Anybody else had this experience?

iditp20 · Aug 12, 2014, 11:22 AM

The GP and the physiologist gave me crisis mental health teams number while I am waiting for my appointment with the psychiatrist.

2/4 times have left me traumatised. Earlier I felt really disorientated. Like I wasn't in my body and everything was going extremely slowly around me.

I rang up and said I'm not feeling very good. He asked me my name and I had to spell it out for him 3 times.

He said he didn't know why the GP give me their number and asked what I expected them to do.

I told him how I felt and he said I sounded too together so I couldn't be feeling like that and if I felt like that I would be on more medication than I am now.

Before all of this I said i was waiting for a diagnosis.

The conversation had lasted 2 minutes. This also happened the previous time I called.

I put the phone down and got in bed and was left crying.

detachedangst · Aug 12, 2014, 11:25 AM

That is a horrible response to get when you are reaching out for help. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I hope you are feeling a little better now.

flours · Aug 12, 2014, 11:38 AM

I heard this answer so many times in my life. you have a real problem and go to the exact person that is supposed to help you with that and they just say: "fine. and what do you expect me to do now?" and each time I want to yell at them "your ****ing job!"
also got very rude answers when I started to look for help. I thought they make it as difficult as possible for anybody to get it. to scare people off. found that very hard because every single disappointment like this would make me want to give up immediately. and I did a couple of times.
they should really know that!!!
they should know people struggling don't have the power to fight all this dismissive behavior.
it makes me really angry. if you already feel like nobody cares and then they repeatedly show how they don't care....
keep on trying! it can be hard to find helpful people but they exist.

iditp20 · Aug 12, 2014, 11:43 AM

I am worried that I now have to cope with myself all by myself for another 3 weeks it's like I'm in limbo.
It made me want to just quit and kill myself because there is no way out I have been battling this for 9 years. I finally get diagnosed in about 2 weeks. I struggle with self harm, and mood swings, and suicidal thoughts every day. I can't cope with one more person thinking I'm hopeless

Fuzzybear · Aug 12, 2014, 03:33 PM

UK...

(I'm in the UK too

Please don't give up. These people? should do their freakin job

And no, nobody should have to "cope" with uncaring "professionals"

Aug 12, 2014, 04:24 PM

The crisis team can be so hit and miss, and I'm sorry you had such a bad experience

ToeJam · Aug 12, 2014, 04:33 PM

This was unfortunate miscommunication from your gp and (I hate to say it) unhelpful but expected crisis team response in instances like this. Happened to me both last year and more recently... the first time I had been referred to them, they assessed me but didn't take me on... but they didn't specify it very well and being in a confused state I thought I could call them. Second time I was under the care of the hospital and had been discharged from their (crisis team) care (I had absconded from hospital at the time and after a frantic call from my mum I relented to calling the crisis team for advice thinking they'd still advise me) though I didn't know that when calling.

Unless you are on the books for crisis team support, they will not support you... full stop. You need to be directly assessed by them or transferred over to their care from hospital and even then it's a short term solution... usually up to a week or two to ensure you're either getting care from other resources such as a community psychiatric nurse... or hospital for example... or everyone concerned is happy you can go back to gp support.

Don't be disheartened by this... it's not an attack against you... it's a stretched nhs budget and bad communication between services. Speak to your gp about what happened and ask for a referral so you can be properly assessed according to the correct administrative bs that keeps everyone but us happy, which will probably be at home.

Mikeyboy · Aug 12, 2014, 04:38 PM

This is absolutely unacceptable, but unfortunately I think this kind of experience is all too common, which is quite awful if you ask me. It shouldn't be as hard as it is for people so in need of help to get the help they need.

Can you try calling the psychiatrist and explaining to them just how hard of a time you're having, seeing if maybe they can squeeze you in one day, or if someone cancels an appointment if you can fill their spot? Anyway, hang in there.

iditp20 · Aug 12, 2014, 11:52 PM

The worst thing is I am on there books and have been for 4 years.

I have tried to call and I just get a voicemail and then I leave one and they don't call back :a

ToeJam · Aug 13, 2014, 03:57 AM

Perhaps it works differently depending on area then (didn't realise this). I'm in the East Midlands and here the Crisis Team are specifically a short term measure. I'm being referred to a community psychiatric nurse for longer term support and to develop my case file on a 1-1 rapport (whereas with the crisis team you get someone new each time and it can be hard to keep track).

Frankbtl · Aug 13, 2014, 05:49 AM

Hi iditp20, if your already seeing/"signed up to see" a psychiatrist, no waiting for appointments if you're struggling, hey?

Just give them a call, explain to their secretary exactly how bad it is for you and they should be able to contact your psychiatrist for you, or let you know where they are to call e.g. if they're based at a hospital that day. From there you should get a much sooner point of contact. But remember explain "exactly how bad it is for you". And keep calling if you don't get an answer!!!

And in between, I know it must have been a big let down with the crisis team.........but if they/no-one's helping perhaps try any crisis/hotline number, hey?? Just something/someone.
And you know iditp...........you have us on here too...........if you want to talk/share.........we're here for you.

Alison

TheOriginalMe · Aug 13, 2014, 05:17 PM

Mental Health services in the UK are so hit and miss. To make it worse, each area is different so we can all offer advice based on what works where we are but it might not work somewhere else.

I don't get any support, other than from my GP and I've been on a waiting list for CBT for nearly 6 months, when I asked how much longer, they wouldn't say but I got the impression it would be at least another two months.

Good luck and I hope you get more help than me.

waterknob1234 · Aug 13, 2014, 06:07 PM

Hi idipt20, that sounds so wrong that they did not give you the help you needed when you called. If the crisis team or whomever they are fails you I would try calling your psychiatrist directly, or call your GP, or your medical hospital. Whatever you do, don't give up. Best of wishes and I hope you get the help you need and deserve.