What do I have to do to get help here?

Question

I did some reading about my son's ADHD. As I'm leafing thru all the info I realize that I may have been suffering from this also. I spend the time to research the Mental health issue and allthe possible attached illnesses. I go to my General Practitioner. He gives me the run around. Tells me I haven't followed through on most of his advice and I need to pay maore attention. (hello didn't I say ADHD)

He gives me a song and dance. After a dispute he offers to refer to a psychologist so that I can get some kind of diagnosis. Fine at least I'm getting somewhere. But low and behold the wait will be up to 3 months.

To get a jump on the whole thing I went to the local psych. hospital and spoke with the crisis team. They take my basic info and get my referal. The earliest psychiatrist appt is 2.5 wks away. Cool better than I thought. I spend the next 3 wks going to weekly appt's with the crisis team. All the while they are gathering info for my file. It's all a work in progress.

They phone me at 4:45pm to postpone my next day appt for 9am. Fine. I can't control it all. The appt is moved 2 wks. Ispend the last 2 wks going to crisis appts.

I went to my psychiatrist appt last wed. He made me wait in the lobby for an extra 15 mins. He brings me into the room and then asks me why I'm there.

I could tell by his reaction to the file and it's hand written insert that he had not done any reading of it previously. It made me feel like the entire appointment was a waste of time. He asked me questions and would not let me complete my answers. I could tell he was looking for specific answers to his questions but he seemed un willing to listen to the first answer. If you are not paying attention to answer #1 then answer #2 means less if anything. By not listening I have to repeat parts of the original answer and the questioner then thinks I'm repeating myself. I am but not as an part of the second question/answer.

You can't ignore the foundation when building a house.

He then proceeded to ask me, "so I take it that you were unconventional and made poor decisions previously. It seems to me that you see the necessity of being conventional and are having a hard time."

So I take from this that he believes me to be a non-comformist. That he thinks my anxiety comes from not wanting to be part of the system. He seemed startled when he read ADHD on the paper work. Asked who had mentioned it and then i told him bout my reading regarding Jacob.

I am going to complain to Audrey about his lack of preparation. In 45 minutes to an hour he has to figure out if i need meds or not. Makes the time go faster when you do your homework. Kind of like discussing last night's homework when you haven't opened the book.

My general point is the guy whois supposed to decide what my F^&%ing meds would be isn't reading any of the matyerial given to him. I'm jumping thru the hoops asked and i can't get any answers. I can't hold a job because i go schizo on my idiot bosses. I don't take care of myself and don't leave my house.... but he would get that from the file if he had F&*#ing read it. The nurse on the crisis team is more competent than the a$%hole who is supposed to diagnos me. Makes sense doesn't.

Hi I have a problem and can't function.

Really, well i guess you are ok... you at least realized you have a problem.

Do I have to go completely apes%$t on these guys to get my point across. The guy waving the machete seemsto get more attention. Is that what I have to do.

The point is not to jump the gun on other people. I am no more special than the next person. The crisis team has asked numerous times anout my ability to function outside my house, I'm agoraphobic. I have limited function in a work setting making it difficult tyo keep a job. But to have a job i must be able to leave my house. I spend days sleeping away. Sometimes, for weeks, I don't sleep more than 2 or 3 hours a night. Functioning inside the house is no problem. the closets and all the cupboards are organized and meticulous. I get agitated when the Gf leaves things out of place. I sometimes spend hours picking at the hairs on my body (trichtillomania). I can't pass a mirror for fear of starting to pick at myself.

I've finally came out of my drug induced stupor long enough to realize there may be something else wrong other than an addiction. And I am seeking help. I've been like this since i can remember (age 7ish)
When the nurse looks you in the face and asks "do you hear voices"

Answer 1

To be happy see this video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4P5Pmdvgp4

About Psychiatry see this video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3895596783332855545&q=psychiatry+is+fraude&hl=en

Understanding Psychiatry:

"Psychiatry is not the same as neurology; whereas neurology treats diseases that have their aetiology or their physiology known and proven by medical science, psychiatry treats mental conditions where aetiology and physiology are both unknown and unproven.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_diseases

Psychiatry is not the same as Psychology; whereas Psychology studies the cognitive and subconscious mental processes of man with no regard towards physiology; Psychiatry studies theoretical mental disorder with the assumption that those disorders are based on physiological deficiencies.

Psychology develops therapies aimed to improve mans cognitive processes; whereas Psychiatry develops physiological treatments to treat theoretical physiological deficiencies where aetiology and physiology are both unknown and unproven.

