@The Undertaker — what treatment is it that you think you need? I’m not sure what all the things you’ve tried are and how they did/did not work for you so I’m loath to suggest anything.
A lot of people end up seeing a few professionals before they find one that they feel they click with and can work with. I know that I was desperate for help when I was referred to the best doctor I ended up seeing. I had seen two or three others before.
I didn’t want to be on meds, and explained my position. His explanation for taking meds was that even if they had some side effects, those generally go away after a few weeks. Being on meds usually helps patients begin to feel better sooner, and that makes it easier for patients to get into the heart of talk therapy and coping skills sooner. I accepted that, and he was right.
I’m sorry this doctor you saw called you foolish. That’s not very tactful. I imagine that many doctors see people they feel they could help but the people refuse the treatment. It must be frustrating for the doctors. It doesn’t excuse rudeness, though it might “explain” it.
Are all eight different specialists that you have seen offering something entirely different from one another or are they all offering the same kinds of things? My guess is that most are offering similar but not identical options. Like most illnesses, there are the things that are unique to the individual, but the similarities in symptoms and how a human responds physically and emotionally are on a spectrum that the doctors understand inside out. So they offer the standard things first that work for the most people. It’s not because they don’t listen or care…it’s their overall experience. As patients, we have our experience, but that is our only knowledge of the illness. Mental health specialists have seen hundreds of patients going through the symptoms of different mental health issues. They might not have personal experience…they
have seen and helped others go through things.
So my questions to you stand: Are they all offering the same thing? What are they offering you? What have you tried and how did those things work? What treatment do
you think would be best? If you don’t agree with the doctor, perhaps let the doctor have his/her say first, then ask your questions and express your concerns and opinions after. If we jump right in with why something won’t work, we could appear to seem unreasonable and as though we don’t respect them. If they think we don’t respect them, why are they going to respect us any more? I think there needs to be time for both sides to talk and both sides to listen. And then if you still don’t agree, finish up quietly, “Doc it seems we aren’t on the same page.” I can say for sure that threats from either side are only going to escalate feelings on both sides. If the doctor is going over the top, you could be the better person and try to de-escalate, rather than retaliate.
Just my thoughts, and you don’t have to agree.