Shrinks laughing in your face because you take the illness seriously?

[Pug60647]

This illness at the end of the day is the patient's problem and responsibility, especially when the patient is an adult. So to me, it makes sense for us to take it seriously. ...also come on, we have PANIC and ANXIETY problems...of course we're gonna stress out more than the situation warrants occasionally.

Sometimes the "professionals" act like they forgot that they work with people with mental illnesses.

I had my first panic attack when I was 15....didn't have another one that I NOTICED until I was 21. Now I'm 32. I've been having panic, worse every year for the last 11 years. I started MH treatment for bipolar and panic symptoms in 2004, and it still gets worse every year.

The CBT program I've been going through the past year concentrates on breaking habits like the worry habit, that make our symptoms worse when we notice them. It has helped me out sometimes, but I still have whole months of high anxiety every once in a while. I learn from other people though, and at least USUALLY I'm good at hiding the symptoms, even in a full blown panic attack. People just think I'm a little winded.

...other times though (more usual) I have a wide birth and people either stare me down or give me a lot of space, because apparently I come off like that little girl from The Ring, or somebody detoxing from crack.

I hope there is an end to my symptoms before I run out of patience & just shoot myself in the head. I hate when disrespectful doctors & therapists who you poured all your lifes' details out to, laugh in your face.

I guess I can see why they think it's funny that we take such a "harmless" illness seriously, but laughing in our faces is pretty much abuse in thier office. They hold all the power, you're trying to get a service as a customer, you're pretty much powerless & they make mostly all the decisions. Then to laugh in the customers' face? I've had 3 of my 4 past shrinks act like this after they had been working with me for awhile. Basically they go "you're smart, you'll figure it out. relax." Idiots, I am trying to figure it out, just have some respect. I don't like bullies a whole lot

[Pazuzu]

I'm sorry, sometimes they do tend to forget where they are and what they should be doing. I make jokes as a defense mechanism and I think that they should realize that and not laugh at certain things and really should try to take it more seriously because it is serious. I'm in the process of trying to get help again myself and if one of them were to tell me to just relax or that I'm a big girl and can handle it or simply laugh at what I said, I have a good mind to put my foot down and remind them who they are and what they should be doing cause laughing about it isn't helping. Perhaps you could mention it to them and maybe they'll shape up.

[Pug60647]

I plan on it, my next appointment. I don't wanna go "overboard" though, I'm trying to think of what to say if anything. I don't wanna act overly upset about it, and I'm not sure the shrink will even take my complaint seriously. If anything she might just laugh more, lol. I think it's funny to her that I'm taking my illness so seriously. I can't just switch shrinks based on this...my last two shrinks eventually got to this point to.

(sorry, that was a little rambly, just woke up)

[cnelson8611]

Wow. I've never had that happen before. Though if they were laughing, they could have been doing it in the back of their mind or after our appointment.
I have had one shrink completely diagnose me based on the way I was living at the time, not taking consideration for anything else such as genetics, childhood angst, or traumatic instances. I won't go into details but after that appointment, I left and never went back.

But, yeah, they shouldn't laugh because we take this seriously. It is serious. We are there for their help, even if we are strong inside, we still need support and assistance. 

[Pug60647]

Exactly...I figure by being in the office, working on the problem, we're just taking responsibility for working on it...I don't see why they can't just be respectful.

I'm gonna try and stick with this shrink though, I've already been through 4 over the years, and she's decent, as far as the ones I've had, so I'm gonna try and salvage the progress I've made already regardless of her slowly turning into The Joker.

[boundndetermined]

I think I got lucky this last time...my therapist has had a panic disorder herself, so could fully relate. There is a lot to be said for someone why has been there done that!