Am I being paranoid? Help!

[quietpraiyze]

As a Bipolar I, I am currently doing “medication maintenance” for which I see a Psychiatric ANRP Nurse 4 times a year. The last time I was in to see her was about 1 1/2 months ago. I was looking good and feeling good because I had finally had some really good sleep thanks to a sleep machine I found on my own. I had been struggling for years with my sleep. Also I had a physical and labs done prior to my meeting with her and all my numbers were good. So I was feeling really good as I was answering her questions until she did this thing of asking me about my Sibling(s) out of the blue. I was taken a back and I felt ambushed by her. My response to her was, “we are fine”. I didn't understand why she would be asking me specifically about my Sibling(s) especially since one of them is deceased, or any of my relationships because I don't talk about my relationships with her.

I'm not there for counseling. I also mentioned to her how I was surprised that for the year I had only gained 2 pounds. I was just talking out of excitement. Well she didn't ask me right then and there but then later asked me how much I weighed. I told her I don't choose to share that. I think my response to her about my weight took her off guard. She seemed really seemed discombobulated that I would not give her that info. Ever since then the whole thing has been doing a slow burn on me. I felt like she took advantage of me being in a good mood and thought she would slip in questions on me. I feel violated by what she did. I feel like I shouldn't have to parcel out my private life for medications. Also my sleep is now off because I can't sleep with both a fan (because of the heat) and the noise machine. They're competing noises. So now I've been having lows and thinking this situation over. Am I being paranoid or over sensitive about what happened? Also I've never had a medical professional from MD to Psychiatrist ever try to pry into my private life and/or relationships. So I don't know what she's doing and what her motives are. Can I please get some honest feedback thanks....

 

[Petros2015]

Those sound like normal questions a psychiatrist might ask. Mine frequently asks general questions about how work is going, to get a gauge on how things are and how I am reacting to medications I am on.

 

[quietpraiyze]

Those sound like normal questions a psychiatrist might ask. Mine frequently asks general questions about how work is going, to get a gauge on how things are and how I am reacting to medications I am on.

She's not a Psychiatrist. I've had to deal with medical professionals including Psychiatrist all my adult life and I've NEVER had one ask me about my relationships...not...a...one.

 

[SkyWriting]

As a Bipolar I, I am currently doing “medication maintenance” for which I see a Psychiatric ANRP Nurse 4 times a year. The last time I was in to see her was about 1 1/2 months ago. I was looking good and feeling good because I had finally had some really good sleep thanks to a sleep machine I found on my own. I had been struggling for years with my sleep. Also I had a physical and labs done prior to my meeting with her and all my numbers were good. So I was feeling really good as I was answering her questions until she did this thing of asking me about my Sibling(s) out of the blue. I was taken a back and I felt ambushed by her. My response to her was, “we are fine”. I didn't understand why she would be asking me specifically about my Sibling(s) especially since one of them is deceased, or any of my relationships because I don't talk about my relationships with her.

I'm not there for counseling. I also mentioned to her how I was surprised that for the year I had only gained 2 pounds. I was just talking out of excitement. Well she didn't ask me right then and there but then later asked me how much I weighed. I told her I don't choose to share that. I think my response to her about my weight took her off guard. She seemed really seemed discombobulated that I would not give her that info. Ever since then the whole thing has been doing a slow burn on me. I felt like she took advantage of me being in a good mood and thought she would slip in questions on me. I feel violated by what she did. I feel like I shouldn't have to parcel out my private life for medications. Also my sleep is now off because I can't sleep with both a fan (because of the heat) and the noise machine. They're competing noises. So now I've been having lows and thinking this situation over. Am I being paranoid or over sensitive about what happened? Also I've never had a medical professional from MD to Psychiatrist ever try to pry into my private life and/or relationships. So I don't know what she's doing and what her motives are. Can I please get some honest feedback thanks....

Bipolar symptoms are intimately tied to both close relationships and physiological influences. If you are outside of "average" body mass for your age and height, this will influence the physical aspects of depression. Also depression can conversely effect weight. Having close ties with supportive family members is a great asset, and a poor relationship can send you spiraling into mood swings.

Your psychiatric nurse is evidently one of the good ones that is seeking to treat the whole person and not ignore your social health and physical health as well. Tell her everything. There is no worse thing than meeting with a "pill dispenser" who just wants to send you home with a new drug.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

I've had to deal with medical professionals including Psychiatrist all my adult life and I've NEVER had one ask me about my relationships...not...a...one.

Might have just been trying to have some simple conversation with you?

I think that we might have a little paranoia going on here.

M-Bob

 

[faroukfarouk]

Might have just been trying to have some simple conversation with you?

I think that we might have a little paranoia going on here.

M-Bob

Well, exactly.

 

[quietpraiyze]

Bipolar symptoms are intimately tied to both close relationships and physiological influences. If you are outside of "average" body mass for your age and height, this will influence the physical aspects of depression. Also depression can conversely effect weight. Having close ties with supportive family members is a great asset, and a poor relationship can send you spiraling into mood swings.

