Sad and Confused

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Went to see a Dept of Mental Health psychologist yesterday. First visit to a professional for many years. She was running almost half an hour late to start with. Room was set up like a doctors surgery but with a couch but I was not invited to sit in the comfy seat, had to sit facing her on the hard chair stuck in a corner against the wall and the desk. She introduced herself as a psychiatrist so I immediately advised her I was supposed to be seeing a psychologist. She was also a child psychiatrist, I'm 38. She patronised me the whole session, talking down to me as if I was 4 years old and didn't understand anything and when she threw in a scientific name she didn't explain until I asked her repeatedly to clarify. She didn't start the session but told me to start it. She's the professional, not me, how the hell was I to know where to start, birth, now, the worst memory, my last suicide scare...I felt lost and frustrated from the beginning of the session. I had to talk about my psychic gifts as if they are problems and she dismissed them as if they were some kind of anxiety disorder. She was very cold and aloof but she lost her composure when I stated that I have been researching my symptoms online, my psychic abilities made her visibly uncomfortable and she was relieved when I asked not to see her again.

I hope I don't need to go through too much of this before someone understands me and my needs and can help. I have had such a bad run with people who are supposed to help and each one gets worse than the last.

I can totally feel for you. With my kids I have gone through the same exact sort of experience as recent as last week. No matter where you started it would not be right. I wonder how many classes they get on how to conduct an initial appointment. Just thinking of all the bad appointments I have had makes my head spin. Just keep in mind..."this too shall pass" it is their interviewing skills it is not you! I hope you got what you needed out of the apt if not I hope you have options.

That sucks

These "professionals" can sometimes be terrible.

I can relate. I've yet to have a professional treat me with respect. I wrote a vignette about one of my encounters with a psychologist on my WP blog, if you're curious.

Most of them just talked to me like I'm a child or kept asking, "why do you want to kill yourself? Have you attempted this week?" It's like she was disappointed that I haven't yet. :/

To be perfectly honest, the best therapy for me was making friends in college. They understood me and didn't care that I have AS. At times they'll even forget that I'm different from them. They helped me understand different view points and I matured from it.

The time that I wasted with these so called health professionals! You are far better served seeing a psychologist, IMO. That was how I got my DX. The psychiatrist that I saw was much like yours was; patronizing, dismissive, and rude. My way of getting back at her was to not pay her damn bill. After all, she had wasted my time, and tried to say all that I had was PTSD, despite my meticulously prepared history. I hope you find the answers that you seek.

stop seeing this person, that is no way to treat someone. If you are in the US, you can report her to the board.

I have a psych nurse that thinks she is a neurologist and want to adjust my sezure medicine....I am sooo going to find me someone else.