Mental health doc needed?
Hey there everyone, kind of looknig for some advice. I've been dealing with mental health stuff since I was an adlut-honestly, it's really tough and sometimes feels like I'm just floating through life without much connection to the world around me.
You know, my childhood wasn't super great. My mom had a serious drinking problem and dealt with her own mental health issues, and my dad pretty much disappeared from my life when I was young. I ended up in foster care for a bit but eventually went back home to live with my mum again. It's been one of those rollercoaster rides full of highs and lows like anyone else's story.
In the past, I've tried different things-like CBT, counselling, and meds prescribed by my GP for about twentty years now. When I mentioned wanting to see a psychiatrist, though, they always kind of brushed me off or ignored it, you know? Right now, I'm waiting on an Autism referral because I've got a bunch of traits that fit with that. Honestly, there's just something else going on besdies depression, but I feel stuck in this loop and want some real answers about why all my adult life has felt so hard.
So, here's the thing-I know people are seen by psychiatrists for certain reasons, but I'm not sure if my situation is one of them. Like, I'm really tired of feeling this way, and at forty-five, I need to figure out what else can be done besides the standard stuff. My GP says they've tried everything they can do, and therapy and CBT just haven't helped. OCD and a sleep disorder are part of my life too, but I'm in the UK and can't afford private care.
So yeah, anyone got any ideas on where to go from here?
5 Replies
Sorry to hear your GP isn't working out for you when it comes to getting that referral to a psychiatrist. I mean, they're basically mental health pros, right? Here's why seeing one could be a game-changer:
1. They can give you an independent look at your meds and maybe suggest something different if the current ones aren't cutting it.
2. They might hook you up with fancy treatments like TMS or ECT that aren't typically covered by regular GPs.
3. There's also this new drug, ketamine, which could be a lifesaver.
A lot of times, GPs refer patients to psychiatrists because the meds just aren't working out despite trying two or more different ones. Not all psychiatrists do therapy, but it never hurts to ask.Here are a couple things you can bring to your first appointment:
1. A list of every medication you've tried, how long you were on them, and why you stopped.
2. A quick summary of other stuff that's relevant-kind of like what you posted here.
And hey, I heard from a friend who knows teh ropes that it helps to bring someone along to your appointment with the GP. Having a second pair of ears there can put subtle pressure on the doc and might just get you the referral you need. Fingers crossed!
ty for the info. i tried like 3 diff anti depressants tho. escitalopram,citalopram, matazipine. all on high doses. it's a strugle but i gotta keep going ımho, perseverance is key.
Check out metabolicmind.org THINKSMART- apparently they're helping folks get into remission with keto therapy for mental health issues. Crazy stuff, right?
You might want to get tested for autism, although I'm not totally sure if the psychiatrist at the NHS handles that-she or he might just refer you to someone who specializes in it. But hey, if they find out you've got depression, tey can send you straight to a shrink. The way this works is your GP has all these records and stuff, so you can ask them nicely for a referral to a psychiatrist for an assessment. They'll test you for both autism and depression-no doubt about it.But remember, only your doc can give that referral. It might take a few visits to the doctor's office, but honestly, don't let them just hand out anti-depression pills. Make sure they know you need more than just meds-you've got serious mental health stuff going on here.
Thanks for your message! I'm currently on a waiting list for an autism referral, and I've been at it for over a year and a half now-feeling hopeful but also kind of anxious since the psychiatrist appointment is taking forever. My GP mentioned something like "they'll just prescribe you some not-so-pleasant medication," wich isn't exactly encouraging...