View Full Version : Can NHS direct refer you to crisis team?
The doctor I usually see isnt in until monday. I feel like im in a mental health crisis. But they say you need to be referred
Hiyer I found you thiks link on the NHS, it would suggest that if you view yourself to be in crisis that you ask for an emergency gp appointment today - not just wait for your usual doctor.
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/mental-health-services/dealing-with-a-mental-health-crisis-or-emergency/
Hi Cass,
We've discussed this on chat hun, you have to be absolutely sure you are in a crisis, you know we spoke about the consequences. GP is your first port of call in my opinion, whether or not its your regular doctor or not. x
I dont trust any other Dr. I know for definate they will want to do tests. With my health anxiety its terrifying me. Other gps at my surgery just look at me stupid. They dont listen to a word I say. Its just....here you go try that and hope for the best. The one i usually see knows me well. With my huge cancer phobia im finding it so difficult. Hubby had to stay home from work today to look after me as he thought i was going to do something stupid to myself x
What is the crisis you feel you have Cass ? Do you want to explain a bit more, as I wasn't in chat.
I was put on mirtazipine in august and gradually went up to 45mg. He said it will help me sleep, it didnt. Ive got acute anxiety and severe depression at the mo as ive been worried for 12 months that i have cancer. It all started when i went to the dr as i wasnt getting any periods. They did full bloods and found my liver enzymes were slightly raised so i had an ultrasound on my liver and ovaries. I dont have cysts on my ovaries but i have PCOS. My c reactive protien was 11 when it should have been under 5. I stupidly googled and it said high crp = cancer. This was last september. I didnt go back until beginning of august this year on fear of what the ultrasounds were. The liver seemed ok. So was put on the mirtazapine as stupidly came off my other meds last year as was scared to go back for more. End of august i had a lump in my groin....worried sick and went to a and e twice and the dr once in a month. The last time it was a consultant i seen in the hospital. He said it was a cyst and gave me antibiotics and it cleared up middle of last month. My gp said....lets do full bloods. I think it was because he knew of my health anxiety and wanted to reassure me. But told him I couldnt do it out of fear. Ive been highly stressed for months now and with no meds its all been too much. The mirtazipine made me feel suicidal. For 3 weeks ive had bad stomach rumbling and nausea and the last week since sunday ive only managed 6 complan 2 small potatoes and some chicken. Saturday night i had home made chicken broth. The next day had formed but yellow stools and thats been until tuesday. But i have no gallbladder and with little eating i dont know if it was bile. Decided to add carrots and they came out the same as they went in. I dont seem to be digesting food. I have gastritis and ibs anyway. But 3 weeks is a long time to be having these issues when i was eating normally before. Just constant noise in my gut. Im done with the Dr's. They dont care and they dont listen. Ive seen them so many times to know from experience. Whats someone to do if you dont want to be here anymore but the drs just throw meds at you and send you out the door. The depression is too much. Im drowning in it. I just dont see a way out anymore. My fight has gone after 18 years of having this awful mental health. Ive asked the dr to refer me to psych to get my meds right. He says i dont need it. Then there is the cpn i was reffered to in the surgery as he does visits. He just said buy a book on health anxiety and then referred me for the million month wait for more therapy which is more than likely cbt for the billionth time have had that and its not worked. Im in a mess and cant get out of it! My parents work full time and I have 2 small children 9 and 5. My husband also works 9 till 2pm and then at home from 5 till 8pm. Im agoraphobic so have to go on my own as nobody else is available. Ive been a member here since 2004 and never post on the forums just use the chat room where ive made many friends. But im desperate and dont know where or who to turn too. Like i said GPs are utterly useless and id be wasting my time!
That's what I'm trying to say Cass, if you make any slight remark about ending it, you could find you are in a situation of no return. You know what I am talking about, we've had many nights talking about this with others. You know I'll try and help you anyway I can hun. x
It's your cancer fear you have to deal with hun. x
i also dont have a gallbladder. Was taken out 9 yrs ago. Ive had nothing but trouble since. Bile diarrhea and urgency. Its what they call bile salt malabsorption which i have to be near a toiler at all times. Usually most people with BAM have binders to take to stop the bile from running into my intestines like a tap . Will the drs give me any binders or do anything about it. Absolutely not!
Cass, you cyst has gone now, that proves it wasn't what you thought it was. x
Okay there is a lot there to try and process, starting with the gallbladder, do you have a reason for being denied 'binders' ? Can you contact the original hospital/surgeon or specialist you were under at the time and request they review the fact you think you need 'binders' ?
I think underlying all of this does seem to be pervasive Health Anxiety, and I'm not saying you don't have symptoms or some genuine physical problems but because they are currently out of perspective you are fearing that there is something far more sinister.
I can see why you feel desperate, and everything feels a mess, but as you have young children you will know that 'not being here' is not the way out and will cause extraordinary pain to them, and your husband, for the rest of their lives. I can also feel you think you are being let down by doctors, but also looking back at your threads I can see that you have a fear of doctors, medical tests and even going to see them. I believe in some areas you can self-refer to mental health services, but don't know if you are in one of those areas, a google could give some suggestions ?
