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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Psychiatrists

71 replies

BooooHiss · 17/09/2018 22:39

Just grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr AngryAngry

And why t actual f do they get paid so much?

They r useless (not all, but a large majority)

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Angry

OP posts:
Original poster
BooooHiss · 17/09/2018 22:44

Ggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Angry again!

(Ah this is quite therapeutic!!!)

OP posts:
Marie0 · 17/09/2018 22:45

You could have a G and T and it won’t seem as bad

Holidayfromreal · 17/09/2018 22:45

Want to talk about it?

Original poster
BooooHiss · 17/09/2018 22:46

SmileGin

OP posts:
MintySweets · 17/09/2018 22:47

What's wrong?

LanguidLobster · 17/09/2018 22:47

Have you had a bad experience with one?!

I haven't seen one, my doctor suggested it once and I said 'what for?' with a frown then he looked irritated himself and didn't answer.

Depends on person really doesn't it, if they'd take to it? And the psychiatrist?

LittleKitty1985 · 17/09/2018 22:53

There are different types of psychiatrists, so if you're frustrated then maybe you're seeing the wrong type.

Eg CBT actively changes the way you think and behave, whereas PCT is good if you just want to feel heard and reassured. There's also psychoanalysis, but that's based on pseudoscience and isn't much use to most people.

Original poster
BooooHiss · 17/09/2018 22:54

If my client has some strengths, and they (Psychiatrist) don't like them, then the poor client is 'splitting'

If the client is suicidal then they are 'personality disordered' and can't be helped'

If their precious (zombie Inducing) drugs don't work then they 'are faking it' or again 'personality disordered and can't be treated'

If everyone in the office doesn't bow down to their superiority and do exactly as they say, they r not happy

They are on a complete power trip

They can't do ANYTHING other people in the office can (can't seem to type, can't arrange appointments, can't walk about without an escort)

They HAVE to have their own (usually penthouse) office (while everyone else sweats in overcrowded sardine tin rooms)

I could go on! But I better not or MN might delete me :)

Just super needed a rant!!!!!!!

(Sorry to those of you out there that are Psychiatrists and good at your job. I'm aware some of you do exist - but just not many)

Angry
OP posts:
Marie0 · 17/09/2018 22:56

Oh dear - do you want blow off and ‘strike a pose’ to take your mind off it all? 😁

DioneTheDiabolist · 17/09/2018 23:01

What's the difference between a psychiatrist and God?

God doesn't think she's a psychiatrist.Grin

Original poster
BooooHiss · 17/09/2018 23:02

Sorry, for context (sorry to drip feed - wasn't planning on adding more! Just wanted to get the 'grrrrrr' off my chest!!!) - I have worked bloody hard with a client for a number of weeks. Very vulnerable. We've been getting them slowly to a good place. Client been trying really hard. Psychiatrist sees them ONCE (yes ONCE - compared to my 18 x 1 hour long visits) for about 10mins total (yes you heard correctly! - 10 minutes!), and writes them off as attention seeking and 'PD' (said in a derogatory way - ????grrrrrrrrr) and apparently they can't be helped (grrrrr)

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Angry

OP posts:
Original poster
BooooHiss · 17/09/2018 23:02

Love it Dione!!! Grin

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Aintnothingbutaheartache · 17/09/2018 23:05

What is your job Booo?
Are you talking about an experience with one isolated psychiatrist?

LanguidLobster · 17/09/2018 23:09

I really find that any sort of intervention can vary intensively completely irregardless of qualifications - you can have a cleaner who is more helpful in an emotional/directional/inspirational sense than anyone else.

Hope client gets back on track

Original poster
BooooHiss · 17/09/2018 23:16

Don't want to give too many details as outing, but I'm a health care professional. No, not one isolated Psychiatrist. I've worked with loads over the years and there is definitely a general trend of them being power hungry, and making snap decisions based on very little. It's just got to me today. Clients have so little power and if the Psychaitrist doesn't like you, that's kind of it! Your chances of care and support over! Or if a psychiatrist decides you have / haven't got one diagnosis or another, that can massively change your life - but they make these decisions soooooooooo quickly. It's crazy.

