Black Dog of Depression - can we help each other?

Unity

absolutebounder wrote: »

would you want to scrap it then? I wonder where that would leave people.
The only real major problem with the NHS is that people value what they pay for which in the case of the NHS is nothing so many people dont value it.

I really can't believe I just read this :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

The NHS is a gift from above then is it? Honestly sometimes I wonder which alternative reality you live in :rolleyes:.

Sorry to everyone else for that, but some people make bold statements that are frankly ridiculous and they slip by unnoticed. I fully resent anyone saying the NHS is free - it is paid for by the people of this country.

Sandy71, I hope you are feeling better, likewise CG and everyone else. dmg24 - it's good to see you and glad to see you didn't let the bullies win. Unfortunately there are a fair few of them - but just visualise them as looking like Mr Muscle, sat at their computer screens - safe from any real comeback and they're either sad or laughable, depending on your mood .

Take care and remember - you too could be in the Big Brother House :eek:.

pipkin71

Hope you got on ok with the crisis team rbk.

Good luck with the doctor sandy. I hope they are the type of GP who listens to you, and you can perhaps talk about how you felt yesterday.

I get the feeling, through reading these posts, that the medical teams you all see aren't so supportive, which I think is a real shame.

Hope seeing your GP helps, anyway

pipkin71

Unity wrote: »

I fully resent anyone saying the NHS is free - it is paid for by the people of this country.

I think, when people say that, they mean that it is free at point of contact. People don't actually have to open their cheque book to pay when they seek medical help.

Yes, it is paid through taxes, and I don't think anyone really thinks it runs for free, but it isn't paid for at point of contact IYSWIM.

absolutebounder

crazy_girl wrote: »

ab- there are good and bad health professionals, my gp is awesome, the doctor and teh nurse at a&e were horrible

what do you see through me? i dont understand? im not very bright so youre gonna have to explain?

Sorry I didnt get time to answer you yesterday.
yes like most professions there are a range of health professionals from good to bad. Though I do wonder what makes one good or bad in someones opinion. Normally accurate diagnosis and speedy treatment resulting in the person going back to their normal life would be mine. i wouldnt really care what the doc was like as long as I got better quickly. I think in the main the NHS is good at this. However when we get to mental health I think things change. this I believe is because people now often want to see a nice person with lots of empathy that tells you much more what you want to hear plus gives you a few pills to help out. whilst all this is nice a limp lettuce never really helped many people.
when it comes to the NHS they are inundated with referrals from GPs and this is a problematic area for the psychotherapists ets. when someone say breaks a leg they are happy to be sent to someone who can relieve the pain and they expect to be put in plaster so their leg can mend.
when you are referred to a psychiatrist with depression what happens? Anxiety is often a key component of depression and this means because you are not sure what things will be like it kicks off and makes one very defensive. This results in depression putting up all sorts of roadblocks and in effect making the therapists job almost impossible or at least needing far more time than they have got. a second problem that I have noticed from posters is that they often go back to the past which leaves you having to bring up unpleasant memories. most of the time I dont think you need to ask the client to go back to the past ( not in early sessions anyway) because the past has happened. It is the future that matters. you dont have a choice about your past but you do in the case of your future.

As for my point of seeing through you. it would appear that I too frequently hit a raw nerve as far as you are concerned. this tells me a lot because if I was miles off the mark it wouldnt affect you.

Now lets get one thing straight. I have no intention of upsetting anyone nor making them cry. If you think about it we are all behind computer screens so I wouldnt know what you were doing anyway. Before any emotion occurs there is a thought so if someone writes a post and it makes you cry you have thought about what was said. just the same as if you write on here that you are suffering in some way others will think " Ahh poor soul" and send you some form of virtual emotion (probably hugs)

pipkin71

absolutebounder wrote: »

Anxiety is often a key component of depression and this means because you are not sure what things will be like it kicks off and makes one very defensive. This results in depression putting up all sorts of roadblocks and in effect making the therapists job almost impossible or at least needing far more time than they have got.

I can see this.

