Dr. John Skulstad, MD

I am Bi Polar. I was diagnosed 20 years ago, and have been on the exact same medication for the entire time. I was looking for a psychiatrist for Medication Management. It means you haven’t fallen off the deep end, and your medication is still working. You meet twice a year for 30 minutes to assess your stability. After 60 minutes of our FIRST meeting, he stated I wasn’t Bi Polar, and should not be on one of my three medications. Over two years he never explained why I wasn’t Bi Polar. No need to explain. His diagnosis was correct. He never explained to me why I should continue with the two remaining medications. If I’m not Bi Polar, why any medication? He continued to prescribe all three medications over my two years, but always hinted I shouldn’t be on his targeted medication. I wasn’t Bi Polar. It was crazy. He called to tell me he was quitting his private practice. Now, I don’t need to listen, smile, or acquiesce. My new doctor gets it.

I was a minor, so my dad had control over where I went. I clearly said many times throughout an entire year that Dr.Skulstad made me uncomfortable, but he would convince my dad to make me continue. Dr. Skulstad would stare at me continuously and ask me repeated questions that I expressed made me uncomfortable. He would watch me sleep when I would try to use it to escape the session. I only was able to leave because I was “allowed” a few month break and never went back. This experience was genuinely traumatizing for me.