The unscientific assumption that mental disorders are based on physiological deficiencies creates an arbitrary that makes any further research done by Psychiatry unscientific. You can’t base science on assumptions and arbitraries.

Psychiatry treats theoretical mental disorders with theoretical physiological treatments.

Examples of Psychiatric theoretical mental disorders:
Premenstrual dysphonic disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome.
Gender identity disorder: If you are gay you have this disorder.
Female orgasmic disorder: Many types of conditions are under this code.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-IV_Codes_%28alphabetical%29
As you see, these mental disorders are actually unscientific arbitraries based solely on opinion.

Examples of Psychiatric theoretical physiological treatments:
1st Example
Electroconvulsive therapy is a barbaric treatment where brain damage is induced into the patient by passing 70 to 200 volts of electricity through your brain. The electro shock and the heat further produce more brain damage by the effect decomposition and toxicity of dead brain cells. The only benefit of Electroconvulsive therapy is that it produces memory loss and amnesia. So the patient forgets its problems. Electroconvulsive therapy has caused death, coma and disabilities on patients.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2431926628202445879
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2761074183936137060
“About 100,000 people in the USA undergo ECT every year.”
“The most commonly accepted theory is that ECT's mechanism of action is similar to that of antidepressant drugs and involves neurotransmitters, in particular dopaminergic, serotoninergic and noradrenergic systems.”
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_shock_therapy

2nd Example:
Lobotomy is another barbaric treatment developed by Psychiatry in the name of mental health. In this procedure brain damage is induced into the patient by cutting the connections to and from the prefrontal cortex or simply destroying it.
“Even lobotomy's proponents admitted that only one third of the operated patients would improve, while one-third remained the same, and one-third got worst (25 to 30 % is the proportion of spontaneous improvement in many kinds of mental diseases! Thus, a large proportion of the operated patients could have recovered without the lobotomy).
http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n02/historia/lobotomy.htm

3rd Example:
The chemical imbalance theory, this theory alleges that serotonin deficiency in the brain causes depression. The following video explains this theory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR9vtdueubc&mode=related&search=

But this theory is not based in science and experts disagree:

“I spent the first several years of my career doing full-time research on brain serotonin metabolism, but I never saw any convincing evidence that any psychiatric disorder, including depression, results from a deficiency of brain serotonin. In fact, we cannot measure brain serotonin levels in living human beings so there is no way to test this theory. Some neuroscientists would question whether the theory is even viable, since the brain does not function in this way, as a hydraulic system”
Stanford psychiatrist David Burns, winner of the A.E. Bennett Award given by the Society for Biological Psychiatry for his research on serotonin metabolism, when asked about the scientific status of the serotonin theory in 2003.

“Although it is often stated with great confidence that depressed people have a serotonin or norepinephrine deficiency, the evidence actually contradicts these claims”
Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience Elliot Valenstein

“Indeed, no abnormality of serotonin in depression has ever been demonstrated”
Psychiatrist David Healy, former secretary of the British Association for Psychopharmacology and historian of the SSRIs, in Let Them Eat Prozac (2004).

“A sugar pill was more effective than either St. John’s Wort or the antidepressant Zoloft in providing relief to severely depressed patients, according to a new study that is unlikely to end the debate about the role of the popular supplement in treating the disorder.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3076831/

“…I wrote that Prozac was no more, and perhaps less, effective in treating major depression than prior medications…. I argued that the theories of brain functioning that led to the development of Prozac must be wrong or incomplete”
Brown University psychiatrist Peter Kramer, author of Listening to Prozac, which is often credited with popularizing SSRIs, in a clarifying letter to the New York Times in 2002.

“Some have argued that depression may be due to a deficiency of NE [norepinephrine] or 5-HT [serotonin] because the enhancement of noradrenergicnor serotonergic neurotransmission improves the symptoms of depression. However, this is akin to saying that because a rash on one’s arm improves with the use of a steroid cream; the rash must be due to a steroid deficiency”
Psychiatrists Pedro Delgado and Francisco Moreno, in “Role of Norepinephrine in Depression,” published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2000.

We must be able to differentiate real scientific research against special interest research. The fact is that the chemical imbalance theory is unfounded because:
1) A connection of ‘emotional states’ and neurotransmission levels have not been established.
2) It is impossible to measure the serotonin levels in living human beings.
3) There is no evidence that brain cells produce and then reabsorb serotonin.

