Hi
I have just joined up and would like to hear from anyone who has tried to get help from so called health profesionals in the u.k.

Being bipolar for the past twenty odd years has led to me being wrongly diagnosed for over twenty years ...its only in the past three years that i have been correctly diagnosed as bipolar.

Prior to this bpd had effectivly destroyed my life (prison, mental institutions, failed marrages ect...ect).

having been confirmed as bipolar whilst in prison (yet another manic episode) i was put on lithium and it completly changed my life.
All my thoughts were rational, and clear,... for the first time i started to think and act properly, and become socialy acceptable!.

The problem i have now is i have been released from custody and having been set in a regimented system (prison) i am now back in socity and finding it very hard to adjust to the rigours of everyday life and its un-regimented ways...
Prior to my release i was told that a C.M.H.T worker would be availible to help and assist me in my re-intergration...Doctors, medication,a listening and sympathtic ear,Psychiatrist, psychologist ect...ect.

however when i got out there was nothing...sod all, i have spent the last three months trying to get everything that was promised in place,
With the help of my little sister (a total god send bless her) If it was'nt for her help god only knows where i would be right now.
I would like to know if this is unique or if others have suffered the same kind of treatment as i have!

I could realy do with some input here as the whole world is going at a thousand miles an hour and i am finding it hard to keep up with it and its lack of comunication...please help, a worried, and confused.. scullyboy :bouncing:

Hi Scullyboy
Im not from the UK, but I hear many stories of people hear in the US being misdiagnosed. Even here in the US without health care many people go without
help. It's up to them or family to seek whatever means they can find for support.
Boards like these can be very helpful. There's also another organization called NAMI
National Association Mentally Ill, www.nami.org I dont know whether NAMI is in the UK but you could still find useful info thru their site plus they also have a forum like this one. At least you are headed in the right direction with a proper DZ and on med that is helping. Best wishes in your search for support. Kiehn

Thanks for the info we have a simmilar association over here in the uk,
its called MIND and has quite a lot of usfull info ...
But it does'nt have on line chats with sufferers and carers, the real people who know and understand.

I am finding it reassuring that there is a unilateral community out there of like minded (or wrong minded ) :) depending on your view of things at the time, and state of mind .....its a real palpable comfort cheers...

With much Metta behavna Scullyboy

Hey Scullyboy,

I'm sorry to hear that you have had a rough time of things.
You are NOT alone. We share a number of similarities.

I am also based in the U.K. and have (and still am) receiving the same treatment (joke) basically NONE AT ALL. From the N.H.S.

I DECIDED TO BLOW MY MEAGER LIFE SAVINGS OF THREE GRAND AND GO PRIVATE. It worked. after eight years of being misdiagnosed and mismedicated I finally made some progress.

Although I'm still something of a mess right now, I am due to start another course of hypnotherapy (at £100 per hour).

My only suggestion for C.M.H.T. is to get on the phone and pester them until they start helping you. Same goes for referals to Psychology Dept.

Hope it helps.

Hedge.

Hi Hedghog

At present I am being a No1 pesterer, and i find it is a release of pent up frustration with the so called system!...

I don,t think it is done on purpose by the C.M.H.T ... I feel its just such a lumbering dinosaur it dosen't realise the effect it has on sufferers of bipolar!.

Perseverance and forbearance are the watch words for the day at present,
and it is helpfull to know that i am not alone in this and that others have and are going through the same trials and tribulations.

Wish you well in your path of private treatment and hope all go'es well for you ...thanks for the input keep it real :p

With much Metta Scullyboy

I 2 nd the Kienh post. There is help out there.

hi scullyboy
i agree the so called health system here in the u.k is a joke, theres little understanding or support. ive recently been diagnosed bipolar after years of being wrongly treated for depression (and the ssri's i was constantly being put on sending me into manic episodes). I explained my symptoms and behaviour to both my G.P and a counsellor i saw but no one picked up on anything. Ive got over £80,000 in debt through my wild spending whilst being manic when i could of been being treated.
My father is also bipolar and lives in a different area of the country and the treatment and support hes had has been pretty useless too. ive had to pester his hospital to take him in and go and see him when ive been seriously worried about him as he lives alone. im sure if i hadnt chased it up constantly they wouldnt of bothered atall.
i just feel that mental illness in this country is overlooked and underestimated far too much. once i called my doctors desperate for an emergency appointment as i felt so suicidal. i was told that there wasnt any appointments available but was allowed to speak to a doctor who simply told me "not to do anything silly" before my appointment which was over a week later!
unbelievable

:wave: Hi to you both Mudhound and Fallenangel...

Thanks for the comments they go well with all the others, as for the treatment you have been reciving Fallen angel it sounds A typical of the service weve come to expect here in England....There is no care in the comunity as the comunity as a whole dosen't care!

Yet we read in the papers about poor people who suffer from all kinds of mentel illnesses, going compleatle heywire, and attacking innocent members of "socity" ...Then all hell breaks out.... where were all these ner do wells when the poor chap was banging on doors trying to get help so as not to be a danger to the public :bouncing: .

I don't expect people to drop everything that ther'e doing just because i need to talk to someone, or i'm not sure if my levels are o.k, but just for someone to turn to you and say allright iv'e heard you and as soon as i can i will get back to you....an aknowledgement of the fact that you feel wobbley and a reasurance that there will be assistance of somekind soon, goes a long way to reassure you when your at your lowest .....
Nuff said..scullyboy :eek: