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Paranoid delusions

302 replies

Bhj · 19/02/2018 16:57

Hi. I’ve posted a few times about my psychosis. I’ve been on my fourth anti psychotic, amisulpride 400g for about a month now, no improvement in thoughts. Can anyone tell me an anti psychotic that worked for them where others have failed. Thanks.

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Bhj · 01/04/2018 11:29

How awful for your nan to have that happen when her mental health had been fine until that point. Must have been really upsetting for you
And your family to see. Lyra, you were up early making breakfast. My mil stayed last night so she’s taken ds to watch
Peter rabbit at the cinema then we’re going out for lunch. Happy Easter to everyone.

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Lyra2018 · 02/04/2018 19:35

Hi tierra, my grandad also had psychosis caused by dementia. He was also a Victor. Grandchildren didn't see him when he was hospitalised but it was very hard for my grandma. My grandma not been right since has worked hard to avoid dementia, but her twin sister dying just before Easter and their birthday next weekend caused her to be hospitalised. She's too far away for me to visit yet, maybe next weekend...

tierraJ · 03/04/2018 09:53

It's sad to see elderly people struggle with their mental health. And to be bereaved.

I went back to work yesterday, it was busy but the main thing is I'm trying to avoid getting stressed & to count to 10 if I'm stressed before saying anything.

Bhj · 04/04/2018 09:56

How’s work going Tierra?

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tierraJ · 04/04/2018 10:31

Work was very busy, I'm on my two days off now but back at work on 2 early shifts from tomorrow.

I have to work part time - firstly as I get very tired with all the meds but secondly because i find myself getting stressed, paranoid & obsessive about things if I'm at work a lot which makes my mental illness worse, luckily I can just about survive on my wage.

tierraJ · 04/04/2018 10:32

How are you feeling with your meds now

Bhj · 04/04/2018 18:23

It’s good you recognize putting yourself under extra pressure work wise will make your mental health worse. I’m doing ok my meds, I haven’t had a headache last couple of days and the tablets they gave me for constipation are working, not feeling so drowsy in mornings now either. Tomorrow I’m up to 300mg on clozapine which is the dose they want me to stay on so tomorrow’s the last day they’ll be out to monitor me twice a day.

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Lyra2018 · 04/04/2018 20:19

Tierra, I'm the same at work but love my job. I had a panic attack at work on Thursday so have been signed off until further notice... Hate being alone too. I have a real love hate relationship with my work. The people are amazing but when I'm being too closely observed I get a bit paranoid. It's a vicious cycle. I always feel like I have to explain and justify myself. My GP receptionist was amazing. I called up after having a panic attack and froze when I tried to sort out appointments in person with her and she rescued me, told me to call back when I didn't have an audience. On the phone she told me I didn't have to justify myself. At work I have to justify every decision... I hadn't realised I was doing it until she pointed it out... I'm a lot calmer this week now the medication has had time to work.

TheGhostOfBarryFairbrother · 13/04/2018 16:45

How is everyone? I saw my psychiatrist on Thursday and am seeing him again next week. If no better then hospital. I refuse to be admitted to the ward I am assigned to by geography because I have bad memories of being sectioned there.

Lyra2018 · 13/04/2018 19:23

I'm off work with after an occupational health review today until after maternity leave. So I'm both relieved and upset as I enjoy my work. Was assessed as having high levels of anxiety and lower but still present depression. I am also having weekly psycatrist appointments but hospitalisation is only being discussed as a possibility postnatally...I've never been sectioned, I'd probably just be in the Labour ward but I'd rather not think about it yet, I'd rather just go with the flow. There are specialist mother and baby wards but I've read beds can be limited and I work for the NHS and know hospitals are regularly at full capacity....Generally I'm feeling well. Im meeting with a. Care coordinator next week which sounds really good as I'm getting really confused and and naturally disorganised and I'm seeing so many different doctors and health professionals from different organisations, hard to remember who I've said what to... 25 mg of quetiapine is all I need at the moment... Midwife was keen for me to be medicated but psychiatrist was happy with me on Monday to stay on 25. She wants me to see a consultant psycatrist but he hasn't been able to see me yet.

