I have developed a co-morbid phobia that causes me to fear psychiatry. I no longer trust their methods or opinions. Until they have progressed in the practice to become accountable for the treatment they provide I cannot put my life in their hands. Have you had any problems with your shrink?

I have developed a co-morbid phobia that causes me to fear psychiatry. I no longer trust their methods or opinions. Until they have progressed in the practice to become accountable for the treatment they provide I cannot put my life in their hands. Have you had any problems with your shrink?

Yeah, I've had problems with some of my shrinks.. Some were simply bad doctors by anybody's standards, and some I clashed with because I need to play an active role in my treatment, and they took any questioning on my part as a sign of disrespect, or something (others were totally fine with it). The solution, in my case, was doing enough research that I can now semi-confidently distinguish the competent from the incompetent pretty quickly, and roughly evaluate their treatment methods for myself. It takes a long time to find somebody that you trust, and who you can have a genuine partnership with. But in any case, in the end, I decided that I'd rather take my chances with them than with my ADD.

What problems did you have with your shrink?

I have seen many psychiatrists and have come to believe that there is a systemic failure to provide the care that anyone deserves. The dogma and methodology they practice resolves them of taking any responsibility for the effect of the treatment they apply. They are more concerned with maintaining control of peoples behavior than healing.

I am trying to keep an open mind but my first hand experience leaves me disheartened. I have done considerable research into the treatment for ADHD and have become aware of what a thorough and comprehensive treatment involves. I have not found a psychiatrist willing or able to make the effort.

In all fairness, I have to speak. I have a great psychiatrist. She is highly qualified, dilligent and careful, and great to work with. I know I can trust her decisions and I know that she expects me to voice any concerns that I may have, and I do. I really don't see how you can make a blanket assertion and declare all psychiatrist to be bad. It's inaccurate and just wrong to do so.

ME :D

I'm not surprised a lot of us don't like shrinks - too many have had bad experiences at their hands.

Taking the wrong mind altering drug has the greatest effect on your life possible so the consequences of error appear disproportionately high.

Those I've met so far....(this is in the UK) NHS (ie free to all residents) near useless. Kids have no problem (paediatric service) but the old 'they grow out of it' fallacy is still popular and the general knowledge base of AD/HD very low.

Private medecine has grasped this opportunity with open arms and a few specialists seem to be diagnosing well. But they have free rein to do what they like - the NHS ones have targets and quotas to meet and work on a restricted palate of disorders.

I can't see how the NHS can function with that kind of denial. My guess is that if enough people complain about it, they will hopefully fix it.

People deserve good medical care
.

ME :D

Yes, I've had problems trusting.

One in particular bothers me. I saw her just under three years ago. I told her of so many behaviours that I enjoyed because they gave me a rush, how I had to keep piling on activities to avoid boredom and how awful I felt going through "withdrawal". For example, how I loved certain activities because it meant speeding through the city in my car to get to one place to another and what a rush that was...BIG CLUE OR WHAT? I sat in front of her fidgeting, twisting tissues for 45 minutes, commenting each time she had something new in her office. I refused antidepressants for the longest time because I hated how they left me without personality, how they dulled all emotions. I could sense her resulting disapproval. Finally after agreeing, after becoming asexual and chemically bovine, she seemed to be pleased "with my progress."

Isn't that classic reward/punishment?

The problem with her, I think, was that she was judgmental. That's the last thing anyone with ADD needs, especially AD/HD, a highly impulsive type. By being judgmental of my behaviour she missed big clues as to the cause.

I think many psychiatrists fail or don't want to do the hard work of asking the supreme question "why?"

My new guy is great. He has incredibly experienced with ADD (it's his speciality) and maybe because of that he's nonjudgmental as a true professional should be.

I have lost all respect and faith in this profession, i no longer see any validity in it at all.

Meadd823 looks at section - perfect

I have had bad experiences with my first husband he was a drug addict and got psychotic on me - One time he threw me against the wall so hard I lay there paralyzed for 30 seconds with a ranting lunatic swearing I was demonic -

NOW my question is - how many of you men are psychotic raving lunatics?

My first husband was an addict does that mean all men are - applying the same logic to the field of Psychiatry makes about as much sense :mad:

Generalizations are never accurate - duality intended

Psychiatrist are medical doctors with specialty training after there general medical doctor stuff - Here in the US they are licensed and extremely accountable for their care and treatment of people.

Who living here in the US doesn't know about doctors, lawyers and malpractice suites - come on - give me a break here!


You may not agree with their perspective and there is nothing wrong with this however to make such blanket statements about an entire profession is flat out wrong and in my opinion is in need of correction.

