Mental Health Assessment-really Scared!

[Ice_Fire]

Oh and she also reckons getting mum and dad out of my life asap can only be good...agreed! But it's such a scary prospect, however I do it, it's going to f*** my whole family up

 

[cherryblossom]

I'm pleased to hear it went okay. Well done :)

How well do you get on with your current counsellor? Is this the counsellor you can only see during term time? Do you feel like you are making progress with him/her? Or do you think you would benefit from seeing a trauma trauma therapist?

Having a support worker to help you through the exams sounds like a good idea, which ever route you decide to go with regard to therapy.

I don't know what a 'wellbeing team' is either. CBT is cognitive behavioural therapy, which is one of the most successful therapy for PTSD. You can read about CBT [DLMURL="https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/wiki/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/"]here[/DLMURL], or google it. I would imagine that a clinical psychologist would then become your therapist, using CBT. Definitely worth considering.

I don't think that an official diagnosis is 100% necessary, getting the correct help is way more important. However, if it were me - I would want a diagnosis (personal choice). You wouldn't 'need' to declare it for uni or jobs, but if you think you will need some special considerations in whatever you are doing, then having an official diagnosis will probably help. Whilst I don't want to bog you down with legalities, PTSD is classed as a disability under the UK disability act, which could help to protect you from discrimination, and could help you to secure special considerations / reasonable accommodations with in your work place of college. But I don't think you need to worry too much about that right now.

The other thing a Psychiatrist can help you with, is medications. Much better than a GP can. I would err on the side of caution with regards to increasing your citalopram. I hope your GP is monitoring you closely. SSRI's (the type of antidepressant you are taking), have been shown to increase suicidal thoughts, especially in younger people. So please take care with that. Generally speaking I think a psychiatrist will be better placed to advise and monitor you medication than a GP.

Also, yes, getting your Mum and Dad out of your life does sound like a positive step forward. But I can only begin to imagine how difficult that might be for you. Perhaps your boyfriend, or a support worker (further down the line), could help you to tell your Gran the full extent of the abuse you have suffered.

You have a lot to think about. I think you should try to get a support worker regardless of whatever else you decide.

Then think about your current therapist, and whether or not they are right for you, and if you feel you will continue to move forward with their help. Or if you feel you need to see someone more specialised in trauma.

You have made a huge leap forward today - sincerely well done :D

 

[Ice_Fire]

How well do you get on with your current counsellor? Is this the counsellor you can only see during term time? Do you feel like you are making progress with him/her? Or do you think you would benefit from seeing a trauma trauma therapist?

I really like her, I've been seeing her for about 18 months now. Took me ages, well, until the start of this year actually to even begin opening up about the abuse. I find myself editing/not saying everything...I dunno why, I guess I can sort of sense that she can't deal with it very well...I made her cry actually, but she apologised after and it hasn't happened again.

I'm definitely going to say yes to having the support worker...I know I need it lol.

I don't know what a 'wellbeing team' is either. CBT is cognitive behavioural therapy, which is one of the most successful therapy for PTSD. I would imagine that a clinical psychologist would then become your therapist, using CBT. Definitely worth considering.

Haven't had a look at the CBT stuff yet, but I will check it out, thank you :) I hope I'll be able to figure out what I want to do once I know more about it.

I don't think that an official diagnosis is 100% necessary, getting the correct help is way more important. However, if it were me - I would want a diagnosis (personal choice).

This is my view too. I don't want to be stuck in some sort of 'grey area'. But I mentioned it to Gran and she was like "I really wouldn't"...but she is very suspicious of mental health treatment in general after her mum got locked up, for what we now know is dementia. I think it would be useful now I know it's classed as a disability, but at the same time, it's, IDK...strange, to think I'm possibly disabled.

The other thing a Psychiatrist can help you with, is medications. Much better than a GP can. I would err on the side of caution with regards to increasing your citalopram. I hope your GP is monitoring you closely.

Yes, my GP is keeping a fairly close eye on me...I haven't been suicidal, (no more than usual anyway and it's just the..."I want to escape this-no Rose, don't be silly" kinda thing). I've just read that back and it's a little concerning how flippant I am regarding those thoughts! hmm...

