Undiagnosed Newcomer - let down by mental health system who won’t diagnose or treat

[Survivor3]

Hi everyone. I've just joined. I am a trauma survivor and looking for support. I have been severely let down by mental health services who won't even diagnose me let alone treat me. Ptsd is painful and can make me isolated. Hoping to meet people here for sharing and positive reinforcement.

 

[somerandomguy]

Welcome.

What do you mean when you say mental health services won't diagnose you? Why not?

 

[Survivor3]

I don't know why. They are terrible and don't even acknowledge it. It's like a horrible battle with them that just makes me feel worse.

 

[somerandomguy]

Do you meet Criterion A - some kind of life-threatening event or prolonged abuse? We get a lot of folks here who say they have PTSD but don't meet the criteria. Other things can certainly be traumatic, but to have PTSD you must meet certain criteria.

 

[EveHarrington]

Welcome!

 

[Survivor3]

Childhood abuse over decades, violent attacks by gangs of people that nearly killed me, bullying and humiliation when in deep traumatic states.

 

[Justmehere]

Did your treatment team give zero diagnosis or treatment plan? Or did they give a different diagnosis and treatment that you disagree with and they won’t diagnose with PTSD? Why do you believe your treatment team won’t treat or diagnose PTSD? What country are you in?

 

[Survivor3]

hello justmehere. I'm in the uk. I left the treatment service and filed a complaint. I'm in the uk and they tried to diagnose me with something I know I don't have. Despite having information that I tried to commit suicide because of the trauma they simply refuse to acknowledge or diagnose ptsd with no treatment plan at all.

Do you meet Criterion A - some kind of life-threatening event or prolonged abuse? We get a lot of folks here who say they have PTSD but don't meet the criteria. Other things can certainly be traumatic, but to have PTSD you must meet certain criteria.

does my reply meet your criteria?

 

[Justmehere]

Ah ok. That makes more sense now. There are crappy mental health systems out there and I’ve read quite a few horror stories with the NHS.

That being said, self diagnosis of a major mental health condition like PTSD is not advisable. The majority of people who survive even severe trauma don’t end up with the specific clinical condition of PTSD. One could have other disorders from trauma or none at all. One can be suicidal after trauma and not have PTSD, but any of a number of other conditions.

And if you do have PTSD, it’s time to get proper support for it.

I’m glad you filed a complaint. I hope they can respond with solid steps forward. What are your next steps to getting treatment sorted out? What kind of treatment did they recommend?

 

[Survivor3]

Ah ok. That makes more sense now. There are crappy mental health systems out there and I’ve read quite a few horror stories with the NHS.

That being said, self diagnosis of a major mental health condition like PTSD is not advisable. The majority of people who survive even severe trauma don’t end up with the specific clinical condition of PTSD. One could have other disorders from trauma or none at all. One can be suicidal after trauma and not have PTSD, but any of a number of other conditions.

And if you do have PTSD, it’s time to get proper support for it.

I’m glad you filed a complaint. I hope they can respond with solid steps forward. What are your next steps to getting treatment sorted out? What kind of treatment did they recommend?

Thanks for your reply.
Their response was dismissive. They didn't recommend any treatment. I'm having to read books by Pete Walker to self help and maybe find trauma support groups so that I don't have to deal with this all on my own.

 

[Sandstone]

I've been there with the NHS. It has taken 7 years of fighting to get proper treatment, funded by the NHS but supplied by an external provider. I've put in formal complaints, involved my MP and used an advocate extensively. I've been through the attempts to diagnose me with a personality disorder instead, the repeated loss of my notes, people not returning calls even when I'm in crisis... the horror stories trail on and on. I did have one year of really good therapy with the NHS, but the rest was just a mess.

To be honest, unless you are feeling incredibly strong, I'd advise you to stop trying with the NHS and try to find some private provision. Some really good private therapists will reduce their fees if they can see you really want to work on it. If you want to persist with trying to deal with the NHS, I recommend finding a good disability advocate to support you

 

[Survivor3]

I've been there with the NHS. It has taken 7 years of fighting to get proper treatment, funded by the NHS but supplied by an external provider. I've put in formal complaints, involved my MP and used an advocate extensively. I've been through the attempts to diagnose me with a personality disorder instead, the repeated loss of my notes, people not returning calls even when I'm in crisis... the horror stories trail on and on. I did have one year of really good therapy with the NHS, but the rest was just a mess.

To be honest, unless you are feeling incredibly strong, I'd advise you to stop trying with the NHS and try to find some private provision. Some really good private therapists will reduce their fees if they can see you really want to work on it. If you want to persist with trying to deal with the NHS, I recommend finding a good disability advocate to support you

Thanks for your reply. I feel absolutely ripped apart at the moment. To think that these people are funded by people's tax money is a sick joke.