Your psychiatric nurse is evidently one of the good ones that is seeking to treat the whole person and not ignore your social health and physical health as well. Tell her everything. There is no worse thing than meeting with a "pill dispenser" who just wants to send you home with a new drug.

Before I respond to your post can you please tell me if you yourself are actually mentally ill or do you work in a Healthcare profession or are a nurse? Yes it matters...

 

[SkyWriting]

Before I respond to your post can you please tell me if you yourself are actually mentally ill or do you work in a Healthcare profession or are a nurse? Yes it matters...

My sister has experienced bipolar symptoms all her life likely affected by childhood sexual abuse and had a number of years of therapy. She is an RN, my mother is a career RN and my brother succeeded in suicide at 17 and had not yet been diagnosed as bi-polar, but in hindsight, there were signs. I hope all that background helps your situation.

 

[SkyWriting]

She's not a Psychiatrist. I've had to deal with medical professionals including Psychiatrist all my adult life and I've NEVER had one ask me about my relationships...not...a...one.

There are many poor examples of western medicine that
ignore the social aspects of healthcare.

 

[quietpraiyze]

My sister has experienced bipolar symptoms all her life likely affected by childhood sexual abuse and had a number of years of therapy. She is an RN, my mother is a career RN and my brother succeeded in suicide at 17 and had not yet been diagnosed as bi-polar, but in hindsight, there were signs. I hope all that background helps your situation.

I am so sorry to hear that you have/had family members who are Bipolar especially when it's undiagnosed. That's so painful especially considering how hard of an illness Bipolar is. So many of us go through hell before we come out on the other side. I've been living with Bipolar and meds for 36 years, all my adult life. I am presently 56 years old. I've had a lot of losses including relationships from family, friends, and “church”. While certain experiences were initially very painful, I now have a very good life, even if to outsiders it seems very solitary, it's really not. It took me years to know that some people and some personalities are actually a trigger for me. It's been a long haul but I finally managed to get most of the toxic people out of my life. The quieter my life got, the healthier I got. Now I have a great deal of peace and I don't want someone trying to project their life philosophy onto me because in their mind they think “social” activity is key to a healthy life. That's not true for everybody.

I've lived a life of always being there for other people. It feels good now to just be there for me. I also don't feel I need someone's approval, acceptance, or validation especially when they didn't go through all those losses with me and I'm not asking. God was the person with me and He healed me from those former hurts. As a result, I don't feel the need to go over all that again. I don't “revisit”. There are A LOT of so called mental health professionals out there who think they are “omniscient” but they're not. They think they know what's best for any given mentally ill person but they don't. I'm not a child and I feel the “social” life I have or don't have should be respected because it's by my choice. Especially at the age I'm at now. No one knows me better than me except God and He is the only one I depend on. For me I think that's the way it's supposed to be. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I do appreciate it and I really mean that.

 

[SkyWriting]

I am so sorry to hear that you have/had family members who are Bipolar especially when it's undiagnosed. That's so painful especially considering how hard of an illness Bipolar is. So many of us go through hell before we come out on the other side. I've been living with Bipolar and meds for 36 years, all my adult life. I am presently 56 years old. I've had a lot of losses including relationships from family, friends, and “church”. While certain experiences were initially very painful, I now have a very good life, even if to outsiders it seems very solitary, it's really not. It took me years to know that some people and some personalities are actually a trigger for me. It's been a long haul but I finally managed to get most of the toxic people out of my life. The quieter my life got, the healthier I got. Now I have a great deal of peace and I don't want someone trying to project their life philosophy onto me because in their mind they think “social” activity is key to a healthy life. That's not true for everybody.

I've lived a life of always being there for other people. It feels good now to just be there for me. I also don't feel I need someone's approval, acceptance, or validation especially when they didn't go through all those losses with me and I'm not asking. God was the person with me and He healed me from those former hurts. As a result, I don't feel the need to go over all that again. I don't “revisit”. There are A LOT of so called mental health professionals out there who think they are “omniscient” but they're not. They think they know what's best for any given mentally ill person but they don't. I'm not a child and I feel the “social” life I have or don't have should be respected because it's by my choice. Especially at the age I'm at now. No one knows me better than me except God and He is the only one I depend on. For me I think that's the way it's supposed to be. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I do appreciate it and I really mean that.

People are, at the core, social creatures.
So her interest in your social life as well
as physical and family health is important
and connected to your request for help from
her. Including your response to her questions.

 

[quietpraiyze]

People are, at the core, social creatures.
So her interest in your social life as well
as physical and family health is important
and connected to your request for help from
her. Including your response to her questions.

My academic background is in a particular Social Science. People are individuals so the whole "people are, at the core, social creatures" stuff doesn't wash with me. That's just textbook ideology and pigeonholing. Also as I stated, I'm just doing medication maintenance which include labs. I'm not doing Counseling which would actually be someone else's dept. as clearly outlined by their own agency. I'm also under the care of an MD for my physical health and he doesn't cross boundaries.