Finally have an appointment with a psychiatrist

[Imwussgetmeouttahere]

It's taken ages and I now have an appointment next month. What will it entail?

I've had bouts of severe depression all my life. My GP thinks I have BPD. I self-harm regularly. On the other hand, I hold down a demanding job. I've raised two amazing children, single handedly. I've not done too badly. However, I feel despair and anger which I work hard not to show.

Not a single person has seen my scars. I can't let that happen. Will the Dr ask to see them?

I drink too much. I am nervous about divulging that. What might happen?

I'm verging on cancelling, I'm that worried. However, I don't want to be like this forever. I've been suicidal before. My mood has slipped in anticipation of this appointment. Any advice or support will be greatly appreciated.

Please go. No one has to see your scars unless you want to show them. You have capacity and give consent or not.
Tell them you want to take it slowly. Any good psychiatrist will respect this and should take that approach anyway.
Don’t let your depression ‘win’ it wants to stay and that is why it’s trying to persuade you to cancel. But you want to feel better and a good psychiatrist will help you do that in a way you feel ok with.
good luck

Well done for getting this appointment booked in. I think it will be valuable for you for them to know that you’ve used self harming and alcohol to cope. But you can see how you feel on the day about how much you talk about that. They will be experienced in helping people in your situation and will know how to get the information they need to help you. It is their job to help you and that’s what they will do.

I had a hypomanic episode last year and ended up needing to be admitted to hospital. I’d been going to GP for help on and off for years but had too much control over my symptoms for them to hear what was going on for me, I think. I would have like to have not had the kids and me experience the day I was rushed to hospital but I was treated with nothing but kindness there and the relief of having the right diagnosis has changed my life. I had self diagnosed with cPTSD but it was actually bipolar - which is often misdiagnosed first until you have your first hypomanic or manic episode. I no longer feel like I’m heading to the edge of a cliff. It’s so hard when you’ve asked for help for so long and it’s not been given or what has been given hasn’t worked. Sounds as though you will be meeting the right person to help you.

A couple of the member of support staff on the mental health ward wore short sleeve tops and were totally comfortable to show that they had self harmed in the past.

All the best hanging in there.,

Seeing a psychiatrist changed my life...for the better. They are non judgemental and have a deep understanding of issues you are facing. Do something for yourself and go

Go. And be completely honest; drinking and everything. He/she can’t help you if they don’t know what they are dealing with.

You will not be judged, nothing bad will happen; you will just get help, that is all. There is a duty of confidentiality which is extremely strict in psychiatry. If you disclose your plan to murder your sister that evening, or jump off a bridge, then the Psychiatrist can involve others. Otherwise it’s pretty much right. You even get to choose whether the letters go to your GP but you need to say yes as your GP will prescribe any medication.

you will be grand, honestly xx