[LostOnTheTrail]

Hi, all.

It’s been a while since I was last here, and in that time I have discovered that the situation which brought me here almost certainly wasn’t as I believed it to be. I was informed that an online friend was going through an eating disorder, which claimed her life in 2011.

Photographs which were sent by family members can be found on other websites which were nothing to do with anybody by the name of that person. I’ve sought death notices for them and three others who were said to have died within a couple of years of one another, and found nothing.

I’ve struggled with ‘low mood’ in the past, and this situation has really brought home the fact that it is an issue I cannot ignore any longer. At the beginning of this month, I burst out crying in the cinema for no good reason...three-quarters of the way through Pete’s Dragon.

I spoke to my GP after this, and was given info for two counselling services. I contacted one of these a couple of weeks ago, and had an initial assessment. Moderate depression was the outcome. The woman I spoke to said she would be in touch after she had spoken to her supervisor about the course of action we would take. (I declined CBT, because I need to talk to somebody about the factors that are influencing my mood, more than I need to be re-programmed.) Activities that used to help me through (writing, playing guitar, etc.) do not hold any interest for me at the moment.

The Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner called back on Tuesday, and took me through the assessment again. (No, I’m not a risk to myself. Yes, I am still depressed – now moderate-severe) ‘Ordinarily, I’d be able to give you an appointment now, but the counsellors in your area haven’t put their availability on the system. I will contact them tomorrow, and they will be in touch. It will be another couple of weeks.’

Meanwhile, I’m feeling no better. I start a course in a couple of weeks, and felt it best to let my tutor know what is going on. I just needed to get it out somewhere. How do you cope with waiting?

Thanks for listening,

Lost

How do you cope with waiting? The same way you coped before the phone assessment..

I know it's not what you want to hear. I live in a country with excellent health insurance. The downside is that it's fairly normal to have to wait up to 8 months to see a therapist. Somehow, people manage..

[mostlylurking]

Maybe you could spend the time reading a bit about therapy, so that when you meet a new T you can tell them how you want to begin and what you'd like from them. It's not wasted time if it helps you figure out your specific needs. And it will remind you that help is coming.

If I were you I would probably phone again to ask if you had been allocated an appointment yet. From the sound of it, this should have been done, and I think that with the NHS you sometimes need to keep phoning.

[LostOnTheTrail]

Originally Posted by Brown Owl

If I were you I would probably phone again to ask if you had been allocated an appointment yet. From the sound of it, this should have been done, and I think that with the NHS you sometimes need to keep phoning.

Rest assured if I haven't heard from them within the suggested timeframe, I will be kicking up stink about it. Thank you for your advice.

[LostOnTheTrail]

I received the call today. After telling them that I cannot travel easily, I was offered five sessions in one place, and one session in another place. 'You might not need the last session'. I find it hard to believe that he can make that kind of judgement based on one telephone conversation. He spoke very quickly, as well. I found it difficult to follow what he was saying. I'm back on the waiting list, with no idea when they will contact me again.

[SoupDragon]

The NHS isn'the doing so well with meeting the needs of people who may need psychological support. I think 6 sessions is standard initially and they use a "steeped" programme if you are deemed to need more support following those 6 sessions. I think there are very long waiting lists for more longer term support. I pay privately in the UK for a psychotherapist, it is a stretch financially, but at least I have more control over who I see and for how long. Hope you get your sessions soon. In terms of waiting, have you tried Mind? Think they can offer support.

[LostOnTheTrail]

Finally have an appointment, for the 25th of this month.

That's great! I hope it goes well.

[Hefalump]

In England waiting can be a postcode lottery. I had a sixteen month wait for trauma therapy.

[LostOnTheTrail]

Originally Posted by Hefalump

In England waiting can be a postcode lottery. I had a sixteen month wait for trauma therapy.

Thanks, Hefalump. I finally got to see someone, and whilst I'd love to say it's going well...I'm not sure it is. We seem to have differing ideas over why I'm actually there.