The other suggestion I have is to go and see another doctor with your husband in the room with you, to act as advocate and witness to what is being said. I know you had some things you posted about recently that you do need to go and talk to them about, but are scared to do so, so write that list out and go with someone else.
Dying_Swan
29-11-19, 13:29
I'm not sure if they can refer to the crisis team. It probably depends on how things are set up in your area. They can decide to send an ambulance out to you, who then decide if you need to go to A&E. Once in A&E they might get you to see the psych team, but again I suspect it's a postcode lottery. Have you considered talking things through with the Samaritans? 116 123.
Thats my frustration Carn. Its how i feel but because of the kids i cant mention it to them in fear of what may happen. They have a good home life and are well looked after and provided for. I cant sit another day with them seeing me laid in bed like this they dont deserve it....and neither do the rest of my family. Im at my lowest point ever in 18 yrs. I feel like im done. My cancer fear to others sounds ridiculous but its so very real in my head. For the last 12 months thats all ive thought about for near enough 20 hours a day. Ive tried crosswords, crochet, drawing just to get some relief but nothing. I feel totally empty and lost, overwhelmed, fearful and suffocated. I never thought id get to this stage where im crying out for help. I might as well be in the middle of the desert shouting at the top of my lungs for all the good its doing.
Im glad i have people like you carn that gets me. I appreciate that x
I can hear in your words how low you are - why not get your husband to ring the surgery and get a GP to see you today and go together ?
Carys....im in the butt end of Wales. GPs here are useless. The hospital look at you weird, i went in September asked to see the crisis team. He dismissed it and said just go home and have a hot water bottle! Regards the binders. They just say alot of people have trouble with that after they have them removed like it doesnt affect the persons confidence whether they are going to soil themselves in public with neon yellow diarrhea in any given moment. Im sorry to sound so graphic but its true.
Dying swan....i hope this doesn't come accross rude or any thing as not intended so please dont take it that way. But I need medication not a chit chat x
ankietyjoe
29-11-19, 13:40
Having been in constant contact with a crisis team for the last 18 months for my partner, my instinct would suggest that no. You're not even close to qualifying for a crisis team.
This may be a hard pill to swallow, but the issue here is your thought pattern, for the most part. This constant focus on cancer is the thing you need to get a hold of. That's the only important thing to deal with at this point. Trying other things takes time, it will take months to reprogram your brain not to think about cancer, but there is no other solution to this. You need to develop habits that counter your normal reaction to negative thoughts, and completely ban yourself from google, 100% There are no exceptions to this, Google is banned.
"I do not have cancer, and I want to enjoy time with my children".
When I had HA I used to say that (often out loud) to myself literally hundreds of times a week. You need to re-learn what it's like to have normal thought patterns. I don't care if it's hard, I know it's hard. I don't care if it 'seems' real to you, that doesn't actually make it real.
Next time you're laying in bed (and I did this for months myself), get up and go and sit with them for just 5 minutes. Smile, ask them how they are. Even if you feel like utter shit. Do it anyway. By doing this you are telling your subconscious that you are actually ok.
It will take months to reprogram the bad habits you've learned, so start now.
Carys....im sorry if i come accross wrong. I appreciate all of your replies and help. Im just very frustrated and its not aimed at anyone here. I have 2 children that have half day in school on a friday so they are home. We dont have anyone to watch them x
Cass, I think the meds you have been taking has made you worse! Remember not so long ago when you were shopping for Christmas pressies?
I know you are suffering hun and maybe hubby could go with you to the GP. Personally I think you need sleep. You've had many a late night on chat.
You'd be surprised how sleep can repair.
I have health anxiety and depression too and feel all those things you feel. But we have to keep going.
Don't worry about what your kids think of you being in bed.
My mum spent a good 7 years in bed or on the couch, I still loved her and understand when I was older. x
OK, there are two issues here the gallbladder removal and the 'binders' you want to discuss. So, why not do as I suggest and contact the hospital/surgeon who did your original surgery and request some support with your GP.
The second is that you need to help yourself here regarding the cancer fear (which I believe you have no evidence of). I think too that you should get out of bed, you are lying there alone with your thoughts (Yep, been there and done that too!) and the reality is being more and more distorted. Your HA is crippling you right now, making you anxious and depressed and I'm sure you also do have better times so focus on those better times and remind yourself that they can and will return. Can you think of any recently ?
I took no offence at your reply at all.
We dont have anyone to watch them
Not sure what this means - I think you need to watch them :o)
I agree with Carys and Joe.
Even a little time getting up and doing something normal will help with the depression.
