I don't know what to do

[ThePhoenixFallacy]

I've been seeing a therapist since May, and next week is our last appointment.

Everyone around me that I've spoken to has been saying (adamantly in some cases) that I need to really find out about for certain whats happening once therapy stops.
Some have been saying that I should ask to be referred to adult MH services now.

It's been an issue for a while. I've found it hard to be totally open with her, and I think she has a view that I'm doing better than I am.

I'm scared that she's right and that I don't need a referral. I'm definitely better that I used to be, but I'm not where I want to be either. Part of me is scared that I'm making a big deal out of nothing and that I just have to cope with everything for the rest of my life.

I've only managed to tell her at our last appointment that I feel like I need some support now that I'm not going to be seeing her anymore. She mentioned passing me on to a community mental health team, but although it might have just been me interpreting wrong, she didn't sound very certain and I'm not sure that it will happen or what that involves.

Realistically, I know that uni support services can't just keep dealing with me all the time when I am suicidal, or remembering bad things, or self-harming in some way, or upset. I want to get past that so that I can deal with it myself and not need other people around who can help me deal with it. I know it's stressful for them too.

I just don't know what to do. I have one more chance to say, "I need help". And if I don't manage then I might be a bit stuck. I've told people I'll see my GP but realistically whatever other people tell me I'm not sure that I'm sick enough to warrant wasting the already stretched MH services.

Sorry if this is in the wrong board.

Ash x

[tiptoes]

Is the therapy through your uni? If so, I'm not sure whether they would be able to refer you directly to a CMHT. Or at least my referral had to come from my GP rather than student support.

Speaking to your GP sounds like a good idea. I hate that the stretched MH services leads to "I am sick enough" thoughts, I am sure you aren't alone in thinking like this. Your GP will have a good gauge on what requirements your CMHT need for referrals, there might be support that you can access through your GP surgery. I know my surgery offers CBT and a few other therapies. There is a good site called doc-ready.org that is helpful for creating a list of things to bring up with a GP.

A perfectly reasonable question to ask at the end of therapy is "what should I do if this problem returns?" which might be an alternative way of finding out what else is out there.

Uni support services has been there for me on and off throughout my course. They are there to help students with problems for the entirety of your course.

[ThePhoenixFallacy]

Hi,
Thanks for your support :)

No, the therapy is through CAMHS. I recently turned 18, so I have to move on from there.

I've never thought that I'm sick enough, even when I quite clearly was/am. I don't think it's that MH services are stretched as such, I think it's just an excuse. I've always been scared that whoever I'm seeing/talking to will call me out and say that I'm just attention-seeking and there's nothing wrong.

I can talk to my GP, I think... If I have someone with me who also knows something's going on. On my own I'm too scared, I'd walk out before I could manage to be seen by someone.

I could ask that. It could help.

I know they are there, but realistically they can't do much and they keep telling me I need more professional support than they can offer and keep urging me to speak to the psychologist I'm seeing, or my GP. I have tried the university counselling service, but that opened up a lot for me, and I ended up zoning out/disconnecting from the world more than I can ever remember doing before. It took days to recover from that.

Ash x

[ThePhoenixFallacy]

No. I want to talk to my T first and she is on sick leave until next month.
Ok. That makes sense, it's like CAMHS.
Ash x