Struggling - when to seek help

[Handlingit]

Name-changed but regular poster

I’ve got a diagnosis of Autism plus anxiety and depression. I’m currently having NHS funded psychology. The psychologist is fantastic and very tolerant but I feel bad because i’ve so much stress going on that I can’t give my ‘homework ‘ and strategies the attention they need.

Tonight I’m really struggling - my anxiety is through the roof and I feel really low. I need support but I’ve had a terrible history with MH services and I’m worried they’ll stop the sessions if I go into crisis.

Starting to get intrusive thoughts again and feel so conflicted with them and not knowing when to pick up the phone to CMHT.

@Handlingit this sounds very hard.

'The psychologist is fantastic and very tolerant but I feel bad because i’ve so much stress going on that I can’t give my ‘homework ‘ and strategies the attention they need."

So you need to temporarily de-stress long enough to do the homework?

Can you ask the counsellor for tactics to help with this?

Mindful activities, breathing activities, etc, these mmight help.

Please stick with the counselling.

Thanks Italian

I can’t de-stress - that’s the issue. I’m in a permanent stressed state. My brain is not wired for relaxing and because of what is probably PTSD relaxing is a trigger for panic and flashbacks.

Psychologist is working super hard to find things that work and I will definitely stick with it. I’m just worried they’ll say I’m not suitable if I hit crisis

"I’m just worried they’ll say I’m not suitable if I hit crisis"

Have you any reason for thinking they will do this? Have they said this, or is this your anxiety talking?

Just do your best, I had some anxiety a long time ago and had CBT for it. It really helped me but I did not have PTSD. If you always 'predict' the worst case scenario, try not to think too far ahead. Look for the next goal and see how much you can do of it. And get some rest, eat as well as you can, sleep, fresh air, these things can help.

I am off to bed now, all the best.

Plus, just an idea, I've not had PTSD or EMDR but I have heard good things about EDMR.

It might be worth just looking into or talking to your therapist/counselor about EMDR.

"Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new treatment which has been found to reduce the symptoms of PTSD.
It involves making side-to-side eye movements, usually by following the movement of your therapist's finger, while recalling the traumatic incident. Other methods may include the therapist tapping their finger or playing a tone.
It's not clear exactly how EMDR works but it may help you to change the negative way you think about a traumatic experience."

www.nhs.uk/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/treatment/

Anyway, all the best.

I had a bad reaction to EMDR a number of years ago so I’m not suitable.

The worries that my psychology will be stopped if I hit crisis come from being told (by CPNs I have spoken to as duty) that I might not be suitable for any support. I have had some really bad experiences and I got the feeling I was being goaded by this particular person but as they are still around I worry they might try to pull the rug out

Have decided to call the duty worker - I have horrendously stressful things going on so I need some support.

I feel unwell in that I am tired, not sleeping and anxious all the time. It’s to be expected though

"The worries that my psychology will be stopped if I hit crisis come from being told (by CPNs I have spoken to as duty) that I might not be suitable for any support. I have had some really bad experiences and I got the feeling I was being goaded by this particular person but as they are still around I worry they might try to pull the rug out"

That's really terrible. Stay strong. If they say you are not suitable for one kind of treatment then they need to off we you another. Do you have a social worker or anyone who can advocate for you?

When my dd was really struggling we called the Samaritans. They were a great temporary help and someone to talk to.