Struggling

[HopelesslyExhausted]

I lost my psychiatrist due to the fact that they changed their policies and are no longer prescribing my specific medicine. We did a lot of trial and error before we landed on the medicine that worked for me. When they changed their policy, it felt almost combative towards their patients. I stated that I was feeling slightly uncomfortable with the way communication was going and they told me that it's their new policy, that I didn't do anything wrong, they would prescribe me one refill, and that I needed to find another doctor. I've dragged that one prescription out for 2 months and struggled the entire way through. I can't find a local psychiatrist to get me in quickly. I took a second diagnostic test in order to get in somewhere and they've quoted me months. I have 4 kids and so much stress. I won't make it another week with the tiny amount of meds that I have left. Why is this so difficult? For the first time in my life, I was finding myself and finding my way. I spent the past year and 2 months learning about myself, growing, and becoming the best version of myself. Now I'm lost, and the medical system around me is awful. I am to the point of trying to get in with a family care doctor to try to convince them to help me until I can get back in with a psychiatrist. I've never been the best at advocating for myself when it comes to medical needs or anything else for that matter. It feels like depression is beginning to weigh me down and even though I have a husband and kids (2 of which also have adhd), I feel alone...

[STEM_Dad]

I was going to recommend going to your family care doctor, but see that you've already contacted them. Good!

You can certainly ask your doctor for a prescription for the medication which was working so well to help you. Also, you can ask the doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist. That might help you get higher up the list.

You could also ask your doctor about a referral to a neurologist for treatment. A neurologist can also treat ADHD. The difference is that their specialty focuses much more on the biological aspects and does not focus on the psychological aspects. Since a neurologist is also an MD, they can also prescribe medication.

You also might seek counseling, to help you with the anxiety caused by the situation. Losing the support that you've been accustomed to, and now having to find a new psychiatrist, is an upsetting situation. You may need a little extra help from a counselor or therapist for a little while to help you get through the change.

Counseling might be covered by benefits from your health coverage or other benefits from your employer or you husband's employer. (I got a referral and a few sessions paid for by a work benefit, an EAP - Employee Assistance Plan. And then continuing seasons paid partly by my health insurance, and partly by me.)

[Upfive]

I know what you're saying seems always something I get lined out then insurance and now how the pharmacies on back order Adderall

[OldIndigoBlue]

I'm so sorry you're going thru this. NO one should have to deal with this stuff from the medical system (which in my opinion is TERRIBLY broken in this country). STEM_Dad has excellent suggestions and I'll just add one more - go to URGENT CARE or the Emergency Room at a hospital and explain the situation. Do not undervalue your sanity here. This is an incredible amount of stress for a mom with ADHD kids to boot. YOU deserve to get this handled, so please even tho it's not comfortable to INSIST on getting some help, especially if you don't have a habit of sticking up for yourself, NOW is the time. I ended up in urgent care here several months ago because my anxiety was so awful and that got the boll rolling for me to be referred to mental health folks and it took about 2 weeks, but I ended up getting 2 different groups contacting me. Doctors do NOT want the responsibility of their patients losing it due to lack of care. So I second STEM_Dad's suggestion to see your primary care provider ASAP. And yes, you may have to dink around with a different medication, but at least you'll be on the road to getting this sorted out. SO sorry you have to deal with this..... Take care of YOUR SELF.... hugs.

[Jozlynn]

Hi HopelesslyExhausted! My heart is just breaking for you! I had to go over a month without meds, while trying to work a full-time job and running my own business at the same time, and it was a beating both mentally and emotionally. My reason was because of the med shortage, but the end result was much the same. I found myself in tears frequently, feeling like all the ground I'd gained was being lost. Thankfully, after finding meds somewhere (had to change my prescription, but whatever - it works!) I realized that I hadn't lost that ground, I was just feeling adrift during the unmedicated period because the feelings from pre-diagnosis and treatment were so prevalent.

I don't have any counsel outside of what's already been mentioned, but I just wanted you to know you're not alone in those feelings. I wish you the best of luck getting things settled!

[Gettingittogether]

Try psychiatric nurse practitioners. They treat depression, ADHD and the rest, and they can prescribe medications. Depending on the med you were taking, it might take a little time for the provider to trust you.

I couldn't find a psychiatrist in my areas who took my insurance who was seeing new patients. None. Made call after call.

My nurse practitioner is as sharp and knows ADHD as well as my previous psychiatrists.

[NYCmom2]

I agree with the psych nurse practitioner advice from @gettingittogether

Also, check out online telehealth psychiatry websites and apps. You can typically get an appointment in a week.

[HCStymie]

Make the appointment that is a month away if you haven't already. You can always cancel if you find something before then. Which is better than not finding something by then and wishing you had the appointment.

Call your previous shrink and explain to them your struggles and that you really are trying and that this is causing extreme stress and depression and ask if they can help you out with meds for a bit longer. And ask if they can refer you to someone. Put more of the issue on to them. If they say they can't help, then ask them if the Hippocratic or any other oath they took as a doctor means anything to them. Their therapy was life changing and you had such a relief and positive outlook. Now they have pulled that out from under you, caused you anxiety and depression and probably other feelings that you could convey which not only affects you but also your family. If they still can't help, then writing a review on every website with doctor reviews on it will at least give you some comfort.

My primary doctor has been prescribing my ADHD meds for about 10 years now. I only have to go to a shrink when i want to make a change to my medications. Then they will prescribe those for me and I can then stop going. Going to my Primary every 3 months is much easier than going to a shrink every 3 months and going to my primary every 6. Saves time, saves money. If I was doing more than just medication management then yeah, going to a shrink makes sense. That is the first direction I would go if I were you. Then if you need more than just medication maintenance, find someone for that.

You can also check your state and see if masters level nurse practitioners can prescribe scheduled substances. Some states can, some can't. But it could add additional options.

There are a ton of online therapists who can prescribe your medication. Search online for your state. Many can get you in within a week. They would send an electronic script to the pharmacy. So if you are on Adderall or something else in shortage and have to go place to place to find one that can fill it, electronic scripts would not work. A lot of telemed therapists make a lot of their money by charging you each month for the script. But worth it till you find a better option. On my insurance provider search, probably 1/4 are telehealth therapists.

Talk to your husband about your feelings and struggles. Just having someone who understands to some degree increases mood and pulls you one step back from wherever your mind is going. You can also ask them to help you out with daily activities. A lighter load helps as well as just having a helping hand. You can also talk to your kids and they may be willing to help out for a while.

And understand that many people with ADHD have a fear of conflict, authority, judgement, and all sorts of things. Just remember, no one in society is better or more worthy of anything than yourself. Just because your shrink has a degree doesn't mean they are any better than you. They just have a different path. If you were in their shoes, would you abandon a patient? Probably not, you are the better person. So talk to them and express how you feel betrayed and disappointed if they can't even keep their oath to help their patients. And that they are the one causing the mental health issues in this situation. Then they are not fit to be a doctor.