[Little Jay]

Hello,

So I've been referred to the mental health team again (i'm in the UK so on the NHS) and am waiting for my first appointment with a new T. I haven't ever had a proper therapist, just psychiatrists and CPN's so I'm really not sure what to expect. Also, as over the 6 years I've been in and out of treatment I've never been given a proper diagnosis and am unsure if this new therapy team will be able to give me one, or if they will work together with my psychiatrist. I used to have CBT with a CPN but I don't really think she did it properly - just asked me how I was feeling and that was it, there didn't really seem to be any CBT to it. I'm hoping that this will be able to help me cope without medications so am putting a lot of hope into this working. I gave up meds cold turkey and am jumping into this now.

What I need to ask is how to I get a new T to understand everything, I hate having to explain it all again to someone new and if I feel they don't understand me then I stop giving them a chance. I was thinking of writing everything down so I don't miss anything but not sure if that's ok for this.
I'm just stressing out and really anxious about it. Anyone else experienced starting with a new team?

Thanks.

[kaliope]

i was with the state mental health system for many years and had like fifteen million pdocs so i know what you are feeling. it is really frustrating. i used to write it all down and hand it to my providers. some would read it, some would make me explain it. but then i had my notes so i didnt forget anything. it is easy to get frustrated when it does not seem that someone is understanding but you have to realize you are trying to explain a lot of your life to them in a very short window of time. it is going to take a while for them to get the picture. you have to be fair to them and give them a chance to understand. look at it from their perspective. imagine trying to jump in and understand the third season of a drama series when you havent watched the first two and dont know the back story. you would have a lot of questions and need a lot of explanation to understand what is going on. so give them a chance. good luck.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I am meeting with someone on Wednesday to do an intake assessment for joining county/DBT group. I'm terrified. What I do for any new doctors, is type up everything. I list past hospital stays, past crisis house stays, other past mental health facilities, past Ts, past Pdocs, past medications, current treatment team/doctors, current medications, my emergency contacts, current symptoms, and my fears and concerns I have. I do that so my mind doesn't go blank when they ask questions. Sometimes they read it, sometimes they make me read it, and a few have put it under a file for them to look at later. But at least I know I prepared myself as much as possible.

[Little Jay]

Thanks for your replies! I think I'm going to make a list for them (and myself). I used to keep a diary and every session my CPN would read it, so maybe writing things down again would be helpful, I'll have to bring it up.