Things I Think I Learned ...from YouDoItOurWay

"It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out - it's the grain of sand in your shoe." - Robert Service

Photograph by Kilroy_60

Working with YouDoItOurWay Behavioral Healthcare opened my eyes to things I never knew, things I could never have imagined and things I still do not believe.

I'll skip over all the facts about mental health and mental illness(es) which are readily accessible with a GOOGLE search or three. I think I've learned a few things that people who have accepted {been convinced more likely in the case of men} there is a need to seek treatment for a psychiatric illness.

I have boiled this down to the Top 10 Pieces of Advice for a person who is preparing to seek treatment for a disease of the brain.

{Disclaimer ~ Anyone reading this post may be in treatment, know someone who is in treatment, know someone who should be in treatment and/or know more about this subject than I. You will note the title of this posting is "Things I Think I Learned". I may use incorrect/inaccurate terminology if I have not already. My field of endeavor is not behavioral healthcare. I do, though, believe that in general terms I am on the right track with this list as far as assisting someone who is considering the need for treatment or is preparing to take the step. Please do not hesitate to comment whether or not I get it right. Whatever "it" may be.}

---> Identify symptoms you are experiencing.

Ask people {who you believe know you best} to assist you. When you meet a person for the first time in the best of circumstances they develop an impression of who you are within 10 seconds. When you first meet the therapist or psychiatrist it will not be the best of circumstances and it will not take them long to start developing opinions. The more aware you are of what problems you are experiencing the easier and the more productive the meeting will be.

---> Prepare questions prior to your first appointments {with the therapist and psychiatrist}

When you are a patient/client/consumer it is essential to establish and maintain trust with the people treating/providing care for you in order to achieve the best possible outcome. You need to understand the differences in application of The Medical Model vs. The Recovery Model in treatment.

I believe that the best resource to assist you to prepare for these meetings - and to progress through treatment with the greatest chance to achieve the highest level of success - is The National Empowerment Center.

---> Remember, never forget, you are a person with an illness. You do not BECOME the disease.

---> You will receive a diagnosis or a number of diagnoses. Again, the diagnosis is not what you are. The {or each} diagnosis is a label.

The reason for the diagnosis is to establish medical necessity for the treatment you will be receiving. More clearly, a diagnosis is necessary so insurance billing can be generated.

---> Do not become a victim of Sheep Syndrome.

The worst thing you can do is walk into a therapist and/or psychiatrist office with the attitude that they know what is wrong with you, they know how to fix it and all you have to do is what you are told and everything will be better.

It's essential to ask what options you have. How are we going to work together and what specific goals are we going to pursue? What is it about this medication that the doctor feels makes it best for you? You may not want to decide at that moment; you may want to ask what other choice(s) there could be and to return with an answer after you learn more.

---> Research and learn as much as possible.

The better you understand your diagnosis/diagnoses, the course of treatment, the medication(s) prescribed...the chance of things going more smoothly and having a positive outcome are greatly increased.

Knowledge is power. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Expect to receive answers and do not accept refusal to answer. There is frequently talk of training and experience as reasons you should do as you are told. In reality, the same thing(s) do not work the same for everyone. There is trial & error at best and guesswork at worst. No one KNOWS how the mind works.

--->I believe, although I very well maybe wrong, that many if not most mental illnesses are chronic. You should understand that you will feel "better", but are likely not to be "cured".

The goal of mental health providers is to gain control of the symptoms being experienced and to find a level at which they can be managed which allows the patient/client/consumer to achieve the highest possible quality of life.

I found something interesting doing this work. There is a regimented process to establish what is wrong with a person. But there is no process through which a person is declared to be "healed".

---> You are RESPONSIBLE.

You are responsible for your behavior. Whatever symptoms you are experiencing, you do the best that you can and you continue to maintain responsibility for your actions.

As much as you hate it, there will likely be a chemical component to your treatment. You are responsible to take the medication(s) as they are directed. You are responsible to be aware how the medication is affecting you and to report that to the doctor. You are responsible to work with the therapist and to complete tasks you have agreed to do as part of your therapy.

Something that is helpful for many people is to journal. That can be easier said than done. Any notes, though, are more helpful than to depend on your memory. When it comes time and you are under the gun to answer questions the greatest percentage of chance is you are not going to know the information that you want or need to share.

---> Do Not ISOLATE.

This is one of the easiest things to do and at the same time one of the most harmful. It is extremely important to create and maintain a support network. Treatment for mental health is such that it is not a straight line from where you are to where you want to be. There will be good times and times that are not good. Some days something will be easy and other days that same thing will seem impossible.

Keep in mind that you are going to see a therapist and a psychiatrist for a very short amount of time in the grand scheme of things. Whether it's once a week or whatever number of times a week or a month the majority of the time it is going to be you and the people with whom you are connected.

---> Manage your care and stay aware.

There has been talk of preparing for initial apporintments. Discussion of asking questions, seeking explanation and exploring options.

Keeping in mind that you learn/understand as much as possible about your illness, medication and treatmetment while avoiding Sheep Syndrome --- it is essential that you manage the treatment you receive.

This is again where journaling comes into play. If you have a written record you will be able to evaluate for yourself where you were, how you have been doing, where you are at the moment and where you want to be.

And this leads us to trust and awareness. There are cases where it is dangerous for a patient/client/consumer to know what is in their chart. I would tend to believe the majority of the time that is not the case.

I would also believe that mental healthcare professionals are not enthusiastic about wanting to share what is in your chart. They may actively encourage you not to look. They may seek to convince you that there is no benefit to you reading the chart because research shows nothing productive for the person in treatment comes from gaining that knowledge.

It is important that a person makes every effort to work with a therpist on an ongoing basis. One reason is there is a "getting to know you" period. So every time you change that starts anew. You should expect that things will not always go smoothly or as well as you wish with that therapist. It could be learning to work together, it could be a problem with the therpist or it could be a result of symptoms. I can't say give it "this long" and if things are not progressing change. it is a very individual situation. The same goes for the psychiatrist.

Asking to begin looking at your chart immediately is going to put your healthcare provider(s) on the defensive. This does not aid in establishing trust. Again, there is not a specific period of time I can reference as to when you should begin looking. What is important to understand is that in the 15 or 50 minutes you are with that psychiatrist or therapist they are noting their observations, perceptions, impressions, opinions about you. When they write them in the chart, though, they become considered as facts due to the professional expertise of the people writing them. Does that mean they are necessarily correct, no. Many people chart poorly; they do not get basic facts correct let alone accurately portray what transpired in the session. There is an aspect of Covering One's Ass when they are writing chart notes as no one knows what happened in that room other than the two people who were there.

Facts, yes I said facts, I just stated will be objected to, disputed and judged wrong by professionals in the mental health fiield. There is no benefit to me to say these things. I have worked with mental health professionals, dealt with people involved in client advocacy and spoken with patients/clients/consumers to develop this material. You can take it for what you feel it is worth.

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What do you think?