I’ve spent time in the mental health system.. a prisoner some say. it’s a broken system but there are ways around it. I’ve also worked as a clinician on a multidisciplinary team. I’ve had the inside view and heard the conversations between psychiatrists and other staff regarding patients/clients. Something that comes up is whether someone is a good historian.
If you say always take your medication when in reality it’s every third day you are not a good historian. If you say you’ve had 2 hospitalizations when in reality you’ve had 16, you are not a good historian. Basically it’s how accurate you depiction of the past and other events are.
Some psychiatrists are skeptical about all clients ability to be good historians. For this reason and several others it’s very helpful to bring someone to the appointment with you. They are sometimes viewed as the “sane one” even if the doctor has never met them before. Here is an exaggerated example but sometimes it’s this bad:
Naz: I take my medication every day
Doctor: ok (looking down taking notes)
Sane one: yes she does take her meds everyday
Doctor: ooooh!!! that’s great she takes her medication daily!! (notice that’s exactly what I said? He assumed I was not a good historian)
How insulting. But as I said we live in a broken system and sometimes we do unintentionally under – report the severity of our symptoms. one of my “sane people” takes a lot of notes for me which I find helpful. it’s also good for support..emotional or otherwise. At the very least you have a witness and the doctors sometimes take you more seriously if a family member, especially, comes sometimes the doctor feels it’s more of a concern and they’re more likely to listen. Once a doctor clearly felt threatened. The good ones won’t. It also allows your loved one to feel heard and to express their concerns.
Have a great week my lovelies,
Nas
Just Mai 2 Cents 