So some of you know that I've been getting prepared to report with the police again (for the 4th time), and some of the steps that means taking.
This morning I had my first appointment in the process of having the right support available during this time. I met with a trauma therapist at the sexual assault centre in my city about advocacy. We spoke for about an hour about what I want to report, what I hope the outcome will be, what my fears are about reporting, and what the SA centre can do for me (this is a different centre from the one at the hospital). She said that it's going to be a complicated case, especially if no one else comes forward. What she recommended is that I have at least a consult with a lawyer prior to reporting to see what they recommend with this case.
We talked about having either my T, or this trauma therapist speak with the police prior to my statement about my dissociative disorder so they understand how it effects me, and how it manifests. Part of this means that I need to get an official diagnosis from the psychiatrist I see for meds (I see him tomorrow), and not just the information my T gave me about how she believes I fall on the dissociative spectrum. Legally speaking my T's word doesn't mean anything, only a psychiatrist's does. So before reporting to the police I need to make sure to have an official diagnosis from the psychiatrist.
She said ideally they want to see if my T can do the explanation to the police because she knows me better, probably knows more about it, and has personally seen it in me. So I will also ask my T if she is willing to do that when I see her tomorrow (busy day, counselling, psych, and T tomorrow).
She also went over the process of what should/may happen in reporting. I asked a few questions, didn't really get definitive answers because it depends on the police really. All in all I'm left with a head full of information, and a lot of anxiety. Again, this is just becoming more real the more steps I start moving through.
I will be spending probably both sessions with the social worker at the hospital and my T tomorrow talking about this whole process and the stress/anxiety that is coming up with it. The psych doc appointment will be for medication and I will ask about him providing an official diagnosis.
On Friday afternoon I have a meeting with the sexual assault centre I was at today, to meet the volunteer who will provide accompaniment to the police station, and some support before and after. I have already met her once before, but it's an official meeting to make sure it is the right thing and she is equipped to deal with it. I found out that I can have someone in with me while I'm reporting to the uniformed officers, which is the first time I sit and talk with someone, but I can't when the sexual assault officer does the video statement.
I'm stressed and anxious, scared, and a whole range of emotions I don't know how to identify. I know I need to do this, but I don't know if I'm strong enough, I don't know if I ever will be.
This morning I had my first appointment in the process of having the right support available during this time. I met with a trauma therapist at the sexual assault centre in my city about advocacy. We spoke for about an hour about what I want to report, what I hope the outcome will be, what my fears are about reporting, and what the SA centre can do for me (this is a different centre from the one at the hospital). She said that it's going to be a complicated case, especially if no one else comes forward. What she recommended is that I have at least a consult with a lawyer prior to reporting to see what they recommend with this case.
We talked about having either my T, or this trauma therapist speak with the police prior to my statement about my dissociative disorder so they understand how it effects me, and how it manifests. Part of this means that I need to get an official diagnosis from the psychiatrist I see for meds (I see him tomorrow), and not just the information my T gave me about how she believes I fall on the dissociative spectrum. Legally speaking my T's word doesn't mean anything, only a psychiatrist's does. So before reporting to the police I need to make sure to have an official diagnosis from the psychiatrist.
She said ideally they want to see if my T can do the explanation to the police because she knows me better, probably knows more about it, and has personally seen it in me. So I will also ask my T if she is willing to do that when I see her tomorrow (busy day, counselling, psych, and T tomorrow).
She also went over the process of what should/may happen in reporting. I asked a few questions, didn't really get definitive answers because it depends on the police really. All in all I'm left with a head full of information, and a lot of anxiety. Again, this is just becoming more real the more steps I start moving through.
I will be spending probably both sessions with the social worker at the hospital and my T tomorrow talking about this whole process and the stress/anxiety that is coming up with it. The psych doc appointment will be for medication and I will ask about him providing an official diagnosis.
On Friday afternoon I have a meeting with the sexual assault centre I was at today, to meet the volunteer who will provide accompaniment to the police station, and some support before and after. I have already met her once before, but it's an official meeting to make sure it is the right thing and she is equipped to deal with it. I found out that I can have someone in with me while I'm reporting to the uniformed officers, which is the first time I sit and talk with someone, but I can't when the sexual assault officer does the video statement.
I'm stressed and anxious, scared, and a whole range of emotions I don't know how to identify. I know I need to do this, but I don't know if I'm strong enough, I don't know if I ever will be.
