I’m having problems with depression, anxiety, stress, etc. So I saw my GP who referred me to the mental health nurse, who I saw today. The mental health nurse has given me contact details for Citizens Advice to talk about my financial problems, Age Concern to see if I can get any support with my elderly mum, she’s given me a leaflet of breathing exercises and a list of books about mindfulness to relieve stress. She also said I could call Samaritans if I need to talk. End of appointment, discharged, no further appointments booked.
But what I need (and what I had expected to receive) is extended therapy from a mental health professional. The sort of therapy where you talk about your feelings and work through them. I’m struggling with low self esteem, history of bullying which has led to mild agoraphobia, social isolation, worries about my mum dying soon, past experience of sexual abuse which I was too scared and ashamed to talk about at the time, breakdown of my marriage, my child being diagnosed with autism, etc. I’ve had two nervous breakdowns for which I received no support and it took me years to pull myself back together, in fact I’m not sure I ever did. Chatting with a volunteer from Samaritans isn’t going to resolve my problems.
How do you access this kind of support? Is it even available or is it just something I’ve seen in American movies?