In the following video two college professor explain exactly what I’m saying in Fox News: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbTqjSfMPKA&mode=related&search=

We must understand that psychiatric drugs are a multi billion dollars industry, and that careful marketing campaigns are created to push these drugs. We can even say that the whole “Chemical Imbalance Theory” was created in an effort to market these drugs. We can also say that anti-depressants are actually a marketing name for stimulants and anti-psychotic are actually a marketing name for depressants.
Three types of drugs:

Narcotics: (OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet), also known as analgesics or opiods are drugs that are prescribed for moderate to severe physical pain. They are abused because of their euphoric, sedating, and numbing effects. Narcotic abuse causes tolerance and dependence and the withdrawal symptoms are severe.

Depressants: (Xanax, Valium, Librium) are drugs that are prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. They are abused because of their sedating properties. With abuse, depressants cause tolerance and dependence and the withdrawal symptoms can be severe.

Stimulants: Ritalin, Dexedrine, Meridia) are prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD and other conditions such as asthma. They are abused because of their energizing and euphoric effects. Stimulants do not generally cause tolerance or dependence but abuse is associated with hostility and paranoia. There is also great risk for cardiovascular failure and seizures.

-Ritalin: Prescribed for individuals (usually children) who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has a high potential for abuse and produces many of the same effects as cocaine or amphetamine. http://www.streetdrugs.org

Psychiatrists are not common people. Psychiatrists have a different point of view than the rest of society:
“A recent survey in the UK found that 83 per cent of psychiatrists thought that ECT( Electroconvulsive therapy) was more likely to be beneficial than harmful – this figure fell to 69 per cent of mental health nurses and 14 per cent of psychologists.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy

So how come Psychiatrists have such a different point of view than Psychologists and the rest of society?
Whereas Psychologists confronts the human mind or psyche and understand that each person behaviors is an evolution of his own personal experiences. Psychiatrists are unable to confront the human psyche; Psychiatrists don’t care about your emotional issues or traumas; Psychiatrists only deal with man as an object, a biomechanical machine incapable of controlling his mental processes.

How else can you explain Psychiatry barbaric treatments? Like Electroconvulsive therapy, Lobotomies, strait jackets and severe drugging of patients. For them you are not a person; for them you are only a biomechanical machine. People that join the Psychiatric profession do it in order to learn to deal with man in a mechanical way.

The real role of Psychiatry in society is that they are psyche executioners of society. Whenever a person doesn’t conform with the behavioral rules of society they can be sent to a Psychiatrist. And the Psychiatrist enforces the person to conform by the use of multiple control mechanisms; these mechanisms are drugs, electroshock, lobotomies and incarceration (When you are committed into a Psychiatric hospital against your will you are being incarcerated and your freedom is taken away from you. After this the patients are so scared that they will do anything in order to get out of that place.).
The behavioral rules of society are clearly expressed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association.

http://www.drugawareness.org/
http://www.adhdfraud.org/
http://www.escapefrompsychiatry.org/
http://www.antipsychiatry.org/
http://www.mindfreedom.org/
http://www.endofshock.com/
http://www.stopshrinks.org/
http://www.gwenolsen.com/
http://psychrights.org
http://www.prescriptionsuicide.com/
http://www.breggin.com/
http://www.healthyskepticism.org/
http://www.aspire.us/

Answer 2

A diagnosis of ADHD requires that the symptoms were present before the age of 7. Given that you have a son, you're presumably an adult. If you do have ADHD, you've had for years. How is that a crisis?

The reason the psychiatrist didn't expect you to be in for ADHD is probably that you went through a system that's intended more for emergency situations than general care. A crisis center is supposed to be for people who need help right away because they're thinking about killing themselves, or having a manic episode, or that kind of thing. They're not there to diagnose ADHD. I wouldn't expect them to handle that sort of care well given that it's not their job.

Just wait the 3 months and see a psychologist. The reason there's a wait is that there are lots of other people who want to see a psychologist too. They all have to wait too. So why are you so special that you should get to skip the line for that, and take time away from the crisis team when they should be helping people who are going through an actual crisis? Get over yourself. You've been fine for years, and there's no reason you shouldn't be able to wait another 3 months, just like everyone else.

__________

OK, from what you just described, there's no way that's ADHD. For one thing, you mentioned that you spend hours picking at hairs on your body. If you can spend hours at something like that, it's really unlike that you have ADHD. And that, along with that there were a dozen other things in there that could acount for attention problems, makes me think it's not ADHD. That paragraph suggests OCD, anxiety, and depression or bipolar disorder. Obviously that's not a diagnosis, just the conditions that come to mind as possible explanations for the issues you described. But there's definitely something significant going on there besides ADHD. One of the criteria for ADHD is that the symptoms are not better explained by another condition. Considering what you just wrote, I would have to say that the almost certainly are. You should definitely be getting treatment for whatever actually is going on, but with everything else you just described, I'm not at all surprised that the psychiatrist was startled to see that your reason for coming in was that you thought you had ADHD.