Stick on one of those cheesy Christmas films, wrap yourself up in a blanket with a box of tissues, the kids will be none the wiser if you cry. x
We all know how meds can make you worse before they kick in. Maybe not a good idea to try at the moment considering the way you are. x
Ankietyjoe....again not to be rude but just curious. What actually qualifies for a "crisis" as im pretty suicidal at the moment as much as i hate that word. When i had gone to A&E the last time. We sat next to a mother and daughter. After talking to the mother as the daughter couldnt lift her head up! We found out that the daughter had taken an overdose of vallium and coedine and a lot of it! There were no ambulances available so she had to get a taxi from 20 miles away and was left severely drugged in the main waiting area for 5 hours without being seen. The girl had bad mental health after the death of her own brother in march due to overdose. How can they just leave people like her in that state. The mother told us there was no mental health access for her. So what hope have i got?
That's why you have to look after yourself Cass.
You've not been eating properly, sleeping properly and the meds didn't agree with you.
You need to change your routine.
I don't want to hear you were dumped in A & E to lie around not getting attention. x
I know hun. Thats what kicked this off bad again. A few days before it i was decorating my 22ft kitchen all by myself singing along to the radio. Then all this nonsense started again x
Cass, you cyst has gone now, that proves it wasn't what you thought it was. x
ankietyjoe
29-11-19, 14:12
Ankietyjoe....again not to be rude but just curious. What actually qualifies for a "crisis" as im pretty suicidal at the moment as much as i hate that word. When i had gone to A&E the last time. We sat next to a mother and daughter. After talking to the mother as the daughter couldnt lift her head up! We found out that the daughter had taken an overdose of vallium and coedine and a lot of it! There were no ambulances available so she had to get a taxi from 20 miles away and was left severely drugged in the main waiting area for 5 hours without being seen. The girl had bad mental health after the death of her own brother in march due to overdose. How can they just leave people like her in that state. The mother told us there was no mental health access for her. So what hope have i got?
The hope you've got is that a lot of what you're suffering is self made. That's not to be critical, but that's how it works for a lot of us (myself included at one point).
Checking symptoms, reading Google, staying in bed and convincing yourself you have cancer, that's all on you. And that's what YOU need to change.
Telling yourself there's no hope, that's not helping. Anecdotal comparative stories aren't helping either.
Trust me, I know how bad you feel because I've done exactly the same thing as you, but try and listen to people who have recovered from it. At it's core, HA is a habit that you have the control over to break. It's not easy, but start now.
Why not order a pizza tonight and sit up and watch a film with the family? Your heart may be pounding, you may feel like crying, but do it anyway. Honestly, this is the only way to break the habit. You break habits by doing something different for weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks, until your brain gets it.
Cass, I'm going to cut to the chase here. I don't think you do 'want to die', I think that voice is actually one of complete desperation at how anxious and low you are and the total fear you are experiencing (I know it well, where all that is left is a feeling of primal pain and a feeling of complete entrapment in your own world of extreme suffering). I think you want a way out and that voice is crying out for help and doesn't know how to get it hence the talk of 'doing something to yourself'. You are scared of cancer and dying, and you certainly want to be alive and well. You know life can be better, you know things HAVE been better, you love your children and want to be with them now, today and in the future. Not being here at all isn't a way out, you actually are very aware of this, So -
- if you feel as bad as you do today, and desperately want some help (and I'm not denying you do feel a complete mess today)- get your husband to ring the surgery, get him to take you and go and discuss/advocate alongside you ? OR If you don't want to do that and if you think you are able to take some steps on your own, small ones, and get up and do something to get yourself moving, active and engaged, then do that. It doesn't matter what it is, stand in the garden and breathe in some fresh air for 5 minutes). Go and eat something small, anything (your blood sugars will be low and causing anxiety alone!) - a banana, a couple of biscuits, anything. PLan to sit and watch a programme, I recommend the new David Attenborough on catchup, tonight with everybody else.
This will pass. It sounds like, from what Carnation is saying, some recent medication has destabilised your thinking very recently. You know we are all here, round and about to help you through this blip :)
ankietyjoe
29-11-19, 14:37
Thanks. Appreciate it.
If you can get Papa Johns where you are, they're doing pigs in blankets as a side dish tonight. There's disgusting, but also not ;)
Just sayin'.....
So, whats your plan Cass ? :D
I havnt eaten for a week let alone a pizza. My stomach would expire if i did with my gut issues the way they are. I retch just thinking about food.
To be honest Cerys i dont have one. Will just have to stick it out. Nobody to go with me. Story of my life.
Don't wallow, Cass, it won't help. I know it's hard not to sink into negativity but an action plan will really help.
Nobody else can do this for you. I've been there, and Joe, and Carys, and you can pull yourself out of this hole too.
Dying_Swan
29-11-19, 17:00
I wasn't suggesting a "chit chat". I was suggesting the Samaritans as a possible alternative crisis service who won't send out the emergency services unless you ask them to. They are familiar with people feeling suicidal and can be helpful to support you to make your own action/safety plan.
Dying Swan, The Samaritans are brilliant!
Saved me on a few occasions. x
Sorry Cass, I had to pop out, catch you in chat. x
The Samaritans are great, yes! They create a really safe mental space to help you reach your own decisions.
ankietyjoe
30-11-19, 12:48
How you doin' today Cass?
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