When is it appropriate to seek referral to secondary care?

[Guest nicolam381318]

I've got a follow-up GP appointment tomorrow morning. I've been taking Sertraline for the past couple of days but I'm not sure whether I should be requesting referral to the CMHT in view of my recent difficulties. When is it appropriate to request referral to secondary care? I don't want to push for something I don't need but I have been seriously struggling over the past few weeks. Everything's relative though, isn't it?!

Edited November 26, 2014 by nicolam381318

[Hal]

Hi Nicola,

Everything is relative, that's very true, but what really matters is how you feel and how you're coping, that's all that counts.......being realistic you're probably looking at at least a couple of months before the CBT's available, it's possible in that time you might feel better and won't need it, but as a safety net in case you do, I'd personally request a referral today.

Just having a plan in place in itself also seemed to help me to cope when times were difficult......I knew I struggling, but I also knew I was heading in the right direction.

One of biggest regret's not so much that I have OCD, I couldn't do anything about that, but I bitterly regret not accessing the CBT much sooner than I did, I really could have saved myself and my family a great deal of pain if I had bitten that bullet.

Go for it!

Hal :original:

[Guest lizinlondon]

Yes it truly depends on you. I personally feel if you are asking this question you already know it is the thing you need. Don't slip through the net and suffer like I did. Stand up for the right treatment - get checked out by a psych. We pay our taxes for the NHS so why not use it!

[Guest nicolam381318]

Thanks. I have to speak to iTalk tomorrow. If they can't help, my GP is going to make a referral to the mental health team.

I know it's the right thing to do. I'm sure the medication will help but I need to get to the bottom of the underlying cause.