Ultimately, I don't think there's anything I can do about this situation, but I need to vent to people that would understand.
BG: My family has seen the same group of doctors my entire life. It's a large all-in-one clinic, usually great. When I was 14 I needed a sports physical to join the track team, so my mom took me in to see Dr B. I had lost my virginity a few months earlier and was extremely nervous about admitting this to anyone, asking for help obtaining contraceptives, etc. I had spent many days psyching myself up to this appointment, knowing I'd have to tell her. So we get to the exam and she does all the normal checkup stuff, looks at her clipboard and goes "Well we know you're not sexually active so I can just check that off." while laughing! Of course, given the excuse not to say anything, I didn't speak up, but it always struck me that that was an extremely unprofessional way to handle things!
Fast forward to the last few years, my mom is coping with horrendous anxiety. I've got it too, but I realized what it was and sought help. (Because of my experience with Dr. B I never went back to her, started seeing just about any other doctor in the clinic.) Come to find out, my mom avoids the doctor at all costs. Will deal with conditions that need treatment for weeks to avoid the berating she always gets from Doctor B. Yes, she smokes, yes she drinks. Most doctors can respect this, with just a 'you know that's not healthy right?' and leave it be. However Dr. B gives her the third degree every time! (Awesome for a person with anxiety, right?) When my GAD was diagnosed, I started putting some pressure on my mom to ask for treatment, even if it was just an emergency supply of Xanax. She eventually did, but got another dressing down from Doctor B, who REFUSED to write my mom prescriptions for more than 10 a year!! My doctor is surprised, and tries to get me to take more when I only want 20! Is this as outrageous as it sounds to me? Her health and relationships are getting seriously damaged because of this, (She now uses alcohol to numb the anxiety, but that's a whole different story.) and the doctor only seems to be making it worse! I keep trying to get her to change doctors, but the anxiety involved in that just makes her shut down and she won't even attempt it.
Okay, /endrant. Thanks for listening. Any suggestions on how to approach this? I kind of feel like I've exhausted my options, but maybe you guys will have a different take on it.
BG: My family has seen the same group of doctors my entire life. It's a large all-in-one clinic, usually great. When I was 14 I needed a sports physical to join the track team, so my mom took me in to see Dr B. I had lost my virginity a few months earlier and was extremely nervous about admitting this to anyone, asking for help obtaining contraceptives, etc. I had spent many days psyching myself up to this appointment, knowing I'd have to tell her. So we get to the exam and she does all the normal checkup stuff, looks at her clipboard and goes "Well we know you're not sexually active so I can just check that off." while laughing! Of course, given the excuse not to say anything, I didn't speak up, but it always struck me that that was an extremely unprofessional way to handle things!
Fast forward to the last few years, my mom is coping with horrendous anxiety. I've got it too, but I realized what it was and sought help. (Because of my experience with Dr. B I never went back to her, started seeing just about any other doctor in the clinic.) Come to find out, my mom avoids the doctor at all costs. Will deal with conditions that need treatment for weeks to avoid the berating she always gets from Doctor B. Yes, she smokes, yes she drinks. Most doctors can respect this, with just a 'you know that's not healthy right?' and leave it be. However Dr. B gives her the third degree every time! (Awesome for a person with anxiety, right?) When my GAD was diagnosed, I started putting some pressure on my mom to ask for treatment, even if it was just an emergency supply of Xanax. She eventually did, but got another dressing down from Doctor B, who REFUSED to write my mom prescriptions for more than 10 a year!! My doctor is surprised, and tries to get me to take more when I only want 20! Is this as outrageous as it sounds to me? Her health and relationships are getting seriously damaged because of this, (She now uses alcohol to numb the anxiety, but that's a whole different story.) and the doctor only seems to be making it worse! I keep trying to get her to change doctors, but the anxiety involved in that just makes her shut down and she won't even attempt it.
Okay, /endrant. Thanks for listening. Any suggestions on how to approach this? I kind of feel like I've exhausted my options, but maybe you guys will have a different take on it.
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