Posted by Krazy Kat on June 20, 2002, at 15:03:31
I'm only going to post a TEENY bit of what I just went through because the rest is going into a nice letter to the State of NY and into some publication hopefully, where the mistreatment of the "mentally ill" will at least be entertaining to some.
Was I mistreated? That's the first issue. To glance at it, no. The man was not UNCIVIL persay.
But here's what ensued (sp?):
1. He asked me, in a roundabout way-everything was roundabout-, why I don't see a therapist. Because that's my choice, I answered in a roundabout way. Would a person with a back injury be asked that question?
2. He asked me how I felt when depressed (I looked at him and said, "suicidal, black, etc."). When I told him about the two suicide attempts this year, he made me explain what I had done (taken pills) and if I had been hospitalized. When that was a "no", he shook his head, and wrote something down. So, do "normal" folk try to commit suicide twice a year, or did he just not believe me?
3. I had to remember three words. O.K., I've done that before.
4. I had to count backwards in three's. I can't do that right now, and it's really frustrating. I told him the DEpakote causes cognitive problems. His comment, though:
"So, were just never very good at math?"
WHAT??? No, I excelled at math, AP classes all through high school, you g......
5. He asked me about the mania. He commented that it sounded like it could be helpful in work...
WHAT?
6. He was frustrated that my answer to every stupid question about my daily routine on the form was "it depends". IT DEPENDS in Bipolar Disorder.
7. He asked which of my family members were "diagnosed" as Bipolar since I answered yes to the question on the form "are any family members bipolar". I said none "diagnosed" but offered examples. No good. You could tell he marked that one off as insignificant right there.
8. Do you get along with your family? - what does that have to do with a brain disorder?
9. He asked me "Why should people pay taxes?" ????He must not have even looked at my Dr.'s notes which had been sent over. Nor the very long form I had filled out weeks ago.
How can a Psychologist determine if a person with an illness diagnosed and treated by a medical Dr. needs disability? Would they have a back injury patient see a optrician?
The most frustrating thing is that I mostly want the last year-and-a-half worth of disability, not necessarily going forward. I'm really hopeful I can start doing something now.
Geez.
- kk
poster:Krazy Kat
thread:25528
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020616/msgs/25528.html