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Your Opinion: Am I Right Or Just Crazy/Irrational

Posted by JeffSmith on March 19, 2007, at 12:15:39

Hi All, Your opinions would be greatly appreciated:
A brief backround to what is a looong post (Im sorry about that): I have tremendous mental problems, my life is unbearable and Im desperately seeking QUALIFIED mental help because if I cant find help/get any better then Im definitely going to kill myself (NO, this is not a threat or anything of this nature... I have no date set, its just an inevitability).
My problem is that Im on SS disability, get medicare and $700 per month. NO therapists/psychoanylyst/psychiatrist/psychologist will accept the medicare and I cant even afford to survive on $700 per month so forget about me affording to pay a private shrink.
So for all my life Ive had to resort to "Guidance Centers" or outpatient treatment at the mental unit of any hospital: The problem? They suck. Ive been to see way too many supposed shrinks who dont know crap about crap because their always interns who only took the job as a stepping stone to the better paying job they desire.
My last therapist left me/the Guidance Center she worked at after 5 years (which were uselsess anyway since she sucked) in order to open her own practice (to which she did not invite me). Since then I gave up on wasting time with these know nothing's and Iver just seen my Nurse practitioner for meds (also useless).

Well not knowing anyone or anywhere to turn to for qualified mental help I decided to just write to some shrinks and this particular therapists group I discovered on the net in hopes that someone would be kind enough to see how desperate and in need of help I am and actually help me.
The following is a copy of the email exchange I had with this one group, which is long and detailed but I ask that you read it carefully to see if you agree or disagree with the points I made.

Also: this morning I spoke to Paula Zuckerman, LCSW, BCD who is on the executive committee at this group regarding this: At this point Im too devestated, disgusted, and angry to explain what this $#%& had to say to me, but Ill just say I feel more hopeless than ever in my life and truly disgusted with mental health "professionals".

If you read the following then whats your opinion? Do you find the reply I got to be as pathetic (etc) as I did? If so do you feel I should "report" them to somewhere just to show (if anything) how cruel and uncaring they are for denying help to me (they DID deny me, Ill explain the disgraceful conversation I had w/ Paula later)?
If so exactly who would I tell about them to? Who would even care? Nobody?


So anyway here is where it began:
I recently came across the web site for the New York Psychotherapy Group at http://nypsychotherapy.com/aboutus.html
And I then filled out the online consultation form at: https://secure19.uplinkearth.com/nypsychotherapy/consultation_form.html in which I in no uncertain terms explained that Im severely depressed, suicidal and anxiety ridden and desperately need help (etc, etc).

Ive included here:
#1- My original completed online email consultation form
#2- The email reply I then received from someone at the New York Psychotherapy Group
#3- And my reply to that reply from (?) at the group.

#1-My Original Online Consultation Form Info Sent To The Group On Friday 3/16/07:
"
Where to even begin: Severe depression and will definitely kill myself one day (sooner than later), severe anxiety very close to agoraphobia, ZERO self esteem... Im gay but havent even had any sex for nearly 13 years due to feelings of inadequecy (etc,) I havent worked in 16 years and rarely even leave my house: I have only one friend (my roomate) and virtually no other contact with the outside world. I could go on (and on and on and on) regarding the extent of my mental problems but it would take waaay too long here: Im 37 years old, have literally NEVER been happy and have ALWAYS been depressed, anxiety filled and miserable. I currently see a "therapist" (have done so for years) and take meds which do nothing for me (Ive tried them all and refuse to take any others). Im writting you since Ive recently decided to make a last effort in life to get some proper help and if I cant find it then Im not planning on living too much longer. Unfortunately Im all too aware of the fact that without proper money one cannot get proper mental health care: All I have by way of insurance is Medicare (along with the $700 disability I "live" on each month). If you think youre able to help me/my life out or perhaps even refer me to another qualified psychologist (or etc) (and not a "Guidance Center" type place) in (my county on) LI then that would be very, very great... If not then please dont just refer me to the local mental ward where I can go and get pumped full of drugs and then (only after one becomes available) be assigned to the next "therapist" (AKA: Intern who doesnt really know what theyre doing and who just cant wait to get their "real" job) who will patronizingly see me for a few months until they leave or until "our time is up". I have no interest in going that useless route again. Yes, Im very angry but honestly also a very nice person who is just in severe, severe pain which is now and always been greatly compounded by the lack of help available to me due to my being "poor". I really would greatly appreciate any help... I hate to sound dramatic or put you under any pressure but Im very desperate, need a lot of help and you very well just may be saving my life. Thanks very much for any potential help.
Other Reason
Availability All day, all night... whenever you contact me Ill be here unfortunately. As for actual schedualing to come in, Fridays and weekends are best. Thanks again, Jeff
Call yes
Home Phone
Work Phone Or Email Below
eMail yes
eMail address
"

#2- Then Here Is The Follow Up Email I Later On Received From (?) At The Group:

"> Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 01:11:16 -0400
> From: nypg@nypsychotherapy.com
> To: Jeff
> Subject: your request - New York Psychotherapy Group
>
> Dear Mr. ,
>
> This is in response to the form you filled out on our website.
>
> I'm sorry but all of our therapists are in Manhattan only
> and we don't have any psychiatrists who take medication.
>
> But I can't help but make a suggestion......medication
> sounds like the first and most urgent issue. I would
> recommend going to one of the top psychiatric outpatient
> facilities in your area (a hospital that is doing extensive
> research and would therefore, pay close attention to you and
> your progress, or lack thereof). I'm sorry to say that I
> don't know which hospital that would be because I'm not
> familiar with your area.
>
> If you wanted to travel into Manhattan, the Psychiatric
> Institute at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital always has
> research going on and they are highly respected for the
> thoroughness of their work.
>
> Sorry I can't be of more help.
>
> New York Psychotherapy Group"

#3-And Then Here Is My Reply To That Reply From (?) At The Group.

