Idontrecognizemyself
Thank you for listening
- Oct 26, 2021
- 79
This time last year, I was working on an inpatient psychiatric floor as part of my university requirements. The patients in my unit were mainly withdrawaling from major drugs, or on the schizophrenia spectrum. I was in a weird place where I needed to spend several shifts there, while not actually having the credentials to do anything medical/ relating to my major of study, so most of my time was spent just chatting and hanging out with the patients. So many people gave advice and warning ("don't become like the drs and nurses working here when you graduate, they don't actually give a shit about any of us", etc), and I was immensely grateful for the insight they provided to me. I will think about those patients for the rest of my career.
I want to know what you wish your healthcare team knew before interacting with you? If you were to imagine a perfect doctor or nurse to interact with (in any setting), what would they behave like? What are the good healthcare traits?
I have seen so many healthcare horror stories on this forum so far, and I myself have experienced such systemic medical gaslighting and misdiagnosing that has almost cost me my life at LEAST twice. I have literally never truthfully taken a mental health screening because nothing the practitioner did made me feel like they would be helpful or empathetic to my situation. Even the antidepressants I have been prescribed have made me feel worse.
Sometimes my stomach turns at the thought of entering this field (why do they make you choose a life path at 17, haha). When I graduate next term, I hope I can be the kind of medical professional who makes people like us feel respected and listened to. I would appreciate any insight on what that meaningful support would look like to you and your situation.
I want to know what you wish your healthcare team knew before interacting with you? If you were to imagine a perfect doctor or nurse to interact with (in any setting), what would they behave like? What are the good healthcare traits?
I have seen so many healthcare horror stories on this forum so far, and I myself have experienced such systemic medical gaslighting and misdiagnosing that has almost cost me my life at LEAST twice. I have literally never truthfully taken a mental health screening because nothing the practitioner did made me feel like they would be helpful or empathetic to my situation. Even the antidepressants I have been prescribed have made me feel worse.
Sometimes my stomach turns at the thought of entering this field (why do they make you choose a life path at 17, haha). When I graduate next term, I hope I can be the kind of medical professional who makes people like us feel respected and listened to. I would appreciate any insight on what that meaningful support would look like to you and your situation.