Let me give you a little lesson on what not to do when dealing with someone with panic problems.
First, with ANY patient it’s a good idea to stay in the room until the patient has no more questions. I know you probably have quotas to fill, but surely you’ve been in a situation where you, or a loved one, has needed more information to make their lives better. Think of us as a family member-just one you don’t have to spend a lot of money on during the holidays.
Next, when you have a patient who says they have panic disorder, double that. Information is our power. It can make the difference between sitting at home and fretting and throwing up and crying to a peaceful existence.
When that patient then thinks your diagnosis doesn’t fit her problems, give us a little leeway.
But most importantly, when that same patient asks you what if it doesn’t get any better, what happens, the WORST thing you could ever say is that you’ll do some tests, not tell the patient which ones and then say, when probed for further information “I’m not going to tell you, you’ll just panic needlessly.”
A side note-when a patient says “that’s the least helpful thing you could say”, this is not your cue to rush out of the room faster than if the room were filled with anthrax powder.
I understand you might just be an eye doctor and totally unaware of mental illnesses, so I’ll give you a bit of leeway for that. But you are a person who deals with patients, and it’ll help you a lot if you have even a tiny bit of bedside manner.
Love,
Angie
