Doc says I'm bipolar 2, psychiatrist refuses to see me, what can i do?

Question

Have had bad mood swings and episodes of sucidal tendancies throughout my life, have been informally diagnosed as bipolar 2 but my psychiatrist won't send an appointment, even after my gp has written to him. Aparently i can't get any meds for it to stablise my moods until psychatrist has said so! I have 3 young children and a husband whos slowly going as mad as i feel due to this. My other family (mum, dad, brothers etc) have just cut me off as they think i'm "unhinged"
Has anyone got any ideas on how to kick the psychiatrist up the backside? This is ruining our lives and I don't really understand what bipolar itself means, i'm not schizophrenic just have major sudden swings....

Answer 1

Bipolar is what was once called Manic-Depressive.

http://www.channel4.com/health/microsites/0-9/4health/mind/pex_managing.html

http://www.psychnet-uk.com/clinical_psychology/clinical_psychology_mood_disorders1_bipolar.htm

Answer 2

You could try an number of differing avenues to access psychiatric help:

You could try looking at local hospitals that you can check yourself into (specialising in mental health issues).

Alternatively you could see another mental health professional. They tend to have contact with psychiatrists as they often have to work in tandem.

It maybe that a form of therapy combined with the medication would be an effective solution for you. There are many different approaches and they work for individual with varying efficacy.

Try to see a Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor or Psychoanalyst (all very different approaches). If they feel medication is necessary they will refer you on, or speak with the GP. Often the medication is necessary to stabilise your thoughts so you are in a clearer place to help yourself, but this is not always the case. It could be worth paying for a private session to get an assessment and go from there. Professionals are bound by codes of conduct and must provide you with advice centred on your needs, not theirs.

Or see if your local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) can offer any assistance. They are a joint social work & NHS team.

Remember that a large proportion of society have mental health issues with depression (bipolar) being one of the most common.

Hope you sort something out.

Answer 3

You definetly should try to find another physician. I would go back to your GP and tell them that you are getting nowhere with the psychiatrist, they should always be able to recommend someone else. If money is an issue, maybe you can go on a payment plan. My old psychiatrist worked out payment plans with his patients so that none of us went without the needed treatment.

Answer 4

Ask your GP to either, find a different psychiatrist for you to see ,or , offer to pay to see someone. I know you should not need to pay but sometimes it is the only way to get things moving quickly. You should then be able to find another psychiatrist who will see you. Sometimes after the first consultation you can return to national health for the rest, good luck, hope things improve and you feel better soon.

Answer 5

If my surgeon advised me he theory I had bi polar i could be scared too. What might make you surgeon even evaluate that? that's not something they in many cases leap directly to, yet i think that's greater appropriate to be risk-free than sorry. given which you have merely had surgical operation, a loss of existence contained in the relatives, have long previous off your delivery administration, began and stopped anti depressant meds, i might say that's greater in all probability to be melancholy and/or PTSD than bi polar. the actuality which you took an anti depressant for 6 days (that's long sufficient for it to have had an effect on you), and then stopped, might additionally account for the paranoia and tension. you're able to in no way ever do this. even while they make you experience accepted, you're able to in no way merely end taking them. A psychologist won't be able to diagnose bi polar, purely a psychiatrist can do this. Even then it is not any undemanding element to do, and takes it sluggish. A prognosis of bi polar ailment is greater of a guess than a distinctive prognosis as there are incredibly various what's referred to as co-morbid situations, that have comparable indications to bi polar. go decrease back on your delivery administration, get some grief counselling, and take it undemanding. it could take it sluggish to recover from the surgical operation. shop taking the Zoloft, even once you start to experience greater appropriate - shop taking it. that's going to enable you to handle all the crap which will arise contained in the counselling.

Answer 6

I would find another psychiatrist. If money is an issue, which it would be with me, since insurance probably covers this doctor, try public mental health in your area. Usually you can fill prescriptions via your insurance as long as it is a HMO. If not many drug companies will help you.

Answer 7

Go back to your GP saying the psychiatrist is refusing to see you. They have to get you some form of treatment they cant leave you. Otherwise go to NHS direct and ask them what you can do.

Answer 8

Try going when your not feeling yourself - maybe he'll see the other you!! Sorry poor joke!! Seriously though get your GP to refer you to the Psychiatry department at your local NHS hospital. Someone will have to see you then.

Answer 9

hi there,

during one of your bad episodes, roll on up at a and e and ask for help.
thats what i was advised to do if ever i got into trouble and couldnt cope. that way, you have to be seen by the duty shrink, who then deals with your case and passes it on to the relevant people,,,

good luck

Answer 10

Try a different psychiatrist.

Failing that document the attempts that you made and discuss the issue with the appropriate PCT.