Psychiatrist questions

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, my name's Tayla and I'm 20.

Firstly, sorry for posting a couple of times. I'm just new to these BB Forums, and I'm just trying to interact with people and try to support others any way I can, well I try to. Plus asking questions myself.

Anyway, my question is:

How would a Psychiatrist (I have one of my own who I'm happy and comfortable with) comfort a distressed person? So crying for example? I see my Psychiatrist on Telehealth which is basically Skype, and surprisingly I haven't cried in front of him yet, because I try to be strong and hide it although I tell him everything, more than my GP actually because I feel more comfortable with him.

He's always polite and caring towards me which means so much. It's surprising that considering how stressed I am, that I haven't cried. So what I mean by what would a Psychiatrist do and how would they comfort a patient in distress, is would they try and reassure them/tell them it's okay to cry, things like that?

Or if in person would they hold the patient's hand, perhaps hug them, give them tissues? I've never actually met my Psychiatrist in person because he's in Sydney and I'm in regional Victoria, so it's about a 6 hour drive, not sure how long to fly. But I would like to try and arrange to see him in person one day for an appointment, do you think he'd do that? I don't see why not because after all I'm still a patient of his.

My apologies for these stupid questions. Maybe one day I'll cry because I'm pretty sensitive and weak, and see the outcome. With the vibe I get from him with his caring, kind, professional manner, I think he'd just hug me and give me a tissue or hold my hand in person, and try to make me feel better (he tries to make me feel better anyway).

I'd appreciate if people can answer this, and not judge please. I know they're silly questions and I'm sorry 😞 Please help.

Thank you,

Tayla xx

[Guest_4643]

Hi again Katy, thanks for replying here.

I hope you and anyone here doesn't think that this post is stupid, although I know it is. This thread I made was so stupid and pointless and all unnecessary although I was just curious for people's answers, I don't know why it's been on my mind lately. I'm weird I know. I'm sorry. I've been so anxious and beating myself up and regretting it since I posted this but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

i hope no one judges this. Can you get threads you posted yourself deleted on here like by emailing the moderation team? (The ones who email you after you post and comment). I could try maybe? I'll think about it.

thats lovely that you have a great Psychologist, I'm glad you do and that she's kind with you in that sense, and respectful and caring.

My GP is a female and she puts her hand on my shoulder usually after sessions to say goodbye and take care, or sometimes she might put her hand on my hands when she says taking my blood pressure, but that's just her nature, I've seen her to that to a lot of patients, that's just how polite she is. I personally don't mind it and I haven't seen or heard anyone else say anything, but who knows. It doesn't bother me but then again, she's a female and so am I, and I see her in person because she's at the clinic in my town, my Psychiatrist is 6 hours away to Drive to Sydney, hence me doing Telehealth (Skype). But I don't mind doing that, it's kind of like face to face anyway if you think about it I suppose.

but yeah like I've said to everyone else, I completely understand and respect the rules, people's space, all of that. I really do, and I'm not one to push things like that, I promise. I really don't know why I even asked this, it should be fairly obvious. I probably look like a fool.

thanks again though. Kind thoughts back.

Tayla x

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Tayla,

Thank you for starting this conversation - I don't think this is a stupid or silly question at all. Although you've gotten some support on this thread already, I kind of wanted to echo it to give you a bit of reassurance.

Offering comfort and trying to be there for people in teletherapy is actually a big reason as to why people decide not to do it. It's really hard to be there for someone on Skype in comparison to in person. While therapists or psychiatrists may not always hug people, they can push the tissues across and kind of 'hold that space'. The therapy room becomes this safe room where it's okay to cry and be upset - which you can't always get on Skype.

I imagine that if you were on Skype and got upset, your psychiatrist would probably try to just comfort you there - he might ask you what's making you upset, or tell you that it's okay to cry, or just be patient and give you that time. He would probably say the same sorts of things as if you were seeing him in person.

and yes, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be able to see you in Sydney. You could definitely ask him next time (even if you didn't have any plans) so he could let you know.

I hope that you'll keep your post up - this is something that I've thought about before (and professionals too!). Also quite often people breathe a big sigh of relief when they see people asking the question that they were thinking about.

rt

[Hanna3]

Hi Tayla,

Just thought I'd pop by and see how you're doing today. I hope you're going okay. It seems like you're getting some good support here. I've just taken Sam for a walk before it gets too hot and now i'm going to have a rest. I hope you get your questions to your psychiatrist sorted out and are more relaxed about it all. Take care, best wishes, hugs from Sam. xx

[Guest_4643]

Hi romantic_thi3f. Thanks for your reply, sorry for just replying now. I had a bit of a break from these forums. I love your profile picture, nice inspiring quote!

