Mental Health Support Society Mk X

Don't be worried to do whatever you think will make you feel better: you could just tell your Mum you want a bit of air? Ah no worries, it's very simple but I play it when I feel agitated/stressed and it kinda helps me to focus my mind off of whatever is bothering me

I dunno. Took like 50 mins because I had to walk a large chunk of it, and I've eaten so much so feeling really fat and bleh. I know I'm not technically overweight I just feel horrible at the moment. Today has just been a bit crap I think.

Still alive, still here. Not much more to say other than that. Life sucks.

None of my thoughts are rational. The things I have said are completely disgusting. I am a pathetic excuse for a human being and don't deserve to be loved by anyone. I have said such horrible things. I'm as bad as my brother. I'm worse than my brother. I know this is not rational. I can't take much more of this mental torture. And I am so ashamed of myself.

Yea but the important thing is, you finished those 6k. Even if you had to walk. I think that requires great willpower. It's impressive.

Puppy loves you, no matter what.

You are lovable, don't think otherwise!

If you'd seen/heard the things I've said to my mum over the weekend then you would be disgusted too. Even my cat is ignoring me. I can't go on like this. No one is here I'm on my own and if my bf was here I would be scaring him too I can't do this.

If you'd seen/heard the things I've said to my mum over the weekend then you would be disgusted too. Even my cat is ignoring me. I can't go on like this. No one is here I'm on my own and if my bf was here I would be scaring him too I can't do this.

Cats ignore everyone from time to time, it's in no way a reflection of you. You're in no way a bad person, yes, you maybe weren't the nicest person at the weekend, but it happens, and to be honest, it's quite common with depression. Also, you did have a big trigger on Saturday which has contributed to everything, and I reckon that might have made things a lot worse. Regarding the Sertraline leaflet, those things are designed to give you the worst-case scenario - your doctor wouldn't have prescribed it if there was a major risk, and bearing in mind you're nearly full-time, things will (generally) affect the baby less now than they would've early on in the pregnancy. Irrational thoughts are part of depression, you definitely shouldn't feel ashamed of yourself.

Reading your post, you have probable said what you think are horrible things quite a bit in the past. Given that your bf is still with you, I am sure he loves you just the way you are!

I appreciate that you even acknowledge you are being irrational, but have a little faith xD

Thanks I'm 19 but she said she's not usually happy to prescribe to the under-22s.(She prescribed them to my brother and he felt much worse for it though, can this reaction be genetic??) I know these things vary from area to area and doctor to doctor though. What is a CPN??

I don't know how long the waiting list to see a psychiatrist may be, I know for NHS counselling in my area it can be nearly a year. ()

I never say horrible things ever that's why it's scared me so much, I can't deal with the guilt of what I've said and knowing that I mean it and knowing that it's the worst thing to say to someone. I'm as bad as my brother. I've been controlling and manipulative and angry and completely utterly pathetic. My cat ignoring me is weird because he never ignores me he is always with me he follows me around everywhere and sits with me whenever I am sitting, instead he is pacing around the hallway and whenever I look at him he sprints off.

There is a doctor visiting me tonight. I've never been this scared of myself. I don't know how to control my thoughts.

I never say horrible things ever that's why it's scared me so much, I can't deal with the guilt of what I've said and knowing that I mean it and knowing that it's the worst thing to say to someone. I'm as bad as my brother. I've been controlling and manipulative and angry and completely utterly pathetic. My cat ignoring me is weird because he never ignores me he is always with me he follows me around everywhere and sits with me whenever I am sitting, instead he is pacing around the hallway and whenever I look at him he sprints off.

There is a doctor visiting me tonight. I've never been this scared of myself. I don't know how to control my thoughts.

Your GP is right to be cautious. However that doesn't mean you can't get other help and advice.

If you are nineteen then your GP can refer you to your local adult mental health team. She does this by writing to them. If you are an urgent case then you can be seen immediately or within the week. If you are not urgent then it can take slightly longer. This is a different system to the NHS counselling. NHS counsellors are not usually part of the mental health service but provide counselling services to GP practices direct. There are not enough of them employed... hence the long wait.

The mental health team is separate from the GP service and consists of various people working together. Different areas may have people in the team such as 'PWP; practitioners for low level intensity intervention therapies, therapists for high level intervention therapies, welfare advisors and mental health social workers, a Clinical Psychologist and assistant psychologists. The backbone and key part of the service will be the psychiatrists and the community mental health nurses (CPN's) who are the main people that patients see.

Usually when people are referred by their GP to the service a CPN is assigned to that patient and whoever else the patient sees within the team the CPN remains the person co-ordinating the care. A care plan should be prepared in conjunction with the service user and a copy given to them. The system is currently undergoing some changes and the new role of PWP (Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner) is being used more and more. These provide what is called low level therapeutic interventions intended for people who do not have severe needs. This may include CBT based work.

After the first referal by the GP a CPN will meet with and assess the person over the course of a series of meeting and work out what kind of help from within the team may be appropriate and start the care plan. Some CPN's are now trained to prescribe medication but usually medications can only be prescribed by a psychiatrist (or GP). If the assessment shows that there may be a complex diagnosis or a need for a medication review then the CPN will arrange an appointment for the person with one of the Pyschiatrist's in the team. You will then be that psychiatrist's patient.

The CPN will continue to meet with the patient over an extended period of time to monitor any changes in their condition and medication and arrange further interventions by other members of the team if appropriate. This can include therapies but there will be a wait for some therapies. The CPN should also provide the patient with emergency contact numbers for the team for out of hours care. Sometimes this is called 'the crisis team' but really it is CPN's covering shifts so that there is always someone available. The mental health team will usually be operating an outpatient service. However they also have access to in-patient facilties. Most people never actually get to use this part of the service.

The mental health team will send a letter to your GP after all meetings with you to keep them up to date.

You have the right to see these letters automatically (request they are sent to you automatically at the same time as they go to the GP). You can also, at any time, request copies of your records and anything written about you.

Phew! Hope that's clear.

It is important for people who need help to understand what part of the whole system they are currently using. For instance you have not yet been referred to the team and therefore are using your GP for medication advice. A GP is not a trained expert in advanced medications for mental health conditions and cannot prescribe various drugs and combinations of drugs without the backing of a psychiatrist. Hence I suggested it might be good for you to be referred to the team so that you can be seen by someone with more advanced knowledge and monitored closely at home by your CPN if you start taking medications. The GP cannot actually provide the same service. Even if you continue to manage without meds, the support of the CPN can be invaluable and they are your gateway to other parts of the service.

Everyone using the service retains all the rights of any patient. If they do not like their psychiatrist or CPN they have a perfect right to ask to see other people instead.

If you'd seen/heard the things I've said to my mum over the weekend then you would be disgusted too. Even my cat is ignoring me. I can't go on like this. No one is here I'm on my own and if my bf was here I would be scaring him too I can't do this.

Thanks for that, very detailed! But I understand what's there much better for it. The GP never said anything about all that but to be fair I've only seen her once about this. Maybe I should go back but I don't want just want a prescription for fluoxetine pushed at me and told to come back if it's not working, which is what I would expect to be honest (close family member that's a GP admits this is what usually happens.)

Have you seen a CPN etc? Was it useful to you?