Bhj · 13/04/2018 20:53

Sorry theghost things are bad for you at the moment as there’s talks of you going into hospital, hopefully it won’t come to that. Lyra it must be hard having to give up work sooner than planned but it may be for the best not having stress from work. I know what you mean about trying to keep up with all the appointments. I have to remember the weekly dates for cbt, visits from cpn, fortnightly family intervention and visits from community mental health worker. But I can’t complain they’ve been a
Life saver at times and I know some people don’t get as much
Support as I do. The daily visits to do my observations are now over, just need to have my weekly
Blood tests. I’ve been prescribed cosmocol for the constipation, Quails
For the hyper salivation at night but no change in my beliefs at the moment. We’ve all got coughs and colds here so gonna have a quiet weekend to recover.

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Lyra2018 · 14/04/2018 06:15

Thanks bhj. I'm only complaining on mumsnet because I know I can't in real life, know how lucky I am, which adds to guilt and depression... I may have family intervention later. I'm just adjusting to the huge life change and am really glad I've got a care coordinator now, meeting her properly on Monday. Should really help. I'm sure when things settle down I'll be more grateful.

After sleeping on it I'm glad I'm not working now, as the occupational health doctor said I'm a registered health professional so if I make a mistake at work I could lose my registration and go to court... He has a relative who lost his licence to practice medicine 6 years ago due to mental health and still is not back practicing. Due date is not far away and I will get better and return to work next year. LpMy regular short term sickness I've been taking looks worse than longterm sickness... Due to the disability discrimination act he said taking long periods of sick will not effect my career. I know I'm lucky to have a job I love.

I don't like plan changes, I'm probably a little bit aspershic... After my cousins son was diagnosed I think my whole family is a bit aspershic.

Bhj · 14/04/2018 12:43

There is a history of autism in our family and I often wonder if I’m on the spectrum but very high functioning. It will be good if you do get family intervention later on, it’s gives all the family a chance to say how they’re feeling and how to compromise on things without worrying about offending anyone.

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tierraJ · 14/04/2018 18:57

Lyra you're best off not being at work when you are unwell.

I lost my career as a Registered Nurse in 2012 as I went through a really bad period of psychosis & had a very public breakdown, I tried to work as a nurse again but the nmc said I couldn't work as a nurse unless I recover from my mental health problems (which is not going to happen realistically).
The Nmc have said that if I did recover I could do a return to nursing course.

So I'm working as an HCA, it can still be stressful but not as much as nursing.

Since returning to work last week (I was signed off for 2 weeks with stress & anaemia) it's been very busy.
I had a meeting with matron & clinical leader who were actually very supportive.
So I will see how I get on.
I've not had any psychotic symptoms in the last 3 weeks now.

Sorry to hear you might be sectioned Ghost.
I've never been sectioned even when I was extremely unwell, don't want to be either!

Bhj how are the meds, are they working??

TheGhostOfBarryFairbrother · 14/04/2018 20:06

Hopefully it won't lead to section but if they can't offer me an out of area bed then I won't go in.

It's funny how many of us are health professionals. I'm a trainee clinical psychologist although I've stepped out of training and working on a theoretical PhD.

The psych has increased my lithium as my mood is very unstable but is loathe to increase my clozapine and prefers giving me a second antipsychotic. I don't like it as it makes me sleepy.

Hospital is aiming at doing a ctrl alt delete as my mum puts it.

Lyra2018 · 14/04/2018 21:00

I'm sorry to hear that tierra. It was really a dose of reality and I think I knew really I shouldn't be working, just couldn't admit it. My husband thought I'd not be allowed to work when my appointment was with a doctor this time. My manager and colleagues are really supportive but have different ideas about how to manage me so I really didn't know where I stood, felt quite smothered... Panic attack two weeks ago at work (fortunately not in view of public) was the final straw, was getting pretty close to a relapse. I was supported by the same college who supported me during my first breakdown (overnight lone working, no errors, but felt unsafe towards the end of my shift. Very much de ja Vue same setting. Had a nice day with my parents but it was hard to get my mum to understand, I didn't tell her about the panic attack, just said they won't let me back if the occupational health doctor has not cleared me as fit to work. It will work out OK financially with annual leave and mat leave which is what she was worried about.

