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Substance specialist(?)?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
So, I'm not sure if this should go here or in the tumbleweed forum. But I'm sure someone will move it if I've got it wrong. :)

Asking on behalf of somebody who needs it - how do you go about getting professional help with drink and drug dependency? I know literally nothing about this kinda area of counselling (if it is a form of counselling?) and have no idea where to begin. So any help at all would be appreciated. :) Not looking in to free helplines or anything like that by the way, or talking to FRANK. Something more 1-2-1 and higher calibre.

Thank you!

Comments

  • Starry nightStarry night Posts: 674 Incredible Poster
    I know universities do drug/alcohol related counselling with specialists, someone would probably get themselves referred by a GP though. In my experience getting counselling for -another reason though- was easy, and the therapy was good.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I know universities do drug/alcohol related counselling with specialists, someone would probably get themselves referred by a GP though. In my experience getting counselling for -another reason though- was easy, and the therapy was good.

    Thanks for the info, Starry. Seeing a GP sounds like a good step. I guess I just need the fastest way of getting to see a professional. Would we be looking for a drink and drug specialist?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You can self refer to your local service or ask your gp to refer you
  • Starry nightStarry night Posts: 674 Incredible Poster
    The fastest way would be through the GP, although the speed with which you'll be seen varies massively depending on where someone lives. You could ask for therapy specifically related to drugs/alcohol, so that could be a therapist with quite alot of patient experience in that area, or it could be a place that is specifically for those issues. I feel I should warn you to not get your hopes up though, it can take a long time sometimes. I think university services are the best way to go. You could go independently and look online for therapists in the area, but that could be very expensive. Good luck with it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru

    Thank you - don't suppose you know the local service for York?
    The fastest way would be through the GP, although the speed with which you'll be seen varies massively depending on where someone lives. You could ask for therapy specifically related to drugs/alcohol, so that could be a therapist with quite alot of patient experience in that area, or it could be a place that is specifically for those issues. I feel I should warn you to not get your hopes up though, it can take a long time sometimes. I think university services are the best way to go. You could go independently and look online for therapists in the area, but that could be very expensive. Good luck with it.

    Thank you again Starry. I may keep you posted via pm. :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Some areas you can self refer. I know my area I self referred to alcohol service also same as drug and alcohol service and I was offered an appt within the week it all varies at different places but have a look on the Nhs website they have services and numbers on there :)


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  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I know what u mean by not wanting any helpline to speak to about this and u feel u need longer term help and they can only really listen to u and maybe give u support but dont know if it's something it particularly interested in.

    Have u thought about any self help groups to attend to? They arnt like a one to one but they are with other people who have the same problem and can help and support u and ur local branch what help people in ur condition can be something aswell two. That should good? Or I can think of referring urself to your GP and them getting in touch with a service on behalf of Substance Misuse. Maybe that's better for if it looking for one to one.

    There's more help on The Site website if u still need help. There's an article I think on alcohol and drugs so that might be useful for u. Hope that helps :) I'm here if u wanna talk :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Going through a GP would probably take you ages because they're generally rubbish and just wanna pump you full of legal substances to shut you up and get you out of the surgery as quickly as they can.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    GP would be a good starting point. Helplines may also be able to point you towards local specialised services. Alcoholics Annoymous and the narcotics version are probably also worth looking into.

    The person needs to want help though.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I second AA and NA...it's not something that'll work if you don't want to get better yet, but it's worth turning up for a session to see what it's about. It's helped a lot of my family and friends begin to sort things out.

    http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/addictions.html .. This is a directory of counsellors that specialise in addiction therapy, and to which one can self-refer. It's worth seeing the GP as well though, and to be referred via him/her as well, to see which offers most help with the smallest waiting time.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I thought GP would be good step to make or going to an group therapy class who specialise with this. Worth finding out more. You could go onto Connexions.co.uk and find out what local classes they do in it area but u can go onto your location and type in what ur looking for.

    I don't know if u would get anywhere with finding out if u can get self referred to a service in it area so I think the best bet is to go through it GP and even if takes weeks to get u in touch with someone u know u are getting support. You just need to talk to it GP and say what the problem is to them and they will be helpful and considerate towards u so don't feel like I can't go there.

    How u feeling in urself? You know what's best for u and that's what's more important. You seem to be doing the right things so keep going. I'm here if u wanna talk :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Personally, I don't think GP's will help at all. They will not support you. And maybe star20, weeks is too long for that person to wait.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Lily19 wrote: »
    Personally, I don't think GP's will help at all. They will not support you. And maybe star20, weeks is too long for that person to wait.

    What do you have against GPs?? They try to do the best they can with limited resources. And anything they can offer is better than nothing/
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I've just had personal bad experiences with them. I have visited every single GP in the surgery where I live and they have all been absolutely useless, it took me about 3 GP visits to be referred to the psychiatric hospital where I live who sent me back to the GP for anti-depressants. After countless more visits because my meds weren't making a difference because I abuse drugs and telling them this is why they weren't working and that I needed counselling or some kind of professional help they just keep upping my dose and tell me to get further help in 2 months when I leave for university. This is not doing the best that they can offer and it is why I have something against GPs because they just keep pumping me full of pills to get me off there hands and telling me starting Zumba classes will cure my depression.
  • Starry nightStarry night Posts: 674 Incredible Poster
    Lily19 wrote: »
    Personally, I don't think GP's will help at all. They will not support you. And maybe star20, weeks is too long for that person to wait.

    GP's are a mixed bag- I have had some truly lovely GP's who helped me get help, and some who were dismissive and rude- but it isn't helpful to dismiss them altogether. GP's have the access to a large wealth of resources and therapy. I'd strongly advise anyone to at least try a few times with different GP's,, even though it can be a really daunting and draining task. If a few weeks is too much, and the large majority of places will take weeks, in the meantime someone would have to take action to take some level of control over their issues, for example setting targets, rules, maybe giving themselves time off really stressful activities and just do what's absolutely necessary. Personally, when there was a time when my house was chaos and there was no way of going anywhere,and weeks before any sort of therapy, I did my exam/coursework stuff and kept everything else to the minimum. Weeks is a long time, but make an action plan of how to cope just in case. The best thing I can think of is for a person to be compassionate to themselves and do what they would do for someone else, everyone deserves to be looked after, so look after yourself etc.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hey Mike,

    Any luck on services in your area?!

    Give us a shout if you need some help looking just drop us a PM :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    BlondieLiz wrote: »
    Hey Mike,

    Any luck on services in your area?!

    Give us a shout if you need some help looking just drop us a PM :)

    Yes, I think I've got a plan down now. Thank you so much for all your help. :) You wonderful people.
  • **helen****helen** Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
    Yep, moving this - it's helpful for people looking for specific drugs advice that wouldn't think of it as 'health' as such... :)

    Also, your last thread in there wasn't tumbleweed...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    **helen** wrote: »
    Yep, moving this - it's helpful for people looking for specific drugs advice that wouldn't think of it as 'health' as such... :)

    Also, your last thread in there wasn't tumbleweed...

    Okay, thanks. :) And, fair point...
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