cj- hey man, sorry, I didn't mean to just drop off, I actually tried a couple times to write out messages, but I just wasn't really straight enough to do so the majority of the time, kept rambling off and saying stupid shit, after so much trying, decided I probably wasn't straight enough to be of much help or worth/value so I just decided it was best to set it aside awhile.
I've still gotta type our full responses, but I'll throw a couple into here quick that caught my eye and mind fast.
Yes, I'm very well educated on PTSD (and a decent bit of much of MH actually), not only through my own educational knowledge, but also because yes, it is a personal diagnosis- one of multiple though.....ha. Fuck my life. Lucky me.....
Yeah, you are clearly affected yourself....and for very good reason, according to your tellings of personal experiences......you've certainly some very terrible things that so many have unbelievable difficulty in working through....I'm reminded of this Vice show, it's fairly new and called The Therapist.....ever seen or heard of it? There's a specific episode I have in mind that may be of particular interest to you....maybe anyway.
May I ask also, you say you've had extensive experience and failure in dealing with mental health professionals.....were you particular on gender?
And what kinds of non-pharmacological approaches were attempted?
And maybe you just haven't found a decent one yet....I personally don't have as much experience in jumping around between doctors mostly for the fact that I was absolutely objected to the idea for the longest time (or even admitting something was wrong for that matter, but even after that, I still refused to do the whole thing for quite some time.....) because the whole thing brought back far too much and so I held a lot of misplaced disdain for the MH field and the professionals within it and wrongfully despised both....well, I know I was wrong now and that it was simply an effect of something else ya know...figured that out myself.
Anyway, as I was saying, I don't have as much experience in bouncing around providers as you do, but I still have experienced enough to know that a good provider is hard to come by. But you also gotta realize too that's it's not always as simple an evaluation of good/bad, there's lots of factors, but one of the most important is compatibility. It's always best to find someone good, that you can mesh with, and they're compatible with you AND your specific needs. I will say though, that for me personally, on the psychology side, I have been happy with mine for a few years now and I've almost been forced to leave and go elsewhere a couple times due to the financial end changing on me......but I truly didn't feel I could see anyone else because I had actually built such a rapport and comfort with this one and they actually seem to legit enjoy my company and the fact that I have the education knowledge allowing for him to get fully detailed and accurate information from what he's been surprised to find to be a reliable source in order for him to better treat many of his patients, as well as better coordinate with doctors and such, apparently my knowledge passed to him gets a lot of use in both his professional and personal life from many instances and situations and such that he's spoken of to me, so that's kinda cool I guess. Plus I was solely responsible in his opinion being swayed in favor of cannabis use in MH treatment, as well as a variety of other topics and subjects that I've been able to enlighten him on, all of which he's seemed particularly grateful and just amazed at my intelligence and brain capacity, especially considering circumstances involving my lifestyles and such haha. The weed thing made me feel especially great though, like a had created a definite good impact in the world and a ripple effect considering how many people and places I know he's involved with that something of that nature will definitely effect...so that was cool.
Regardless, I guess I was lucky to find a decent one that matched well, in this specific case- on the psychology side anyway. Psychiatry not a whole lot of luck yet, but hopefully....
Point is, if you haven't found anyone yet, you're bound to sooner or later, they do exist hahaha.
Oh and as for providers attitudes and preferences towards the cases in their load, I certainly don't doubt one bit that there are many like that, you know only wanting the easy cases etc.....but, the inverse can actually be true too. My psychologist actually rather enjoys the challenge I provide him haha. It's actually been openly discussed. Some of them do like a challenge. Especially if they're booked up with simple, uninteresting, etc type cases. You just gotta find someone compatible with you like I said. The most recent psychiatrist though was definitely wide eyed while hearing my answers to their questions though lol....still not entirely sure what to make of the whole encounter, but I figure hell they did an acceptable job so far and they didn't refuse to treat me, so guess we'll see what comes of it....I hate how difficult, slow and prolonged the psychiatry side is though fuck.....
Tell me, what kind of institutions do you typically see providers?
How willing and accepting have you been in your treatment situations?
-PA