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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 3, 2003, at 23:11:57
Here we go.... (well in about 6 months' time)
Posted by kalyb on June 3, 2003, at 18:01:37
Today I had my assessment for psychotherapy.... courtesy of the UK's wonderful National Health Service, it's taken 7 months since asking my doctor for referral to get this far, and I'll have to be on a waiting list before starting therapy, for another 6 months. Sigh.
But, to be positive... I liked the Dr I saw, although there's no guarantee I'll end up seeing her. I might, though, since she specialises in CAT (Cognitive Analysis Therapy) rather than CBT and that might be something which would suit me more than CBT. I don't know, she has to have a meeting with ther colleagues and decide what to offer me. Eventually.
But she seemed open to me being a little pro-active, recommended a Depression website to me, also a book which she said is a good introduction to CBT, entitled: "Overcoming Low Self Esteem" by Melanie Fennell. I went straight out and bought it.
On the way out of the door I caught sight of the DBT book that Fallsfall and Dinah mentioned, the Martha Lineham (sp?) one.... so I commented that I'd heard of it. I think that may have surprise her a little. But that's when she recommended the CBT book.
So... let's hope I can survive the next 6 months.... I must say that I'm feeling optimistic, because *at last* I am finally going to get some proper therapy. It's only been 10 years and three attempts through the NHS to get this far.... what a strange country I live in.
I felt very tearful and mixed up after the assessment... I guess that's normal since I had to tell her about all the most important painful things... I actually cried at the bus stop, and on the bus on the way home. I don't know if the actual therapy itself is going to be as hard? But once the tears had dried I did feel optimistic. Wish me luck, people :)
Kalyb xx
----
Re: Here we go.... (well in about 6 months' time) » kalyb
Posted by slinky on June 3, 2003, at 18:17:13
Hi Kalyb..
I'm awaiting some psycotherapy in uk..don't know what kind.
I've also been ill for years..I was offered the help after an assessment..I'm often too depressed or apathetic to care...I gave up asking for help.
Lately I've been filling in the DLA form and ready to give up on that.
NHS woes eh :-)
Wish you luck sweetypie.
Posted by Miller on June 4, 2003, at 13:07:47
In reply to Redirected: Here we go (in about 6 months' time), posted by Dr. Bob on June 3, 2003, at 23:11:57
Kalyb,
Sometimes tears are a realy good thing. You may have been left feeling vulnerable and scared, but you are on the right path.
Since I am here in the US, I don't have the complications of a national health care system. But, at least the doctor gave you ideas on how to make te most of your wait.
I wish you well. I think this is a great step towards a better future for you. Congratulations.
You may want to think about keeping a journal during your wait. It may make it a little easier to communicate once you get rolling.
:)
-Miller
Posted by kalyb on June 4, 2003, at 13:10:24
In reply to Redirected: Here we go (in about 6 months' time), posted by Dr. Bob on June 3, 2003, at 23:11:57
Slinky wroted:
> I'm awaiting some psycotherapy in uk..don't know what kind.
> I've also been ill for years..I was offered the help after an assessment..I'm often too depressed or apathetic to care...I gave up asking for help.
> Lately I've been filling in the DLA form and ready to give up on that.
> NHS woes eh :-)
> Wish you luck sweetypie.Ta, mate!
What's the DLA form?
What area are you in? wonder if that makes a difference to how/what they treat you. I first asked about 10 years ago, and all I got given was some counselling from a nurse attached to the GP's practise. Which was useless... just a woman listening and nodding. I can do that myself with my deep thought and inner voice.Then I just tried to plod on for years, as you do... finally got round to asking the doc again about 6 years ago. I got put on prozac and told to fill in that form - you probably know the one, with 80 questions on how you felt over the last 2 weeks. Had an assessment, then they wrote and told me I wasn't "bad" (sick) enough. Okayyyyy.......... That's London for you I guess. Too many nutters like me per square mile, and hopelessly underfunded.
However I was put on a waiting list for some psychotherapy, and I waited 1.5 years. The guy I ended up seeing wasn't a pdoc or even a doc as far I know, just a therapist attached to a charity organisation. I saw him for about a year until one day he said "Oh and by the way, we (the charity) have a cut off point at age 35, and you're 35 now, so goodbye!"
I guess some of my issues were straightened out but not really too well, or too permanently, hence I'm back at square one (and worse than before) just a few years later. But I am down on the South Coast now and facilities do seem to be a little better than they were in the big city.
