| Breaking Barriers to Recovery: A Brief Guide for Mental Health Consumers ~ Kate Downs |
Undergoing treatment for mental illness is often a confusing and
disappointing experience. Many patients find themselves seeking care in
their darkest hours. Overwhelmed by the severity of their symptoms, too
many people put their lives and their illness in the hands of professionals and
are bewildered when their conditions do not improve.
Dissatisfaction with mental health treatment is not exclusive to first-time
clients. In fact, many patients undergo years of treatment with little
measurable improvement. Disappointing results are often attributed to the
chronic nature of most mental illnesses. However, failure to recognize and
resolve barriers to recovery that exist within the therapeutic environment can
sabotage the recovery process.
The greatest obstacle to effective treatment of mental illness can be the
passivity with which many patients are encouraged to approach the recovery
process. Overburdened with the demands of daily living and the struggles of
managing their own symptoms, it is easy to understand the willing surrender
of power to psychiatric professionals. However, regardless of the cause, failure
to direct your own care can result in wasted years of unnecessary suffering.
Assertive involvement in one’s own treatment is essential to the recovery
process. Due to the intangible nature of psychiatric medicine, professionals
rely heavily on deductive reasoning and ‘trial and error’. With little input
from the client, a mental health professional is likely to encounter
unnecessary errors and effort redundant or futile trials. Being an informed
and vocal participant in the therapeutic process can save time and produce
more satisfying results for those seeking or receiving mental health
treatment.
Know Your Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the cornerstone of every recovery plan. A diagnosis gives name
to the suspected cause of your symptoms and will be referred to for every
decision regarding your treatment indefinitely. It summarizes the
information provided by you or about you and reports the professional opinion
of your provider. However, how do you know the diagnosis is right?
Every mental health client has the right to receive a written copy of their
diagnosis. If one has not been provided, you should not be afraid to request
one. Even the most experienced professional can misinterpret facts and draw
false conclusions. Misdiagnosis is not uncommon, particularly in the
speculative world of mental illness. A flawed assessment will be reflected in
the treatment plan your provider creates.
If you are receiving care from multiple professionals or if you change care
providers, your diagnosis will likely be shared. The information contained in
the report will influence your care universally. Failure to observe and resolve
confusion or suspected flaws in your diagnosis can undermine every aspect of
your mental health treatment now and in the future. No matter how long you
have been in treatment for mental illness, you should receive a copy of every
new assessment from every new provider.
Review your diagnosis thoroughly. If you are confused by the terminology it
contains, ask your provider for clarification. You should respectfully
communicate with your provider if you disagree with any of the information
their assessment contains. If you have an extensive history of treatment and
you find your new diagnosis refers to a condition no other professional has
suggested, discuss this with your provider. For example, if you are seeking
treatment for a documented history of major mental illness and you discover
references to a personality disorder in your assessment, you should discuss
this new diagnosis with your provider.
Communicating concerns about your diagnosis may not lead to a reversal of a
professional opinion. If your provider is unwilling to change your diagnosis,
you should request that your objections be noted within the document. You
should also inform other professionals with access to the assessment that you
disagree with the findings. If you remain dissatisfied with your diagnosis, it
may be time to access another provider.
Do Your Homework
Being an informed client begins with knowing your diagnosis. However, this
is only the first step in truly understanding your condition. In order to make
the most of your treatment, you must familiarize yourself with the symptoms,
causes and treatments available to you. You should also understand the role
of each mental health provider.
When you walk into your psychiatrist’s office, the clock is already ticking.
There is a limited amount of time to assess your current condition and make
treatment decisions. Unable to differentiate between bio-chemical and
situational distress, many mental health patients slight themselves by wasting
significant portions of their professional’s time.
While you should inform your provider of situations that may contribute to
your condition, you should also know what falls within the expertise of your
psychiatrist and what can be resolved best through counseling.
It is helpful to create a list of symptoms you are currently experiencing prior
to meeting with a professional. If there are environmental factors that
contribute heavily to your mood, it is important to share them with your
provider. You should express your symptoms and experiences with clarity. If
you have questions for your provider, you should write them down in
advance. It is easy to become distracted or forgetful in a clinical
environment. This preparation will help you make the most of your
treatment sessions.
Patients receiving medication should take the additional step of understanding
the medicines available to them. A basic understanding of the families of
psychiatric pharmaceuticals commonly used to treat their condition will help
clients to refuse or consent to proposed medicinal treatments. You will find
most information is available online at no expense. Also, your provider may
have documentation to offer you.
Patients should never consent to a treatment they do not fully understand.