If you had a bad experience I am sorry but to apply this crap to all who are in this field a total loss of perspective plus it is unfair to those psychiatrist who work their a**es off to stay on top of the latest research and give the best care

You can run into crappy cashiers, computer programmers, auto mechanics , husbands and Psychiatrist!!! No surprises here.


imsietze you make a bunch of broad statement while failing to discuss any thing that happened to you specifically . . .When I have been treated like crap I am all out about what happened to me and exactly how some one was incompetent{gogogo's post I can relate to - it is specific} - I can relate a lot more to individual experiences than meaningless generalizations

The problem with her, I think, was that she was judgmental. That's the last thing anyone with ADD needs, especially AD/HD, a highly impulsive type. By being judgmental of my behaviour she missed big clues as to the cause.Excellent point! In the dark ages, people used to focus on alcohol as being the problem, but now they ask why does someone drink?

its only a phobia if its irrational, as far as im conserned there is a very real reason to be afraid of the way they work.

I realy dont want to get started on what I think of them ... however if you can find the odd one that is sucesfull .. i wish you luck to find such.

It would be rational if it were the 1940's and one would have to fear being lobotomized but times have changed.

ah im in the UK so 1940s would be about right for adult adhd, we are so far behind the times here .... and my experience started 13 years ago too.

the way ive been treated ive mentioned in other posts, too tired to repeat, and this is the second time ive thought maybe i should put it al down in something like a blog or perhaps theres something better than a blog.

I have what has been diagnosed as ptsd from my experience.

but i feel the fear i have had is rational, if you get your arm bitten by a tiger 3 times you must become afraid of tigers or your far from normal.

but i just thought it might help to not think of it as a phobia wich is just another psyhiatric label wich i hate labels.

Meadd823 looks at section - perfect

I have had bad experiences with my first husband he was a drug addict and got psychotic on me - One time he threw me against the wall so hard I lay there paralyzed for 30 seconds with a ranting lunatic swearing I was demonic -

NOW my question is - how many of you men are psychotic raving lunatics?

My first husband was an addict does that mean all men are - applying the same logic to the field of Psychiatry makes about as much sense :mad:

Generalizations are never accurate - duality intended

Psychiatrist are medical doctors with specialty training after there general medical doctor stuff - Here in the US they are licensed and extremely accountable for their care and treatment of people.

Who living here in the US doesn't know about doctors, lawyers and malpractice suites - come on - give me a break here!


You may not agree with their perspective and there is nothing wrong with this however to make such blanket statements about an entire profession is flat out wrong and in my opinion is in need of correction.

If you had a bad experience I am sorry but to apply this crap to all who are in this field a total loss of perspective plus it is unfair to those psychiatrist who work their a**es off to stay on top of the latest research and give the best care

You can run into crappy cashiers, computer programmers, auto mechanics , husbands and Psychiatrist!!! No surprises here.


imsietze you make a bunch of broad statement while failing to discuss any thing that happened to you specifically . . .When I have been treated like crap I am all out about what happened to me and exactly how some one was incompetent{gogogo's post I can relate to - it is specific} - I can relate a lot more to individual experiences than meaningless generalizations





Funny you should ask? I have accounted for many of the specific details from my experiences with psychiatrists that factored into my present distrust of the current methodology of the practice of psychiatry in past posts. I have been treated by fourteen shrinks in the past that are located in three states. The time that I spent with each varied from one encounter too years of "care". The situation provided private practitioners, two of the largest HMO's and county behavioral offices and the free clinic. My opinion is that there is a systemic failure to achieve wellness for patients because psychiatrists are f*&king crazy!

Oopss I slipped. I have never meet a psychiatrist I didn't like. There are the masters of the craft who can heal. There are also Priests shinning with the spirit of God! Unfortunately I have not found a good doctor but I have meet the Priest. What I offer is only my opinion which I greatly value with matters of my existence. When I meet a psychiatric doctor who will take personal responsibility for his/her expert opinion and drug prescribing experimental routines; then, my feelings might change. I want someone accountable with qualities of honesty and science, not a package of disclaimers served with indifference.



The great Greek philosopher Hippocrates once said; " There are but two things; science and opinion. The first begets know knowledge and the latter begets ignorance." circa 64 B.c.e.

Luckily in the states most of us have some kind of a choice if we have insurance or can pay for our medical care. I'd ask my PCP for a referral to a diff doc if I didn't like the one I had.

I asked for a referral 2 years ago, because at 39 I was having trouble with my mom remarrying and moving out of town (okay it sounds ridiculous now, but I'd been the primary one who'd helped my mom out for the 6 years since dad died, she depended on me for help when she had problems, then she up and dropped me like a hot potato with only 4 weeks notice before her wedding.)

Even though my insurance doesn't require a referral, I asked my PCP who I trusted. I was lucky while it took about 12 months for both the doc and me to suspect ADD, and another 6 months for testing, diagnosis, and meds. Imagine if I'd never gone to him, would I have already have dropped out of college again, getting more depressed because I didn't know what was "wrong with me".

**Warning** I'm about to go off on a tangent

My husband's p-doc is the primary one who treats most of the patient's at our local addiction and mental hospital. She does a pretty good job IMO.

His catalyst toward getting sober came after a wonderful work "safety meeting" where they supplied free unlimited liquor, my hubby got into a fight with an off duty cop, and another guy got a DUI. I refused to sign the paperwork to get him out of jail unless the judge ordered "anger counseling" and we found him a counselor locally. It was 3 more months b4 he quit drinking, but that experience opened him up to seeing the p-doc.