Share review of Dr Saalim Mirza MRCPsych

Dr Saalim Mirza MRCPsych 2022-07-01 Person 5 5 0

I had the pleasure of seeing this polite psychiatrist for a follow-up. I have to say it was a very positive, fruitful and reassuring experience that I have ever had with a doctor in a long time. I have been suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, mood swings, self-harming etc. for what feels like my entire life, and for the first time this doctor took the time to really listen to me and to apply his medical knowledge to help me understand and make sense of my symptoms and experiences, and reach a diagnosis that finally seems to explain everything I have got. I feel that other professionals that I have encountered have been in hurry to pass on a diagnosis to me without going deeper into the details of my history. I had been varyingly diagnosed with depression, anxiety, panic disorder, emotionally unstable/borderline personality disorder and even psychosis by various professionals, but they all gave me antidepressants that never helped. It was Dr Mirza who identified that I may actually be suffering from complex PTSD because of childhood trauma that I have faced, and suggested that I should try mood stabilisers after carefully examining the patterns of my mood swings. He was very sensitive and empathetic throughout the process. I also felt that he was very honest as he did not sell the medication as a magic cure, but rather explained to me openly and honestly that there was a chance they may not work or may only work partially but we will only know unless we try. He is also the first person who has referred me for trauma focussed psychotherapy on the basis that my condition is likely to respond best to a combination of medication and talking therapy rather than medication alone. I left the appointment feeling relieved, positive, and hopeful. Although I have just started my treatment and it is still early days, the relief I feel simply by knowing that I have been listened to and my problems have been understood, has been worth it. It gives me a lot of hope for my recovery in the future. I am really grateful to Dr Mirza and will gladly recommend him to anyone who has a complex mental health problem.