Your mental health care provider may recommend a course of treatment you
are not familiar with. In this case, your provider should be able to explain the
goal of the treatment, the likelihood of success, the possible complications and
their own professional experiences with the treatment. If you are unable to
understand or make a decision based on the information they have offered,
you should postpone consenting until you have had the opportunity to
research it independently.
The Customer is Always Right
Claiming ownership of mental health treatment is an intimidating concept for
many patients. Understandably, when clients enter the clinical setting a
general feeling of disempowerment can set in. As evidence of their superior
knowledge and training, professionals display numerous degrees, licenses and
awards. A client’s personal information is held within a database, often
exclusively displayed to those with clear sight of the computer screen.
Additionally, it is the professional who will make the ultimate decision as to
which treatment options are presented. However, it is the client who makes
the final treatment decisions.
Mental health consumers should recognize that control of their treatment is
in their own hands. As voluntary clients they possess the power to terminate
their consent to treatment with or without reason at any time. It is never in
the customer’s interest to accept treatment conditions they are uncomfortable
or dissatisfied with.
Considering the professionals involved and the options and opinions they
provide you. Are you pleased with the treatment you are receiving? If not,
what is the barrier to your satisfaction as a customer? Do you feel engaged in
the decision making process? Would you feel comfortable discussing any
concerns with your providers? Do you like and respect the professionals you
are working with? If you cannot answer yes to all of these questions, it may
be time to shop around.
Mental health patients have more treatment options now than in years past.
The more significant of those options is who will provide their care. The
number of providers has grown significantly and it is no longer necessary to
continue a treatment relationship simply because it is already established.
There are many more fish in the sea. If you are having difficulty finding a
new provider, contact your local advocacy group or your local chapter of NAMI
(National Alliance on Mentally Illness) for recommendations.
Patients should remember, however, that many providers have waiting lists
for new clients. If you have made the decision that you should seek a new
provider, contact that provider for information on accessibility. Do not rush
to terminate your current treatments without having a new provider to turn
to. This is especially important if you are receiving medication for your
illness. The importance of professional guidance in starting and stopping
prescription treatment cannot be overstated. Many medications can cause
serious health problems or even death when ended abruptly.
Do not let fear of confrontation prevent you from accessing the best care
options. It is not necessary to provide your current mental health
professional with any justification for the decision to end treatment. Any
reason you choose to seek an alternative provider is a valid one. Though it is
courteous to inform a provider that you no longer desire their services, it is
not necessary to do so in person. If you are uncomfortable notifying a
provider of your intentions, you may simply cancel your appointments with
advance notice.
~Kate Downs
disappointing experience. Many patients find themselves seeking care in
their darkest hours. Overwhelmed by the severity of their symptoms, too
many people put their lives and their illness in the hands of professionals and
are bewildered when their conditions do not improve.
Dissatisfaction with mental health treatment is not exclusive to first-time
clients. In fact, many patients undergo years of treatment with little
measurable improvement. Disappointing results are often attributed to the
chronic nature of most mental illnesses. However, failure to recognize and
resolve barriers to recovery that exist within the therapeutic environment can
sabotage the recovery process.
The greatest obstacle to effective treatment of mental illness can be the
passivity with which many patients are encouraged to approach the recovery
process. Overburdened with the demands of daily living and the struggles of
managing their own symptoms, it is easy to understand the willing surrender
of power to psychiatric professionals. However, regardless of the cause, failure
to direct your own care can result in wasted years of unnecessary suffering.
Assertive involvement in one’s own treatment is essential to the recovery
process. Due to the intangible nature of psychiatric medicine, professionals
rely heavily on deductive reasoning and ‘trial and error’. With little input
from the client, a mental health professional is likely to encounter
unnecessary errors and effort redundant or futile trials. Being an informed
and vocal participant in the therapeutic process can save time and produce
more satisfying results for those seeking or receiving mental health
treatment.
Know Your Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the cornerstone of every recovery plan. A diagnosis gives name
to the suspected cause of your symptoms and will be referred to for every
decision regarding your treatment indefinitely. It summarizes the
information provided by you or about you and reports the professional opinion
of your provider. However, how do you know the diagnosis is right?
Every mental health client has the right to receive a written copy of their
diagnosis. If one has not been provided, you should not be afraid to request
one. Even the most experienced professional can misinterpret facts and draw
false conclusions. Misdiagnosis is not uncommon, particularly in the
speculative world of mental illness. A flawed assessment will be reflected in
the treatment plan your provider creates.
If you are receiving care from multiple professionals or if you change care
providers, your diagnosis will likely be shared. The information contained in
the report will influence your care universally. Failure to observe and resolve
confusion or suspected flaws in your diagnosis can undermine every aspect of
your mental health treatment now and in the future. No matter how long you
have been in treatment for mental illness, you should receive a copy of every
new assessment from every new provider.
Review your diagnosis thoroughly. If you are confused by the terminology it
contains, ask your provider for clarification. You should respectfully
communicate with your provider if you disagree with any of the information
their assessment contains. If you have an extensive history of treatment and
you find your new diagnosis refers to a condition no other professional has
suggested, discuss this with your provider. For example, if you are seeking
treatment for a documented history of major mental illness and you discover
references to a personality disorder in your assessment, you should discuss
this new diagnosis with your provider.
Communicating concerns about your diagnosis may not lead to a reversal of a
professional opinion. If your provider is unwilling to change your diagnosis,
you should request that your objections be noted within the document. You
should also inform other professionals with access to the assessment that you
disagree with the findings. If you remain dissatisfied with your diagnosis, it
may be time to access another provider.
Do Your Homework
Being an informed client begins with knowing your diagnosis. However, this
is only the first step in truly understanding your condition. In order to make
the most of your treatment, you must familiarize yourself with the symptoms,
causes and treatments available to you. You should also understand the role
of each mental health provider.
When you walk into your psychiatrist’s office, the clock is already ticking.
There is a limited amount of time to assess your current condition and make
treatment decisions. Unable to differentiate between bio-chemical and
situational distress, many mental health patients slight themselves by wasting
significant portions of their professional’s time.
While you should inform your provider of situations that may contribute to
your condition, you should also know what falls within the expertise of your
psychiatrist and what can be resolved best through counseling.
It is helpful to create a list of symptoms you are currently experiencing prior
to meeting with a professional. If there are environmental factors that
contribute heavily to your mood, it is important to share them with your
provider. You should express your symptoms and experiences with clarity. If
you have questions for your provider, you should write them down in
advance. It is easy to become distracted or forgetful in a clinical
environment. This preparation will help you make the most of your
treatment sessions.
Patients receiving medication should take the additional step of understanding
the medicines available to them. A basic understanding of the families of
psychiatric pharmaceuticals commonly used to treat their condition will help
clients to refuse or consent to proposed medicinal treatments. You will find
most information is available online at no expense. Also, your provider may
have documentation to offer you.
Patients should never consent to a treatment they do not fully understand.
Your mental health care provider may recommend a course of treatment you
are not familiar with. In this case, your provider should be able to explain the
goal of the treatment, the likelihood of success, the possible complications and
their own professional experiences with the treatment. If you are unable to
understand or make a decision based on the information they have offered,
you should postpone consenting until you have had the opportunity to
research it independently.
The Customer is Always Right
Claiming ownership of mental health treatment is an intimidating concept for
many patients. Understandably, when clients enter the clinical setting a
general feeling of disempowerment can set in. As evidence of their superior
knowledge and training, professionals display numerous degrees, licenses and
awards. A client’s personal information is held within a database, often
exclusively displayed to those with clear sight of the computer screen.
Additionally, it is the professional who will make the ultimate decision as to
which treatment options are presented. However, it is the client who makes
the final treatment decisions.
Mental health consumers should recognize that control of their treatment is
in their own hands. As voluntary clients they possess the power to terminate
their consent to treatment with or without reason at any time. It is never in
the customer’s interest to accept treatment conditions they are uncomfortable
or dissatisfied with.
Considering the professionals involved and the options and opinions they
provide you. Are you pleased with the treatment you are receiving? If not,
what is the barrier to your satisfaction as a customer? Do you feel engaged in
the decision making process? Would you feel comfortable discussing any
concerns with your providers? Do you like and respect the professionals you
are working with? If you cannot answer yes to all of these questions, it may
be time to shop around.
Mental health patients have more treatment options now than in years past.
The more significant of those options is who will provide their care. The
number of providers has grown significantly and it is no longer necessary to
continue a treatment relationship simply because it is already established.
There are many more fish in the sea. If you are having difficulty finding a
new provider, contact your local advocacy group or your local chapter of NAMI
(National Alliance on Mentally Illness) for recommendations.
Patients should remember, however, that many providers have waiting lists
for new clients. If you have made the decision that you should seek a new
provider, contact that provider for information on accessibility. Do not rush
to terminate your current treatments without having a new provider to turn
to. This is especially important if you are receiving medication for your
illness. The importance of professional guidance in starting and stopping
prescription treatment cannot be overstated. Many medications can cause
serious health problems or even death when ended abruptly.
Do not let fear of confrontation prevent you from accessing the best care
options. It is not necessary to provide your current mental health
professional with any justification for the decision to end treatment. Any
reason you choose to seek an alternative provider is a valid one. Though it is
courteous to inform a provider that you no longer desire their services, it is
not necessary to do so in person. If you are uncomfortable notifying a
provider of your intentions, you may simply cancel your appointments with
advance notice.
~Kate Downs
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