Diagnosis help

[TheCrazyThingIsHope]

I don't know if anyone can off e r some advice on here or has similar problems which they would like to share? I have suffered with my m/ h for years ( depression, insomnia and anxiety)

I have tried all types of antidepressants and they have all had a similar response - severe agitation/ increase in anxiety/ restlessness but none have eased my depression or anxiety. mirtazapine was the only one which I initially responded well to but It stopped having any positive effects after a few weeks .It seems like I can't tolerate ssris at all and after a recent 6 week trial of sertraline which was disastrous and where I was literally hallucinating and wanting to tear my skin off with agitation, it seems safe to say I'm not going to get relief from antidepressants.

Which leads to my question - what actually is wrong with me? If I don't respond to the normal treatment and it actually gets worse with most medication , what could be left to try? I feel like it's " more" than just depression and there is something underlying. I've questioned bi polar, autism and even adhd - i can identify with some symptoms but not all, in each of these diagnoses. I want to ask my gp to pursue other avenues but don't know where to start! Thank you

It sounds to be as though you’d need a referral to a psychiatrist.

Yes, I think I may have to push for that.

I think you would struggle to get a timely referral to an NHS psychiatrist as the NHS MH services are in such a dire state.
If you can afford to go private then an initial consultation with a private pyschiatist would be a better option. That would probably cost £300-£400.

When and why did the mental health issues begin? Was there a particular incident or were the problems common to other family members? Finding the origin is the best way to changing the way you think.

How long were you on Sertraline? My Dd took a good 8 weeks until she felt more stable and relaxed.

I meant to add that a psychiatrist would be able to prescribe low dose antipsychotics in combination with ADs for treatment resistant depression if that was the diagnosis.

Thank you for your responses. To answer a few questions - no money to go private unfortunately, my gp took me off sertrakine immediately when he saw the effect it was having on me saying this wasn't a normal start up effect. No one else in my family with diagnosed mental health but my dad exhibits some traits of autism - repetitive behaviours, social anxiety, obsessions with certain topics etc.

Definitely ask for a referral to an NHS psychiatrist in that case, as your GP has probably exhausted his options for prescribing. Good luck, I hope you don’t have to wait too long

I would definitely ask what’s stopping them from referring you to a psychiatrist. All the best getting the help you need.

Thank you. I'm not sure why gp hasn't referred me - i think he's running out of options too.

I saw you mentioned identifying with some but not all symptoms of certain diagnoses OP. Wanted to say you don’t have to have “all” symptoms to get a diagnosis. You might be able to cope ok with things that other ND people struggle with, but not with others…and still be autistic, or have ADHD, or both.

Autistic women are often diagnosed much later in life (or not at all) because many doctors are much more familiar with the stereotypical male presentation: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism/autistic-women-and-girls

If you suspect you might he ND, you can ask to be referred under Right to Choose. There is a strong family link to ND, but your dad’s ND traits may manifest in different ways to yours. Be prepared for your parent to deny your and their neurodiversity if you pursue a diagnosis - this is a very common experience!

Some resources that have helped me are YoSamdySam on YouTube and neurodivergent Lou on Instagram. The https://embrace-autism.com site is useful for tests, especially if you’re used to masking (I had no idea I was masking). There are also some great ADHD resources on social media.

I had no luck with antidepressants or CBT or conventional therapy. The biggest difference was first realising I was ND and then setting accommodations for my life that stopped me from constantly burning out in a never ending anxiety-depression cycle. There’s a Neurodiverse Mumsnetters section that might be useful.

I really hope you find the answer and start to feel better.

Thank you for your post and I have had a quick look through the links. I'll have a good read later when I feel more settled. I do feel nd could explain a lot of my symptoms - i absolutely live by structure, I mask ( copy) a lot in social situations, I'm a perfectionist, I get overly obsessed with researching topics which can last month's until I find something new, I have an item I carry around with me which keeps me safe and I spiral of I lose sight of it, I overthink and worry about how I'm perceived etc. I haven't brought any of this up with my gp before - i think I have to moving forward. Thank you for your help.