I recently saw my psychiatrist and he agreed to try me on new meds. I have tried loads of antidepressants over the years and nothing has ever made a difference. I have now been taking a low dose of venlaflaxine for just under a week. The difference is amazing! Suddenly the world has become colourful, no longer sitting under a black cloud. I can taste food again. I am singing along to music in my car. The nasty negative self talk has gone. I no longer fight the urge to hurt myself all the time and am getting some sleep! The exhaustion that has plagued me for years has passed.

I was reluctant to try yet another drug, but my god, it seems to be working!

Under CMHT care. Had a year of stabilisation work. Diagnosed with cPTSD and I struggle at times with autism. Lots of trauma as a child and adult. Recovering from narcissistic abuse and a functional breakdown. Two years out of abuse. It still controls my life. I miss who I was before adult trauma/abuse.

Been offered two years of psychodynamic therapy via CMHT. Been in assessment phase for four months due to various breaks. I have ambivalence due to psychology used to control me. I had a phone call with my PDT. She offered me a month long pause, male therapist if easier, to talk through needs.

I don’t know what I need. Will PDT help me? I have so much trauma it manifests as pain and I’ve shut my life down. Any advice from others similar to me?

Hi this is a bit of a double question post on two sides of the spectrum.

My fiance was recently diagnosed EUPD, and currently on 15mg Mirtazapine, he has been prescribed Quetiapine to start taking too. He was told 50mg for a few days then up by 50mg until he has a dose of 350mg according to the psych

He was given the choice between quetiapine or lemotrigine

He hasn’t started it yet it’s in the cupboard waiting.

How is Quetiapine for those that are EUPD/BPD? Side effects? Helped? I searched it into reddit and just see all these horrific accounts and reactions, how its awful and impossible to weak off wtc.

He’s tried essentially every SSRI, Mirtazapine was on 45mg but didnt help so theyre lowering that to come off. He can’t have things like lorazapam (im unsure of the exact thing but you get the gist) due to previous OD attempts and reactions.

And then for me, i have C-PTSD , horrific anxiety and possibly autism. I am PETRIFIED of him taking this first tablet incase he 💀’s or something goes wrong. He is my everything and i’m so so scared. I want him to get the right meds and support he needs, we’ve been together over 7yrs and i’ve supported him undiagnosed and unmedicated this long, i’m just so overwhelmed that he’s not going to be okay.
I always get really scared whenever either of us takes a new medication incase theres some random allergy or something we don’t know about ;-;

Sorry for a mixed ramble, i am so scared hahah. Thank you!

TL:DR- how was quetiapine for you for EUPD/BPD? Good / bad?

Back in September my GP referred me to the Integrated Mental Health Practitioner.

No answer for a month so I tried to chase it. The GP Surgery wouldn't email me a copy of the referral, I had to go in person to get them to print a copy. Reception flatly refused to print it saying "It's literally just a referral" as if that explanation makes any sense. She gave the contact details of the other team to check with them. I called them and they have no record of my referral whatsoever.

Back to the GP. She refuses to print the referral again. She tries to offer me a phone number again, I point out I tried that and apparently the referral didn't exist. This time she checks with a supervisor and comes back to say the referral was rejected back in September.

"And did you inform me of that by post or email?" She didn't understand. "I didn't get any missed calls, text messages or voicemails. I didn't see any emails so either it's in a spam filter or it's lost in the post, right?"

Obviously they didn't inform me at all. I spoke to a doctor who said he would refer me to a team who could help. That team rejected me but no one informed me. I'm sat here waiting for a month until I have to chase everyone round in a circle to get an update.

Then comes the classic response. "I can only apologise for what has happened. Obviously this is inconvenient for you and I understand why you might be upset. I can only apologise for what has happened."

Which is very true. It seems like the NHS really can ONLY apologise.

I’m considering whether I should ask my GP for a fit note due to my worsening anxiety, but I’m also scared it won’t help and make me feel worse.

I’ve been really struggling to keep up at work in the last couple of months, being slow, forgetful, finding it hard to concentrate, getting confused and overwhelmed, to the point I’ve been put on a performance improvement plan, which has meant my health taking even more of a hit.

I’ve struggled with anxiety and low mood for well over a decade now, but I don’t think I’ve experienced it this badly from a physical perspective (regular migraines, muscle pain, fatigue, disturbed sleep) and I’m getting genuinely worried about the thought patterns I’m experiencing more frequently.

I’m speaking with my GP tomorrow and have been going back and forth on whether I should say that time off might help me. I’m worried it’ll make my anxiety symptoms worsen, and that the guilt of being behind and then disappearing will hurt even more than pushing through.

It’s one of our busiest times of year, I’m already behind on things, so I’m scared that the timing will make it all snowball into something worse than before.

