Trying to find a therapist is making me lose it.

I am giving up for today in my efforts to make an appointment. The offices seeing new patients do not have availability. The ones showing availability online actually don't have spots when you call. The office that would see me refused to set the appointment because I wasn't comfortable giving her my SS# over the phone. The automated answering services are useless. The receptionists that I've talked to don't really seem to care one way or the other. I have been trying to find someone for the last three weeks and have nothing but frustration. I have spent 5 solid hours today for nothing. I booked a pill farm appointment online just to give this drug a shot at helping. It really sucks for someone who has avoided doctors their whole life to not be able to find help when I am finally trying to push past my anxiety to get help. Part of me says F*ck It, I've made it this far alone, but that kind of thinking led me to the ER. Why does it all have to be so difficult?

[Blueruth]

What is a pill farm?

What is the issue over giving an SSN over the phone? Admittedly I don't know why they need it but that has more to do with stupid. Giving it to them over the phone is probably safer than on a piece of paper assuming they don't write it down.

[Hidden in reply to Blueruth]

I consider a pill farm a practice that writes prescriptions for money without taking any time to get to know a patient. I have insurance, I can pay cash if necessary. I don't see how my SS# factors in. I have worked hard to build good credit and data breaches and ID theft are real. I don't give that number out freely to people I found online.

[AnxiousSilver in reply to Blueruth]

"What is the issue over giving an SSN over the phone?"

Personally, I'm never comfortable giving my SSN over a cell.

I'll may do a land line, but only as a last resort.

.

My brother and I were involved as identity theft victims from a large company last year.

So that's kinda why I'm trying to be extra careful. (if there is such a thing anymore)

[Blueruth in reply to AnxiousSilver]

From giving it over the phone? When I had to use a company CC they told us to use the phone because it is safer. Cell phone lines are safe too. I think the office privacy practices are dumb and they will be at least fined if they are hacked. I would probably consider it low enough risk if I was desperate for a therapist. A compromise solution is to send it to them via email link using this website. It is perfectly safe. I use it all the time for work. onetimesecret.com/ If they won't give out an email then I really question their intelligence. And after all that maybe the reason there is an available therapist is because they are idiots. 😆

Since we are on the topic of medical offices... If you get a tablet to fill out forms or you fill them out online always, always read the last few for personal information clauses. They are put there buy the company that makes the software that the office uses. They give them permission to sell your information and send you ads.... totally legal grey area that needs to be regulated. A lot of offices don't even realize that is why the software is so cheap. I heard or read this and then actually ran into it in a specialist office.

[dwhp]

hi Hidden, don’t give up. The lack of availability is probably due to the increased need for therapy now. I thought I was gonna die too trying to look for a therapist. I tried to calm myself until I got an appointment. If you need some one to talk to reach out to your friends, neighbors, church, coworkers, or school mates. Just distract yourself til you get an appointment. Think of it as dress rehearsal for a play and you’re the star. Don’t waste your energy and burn yourself out before then. Emerge with your best self. Be well!

[Hidden]

I've had the same problem during the last year or so. Due to the overwhelming demand it's impossible to find a doctor who's taking new patients. If you leave a message on their system you'll never get a call back. It's insane! Some don't take my insurance either. My previous doc died as a result of the pandemic