Not sure how to get help

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Bit of background… long history of anxiety and depression. Last two years psychotic episodes, query schizophrenia.

currently changing anti psychotic as not working well enough. Am now off original and have started the new at a very low dose.

I have had strange experiences all week. People following me. Cars driving past the house slowly. Angels in the room with me, voices coming out of the tv. Angels tell me to harm myself or my husband.

I called my MH team today to tell them what was going on. I was told to either carry on with the new medication or go back to the original at a low dose and hope things get better.

I don’t know how to get through the weekend. The voices are constant. I can’t drown them out through watching tv as they come through the tv when it is on. I’ve taken diazepam and that’s not helped. My husband works long hours and I’m on my own a lot and it’s all scaring me.

what would you do?

Call the crisis team and get admitted to the hospital ( psychiatric one if you have one) You can't go on like this.
Happened to me a few times.. my daughter always calls the crisis team).
You need monitoring ( maybe new meds) .
Good luck.

Hi, sorry to hear you're struggling so much, sounds really tough. Does your MH trust have a crisis or support line you can ring to get advice? Depending on how they operate they can off more support or possibly look at a crisis referral. It does sound like you need more support at the moment. If you're really struggling you might need the mental health liaison team at A&E over the weekend (as you cant get in touch with your HP or team). From your post it sounds like your meds have changed recently, were the old meds more helpful? Could you chat to a pharmacist about restarting them if they were? Have you got any friends or family who can support you or could your husband take some time off until you can speak to your gp on Monday? Sometimes bring with someone you trust can help? Sorry, just some ideas. Hope something helps.

Thank you both. I will call the crisis team later although I only spoke to my duty team this afternoon and they weren’t very helpful. I find our MH services in this area don’t react to things very quickly. I don’t think they’ll admit me, I’ve been sectioned several times but nobody seems to think this is as bad. I might restart the old meds and stop the new ones and see if that helps. The duty worker told me to speak back to the voices and I’ve tried but they just shout back louder. It’s very distressing.

I don't really have any advice as mental health teams are so hit and miss across the country but if you feel at all in danger please go to a&e

I was in A and E a couple of weeks ago as I took an overdose but they said they thought I was ok and the psych sent me home. I’m due to see my care coordinator on Tuesday so I guess I just cope until then? I can’t watch tv. Angels talk to me through the tv and disturb the programmes. It’s quite distressing.

I called the crisis team last night but they weren’t much help. Told me to talk back to the angels and challenge what they are saying (they tell me to hurt people). Today is just as bad. Trying to watch the rugby and voices coming through the tv. Last night when on the phone to the crisis team, the voices were coming through the phone. It’s freaking me out and my head is so jumbled.

Have you still got the old medication? I do wonder if it's worth restarting that again as it sounds like the new one isn't working as well?

are you getting enough sleep?

Sometimes headphones and music can help more than TV. It sounds like TV is really making things harder for you.

I wouldn't necessarily argue back with the voices if it's feeling overwhelming, instead if you can, keep telling yourself that this will pass.

There is also some suggestion that using your own voice can help manage voices so sing, talk out loud, read a book out loud to yourself.

I'm so sorry you're going through this.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. DH has the rugby on so I’m wandering round the house talking back to the voices and sounding like a crazy woman. I tried headphones but the voices came through them as well. It is so freaking scary. I really am beginning to believe they are real.

I sleep well. I take diazepam to calm me and sleep all night plus nap in the day as it is the only way to escape these angels.

im wondering whether to call the crisis team again but I’m not sure if there is anything they can do.

Call the crisis team again, tell them what you've told us (even show them this thread) and tell them that you aren't coping, that the voices are scaring you and simply being told to answer them back isn't working.

Sending hugs.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I just tried to call but nobody answered! I’ll try again shortly.

Does your husband know your struggling, if you're accessing help sometimes it can help to have him also say to them that things are much harder for you than usual. I know services aren't always that responsive though, I'm sorry this is happening.

I don't know if you tend to but sometimes caffeine, excessive nicotine can make things a little harder, if there is a chance to reduce them slightly.