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Dealing with Mental Health Professionals
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Hi all.
In need of some advice.
I mentioned this before, maybe in the hug thread I can't remember. Anyway long story short.
I've had a long history of depression and self harm since I was about 15 and I first started treatment when I was 17/18 in the form of medication and counselling. I've studied, lived abroad, done a lot of things since then (I'm now 25) and I've had some issues with drugs and alcohol all intertwined with this. A few years ago I was in France and began seeing a private psychi who gave me mood stabilisers, ads and seds at the time I was having an awful breakdown. She mentioned biploar to me and honestly I was very dismissive. Fast forward to the start of this year and I had been off meds for around 9 months and in long term therapy for just over a year. I started feeling really really off and I went to see a GP ( I was back in France) and went back on the mood stabilisers and seds. Lots of discussions with my therpaist about probably being somewhere on the bi ploar spectrum. There was a bit of a rocky patch and I came back to the UK. Went into the NHS system and 5/6 months after I started I got my first therapy appointment. Then I went to see my GP as I felt my medication wasn't really working anymore and I wanted to change it. She told me I needed to go for a psychiatric assessment. This is the first time the 7 years anyone has suggested this but obviously I went and basically I'm really unhappy with the feedback from it. The psychi has blamed my moods on my choice of lifestyle, says theres nothing wrong with me and says I should stop the mood stabilisers. She says I've taken too many meds in the past and I drink too much still even though I've cut down and stopped the drugs. I do not feel remotely good about this decision, it scares me as things were really catastrophic at the start of the year and I really believe the meds are key in stabilising my moods, I am doing CBT as well but as far as this psychi is concerned therapy will sort me out and I don't need the meds.
I just feel like I've met this woman once and I think she just didn't believe me. The timing is horrible too as I've just finished work so unemployed and rattling around the house.
I just don't know where this leaves me now. They've discharged me and I only get a limited about of CBT sessions, supposed to be 6 and I've already had 5 (although I think he will add on a few more and still work to do). So after that I'm just left with no support whatsoever.
The fact is I have put a lot into what I can do to make things better and I'm devastated more by the fact that she says this is just the way I am, and the fact that I lead a relatively normal life means I'm just ok. I just don't know what to do.
Thanks for reading, any advice welcomed.
In need of some advice.
I mentioned this before, maybe in the hug thread I can't remember. Anyway long story short.
I've had a long history of depression and self harm since I was about 15 and I first started treatment when I was 17/18 in the form of medication and counselling. I've studied, lived abroad, done a lot of things since then (I'm now 25) and I've had some issues with drugs and alcohol all intertwined with this. A few years ago I was in France and began seeing a private psychi who gave me mood stabilisers, ads and seds at the time I was having an awful breakdown. She mentioned biploar to me and honestly I was very dismissive. Fast forward to the start of this year and I had been off meds for around 9 months and in long term therapy for just over a year. I started feeling really really off and I went to see a GP ( I was back in France) and went back on the mood stabilisers and seds. Lots of discussions with my therpaist about probably being somewhere on the bi ploar spectrum. There was a bit of a rocky patch and I came back to the UK. Went into the NHS system and 5/6 months after I started I got my first therapy appointment. Then I went to see my GP as I felt my medication wasn't really working anymore and I wanted to change it. She told me I needed to go for a psychiatric assessment. This is the first time the 7 years anyone has suggested this but obviously I went and basically I'm really unhappy with the feedback from it. The psychi has blamed my moods on my choice of lifestyle, says theres nothing wrong with me and says I should stop the mood stabilisers. She says I've taken too many meds in the past and I drink too much still even though I've cut down and stopped the drugs. I do not feel remotely good about this decision, it scares me as things were really catastrophic at the start of the year and I really believe the meds are key in stabilising my moods, I am doing CBT as well but as far as this psychi is concerned therapy will sort me out and I don't need the meds.
I just feel like I've met this woman once and I think she just didn't believe me. The timing is horrible too as I've just finished work so unemployed and rattling around the house.
I just don't know where this leaves me now. They've discharged me and I only get a limited about of CBT sessions, supposed to be 6 and I've already had 5 (although I think he will add on a few more and still work to do). So after that I'm just left with no support whatsoever.
The fact is I have put a lot into what I can do to make things better and I'm devastated more by the fact that she says this is just the way I am, and the fact that I lead a relatively normal life means I'm just ok. I just don't know what to do.
Thanks for reading, any advice welcomed.
0
Comments
who is providing the CBT? it sounds like it's IAPT as it's only 6 sessions but i could be wrong. do you have it at a doctor's surgery (rather than at a specialist MH service)?
and have you spoken to your GP since the psychiatrist suggested stopping your medication?
yeh sure. yeh its IAPT. I have it at the MH centre but its not part of their service, I could have it anywhere. hes really nice. he actually agrees with me that they dont care because i'm high functioning.
I haven't spoken to my GP no. She wouldn't change my meds as "I know nothing about these kind of drugs" so I know she'll go by the psychi recommendation.
sad face.
Im sorry to hear that things are all bit confusing for you at the moment. Would you be able to go and get a second opinion from another professional, it my be worth speaking to your G.P and explaining how you are feeling, they may be able to refer you onto someone else ?
It is good to hear that your feeling a real benefit from the CBT and im sure again if you explain this to your G.P they may look into extending this or look into alternative or similar services.
Keep posting and let us know how you are getting on !:wave:
Tc,
B.:thumb:
ok well what i would do is ask your IAPT therapist to write a letter to your GP recommending that you have further intervention after the current CBT is finished. next time you go to your GP they should have had the discharge letter from the CMHT so they should know what has happened. explain that you didn't get the outcome that you were hoping for in the assessment appointment and that you have discussed it with the IAPT therapist and that you really would like to be re-referred, and that you'd like the assessment to be with a different member of staff this time. also mention that you don't want your medication changed at this time. the GP really shouldn't take any recommendations from the psychiatrist who saw you for a single appointment only, and that might be worth pointing out. if that doesn't work then as miss riot says you should get in touch with PALS.
it's really horrible having to fight for the help you need when everything is so hard anyway. but you can do it, just don't take no for an answer. x
i'm just so exhausted and so depressed i can barely summon the energy to get out of bed. i made it to therapy yesterday though and spoke to my therapist and hes gonna extend by at least another 6 sessions. i have an appt with my GP next week (shes away this week) so will talk to her then i guess. so hard.
Sorry to hear that you are feeling exhausted and low on energy, this could be due to the fact that the weather is still changing and getting colder which can make it more difficult and feel less motivated to get out of bed !
It is great that you have been offered another six sessions of CBT, it will be good to have a chat to your G.P next week and talk things over with her.
Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.
Tc,
B:thumb:
Hay
Tell me who is providing the CBT? it sounds like it's IAPT as it's only 6 sessions but i could be wrong. do you have it at a doctor's surgery (rather than at a specialist MH service)?
and have you spoken to your GP since the psychiatrist suggested stopping your medication.