Still... 6 months wait is a long time. And my life's not too stable, meaning if I move out of the area (which could easily happen as I'm on the verge of being homeless), I'll be sliding down that snake to start all over again, again. Snakes and ladders. And we all have to be so incredibly grateful to the NHS for what we get given, aren't we?!! Bah.
Doesn't do to be so cynical really, I guess! At least I'm on a med that's working... the docs and p-docs down here are listening and actually doing something... on the face of it, I've got further with some kind of successful treatment in the last 7 months than I did in 7 years!
:)
Kalyb xx
Posted by kalyb on June 4, 2003, at 16:08:30
In reply to Here we go --Kalyb, posted by Miller on June 4, 2003, at 13:07:47
Thank you Miller.... appreciate your support :)
Good idea re the journal. I might give that a go - though I'm terrible for starting things and then losing interest!!
But if I can try to do it, it'll be a good thing. Even if I only write when i feel bad (as I have tended to do with journals in the past) it might still be useful, huh?
Kalyb xx
> Sometimes tears are a realy good thing. You may have been left feeling vulnerable and scared, but you are on the right path.
>
> Since I am here in the US, I don't have the complications of a national health care system. But, at least the doctor gave you ideas on how to make te most of your wait.
>
> I wish you well. I think this is a great step towards a better future for you. Congratulations.
>
> You may want to think about keeping a journal during your wait. It may make it a little easier to communicate once you get rolling.
>
> :)
>
> -Miller
>
Posted by slinky on June 4, 2003, at 19:31:51
In reply to Re: Here we go -- slinky, posted by kalyb on June 4, 2003, at 13:10:24
> What's the DLA form?
Disability living allowance...I have given up on filling it in --maybe I'll get someone else to do it.
> What area are you in?
Just... literally on the edge of London in the south....just a woman listening and nodding. I can do that myself with my deep thought and inner voice.
Yeh nodding and doing a sneaky gaze at thier watch..you just know it's a waste of time.
> Then I just tried to plod on for years, as you Okayyyyy.......... That's London for you I guess. Too many nutters like me per square mile, and hopelessly underfunded.Heeheee..
> However I was put on a waiting list for some psychotherapy, and I waited 1.5 years. The guy I ended up seeing wasn't a pdoc or even a doc as far I know, just a therapist attached to a charity organisation. I saw him for about a year until one day he said "Oh and by the way, we (the charity) have a cut off point at age 35, and you're 35 now, so goodbye!"
> I guess some of my issues were straightened out but not really too well, or too permanently, hence I'm back at square one (and worse than before) just a few years later. But I am down on the South Coast now and facilities do seem to be a little better than they were in the big city.
>
> Still... 6 months wait is a long time. And my life's not too stable, meaning if I move out of the area (which could easily happen as I'm on the verge of being homeless), I'll be sliding down that snake to start all over again, again. Snakes and ladders. And we all have to be so incredibly grateful to the NHS for what we get given, aren't we?!! Bah.I've been on that verge of homelessness but fortunately found a charity/org that the local council don't tell you about and got a nice flat--but in a crappy area.
> Doesn't do to be so cynical really, I guess! At least I'm on a med that's working... the docs and p-docs down here are listening and actually doing something... on the face of it, I've got further with some kind of successful treatment in the last 7 months than I did in 7 years!Sometimes we get into that black cloud and feel ungratefull even though we know in other countries people starve and don't get meds etc..doesn't help cause we compare our quality of life with our surroundings.
Efexor worked straight away for me also , like a miricle..I got too high and silly on it:-)I kind of feel therapy wouldn't help me and be a waste of time..but yeh I'm being cynical.
I'm either too up or down..so it's chemical..I don't know..
Anyway..I'm a ramblin.Take care sweets
Posted by noa on June 5, 2003, at 17:36:12
In reply to Redirected: Here we go (in about 6 months' time), posted by Dr. Bob on June 3, 2003, at 23:11:57
Kaly, I am so glad to hear you are feeling more optimistic, and you finally got access to services.
Posted by Dinah on June 5, 2003, at 19:33:31
In reply to Re: Here we go -- slinky, posted by kalyb on June 4, 2003, at 13:10:24
Hi Kalyb,
I'm glad you at least got on the wait list. I remember when I was trying to find a new psychiatrist. Even here in the States the waiting list was unbelievable. And it seemed like forever.
But you're moving forward, and that's something.
I think Miller had a great idea. Keeping a mood journal, journalling, drawing, things like that. At least it will give you an idea of how things are over the six months, so you can summarize for her. Although I know what you mean. I am absolutely horrible at keeping journals. I've already fallen hopelessly in my mood journal, my headache journal, my food diary, and my blood sugar diary. I even tried to combine them, but still couldn't keep up to date.
