Worried about social services getting involved if I go to psychiatrist?

[Harrietxo]

Hi, young mum love my son dearly! I've struggled with my mental health for as long as I can remember, I got referred to the depression and anxiety service by gp, I went to my first few appointments now they've decided to put me through to the mental health team due to a suspected personality disorder and a form of OCD (known as pure O). I've had a lot of trouble with social services whilst pregnant ( I was a really bad teenager did a lot of drugs etc so I see why they were involved,) they treated me awfully but I made it through and managed to get signed off before my son was born, thus me and Fin getting on fine no other concerns! I'm just extremely worried that it will open that can of worms! My counsellor from the depression and anxiety service has absolutely zero concerns for his safety, but I'm worried that going to someone more official and being diagnosed with such a disorder alongside the ocd would redflag me as such! I've come so far and everything I've done is for him, if he was to go into care I don't think I could cope.

Thanks for your replies, please be honest with your experiences:) I'd rather know to cancel before it's too late.

If you cancel, they can still find out. My friend had a similar situation and social services did come to check up on her. They were happy though, that she'd recognised there was a problem and asked for help. That's the biggest thing I think. She asked for help and worked with her therapist and gp to learn to deal with symptoms. Social services were not there for long at all, they just came a few times, asked if they could support her in any way, actually ended up getting her a nursery place so she had a break sometimes and then they were gone.

She is the only person I know who has had this happen to though. I have known many parents get similar help and no others have had social services involvement as far as I know.

I think they well recognise how far you've come.

If you're seriously harming yourself physically they would probably refer, or if they had concerns about your child. It's not automatic though, and even if you DO get referred it doesn't mean that they think you'll harm your child. The mental health people would always tell you before referring anyway.

The only reason for CSC involvement would be if there was a safeguarding concern. Unless something you say gives someone concerns out your son or your parenting of him you will be fine. Asking for help is seen more positively than ignoring issues that then impact on your parenting x

My situation was similar to yours. I'm a young mother and have had a previous diagnosis of bipolar and was seeing a psychosis team and I still am now. They've noticed I've come a long way and have no concerns, but I was terrified that ss would get involved. Soon I will be discharged from the psychosis team. I would say don't worry you are doing very well and you clearly aren't a risk at all

Agree with all the above. I have no experience of social services but have seen the effect of a family that have 'slipped through the net'. My husbands parents had depression and there was abuse. They didn't seek help at all and were scared of any professional involvement. They also made my husband as a small child fear social services by telling him if he ever told anyone what happened at home social services would split up the family and take him away. His parents aren't bad people, but live in fear. I'd never want to live that way and my husband and his brother have had psychotic episodes.

I come from a privileged home, am now pregnant and terrified of becoming like my husbands parents so I've been completely honest with healthcare professionals, and am under mental health teams now. Allthough my husband gets defensive and would rather I'd just tell them what they want to hear. I refuse to live in fear. Attending appointments and seeking and engaging with help is seen as a positive thing.

I'm worried about the same thing as you, esspesally as I'm going against medical advice and not taking any antidepressants and I have an appointment with a psycatrist on Wednesday. I often wish I'd just not told my midwife about mental health issues.

Hormones are causing me so much anxiety and guilt at the moment!

They're more likely to be worried if you're not seen to be seeking help out treatment you may need. If you think its the right thing, go for it.

Are you a Lp? I am and when I had breakdown and got mh diagnosis ss were referred in order to check dd was ok.

I know you've not had a good experience in the past but honestly it was fine.

Cancelling anything now WILL give them cause for concern. If you are and remain engaged with services to get you better that's very much seen as positive.

I understand your fears, I was terrified too especially as house was a mess and I wasn't cooking at the time (we were eating out/takeaways/ready meals) but sw was like "house is messy but not dirty, dd is being fed and getting a variety of meals and fruit/veg so while not ideal it's fine short term"

She also referred me to support organisations, self help groups.