Psychological services!

Those of us at the sharp end of PTSD know how diabolical the situation is for any kind of mental health care in the UK. How on earth can someone with a very debilitating be expected to wait months (sometimes years) for any kind of psychological interventions.

In my own experience, I had to wait over 18 months for any kind of real psychological treatment to be available. Although psychological assessments can occur within a couple of months, one is often told that another extensive wait is required before any kind of treatment can begin.

On 8th February the BBC ran a newsitem ('I was walking the streets screaming') where Paul Davidson, 50, from Gateshead was told he would have to wait three-and-a-half years to see a psychologist!

Ironically. if a person is suffering with a mental health problem which results in them being 'sectioned' the wheels turn a lot faster. A diagnosis of schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder seems familiar to the professionals and they seem more willing to attribute (and totally waste on occasions) resources on supposed 'treatment'.

So what is the answer and what are we to do?

I waited for about 1 year to be referred to the local mental health team. This was due to my GP not realising the severity of trauma I'd sustained and kept giving me various medications for anxiety. Due to this, by the time I finally saw someone at the local mental health team my PTSD was already entrenched.

I moved to the Netherlands 5.5 years ago and there is even less help here. I have finally been seen by the local mental health team here and they have no treatment whatsoever, in fact cancel most appointments they make at the last minute and have completely let me down. Due to this I'm now agoraphobic as I can't learn the language or make friends.

In my desperation I tried to put in a claim to get treatment privately from the CICA. I was initially awarded 1000 pounds, yet when I was given a diagnosis of PTSD DSM 1V , they simply abandoned my case telling me I was not entitled to anything. I'm now going to appeal, but it has taken over 5 years so far.

Personally, I think that GP's should be more aware of PTSD and even if they suspect that someone may have PTSD they immediately refer the person to the mental health team for an evaluation. IF, the person is seen as suffering considerably from trauma then I think these people should be fast-tracked to immediate support. I'm sure it is well documented that treatment works much better the sooner people get it when suffering PTSD.

Although, saying this, what annoys me about PTSD is that there is a stigma attached to it as with other mental illnesses. Although, personally I see myself as 'injured' as oposed to ill. Therefore a person with 2 broken legs would not simply be left in agony to suffer, instead they would get treatment immediately. The same system should be in place for people who have suffered severe trauma, although I cannot see that happening for a long time to come, sadly.

I saw my GP after the 2nd person went under my train and he couldn't have been more sympathetic. However, he said that he has seen so many drivers in my situation and he was concerned that no one had ever done an extensive study into what we go through. The "normal" procedure at the moment is for us to receive counselling through work and then carry on with our job. But what if we can't? Killing one person is enough, never mind two. He did admit that I would be waiting at least a year for NHS support so I am lucky I have work support but all the same it seems that when we attend our GP's, we are a novelty for want of a better word and they don't know how to speak to us. Just because we don't go into the surgery with a sore throat or an arm that hurts here when you prod it, we are left to our own devices. I think in all fairness the GP's don't know what to do. I think they know what they'd like to do but the NHS constrains them. I can't tell my bank manager I won't be paying my mortgage this month because i feel like I am going mad and I don't feel like I can work. Its a rubbish situation for want of a better word!

Hi all i had an accident at work 3 years ago, my leg was crused which left me disabled. After the accident i had very bad nightmares and flash backs etc for a month or two.
after about a year my employer were pressuring me to go back to work i was still on crutches and i went for a meeting with them. the manager joked about the forklift truck which was coming towards us and i hade a panick attack which made me physically sick. to cut a long story short i went and started having really bad nightmares and flashbacks and every time the employer would phone or contact me i would panick attacks and flashbacks.
I decided to go and see my GP who told me that i might be suffering PTSD
It was nearly a year and a haft until i saw a psychologist for an assessment they said exactly the same as the GP. By this time i felt like i could not live with this and i was considering topping my self. A few months later my solicitor sent me to se a Psychiarist who diagnosed me with PTSD and depression and put me on Citalopram . So five months later my treatment started which was CBT during the sessions the psycologist said that i am not suffering from PTSD because it sounds like am telling a story and i am not crying as engineer i never cry he says i do'nt show show enough emotions.
So iam am not being teated for now, 3 years on from the accident i managed to make the flashbacks and nightmares subside on my own but i still get panick attacks and avoid going near my ex work or anyone that reminds me of them I have courtcase pending which i am very worried about it.
I feel that The Mental Health Trust has let me down how can a Phychologist undermine a PSYCHIATRIST evuation has any one else had this happen to them i lookforward to anyones replies thanks Marc

mark,
It's therapists like the one you mention that worry me. They obviously have no real experiance with psychological trauma and little knowledge of PTSD.

Re: diagnostic criteria for PTSD section C. Persistant avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness(not present before the trauma), as indicated by three(or more) of the following.
1.) efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma.

Now what this means is that although you can speak about the trauma with someone your therapist expects you to be crying your eyes out and behaving really emotionally when discussing the trauma. I know few PTSD sufferers who are like this. It's a daily battle living with nightmares and panic attacks that people try their best to hold themselves together. One way of doing this when discussing trauma is to step back from the situation and discuss it as if one wasn't actually there at the time of the trauma. It's how the body copes and tried to protect itself. I could be wrong, but I think this is also described as detachment, meaning exactly what I described above. It is also very common in PTSD sufferers and is actually on of the main criteria when being diagnosed by a real 'professional'.

I was diagnosed by a very experienced psychiatrist with over 40 years expert/experience in psychological trauma. I didn't cry once during my assessment and simply answered his questions like you did in your therapy sessions and I have PTSD DSM1V. I think you should go back to your GP and tell him/her this. Often GP's have little knowledge of PTSD too, so often it is advisable to help them by giving them information.

