To feel let down by doctors ..

[netflixandnaps]

For the last week I've been teetering on the edge, mentally. I finally called the crisis team uncontrollably sobbing, absolutely unable to cope. As lovely as they were to me on the phone they told me to call my doctors. I called in the middle of the day and was actually able to get a phone call for a few hours later. They already had all the notes from the crisis team conversation so they were aware of my fragile state and they promised me a home visit wellness check the next day... That never happened. They didn't even call to see if I was still 'around'....

I've been in the MH system since 1998 and can count on one hand the amount of times I've called the crisis team for help (so to call I have to be in a pretty dire situation) and the doctors would have known that.

I'm also waiting for them to do the 'urgent' referral for secondary care after my previous therapist emailed them, its a more intensive kind of help, but that's not been done either.

I feel like I'm TRYING my hardest to reach out (which MH sufferers are told to do) and I'm getting no where..

AIBU to feel like MH illness isn't seen as a priority even though in 1 in 15 cases it's a life threatening condition.

You are not being unreasonable at all. They said they’d be there and they weren’t so they let you down.
Please just remember that the system is struggling and it’s not a lack of wanting to provide you as an individual with the appropriate care. Please please continue to reach out to them and let them know how let down you are by them failing to meet their promise and push to access the care you deserve.

I’m guessing part of the ‘problem’ is you remaining articulate and coherent with the GP? The threshold for taking things seriously is abysmal. GP’s vary in their mental health expertise. If you’re feeling that awful it’s hard to have to keep at them too. Can anyone do the badgering in your behalf? Can you go to A&E? This should then trigger the referral. I’m so sorry it’s got to this I’ve been on both sides of NHS mental health services. Please keep reaching out to whatever crisis numbers/contingencies you can.

A&E was brought up by the GP but then I would feel immensely guilty for physically sick people, especially since my 77 year old mother was taken in on Wednesday after collapsing at home and had to wait 8 hours and 2 days for an assessment! Plus I have a friend who's used the hospital as a last resort gateway for help and she's always just sent on her merry way.

If they said they would do something, they should have done it. MH services are in a desperate situation at the moment - so much need whilst increasingly underfunded. I don't know what the answer is except continuing to contact them and chase them until you get what they agreed to provide.

Unfortunately, they are not ignoring you because they don't care, no one goes into MH unless they care, but because they are busy supporting people in more desperate situations than you.

Sorry to hear this, are you alone at home? What do you feel would help? Are you needing some talking therapy or medication reviewed, or just someone to visit you?
Do you feel if you said to medics "I need this" it would help?

I need general support and meds reviewed. My current combination aren't helping and funnily I actually went to the doctors 2 weeks ago and told them that my therapist had suggested a new drug to try but the GP can't prescribe that one, it needs to come from either the crisis team or secondary care.

I guess I'm feeling more anxious and stressed since I've been ill for 24 years and EVERYONE has a limit. Living in a prison of my own mind is killing me. Yesterday I literally couldn't even form a verbal coherent sentence, my brain was scrambling everything. I was so on edge and shaking so violently it made walking practically impossible.