My "intake" appointment..............

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
My "intake" appointment..............
3
Tue, 12-02-2003 - 12:08pm

venting.......


Why are so many counselors not qualified to be counselors? My insurance sucks and will only cover several counselors, most of them specialize in drug addiction and severe mental disorders. My appointment yesterday actually irked me. The man I saw said, and I quote, "Well, you do have some kind of eating disorder but I am not sure which one because you're not making yourself vomit". I honestly thought he would at least know of the difference between anorexia and bulemia-- Especially since I made my appointment a month ahead of time and told them it was re: ED!!! He diagnosed me with the following: ED, depression, PTSD and possible OCD and ADHD. He was already anxious to put me on prescription meds!!! I saw him for an hour, he can't see me again for a month! This is dumb!!!!!


I am thinking of blowing off counseling, but I feel I need it.......... I really don't think the places my insurance cover will help me. SIGH. I just wanna cry


Thanks for listening


Hugs,


Michelle

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 12-02-2003 - 2:55pm

Oh Michelle, I am so sorry it was disappointing but please don't blow off counseling yet. I just got back from my counselor and I love her. Once you find the right one it will be SO good for you.


Have you considered some of your local churches? One of the best counselors I have had so far, and who I was seeing when I stopped bingeing, purging, and starvation, was a counselor at a church and he hadn't even finished school yet. You don't have to be a member at most churches to be able to see a counselor and they usually have a sliding fee scale. It's worth a shot.


How about group meetins facilitating the 12 steps? It would be better than no help at all and you could a sponsor to be there for you. I have heard that Celebrate Recovery (www.celebraterecovery.com go to Global Locations on left) has GREAT success and it's free.


Please check back in and let me know how you are doing. I was hoping so much that this would work out for you. I hate it when doctors just want to throw meds at you and be done with it.

Love & hugs, Kristina


The opinions I have expressed here are from my own experience and are not intended as medical advice or to take the place of your own physician's advice.

Love & hugs, Kristina

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 12-02-2003 - 5:53pm
To me, I think an ed is a very serious mental conditionl. It has almost killed me, given me a heart attack and the list goes on and on. I am blessed to have a good couselor, but I know the very first doctor I had treated me like such an idiot!! We need counseling, but it is hard to find it when counselors won't educate themselves on our condition. The fact is that eds are very serious and I agree we are not treated very seriously. I feel sometimes people just think we should just get over it. Besides ed just doesn't mean you are vomitting or you are not eating. It is such a wide range disorder. I have been bulimic, anorexic, over exerciser, but the fact is I struggle with food and think about it non stop as well as exercise. I am with you Michelle, just hang in there and the only advice I have is to keep trying new counselors until you find the right one!

LOve, Sharon

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Tue, 12-02-2003 - 7:58pm

Thanks Sharon,


I spent a great part of the day on the internet and the telelphone and alotta time praying between the