How do you talk to your doctor?

I can't do it.
Every time I go in, I don't know what to say unless she or he asks me something. And even then it just comes out. "Um. help me? I can't concentrate. I can't focus."
But it becomes the same thing every time I go. It's always a different doctor too so I feel like I have to explain it all over again. But I feel like they think I'm just making something up.
How do I let them see what I go through without explaining it? I can't explain properly what it is.
Sometimes I think I should just print out something from here, but I wouldn't expect them to sit there and read it.
They don't seem to care anyway. All they do is keep trying me on different pills that do nothing. I told her I was taking 200mg of Zoloft that didn't work and then went off. She seemed to be surprised that I didn't have withdrawal symptoms. Maybe she needs to be a doctor for a little longer.
Anyway, what do you guys do?
It's embarrassing to be there. I don't like admitting something is wrong with me. I hardly even know how to talk. Even if I don't care about others watching, when I speak all I hear is me speaking. All I can focus on is what to say.

I was the same way when I was sent to shrinks growing up. Never could open up to ANY of those strange people who have their OWN problems.

I always felt like I was being questioned by the police. I didn't tell them much at all except I didn't want to be there. I was on like 8 different pills for ADHD/depression over the course of a few years.

Have you tried telling your doctor that you are very shy and its hard to talk about some issues you have but want to try? I know it sounds cheesy but I know I would give someone more time and encouragement if I knew they just weren't there because they felt they had to be. If you think about it from a doctors perspective, here is another patient who is just there to nod their head and wants to get out as soon as possible. If you explain there is a reason its hard for you they would probably understand.

I don't trust doctors.

I got a prescription for Zoloft from a GP once. He said he was going to send me to a psychiatrist. He also wanted to double my dose of blood pressure medicine even though a 24 hour blood pressure monitor indicated I have white coat hypertension. There was no discussion of other options, such a a psychologist or a counsellor.

It was as if my anxiety lead him to believe I was incapable of intelligent thought.

I never went back, and I took to the Zoloft pills with a hammer and flushed them down the toilet.

I find it helpful to jot down everything I need to mention in dot points and talk off it, because I often forget due to stress of being put on the spot.

Most of the doctors I have approached about my problems are patient and understanding about it. Except one - he googled it in front of me and gave me some pill to take for 2 weeks. I never saw him again.

I always write it down and have a list, I'm too forgetful when anxious

fitftw said:

I was the same way when I was sent to shrinks growing up. Never could open up to ANY of those strange people who have their OWN problems.

I always felt like I was being questioned by the police. I didn't tell them much at all except I didn't want to be there. I was on like 8 different pills for ADHD/depression over the course of a few years.

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You're lucky, all my shrinks either tell me it's all my fault, they can't help me, or the others (councilors) either say I am not saying anything important, I'm lying to them, and I should give them what the solution is.

Kiwong said:

I never went back, and I took to the Zoloft pills with a hammer and flushed them down the toilet.

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I'm yet to see any sort of "proof" that these medications actually do something positive for you.

Hey, you have increase brain activity in these areas. Seems abnormal to those that are not effects by this. This medication is decreasing the activity in these brain areas. Mission accomplished. ._. uff.

Kiwong said:

I don't trust doctors.

I got a prescription for Zoloft from a GP once. He said he was going to send me to a psychiatrist. He also wanted to double my dose of blood pressure medicine even though a 24 hour blood pressure monitor indicated I have white coat hypertension. There was no discussion of other options, such a a psychologist or a counsellor.

It was as if my anxiety lead him to believe I was incapable of intelligent thought.

I never went back, and I took to the Zoloft pills with a hammer and flushed them down the toilet.

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I would have felt like doing that right in front of him.

Waybuloo said:

I find it helpful to jot down everything I need to mention in dot points and talk off it, because I often forget due to stress of being put on the spot.

Most of the doctors I have approached about my problems are patient and understanding about it. Except one - he googled it in front of me and gave me some pill to take for 2 weeks. I never saw him again.

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And I definitely would have ripped up the prescription right in front of that one.

I hate doctors for so many reasons!!!...GGRRRR I CAN'T POST ENOUGH OF THESE MAD FACES!!!!!!!!!!!GRRRRRRR

i always hate to read when people don't like their doctor/therapist or have negative experiences with them i freakin' love my therapist... maybe you should ask for someone else? look for someone you're more comfortable with... it's not their job to diagnose and prescribe, you want someone who will help you work through your problems, who will work with you to figure out how you tick and formulate your own method of overcoming whatever it is that's holding you back from being a happy and content individual.....

as far as talking to them.. sure, take some notes of things you post on here.. it doesn't ever hurt to write things down throughout the week so you can have reminders of what's on your mind. my therapist told me to do that anyway, i always go in there with a notebook or something with random thoughts and sh!t i want to discuss... you shouldn't feel like they don't care or like your talking to the police or something... i dunno, i guess i don't have any problems opening up to people as a general rule, so it wasn't hard for me when i went to see a therapist either.. i sorreh =/

awkwardamanda said:

I hate doctors for so many reasons!!!...GGRRRR I CAN'T POST ENOUGH OF THESE MAD FACES!!!!!!!!!!!GRRRRRRR

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Those docs in emergency, I <3 them so much. Just want to ruv dem all day. ::

I suggest that you prepare a list of questions and symptoms that you may be experiencing and have it handy when you talk to your doctor. If you wish you can read out the list or just give it to the doctor to read.
Remember that doctors have seen and heard just about everything. There is no need to feel anxious or nervous around doctors. I realize that some doctors are incompetent and are more interested in money than they are interested in their patient's well being, but I don't think that the majority of doctors are. If you wish to print something from here then I don't see why the doctor would not read it. If you can't explain exactly what ails you, then you'll have to look for non-verbal means of communication.

I've always had negative experiences with doctors and councillors, enough so that I always avoid going unless it's absolutely vital.

As I kid I used to deal with the stress and nuisance of seeing child psychiatrists by shrinking them as much as they were shrinking me. I burned through three of them.

Now I just tend to forget pretty much everything I wanted to talk to them about, and sit there with my eyes welling up because I'm so anxious about being so anxious. I think I'll get a spiffy little notebook and get into the habit of writing down things I think need discussing!

However, I think it's really important to have an impartial professional to talk to. I haven't seen a psychiatrist in years, but I'm considering going back once I've settled in my new place.

This is my problem. The doctors around here (at least) hate it when people don't make an effort to make it to appointments. I really try, and I even go. Though I still miss a lot of appointments because of those days I just can't make an attempt. Sure enough they let me go and won't see me anymore. Bills pile up because my med insurance doesn't cover missed appointments. I'm living on SSI, have been for over a year now. They're probably going to cut me off when I reach my 4 year evaluation because it'll appear I made no attempt to get better.