Not sure how to go on

earthbound_misfit

I've been off work for 4 years, and barely held down jobs before that - always got sacked due to mental health.

Getting psychotherapy finally - been trying the whole time, ended up going private which I can't afford but someone else is paying for a bit. It seems like it is going in the right direction but so much years of stuff to get through, traumatic things, takes time, very unstabilising.

Currently on support group ESA, evidence provided by GP only as mental health team won't help - repeated ignoring referrals or discharging me without doing anything. I've had this in the past too, on and off whenever things got very bad I'd go back for help. Only been the last 4 years constant though.

I cannot hold down a job, even volunteering I end up dropping out sooner or later due to feeling exhausted from nightmares, or having intrusive thoughts that are so distracting or feeling so out of it/upset that I'm frightened to be around people or outside so I cope alone for those times - otherwise end up in A&E and then they think I'm an attention seeker waste of space.

The 'welfare reform' makes me think i'd be better off leaving now. I'm frightened, I'm alone as far as NHS support goes, even contacting the MP they just say "Go back to your GP". GP's at his wit's end because secondary services won't do anything. They won't even give me a dignosis (used to be BPD which got removed, also had depression/anxiety which I still cross threshold for but for some reson it's not official).

I'm scared as the welfare screws tighten that I will lose ESA before I can work again. I won't have any specialist evidence as they won't help me. I cannot manage on JSA due to rent shortfall (due to need to live alone whilst being under 35, have nice landlord and low rent where I am but not affordble on JSA).

It's all I can do just to keep living at the moment, just keeping doing ordinary things like going to the shops or even getting out of bed.
I'm desperate and I know this probably isn't the place to ask but there is nowhere else to turn.

Before anyone says it: NHS direct will direct me to A&E or GP. A&E will make me wait 8+ hrs, possibly/probably with police escort, then send me home with a GP appt. GP will say nice things and be kind but unable to do anything as secondary services won't help. If I contact PALS they side with the MH team and just say... go back to your GP. To be referred and ignored.

Poppie68

You poor thing....you need to give MIND a ring....they have an excellent reputation.
http://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/

I will post again in a moment...but please look at the website and in the left top corner there is a tab that you can click and it gives you information on getting urgent help....please use it.x

Horseunderwater

You have been through the runaround mill. I 2nd what Poppie said. Have you considered applying for PIP as this can also awarded for MH problems.

Jemma-T

Not sure what you're asking or wanting but yes contact MIND.

Also, not sure a diagnosis (which seems what you're looking for) is going to provide you with much and it may not answer what you perceive to be the problem (lots of people with diagnoses that still have problems with benefits or just life in general).

If you want online support try http://www.mentalhealthforum.net/forum/forum3.html

help4help2013

the waiting time for psychotherapy can be long from months to a year (based on personal experiences) you could always write a letter to a CMHT ( community mental health team ) Manager expressing your concerns and also about the lack of support and help they have given you.

or you could write to the chief exec at your local CMHT trust headquarters im sure he/she would be interested to know your experiences after all they do have a duty of care towards you

you can always self refer yourself if you feel you need to have more help and access to services it can take a while though

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/free-therapy-or-counselling.aspx


rethink are also very good mental health charity

https://www.rethink.org/

earthbound_misfit

Thank you all. Rather embarassed I blurted it all out here now, but desperate.

@Horseunderwater - yes I've applied for PIP as it would help with everything really. Would get more HB and be able to pay for therapy myself. However, without specialist reports I'm very unlikely to get it. I used to get DLA but at the time I was being seen by secondary MH services so had evidence (this was 3 yrs ago, I had a CPN briefly but no actual treatment). The local team now don't provide letters for ESA/PIP even if you're on their books.

@ Jemma T - I'm worried the lack of diagnosis is their way of pretending I don't need help. I don't think any of the psych diagnoses adequately explains my issues (except "complex PTSD" which I seem to be textbook for, but it's not an official diagnosis yet). However I tick enough boxes to fit depression and anxiety so why is that not on the records? It all feels very precarious, like I'm struggling so much but offically I'm fine.

@helpforhelp2013 - thank you for replying but your information is misleading. I know the wait for psychotherapy is long - I've been waiting 4 years and I'm not even on a waiting list yet! My last assessment was with the manager of the CMHT who point blank said they wouldn't take me on or offer help. This was an assessment arranged after contacting the head of services to complain about lack of treatment. The problem is they don't see the 4 years solid failure on their part - because they keep discharging me without doing anything, they see it as me relapsing and asking for help again, each time I get referred is separate to them.
Also you can only self refer to the IAPT programme, which offers CBT and other time-limited therapies. My problems are longterm and ingrained and require in-depth, non-time-limited therapy, so I'm unsuitable for these services.

rogerblack

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

Currently on support group ESA, evidence provided by GP only as mental health team won't help

Do you live with anyone, or does anyone provide support to you that could provide a letter.
While letters from specialists are good, they are not the only source of evidence.

If you have not yet had a decision on your PIP, and you have more evidence you can send, then do that.
If you have not gotten a copy of your assessment from ESA - do that - and if it's relevant - send it to PIP.

While ESA and PIP are very different benefits - and the assessment does not directly carry over - there are likely to be relevant bits if you've been found to be in the support group for ESA.

helping_hand2014

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

Thank you all. Rather embarassed I blurted it all out here now, but desperate.

@Horseunderwater - yes I've applied for PIP as it would help with everything really. Would get more HB and be able to pay for therapy myself. However, without specialist reports I'm very unlikely to get it. I used to get DLA but at the time I was being seen by secondary MH services so had evidence (this was 3 yrs ago, I had a CPN briefly but no actual treatment). The local team now don't provide letters for ESA/PIP even if you're on their books.

@ Jemma T - I'm worried the lack of diagnosis is their way of pretending I don't need help. I don't think any of the psych diagnoses adequately explains my issues (except "complex PTSD" which I seem to be textbook for, but it's not an official diagnosis yet). However I tick enough boxes to fit depression and anxiety so why is that not on the records? It all feels very precarious, like I'm struggling so much but offically I'm fine.

@helpforhelp2013 - thank you for replying but your information is misleading. I know the wait for psychotherapy is long - I've been waiting 4 years and I'm not even on a waiting list yet! My last assessment was with the manager of the CMHT who point blank said they wouldn't take me on or offer help. This was an assessment arranged after contacting the head of services to complain about lack of treatment. The problem is they don't see the 4 years solid failure on their part - because they keep discharging me without doing anything, they see it as me relapsing and asking for help again, each time I get referred is separate to them.
Also you can only self refer to the IAPT programme, which offers CBT and other time-limited therapies. My problems are longterm and ingrained and require in-depth, non-time-limited therapy, so I'm unsuitable for these services.

i do not agree with you saying that the above information was misleading the person/persons replied to you based on what you had said in your original post. you have only now gone into more detail about what you have done I.E complaints etc etc other poster could not have known this before and they advised you on what you have previously written they had no way of knowing you had previously done this and based on that they advised you accordingly

did a physiatrist or a psychologist not asses you?

not all diagnosis are placed on paper and some diagnosis can cover several at once. my friend suffers with sever anxiety disorder and depression but on her care plan from the community mental health team her primary diagnosis was under having hypochondriacal disorder which can cover a few things instead of just one.

are you looking to get these diagnosis on paper to help with you PIP claim?

you might best best getting in touch with one of the two chart's mentioned and seeing what they can do to help or assist you with