Mentioning psychiatric issues to ER

[Anonymous]

Just a mention that if your young adult needs to see a doctor in an emergency, they should be careful about what to share about their psychiatric history. I’ve had so many doctors immediately say I don’t feel well due to my history of anxiety or depression, and wave me off, when I knew it was more than that. As a mature adult, I now am more selective about what I disclose. I was once told by a neurologist that my OCD was causing my migraines, which as ridiculous. My adult daughter has anxiety and OCD, and she knows not to allow a doctor to default to that. My aunt recently went to the ER for a heart attack and was sent home as soon as the doctor heard she had a history of panic attacks. A day or so later, another ER sent her right to the operating room.

Just wanted to say this in case it might apply.

[Anonymous]

Good post! Thank you.

[Anonymous]

+1
Especially if your adult child is a woman

[Anonymous]

This is a good general rule for most medical encounters. Particularly if your symptoms are not usual ones. The easy play for the provider is to ascribe them to mental health. It's amazing the number of non-psychiatric doctors who play psychiatrist at work.

[Anonymous]

OTOH, if your child has a serious mental issue, it might be crucial for their caregiver to know that.

[Anonymous]

That's pretty common with neurologists and ER with migraines. Its pain they cannot see or document via any tests so they assume you are making it up to drug seek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OTOH, if your child has a serious mental issue, it might be crucial for their caregiver to know that.

+1000

Why shouldn’t people trust their doctors? They need to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1
Especially if your adult child is a woman

+1
I did notice that all the examples given (assuming OP is female) were women whose symptoms were dismissed. This happens way more than it should.