Posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 19, 2006, at 5:50:23
In reply to Re: How do I find a good T in the UK? » Meri-Tuuli, posted by Fi on April 16, 2006, at 17:29:18
Hi Fi,
Thanks so much for your helpful reply. It certainly was helpful!! I'm a complete newbie when it comes to therapy I'm afraid, although I wish I'd looked into it sooner! I guess part of my problem is that I sort of pretend things aren't as bad - that and I've moved around quite alot so my GP never really knows how bad it is. I just sort of say, 'I was on cipramil, can I have some more'? Or that kind of thing.
Anyway, I'm actually really confused at the moment -- like I said before I'm supposed to be waiting for an appt with a pdoc, but unfortuately I suspect that something like what happened to you will happen. I have plain old unipolar depression/anxiety, and I am realistic that pdocs (on the NHS anyway) seem to be so stretched that they only see the cases of schizophrenia or or something abit more 'exotic' than plain depression.
I'm hoping that I will get something re: counselling etc on the NHS, but when I asked my GP about it, my sort of dismissed the idea. He is so clueless its unbelievable. Well, anyway the only reason why I'm sticking with him is because he referred me to the pdoc anyway, so I don't want to go behind his back and see a different GP. But then again, even if I were to see a different GP, I wonder what they would do, probably not much, they seem to think that SSRIs are the answer to everything. Well, I think I will give it a go anyway.
Actually, I have bought that book by David Burns -- I have tried doing it, but it gets abit overwhelming, and I'm pretty hopeless about keeping to the exercises. I have zero motivation at the best of times! But maybe if I can get to see a counsellor on the NHS, or get get a CPN with knowledge of CBT then I would love to give it a go properly. I think it is helpful. Although my boyfriend refuses to avoid the word 'should' and doesn't quite get it....which is one of david burns' rules as I'm sure you are aware of.
I just feel as if the system has failed me completely. I mean, if I had a physical illness that has impacted on my life so much or left me for days on end in bed, then there would be all kinds of help on the NHS I'm sure! Even if I had schzitphrenia or some other exotic mental illness or even if I was a heroin addict I'm sure there would be alot more help available. I don't know if your experiences have been this way or not....anyway. I'm just angry at the system here in the UK.
Thanks for the advice,
Meri
poster:Meri-Tuuli
thread:631449
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060406/msgs/634715.html