I had a moment earlier this week. As a professional, I know all the statistics on access to mental health care. As a patient, dealing with the Swedish (or any) system for my own ADHD medication is just soul-crushing.

They are requiring my fifth application because old notes are suddenly “not valid.” This isn’t just an administrative error; this is a systemic barrier to care.

This is the bureaucracy that stops people from getting well. It’s why waitlists are long. It’s why compliance is difficult. It’s why people with conditions like ADHD are forced to jump through endlessly frustrating hoops just to function.

We need to talk more about how these inefficient, outdated, and frankly, hostile healthcare systems actively undermine our mental well-being. My personal frustration is a symptom of a much bigger public health problem.

I’m a psychologist, and this is what I have to deal with. Imagine what someone without my resources and background faces.