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I have had two doctors give up on my bipolar disorder (mostly depression) treatment. One almost a decade ago, and one just a couple of months ago. I didn’t take the most recent doctor abandonment all that well, as I’ve mentioned. In fact, if I saw the woman today, I’d still want to call her a cunt. An unfeeling, malpracticing, cold-hearted cunt. It seems I’m still a little upset about it.
But regardless as to my personal feelings about this woman, I feel that a doctor dismissing a patient without referral, medication, treatment or care, is unacceptable. It leaves the ill person with few visible options outside of suicide. A depression, suicidal person with no options. Peachy. These doctors are killing people through their own ignorance.
So, what should you do if your doctor gives up on your treatment? (You know, other than call them nasty names online, which I heartily recommend. It’s cathartic. HealthyPlace isn’t a fan of such things, however.)
Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker, advocate, and consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She has been living with bipolar disorder for 26 years and has written more than 2000 articles on the subject.
Find more of Natasha’s work in her acclaimed book: "Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar" on Amazon.
Connect with Natasha at the social media links below.
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The most important thing is that you do not give up on yourself.
If I were a doctor I would love to take on the challenge of your case. As a speech therapist i really enjoyed the challenging cases. I was devastated when I had to leave. The complex, unsolvable cases are still turning over in the back of my mind, like I am doing some kind of jigsaw puzzle. Every now and then a breakthrough comes into my mind at a random time like watching the tv or eating dinner, on cases that I had thought I had long since forgotten about. How boring was it to do stock standard articulation therapy all the time when there was not some new innovative idea to think of?
Keep searching for your perfect doctor and don’t give the others a second thought. They don’t deserve you!
Hi Sarah,
I agree completely! It true though that it’s hard to keep believing in yourself and your wellness when your doctor gives up. It’s a real setback.
And I don’t know whether any doctor “deserves” me or not ;)
– Natasha Tracy
Yes it’s devastating when anyone gives up on you. I have had many people give up on me (friends, employers etc) but not doctors, so I don’t know how that feels.
What I do know is that being in a helping profession is a privilege. Not many people in the world get such an opportunity to help others. That is what I am talking about when I say the doctor doesn’t deserve you.
Hi Sarah,
Considering helping others to be a privilege shows amazing strength on your part. Thanks for sharing that. I wish more people felt that way.
– Natasha Tracy
Hi Fermina,
I don't know if it's a lack of confidence, it more a feeling of failure, or in the case of a doctor who hasn't even tried fear of failure I suppose.
And yes, I suspect many people would be better than people who give up. Unfortunately I think I've already been treated by them and they didn't help either.
– N
As a newly diagnosed bipolar (as of 1 week today!! Yippee????) I have much apprehension about medical management. I have realized as I look back on my concealment for the last 20 years of my life, I realize my doctor could not help what I was hiding – he could only treat the physical: irritable bowel, asthma, heart arrhythmias, reflux…as for my counselor, I approach her as also one who can only help what I let her see. When I don't tell her why I let my behavior slip, I never get the techniques to change it. I still can't accept that I behave like this sometimes. But it is the job of my doctor and therapist to know the symptoms, expect my issues, and help me feel confident enough in their skill to open up and describe this. To instill confidence in me, they must have confidence themselves!
I think if a doctor give up, the doctor isn't in any position to help because they lack confidence in their own skill. How can any physician without confidence help someone bipolar? My mind is complete chaos sometimes, and I need a guiding light. A doctor who is flailing, and failing, can not be a guiding light for me.
Consider yourself firing your doctor – there is someone else out there who is better.
As this was my first visit to this doctor it may not fall under that rule, but that's interesting to know. Thanks.
In Canada, a doctor absolutely cannot "give up on you" in the sense of firing a patient. There are detailed guidelines regarding when and how a physician can fire a patient, and if they don't follow these guidelines, you can complain to your provincial college of medicine, and they will investigate and possibly censure that physician.