A bit stuck with getting treatment.

[Anasd]

I'm currently a bit stuck and not sure what to do next. I first went to my gp around a month ago after I suddenly started having problems around Christmas. However I didn't know it was OCD at that point though my research and some other developments since suggests it very likely is. The GP didn't recognize OCD probably partially due to the intrusive thoughts being around existential themes instead of more stereotypical ones and I also didn't really mention the compulsions as I didn't recognize them as such yet.

I was referred to the local mental health service and had a call with a mental health nurse who also didn't really recognise it as OCD probably for similar reasons. She referred me to another service who specialise in early intervention for psychosis probably due to the severe derealisation I sometimes get when the anxiety is bad. When talking to them they said it wasn't the service for me as it wasn't really psychosis I was suffering from.

That was a weekend a half ago and I haven't heard anything since. I have tried asking for them to contact me though the system they gave when scheduling the appointment but haven't heard anything.

What do you think the best thing to do next would it be to go back through the GP, try and get in touch with the mental health service directly or something else? It just feels like I'm going nowhere at the moment I have considered going private to at least get somewhere but I worry that could make it even more complicated.

[boo5920]

Hello Anasd,

 

Sorry that you are struggling with getting diagnosed and getting the treatment you need and deserve to help you cope with your OCD. You can refer yourself on the NHS website for psychological therapies, even though my GP referred me I have referred myself in the past for a different mental health issue. I am now currently on a waiting list and doing online therapy with the NHS on OCD.net whilst I wait to have therapy face to face. Once I was put on the waiting list for therapy and started online therapy I told my GP and she put me on medication for OCD to go alongside therapy. Obviously medication is not for everyone but I wanted to try anything to help me deal with OCD better. Don’t loose hope, keep trying! Also, maybe try getting an appointment with another GP if this one you are currently with is not helpful?

 

Wishing you all the best

[Caramoole]

Sadly this can be the case re diagnosing OCD.  Not all GP's have an extensive knowledge of the condition, particularly if it isn't one of the "common" ones like contamination worries, checking etc.  Similarly, I wouldn't be very happy with a mental health nurse making a diagnosis/judgement.

Did you e-mail or telephone to ask them to contact you?  A telephone call wouldn't  do any harm.  If that doesn't bring any satisfaction I'd make another appointment to discuss it with your GP.

[Hal]

Hi Anasd,

Just to echo boo's advice...I would have another word with your GP or maybe another within the Practice explaining you've pieced the pieces together more since you last saw them, and would like another referral. Even without knowing your compulsions it's a little disappointing that the mental health nurse didn't recognise your symptoms correctly though. 

If you'd like to refer yourself via the IAPT service you could bypass your GP completely, but I'd be tempted to give them another chance and if they drag their feet, fall back on a self-referral.

We have this article that goes into more detail about the process:

https://www.ocduk.org/overcoming-ocd/accessing-ocd-treatment/accessing-ocd-treatment-through-the-nhs/england/

 

[Anasd]

Thanks for the advice everyone it seems that going back to the GO and mentioning it might be the best approach he didn't seem dismissive or anything just more focused on the symptoms and he admitted himself he wasn't certain that's why he referred me straightaway. I think I will be much better able to articulate how I am getting intrusive thoughts leading to the anxiety now and the various compulsions I do in response now.