I just…seriously??

Standard

Pictured above is me simultaneously doing an angry dance and a facepalm of frustration. Why? Well, it starts a couple months ago.

The psychiatrist I was seeing at the mental health clinic where I go for treatment of my bipolar disorder, bulimia, self-harm, suicidal ideation, etc quit a couple months ago. I was informed via a letter in the mail and told I would now be seeing a new psychiatrist and that I needed to call and set up an appointment after a certain date. I waited until said date, called, and set up an appointment, a month out (her first available appointment, apparently). I waited anxiously for the date to arrive as I could tell my meds needed to be adjusted. The day before my appointment, I got a call saying my appointment had been canceled because my new psychiatrist had quit.

So, I called intake to get an appointment with another psychiatrist, only to be told I couldn’t be seen by another one at the moment because they were shorthanded. Not good enough. I got the number to the intake manager and left her a message letting her know the situation and that I really needed to be seen by a psychiatrist. She promised to “work on it”.  Today, I went in to see my therapist and we went to speak with intake together. We found a psychiatrist with a last minute cancellation so I could get in to see someone this afternoon if I was willing to come back later. I was. They scheduled me and I left, finally feeling like I was making progress.

NOPE! I got a call just before noon saying they needed to cancel my appointment! No explanation could be given. I am so fucking frustrated! I just want to see a psychiatrist and get my meds adjusted. Is that really too much to ask??

35 responses »

  1. *Insert profanity here* you are NOT asking too much and *more profanity*. I’m sorry, and I hope they get this situation worked out ASAP. You’ve been working so hard to be OK, and you need a Dr who will meet you at least part way (if not much more). Do what you can to hang on in the meantime.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. OMG I’m so pissed for you! You have been doing pretty well considering and no its not too much to ask! At least you are ‘healthy’ enough to ask and realize you need meds versus some of my family and friends who still are under the impression that they do not and that they have no problem, (No denial) simply that their actions are normal. I so wish there was a place we could send you that would help you b/c they should know these things are too serious to play with. Though they are probably too desensitized to give a flip. UGH! Flippin JERKS!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Holy cow!!! Whaaaaat?!?!?! Seriously?!??! But seriously though?!? I can’t even!!

    But I’m proud of you for being such an amazing self patient advocate!! You deserve the best! Tell your therapist. You can always manipulate them if they want to manipulate you…. I call it working the system. ;] I had to do it once.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. What complete and utter nonsense. I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this. Mental illness isn’t taken seriously enough. Not by a long shot. I hope things get figured out for you. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Argh. …how awful. And totally not what you need, but you know that! I hope you get to see someone very soon and sort stuff out. And when you’re feeling stronger maybe consider making an official complaint to note your frustration?
    Hang in there & and all the best for your kick-ass self!

    Like

  6. Not trying to make excuses for them and I’m sorry I’m a Johnny-come-lately regarding this post – but this is why we’re in the mess we’re in regarding mental health. There aren’t enough qualified psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists, etc for everyone who needs them. There are, unfortunately, plenty of bad to mediocre-at-best ones who enter this field because they think they’re gonna strike it rich – which again doesn’t help those who need it. The great ones get burned out too quickly. And it’s not as easy to find one as say changing medical doctors – there’s more than trust to be re-established when you’re forced to change psychiatrists that no one seems to acknowledge or appreciate. Putting damage upon damage helps no one. I hope you were/are able to find someone soon.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I had the same problem with my psychs and getting meds filled. I ended up dropping out of college classes that I still had to pay for and taking F grades, which put me in academic probation. Although it sounds mean, I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who is made crazy by the terrible system. Keep holding on!
    Marianne

    Liked by 1 person

  8. INFURIATING!! I know what it takes to get to the point where you actually have the courage to reach out for help, only to have your hand smacked away. Back in the glorious days of decent health care, the hardest part was finding a therapist/psychiatrist/etc. that was actually helpful. Now? We’re at the mercy of Insurance Company authorization on top of an astronomical deductible and that’s when you have decent health insurance. We should win all the awards and prizes for continuing to try to get help. So many of us are barely hanging on. I have been trying for 13 years to get help, and just finding someone that knows anything about binge eating (without purging) is like finding a unicorn. Keep fighting. We all have to keep fighting.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Thank you for liking my blog…(tinamarie81.wordpress.com) I am so sorry you are experiencing the frustrations of the mental health system, as well as so many others I am seeing who responded to your post. 😦 PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP! Keep after them until you get what you need! Yes, it is a broken system, but the only way we can fix it is to keep speaking up! I have sent my daughter’s story to our state senator… in the hopes it will reach someone who will do something for those who are still suffering like yourself. It is ” National Suicide Prevention Week “. Maybe we can get their attention. I’ll keep trying…if you will. Blessings to all of you.

    Like

Join the conversation