Psychiatrist

ColourExplosion · 22-07-2009, 02:22 PM

Sorry I've not been online in a while, it involves a lot of complications with homelessness, moving etcetc.

But I just wanted to ask this question...

I'm not sure if this is the right place, but yeah.

I have to see my psychiatrist again tomorrow at like 11. I don't really like him, I mean, the first time I saw him, after like 2 hours of talking to me he had me on medication. I really don't like it as I just don't feel he's listening to me and what I have to say.

Of course, I'm not dissing him, as he is a professional, and maybe he does know best, because the tablets do help sometimes when I need them, but I just don't think he's really listening to me. He's like "Try out these tablets and we'll review them next week, if they aren't helping then we'll try you on new ones." I just don't think I should be swapped around different medications so quickly?

He's also said to me that he's going to make an official diagnosis tomorrow. He says it will go on my medical record and that I have two choices:

1. Get a job. Carry out a normal life.

2. Go on Disability Living Allowance, Income Support and Incapicity Benefit. He says in total all these benefits should be getting be around £250 a week. He says on these benefits I'd also qualify for housing benefit and other help.

But I don't really know, I just feel like it's all going so fast. Has anyone else had just a 'fast' experience with a psychiatrist or do you think this is rather odd too?

Cheryl.xx

Heidi Tiger · 22-07-2009, 04:57 PM

That seems kind of odd. With regards to DLA, it's non-income assessed so you can get it working or not. Also there are a lot more options between a full-time job and long-term unemployed. There's also being unemployed right now but working towards getting a job.

With the prescribing meds after two hours, well you don't get to see a psych through the NHS unless you are having some pretty significant mental health issues and most of those generally require some medication. In some ways it's good that he is so proactive, I know people who have bee stuck for months on meds that don't work because psych always says "wait and see". Also some meds have a near instead effect e.g antipsychotics, whereas antidepressants can take a month so it all depends on a lot of factors. However I think you should try and tell him how you feel about the speed things are moving, hopefully he will try and be considerate of your feelings.

88shelz · 24-07-2009, 11:45 AM

£250 is a bit much considering your age.
you wont get incapacity benefit straight away. it wil be income support as you havnt been working to pay insurance and tax.

DLA is nt income based

Hosusing benefit will be awarded if on a low income or no income

as for the meds.... u wont b out on meds that he doesnt beleive wont work.

get a new psych if you are not happy with the current one

basically he is wrong to try to get you on beneifts. if you can work they should try to get you keeping busy by working

it took a good few years to get on benefits for me.... i had to go through Occupational therapy before even being considered not able to work