What a joke!

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phil d

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Ok,now most people who know me will know that for many many years I've been plagued with mental health problems,various people have made various diagnosese,ranging from anxiety,right through to BiPolar.Anyway things were going downhill rapidly,the highs became shorter and less frequent and the lows(severe depression,feeling suicidal and the angry outbursts) became more prolonged and severe.The tablet's were not working and my GP sent me to see another "specialist" now from bitter experience I know that most of these people seem to disregard what you tell them and manipulate what you say so that you fit neatly into one of their little "boxes"! If you don't fit you either get ignored or put on the merry go round,well this new one was different,she listened to what I had to say,made some notes,then announced that she didn't think it was BiPolar and wanted me to see another specialist for an assessment.I agreed to this and after a few minor hiccups I had an assessment last Monday,the woman was very nice,we chatted for over an hour,she asked loads of questions and there were quite a few tests.When we'd finished she explained that the test was for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and that on a scale of  1 to 100 anything under 35 meant normal and anything over was PTSD in various degree's.I had a test score of 75! Meaning very severe PTSD,she reckons these levels are normally only seen in combat troops,naturally sceptical I asked how she could prove what she was saying,she then produced a book written by some eminent psychiatrists who specialize in PTSD and proceeded to show me some of the content's.There to  my great suprise were the answers to the questions,almost word for word to what I'd given.She stated that there were only 2 ways that I could have given those answers,either I genuinely had PTSD,or I was extremely clever and had memorized a whole book that to be honest I'd never even heard of!

The upshot is that all the medication I've been given over the last 20 odd years was a waste of time! I was naturally quite annoyed by this and asked what we did next,It's all very complicated but apparently a lot of it lies with one part of the brain becoming overactive due to a traumatic incident and this then causes another part of the brain to effectively go into shutdown,part of the treatment involves "reprogramming" the brain to it's "default" settings.Anyway starting Monday I've got 16 weeks of therapy,it sounds a lot but it's only a couple of hours at the centre,plus several hours "homework" each week,then depending on how that goes defines where we go from there.

I,m happy that I finally have a proper confirmed diagnosis,however what annoys me is that all this could have been done many years ago if just one of the many so called experts I'd seen had actually taken notice of what I was saying rather that trying to fit me into one of their little "boxes"!

I don't want to go into what happened to cause the trauma,I'm not ready for that yet,but what I would say is this,if anyone is suffering from some form of mental health issue and you don't feel the treatment is working,don't be afraid to create a fuss,ask questions and demand a,second or even third opinion,If I had, years ago,I may have been saved a lot of problems.

 
Well I wish you well Phil, sorry that this pityful NHS that we all so very much rely upon has let you down, as you say if only one of them actually diagnosed you on what it was you said as opposed to what they heard then you'd of been well sooner and the NHS could of saved a chunk of money, and they think they deserve a better pay deal, I think we deserve a better service. 

PS:I'm glad you know of the trauma that's behind it, otherwise it could have been more worrying. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for having the courage to open up and make this post. All very interesting stuff and I hope this new treatment gets you on the road to recovery.

In due course, entirely when you are ready, it would be interesting to hear what sort of life experience brought this on (assuming you have not been in a combat situation)

 
Thanks for having the courage to open up and make this post. All very interesting stuff and I hope this new treatment gets you on the road to recovery.

In due course, entirely when you are ready, it would be interesting to hear what sort of life experience brought this on (assuming you have not been in a combat situation)
Will,do Dave,it's something that I have to learn to open up about eventually,but at the moment there could possibly be a big court case in the offing,it wasn't combat,it was something far more unpleasant,unfortunately.

 
Just remembered who you were...

The man with the dog...

I suffer with depression and have done since childhood, I can stay on top of it but sometimes out of nowhere it gets me.

sadly mental health issues are misdiagnosed all too often.

Once you know what the issue is then it's easier to treat. duh.

The NHS is run by Muppets and mental health is a much underfunded service sadly.

It's all up from here on in!

:)

 
Best of luck Phil, did you know over 60% of the population suffer from some kind of mental illness.

I had what you had without even knowing it, I only found out during a de brief! I was very mild but they did say that untreated it could become very serious.

Needless to say I got the therapy there and then and I am totally fine now, unless anyone points a gun at me then I am raving lunatic!!!

 
Getting any sort of mental health care on the nhs is an complete lottery I've found. Apparently what I really needed was some telephone consultations when I was so anxious about answering or making a phone call that I was damn near scared of the phone. There's facing your fears and there's damned nonsense.

now I'm still struggling to get help with what I suspect is a variant of bipolar (it runs in my family like a dose of the ****s) and so far have achieved a low dose of a general antidepressant. 

 
I feel for you guys and wish you all the best ............what I'm thinking is that your cases prove that the NHS has been

overwhelmed and cannot cope .    Not actually the fault of the Service itself  ...there are hospitals in this area that always have waiting areas rammed with ...what should I say ....    90 % of not exactly English looking people .   Just noticing.

It used to be able to cope  so I wonder what could it be?

 
A quick update,I had another session on Monday and came away feeling totally peed off.When  I got involved with this they said it was a "total package",so this week I asked what happens at the end of the counselling phase,only to be told "well you'll be good to go back to work",I naturally assumed that there would be some sort of assistance to help people get back into work when they've been out of it for a long time,how wrong  I was apparently "tradesmen are in high demand and you'll soon find a job"! Now at almost 51,with a history of mental health issues and being out of proper work for about 8 years,not to mention needing quals updating,this amazed me.So no doubt that they'll sort out the PTSD and then I'll get bogged down with depression because I can't get a job,so much for a "total package",anyone want to hire a raving mad spark?

