What to expect from MINT

[overtheline77]

I have an assessment in a few days. Following a call to 111. I'm diagnosed with adhd but think I may be bipolar. My medication is not stabilising me and I am up and down. HRT too. Will they be able to prescribe mood stabilisers? They said they cannot take over adhd meds which is fine as I have a psychiatrist privately for that but I need some kind of holistic view of my mental health which they cannot do.

When I had my initial assessment it lasted over an hour and they were really thorough asking me all sorts of questions before they diagnosed me (I have EUPD and Bipolar), there were a series of follow up meetings before they gave me the diagnoses and started me on medication.

Don't be surprised if there's more than one person in the room. I had the psychiatrist, a community psychiatric nurse and a medical student in mine.

Crikey. Quite nervous about this. Feel like I need to write it all down. And print off all my reports and letters. I'm not great at sticking to the facts and tend to go all over the place.

Try not to be too nervous, they are used to people being all over the place - I certainly was! They are there to help you so the more honest you can be about how you're feeling, what your worries are the better.

I hope it goes well.

I was just wondering how you got on? Did you have your appointment?

I did. It was a bit of a underwhelming experience. I sat down with a junior health worker and talked through everything which was very difficult. They seemed to say that my appointment was as earlier in week despite sending me a text message with the date and tjme I was there.

I was surprised not to see a doctor but they said it would need to be a later appointment which I haven't got yet.

A more senior mental health nurse came in and spoke to me about the bipolar worries I have and the long history of highs and lows and what has happened as a result. It was made very clear that addressing alcohol issues had to bbe done first which i have been trying to do and managed a good 5 days before a relapse and completely losing it.

I'm under so much stress and anxiety from criminal allegations and housing issues and family stuff and I feel like I'm cracking and just spiralling down. I don't leave the house and just spend all my time in my room. Friends totally fucked off and I feel so alone and like my life has gone forever.

It's hard to see how I can ever turn around what has happened and the implications for me now. I'm just very depressed and scared.