Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
...your psychiatrist commits suicide?
I didn't know him that long(~2yrs), but was fine/happy with him. However, I'm worried about my friend (we both saw him). She's worked with him much longer, went to his visitation and then ended up attending his funeral. It's hitting her pretty hard. She talks with me a lot because we both knew him and understand one another's issues and are likely the only people that the two of us can REALLY talk to...
Anyway, I'm having a little trouble seeing why she is taking it SO HARD.... she would tell me most time she wouldn't even take the meds he tried to prescribe to help her to feel better. She was/is afraid of the side effects and doesn't want to take too many pills...what does that say about her faith in him? Then why is she so broken up?
I want to be supportive and do my best because her friendship means so much to me. I guess all I can do is continue to listen and be supportive. Maybe she's feeling a bit lost....he was the only psych in our medical plan in the area...but that's not the only option she & I have (we have the same employer) so she really shouldn't worry about seeing someone else and it being covered under our secondary insurance.
She is seeing a therapist (we go to the same therapist too) about all this and I know that has helped her.
Am I the insensitive one? I think I'm more angry than anything....I keep thinking about all his OTHER patients....
What does his suicide say to them? That giving up is the answer?
I'm in a good place right now, but even at my lowest I'm too much of a coward to hurt myself and besides....I always know that things will get better in time.
You know I was supposed to see him the day he killed himself. Called about a week earlier and pushed the appt out a week. I got the call the Wed before my appt...said he had passed. I only know he killed himself because my friend went to the funeral and it was discussed there by his family.
I didn't know him that long(~2yrs), but was fine/happy with him. However, I'm worried about my friend (we both saw him). She's worked with him much longer, went to his visitation and then ended up attending his funeral. It's hitting her pretty hard. She talks with me a lot because we both knew him and understand one another's issues and are likely the only people that the two of us can REALLY talk to...
Anyway, I'm having a little trouble seeing why she is taking it SO HARD.... she would tell me most time she wouldn't even take the meds he tried to prescribe to help her to feel better. She was/is afraid of the side effects and doesn't want to take too many pills...what does that say about her faith in him? Then why is she so broken up?
I want to be supportive and do my best because her friendship means so much to me. I guess all I can do is continue to listen and be supportive. Maybe she's feeling a bit lost....he was the only psych in our medical plan in the area...but that's not the only option she & I have (we have the same employer) so she really shouldn't worry about seeing someone else and it being covered under our secondary insurance.
She is seeing a therapist (we go to the same therapist too) about all this and I know that has helped her.
Am I the insensitive one? I think I'm more angry than anything....I keep thinking about all his OTHER patients....
What does his suicide say to them? That giving up is the answer?
I'm in a good place right now, but even at my lowest I'm too much of a coward to hurt myself and besides....I always know that things will get better in time.
You know I was supposed to see him the day he killed himself. Called about a week earlier and pushed the appt out a week. I got the call the Wed before my appt...said he had passed. I only know he killed himself because my friend went to the funeral and it was discussed there by his family.
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Happy hump day! Check in so we know you're here.
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Do you think having anxiety could lead into depression? What are your thoughts?
I'm so very glad to hear you and your friend are in therapy. Of course there are stages of grief, but how an individual handles those stages is wildly unpredictable. I think coming to this group and venting out your feelings is very productive. Keep it up!
And I recently learned that there is a thin line between suicide and homicide. The current psychological theory is if someone wants to kill themselves...they are prepared to kill. If they want to do that to themselves, what do they want to do to you?
As for his motive...psychiatrists keep their personal lives out of their sessions (for the most part) and there could have been a precipitating incident in his life like he got some bad news. Maybe he got diagnosed with a terminal illness. You never know.
Do you want to talk to your therapist about whether or not psychiatrists are required to be mentally evaluated on a regular bases? I believe there are mental competency evaluations for psychiatrists on a regular basis...like every couple of years. But I'm not sure. Your therapist may know.
I wish you and your friend and all of the patients who lost their psychiatrist all the best.
My late wife was a psychotherapist who died suddenly and I dealt with the fall out of her patients, including the ones that were turning up at the house as she had an office here.
Some were upset, some very upset. One used to drop a card through the door on her death date for several years.
I expect some her patients and those around them also felt anger and somehow cheated. Again natural.
It's common also for patients to develop feelings for their therapist, psychiatrist.
People feel helpless I think when a suicide has been committed... All of the woulda, coulda, shoulda come in to play...
People feel the way they feel and they're entitled to that... It's great that the two of you are able to come together and support each other...
Your doctor must have been in a very bad state of mind...I hope he now knows peace..
Big hug for you...x
Stages of Grief
That being said, she had a REALLY CRAPPY father and I'm thinking more and more that she likely looked to him as a sort of father-figure. Also, he was a good listener but always kept his distance.
Anyway, I think she is feeling better and I am not here to judge anyone...just be a supportive friend.