Another thing, people can also get secondary injury when so called professionals who have little experience with trauma tell people to 'get over it'or similar. As you know, the symptoms are not nice to live with and thats bad enough, then to have some person tell you your not suffering actually increases the trauma.

From what you describe you definately deserve treatment from someone with experience in trauma who can really help you and also encourage you, rather than someone who is dismissing your symptoms and knocking you further down.

I have PTSD,I have Bipolar disorder,well Depression i was told of late,with One manic episode .I have Social Phobia,and have just been put on Diazepam,for my situation at work,that has brought back some of my past. I have to go to work on Monday,after a week off after Xmas.The part of my past that was abusive has just come back to work,fortunately hes not on the same shift as me. The situation was out of my hands the Police wanted to speak to me.
I have an appointment with the dentist on wednesday,last time i went there,i had a panic attack.However,he did do me a favour and get my Lichen Planus diagnosed.I go the hospital for a review of that on the 15th,and maybe another biopsy from my mouth for that.The 1st one never healed properly.
I have a half hour appointment with my keyworker,at adult mental health on the 10th,and thats once a fortnight if im lucky.
My next appointment with my consultant is March.He is a reader in Psychiatry,and a lovely man.Im in with the Mood and Anxiety clinic .Ive been an outpatient at the dop for the last 12 yrs,and they say it takes approximately 8 to 10 yrs for a diagnosis of Bipolar.
Ive also had 2 lots of Psychotherapy for my sexual abuse as a child.Which i think made me worse.
Got turned down dla,as i dont self harm enough,can use a mobile phone,can hold down a full time job,when im not screaming and swearing at my shift manager,am too articulate,and even too posh enough,would you believe.
Oh and got turned down CBT for being too anxious,but ive got to stay at work !
Community care.
Forgot to say,was under cmht,but gave up on them,they made me angry.I was having a bad day,and the duty officer said,why dont you go for a nice walk along the beach. What do i do when im at work,go for a walk on the runway.Dont think airport officials,or security would be too pleased.They hardly ever passed messages on,and i phoned for my Care co-ordinator,they said hes on a study day,phone back tomorrow.
Someone earlier did mention about ptsd,being a bit of a rare case,for want of a better phrase.I went for a screening with Bupa,and was asked if a student could be present.When i first started dealing with all this i got told weve not had one of you before.I do quite a lot of bipolar studies,social anxiety studies,had a student for maxillofacial at the general,mood research with Cardiff uni,and Intrusive thoughts with u.c.l.,but most of my stuff has been with Southampton uni,at the dop,and ive also been to do study with the i.o.p. with vitamins B12,and Folic acid.
Hope i havent bored you too much.

Blimey, and here i was thinking i was completely alone !!
After visiting my GP, i was referred to the local CMHT for an assessment. They were really efficient and sympathetic, but unfortunately, they lulled me into a false sense of security !!
It took about 18 months to finally be accepted into Counselling, by which time i'd moved on from feeling as low as i did at the time, but still, the counselling was necessary.
On my first visit, i was introduced to a really nice (and young) girl, who explained that she was a student, and that she would be my counsellor, overseen by a more experienced counsellor! To be honest, this wasnt really a problem for me, as i knew that although she was experienced, i would still be safe (so to speak).
About 12 months after beginning counselling, i was told that by the student that it was time for her to move on, and that i would be taking my sessions with the more experienced counsellor who had been mentoring her.
This set me back quite a bit. I'd become used to this girl, had started to feel comfortable, and was starting to open up, and i knew that i'd have to start all over again with the new guy.
As LizLou said " i got told weve not had one of you before" this was the same in my case. The Student actually used me to write a case study that she needed for University, as my background was so 'interesting' !!

Anyway, not long after going back to counselling, i decided to stop going, as i felt i was ok (wrong!!!) - a few months later i went down again, and saw my GP, who said i should go back on the waiting list for counselling.
That was 2 years ago and i'm still waiting, very, very patiently!!!

I am so sorry to hear that you guys have had to wait such a long time for support and help.

Everything happened really quickly for me. It was all set up in matter of weeks.

Initially I was warned that it could all take a long time and i had read the posts on here so I was really shocked CMHT saw me after a month of my referral and at my second visit they phoned the trauma specialist who saw me two weeks later and after my assessment which lasted three weeks he said see you next week. I have initially been given 20 sessions with him after which we will review how I am getting on and if more is needed then so be it.

I wish you all luck with the journeys you are on. For me it is difficult and lonely I am sure you can identify with that.

Take care everyone

Hi All

I would seem that it depends on where you are in the UK as to how quickly you get treatment. My GP informed me right from her diagnosis that she was not happy with CMH in my area, that the waiting lists were very long & those to see a trauma specialist even longer, also that the range of therapy was limited. She advised me that if I could afford to I should seek private therapy which I have & I'm now seeing a psychologist weekly for EMDR, ironically there is an NHS EMDR specialist in the next the next village but it comes under a different health authority & they refused me treatment, the post code lottery strikes again!

As I've now been off work for a year paying for my treatment will become difficult as benefits are limited too, why is it when you need it most help doesn't seem to be forthcoming. I've now been told by work & pensions that unless I go back to work soon I will have a 'fit for work interview' where they will assess what work I could do & stop my benefit if I don't take a job, its so difficult to make people understand that actually I'd rather be going to work than going through this hell, I just need a bit more time, someone remind me again why we pay national insurance!
Sorry on my soapbox again!

Rosie