Thank you for reading my story. The fact that psychiatry takes normal human emotions and turns them into ‘disorders’ says a lot about how psychiatry is run. And yes, more people need to share their story.
I think there’s a real thread here about how systems of care can shift into control when they’re driven by procedure, liability, and compliance over lived experience. At the same time, I’m careful about collapsing everyone working inside those systems into a single category. Both the harm and the complexity are real.
What you’re describing highlights a gap that doesn’t get talked about enough. The space between policy, paperwork, and what happens inside institutions. In crisis situations, “staying in your lane” can stop making sense very quickly. That gap deserves scrutiny, not silence.
@topher That’s a concern I’ve run into repeatedly. Once something makes it into a guideline, it can take on an aura of unquestionable truth. Yet evidence should always be open to scrutiny, especially when real people are experiencing harm. The conversation shouldn’t end with “it’s in the guideline.” That’s where the conversation should begin.
For me it was really easy to get them. I just called the hospital, my primary doc and the two psych docs that ‘treated’ me and requested them. I was able to access my records as far back as 1989. They were in hardcopy format, so I had to pick them up. One of the docs was going to charge me, but then didn’t. There was no charge for any of them. If I remember correctly, it took a few weeks to get them all.
Legally, they have to allow you to access them. There are some records that can be withheld. For example, if it puts the patient ‘at risk’, or for legal reasons, but I don’t know much about that.
I also think it’s important for everyone in or out of the mental health system to be able to access their records.
Thank you for reading my story. The fact that psychiatry takes normal human emotions and turns them into ‘disorders’ says a lot about how psychiatry is run. And yes, more people need to share their story.
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I think there’s a real thread here about how systems of care can shift into control when they’re driven by procedure, liability, and compliance over lived experience. At the same time, I’m careful about collapsing everyone working inside those systems into a single category. Both the harm and the complexity are real.
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What you’re describing highlights a gap that doesn’t get talked about enough. The space between policy, paperwork, and what happens inside institutions. In crisis situations, “staying in your lane” can stop making sense very quickly. That gap deserves scrutiny, not silence.
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@topher That’s a concern I’ve run into repeatedly. Once something makes it into a guideline, it can take on an aura of unquestionable truth. Yet evidence should always be open to scrutiny, especially when real people are experiencing harm. The conversation shouldn’t end with “it’s in the guideline.” That’s where the conversation should begin.
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Psychiatry often presents itself as science, but lived experience doesn’t always fit neatly into diagnostic categories and paperwork.
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Sorry you went through all of that. I don’t think there should be a charge for our medical records. Why does everything have to be a money grab?
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Hi Miranda,
Thanks for reading and asking questions.
For me it was really easy to get them. I just called the hospital, my primary doc and the two psych docs that ‘treated’ me and requested them. I was able to access my records as far back as 1989. They were in hardcopy format, so I had to pick them up. One of the docs was going to charge me, but then didn’t. There was no charge for any of them. If I remember correctly, it took a few weeks to get them all.
Legally, they have to allow you to access them. There are some records that can be withheld. For example, if it puts the patient ‘at risk’, or for legal reasons, but I don’t know much about that.
I also think it’s important for everyone in or out of the mental health system to be able to access their records.
I wish you luck in your pursuit – keep me posted!
Take care. Jules
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