Would seeing a psychiatrist be money well spent?

[ImaHogg]

I am 48 and have had a life long battle with various controlling anxieties and low self esteem which has controlled and shaped the way I live.
Over the years I have developed various obsessions and habits and I have restricted my potential with these issues.
I have been to the GP countless times and in all honesty feel I have gotten nowhere fast with them. It is so very hard to explain a lifetime of mental health issues in a rushed 10 min appointment.
I have tried to help myself without professional help and again have had little success. I have had 5 different lots of CBT over the last 10 years and endless counselling sessions.
Most of these have been via the NHS as I haven’t been in a position to afford anything privately but with the NHS obviously comes restrictions in timescales and the sessions have never been long enough to have an impact.
Before I am 50 my heartfelt wish is to tackle this head on in the hope of living out the rest of my live freed from some of these mental health shackles. I would like to see someone a bit more long term.
I have been given some money which I initially wanted to put into savings but seeing that my life has been blighted by my poor mental health and the physical issues which have come with it I am thinking that maybe seeing a psychiatrist maybe money well spent?
Could it be? Has anyone seen a private psychiatrist and felt it was worth it?

You need a psychodynamic psychotherapist ideally. Or a consultant clinical psychologist maybe who can formulate the treatment approach with you. A psychiatrist may use a psychodynamic (long term therapy) approach but will be much more expensive and won't necessarily have the skills you need (but they might have picked them up).

GoWalkabout thank you very much for that.

A psychiatrist will usually diagnose you and prescribe you medication. If that is what you are looking for, then money well spent. If you want psychological treatment then you need a psychologist or a therapist. I think keep your expectations realistic in either case.

No I wouldn’t. I’d find a psychotherapist who specialises in relational trauma and in the meantime I’d read (or get on Audible) Complex PTSD by Pete Walker.

Agree with above, psychiatrist for diagnosis and medical options psychologist for therapies

It might be worth trying to decide what sort of approach you are after in order to make sure you match with the right therapist. Subsequently how long the expected treatment would be, and if you have money to continue that privately to its conclusion. A private psychiatrist recommendation might not entitle you to that treatment on the nhs (including medications at times)

I think you’re being sensible considering private treatment OP and prioritising your mental health (and you seem very self-aware). I have a long history of severe anxiety and the NHS just isn’t up to helping someone like me (like you I’ve had lots of CBT and counselling). But you don’t need a psychiatrist unless you’re mainly interested in medication (and I’m sure you know all about that already and in my view it’s not rocket science). Try and find yourself a decent clinical psychologist or therapist and I really hope you overcome your issues.

@GoWalkabout

You need a psychodynamic psychotherapist ideally. Or a consultant clinical psychologist maybe who can formulate the treatment approach with you. A psychiatrist may use a psychodynamic (long term therapy) approach but will be much more expensive and won't necessarily have the skills you need (but they might have picked them up).

This. I have had a similar experience with the NHS and only after seeing a psychodynamic psychotherapist for over a year have I felt I have been making progress. It's a long process. My main piece of advice would be take time choosing the right therapist for you. It's not a one fit for all. Good luck.

I have had little help via the NHS over the past 20 odd years and for me CBT just is not enough.
Thank you all, your advise is invaluable as I didn’t want to jump in feet first and make a costly mistake.

If your budget it tight, let them know. It can help them make sure they don't recommend medications that your gp might not be able to continue with, or that the therapy is focused and likely to wrap up in the time frame needed. If you only had money for two psychiatrist apts for example, its no good if what they recommend needs them to monitor it every 6 months and can't be taken over by your gp, of if you can only afford a short course of therapy if they start something that's going to take a year of monthly sessions if you will need to drop out half way through.

@GoWalkabout

You need a psychodynamic psychotherapist ideally. Or a consultant clinical psychologist maybe who can formulate the treatment approach with you. A psychiatrist may use a psychodynamic (long term therapy) approach but will be much more expensive and won't necessarily have the skills you need (but they might have picked them up).

This is the only thing that helped for me. CBT didn't.

I had it through the NHS. Waited 3 years for it and has to fight for it. But it worked.

There are various charities which offer subsidised psychotherapy. Worth looking in to.

3 courses of failed CBT usually mean referral for pyschotherapy on the NHS.You need to push your gp for this. I’ve just got mine after 3 failed CBT sessions and failed mindfulness.

I paid to see a psychiatrist as l was getting beyond the remit if my GP. He changed my medications and k felt transformed. Best money I’ve ever spent

I had to fight for pyschotherapy too. Really fight. They are reluctant to give it. But failed CBT is one of the rings on the ladder to get to it.

Depends on what you want, therapy and meds or just psychological. It might be worth it to rule out some psychiatrist cause. I have complex PTSD but no, I'm not willing or able to do the therapy used here so I take medication to manage it.

ArseinThecoOpWindow I had no idea failed CBT could lead to further help. The gp’s I have seen have been of no help for me when it’s comes to my mental health. Every time I say I am still struggling I am given the website for the CBT portal and am told to self refer for further CBT (even though I keep telling them it doesn’t help!)

This might help.

www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/psychotherapies

I was referred by the mental health worker at my GP. But if you see a private pysch they could help you.

Whereabouts are you?

It’s in here.

Page 8 and 12. If you continually fail to improve you are in step 4 which is where l am😣. This entities you to more tailored pyschotherapy.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg113/resources/generalised-anxiety-disorder-and-panic-disorder-in-adults-management-pdf-35109387756997

No I wouldn’t. I’d find a psychotherapist who specialises in relational trauma and in the meantime I’d read (or get on Audible) Complex PTSD by Pete Walker.

This

But you don’t need a psychiatrist unless you’re mainly interested in medication

That’s not strictly true. I’m interested in both. But my side effect profile was so severe l was becoming refractory to any treatment. My gplovely though she is just couldn’t unravel it all.

Paying to see a pyschiatrist changed my life literally.

I agree that psychotherapy would be more suitable than a psychiatrist. I’d also recommend EMDR, as trauma is often the root cause for ongoing issues like these (even if you think you haven’t experienced ‘trauma’). Good luck OP, and well done for prioritising your mental health, you won’t regret it.

Yeah EDMR was the only thing that made a dent for me. Just waiting for the long term version now. I only had 2 paid sessions, but they had a big impact.

But it is available on the NHS and the service I’m now with does ‘long term’

Thank you everyone.
I will also look into EMDR.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

This might help.

www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/psychotherapies

I was referred by the mental health worker at my GP. But if you see a private pysch they could help you.

Whereabouts are you?

Thank you. I am in Essex but can also easily get to Suffolk.

I’m miles away up north.

I’m like you. My advice is this:

Find a private psychiatrist to sort out medication and to recommend what therapy you need .

When you have this, go to GP and ask for what they d recommended. Take the Nice guidance with you.

I’m about 10 years older than you. This is the first time in about 16 years I’ve felt ‘normal’ I cannot believe the difference. I feel like a changed person. A psychiatrist can prescribe more and different medications than a GP and can mix them.

If there is a mental health worker at your GO ask for a referral. They can be like an advocat. And support you in your push for pyschotherapy.

I didn’t even realise why CBT didn’t work or what was wrong with me until the psychiatrist diagnosed it as childhood trauma. Then it all fell into place.

It also enabled me to get ill health retirement from work.

He cost me about £1000 overall, but I’m transformed…

Good luck

ArseinThecoOpWindow that really is money well spent.