My doctor won't refer me to a psychiatrist: What should I do?

Hello @Gibsongirl‍, thank you for opening this discussion. I'm so sorry to hear you've been dealing with so much grief and that your doctor isn't hearing you. Let me tag some other members who can possibly share some advice.

Hi everyone, how are you doing?

Can you share any advice with @Gibsongirl‍? Have you ever had a hard time getting your doctor or another person to recognize that you need help?
@Troytroy56‍ @bekah818‍ @Georgiajacques1‍ @xLadyKarma94‍ @Tam123456‍ @lurleen747‍ @AsiaNicole05‍ @Benhurt‍ @bbonalewicz‍ @Chelseamj22‍ @Finn_is_Trying‍ @jordanknox‍ @sissyk‍ @Mooreocean1‍ @lilyemma2002‍ @Rubyharris‍  

Feel free to share with us here, we're all here to support one another!

Take care,
Courtney

Iam sorry i totally understand iam 56 years old and have been through the death of a daughter granny grandma and pappa its been a very hard road if need be go to a diffrent doctor to get a  referral

I'm sorry for your loss. Call your health insurance & explain the situation. Hopefully one will refer you to a psychiatric professional on their list.

My primary care doctor presented me with a list.  A list if you want to call two a list.  One was so far out that I can't even go there because I don't own a car.  The other was not a private practice but some kind of deal that I really don't understand but the bottom line there was I went in and answered all of those ridiculous psych screening questions to be told at the end of the session that I may see the doctor sometime in about three weeks.  Jeez three weeks I thought.  With a stroke of luck she had a cancellation that very week and I got the phone call to come see the psychiatrist.  She opened with "These are not the best meds for bi-polar disorder."  Having said that she proceeded to mention about six different psych drugs that I had already tried with terrible side effects.  I told her if she wanted to know about all the drugs that had failed me to contact my old doctor's office.  I was not about to continue this bullshit forever. I had to leave my last doctor because I just turned 65 and medicare is something he does not accept as payment. I told her I needed to stay on the drugs I was on.  She told me that they do not prescribe benzodiazpines but she would not let me go through withdraws.  I was not accepting that.  I have been taking benzo's of one or the other for thirty years.  Now I am suppose to stop.  I thanked her for her time and she told me she was sorry we could not work together. I called the number on my insurance card.  They sent me a list of all the providers in Pittsburgh.  Holy shit there are a ton of them. I called and called to run up against one roadblock after another.  I paid cash to see my last doctor so he would give me three months scripts plus seraquel (quiatepine) in case I get too manic. I have not felt well enough to pursue the search again.  I really need to get with it though because time flys.

I know it's been 3 years since you started waiting, but you must get the help you need. It's worth talking to your doctor and trying to impress on them the urgency of your situation. It might be worth checking out GP ratings so you can get a better understanding of your doctor. It can help you find out what others think about your doctor and their reviews can help you decide whether to stay with them or look for another doctor. You can also try reaching out to a mental health charity or organization. They may be able to provide more information and support that could help you find a psychiatrist. It's also worth talking to friends and family - they may be able to provide some words of comfort or advice.