"No you don't have PTSD (which could get you sympathy and help in our service) Gloria, you're just BPD (code for the devil in our service)"

"No you don't have a learning disability Malcom (which could access you loads of support and possible financial benefits)"

"You have Schizophrenia Frank, take this bottomless pit of powerful drugs which will completely fuck you up and which you have absolutely no say in, and if you don't want them then you are clearly very very ill and have no insight."

Alll snap, life changing decisions made so quickly by God in a suit

OP posts:
LanguidLobster · 17/09/2018 23:32

Actually tbh I think they have limited tools at their disposal - clients might not be honest, drugs might not be effective, there might not be time to build up a client-patient relationship.

But you are right snap diagnoses shouldn't be made. It's their job though, they're under pressure to do that

LanguidLobster · 17/09/2018 23:35

I've always thought MH was fundamentally flawed because most of the time it's just that you need someone to help out in a practical sense, just do the washing or something, and that's not what they're there for

Peakypush · 17/09/2018 23:54

Brilliant languid! So very true, practical help would have helped me enormously, above all else.

PurpleAndTurquoise · 18/09/2018 00:14

But surely people with schizophrenia do need to take medication. Also people with personality disorder cannot be treated by psychiatrists as it's their personality not an illness that will respond to medication.
Psychological therapy would be better for someone with a personality disorder not treatment from a psychiatrist.
Psychiatrists treat people whose illness responds to medical treatments. Psychologists treat those who will benefit from talking therapies.
I always understood that too much input from services escalates personality disorders and it is best to encourage them to use the strategies they have been taught in psychological therapy.
Being a psychiatrist is hugely stressful. It's a massively underfunded part of the NHS and they work under extreme pressure. To be honest I think all NHS staff deserve medals (psychiatrists and psychologists included).
I have experienced severe mental illness when I had PND and without the NHS I would not be here.

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/09/2018 00:26

I recognize this person Grin

I had a very complex client once, spoke to psychologist, who was helpful and also very concerned and thought her complex, took it to the psychiatrist... totally useless. She was the only client I ever referred to psychiatry because they were known to be difficult and useless by turns. And honestly, normally very odd. Oh and they also had the nicest offices. Wouldn't share with us lowly SS types.

Chickenloverwoman · 18/09/2018 00:29

Yep. Had one totally incompetent one, 5 mins with DD and possibly totally misinterpreted results. I saw them and not what we said, but must have been a mistake, right,? That's being charitable. 10 years later, second psychiatrist, totally different, most apologetic, reviewed previous history, diagnosis of what we thought 10 years earlier and other HCP thought 15 years earlier

Could sue, ex but have no energy to do sand second psychiatrist is fab. Better late than never.

Original poster
BooooHiss · 18/09/2018 00:29

Purple - yes the NHS is very underfunded but this does not effect the 70 -100 k salaries held by Psychiatrists

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Rebecca36 · 18/09/2018 00:34

The problem with psychiatrists in the NHS is that all they do is prescribe drugs. If you stop taking the drugs and are not prepared to try different ones (probably because you have tried them before), they will discharge you and tell you to be referred back if you have further problems - but your problem isn't gone.

They may refer you for counselling.

It is probably different if you see a psychiatrist privately because he or she will have more discretion when it comes to treatment. The NHS ones have to stick to guidelines - drugs.

D2018 · 18/09/2018 00:38

Well as someone with BPD undertaking a MSc in psychology, I totally agree that psychiatrists are very quick to right off patients with 'complex chronic disorders' with a prescription pad full of anti psychotic and mood stabilizers as the go to. This is why psychologists are much better as they actually use a person centred approach rather than a checklist of diagnostic criteria...I spent years as a medicated zombie before seeing a good psychologist who helped me get a first class honours degree as well as embark on a masters. I don't rare psychiatrists much at all...

AamdC · 18/09/2018 00:46

Well it takrs many years to become a consultant psychiatrist. and thats after the 5/6 of medical schopl so l8ke any NHS Consultant tje pay reflects the expertise and yes ii have met some arrogant psychiatrists, but many people. with severe mental illness s such as Schizophrenia etc really do nedd medication unfortunatly some medications dont work for some people, some medications have awful side affects , but its not an exact science amd sometimes psychiayrists get it wrong .