"From: jeff
To: nypg@nypsychotherapy.com
Subject: RE: your request - New York Psychotherapy Group
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 07:55:26 +0000

Wow. I am truly devastated by your lack of a legitimate and/or caring reply to a person (me) who is in obvious major distress and is desperately reaching out to anyone who he (I) thinks may be able to help me... but I cant say Im at all surprised: Like I said its always ALL about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Im sure Ill get no reply, but Id appreciate if you would just please read this:

In your reply you said: "I'm sorry but all of our therapists are in Manhattan only and we don't have any psychiatrists who take medication."
-Yeah? So what if all of your therapists "are in Manhattan only"?
I know I did ask if you had a referral to anyone in LI, however I never said I wouldnt take a NYC therapist and clearly your based in NYC. What I said was "If you think youre able to help me/my life out OR perhaps even refer me to another qualified psychologist (or etc) (and not a "Guidance Center" type place) in Nassau County LI then that would be very, very great..."
So you see when I said "perhaps even refer me to... in (my county on) LI" it was just an after thought/idea to my obvious preferred request that you/youre organization please help me.
And later in your reply you go on to say "If you wanted to travel into Manhattan, the Psychiatric Institute at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital always has research going on and they are highly respected for the thoroughness of their work."
Well let me ask you this: If I wanted to travel into Manhattan to go to the Col. Pres. Hospital then dont you think Id also just as easily travel in to Manhattan to see one of your therapists? Yes, of course I would so it doesnt at all make sense for you to first say "sorry" but all YOUR therapists are in "Manhattan only", yet at the same time you then suggest that I travel right into Manhattan for a therapist/hospital which is not yours.
Very, very interesting indeed.

And can you please explain exactly what you meant by telling me that "we don't have any psychiatrists who take medication"?
Personally its irrelevant to me and their ability to be able to help me whether they themselves take medication or not. If you meant that they dont PRESCRIBE medication then thats fine with me too since I specifically said in my original email that I dont want any medication... I had said "(Ive tried them all and refuse to take any others)".
Did you mean that your psychiatrists dont take any patients who are currently on medication? If so then why?
Or did you mean that "we dont have any psychiatrists who take MEDICARE"? If so then I say a BIG thank you to you all for turning me down on the basis that I cant afford your particular services without it: Im sure its probably not everyday that you get such a dire request for help from someone as troubled and suicidal as I obviously am, and it just really, really, really disgusts me to see how uncaring and unhelpful members of the mental health profession can be and obviously are: If I wouldve written in my original email that I was very wealthy then Im quite (QUITE) sure that you wouldve not referred me to elsewhere but instead would have already booked me an appointment at your group.

You then continued in your reply to me: "But I can't help but make a suggestion......medication sounds like the first and most urgent issue. I would recommend going to one of the top psychiatric outpatient facilities in your area (a hospital that is doing extensive research and would therefore, pay close attention to you and your progress, or lack thereof). I'm sorry to say that I don't know which hospital that would be because I'm not familiar with your area."

Well, again, I specifically said "(Ive tried them all and refuse to take any others)" so I simply cant understand why youd suggest this when I clearly said Ive tried them all and refuse to take any others: You have no idea if medication would/could help me due to the fact that you dont know the specifics of my "life" which cause me to be so depressed/suicidal (etc, etc) in the first place. If Ive already tried them all (and am currently on two- Wellbutrin and klonopin) then what makes you suggest I go take more now?
And I also dont know of any "hospitals/top psychiatric outpatient facilities" that are "doing extensive research" in my area... and I have no interest in going to one either which is exactly why I reached out to you/your organization and even specifically asked you to "please dont just refer me to the local mental ward where I can go and get pumped full of drugs" which is exactly what you did/said anyway.

Im also very, very sorry that you "cant" be of any more help, but the fact is you very well COULD have been of more help but simply CHOSE not to, and we know why.
And thank you very much for doing absolutely nothing to help me. No, its not yours or anyone elses obligation to do so but I (obviously very stupidly) held out hope that if I reached out to mental health professionals that they might just show some compassion and use their abilities to help me instead of just basically assisting in my suicide by coldly rejecting me/my request for help due to their selfish greed.

Youve done nothing illegal or technically unethical, however you did have the ability to help me and quite possibly save me from killing myself and instead you coldly and quickly brushed me off after your extremely unhelpful reply which you clearly put little to no effort or thought into.
Please be sure of the fact that before I die I fully intend to document these emails and forward them to all possible people at your organization and also and especially to every possible place I can think of that just might agree with the fact that you couldve helped me when I was alive but simply chose not to. Its late right now, but later today Ill compile an extensive list of who/where Ill send this info to. Perhaps a benefit of my death will be exposing uncaring/uncompassionate mental health professionals such as you/your organization.

Thanks very much for your compassion and help. I really do appreciate it.
And have a great life.
Jeff."


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Psycho-Babble Psychology | Framed

poster:JeffSmith thread:742135
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20070309/msgs/742135.html