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the nhs have failed me


Guest paramoregirl

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Guest paramoregirl

Hi there,

I have been very fortunate that in the past I have had access to private health treatment and an excellent psychiatrist that I unfortunately don't have anymore due to funding. I went to my doctor and asked for some cbt on the nhs. I'am on citalopram 40mg and I have checking and some mild contamination ocd. The doctor referred me to my local nhs mental health care team (Maidstone) for some cbt who wrote back saying I should be put on antipsychotics. I was absolutely furious as they made that decision from a referral letter my doctor sent who only saw me for five minutes, ONCE! It is shocking and alarming that someone without even talking to me, knowing my history, knowing what I've been though in my life can just magic up a prescription for antipsychotics based on a doctors letter who I have only ever seen once in my life. I don't suffer any delusions or hear voices and I truly believe these things are just dished out far to readily to numb us down and shut us up. Don't get me wrong citalopram has saved me life and helped me enormously. But I cannot believe someone who has never met or spoken to me suggests I take antipsychotics first rather than have CBT. I really feel let down by the NHS and that they simply don't care. I have since found a new doctor who seems a lot better and says she will refer me again and that I defiantly don't need antipsychotics. I have since bought DR Schwartz book on overcoming ocd which is currently providing me with lots of help and support.

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Guest yinyang

Hello paramore :original:

Yes it is a disgrace how they can dish out tablets like that without a proper assesment first. As I have said before the problem lies with funding. It has to be cheaper to hand out medication than offer therapy or a specialist evaluation. In my experience with my local mental health team they just don't have the resources and have to "prioritise". What you actually have to do to be put at the top of the list I dread to think..

Anyhoo glad you are getting somewhere now, keep up the :boxing:

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Guest paramoregirl

Hi yin yang thanks for your reply. Yes it is frightening to think what they have to put at the top of the list. I mean how bad do you have to get before you can actually see someone.

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Personally I would talk to your gp and perhaps raise the nice guidelines for the treatment of ocd.

where it clearly states that meds should be of the ssri variety, and CBT is the correct treatmemt for ocd, and why you wasn't offered it

You may also might be able to self refer via IAPT if that applys to your area.?

good links here from ocduk hompage > http://ocduk.org/gp-says-no-to-cbt

iapt link > http://ocduk.org/iapt

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Guest yinyang

Tried IAPT like you said legend and 2 weeks on and still no reply. I'm going in armed to my GP appointment tomorrow :original: I also wrote to her asking to be referred to a psychiatrist, see what happens.

Maybe you could try this paramore?

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Hi Paramoregirl.Even if funding is the problem simply putting you on tablets alone probably won't help and because of that, treatment will be longer and more costly in the end.We need some people in the NHS who can stand up and raise these issues with their MPs and not prescribe medication that they must know won't work.Keep pestering em and I hope you get somewhere soon

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Guest paramoregirl

Thanks so much, I have made some great progress recently and am actually planning on coming off my tablets or at least trying too and giving it my best shot. I have a doctors appointment in a week. I totally agree with you about the funding, its all about money. Isnt it always? Something needs to happen in this country drastically as people just aren't getting the treatment and support they need. I mean how bad does it get before you actually get treated correctly and safely?

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Guest yinyang

We did write to Norman Lamb MP and the mental health center and my GP but I'm sorry to say in my case, still no joy. Just more tablets to try :original: I'm really not sure I can do anymore (sanely) to get any help!

Awesome you are making progress PG. Lets hope next week is the start of good things to come for you

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Guest paramoregirl

hahahahaha well sounds like you are doing a great job at keeping them on their toes. Just a shame it has to be that way and people don't help you like they should. I mean that's what we pay our national insurance for.

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Guest yinyang

Got the phonecall I have been waiting for this morning. Finally got an appointment with a consultant clinical psychologist next week!

Just goes to show what you can do with alot of effort although it shouldn't be this way.

Yings a happy bunny today :original:

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Got the phonecall I have been waiting for this morning. Finally got an appointment with a consultant clinical psychologist next week!

Just goes to show what you can do with alot of effort although it shouldn't be this way.

Yings a happy bunny today :original:

great news :)

and sadly you are right in regards having to fight for it, that's disgusting

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Guest yinyang

Thanks legend :original:

Apparently there was a "break down in communications". I'm sure even if they was using carrier pidgeons they would have been able to "communicate" within 6 months.

I hope this will give others that are struggling something positive to take from my situation. You will be surprised what a few well written letters to the right people can do.

Just a shame it's at a time when we are at our most vulnerable

Edited by yinyang
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Thanks legend :original:

Apparently there was a "break down in communications". I'm sure even if they was using carrier pidgeons they would have been able to "communicate" within 6 months.

I hope this will give others that are struggling something positive to take from my situation. You will be surprised what a few well written letters to the right people can do.

Just a shame it's at a time when we are at our most vulnerable

any old excuse.....zzzzzzz, but like I said and others, push for it, and youll get it

fingers crossed , lets hope it makes a huge difference to you and kicking that ocd butt, hard

legend :)

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Excellent that you managed to get help at last.It's a shame for the type of ocd sufferer who tends to feel that everything is their fault and that they deserve to feel this way.They are not going to ask for help even though they need it and the professionals are just letting them suffer in silence

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I've been begging for CBT alongside medication for YEARS and I still haven't had it! I've been offered more anti-psychotics, mood stablisers and various other nasties to 'control' my illness but I keep stressing that medication can only do so much! It's awful that we have to fight for what could be the best treatment for our conditions.

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