Strange Things Psychiatrists Say

Question: What is the strangest thing a psychiatrist or therapist ever said or did to you?

                                                                            

I posed this question on a Facebook page I run for people with bipolar disorder.

These are some of the responses.

(If you’d like to add your story in the comments, please do!)

ONE

Psychiatrist: (he did this to everyone) would give a series of three words to repeat back to him, then discuss other things for 5 minutes before asking us to repeat the words back again. The three words were ALWAYS apple, chair, umbrella. I confirmed this with other patients in the hospital (the only place I really saw other patients) and as I recall we were developing an Apple, Chair Umbrella poem/performance art.

Therapist: I saw her for group and individual sessions for a while. After a solo session about my issues with my looks due to the fact that my mother was an exceptional beauty and she often corrected my looks, posture, carriage, etc., at the next group session, she, out of the blue, looked at me and said, "I just like looking at you, Amy. Is that okay?" And she invited others in the group to look at me and comment -- the group included men with sexual addiction! I still wonder what theory that rose from.

    Comment: that's just frickin' creepy.

    Response to comment: it was not long thereafter I declared myself cured. Which was not quite the right solution. But I left that particular practice and went to the community mental health clinic, which was actually better.

  
TWO

My first appointment with an actual psychiatrist went horribly. Even though I was self-harming and numbing myself with pills and was completely out of control he told me that I "just had a little depression" (whatever the hell that means) and to go to this particular pharmacy that I don't frequent (because it's so far from my home) and pick up this med I hadn't even heard of. Didn't discuss whether I wanted to be on it or not, just called the pharmacy and told the guy i'd be in.

I never went to pick it up (obviously) and a couple weeks later I was hospitalized where I was properly diagnosed Bipolar and put on proper meds.

I still want to smack that guy in the head.

     Comment: do you remember what the drug was? Maybe we all missed out on a miracle cure. :)


THREE

This one is embarrassing: told me to buy some sex toys. She also asked me where I got my lipstick, hair clips and shoes. And talked at great length about what was so amazing about Interview With the Vampire and Dexter. A real piece of work, that one.

FOUR

My eccentric one-of-a-kind psychiatrist of 28 years once gave me a "voodoo doll" she had sewn herself of black and red fabric with little black button eyes and a tuft of stiff hair sticking straight out. It came with a long hatpin to stick in the doll when you cast your curse. She made a lot of these and sold them at craft shows, so it wasn't THAT weird. But I later used the hatpin to self-harm, which understandably pissed her off considerably. :):


FIVE

Asked me if I was sure I was bipolar.


SIX

I have another one: A psychologist I saw about 5 times after I had to leave college (because of suicide attempt) stood up to hug me at my last session (weird enough), then kissed me (with tongue), then while still "hugging" me asked me to lay down on a bed he had in the office (!). I declined in terror. He said he just wanted to "comfort" me because I looked so sad. I didn't know if I'd get out of there without being raped. I managed to hide my terror and edge toward the door. Got away. I was 18, he was about 50-60.

    Comment: Geez. I'm traumatized for you just reading that. What goes through their heads? I'm glad you got away.

    Reply to comment: What went through his head was what went through his other head. LOL (Pardon me, I'm crude.) There was a showdown afterwards when I told my parents and the teacher who'd referred me and he denied everything. Then he conceded he'd given me a "grandfatherly" kiss. (Because doesn't your grandfather stick his tongue in your mouth?) Then he said I'd better stop spreading this story because it was hurting his professional reputation. Good. What a pervert.

SEVEN

Told me to change jobs and gave me employment advice. Moron.

EIGHT

Fell asleep.

NINE

Told me I needed to stay medicated like a zombie because I was a threat to society....I have never harmed myself nor anyone else, I have never been hospitalized, I am manic and become invincible in a very happy way, if anything more sexual, but I was a threat? Btw this was 20 yrs. ago: no kids at the time and fresh out of high school,  graduated! Dude was an asshole!

TEN

That he wasn't "impressed" with my story, this was at our first meeting.