I've got an appointment for spinal injections on the 28th of this month, and already I am feel very anxious about it all, so they will need time at the beginning of the appointment, so that I can discuss the things I'm worried about.

As for good and bad health professionals, yes, those who are able to show empathy are considered good, but sometimes, with depression, it isn't empathy that's needed, because the person who is depressed, feeds off that [in some cases], whereas someone who is to the point, may be considered 'bad', but can actually help the person onto a faster recovery.

Feeding off others can have it's place, and can help support someone through a difficult time, but it can also have a negative aspect, an aspect which isn't always good when depression is involved.

feelinggood_2

I think like with everything in life, there are times when people are just mismatched. I don't think so much time should be given to trying to resolve these issues when a simple change would work. For whatever reason, I didn't find I could talk to my previous psychiatrist. I asked to see someone else, and have a much better working relationship with my current psychiatrist.

My issues are currently just based on resources - my area do not have the resources to offer DBT, CBT, psychology, counselling or many other therapies. The waiting list for the only type of therapy they offer is 12 months long (at least). My CPN is on longterm sick leave and they don't have a replacement. According to them, they just don't have the resources to help everyone.

One thing I try hard to do is to show people that I'm a person, not a disorder.

sandy71

I'm going to try and write this without upsetting or qffending anyone but going by my previous history I'm not holding out much hope.:o

I can see where AB is coming from regarding the NHS but I do think a psychiatrist needs a certain amount of empathy. People don't always just want pills, I know I don't I have enough poison in my system:rolleyes:
Part of the problem is the NHS is massively underfunded and possibly the mental health side gets overlooked as it isn't as "glamorous" as other fields hence the waiting time.

As for hitting the raw nerve with CG I can be the same, depression lowers your self esteem and things do get to you more. I find myself getting upset over the most ridiculous things and I know it shouldn't bother me but it does.

As for the hugs we send/receive for some of us this place is the only place where we get empathy and understanding, sometimes it's just good to get it out.

If you have got this far without me offending you then I'm amazed;)

sandy71

!!!!!! I must learn to type faster, 2 replies since I started my post:rolleyes:

pipkin71

sandy71 wrote: »

I'm going to try and write this without upsetting or qffending anyone but going by my previous history I'm not holding out much hope.:o

I can see where AB is coming from regarding the NHS but I do think a psychiatrist needs a certain amount of empathy. People don't always just want pills, I know I don't I have enough poison in my system:rolleyes:
Part of the problem is the NHS is massively underfunded and possibly the mental health side gets overlooked as it isn't as "glamorous" as other fields hence the waiting time.

As for hitting the raw nerve with CG I can be the same, depression lowers your self esteem and things do get to you more. I find myself getting upset over the most ridiculous things and I know it shouldn't bother me but it does.

As for the hugs we send/receive for some of us this place is the only place where we get empathy and understanding, sometimes it's just good to get it out.

If you have got this far without me offending you then I'm amazed;)

Well, I'm not offended, and think you have given a good response, the way you see it.

Yes, there are definitely times when empathy works, but it isn't always the case and with health professionals, they will have different ways of working.

Agree with FG, sometimes people just clash, and it is easier to change the person you are seeing, rather than face a difficult time and then resent going. That doesn't always make them a bad health professional.

Of course, there are good and bad out there - patients and health professionals, and yes, those treating depression do need to have an understanding of it, but from experience, I don't think piles of empathy will always be the right way to go, when dealing with someone who is depressed.

Support forums are different to real life, and here, empathy, hugs and kind words can do a lot for the person who is at a difficult moment, so these types of thread can have their uses at times.

I haven't set out to offend either, and hope no-one thinks I have

LameWolf

Anyone want a laugh?

Imagine, if you will, an overweight, extremely unfit Wolf, with a BM of mumblety-mumble, a dodgy back and two gammy knees attempting to use her new Wii Fit.

That'll be me in a few minutes.

Feel free to take bets on how many times I end up flat on my @ss.:D

I'm deliberately keeping out of any "debate" type stuff because I simply cannot handle it.

I'm still keeping you all in my thoughts though, and wish only the best for all my friends here.:o