OCD Action

aishah
Member

Hi All,

I am so angry and upset. I have just had an appt with my new G.P.
I explained to him what a bad week I've had with worsening of my OCD and the intrusive thoughts. He asked me what type of intrusions I have had and I told him, he then said "There isn't anything wrong with you, it's just your thinking".

I tried to explain how distressing it is to live with severe OCD and asked him for some Valium to see me through, he prescribed 5 tablets and said I should be fine by Monday!

If only it was as easy as he thinks it is to recover from this illness. He oviously knows absolutely nothing at all about this illness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bridget

Fri Feb 4 2011 16:16:47 #
aishah
Member

p.s.

He also said that I was interacting well with him and "didn't seem like someone who was experiencing such intrusive thoughts"........what a cheek, just because he can't see inside my head doesn't mean that I am not experiencing such intrusions!!!

He also said that as I havn't acted on them then it is ok. He obviously doesn't have any idea about how frightening and how real these thoughts seem at the time you are having them.

Fri Feb 4 2011 16:22:20 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Bridget,

I'm sorry to hear that your appointment with your new GP didn't go at all well.
I'm really beginning to despair of the medical profession and their attitude to OCD. OK it's a complex condition but if untrained members of the public can get at least a basic grasp of the problem why can't they? Or if they honestly don't know about the condition why can't they do the sensible thing and do some research to find out more about it?
We know that it's our thinking that causes the problem but that doesn't mean that there's nothing wrong with us. Instead of just dismissing us it would make more economic sense (after all everything revolves around economics these days) to treat us so that we can get on with our lives.
I can understand him only prescribing 5 tablets of valium as guidelines say that it should only be used short term because of the severe problems it can cause BUT for him to then add 'You'll be fine by Monday' is a real insult to you. It's valium not a magic cure. If it was a magic cure we'd all be cured wouldn't we?
Grrrrrrrrr sometimes I think that the professionals are more ignorant than the public. Ignore him though I know that it's not easy to do when the OCD's playing up.
Although I'm up to my neck in washing as per usual I'll be on and off the forum most of the weekend so if you need to chat you know where I am.

Fri Feb 4 2011 17:45:48 #
Bionictenshi96
Member

I'm sorry for hear that Aishah. Yes for people that don't have this is difficult to understand how bad we feel, how we are trying to battle those thoughts and how we feel when a bettle is lost. Is not easy to fight this thing and sadly we have to do this everyday at any time and is really insufferable u_u
Only the thinking... is that the worst part, because the thinking is what we use more often and the mind play us those tricks and make us suffer so much.

You did right asking him for medication I hope it helps you a lot.

Fri Feb 4 2011 18:05:54 #
swan
Member

Hi,
Am speechless and my only suggetsion is to see another dr,or make bregular viists to see with the hope that he will get the messgae.

Fri Feb 4 2011 18:14:14 #
Tess
Member

"There isn't anything wrong with you, it's just your thinking".

Now that defimitely takes the biscuit!!!

Sat Feb 5 2011 11:19:58 #
Unregistered

I don't know what to say, Bridget. I suppose this once again proves that we have a long way to go with raising awareness, when so many GPs behave like this. It's a disgrace.

Sat Feb 5 2011 14:24:33 #
Gigolo
Member

Do you mind if I send this thread into my local doctors surgery? I'd even encourage other people to do this to raise awareness of some of the bias received from health services for those suffering from OCD

Sat Feb 5 2011 16:56:38 #
Tess
Member

Good idea Giles, it needs to be poster sized in dayglow colours!

Sat Feb 5 2011 18:39:07 #
Tess
Member

Some years ago I recall that a comment made by someone serving in a restaurant "Does he take sugar?" became a well known slogan for disability.
I think Bridget's new GP's comment "There isn't anything wrong with you, it's just your thinking" could serve a similar purpose for OCD awareness and the fact that it was actually said by a GP would make it even more powerful. With OCD week just a month away does anyone else like the idea?

Sun Feb 6 2011 9:57:32 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Tess,

I don't wish to alarm you but OCD Week starts tomorrow

Sun Feb 6 2011 11:02:27 #
Tess
Member

Oh dear, I've lost a month - PANIC.... Am I on the right planet????

Sun Feb 6 2011 11:15:56 #
AmeliaLouise
Member

I agree that 'There isn't anything wrong with you, it's just your thinking' would be an appropriate slogan for our ongoing campaigns, as it seems to sum up a lot of people's attitudes these days, including health professionals unfortunately.

Bridget, although I have never suffered this sort of treatment from a GP (thank goodness!), I find it to be a recurring theme in the way people consider those with OCD - rarely do they seem to consider the crucial flaws in their own thinking! I think it would be worth you seeing another doctor at the practice or perhaps at a different practice entirely if there is one close enough to you. If not, you will simply have to badger this one until he realises that this is a serious issue for you! Good luck, and I hope in time you get the help and recognition you deserve in dealing with your problems.

Sun Feb 6 2011 11:25:30 #
Unregistered

A friend once told me that there was nothing wrong with me, she added 'It's all in your mind'! True, I aready knew that it was my mind and not my left leg that was the problem.

Sun Feb 6 2011 13:16:49 #
AmeliaLouise
Member

How unfortunate it is that OCD can not be physically seen...Perhaps then it would be taken seriously as an illness and not simply an issue the sufferer 'invents'.

Sun Feb 6 2011 17:01:09 #
Marie
Member

Dotors are rubbish, just beacuse its unseen doesnt mean anything as with most mental illness !!! If you dont feel any better see someone else x

Sun Feb 6 2011 17:46:13 #
aronralstonismyhero
Member

Bridget,

Have you asked your doc to refer you for CBT? If he does not know how to do this, I would suggest changing docs and making a complaint about him. Also, consider going along to a support group in your area. You can find details on the ocdaction website under "support"

Sun Feb 6 2011 18:42:20 #
aishah
Member

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your replies. I do think that the G.P.s comment to me would be good to use in our awareness campaign. At the time I felt so low in confidence and mood due to the bad week I had had that I didn't put him in his place, the next time that I have an appt I will let him know how he made me feel.

I am due to start CBT treatment again soon so hopefully that will help me..........again.

Bridget

Sun Feb 6 2011 20:06:52 #