 
A quick update,I had another session on Monday and came away feeling totally peed off.When  I got involved with this they said it was a "total package",so this week I asked what happens at the end of the counselling phase,only to be told "well you'll be good to go back to work",I naturally assumed that there would be some sort of assistance to help people get back into work when they've been out of it for a long time,how wrong  I was apparently "tradesmen are in high demand and you'll soon find a job"! Now at almost 51,with a history of mental health issues and being out of proper work for about 8 years,not to mention needing quals updating,this amazed me.So no doubt that they'll sort out the PTSD and then I'll get bogged down with depression because I can't get a job,so much for a "total package",anyone want to hire a raving mad spark?
One step at a time.  

You are making changes... You are getting treatment that will help you... You took the brave step to talk about it on here.  All of this is really positive.  Yes.. You will have set backs along the way... Everyone does... But things are improving for you. You are making positive changes.

 
Phil with all respect I think you are looking at the bigger picture when realistically you need to break that down into individual brush strokes. 

If they treat the ptsd you will learn pma techniques which will help combat any depressive thoughts. 

Im sure that any small local companies will appreciate a competent spark who may be a little behind with regs etc ( there's always a forum to ask). Small steps start great journeys. 

 
Worry about work when it is time to worry about work. For the mean time try and concentrate on the now and getting better. What they have not said is the timescale to getting back to work. Take each day as it comes. 

being stressed or depressed about work (or a lack of it) is a normal feeling. I dare say 100% of the members here have been stressed or depressed about work at some stage of their working life. 

 
Problem is with doctors, [I mean psychiatric ones] is they have ALL common sense removed in medical school. They just go by what they read in their textbooks, despite the fact that half of these are written by someone that has just read another book!!

They have no practical experience of any of this "first hand" if you like, and cannot understand that people differ.....

Now, there is an area, where i have forgotten more than any of them will ever know. BUT, they still like to argue with me!!!

I say "been on a one day course have you??" and a lot say yes!!!

Funnily enough, i get consulted for my views quite often. I have essays i have written, that a large organisation that deals with this kind of thing sometimes give to their staff, [with my permission] and they have copies on their walls for staff to read..

The NHS round here spent MILLIONS on a training programme for their staff, part of which involved me giving a lecture in a large psychiatric hospital to 20 occupational therapists and a leading consultant psychiatrist that specialises in this area [of knowledge] [I was involved in the making of a training DVD too]

Despite this, I will meet people that think they know better!!!

Can i just say that doing the lecture was the hardest thing i have EVER done.. I HAD to do it though, it was my DUTY, i owed it to others to share what i know..... It was also my proudest EVER achievement, in the sense that, if the knowledge i imparted to the NHS staff, [from all over the country they were!] helped prevent just ONE young person from being treated the way i was treated, it would all have been worth it.. I had no say, it was my DUTY to help, as i have said....

I take my "duty" VERY seriously....

john....

 
I feel for you guys and wish you all the best ............what I'm thinking is that your cases prove that the NHS has been

overwhelmed and cannot cope .    Not actually the fault of the Service itself  ...there are hospitals in this area that always have waiting areas rammed with ...what should I say ....    90 % of not exactly English looking people .   Just noticing.

It used to be able to cope  so I wonder what could it be?




I can tell you exactly what the problem is.. People with GENUINE conditions [that many were born with] are refused treatment and/or hospital places, because mental health services are overwhelmed with legions of twats that take drugs and therefore CHOOSE to make themselves ill.

I can tell you that VERY many hospital inpatients have NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM AT ALL. They are there merely because a court decided to give them the choice of jail, or a "drug treatment order" [Like being in Butlins...]

I spoke to one such inpatient and asked him what drugs he took..... "Amphetamines" was the reply. I said, "how long you in here for??" "He said 28 days" I then asked; "are you going to pack the drugs in then??" only to be told "courgette off!!!!!"

That is why it is so hard to get treatment and help and support.......

john...

 
,anyone want to hire a raving mad spark?


Happily, but then I'm already raving mad myself, that's only my diagnosis though, I'm still trying to get an appointment to gt an actual qualified opinion. 

I can tell you exactly what the problem is.. People with GENUINE conditions [that many were born with] are refused treatment and/or hospital places, because mental health services are overwhelmed with legions of twats that take drugs and therefore CHOOSE to make themselves ill.


But then you've just got to make sure you don't miss the ones who've ended up taking drugs off their own back as they can't get anywhere with the NHS.

 
Well I have no first hand experience or knowledge of these issues, problems or situations......

so I can't say much constructive help.....

but I would hazard a guess that any members with a religious faith with be praying for you...

any members without a religious faith with be wishing you good luck and all the best hoping things get sorted soon...

Any members who don't know if they have an religious faith or not will just be giving you a scoob for having the guts to be open and honest about your personal situation.......

But what I do know 100% is no mater what we think of the NHS...

This country is far from the worst in world when it comes to offering support and help to those with illnesses be they physical or mental....

keep on moving forward Phil D!

:Salute

Guinness

 
but I would hazard a guess that any members with a religious faith with be praying for you...

any members without a religious faith with be wishing you good luck and all the best hoping things get sorted soon...

Any members who don't know if they have an religious faith or not will just be giving you a scoob for having the guts to be open and honest about your personal situation.......




That is a lovely thing to say....

john...

 

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