A bit mixed up.

TheHeroYouHate · 19-12-2008, 09:02 PM

Hi, i'm new

Well, I was just wondering if there's anyone here from the UK that has had problems with the mental health services for young people and if/how they overcame them?
I'm nearly 17 and have been in the service for about 3 years after self harm, suicide attempts, drinking, eating problems etc although i developed OCD at a very young age (4 or 5)
Basically, i've been messed about for a long time now.
i used to be under the child and family mental health unit, who were hugely unhelpful, made me do art therapy and a lot of therapies that i knew i would not benefit from.and referred me to adult services when i was 16, with a warning that they thought i was dependent on therapy (!?)
i saw a horrible man who basically told me i was lying and to come back in a few years, a couple of months ago.
Since then i made a complaint and saw a lovely woman, who listened to me and understood me and diagnosed me with BPD.
Since i'm under 18 she said she couldn't officially diagnose me but said she's 99% sure that's what i'll be diagnosed with in a years time.
So she told me i would be prescribed antipsychotics and receive DBT, but she'd have to confirm that with her 'team'.
then i was told i couldnt have the antipsychotics because i have a drinking problem, which is highly untrue - i sometimes have a shot of vodka when im stressed before college, or put whiskey in my coffee when im upset but thats largely due to the fact that i've had to learn to self-medicate or i would certainly not have made it through the last few years.
and now i'm told i cannot have DBT because i haven't officially been diagnosed.
so it seems i have been let down again.
anyone had similar experiences or know any ways to get help!?
im ruining everything i have and i need help.
i put my boyfriend through hell every day, im not going to college very often and my mind is a state.

I originally posted this on a different site but they basically abused me on there so I was hoping the people here would be more understanding :)

sherlock holmes · 19-12-2008, 11:09 PM

Well, I've had some **** help from CAMHS, and some unhelpful psychiatrists in adult services. But along the way I saw some good people, and I got diagnosed with BPD.

Firstly, they are right about not being able to diagnose BPD until you are eighteen. However, I don't see why that should be a reason not to allow you to do DBT. Can you talk with them some more about it, maybe find out if they have other reasons not to refer you?

Antipsychotics I wouldn't say are the first line of treatment for personality disorders. I'm sure you know there are no medications to treat PDs as a whole. Antidepressants will help with the depression part, antipsychotics will help with psychosis or racing thoughts. They would be reluctant prescribing medication to a person with a history of self medication as you have described. Alcohol must be completely avoided when on psychiatric medication. If you really want to show them you can be responsible when taking medication, I would prove to them you can not self medicate even when you are feeling like ****. That way, in a few months, you can go back to them and say you have taken on board what they have said, and that you've managed to cope without using alcohol.

Also, you are entitled to a second opinion if you do not agree with anything your psychiatrist/doctor has told you. You need to tell them that you disagree and want to seek a second opinion, and they should refer you to somebody else for an assessment.

TheHeroYouHate · 19-12-2008, 11:49 PM

I have asked why and she couldn't give me a reason.

Of course I know that giving me medication of that kind while i was drinking would be bad, but i didn't explain fully because i wrote that in a rush -
Firstly, she told me that i needed antipsychotics and that she would send them in the post
then after meeting with her 'team' she said that i would have to cut down on alcohol before i had them - i said i would
but then she told me i couldnt have them regardless of alcohol situations.

The problem i have with regards to alcohol is that i am reluctant to give up more of my 'safety net' things.
i used to cut myself and don't anymore, and i used to make myself throw up and physically can't do that anymore.
so alcohol is all i've got left and it is hard to let go!!

How old are you now if you don't mind me asking?

sherlock holmes · 20-12-2008, 11:56 AM

Nineteen. I've had my BPD diagnosis for a year, although they suspected BPD from when I was 17.

TheHeroYouHate · 20-12-2008, 10:39 PM

I see :)
At the time that they suspected it, did you get dbt/medication at all?
i'm trying to get into perspective whether UK services are as awful as i think or if it has something to do with me - the way i come across, luck (!) etc.

sherlock holmes · 20-12-2008, 10:50 PM

When they suspected it I was in hospital anyway. I think I was on an antidepressant! I didn't get DBT until after I was diagnosed.

From experience, DBT is very hard to get in England. There really is hardly any DBT therapists and that ones that do exist seem to only do DBT for inpatients of a psychiatric hospital. I had a really hard time finding a psychologist to give me DBT once I had been discharged. In the end I saw a private psycholgist.

It's mainly because CBT is still pretty much the "main" therapy here, whereas in America that's where DBT was started and they have lots of DBT therapists.

TheHeroYouHate · 20-12-2008, 10:59 PM

Ahh, I see.
I notice you live in Essex - is being admitted to a hospital fairly, ooh which word should i use, not common but, not highly unusual..where you live then?
I know about 10 people with mental health problems, some quite severe , and no one has even mentioned hospital treatment to them.
This may sound fairly rude but would you mind telling me why you were in the hospital?
Sorry if i talk/seem strange, i only joined this forum yesterday >.<

And with regards to DBT, there is someone in the 'team' that i went to who does DBT, so I don't think it would be a problem to get access if they were allowing me.

MadderThanAJudge · 21-12-2008, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHeroYouHate

i sometimes have a shot of vodka when im stressed before college, or put whiskey in my coffee when im upset but thats largely due to the fact that i've had to learn to self-medicate or i would certainly not have made it through the last few years.

I smoke 50 roll ups a day & sometimes take Valium, &/or Codine to self medicate. I don't see that as a problem either.

sherlock holmes · 21-12-2008, 11:49 AM

I don't think in Essex they admit people to hospital any more than they do in other areas. I've had quite a few admissions to hospital, mainly for being suicidal and needing to go in for my safety. My longest was six months when I got sectioned. There are quite a few factors that lead to someobody getting admitted to hospital, they try to treat patients in the community wherever possible.

TheHeroYouHate · 21-12-2008, 03:31 PM

Mmm, I think maybe hampshire lacks hospitals and stuff, because i know someone who has multiple personality disorder and she tried to kill herself, got taken to normal hospital and they let her go home the next day with a months wait for follow up treatment.
And I personally have told therapists that i was planning to kill myself and how and all they really said was 'don't'
Actually, where I live there is no hospital for the area,the nearest is 10 or so miles away and so beds arent available for people outside the immediate area i think.
Hampshire is awful, particularly where i live.
>.<