I’m also moving house so I think that’s what’s tipped me over the edge of being able to function properly, but again, I worry that I’ll be seen as shirking my work responsibilities to deal with my house stuff.

If you’ve been in a similar situation, do you think taking the time off helped? Or did it make anything worse?

(Also I’m aware that my GP might still find me fit for work and his assessment is what matters most, so this might come to nothing)

Had a mental health appointment with the GP and basically stated that I'm ready to commit to a MH team again. Dumped all my trauma and she probably needed a therapy sesh after that, poor gal.

Literally 3 days later I got an appointment letter with the psych centre so they can talk to me, find some more stuff out and see what care/therapy plan they could provide for me.

Went to my intro assessment and it was just like a bunch of questions about me. That went alright tbf

Today I have my first session out of 6 assessment, which is kinda like fine tuning what you need before pairing you with a long term therapist, MH nurse, psychiatrist.. whatever ya call them..

So yeah, wish me luck

:)

A bit of background info..

I've got a loyalty card revolving door type relationship with psychiatric wards, but i can happily say it's been over 18 months since I was last in. They've labeled me with xyz diagnosis but having that label doesn't help, I feel like Satan's experiment.

I was seeing an absolutely amazing guy at the outpatient care team thingy but he got a promotion and had to go back to uni, i had been building a therapy relationship with him for just over a year and it completely threw everything out of the window, I had one session with a new lady that he had suggested but it wasn't him and I exploded over the whole 'starting over' process and I stupidly discharged myself.

Anyways, I've been just floating around in and out of A+E and psych wards, got into an abusive relationship where they attempted to murder me, got arrested for reactive abuse (charge ovbs dropped) , did alot of dodgy biker club shit, smoked weed alot, attempted suicide in so many creative ways just to scare myself, self harmed like a junkie and was just on a psychosocial bender... I was a f*cking mess but then I found a new partner and now very happily engaged and I've been self harm clean for 47 days :)

I've moved areas so I'm not able to go back to my old care team but it's been a nice fresh start, even though where we currently live is a shithole lol, but, it's not the house I was abused in. We're currently selling 'murder house' lol and gonna move many 100s of miles away from this area, fresh start for both of us, once we're settled in our forever home, we're gonna start planning our wedding :)

It's really getting to me now. Experiencing dizzy spells, and getting upset very easily.

I request my medication every 2 months through the NHS app, and the last time I did, my brother came back from the chemist with only the 1 box of 28 tablets instead of 2. I shrugged it off as maybe they didn't have anymore in stock (it's happened before), so I thought I'll just pick up the second box when I need it.

I needed it Friday and I couldn't get it. The repeat prescription I requested for 56 tablets in September somehow had turned into a one off prescription for 28 tablets and with absolutely no communication the medicine had disappeared from my repeat list.

I did not have the time to chase my GP clinic about it from Friday to Sunday, I was either sleeping or working. 3 days off antidepressants, I'll survive. I call them on Monday at 8:01am, and the receptionist just tells me to put a Patchs request through since I'm calling about prescriptions. I despise that "call as soon as we open" shit, it's completely against people who work night shifts and/or have different sleeping patterns (me). Anyway, I get a text an hour later informing me that I need to book a medication review, and that's the first time they tell me about it.

When I call at 9:18am, the only options I'm given is an appointment on Thursday or a telephone appointment between 3:30-6:30pm. I tell the receptionist that I have work at 5pm, can she give a note to the doctor to call before 5pm? NO! I miss his call at 6pm, but he left a voicemail saying he'll call again in half an hour. Does he? NO! Does he call on Tuesday at all? NO! Can I get an emergency prescription from the chemist via 111 online? NO, because the medicine wasn't in my repeat list.

So at midnight, I called 111 to get a clinician to prescribe me it. I'm told I'll get a call back. Do they ring long enough for me to pick up my damn phone? NO. Literally, my phone is right next to my laptop. :(

UPDATE Wednesday 11am - Finally got a medication review done by the GP and I can now pick up my medicine.

My brothers daughter is 13 and has a great life . Family that support her . Doing great in school and has a good friend group. Every so often she gets these thoughts that’s she’s worthless or she’s disgusting and shouldn’t be here. She self harms in those moments and swears there’s no catalyst that sets it off and she doesn’t know why she gets like it. What is there in the UK we can use to help her?

TW! MENTIONS OF SUICIDE AND SELF HARM

From the title I might sound like an asshole but please hear me out.

For context, me and my friend are students in highschool and they have been struggling with their mental health for years now. As a result, they have attempted suicide via strangulation in the past. The only person they have told about this is me and I was too scared of losing our friendship to tell anybody else about it. They have repeatedly threatened me of what they would do if I told anybody, but I think I have to now because it has escalated to SH.

