience with two psychiatrist's were never successful. Geoff.

[Starwolf]

Hi Zoostar,

Therapists are service providers. In theory, they shouldn't feel above answering questions. If they don't, trust will be broken. It sometimes takes a few attempts before finding someone you can relate to and work with. There is nothing wrong with walking out on an unhelpful one and searching for another.

Discussing a strategy with your psychologist is a good, proactive idea. It will be interesting to see what comes out of it...The outcome will let you know where you stand and what you want to do about it.

I wish you all the best.

[Zoostar84]

Thankyou for your response.

My psychologist was very happy with what I presented in my appointment. We did discuss something else that happened since my last appointment with her and she told me that I must tell my psychiatrist. We both agreed that my appointment with my pscychiatrist tomorrow shouldn't be just another monotonous timeslot for her day. I need to illustrate to her how much depression is affecting my life.

[Starwolf]

Hi Zoostar,

Good to know your psychologist is working with you on that.

I hope today's appointment will go well. Understanding that total honesty must prevail, is the right attitude. You deserve maximum interest and cooperation in return.

[Zoostar84]

My psychiatrist received a letter from my psychologist regarding my mental state. She has changed some of my medications and told me to ring her in 2 weeks time for an update of how i'm tolerating the new medications. My next appointment is in 1 month time.

[Airies]

Good news Zoostar84.Everyones communicating and you are moving forward. All the best and have a good month:)

cheers Len

[FriendlyGuy4569]

I'm so distressed What those mental doctors did to me my whole entire life that I refuse to see them ever again. My parents get me the scripts. All my life those mental health doctors refused to give me my medication and when they did at high school it didn't work. I used to be well liked at high school but after yr 9 when my mind shut down every day at high school I was going funny to a point I actually collapsed in my yr 11 homeclass and nearly died, so everybody walked away from me and didn't like me. after I saw my next mental doctor (number 4) She gave me the worst medication in history that saved my life. stuff that totally knocked me out for 10 years, had no awareness, no physical energy, put on a ridiculous amount of weight, was sleeping all day everyday up for about 5 hours a night, I was so drugged out that I couldn't even remember a new bank pin number for 10 years. My doctor kept drugging me out on that stuff and he wouldn't stop (number 5) The only way I could get off them was to forget them in 2015. So I forgot them I wasn't doped out anymore I had no more physical problem from side effects, everything came back to normal except my mental health temporary. That was when I reactivated my facebook I couldn't use it before because I was that drugged out. Then over time I started to go more and more crazy. My mental health was so bad that I wrote a euthanasia post on facebook, the cops came to take me to hospital and then one day later the hospital sent me with no treatment. So my health just got worse and worse I had no doctors help because I didn't trust them because of the medication last time and I had no doctors since he kept cancelling every appointment. I tried to save myself with overseas supplements which help a little bit. After the euthanasia post I wrote a post about my friends on facebook when I came back from hospital the first time. I went stupid to my ever best female friend on facebook because of it after that she put her profile on restricted and never heard from her ever again. I nearly died that year when I actually stopped breathing in my house without the medication. Went to hospital went to cramond and was tortured there just to get the right medication thanks to my parents not the doctors. Anyway I eventually got home after 4 weeks away from home with the right medication. I tried to mend my friendship with my best female friend but she blocked me on facebook. Causing serious post traumatic stress disorder and depression.