Well, that was fucking useless.
I finally went to the local mental health institution for what I thought would be an appointment with a psychiatrist.
First of all, the place is damn near impossible to find. I had to call and ask for directions.
The entire building is decorated in that ever-so-wonderful ‘government chic’ style; cinderblock walls, plain white everything, nasty plastic chairs… think of the worst DMV you’ve ever had to visit, and you’ll know what this place was like. (It’s odd, since this is a private clinic.) And the noise was unbearable. Some part of their climate control was rumbling, with the rumble pulsating every few seconds, just enough to make sure you can’t tune it out.
My appointment was at 2PM. I arrived at 2:05 or so, because I got lost on the way there. After waiting in line for ten minutes, I was given a checklist of symptoms and had to give them my ‘insurance’ card and ID. There were approximately 50 symptoms listed, and I have about half. (I could even recognize which problems they were looking for: one group was for depression, one was for mania, one was for anxiety, one was for addiction, etc.)
They finally called my name at 2:45 or so. I was taken into a back room and the ‘counselor’ asked me a few questions. At some point, I happened to mention that I was an atheist. This led to a fifteen minute long religious browbeating. I just did what I always do and zoned out; it’s not worth arguing, because nobody listens to reason.
Anyway, what really pissed me off was when I told that not only would I not be seeing a psychiatrist today, I wouldn’t even get to see one on my next visit. Apparently, they can’t just listen to the other counselors (and psychiatrists) I’ve dealt with; they have to do their own ‘diagnosis’. (You know, when they hear “I’ve tried to commit suicide”, how the fuck do they come up with a ‘diagnosis’ other than depression?)
My next appointment is in two weeks, at 10:30 AM (when my work doesn’t start until 5:30 PM). So, it’ll be at least a month before I actually get to talk to somebody who can actually help me. Until then I have to deal with the idiots and the religious freaks.
Comment posted by imWACC0 at 11:49 pm on 8 February 2007:
I know this is not going to be much help.
If I read your coordinates right your in FL, The Home of Bible Humpers. So, as far as the religious nuts go, I feel sorry for ya.
Other than that, talk with people from UF, or anyone that has “been there”. It’s real easy to make snide remarks if you don’t have the problem.