Would like to know how & where to get help.

[Edith]

Hiya,

I'm in my late 50s & was advised by a CPN I had c-PTSD.
Went to a charity after my father died that gave help to survivors of abusive upbringins and she said I had C-PTSD. I got a couple of councilling sesions which really helped me at that time as things were very stressful with siblings & we (myself & partner were being told we would be done away with).

I had a very dysfunctional upbringing & have just hobbled on attempting to please my family over the years, but that didn't work on so many levels. I now have nothing to do with the remaining family members.

Started getting death threats from a sibling who always was scary.
Parent's are now both dead & one sibling killed himself a few years ago.

Things came to a bad head a few years ago when I found out that I was disinherited at my Mother's funeral - long story.

I always had struggles with depression but a while back became very anxious & had panic attacks. I was also menopausal. My long term partner became ill & is now semi-disabled. I too became ill & have a chronic gut disease.
I went to Dr a year ago hoping to get therapy but was told I must go see psychiatrist to be diagnosed 1st.
Got diagnosed with BPD & basically told to look it up as there was a lot 'out there'.
Ordered books on-line but can't see myself as BPD.

Had another meeting with psych last week & asked why aren't I getting any help but she just stared at me and said your brother was Bi-polar & I think that she now wants to attach that label to me. I feel like she has messed with my head. I have had no help just the offer of drugs which I don't want.

I don't know where to go from here. I feel that I have carried a lot of stuff around with me for 50 years and it would be great to put some of it to bed as I have just struggled on in a trance at times.

 

[digger]

Went to a charity after my father died that gave help to survivors of abusive upbringins

How long ago was this? Is approaching this charity again, or other charities, an option?

Do you still have a CPN?

As many UK members here can unfortunately attest, acessing appropriate help through the NHS can be really difficult. When do you next see the psychiatrist?

 

[Edith]

Thanks for the reply.

That was about 9 years ago I was given a couple of councelling sessions. I don't feel as desperate as I did then. I was in a terrible state.

The CPN was about twenty years ago & in a different area from where I now live. I had to move away from my home town.

I've seen the pyschiatrist three times & after I discovered what she'd written - 6 pages of very personal details about past abuse & stuff & that is now in my medical records I was mortified that she just recorded intimate stuff I told her. I don't trust her. I got someone to come with me the last twice I saw her & she said I would be referred to a therapist but she still hasn't as she came out with the same stuff she did 6 months back & said as I hadn't specified what type of therapy I wanted then she hadn't referred me yet, but again promised to fast track it as she did 6 months ago. She wanted to see me in 2 months time but I said that I didn't see the point at all as I have so far had no benefit from our meetings - infact the opposite as I now have this diagnosis on me which doesn't seem right. My chronic condition has flared up as feel stressed out about the whole thing & I've been quite physically ill for a week before seeing her & a week since seeing her. I felt I was doing my physical & mental health in by seeing her again.

I saw a trainee physcologist who wanted to know if I was seeing him because I liked the attention. When I got bad cramp after being an a car for 2 hours before seeing him he said it was because I was speaking ill of my family that I had pains. I also was asked by him if I could seek to forgive my family as that would help me - he returned to this theme several times. I said I would try but it would take time but gave over seeing him as I felt he was a bit too 'odd' for me.
Infact he was not what I expected at all.

Is this normal? Are you given a freaky diagnosis, told to look on-line & then that's it basically? It feels callous.

 

[Leckey]

"why aren't I getting any help ?"

Can you elaborate if I'm incorrect? It sounds like you're asking why between the doctor, the councilor, and the psychiatrist, why isn't anything helping long term?

I carried my CPTSD for 58 years and then found a body based modality that helped immensely. We can talk about it if you'd like. I know that hell. I felt broken and irreperably so.

 

[Edith]

I've never heard of body based modality.

I think that all they wish to give you here is drugs & I've tried them & had side effects & would rather not take them.

 

[Leckey]

I've never heard of body based modality.

I think that all they wish to give you here is drugs & I've tri...

Pretty much par for the course in the western medical model protocol for any form of PTSD. I had it, and ran into that. Then I discovered that this stuff is in my body, not between my ears, for the most part. Hence, I looked for a body based modality.

 

[Edith]

I have done mindfulness - used to go to a class. I found it wonderful & do try & do some excecises but I'm not good at sticking to it.

If there was regular class that I could go to again I would do that as I found it good.

I live in the middle of no where.

So what do you mean by body based modality & is it expensive?

 

[Leckey]

I have done mindfulness - used to go to a class. I found it wonderful & do try & do some excecises but I'...

The body based modality I learned is called TRE, and body based means that you allow the body to complete the unfinished fight/flight physiological states that when not resolved, turn into PTSD regardless of it's form. Expensive is relative I guess to provider and country. The advantage of TRE is once you've learned it, you don't need clinical visits. It is taught in England, and it can be taught using a video call. Do some Google searching and check it out. The Brits teaching it have a Facebook page, as does the Scottish contingent. I happen to live in the US. The UK (save Walesa as far as I know), the US and 33 other countries have Providers. The "exercises" are really stretches for the most part, and as a firefighter when I first did them, thought "these are lame." Turns out I was completely wrong.

 

[Edith]

Thanks for that. I'll take a look. Have never heard of it.

 

[Suzetig]

Are you able to access private therapy - that might help because you're in control of what happens there and a good therapist in the uk won't be hung up on diagnosing you and will work with you and whatever you bring.

There are a number of charities that also offer free counselling - have a look online, or try speaking to NAPAC who might be able to point you to someone local.

 

[Edith]

Thanks for that but i am on a very low income as I am a full time carer for my partner so anything expensive is out of the equation really. I would hate to have paid for what I've received so far recently as all it's done is mess with my head.

 

[Missycat]

@Edith check out charities online and if they offer counselling but its fee based then you can speak to them to see if they offer a sliding scale based on income / affordability. You can also check on line for therapists Link Removed has BACP registered therapists and you csn review thier profiles. Again they may offer sliding scale fees.