Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Help on the NHS

My only contact with a mental health professional these past 5 years has been my psychiatrist who I see through my private health insurance.  The problem is my health insurance is paid through work and as I am changing job it will end soon. 

I went to see my GP this morning about how I get support when my insurance runs out.  First of all she said I did not need any further support because I am considered stable.  I was so scared about falling out of the system and not being able to get support when I needed it she referred me to the community mental health team.  I cried a bit first.

I am dreading them contacting me, my experiance with them in the past has not been positive.  They are generally not interested in how you are unless you are self harming or threatening suicide. If you are not it was call this number if you change your mind.  No wonder people attempt to take their own lives or self harm to get attention.  I promised myself I would never do that but I can climb the walls quite easily and felt so bad I have tried to self harm.  I don't want to get that bad again but I am worried there will not be any support from the NHS until things get that bad.

I am loosing a really good support network along with my job and I need something in place to make sure I do not get that desperate.  I need someone to talk to me, someone seperate from my everyday life who can just help me monitor my mood.  I like to have an appointment in my diary and when things get bad I often feel I am just hanging on until the next appointment when I can get help without asking for it.

I'm really scared about falling out of the system again and not having any help there when I need it :'-(.  I will see what the mental health team can offer but I am very sceptical.  I am thinking I will probably pay to continue seeing my psychiatrist.  I don't believe there is no support for maintenance of bipolar disorder on the NHS!!! 

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does your pdoc do sliding scale at all? Will you not get health insurance through your new job?

- Mike

Annie said...

Good Idea Mike,
I'll have to ask

Nikki (Sarah) said...

I hope it works out for you

Tristan said...

I know how you feel, I got bumped through 6-month long referrals with the NHS and didn't see anyone til I tried to kill myself. The only reason they give me regular support now is that they think I'm psychotic. It sucks how these things work.

Raine said...

How sad that you feel you have to go to extremes to get support. I hope that it turns out they have something for you that can help you.

anxiety and depression said...

I found the nhs only cares when things get serious , if they made an effort when people first reported that they are feeling anxious or depressed it would save alot of problems down the line.

Cathy said...

I know how you feel! Although my husband carries the health insurance now I've had problems with the actual psychiatric community. In the last 15 years I've had to find a new pdc 4 times. General Practitioners have no business making these dangerous decisions for us. They do it all the time. I've been told by a GP my problem is with my entire life style. I've been told, it has to come from somewhere and a host of other dangerous opinions from untrained Drs. I have to pursue public assistance just because of the unsubstantiated opinions. Can you go to your state and ask for assistance?

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry you have to experience this. But I'm current waiting for a psychiatric referral, but of course it will be months yet. However, the only treatment I've really had so far has been with the community mental health group and been going to cbt support groups and it is so hard to have the nerve to go but it has been so worthwhile, even just to be around a group of people who know what a rough time your having. Another things that's been helpful for me is just ranting and talking to others in a social anxiety forum. Anyway, I hope you find that the mental health group can you help you more than it did previously. I really hope you can find a good support system.

Cathy said...

Thank you Monique! My mood lately has been depressed. That is not surprising to me. Hopefully I can find some kind of support!