Good luck to you, and congratulations.
Dinah
Posted by kara lynne on June 5, 2003, at 22:18:40
In reply to Redirected: Here we go (in about 6 months' time), posted by Dr. Bob on June 3, 2003, at 23:11:57
Hi Kaly,
Glad to hear you've taken a step in the right direction and things are falling into place as a result. After reading your post I'm inspired to look into therapy for myself. I've been toying apathetically with the idea, but I really need to do something about it. It's hard to keep the momentum going in between bouts of hopelessness and cynicism, but this has gone on long enough. I need to find a way out of all the trappings.So anyway, good luck with everything. Wish I lived in the UK and we could meet for coffee, or something!
Posted by kalyb on June 6, 2003, at 10:49:58
In reply to Re: Redirected: Here we go (in about 6 months' tim, posted by kara lynne on June 5, 2003, at 22:18:40
For lots of reasons I suppose.... as many reasons as I have moods! :) I'm used to posting online with advice and reccommendations to do with one of my hobbies (which despite the depression I have managed to continue, by a hair's breadth) so that's another reason.
And in a way, to document my feelings, kind of like a diary. Why write a diary in private when I can do one here, kind of, and maybe get some insights from others at the same time?
And also, which I had forgotten - to indirectly help others!! If I really have inspired you karalynne, then that's amazing... I feel all warm and fuzzy inside now!! :))
I don't know if you can get the book I was reccommended to buy, or even if it would be pertinent to you, but I'm reading it slowly and carefully and I already gained a mini-epiphany. The book takes you through the core reasons underlying low self esteem, and reminds you gently that your beliefs about yourself aren't facts, they are only OPINIONS and opinions can be changed.
Realising this suddenly gave me a new perspective on my difficulties with the hypercritical friend I am living with. She is rigid, set in her ways, a perfectionist, and has a very strong opinion on almost everything... so much so that I feel constantly undermined and can't do anything right.
But of course - *ding!!* - enlightenment.... she is acting on her own opinions that she has, her own rules for living, and everything she says and does with respect to me, is based on HER OPINIONS....
So I am walking around now with a little glowing light above my head that sparkles at every put-down and condescension and criticism she throws my way, that gleams with the new understanding that it's only HER OPINION and therefore not necessarily accurate and set in stone! How simple.... and yet how mystifying until those few sentences gave me the sense to see it. Weird how sometimes something as obvious as that, can escape even the most thinking and analytical of minds, isn't it?
Anyway I am digressing. I too wish we were in the same country Kara... a coffee with you (tea in my case!) would be just great, wouldn't it ?
{{hugs}}} you made my day....
Kalyb xx
> After reading your post I'm inspired to look into therapy for myself. I've been toying apathetically with the idea, but I really need to do something about it. It's hard to keep the momentum going in between bouts of hopelessness and cynicism, but this has gone on long enough. I need to find a way out of all the trappings.
>
> So anyway, good luck with everything. Wish I lived in the UK and we could meet for coffee, or something!
Posted by kara lynne on June 6, 2003, at 13:54:17
In reply to Why I post... » kara lynne, posted by kalyb on June 6, 2003, at 10:49:58
Hi Kaly,
The book you're talking about would most definitely be pertinent to me and I am going to try and find it.And you know, after I posted I immediately wanted to amend the coffee to tea!
(((kalyb)))
Posted by kalyb on June 17, 2003, at 12:58:03
In reply to Redirected: Here we go (in about 6 months' time), posted by Dr. Bob on June 3, 2003, at 23:11:57
> Today I had my assessment for psychotherapy.... courtesy of the UK's wonderful National Health Service, it's taken 7 months since asking my doctor for referral to get this far, and I'll have to be on a waiting list before starting therapy, for another 6 months. Sigh.
--------------------------------Update: A letter from the psychotherapist, saying: "I am writing to let you know that we are able to offer you some therapy to help with the difficulties you are experiencing. As I explained when we met, there is currently a long waiting list for therapy. I have now placed your name on this and will offer you a space as soon as we are able to. Unfortunately I would estimate that the wait is likely to be in excess of 9 months."
Enclosed were some photocopied leaflets about Overcoming Depression and the address of the Depression Alliance website, who run self-help groups, although I've discovered the nearest one to me is in excess of 30 miles away, and there's no public transport.
"We will be in contact again when we are able to offer a space to start therapy."
Any of you outside the UK who may think socialized healthcare is great and good, maybe you'll review your opinion... it's not, and experiencing it is depressing enough in itself :(
Kalyb xx
This is the end of the thread.
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