Body Dymorphism

I had an interesting chat with a psychiatrist during the my attachment in North Glasgow about this condition.  It came after our discussion on Rikki Lake Vampires and before we went onto how mental health is viewed in the media/society.  (That is, some mental health problems are more acceptable than others but that's another story)  So little is understood about this disorder.  The medical term is "body dysmorphic disorder".  Don't believe anyone who tells you different.  It's not at all glamorous or sexy.

"Documentary reveals "amputee wannabes"" [Daypop Top 40]

"Costing an Arm and a Leg
The victims of a growing mental disorder are obsessed with amputation.
By Carl Elliott

Baz remembers first seeing an amputee when he was a 4-year old boy in Liverpool. By the time he was 7 he had begun to think, "This is the way I should be." It was not until Baz was in his 50s, however, that he actually had his leg amputated. Baz froze his leg in dry ice until it was irreversibly damaged, then persuaded a surgeon to complete the job. When he awoke from the anesthetic and his left leg was gone, he says, "All my torment had disappeared."

Whole, a riveting new documentary by Melody Gilbert that recently premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival and will soon be shown at festivals in Calgary and London, is about an increasingly visible group of people who call themselves "amputee wannabes." Wannabes desperately wish to have their healthy limbs removed, and some have succeeded in having it done. Kevin, a university lecturer and one of several wannabes featured in the film, had his leg amputated by Robert Smith, a surgeon in Scotland who has amputated the legs of two otherwise healthy people. George Boyer shot his own leg off with a shotgun. Others have used chain saws and homemade guillotines. Why? Nobody really knows, including the wannabes themselves, who often say they have had the desire since they were children. "It's obviously peculiar," admits Kevin. "But knowing it is peculiar and saying it is weird does not do away with the problem."  ..."

6:21:40 PM    

G.P. receptionists.

I have been on both sides of the reception desk.  It does amaze me how rude people are to reception staff sometimes.   Collecting prescriptions and same day appointments seem to be the biggest trigger for a scence.  What irks more is the quick-change of attitude of patients the minute the doctor steps in oris even seen in the same room/hall.  At the G.P. practice I was rotated to, physical violence was a real problem/threat.  Some people really don't know what 48 hours means (turn-around for prescriptions).

No doubt there are some staff whose demeanour leaves a lot to be desired.  They treat university students without ceremony at my practice.  Now I live in my own flat in a nice postcode they are much more friendly.  Which is the way of things I guess. 

However, one should remember that when you visit your G.P. you may be concerned about your health, the health of a loved one, feeling ill/stressed/upset, any of a number of things which can make a business-like manner seem rude.  For me, it's parking that stresses me out.  Being kept waiting with a tetchy parking meter and wardens doing the rounds.   I now park and walk.  I am thinking about changing to a practice nearer to my flat, purely for parking and better surroundings.

GP staff 'trained to be cheerful'. Receptionists at GP surgeries are being sent on courses to make them more cheerful, after a surge in NHS complaints. [BBC News | Health | UK Edition]

"GP staff 'trained to be cheerful'

Receptionists at GP surgeries are being sent on courses to learn how to be nicer to patients. Health chiefs in Swansea are launching the courses after a surge in NHS complaints.  The courses aim to make receptionists more approachable and more cheerful. They will also be taught how to defuse difficult situations involving angry patients, according to a report in Doctor magazine.  A spokeswoman for Swansea Local Health Board said discussions are underway to decide what form the training will take. Powerful players GP receptionists are powerful players in the NHS, with many deciding who can and cannot see their doctor.  As a result, they often bear the brunt of patients' anger when they are not given immediate appointments. ..."

6:08:07 PM