We've got a hca who was a nurse. She took the job for lower stress and more patient interaction. But she's basically a low paid nurse as she runs a room. She loves moving stock to different cupboards and is a bit of a control freak. I could never be a nurse, far too much stress, paperwork and organisation. Being dyslexic I would struggle. Almost all my record keeping in on computers which I'm much happier with. My midwife is amazing at the speed she reads, writes and talks at the same time.

Just want to arrange some sort of goodbye /baby shower with colleagues. I snapped at my husband yesterday when he said he should be part of the baby shower... It's fair enough but I really wanted it as a work thing rather than a baby thing. I know he doesn't like parties with strangers anyway but I was a bit mean, I feel like I've taken the 'I'm pregnant I can say what I like' attitude too seriously. I'm more stroppy than when I was as a teenager....

Ghost... My psychiatrist seems to be really struggling with her own mental health, reminds me of myself and sometimes I have to remind myself I'm the patient and she's the professional, very weird... She was holding back tears in our first meeting...I came in as an emergency appointment after having a couple of conversations with a nurse but felt like I was the calm one out of the two of us. She's trying to get me to see the consultant and refer me to a different team but it's just too stretched.

Bhj · 14/04/2018 23:16

It sounds like you’re psychiatrist didn’t act professionally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable having more sessions with her. Still no effects of clozapine working yet. It’s still early days I guess so need to keep going. My dp was off work since Wednesday ill so I’ve been more relaxed having him around but starting to feel anxious about him going back and braving the school run again alone. I’m feeling really anxious tonight and know I won’t sleep so taken a sleeping tablet.

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Lyra2018 · 15/04/2018 05:43

I feel more comfortable every session with her, I'm very anxious about medication so I'm glad to have a psychiatrist monitoring it rather than a different doctor. She's told me her works changing so I'm not going to keep seeing her anyway.

Bhj · 15/04/2018 13:14

That’s good it’s more relaxing each time you see her. I signed up a few days ago to do aerobics tomorrow, first time I’ve done any exercise over a year and now I’ve got this lingering cough that ramps up with any movement so don’t think I’ll be able to do it without coughing all over the place.

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TheGhostOfBarryFairbrother · 15/04/2018 18:03

Aerobics sounds brilliant! I have been running this afternoon. Doing the couch to 5k with my mum.

At day hospital tomorrow, going to ask about going in. Feel myself slipping and I would rather go in now than wait for a crisis point.

tierraJ · 15/04/2018 19:34

I go to the gym which helps my back & knees. It's very sociable too.

Bhj · 16/04/2018 11:12

Good luck today theghost. I’ve just finished aerobics, feel like I’m dying I’m so unfit.

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Lyra2018 · 16/04/2018 14:09

Haha, I used to be like that with aerobics. Now I'm pregnant I feel like I'm dying when I walk up a hill. Went for a short walk yesterday morning and that was me for the day, had a nap then mooched around the house until bedtime. I did have a busy day Saturday and pregnancy is a great excuse. Really need to get on with yoga and swimming...maybe just yoga as I've not been swimming for years and would probably get cramp and panic about drowning. Don't think I could cope with the chlorine, noise and wearing very little. My sister in law is a huge yoga fan, Sent me links to some YouTube videos as I couldn't find any convinient yoga classes in my area. I did pilates when I was recovering from my first episode. I enjoyed that, it's more tough than yoga. Problem with yoga is I have no balance and get the giggles.

Lyra2018 · 16/04/2018 14:15

My sister and mum did the couch to 5k together, but my mum was too fit for her... I've sometimes run with my mum, we are a simular fitness. Ghost, After you get to the 5k point you could go to a park run. I really enjoy it but some areas people take it a bit too seriously. My mum doesn't like it because she's competitive but she is often near the top of her age/gender category (about 5 people) as she can power walk between jogging. She speed walks everywhere, probably why she is fit as she isn't into any particular sport.

Lyra2018 · 16/04/2018 14:16

If you are in the UK that is.