Doctors who just dont get it!!

[sarahx]

So i had a long chat with my grandad today about mental health and my problems, hes been involved with mental health for over 40 years. My nan suffers from bi-polar which is like manic depression but worse and she is agoraphobic. I found out that GP's only have about 2 weeks training in mental health!!! They know everything there is to know about the body just not the mind. Which in some ways is pretty bad! So if youre going to your doctor and they seem to fob you off thats why! They just dont know what to do, all they think of is to treat the symptoms e.g nausea, depression, anxiety. KEEP pushing your doctors to refer you to see someone, a counsellor, psychiatrist, anyone who CAN help with your problems.


Im so frustrated with the lack of resourses for people with mental problems like ourselves. Theres no funding for mental health so thats the reason for the long waiting lists, in the UK anyway. Along with my grandad im doing all i can to help cut the waiting times. If only to help some of you guys on here who are waiting to see a therapist. Grrr it makes me soooo mad!!!


Anyway, i just thought id post my thoughts...


Sarah xxx

[faith-marilyn]

Hi Sarah,
This is the third time i have recieved therapy from the NHS. The first and second time I did have a very long wait, but the third time i think my doctor could see how depressed I was and also because I was suffering from agoraphobia because of emet, they put me with a therapist straight away.
I think you're definately right that doctors should have more traning in mental health, as a lot of the time it is mental issues which cause physical symptoms which the doctors dont realise and therefore only treat the physical symptoms.
I think its brilliant that u and your grandad are doing so much to help, its great to know that there are people out there willing to help, i will certainly be doing by bit for as many mental health charities as i can throughout my life as i'm sure a lot of other people on here will too !
Have a good day,
faith-marilyn
xxxxxx [img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[sage]

I agree - the situation is bad in Canada as well. Although if it puts anything in perspective, doctors only have about 2 weeks training in any one thing I suppose.


I'll just remind folks of the article I wrote for doctors that you can find on the top of the "Treatments" thread and print out and give to them. Hopefully it will help in some cases.

[Jenneh]

Sarah, that is quite annoying really =| i didnt know that.


luckily my doctor DIDNT know wot emet was, but didnt really throw it aside wen i told her,m only the psychaitrist did that.


it must be so hard being a Doctor tho.. for physical AND mental health. maybe there shud be a mental health Dr ... hmm...


Jenxxxx

[sarahx]

Thats what psychiatrists are for tho jen... but GP's need to know a bit because they are the first port of call for everyone usually. Not many ppl go straight to a psychiatrist. So if ur GP has no idea what to do then theres not much hope!!! But hopefully they will get more training ...?


Sarah xxx

[trickyvicky]

I know what u mean about doctors not understanding mental health because my family doctor that i had for 29yrs did not know a thing about mental health and after 6mths of me being ill i knew i needed to do something to get help....so i asked around and luckily i had a women in my street that was suffering with anxiety but on a different level....someone had mentioned about this doctor up my way that was suppose to be great,so i rang the NHS helpline and they told me which doctors i could register with within my area.....I was so lucky, as the doctors that he was based at ,was just within my area......But i have to say i had to fight for him,the receptionist tried to palm me off and say ,even thou they were taking new patients,people that already had doctors could not join.....I was so adamant about getting him so i asked to meet the manager of the surgery and told her that i had ,had information from the NHS,that i had a right to change doctors if i wasn't happy with the present one......Well i did eventually get him,and he was the best thing that happened to me.....he rang me every week to check i was ok..........he took time out from surgery to come and take me out for walks,as i was agrophobic.....and even tried hypnotherapy on me at home.....He is great,he goes to every seminar available with mental health and when i make progress he is so pleased for me like a parent would be......I met another girl exactly like me with emet and agoraphobia and he's not only like it to me,he's just the same to her.....so that shows dedication.....i wish we could put them forward for awards or something to give them gratitude on there work and support.............But i know that if i hadn't done my work to find him and fight to get him,i really don't know where I'd be today..................u do have to fight and push because theres just not enough people and resources within the mental health department for the number of patients that are ill............Thats why places like the phobia society are such precious things....Anyway i fully understand where your coming from Sarah as I've experienced it but thankful I've come out the other end with an even better doctor.....


Vicky xx

[Jenneh]

i didnt know u CUD go straight to a psychiatrist without being referred by a GP?


xxx