No doctor will ever get my respect like the woman in the ER who checked me for claws and fangs because I told her I was turning into a werewolf and could feel it and let me know gently that she couldn’t find any but that didnt make it feel any less real, like THATS how you do it, other doctors who just flat out told me I was wrong take notes
This is how you treat us!
i am reblogging this as someone who does not have delusions and often makes shitposts about werewolves, and i just want all my followers to know this is not a joke!
i am so glad you had this positive experience, and i hope this sort of kindness catches on with doctors and the general public.
Look when someone is in a confused or compromised state, no matter why,
and they are your medical charge,
it is vital to continue to treat them with dignity. Like that. Reassure them with visible practicalities that you acknowledge their fears, will not belittle them, and can show them facts to help them cope.
THAT is the proper compassion of a Healer.
Can I just add that, if you like me have delusions where everything bad that happens is your fault, the doctor shouldn’t be like “Yeah, you’re probably right” but try to reason with you in a respective way. OP’s doctor did it right, but some of the notes make it look like people think delusions must be agreed to always, when doing so can be detrimental to the person’s wellbeing
This is my favorite addition to this post because it’s true. When dealing with delusions you need to avoid the extremes - DO NOT tell the person flat out “you’re wrong”, “thats not real” or worst of all “you’re crazy.”
BUT DON’T ENCOURAGE THE DELUSION EITHER!
Let’s take my werewolf delusion, for example. Doctors who have flat out told me “that isn’t real” haven’t helped because for me it is real and no amount of you saying it isn’t will change my perception. It makes us feel alienated.But someone saying “You ARE transforming into a werewolf but i have a poition thatll stop it! :D” is just as dangerous because you’re furthering a delusion which could get someone hurt. its also manipulative. we’re psychotic, not children.
So what DO you do? Acknowledge that the situation is frightening. If possible, give them the objective facts (ie, i don’t see any monsters; your mom hasn’t said anything to make it seem like she’s going to kill you) while also acknowledging that for them, it is real. Most of all, ask what you can do to keep them comfortable and safe.
Sorry for the long addition but when I made this post it didn’t occur to me apsychotic people would look at it for advice on how to handle an actively delusional person. I’m glad it’s resonating with people, though
I remember when I told a doctor someone had replaced all the veins and arteries in my body with wires and I was no longer a person. she very gently checked me over for any wounds where they could have made the incisions to put the wires in, and took photos of the places on my phone to prove it. all the places I felt were the entry points were out of my sight, behind my ears and in my back and stuff. then she offered to get me an xray if they could fit me in, but it might take a while. I declined because I didnt want to take up space for people who need it, and honestly at this point I trusted her enough to tell me if I had wires. she brought my husband in and showed him how to check me over for wounds and wires, then she asked me if I had any questions. I went back into the waiting room, feeling like I wasn’t stupid and I felt much safer.
she came into the waiting room later to check if I was okay, and I felt safe, cared for, trusted and believed. she told my husband she put a psychiatrist on standby in case I got freaked out again, and told me she understands how I feel, and that she can’t see anything but she gets how scary it is for me and she’s on shift for a few hours and to ask for her by name if I need reassuring again.
I felt safe. I felt believed. that’s how you do it.
| Via: sabertoothwalrus |
