I have bipolar but they won't diagnose me!

Ames

tomtontom wrote: »

You have a care coordinator, do you know how rare these are? Just look at the stories being told here and you'll see your CC is not telling you the full story.

Yup. I had one when I was in the acute day service. I didn't know which member of staff it was until I had my discharge appointment, and it turned out to be someone I'd never met before. I never saw her again after, either.

But, maybe it's different for someone who's been sectioned, especially if it was recently.

rubytuesday

Ames I'm so sorry to hear that things have been so difficult for you. Are you sure you coildn't trust your friends to be supportive? You might be surprised.

It sounds like you have had a lot to sort out and a lot going on.

As you say I do hope things will get easier for you once you are settled in your new place.

In an emergency if you are unable to ring the Samaritains you should go to A and E although I know from experience that can be a bit of a nightmare in itself.

rubytuesday

As has already been said it really does seem to be a regional thing. I know that I really am one of the lucky ones with the care I have received since 2004.

Then I was sent to the Priory as I worked as a Mental Health Act Manager in my local psychiatric hospital - this was far more conducive to recovery than the latter. Although when I became ill in 2006 I elected to stay near home so it was easier for my family and I ended up being in hospital for nearly a year on and off anyway.

Anyway I have never been discharged back to my GP since 2006 even though my last psychotic episode was in 2008 and was able to have psychotherapy for about three years. My psychotherapist also acted as my care co ordinator.

When I found half brothers and sisters and also my first foster mother a few years ago it brought up some 'painful stuff' and I was immediately offered an appointment to see my old psychologist.

This year I was offered one to one dance movement therapy with the psychotherapist who runs the group I used to go to.

Initially I was offered four sessions but ended up meeting with her from December to August. This was extremely helpful to me.

I was also offered talking therapy again but declined.

So it's not all bad but I'm sorry that many are not getting the care they need.

Ames

rubytuesday wrote: »

Ames I'm so sorry to hear that things have been so difficult for you. Are you sure you coildn't trust your friends to be supportive? You might be surprised.

It sounds like you have had a lot to sort out and a lot going on.

As you say I do hope things will get easier for you once you are settled in your new place.

In an emergency if you are unable to ring the Samaritains you should go to A and E although I know from experience that can be a bit of a nightmare in itself.

Thanks.

My friends have loads going on in their own lives, to be honest I think one is close to breaking point with her own stuff.

I've been to A&E before in an emergency, if I get bad again I'll go there, but hopefully it wont get to that point. I did a course the end of last year which seems to have helped a lot, it's just when things start happening all at once and that are out of my control, which has been the case now.

I'll muddle on. I always do.

rubytuesday

Good luck Ames - at least you have strong determination by the sound of it!

And I hope you'll be happy in your new home.

Stress is my trigger too apart from this year which was induced by medication.

Errata

Ames wrote: »

Thanks.

My friends have loads going on in their own lives, to be honest I think one is close to breaking point with her own stuff.

I've been to A&E before in an emergency, if I get bad again I'll go there, but hopefully it wont get to that point. I did a course the end of last year which seems to have helped a lot, it's just when things start happening all at once and that are out of my control, which has been the case now.

I'll muddle on. I always do.

Best wishes to you. You may be aware of this organisation, but just in case you're not - HTH http://www.lslcs.org.uk/what-do-we-do

the_devil_made_me_do_it

tomtontom wrote: »

You have a care coordinator, do you know how rare these are? Just look at the stories being told here and you'll see your CC is not telling you the full story.

I have walked through hell tomtontom and that's no exaggeration. My mind has been pushed to the limit due to un diagnosed mental health problems, which led to a catastrophe which has scarred me for the rest of my life (don't want to go into it on a forum), although this event happened due to a manic phase which could've been avoided had my doctor noticed during the numerous appointments I attended. So to now have a care co-ordinator (social worker) is not something I feel grateful for. Had I had the help I needed many years ago, my life would be so so different.


More people should have care co-ordinators or similar. Not many of us receive the help and support we need which is a damn travesty. I can totally empathise with anyone who isn't able to access the support they need as I have been there myself. Without my partner in particular I still wouldn't have the care and support. He was the one that pushed mental health services and backed them into a corner. That is who I am grateful too. He has been there through thick and thin and has/still does the majority of their work for them. Without him, I wouldn't be writing on this forum at all. I would never have had the strength to fight them or to even care.


As for what my care co-ordinator has advised me regarding the fact that they can't discharge me back to my GP, I don't get what you mean by them not telling me the full story. Full story about what? As I said, I was informed that I will not be discharged from mental health services due to the medication I take. This needs to be monitored by a psych on a regular basis. Although I may not see my CC on as regular basis as I have been, I will be allocated a cpn to monitor my condition on a less frequent basis unless things take a turn and I need to be seen more often.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Ames...it totally sounds as if you are being neglected in terms of your mental health and I totally feel for you. It makes no sense to treat you in such a manner and dismiss how your feeing/what you experience. You shouldn't have to just muddle on and you shouldn't feel that you have to either.


Have you considered maybe changing your GP/GP practise? Is it even an option? It could be worth looking into if you have no confidence in the GP your registered with.


I hear things too, but same with you, they just get dismissed. It is very scary when these things happen because you can't rationalise it. I would try and speak to your friends tho'. They might surprise you. It does sound like you really need a shoulder to lean on.


I really hope that somewhere down the line, you are taken seriously and get the help and support you deserve.

tomtontom

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

As for what my care co-ordinator has advised me regarding the fact that they can't discharge me back to my GP, I don't get what you mean by them not telling me the full story. Full story about what? As I said, I was informed that I will not be discharged from mental health services due to the medication I take. This needs to be monitored by a psych on a regular basis. Although I may not see my CC on as regular basis as I have been, I will be allocated a cpn to monitor my condition on a less frequent basis unless things take a turn and I need to be seen more often.

What your CC has told you may not always be the case, it all comes down to resources. If the resources no longer become available for you then you will be discharged back to your GP. This is the experience that myself, Ames, Indie Kid and countless other people have had.

I wish you well, and am glad that your experience is so much more positive. However as well as seeing it from a patient's view I also have research interests in this area, and as such am privy to discussions between MHPs. Sadly 80% of these discussions are about how they can pass the buck, be that avoiding their s. 17 duty or passing a secondary care patient back to their GP. Mental healthcare has become about providing the least possible care to tick a box and say they have done their bit. Some of the discussions I have seen are quite shocking.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

tomtontom wrote: »

What your CC has told you may not always be the case, it all comes down to resources. If the resources no longer become available for you then you will be discharged back to your GP. This is the experience that myself, Ames, Indie Kid and countless other people have had.

I wish you well, and am glad that your experience is so much more positive. However as well as seeing it from a patient's view I also have research interests in this area, and as such am privy to discussions between MHPs. Sadly 80% of these discussions are about how they can pass the buck, be that avoiding their s. 17 duty or passing a secondary care patient back to their GP. Mental healthcare has become about providing the least possible care to tick a box and say they have done their bit. Some of the discussions I have seen are quite shocking.

Totally agree with you. It is all about passing the book and ticking boxes. It certainly appears that they provide just enough care to say they have done something and whatever happens once you leave the building isn't there responsibility...ie: if you say during your appointment that your not suicidal, then walk out the door and kill yourself, they will say that you were fine before you left.