Crisis team being sent out? Do I cancel?! Seems OTT

[Nobhobs]

I'm a new mum and have been struggling with anxiety quite badly, I used to suffer from panic attacks and it's all come back post partum. I've been struggling and did well on citalopram in the past so went to my GP to see about going back on it. She wrote and prescription and asked if I wanted her to arrange counselling. I agreed.

I've just had a call from the mental health crisis team saying they'll be out to my address first thing tomorrow. They kept asking whether I'll definitely be ok until then. After we got off the phone I googled what crisis team is and it all seemed to be for people who are suicidal and putting themselves or others at risks, not really for anxiety? It all just seems an over reaction and it's making me even more anxious thinking of a crisis team turning up at my door. Has anyone else had this happen?

Anyone?

Try not to worry they're usually very nice & supportive, I suppose they're just being over cautious as you're a new mum.
They should have some good strategies to give you about how you can deal with your anxiety, also they may say that when you feel anxious you can phone them for a chat.

Don’t worry, they aren’t coming to take your baby away or section you. They will come round, talk to you, then decide if any further support is needed. Trust me they have no interest in mithering you if you don’t need them, but by the same token, keep your mind open to what if anything they have to offer. The more avenues you have open for support, the easier it will be to access it if you need it. Breaking into the MH system is incredibly difficult, so you’ll be at an advantage if you subsequently need help and you’re already on their radar. Nothing bad will come of being on their radar though so don’t worry.

Post natal mental health can turn quite quickly I guess them asking if you will be ok till tomorrow seems dramatic but I think they have to go there with worse case scenario for all their referrals. They will come and see you chat and talk about their services it will be ok.

If it's the postnatal team this makes sense. If it's the normal crisis team they wouldn't be leaving it 24 hours before they came out to you.

The crisis team don't visit outside of normal working hours.

They will ask you a million and one questions.

E.g. How would you rate your mood
How are you sleeping
Are you eating
Are you taking your medication
When did you shit last etc. etc.

It can feel like an interrogation.

They will be looking for signs of neglected self care (have you washed/dressed/teeth).
How is the house looking?

A bit extreme on part of GP to do it without telling you.

There's usually two of them at a time too.
They will ask about thoughts of self harm, harming others etc.

Thanks for replies. She definitely said it was the local community mental health crisis team. She said they can come out today if I'm desperate but if I'm sure I'm ok until tomorrow they'll come then. I said tomorrow's fine as I'm okay. I was just a bit shocked as was expecting referral for CBT and had been warned there's quite a wait usually. I just don't feel like I need a crisis team. I want more long term therapy to really get to the bottom of my anxiety which doesn't seem to be what the crisis team will offer. Will they involve social services? I just don't feel like I want or need this

They'll also ask for your medical history. Basically, they're my worst nightmare.

They're closely connected to social services, yes.

Thank you @OhDeari I've cancelled the appointment

Did you reschedule? As they'll keep hounding you otherwise as you've a baby.

I'd ring GP and ask him/her WTF were they thinking?

What will happen, is either one or two people from the community mental health team will come round.
Could be a community psychiatrist nurse/support worker/health visitor etc.

They will most likely have a form with them with question and answers will be on a scale of 1 to 10.

Eg. How often have you had thoughts of hopelessness. 1 being not often, 10 being all the time.
Have you had suicidal thoughts, do you get pleasure in daily activities etc etc

What they will do is then assess your score and decide on a plan. So whether you might need community care, where the nurse visits your house. Weekly/bi-monthly/monthly.
Or whether you don't need that level of care and can just be cared for by the GP at your surgery or wether you are in need of urgent inpatient care etc.

I have the CPN come visit me monthly as I have Bi Polar and have a young baby and a toddler.

Honestly, the nurses are lovely and do not judge parenting at all!
Obviously if they had serious concerns you can't look after yourself or the baby they would maybe contact relevant authorities but you would need to be demonstrating a severe lack in capability for that!

If anything they are there to help, and usually they will be checking if the medication is still working or if it needs a change.

@OhDeari maybe you have had a bad experience as I do understand that happens, but it's comments like you have provided with no back up story which prevent a lot of parents from accessing help!

I didn't mean to put you off the appointment, I was just prepping you for a million and one questions. Just call back for another time that's suitable for you as failure to engage with them could flag you up unfortunately.

loosewomen I'm speaking from experience. I was trying to prep the OP not put her off it altogether! Sorry OP, I did you an injustice.

Can i be clear, they ARE NOT closely linked to Social Services. Infact, we find it difficult to get information from mental health!

Please don't panic OP. I'm also a relatively new mum (9 month old) with awful health anxiety. Its stressful enough as it is without this happening to you. Sounds like it could be a mix up? or maybe the GP realised after that they have a policy to refer straight to crisis team if you are a new mum? x

What so I'm now at more risk of social services for cancelling the appointment? Argh wish I'd never gone to my gp in the bloody first place. I'd rather look into seeing a private therapist other than all of this.

also, i have a baby and anixety, i'm doing CBT online as i have no child care so they aren't able to see me face to face (talk about ridiculous) and have never been hounded.

Sounds like @OhDeari you may have had a bad experience

Sorry but they are linked. My ones work from the same building. In fact half the time, one of the team is a social worker who visits. The other one should be a psychiatric nurse.

@Nobhobs

No. Please don't panic. I am a social worker and don't think i have ever been involved with a mum because she cancelled one appointment she didn't no about (unless we are already involved and there are lots of issues!) We have bigger fish to fry.

@OhDeari yes you may have a social worker from the mental health team visit, but they are not linked to children's social care.

I wouldn't be taking advice from people I don't know on the internet compared with my GP personally. No offence to PP.

Your GP and/or health visitor can advise you about how support is organised in your local area and who would do eg initial assessments to direct you to the right place. It may be totally different where other posters live

All sorted, my GP meant to refer me to primary care CBT but something got mixed up and I'd been flagged up for the crisis team. The lady from the crisis team phoned back to apologise for the confusion and for scaring me and I'm on the waiting list for cbt. Thanks everyone

Great news!