How’s it going?
I hope you’re having a good day.
I have to tell you this story about what happened to me.
It was really strange (things that happen to me usually are : )
I was talking to this professional – a person who was a CPA, years in practice, and he gave me
absolutely, positively, INCORRECT advice!
I knew it was incorrect, because I knew this area well.
But I went to two other experts who were CPAs to confirm.
I was amazed.
If I would have listened to the first person, it really would have cost me a ton of money.
You really have to be careful sometimes with experts, even doctors.
That’s one of the things I talk about in my courses/systems, because there are good and bad
doctors out there, and you want to find a good one.
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So you have to be careful, not just with doctors, but with psychiatrists and therapists, too.
Any expert that you use.
If you hear something that just doesn’t seem right, you need to get a second opinion.
It works in reverse, too.
If something sounds too good, you should also get a second opinion.
You know that old saying, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Like those advertisements for a natural cure for bipolar disorder.
You shouldn’t take them at face value, because you know there isn’t a cure for the disorder.
You should get a second opinion, and ask your doctor about it.
Get two other opinions if you can, on whatever you’re questioning.
Like I did with the CPA.
Especially when something just doesn’t sound right.
Like on the natural cures.
I mean, it could mean your loved one’s life if they went off their medications because they believed what the ad said, without getting a second or third opinion from their doctor and psychiatrist (or even their therapist too).
So this is really, really important.
You need to try to minimize mistakes.
I recommend:
Spending a lot of time finding good professionals on your team.
Like I say in my courses/systems, there are good doctors and bad doctors, so you need to spend time finding the right doctor for you.
Don’t just take any old doctor.
Or psychiatrist or therapist, either.
Make sure the person you are working with is ok.
Like they aren’t going through a divorce, have really bad kids, are going through a bankruptcy, or live a million dollar lifestyle when they don’t make a million.
You also don’t want them to be distracted – like with other patients, phone calls, or a light during your session with them, because your doctor might just hurry you along, and not give you as good of care.
NOTE: This might sound crazy, And you might be thinking, “Dave, who cares if a doctor has bad kids or lives the high life, or any of those other things I just mentioned.”
Well, let me tell you, that’s going to spill over to either you or your loved one’s care. Think bout it. It will.
Also, ask a lot of questions.
If the doctor gets mad when you ask questions, note this as a red flag.
But you deserve to know.
Do you agree or disagree with me?
Do you think it’s important to get a second (or even third) opinion?
David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.
Post responses below
I agree, I am taking my son now for a second opinion because I don’t feel that this is it. I won’t settle for the shrug of the shoulders because my son is a “unique” case. Bull.
there are no second or third opinions for people like my granddaughter age 29. She’s on Calif Medi-Cal and sees a psychiatrist who plays around with drugs all the time. And a therapist who sees her maybe a couple times a month. She has no where else to go. We’ve tried for over a year to get her into a program somewhere. Forget it. I have no money to pay for more doctors, she has no money, 2 very young kids, husband in rehab, no insurance. There just is no luxury for the kind of stuff you write about. I read it, I learn but there is no help. We live the ugly facts every day. Her kids suffer, I suffer, my husband with dementia suffers, my daughter who lives with us as is disabled- suffers. There is no help. Her life is a living hell. No money, no help. She’ll suffer and we’ll suffer and all be the worse for it.
So even tho I’ve learned a lot, what use is it when there is no help, no money for doctors, no one to help us. Believe me, we’ve tried and tried and there is no help for bipolar without money and lots of it.
I agree. We are dealing with a very serious , possibly life threatening situation which requires more then just persons opinion. I have gone beyond the 2 or 3rd opinion even. I have found in a short time that this teen bipolar has so many different sides that no one person could know everything there is to know for every one.
The problem is when a person who has been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, is in an episode, it can be very difficult not to just take what the “professional” as being gospel truth. Especially if you are on your own. Grasping at straws, and as a result willing to follow whatever the professional tells you to do. Your judgement (fraught by hope) can be skewed.
For too many years I did whatever the professional I was dealing with, told me to do, I did. Whether a pdoc,family doctor,psych nurse.
At my more lucid times I realized that having an alphabet after your name does not make you a good clinician.
Unfortunately, where I live you just count your lucky stars that you have any kind of mental health professional at all in your life.
Before following any health professional blindly I keep in mind that: 50% of doctors, finished in the bottom half of their class.
I think second and third opinions have value, but are exhausting and can sometimes confuse the initial issue with two or three conflicting opinions.
I test drove 6 therapists at $80 – 110.00 per session before I found one that I could go to and feel confident to share my concerns/life/issues.
Psychiarists charge $300.00 to 400.00 here just to get an initial 1 hour interview. The really good ones don’t take insurance. The lady doctor in my insurance network didn’t even return the hospitals’ or my phone calls after a suicide attempt.
