Can I part from my psychiatrist?

Question

First of all, I have a caring and sincere doctor who I had for many years. The problem isn't my doctor. The problem is me. I do not feel I will return to a normal life. My doctor has tried every option and after years of medications and hospitalizations, I feel it time to let it go. I'm severely depressed and I don't feel there is hope for me. My doctor has tried everything, but I feel I it's time that she needs to part from me. I admit that I just don't want to wake up on morning. I'm not sad, just very very tired. I don't want anymore medications. I'm only an liability on the doctor. I stopped talking about giving up months ago because it only will cause more problems. I do not want to hurt anyone, but at the same time, I just want the pain to stop.

Anyway, sorry to make a long post. My question is "can I part from the psychiatrist?" I'm I legally bound to the doctor because I am depressed?

Answer 1

hello. u have all the decision if u wanna look for another psychiatrist. if you think you doctor is not that good (for you) well its your choice whether to stay or not. but, i have also studied that if im the doctor and i couldn't help u anymore, i could refer you to another doctor. but this is the thing: you have to help your self too, do not take all the charges to your doctor. its his responsibility to make u well but its also your responsibility to help your self.

Answer 2

Randy,

Please believe me, you are not alone. I also have a wonderful therapist, but I haven't seen him in about two months simply because I have run out of things to say and I don't feel like I am getting anywhere. I trust him and feel comfortable with him, however, things are not not getting fixed, ya know? I, like you, feel this is just the way I am.

You are not legally bound to your doctor for any reason. You are paying him for a service and apparently he is not able to provide it. Just cancel you next appointment and tell the receptionist you want to take some time off.

I know what you mean when you say you are not sad, just very, very tired. I understand you want it all to stop. You sound like you are suffering from depression. Depression is a biological brain disorder. It under produces positive emotions and over produces negative emotions. Depression poisons your thoughts and makes you believe you must die. The RIGHT medication can treat this imbalance. You feel like you are the problem but it is the illness in your brain function that is causing it. Before you consider anything else, PLEASE call the U.S. National Suicide and Crisis hotlines:

1-800-SUICIDE/ 1-800-784-2433

1-800-273-TALK/ 1-800-273-8255

They have a listing for a local hotline in every state. Please don't give up hope. You could hit it off with the right therapist and medication and things could fall into place for you. It really stinks to be tired of life, while everyone else is enjoying it---------I know that for a fact. Hang in there Randy! Please give us an update on how you are doing. I care.

Lucy's Mama

Answer 3

No, of course you're not legally bound.

Continuing to see the doctor is in their best interest...and yours. They get income, and you get some relief.

I also felt like nothing was helping, and that I am a condemned person. I feel like nothing will ever really help.

I decided to make my most recent appointment my last. After the session the doctor walked with me to the receptionist to make the next appointment. I hate confrontation, so I went ahead and made the appointment for the next month. Then I called the office back a week later...saying I had to cancel. I said that I didin't know what my schedule for work was like yet, so I'd have to call back and schedule it later. I never called back. Simple as that! And I haven't heard a peep from the doctor.

I may go back if things get bad enough. I'll probably try somebody else though.

Answer 4

When you say you've tried every option, does that include tricyclics and MAOI inhibitor antidepressants (AD)? And then there are mood stabilizers Lamictal, Geodon, Abilify, and Lithium - all of which do their thing much more quickly than ADs. A lot of people who are treatment resistent respond to mood stabilizers. Then there's using them to augment antidepressants, and also combinations. There's also the VNS stimulator and ECT which can be very effective for some (my uncle for example). In the National Institute of Health's huge depression study, 25% of seriously treatment resistent folks responded to thyroid hormone T3 augmenting an AD. For that matter, have you checked your thyroid levels? If your pdoc has not tried these, then yes, part company and go see another one. There are a lot of options. Btw, I've been where you are at. When you finally find what works, life is very much worth living again and you are equally if not more glad that you did not do the deed.

Answer 5

What I want to know is that you said that you tried everything..did you know, that Rod Steiger, the gifted actor, suffered from severe depression also, for 35 years? He was a genius, but had a chemical imbalance, that caused him to suffer greatly..his wife was part of his cure, so it isn't surprizing, that your bond to the doctor, is keeping you feeling a bit better...you are not a liability to your doctor, she is there to help you, and that is her job also...but I wish you would find God and Jesus and accept THEM into your life,...and give you a reason to live, if not for yourself, for Them...you would probably find, that you don't need any meds anymore, and making THEM happy, would be your goal in life...My prayers are with you darling xxx

Answer 6

You are not bound to the psychiatrist but since your doc isn't able to help you then it means you need to find a different doctor. Talk to your family doc for a recommendation to a better doc that he thinks WILL be able to help you. Trust me there is a doc that can help you but only if you get rid of your current one and try a different doc. One question is why did you stay with this doc for so long when she wasn't able to help you??? You deserve better than this so find someone new who can help you and if it means trying 3-4 different ones keep trying until you do find one that will help you.

Answer 7

Yes, unless you are under a Court Order. I suggest trying the multidimensional approach to treating depression, at http://www.ezy-build.net. (.net.nz/~shaneris) on page 2. Also see page 1. There are many other treatments you haven't tried, yet.

Answer 8

While your reasons for doing so are concerning, you have every right to terminate the therapeutic relationship between you and your psychiatrist.

Answer 9

You can stop seeing him any time you choose.