Question:
For those who have taken the psych eval, I need help on a question.
My psych eval is scheduled for next Wednesday, Nov 6th. I really wish that I didn't have to have it since my insurance doesn't require it, but the surgeon does. Anyways, today I received a questionaire in the mail to bring with me. One of the questions is "I believe my compulsive overeating is mostly connected to: a) traumatic events in my life, which I do not fully understand. b) traumatic events in my life which I understand & am dealing with. c) a lack of willpower. d) a physical problem such as thyroid, genetics, etc. e) a psychological problem such as depression or anxiety. f) an addiction much like alcoholism. I do not have any traumatic events in my life & I am not I depressed (well, I am as much as any other morbidly obese person) so I would think the answer would be an addiction, but I also thought about lack of willpower. What do ya'll think would be the best answer? Thanks!! — Lori M. (posted on November 1, 2001)
November 1, 2001
Shrinks are such a rip off....
But since you have to give an answer, my "guess" would be
"C" as WLS will certainly help with will power. Or possibly
"B". I tell you these shrinks think they know so much but often
they just make mountains out of mole hills.
Whatever you do, don't volunteer any more info on anything than you have
to. And blow sunshine up their butts and tell them whatever it is you think
they want to hear. If you answer something wrong they will string you along
for more money...
I'm curious what others on this list think is the right answer.
— Danmark
November 1, 2001
i would say answer what you think is the closest to the truth...i had a
nice shrink and if its the surgeons request and not the insurance i don't
think you have anything to worry about..just be as honest as you can.
my dad always said if your honest you won't get "caught with your
pants down" jacki
— Jackiis
November 1, 2001
I would definitely NOT pick "c". If you are going to get
insurance to cover you, a medical problem would be best. I have my own
shrink so I didn't have to worry... I would go with "b" or
"e". At least with those, it sounds like you are being
proactive. They may cover it if they feel you are working with
professionals for these issues. That's just my opinion. Hope it helps.
— Janet C.
November 1, 2001
Well, I wish I had the right answer for you. I can only tell you what I
would do. First off, all the answers seem like they're trick answers to a
trick question. If it's traumatic events, they'll say you need therapy and
the weight will melt off. If it's a lack of willpower than you're destined
to ruin the surgery. If it's your thyroid or genetics, then medication
will cure your weight issue and if it's genetics...then your doomed. If
it's depression or anxiety--out comes the anti-depressants. I can't really
see a right answer and no matter how you answer, you're bound to be boxed
in to one of the corners where all you can say is "I didn't mean it
that way." My only suggestion would be to keep the question blank.
When you go to see the psychiatrist, tell him/her that non of these answers
really apply to you (I'm assuming they don't because if any of them did,
you would have answered it already). I would tell the psychiatrist that
these choices are typically discriminatory towards the morbidly obese and
where's F.) I just don't get full as quickly. ??? G.) I crave things like
sugar--this surgery would help avoid those type of foods due to fear of the
stomach police (dumping). H.) I ate a lot and all of a sudden I realized
how heavy I became, and the idea of losing 200 lbs seemed too BIG (no pun)
to imagine overcoming that with Jenny Craig. I wish I could give you the
magic answer, unfortunately I can't. But, either way I wish you the best
of luck.
— Kristin R.
November 1, 2001
Addiction use addiction trust me!
I did and I'm 3 weeks post op
D
— Dollie G.
November 1, 2001
Hi Lori,
well I've been there (the physic visit) and addiction ...were all in the
same boat ..we need this tool (WLS) to help us be able to free ourselfs
from this addiction ...and so with the tool of WLS god wiling were going to
have a new lease on a good quility of life .good luck ....mary ellen
— Mary Ellen Y.
November 1, 2001
Hi Lori, I am getting my psych eval ten days after you, but luckily I have
known my psych since I was in the 6th grade. I already went to her office
and said "will you do my psych eval?" and she said yes and
doesn't seem to have a problem with it. The suregeon I am going to have is
in California though (I am in FL), and I talked to the psychiatrist that he
regularly uses. I told him how nervous everyone is about getting psych
evals and he seemed surprised. He said at least for him, a big part of the
psych eval is for him to figure out whether or not you are going to take
care of yourself postop. He said sometimes people who shouldn't have the
surgery get approved, and then plague some other doctor's office because
they are too depressed to do what it takes to take care of himself/herself.
He said he looks for borderline personality and bipolar disorder in
particular. Even though I am fairly confident my psych will write me a
good eval, I am worried about what to say too, especially in regards to the
questions you mentioned. Why do I overeat? It would take me less time to
tell you why I don't overeat, lol. As for the willpower, you know, I think
the MO underestimate their will power. How many of us have dieted and had
success only to gain it all back and more? We have will power, it just
seems like the amount it takes to sustain weightloss is more than is
possible for us (and most people unless you're Richard Simmons or Susan
Powter). For me personally, I am tired of feeling like a failure. I did
Phen/Fen 3 different times (starting at 9 years old) and always did really
well (usually lost 50 pounds or more), and I have lost a modest amount of
weight starving and exercising like a maniac... but no one can live like
that. I think I'd go with the addiction answer. I already said it that
way to my psych and qualified it with "yes, I know after surgery I
will need to find other outlets for the emotions, mostly stress and
boredom, which led to my addictive behavior towards food... and I think by
losing weight it will give me many more options for healthy and
constructive outlets like [insert something you'd like to do but can't
because you're overweight here, lol]". By the way, the psychiatrist I
spoke to in California who does these on a regular basis also said that he
very rarely ever saw anyone denied on the basis of their psychological
evaluation... that made me breathe a little easier. Good luck, Lori! :)
— [Deactivated Member]
November 1, 2001
Wow that sucks! The nerve of those people... you know not all obese people
are "compulsive" overeaters, there body just needs more calories
to keep it going! Sheesh... but I would agree with most people with answer
f! It's not lack of willpower, I'm sure like the rest of us you have tried
everything and the fact that you are pursuing WLS shows nothing but
willpower and the desire to get your life together. Good luck and keep us
posted!
— Deborah W.
November 1, 2001
I would leave the answer blank or make up one that is none of the above.
Make them ask you about the question and tell them your concerns about
being put into one catagory. Let's face it people do not become obese just
because of one reason it is a combination of reasones you could answer all
of the above too.
— blank first name B.
November 3, 2001
The answer means nothing so don't worry about it, it's a bridge to open the
conversation to that area for the psychologist without startling you in the
exam .Unless your really mess up this to begin with mentally you have no
reason to be concerned no matter what you answer. To me this was a big scam
part of the whole process .The sad truth is, after all is said and done the
psych exam is a "cover my behind" act that your surgeon does for
his malpractice insurance company and is based on the very basic
standardizes packaged personality test they give in high schools with a
couple of weight /self image questions tossed in, unless you are a total
raving lunatic drooling on yourself in the office you'll pass with flying
color and you will be fine because the results are less important than the
fact you had the exam.
Most are personality tests posing as psychology test while you chat briefly
with the psychologist .
After seeing the type of generic test it was and knowing the results meant
nothing I gave the test to my wife to fill out at the Doctors office while
I did other paperwork and wasted 100 bucks on the needless exam so some
insurance companies legal dept. bean counter is happy.
— [Anonymous]
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