I think the idea of a second opinion is great, but the reality of availability and cost limit many mentally ill people from shopping around. There is no way to really judge a psychiatrist from a Yellow Pages ad and I found the local support group to have questionable judgement in this area.
I agree whole heartedly, i have had bi-polar for many years and believe that my mother and grandmother suffered from this as well but were never diagnosed or treated in anyway for it. In my case it took years for me to get the proper diagnosis and many different counselors and doctors. My mother was a nurse and taought me that it was very important to be comfortable with your doctor, after all it is your life in their hands. Funny how she knew so much about medicine and yet never got the proper help for herself mentally. She has since passed on, but I have tried hard to learn from her teachings and mistakes. For all those who may need it please keep trying untill you get what the right thing is for you, don’t give up or just give in.If it is not working for you don’t be afraid to get the second and third oppinions. Take care and God blees you all.
I would like to hear more on this topic. I’m not even sure if I’m really bipolar since I’ve had so many different diagnoses from so many from different professionals because of such a wide variety of symptoms over time. How do you wade through all the muck and how do you find out if a Dr is really a good one. Another issue is that I’m a hard-core Christian and would like to find a Christian psychiatrist or psychologist or both that I can relate to from a distinctly christian perspective. I know, so many questions and no definitive answers at this point. Can you help?
I agree wholeheartedly I learned by experience. I could have died, become a vegetable or permanent residence in the State Mental Hospital. I was too out of it to know any better when I complained about my symptoms they just added more meds and upped the dosages beyond the High dosages. The pharmacist never told me there were precautions that needed to be followed when dosing that high. No one told me anything. I could not see well enough to read the patient information. Read everything even if you need a magnifying glass! Never trust yourself completely with the professioals in your life. Altimately you and you alone are responsible for getting yourself the best care. My son came over one day. He tried to talk to me I was unable to carry on a basic conversation. He called the clinic where I received my care. They were no help. He called a similar clinic in another city and discribed my symptoms, they said to get me to the nearest hospital and to use an ambulance and police if necessary. I have an unreasonable fear of the hospital. I survived this time. I am sorry if I wrote too much. I just wanted to share my insight into the subject. Thank you for what you do David.
YE DAVIE BABE….
Now we carn,t have the doc or theripist getting mad now can we, If this happens maybe they need to be medicated or in therapy.
Take Care Linda x
So far, I’ve been very lucky in the choices available to me for psychiatric care. The local Community Mental Health Clinic charges on a sliding scale (and I have good insurance), and all of the professional team is top-rate. The only thing I “could” complain about is – I don’t see a psychiatrist. They have HUGE case loads, so I am referred to a Nurse Practitioner. I have had at least 5 different “doctors” since 1984, znc find the time “bringing them up-to-date” on my history is a bore.
The NP I have now, sees me for 15 min ONLY, so I have learned to use a sort of short-hand in communicating my feelings/moods to her. We seem to work well together, so I have no complaints.
I have known my therapist for 38 years and, thankfully, she is a good Christian, which is important to me. She knew me at my worst on the psychiatric ward, so she is familiar with how I act in a full-blown manic episode, and mostly what my triggers are. The only thing I’m worried about now is the fact that she’s retiring some time this year. This means I will either get a new therapist or put into a group session. BOTH require acclimating the new situation to my history. I am NOT looking forward to it, as my symptomatology is “unique.”
To MARY ANN: There MUST be some help for you somewhere. Have you checked out the local NAMI groups or the community mental health clinic? Have you tried Social Services in your area? I feel very badly for your situation, and wish there were some way to help. It sounds like your whole family has slipped through the caregiver cracks in your community. Look in your phone book and ask questions; there MUST be SOMEONE and some WAY to help. I am concerned that you, as a Supporter, are NOT getting enough questios answered in your situation. I wish you luck in your search for help; most hospitals have social service advocates who are trained to provide assistance in cases like yours. Give it a try 🙂
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
Hi Dave There is something I have not read about in your emails. I wonder if there have ever been studies done about the effects of tobacco use or nicotine with bipolar disorder. My father was a mile mannered gentleman who was liked and respected by most people. He was a heavy smoker. He quit smoking about age 50. Ather he quit smoking, his personality changed. He began using a lot of profanity, he physically attacted to mailman, and when a local church burned down, he tried to take credit for that. I thought he needed some kind of mental help. I planned to consult with an attorney. The day I was going to see an attoryney, I heard a newscast announcing the the govorner of the statr (Missouri) had sighned a bill the prevoius day forbidding involuntary detainment of persons with a mental disorder. this was in the 1970s before people had heard of bipolar disorder. the rest of his life, he put me and my mother through a lot of verbal abuse. My mother said she wished he would start smoking again. I have heard that nicotine has some effects on the brain and may have something to do with delaying the onset of alzheimer’s disease. I sonder if you have heard of any studies having to do with bipolar disorder. I would appreciate any news about this in your email.
Regards
Fred
Great post!