"Attitude to mental health"

Recently, I went to my scheduled doctor’s appointment regarding pain medication and for a general check-up. While I was there, I expressed my mental health thoughts and concerns, as I had recently split from my partner of over 8 years, and as I already suffered from severe depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia, I was extremely worried for my own mental state.

I spoke with my doctor and ended up having a breakdown, and I recall they expressed that they weren’t comfortable with me going home and referred me to my local hospital so that I could be admitted to the psych ward so I could be monitored and hopefully get the help that I was in desperate need of.

While waiting at the hospital, and after speaking to multiple staff expressing my feelings of not wanting to exist, I was introduced to an RN who was to help me with the process of being entered into the psych ward. I felt they were a lovely person, but while organizing everything, I recall they made a comment that I found concerning regarding the doctor in charge of the ward, stating that they hoped the doctor was in a good mood and that they hoped they would find the doctor on a good day.

Being hopeful, I assumed that the RN was saying it as a joke in hopes of lightening what I felt was the sombre mood, but I was soon to find that it was no joke at all, in my opinion.

As it was my first time actively seeking help, I wasn’t sure of the process or how things worked, but after over 6 hours of waiting, I was finally informed that they were willing to take me.

The entire process of registering in and being introduced to the staff and shown my room was honestly wonderful. I couldn’t fault any of the nurses or doctors that I initially met, and the entire ward was honestly great. The resources help available were amazing, but I found it almost concerning that the ward had 6 available rooms, but as I understand it there were only 2 other patients. I believe Kalgoorlie has a massive problem when it comes to mental health, so I felt it didn’t make any sense that they made it so difficult for people to be accepted, even though it seemed to me they were fully staffed. I found the ward was almost silent, and I believe most nurses were just sitting on their phones as it seemed there was literally nothing for them to do.

As for myself, I got as comfortable as I could and settled into my bed, just trying to relax and get used to where I was due to be staying for a few days to a week.

I let the nurses know that I hadn’t had any of my usual medications for that day (as I wasn’t planning to be spending my day at the hospital) so I had had no antidepressants or any of my pain medication, but I recall they informed me that I wouldn’t be receiving any medication until 8pm that night, and that apparently the doctor had reviewed my file and cut out my sleep medication which I took for my severe insomnia.

I expressed my concern regarding my sleep meds but was informed that as it was the doctors orders, there was nothing they could do, so I felt I was set for a sleepless night. I believe they also informed me that the doctor wouldn’t be changing any of my pain medication as I had recently seen a pain specialist and was working on getting onto a proper plan including surgery to get my body to a healthier state. If only that was the truth.

I didn’t sleep that night, as I expected, and I admit that my mind was telling me that this wasn’t the place for me. Without sleep, my mental state gets worse, and my anxiety is higher than ever. After really thinking about things while I didn’t sleep however, I decided that I would stay, I needed the help, and I wanted to give it the best chance I could.

I had breakfast once everyone was awake and I proceeded to wait to see the psychiatrist.

Finally the time came, and I was bought into a room I recall of about six people, including a nurse, 2 doctors, a social worker, and the psychiatrist. My anxiety due to my agoraphobia was through the roof, so I sat quietly on the couch and listened as the doctor reviewed my medication. My stomach dropped, as one of the first things they expressed was that they wanted to cancel some of my pain medications. As I tried to speak to express my opinion, I felt the doctor immediately raised their voice to speak over me, and I believe basically said my feelings were invalid.

How is it okay for a psychiatrist to seemingly try to overrule a pain specialist and the doctors I had previously seen? The doctor then brought up my sleep medication where I felt they basically said that I didn’t need it, and that if I couldn’t sleep, I just needed to meditate.

I said I’ve tried meditation, and I recall their response was basically that I didn’t try hard enough.

I felt the entire meeting consisted of the doctor speaking, not allowing anyone else to speak, telling me that as I understand it, they don’t like medication and that basically anything can be fixed with meditation, counselling isn’t necessary because speaking about past trauma was pointless, and they made me feel like I was some kind of junkie who was fat by choice, not because of actual health issues.

I have never felt so uncomfortable or disgusted by someone in my whole life. The experience traumatised me, and I don’t want anyone else to ever experience what I had.

I checked myself out, and I will never go back there again. Based on my experience, I believe the doctor should never work with anyone with mental health issues. They are a terrible doctor, in my opinion.