Have you ever gone to your doctor before you'd discovered you had all the symptoms for a specific disorder?

Answer 3

It's tough, especially as an adult, to get that ADHD diagnosis, particularly when it wasn't assessed in childhood/adolescence. Psychiatrists are suspicious because they do at times get requests from people who are merely looking for stimulant meds and therefore they are less likely to prescribe because of this. Even though that isn't your case, they genuinely do get people who are, so they tend to be wary. (Same as folks who come in looking for benzos-some need it and some don't).
If you waited 15 minutes I would say count your blessings and that you're lucky. Seriously. Over an hour is not unheard of-often it's because they book regular previous patients every 15 minutes and one difficult person, emergency or crisis can throw off a whole schedule. The psychiatrists often do not read the info prior to the interview and there can be several reasons, some sound and some not: 1) some like to make their own unbiased assessment of a person without being slanted by someone else's perspective, 2) there is a high no show rate for first appts. and they won't waste their time until they actually lay eyes on you and 3) some are just lazy, overworked and overbooked or too arrogant to think anyone else could possibly have a clue. I'm not being sarcastic either, it's just the way it is.
As for seeming inattentive and not letting you finish, it's poor "couchside manners" but also not uncommon. You were right-they are looking for certain things and they often do cut you off because the details that you see as important often are less important as far as what they need to determine diagnosis and course of action. I hate to say this, but generally I haven't met a lot of psychiatrists who I'd score high on their people skills. But truthfully too, most times it doesn't matter as long as they are good enough to know what to pay attention to.
Hopefully you got your meds to try (you didn't say) but if not, try a psychologist who can do testing and if they confirm the diagnosis, have them send it to your PCP who can then prescribe for you as that'll be enough to convince them usually.
Good luck and hang in there-if you have ADHD it can make a big difference to be on meds. (In the meantime, try caffeine from coffee-it has a paradoxical effect and many, many ADHD folks find it actually helps calm them and clear their thinking and they tend to use it to self-medicate)

Answer 4

It sounds to me like you are getting help. The medical people have to give priority to the people with psychiatric emergencies-people with schizophrenia or bipolar who are relapsing, most of the time (or went off their meds).

If you're seeing a crisis team because you are suicidal, it is more likely that you have bipolar and the mania is making you hyper, or you have an agitated depression. If you've had the problem a long time, I don't see why it is suddenly urgent, unless there is a lot more wrong than ADHD.

Answer 5

Sound like You're on track.
It's pretty common place( I think) for our system to respond slowly if this is not an emergent problem.
I am quite surprised that a "crisis team" is even involved.
Entirely appropriate to refer You to a specialist if You feel in necessary to pursue diagnosis and treatment of ADHD at this point.
Are You having some dysfunction at present.?.You sound extremely concerned about on the short term.

Answer 6

It's unfortunate but that is how most doctors/clinics work! Just hang in there. I hope you get the help you need. I have ADD and have taken Adderall ,which helped but have not taken medicine that has amphetamines in it for about 3 years. I see a Psychiatrist once a month for antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicine. Good luck!

Answer 7

granted a physcologist can walk you thru some tests to determine if you have adhd but a physciatrist is the one who can perscribe meds or at least advise you as to what your next best form of treatment may be

it is not surprising that many parents of add or adhd children find they bare all of similar symphoms of their children - heredity, diet, environment - many things attribute to this diagnosis

if nothing else, contact your local mental health care provider for testing and RX needed

Answer 8

Well, no offense, but having ADHD is not really a matter for the crisis team. I have ADD and I'm not on meds, you'll see they kinda suck, but anyway, your getting the help that you need soon enough, you have lived your whole life without medicine or psychiatric care for this condition....why would it hurt to wait a few nore weeks?

Answer 9

if you don't like your doctor and the way you're being treated, complaining will never help. find another doctor who is prepared to treat you the way you would like to be treated. ADHD can also be caused by environmental factors such as diet and exercise (or lack of). have you tried this in conjunction with therapy? meds are a quick fix-it most of the time.

Answer 10

Dude, if you have had this all your life, you could have dealt with it until the first Appt. Why all of a sudden do you need to get a "jump on it" when you have had it for years.

Answer 11

I think you are doing a great job honestly speaking. You are taking care of your son and researching the problem and everyone knows it is a nightmare to get doctors to do anything for you. I think you are very proactive