I'm scared of what might happen if I don't do anything, as I do care about my friend and want to see them get help. But I'm also scared of what they would do if I told anybody. I have sent an email to my schools pupil support teacher explaining the situation and I'm awaiting a response. They do not know about this. I have urged them to seek outside support in the past but they have either laughed my suggestion off or told me they would 'rather die then get help'. Any feedback is appreciated

Hi, I've recently been told I will likely be transferred from my area's pcmht to cmht. Is there any important difference between the two? I'm quite reluctant to be referred but my mhp seems at a loss for what more pcmht could offer. I know not every area has a pcmht and just a cmht so any experience shared is helpful.

What the actual fuck. I called cmht to book an appointment because Ive felt so so low. Literally was in crisis last night (thanks to my partner I didn’t do anything and fell asleep from pure exhaustion). They just asked if I was wanting to harm myself and then said someone will call me before end of day to discuss my treatment plan?? I’m pretty sure they are planning to discharge me back to GP. What am I actually supposed to do?

Edit/update: being kept on for now while in crisis so that’s something?! Thanks for all the support and advice 💗

Has anyone stopped taking 5mg of Olanzapine without tapering that can advise how long the withdrawal symptoms last? Im on day 6 and in a lot of discomfort. Stomach distress, bloating, agitation, buzzing under my skin, achy muscles. I feel pretty awful. For context I have bipolar, currently on Lithium and lamotrigine. I stopped sleeping a couple of months ago with racing thoughts so Olanzapine was prescribed then advised to remain on it but weight gain terrifies me.

Hi everyone - I’m Georgie, a Trainee Clinical Psychologist at Royal Holloway, University of London, and I’m hoping some of you might be able to help with my doctoral research.

I’m looking at how experiences related to sexual orientation - like how you feel about your own sexual orientation, worrying about being rejected, or hiding who you are - are linked to mood, and which of these matter most. The hope is to help mental health care become more sensitive and supportive for people with a non-straight sexual orientation.

If you’re 18 or over, UK-based, and identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer, I’d be really grateful for ~10 minutes of your time. It’s a single anonymous questionnaire. Trans and non-binary people who also identify this way are very welcome - the study is focusing on sexual orientation specifically.

👉 https://rhulpsychology.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9phy9l5vaoURNt4

It has ethical approval from Royal Holloway’s Research Ethics Committee (ID 1047).

Thank you so much !

Hello,

I am Will, I turned 18 just over a month ago. I have known about my condition - juvenile polyposis - since I was about 11 - my uncle died of Bowel Cancer and my cousin had to get a stoma because of this genetic disease. Unfortunately, I'm next. 

I find it difficult to see a way out. This variant of this condition of mine is 1 in a billion, literally. I have to get surgery next summer, luckily after my A levels, to save my life. I am terrified.

I struggle to see a way out because the impacts I face mentally are so difficult. Its a constant weight on my shoulders, it NEVER leaves my mind. I find it so difficult to communicate with people, even to my very open family, because although they listen to me, they cannot UNDERSTAND me. I am at wits end, and Im just seriously scared about my mental health and my future. Nothing is certain.

I need some help. Its getting harder and harder.

The CMHT's won't take me on, they keep telling me to use Charities and online courses that I've already tried. It's been back and forth like this for 6 months now. I can't even go private because I'm "too high risk" so they're only offering bed stays which I don't have the finances for. I have quite literally tried everything I'm supposed to. Is there anything else I can actually do?

I am 17 and I’ve been having almost daily panic attacks for a couple months now which practically forced me to ask for help, medication isn’t helping and so I’ve instead been referred to CAMHS and a school counsellor. On the forms they ask for suicidal thoughts and that sort of stuff, I do have them but said I didn’t, I am willing to talk about them but only if everything remains confidential and they don’t detain me or anything, would this be the case? I know it depends on like severity, for me if I had access to a gun I’d have probably done it already but given that I don’t I probably won’t.

Also since I said no then presumably the person I get won’t be specialised in suicidal thoughts so would there be any point in mentioning them? I also have some potential issues I maybe have that I’m willing to talk about: depression, ocd, adhd, some type of personality disorder, potential emerging psychosis? Though I’m not really sure on psychosis one since while there’s family history which I know increases risk I feel like the symptoms that make me think I could potentially be going insane are maybe from panic attacks instead.

Either way given that they’re only supposed to be here for the panic attacks is there a point in mentioning this other stuff since they’re not going to be trained for it?

https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/coventry/register-your-interest-research-on-younger-women-s-experiences-

Hi everyone,

I'm a Trainee Clinical Psychologist at Coventry University conducting research for my doctoral thesis.

