my psychiatrist died.

July 12, 2007 5:54 PM

i need a good psychiatrist in seacoast NH/southern ME/northeastern MA

what psychiatrists have you seen in seacoast NH. 20 mile radius to portsmouth. i don't need a pdoc that's also my therapist (can't afford that!) but i need one that understands i can't extricate my medication issues from psychological problems. i cannot ignore any longer that i am very depressed. i am on high dosages of stimulant medication for ADD that causes an OCD-like side effect, that is also exacerbated by my poor mental state. I am also very overweight and need to get my mental situation under control to start attacking the physical problems.

i have a problem trusting doctors; i called one i've seen in the past that i trusted to help me but discovered he died this spring now i'm feeling lost. Really, i don't have the time, health benefits, or money to audition 10 new pdocs right now to find one that will have some understanding of my situation. i have a picking problem with a history of trichotillomania (trich is in the past tho). it is equally exacerbated by my stimulant medication and also by mental state which is deteriorating. the stim side effect part i've become pretty adept at controlling but not when it is so strongly influence by my unhappiness, i'm discovering. i've seen probably 20 psychiatrists in my life, and very few of them are able to comprehend what this picking thing is unless i literally bare my skin to them after a bad episode, and i just can't do that to a stranger; they need to take me seriously first, and then maybe we'll get there (don't get me wrong, i TELL them, they just don't understand, take it seriously enough).

Know that I'm terrified of someone taking my adderall away because of this side efffect; i have very poor reactions to every other ADD medication i've tried and i just can't afford that right now, emotionally or financially. so i have to have a doc that can help me balance this, understand this balance. So.

OK. who knows what doc? If this rings a bell for anyone i'm open to traveling a bit, but would prefer someone in a 20 mile radius to portsmouth or hampton NH.

any related advice is welcome. thanks for reading.

posted by Soulbee to health (1 comment total)

Some docs will do a free phone consultation to determine whether they're the right doctor for you. That might be one way to "audition" a bunch of doctors to find one who's right for you without wasting too much time or money. At the very least, a good doctor should be willing to answer a few questions over the phone about her/his treatment methodology and experience before making you commit to a paying appointment. Call around to doctors on your health plan and ask to speak with them.
posted by decathecting at 11:32 AM on July 13, 2007