How do you deal with mental health professionals canceling last minute?

[SimplyWandering]

So i go to an organization that helps people with mental disabilities/disorders with mental health professionals ( Psychiatrist and social worker) as well as with a job coach and lifecare assistant ( helps you get the things done that you might struggle with on your own, such as bills). Sometimes I get my appointments cancelled and it frustrates me. Sometimes i only get a notification that day that my appointment was canceled ( and I've already traveled to the location) and literally Ruins my day! I get upset and then take my anger out unintentionally by raising my voice.

I don't want to be upset but it is usually a compound of feelings ( like i an already pissed off about something else and then this happens)...

How do you deal with situations like these?

 

[Pats]

Personally I'm always happy when the other person cancels appointments. But I know what you mean - you are counting on them. When these people cancel I think it's important that they make a phone call and see how you are and if they need to squeeze you in the next day or so. But these people are just people and get sick like we do, or have unplanned events. It would be doubly frustrating if you weren't aware until you arrived, though. That's rude. The way I usually handle it would be a bit different, though. Since I'm usually relieved, I thank them and say next month is fine.

 

[Graphin]

I remember, I had a damn important appointment - suddenly nobody is there and responding, lights were on no secretary door closed. he came out after 40 minutes.

 

[Fino]

I hate them for a while, think about or actually change to someone else or stop going at all, and if I didn't actually change or can change back, I get over it eventually and it's like it never happened.

Until it happens again.

 

[Gracey]

If I was a witch I’d be casting spells and hexing them to break out in boils or something similarly nasty

But I’m not,
So initially I’d feel irritated and disappointed that a person I Was depending on, let me down,
messed up my routine,
caused more work for me - arranging another visit.
and so on.

How do I deal with it?
Clean.
- if It’s still for long enough, it gets scrubbed.
Channeling the ‘peed- off’ energy into a physical chore.


That raising of your voice ?
Transfer it to paper,
Write down all and everything you’d like to shout at the person in that moment.
Again, redirecting that build up of energy and frustration.

There’s only you that will read it.
You can shred or burn the piece of paper once you’ve got your rant out of your system.
Really let go and enjoy yourself.


I look forward to the day I can accept folk letting me down, calmly,
But it is not this day

My frustration isn’t going to evaporate, I haven’t imagined it, it’s real and it’s happening.
I just need to release it in a ‘people-friendly’ way.

After all that, telephone or email to arrange another appointment calmly and like nothing ever happened

 

[SusanLR]

I"ve had it happen several times with my therapist.
They expect us to give 24 hour cancelations notice or pay a fine.
But, they wait until you're on your way or already there? Are they mightier than us? Of course.
And they know it.
When I've had this happen, it just so happens my therapist is in a small town setting on the edge of the
city. I get annoyed, but, I like the area so I use the time to just get out and walk, shop vintage stores
or go to a big park by the bay nearby. So, I look at it as a time to be out in an area I like instead of
getting too upset.

The one that really was rude was a cardiologist appointment in a big medical building.
I checked in for my appointment and was told to take a seat.
After an hour of just sitting there, I went back to the desk and someone different was there.
I ask what was happening as I had waited an hour and no one called me in.
She said they had called several days earlier and left a voice mail that I was rescheduled as that doctor
would not be there that day. They had even set the new appointment up.
I told her there was no voice mail. Why did they let me sit there an hour knowing this?
If I had not come in I would never have known the new appointment date and would have missed it
and been fined $25.00 for missing it!

We left a message was her reply. No you didn't! was my reply.
I came back on the new appointment day and as I left from seeing the doctor,
I told the receptionist you owe me $25.00.

Huh, what?

You fine me if I am late or miss an appointment, but, to let me come in and sit for an hour
when the doctor wasn't here the other day is OK?
Walked out and found another doctor.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

There’s only you that will read it.
You can shred or burn the piece of paper once you’ve got your rant out of your system.
Really let go and enjoy yourself.

What about leaving a legacy?

Go under the floorboards so some future great-great Gracey relatives can come across them.
You'd become a legend from beyond the grave.

All the best ranters should be discovered after they are dead

 

[Gracey]

What about leaving a legacy?

Go under the floorboards so some future great-great Gracey relatives can come across them

They’d need a glossary to accompany the pages...
... and a strong constitution.

Even I don’t know some of what I’ve scribbled in fury.

Works for me though

 

[Tony Ramirez]

Don't care been going to therapy since I was 18 waste of time can stay at home doing nothing but sleeping.

‎Ambient Sleep by The Sleep Factory