Staying "cured"

[Sheslosingit]

OK, namechanger here.

I have been pretty ill for the last few years, but have been better for the last year or so, with only the odd, minor, wobble.

I never got a diagnosis, but it was definitely some kind of psychosis, probably bipolar (well, there was definitely mania in there, and depression, and I heard, saw and thought things that weren't real and was paranoid).

I am about to be discharged from my mental health team as my last serious episode was around the end of 2008 and I am now off meds and stable. I am being discharged from my intensive team (although they hardly ever see me now, they used to come out almost daily at my worst) straight to my GP, and I am a bit worried about what will happen if I have a relapse.

Obviously I'm not PLANNING on a relapse, but then who is?

I don't want to end up sectioned and locked up- I managed to only be voluntarily hospitalised up to now, but I think the fact that I had experts in psychosis in young people looking after me helped that. I also don't want to have to languish on tranquillisers or other strong drugs while I wait to be referred to the right people.

Is anyone else in this situation?

Not in your shoes, but yes I can see that it would be reassuring to have a plan of action and a way to cut through the assessment part...

Wish I could be more help, someone more knowledgable will be along in a minute...

Hi there

the team will still be there, don't worry. Just because you are discharged, doesn't mean you can never see them again in the future. The GP can easily refer you again if you start to go downhill.

However, the fact you have been well since 2008 is fantastic!!! They obviously think you are well enough to be discharged, so you should be reallly encouraged by that.

I have been well since beginning of 2009 and still no sign of me being discharged I really want to get out of the mental health system now, just fed up of them. My CPN still comes round monthly. I make her coffee and she tells me about her family

FWIW they cannot section you if your next of kin disagrees - my CPN told me this. Tell your next of kin that if things get bad again you do NOT want to be sectioned and that they should object. No one can be sectioned without their next of kin's agreement.

Hope you stay well!

P.S out of interest were you on lithium, and what made you come off? I stopped lithium at end of May this year and hasn't affected me at all so far

glad you're getting so much better

I think the important thing is to stay aware. Not that you should be always expecting things to go wrong, but just know the signs in case they do.

with any mental health issue it's better to act quickly, so if you think "hang on, I'm not feeling too good..." don't wait around to see if it gets worse, just get to the GP or whoever ASAP. they'll take your concerns seriously.

I had severe depression (probably PTSD) in my teens but recovered before having DD. I was so ashamed when I got PND after she was born, like I'd failed. But I shouldn't have - and when I got PND again after DS was born, I realised that, and accepted that it's part of who I am, it's nobody's fault, and I'm now on mild ADs and getting better fast. It could've been worse if I'd left it longer.

What I'm trying to say is, if things get bad again, don't be embarrassed about it, just be honest. I think this is especially important if you have children.

Sounds like you're pretty self-aware, so I'm sure you'll be fine. Just ask for help if you need it.