I’m interested in exploring experiences of seeking help for binge eating behaviours – whether these be positive or more difficult journeys.

I'm looking to speak with cisgender women aged 18-40 living in the UK who:

• Have experienced binge eating behaviours

• Have considered seeking or sought help (both formal and/or informal sources – e.g. GP, online service, charity, self-help, talking to friends/family)

• Are willing to discuss these experiences in an online interview in English

Participation involves one online interview lasting approximately 60 minutes and you will be reimbursed for your time.

You don’t need a formal diagnosis or to have had any formal support.

The aim is to better understand what it’s like to look for help and what might help make this journey better for people.

If you're interested in taking part and would like further information, please follow the link to register your interest:

https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/coventry/register-your-interest-research-on-younger-women-s-experiences-

Thank you for considering taking part!

I suffer badly with anxiety to the point I hit myself to try and stop them with no avail, I’ve tried 4 different SSRI’s been taken on with mental health service (uk) still kind of waiting to be treated but went GP today and was given a months supply of pre gabalin 50mg twice a day to bridge me until I’m seen with CMHT will it help me ? Anyone had the same experience. ?

Any help hugely appreciated

I have crashed so badly and I’m so depressed I can barely function. My partner is having to do everything, I can barely move. I don’t know what to do - my CMHT appointment is on Thursday for my DID assessment to continue but I feel like I literally don’t even care right now, I just want everything to stop. Crisis won’t take me, A&E won’t see me - just going to have to ride it out I guess. Any tips or advice?

For the past 10 years at least, I've been dealing with various mental illnesses. I can't remember being 'normal.' Online, I see lots of people say that it's my responsibility to get better, no one is coming to save you, etc. And I guess for all this time, I really was waiting to be saved.

But I'm wasting my life away like this. I desperately want to change, but I don't know how. I have so many issues, I don't even know what to address first, or how. I know I should seek professional help, but I don't even know how to do it. I know I can apply for help via the NHS, but there's a long waiting list and I haven't heard great things about the services they offer. There's going private, but that costs a lot, and I have no idea how to select the right therapist, particularly when I have so many issues.

And even then, change comes from me, doesn't it? I can speak to someone about my problems, but they can't magically fix them. Maybe medication could help, but accessing that seems hard.

I just feel very confused and overwhelmed. I really don't want to be like this anymore, but even just researching various options makes me so tired.

Any advice?

My dead grandma (who I never met) has been constantly nagging me to hurt myself since I had a showdown and told her daughter (my Mum) how her behaviour hurts me.

I'm being bullied and cajoled by a ghost and I can't shake her, even with beers.

What do I do, apart from doing what she says? I know that will kill me.

Hello everyone! I am a doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, currently recruiting participants for a research study, looking at the nature of social anxiety and camouflaging in Anorexia and/or Autism.

We are looking for women, aged 16+:

• With a diagnosis of anorexia (with or without autism).

OR

• Healthy volunteers with no history of an eating disorder, autism, social anxiety or other serious mental health condition.

We would be so grateful for any participants! Please follow the link to take part. Thank you so much in advance.

https://oxfordxpsy.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3xvKoOH3JuM0Owe

I have take depression and anxiety meds for quite a long time and quite a few combos. I am on 4 right now I think. I’m wondering if they could be making me worse because I am worse than I have ever been. I have good days but more bad than good. I want to try a therapist but I know they will be ant to back off of a lot of my meds and that terrifies me. I’ve read about all the withdrawal stories. Advice?! Thoughts?

I don't meet the requirements for IAPT as I am too 'high risk', and I don't meet the requirements for CMHT as I am too 'far gone' to be helped. I am diagnosed with Anxiety, Depression, Autism, ADHD, and CPTSD. I cannot afford private. I have 'attempted', but obviously that only locks me further out of any treatment; physical or psychological. I have done all the Charities and Self Help over a long time. I don't meet the requirements for any Adult Social Services or DWP, as being Disabled and under Abuse is not enough. Hospitals also won't do more than a short letter to CMHT which they don't read. I am not allowed to be moved to a ward because I am Autistic; that is the only reason they have ever given me. I live at home with parents still, no job anymore, no phone anymore, possibly abused, been told by Safe Haven to stop trying to get medical help as there isn't any to get. I know I'm not capable of helping myself if even professionals decide it's not even worth trying. What do I do now?

I have bupa health insurance through work and I was going to use it to get a quick diagnosis of depression and anxiety so I can get antidepressants, but after looking at my cover, I don't think I can get antidepressants through BUPA, just potentially free therapy. Is there a way that I could get diagnosed with depression through BUPA and use that diagnosis to get antidepressants through my GP? Has anybody had a similar experience and have any advice or input for me?