Hi everyone, looking for some perspective or advice on a recent BH encounter.
I went to Behavioral Health today for the first time to seek help for depression, severe insomnia, and panic attacks. However, the evaluation felt extremely rushed. They only asked basic intake questions and didn't dive into my history or the severity of my symptoms at all.
The main issue is that I honestly shared that I’ve been using alcohol as a "crutch" to fall asleep and calm down during panic episodes because the symptoms are unbearable. Instead of addressing the root causes (the depression/panic), the provider immediately decided to refer me to SUDCC. I feel like they’re just labeling me as an alcoholic rather than taking my actual mental health issues seriously.
On top of that, when I mentioned that I have a hard time talking to new people and feel extremely anxious in unfamiliar environments, the provider dismissively said, "Well, you’re talking to me just fine." This felt like a complete invalidation of my symptoms and destroyed any trust I had in them.
A few questions for the community:
- Is it standard procedure to be sent straight to SUDCC just for mentioning self-medication for insomnia?
- Has anyone dealt with a dismissive provider like this? How did you handle it?
- Should I request a change of provider (Patient Advocate?), or is this just how the process works?
I want to get better and have an accurate medical record, but right now, I don’t feel like I’m being heard. Thanks in advance.