Also, yes, getting your Mum and Dad out of your life does sound like a positive step forward. But I can only begin to imagine how difficult that might be for you. Perhaps your boyfriend, or a support worker (further down the line), could help you to tell your Gran the full extent of the abuse you have suffered.

Very frightening prospect, but I'm realising that it just can't continue the way it is. :eek:

Thank you for your guidance and kind words, it means such a lot to me...:)

 

[Ice_Fire]

Right...so, correct me if I've misunderstood anything, I'm trying to get my head around all this. (Playing whilst thinking always helps :) ) CBT is a short-term therapy, where the trauma is exposed along with all the really crap feelings about it, which are then 'processed'. Processed??? Like, you rethink it and stop feeling bad about it? :confused:

That's probably really pre-school level! lol

 

[Ice_Fire]

ah...I think I missed a rather key bit! ;)

You're supposed to learn how your reactions to things, like for example, my feelings on reading Dr Faustus can affect how you feel about it, leading to avoidance etc. So...it helps to find a different strategy of responding to triggers etc? So eventually you can face them a bit better and not automatically feel rubbish, for want of a more sophisticated way of putting it!

 

[cherryblossom]

CBT is a way to re-learn responses to a given situation/ feeling.

So...it helps to find a different strategy of responding to triggers etc? So eventually you can face them a bit better and not automatically feel rubbish, for want of a more sophisticated way of putting it!

That's pretty much spot on.

 

[cherryblossom]

But I mentioned it to Gran and she was like "I really wouldn't"...but she is very suspicious of mental health treatment in general after her mum got locked up, for what we now know is dementia. I think it would be useful now I know it's classed as a disability, but at the same time, it's, IDK...strange, to think I'm possibly disabled.

I can understand why your Gran would be suspicious, after her experiences. And while mental health care in the UK has moved on leaps and bounds over the years, it still has a long way to go IMO. I really don't think that the legalities of disablilties is something you need to concern yourself over right now. I have PTSD, if that makes me 'disabled' in the eyes of the law, so what. I still have a degree, a full time job, a house, a mortgage, a car, a life. If I'm struggling in my job due to PTSD, I have that diagnosis, to stop my employers discriminating against me. But I'd only use that to fall back on if things got really bad.

 

[Ice_Fire]

Still has a long way to go? Totally agree, from my experience dealing with mum, but I'm just curious?

I'm so happy for you that your life is on track, despite all you've been through. :)
Maybe I'll be at that point too one day...

Yeah, I'm with you on not fretting over the legalities of PTSD, it's way too much effort! Lol

 

[cherryblossom]

Still has a long way to go? Totally agree, from my experience dealing with mum, but I'm just curious?

I'm a paramedic, and I've met too many people who have dialled 999 out of desperation, when the mental health care system has let them down. I've met too many people who self harm, or o/d, because they don't get the day to day support that they need. Even just responding to 999 calls, I see regular patients who have mental health problems. It's frustrating to see the same person time after time, when what they really need is better long term care. Don't get me wrong - the NHS is an amazing service, but budget cuts and bureaucracy means that too many people don't get the right treatment that they need.

I'm so happy for you that your life is on track, despite all you've been through. :)
Maybe I'll be at that point too one day...

My life is far from on-track. In all honesty, I'm falling apart right now. PTSD is a constant battle. But we have to keep fighting. We have to continue to work out ways to make our lives better. And sometimes we have to be selfish in doing that.

 

[Ice_Fire]

Aww, I'm sorry CB...you just seem so strong and such a fighter. :hug:

Being a paramedic must be a really stressful job! I think it's amazing that you're doing such caring work that totally focuses on other people!

Yes, I agree with you on the long term care, the number of times I've rang 999 because nobody has ever got to the bottom of mum's behavior...

 

[cherryblossom]

I am strong, and I am a fighter.

Just that the fight seems to be never ending. But don't give up! And I won't either ;)

 

[Lucycat]

I am so glad it went well for you Ice_Fire. That is a big step.

Of course you now have a lot to think about, and making choices and decisions is very difficult. But from a very positive perspective it is great that they have said you are in control of your healing. That is terrific and allows you to develop as a young adult with choices of your own.

Good stuff. Keep up the good work!