You legally have the right to get a second opinion of your medical treatment.
You also have
*"The right to make official complaints, without reprisal, to an independent board which is composed of nonpsychiatric personnel, lawyers and lay people. Complaints may encompass any torturous, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment received while under psychiatric care."*
It would help if we knew who put you in psych (voluntary, hospital, parents, etc), how long you've been in, where in the world you are, and how long they plan to keep you.
Psych holds in the U.S., for suicide watch, aren't usually more than 72 hours.
That said, they can be an excruciating 72 hours if you're not being cared for properly.
I would threaten to file an official complaint or grievance - or just do it - detailing what the mistreatment is specifically and your multiple requests to be seen by other doctors.
I’ve been committed. I’ve been working on getting a new doctor. Unfortunately it’s been an uphill battle. I’d thought this would easily fall under neglect, but the channels I’ve reached out to haven’t panned out. I think I may finally be able to switch soon.
Is there someone you'd like to contact on the outside whose number you dont have? Maybe a nonprofit in your state for mental health or disability rights (if you qualify? not all peeps with tourettes receive benefits, right?)
Can I look anything specific up for you? Im an excellent researcher!
Thanks, I’ve tried some outside disability rights and MH associations. I was told I couldn’t be helped. I don’t know what else to do. I always seem to get stuck with narcissistic psychiatrists who make everything worse. He’s head of our whole unit. I’ve tried reaching out for people up higher, but nobody who can help is willing to. I feel so trapped. We’ve reached out to his boss. He’s not willing to help at the moment. I got stuck with the medical director at my last RTC. Total narcissist too.
Hey brother/sister not so fun fact for you: **The only "Experts" on Tourettesyndrome are those of us that have it.** Nobody else will be able to truly help you. I know this because I was lucky enough to have a father who also has tourettes. As well as four uncles. All of the men in my family have it. My mother put me in countless therapist and doctors offices and i was on dozens of different medication, when my dad finally had enough of seeing his son get treated like a lab rat.
It took Months of constant hard work but he eventually got me to learn how to get them under control. it can be done.
If you need help DM me and i will be there for you as much as i can. There is hope my friend.
Thanks, I’m open to suggestions for sure. I’ve had success with medications, but become tolerant too quickly. Part of the problem is my trauma is constantly being triggered. My noradrenaline must go way up from that. I think I metabolize them faster too. I wonder if I also have more of a sensitive nervous system from my TS. Alpha 2 agonists seem to be the most suited for me, but I become tolerant too quickly and they don’t want to keep going up, with my blood pressure lowering. I am having some success with baclofen a GABA b agonist, but not enough. It helps with other things too Though. Maybe an upper dose would help. There’s been no adverse effects as far as I can tell.
You have the right as a patient to fire your providers- nurse, therapist, psych etc. at least in the US (but I think it’s a thing elsewhere). There should also be some kind of patient advocate within the hospital who can help you but I know you’ve reached out to other higher ups who weren’t helpful so I’m not sure if you’ve tried that.
I am in the US. I have reached out to the patient advocate, and she’s not been helpful. I’m told it’s us to my psychiatrist, and he refuses to let me see another one. Despite the fact that he’s clearly not helped, and I’m refusing to meet with him, and expressing eagerness to work with someone else who I’ve had good interactions with.
I don’t know what country you’re in, but most hospitals. In Australia at least. Have a thing called “official visitors program” which are a group of people from OUTSIDE the hospital who respond to complains so there is no bias. Look up where you can complain to to get help. I know that I don’t like complaints, but it’s for your own sake. Hitting tics aren’t fun. Ask for gloves or bandages on your hand to cushion the blows. Helped me when I was in hospital for a while and as soon as I got home I’ve got some super thick fingerless winter gloves so I can still do stuff, but they’re pretty much boxing gloves aha. Stay safe my lovely, people understand, people care, people are here for you 💕
Thanks so much for your kind words. Our advocate is connected to the hospital and took my psychiatrists side. I’m currently reaching out to groups, but haven’t had luck so far. I keep trying. It’s an uphill battle for sure. There are people along the way who want to help. Though, they don’t have the authority to do so. My psychiatrist and his boss aren’t budging.