Yeah I get what you mean. If I was closer to him in Sydney I'd try to see him in person rather than doing Skype, it's sort of the same thing in a way. I understand your point & agree with you though.

I hope he still wants to keep seeing me, what do you think? Sorry I didn't say much this time in your reply but I read everything you wrote, just not sure what else to say at the moment.

Tayla

[Guest_4643]

Hi Hanna.

Thanks for that, and sorry for just replying now. I'll be OK, thank you though.

I hope you and others are alright also.

Hugs back to you and Sam, and love.

Tayla

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Tayla,

That's no worries at all, I'm really glad to hear back from you anyway! Also thank you!

I have no doubt that your psychiatrist would be happy to keep seeing you. I have no reason at all to think that he would suddenly not want to.

also that's totally fine. I'm not going anywhere - so you're welcome to come back anytime you like. The forums will always be here for you 🙂

rt

[Guest_4643]

Hi again romantic_thi3f. Again, sorry for my slow replies.

Thanks for replying also, hope to see you around the forums more.

I hope he does, I really do. I don't know what I'll do. My GP when I saw her today made me feel worse about myself, rather than helping me. She made me feel like my Psychiatrist doesn't want to see me, although I told her how scared I am. He's NEVER said that to me, or her, but I'm just paranoid and confused. She said all this stuff that messed with my head and gave me that idea. I'm depressed and hurt and in a dark place from all of this. And from a GP, who's supposed to CARE and HELP, NOT this stuff. Sorry for the caps.

I don't know anymore. Sorry for venting and whatnot.

Hope you're alright yourself. Always here for you too.

Love and hugs,

Tayla

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Tayla,

That's no worries, and thank you!

Oh no! That sounds a bit rough - what happened? What did she say that gave you that idea?

rt

[Guest_4643]

Hi again, sorry for the slow replies.

Well what happened was I told her that I've been feeling like my Psychiatrist doesn't want to see me anymore, he's NEVER said to me or her that he doesn't though. I suppose I'm just being paranoid & whatnot.

Anyway, she explained to me that Medicare doesn't pay for Psychiatrists. Yes they do! Every time I see my Psychiatrist since it's on Skype, I get emailed a DB4 form to sign, which I just click "digitally sign", then Medicare pays for it, I don't pay nothing. Every single time.

She also said Psychiatrists don't provide therapy. I told her mine does - he even says that in the reports to her (I read this on my file on the Telehealth website) - he tells me to read Beating The Blues (still need to buy that), register for Mindspot which I did, helps me with medication, and does give me therapy. I've told her this. My Psychiatrist even said to me - "I want to help you & give you therapy, not just prescribe you medication". See?

I told her that I DON'T want to go to the triage or anything similar, just see my Psychiatrist ONLY, & my parents agree. I feel comfortable with him & he's been helping. I don't want to see Psychologists any more, only him, because they've always been bad. It's not that easy to change Doctors.

She doesn't care about me at all, there's other stuff to say but it's frustrating. She doesn't even know what she's talking about & she should whereas I do. I know my rights & I have every right to express my frustrations. I know how it works. Yeah I'll ask my Psychiatrist this myself & mention it to him what he's like. She's never communicated with my Psychiatrist once in any way, she told me this & my Psychiatrist even asked me why. I have no idea but that's what she's supposed to be doing, she's not doing her job & she doesn't care. & like I said it's hard to find another GP then update your file & let people know, like my Psychiatrist.

But like I said, my Psychiatrist has NEVER told me or her that he doesn't want to see me anymore. She made me feel like he doesn't even more than how I feel, & made me feel worse about myself then I already do. I'm sick of her.

My parents said I should make a complaint & let my Psychiatrist sort it out, what would you suggest?

Love and hugs,

Tayla

[romantic_thi3f]

Hey Tayla,

Ah, I'm sorry to hear that! I can very much relate and it sounds like your GP is uh, mis-informed (or just plain ignorant!). I've had a lot of these sorts of experiences before, and I get so frustrated when the GP who is the first point of call just ends up making people feel worse.

It sounds like you know that she was just in the wrong the whole time, do you think you could find another GP to be your support? If you find someone in the same clinic, they can use the same file, otherwise you could find a doctor and get them to request any medical info they need.

It's totally up to you if you want to make a complaint. My only thoughts are that it does take a bit of energy, and I'm not sure how much it would be worth your time- given that even though what your GP did was inappropriate and rude, I don't know whether that alone would be recognised by the review boards. Up to you though, I'm only just guessing here.

Hopefully you get to talk to your psychiatrist soon

rt