You legally have the right to get a second opinion of your medical treatment. You also have *"The right to make official complaints, without reprisal, to an independent board which is composed of nonpsychiatric personnel, lawyers and lay people. Complaints may encompass any torturous, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment received while under psychiatric care."* It would help if we knew who put you in psych (voluntary, hospital, parents, etc), how long you've been in, where in the world you are, and how long they plan to keep you. Psych holds in the U.S., for suicide watch, aren't usually more than 72 hours. That said, they can be an excruciating 72 hours if you're not being cared for properly. I would threaten to file an official complaint or grievance - or just do it - detailing what the mistreatment is specifically and your multiple requests to be seen by other doctors.
I’ve been committed. I’ve been working on getting a new doctor. Unfortunately it’s been an uphill battle. I’d thought this would easily fall under neglect, but the channels I’ve reached out to haven’t panned out. I think I may finally be able to switch soon.
Is there someone you'd like to contact on the outside whose number you dont have? Maybe a nonprofit in your state for mental health or disability rights (if you qualify? not all peeps with tourettes receive benefits, right?) Can I look anything specific up for you? Im an excellent researcher!
Thanks, I’ve tried some outside disability rights and MH associations. I was told I couldn’t be helped. I don’t know what else to do. I always seem to get stuck with narcissistic psychiatrists who make everything worse. He’s head of our whole unit. I’ve tried reaching out for people up higher, but nobody who can help is willing to. I feel so trapped. We’ve reached out to his boss. He’s not willing to help at the moment. I got stuck with the medical director at my last RTC. Total narcissist too.
im sorry. ive lived in psychwards 6 times and it can sometimes be very frustrating and hopeless. i hope u get a better doctor soon. sorry
Hey brother/sister not so fun fact for you: **The only "Experts" on Tourettesyndrome are those of us that have it.** Nobody else will be able to truly help you. I know this because I was lucky enough to have a father who also has tourettes. As well as four uncles. All of the men in my family have it. My mother put me in countless therapist and doctors offices and i was on dozens of different medication, when my dad finally had enough of seeing his son get treated like a lab rat. It took Months of constant hard work but he eventually got me to learn how to get them under control. it can be done. If you need help DM me and i will be there for you as much as i can. There is hope my friend.
Thanks, I’m open to suggestions for sure. I’ve had success with medications, but become tolerant too quickly. Part of the problem is my trauma is constantly being triggered. My noradrenaline must go way up from that. I think I metabolize them faster too. I wonder if I also have more of a sensitive nervous system from my TS. Alpha 2 agonists seem to be the most suited for me, but I become tolerant too quickly and they don’t want to keep going up, with my blood pressure lowering. I am having some success with baclofen a GABA b agonist, but not enough. It helps with other things too Though. Maybe an upper dose would help. There’s been no adverse effects as far as I can tell.
You have the right as a patient to fire your providers- nurse, therapist, psych etc. at least in the US (but I think it’s a thing elsewhere). There should also be some kind of patient advocate within the hospital who can help you but I know you’ve reached out to other higher ups who weren’t helpful so I’m not sure if you’ve tried that.
I am in the US. I have reached out to the patient advocate, and she’s not been helpful. I’m told it’s us to my psychiatrist, and he refuses to let me see another one. Despite the fact that he’s clearly not helped, and I’m refusing to meet with him, and expressing eagerness to work with someone else who I’ve had good interactions with.
I don’t know what country you’re in, but most hospitals. In Australia at least. Have a thing called “official visitors program” which are a group of people from OUTSIDE the hospital who respond to complains so there is no bias. Look up where you can complain to to get help. I know that I don’t like complaints, but it’s for your own sake. Hitting tics aren’t fun. Ask for gloves or bandages on your hand to cushion the blows. Helped me when I was in hospital for a while and as soon as I got home I’ve got some super thick fingerless winter gloves so I can still do stuff, but they’re pretty much boxing gloves aha. Stay safe my lovely, people understand, people care, people are here for you 💕
Thanks so much for your kind words. Our advocate is connected to the hospital and took my psychiatrists side. I’m currently reaching out to groups, but haven’t had luck so far. I keep trying. It’s an uphill battle for sure. There are people along the way who want to help. Though, they don’t have the authority to do so. My psychiatrist and his boss aren’t budging.
Can you leave against medical advice?
Unfortunately no. I’m court ordered to be here.