Getting diagnosed in UK

[Snookiebookie]

Hi

I have kinda asked this question as part of another post but will give more detail here.

I'm wondering how I go about getting a diagnosis. Bear in mind in in the UK, where the level of service can differ greatly from area to area. Also, I'm not really in a position to pay very much for "private" treatments/assessments.

How did you get your diagnosis? How can I get one?

I've been seeing my GP for well over 20 years with mental health issues. I've tried all the anti depressants, SSRIs etc, with mixed results. I'm med free, partly through choice and partly because nothing works for a consistent time.

I've had two courses of counselling, one of psychodynamic therapy, one of integrated therapy (with a bit of EMDR) and two cycles of CBT. 

I've seen my mental health nurse three times in the last year, only to be told that there no more treatments that can be offered on the NHS. Or in her words "there's no magic wand"   (a bit flippant and a little bit glib, I think).

I have self referred to IAPT to be assessed for further CBT, to be told that there's no value in having more.  I've pressed both IAPT and my mental health nurse as to what else they can offer. I asked if the Community Mental Health team would have anything to offer. Apparently whatever they do have is only short term, and it's thought that this would be counter productive for me as this is a long term problem.

I found out about a drop in session where someone from the Community Mental Health team attends.  I went to see them, and there was nothing they could offer.

I'm currently self funding treatment with a counsellor.  I'm currently just focusing on dealing with the trauma.  And whilst my counsellor is good and very well qualified I'm sure that she's not qualified to diagnose. She's a therapist not a psychiatrist/psychologist.

I've never had a formal diagnosis. Social anxiety disorder and generalised anxiety disorder have been suggested/mentioned.  But I'd really like a diagnosis. It'd validate the suffering and perhaps make it easier to explain to others.  But how do I go about it?

I really feel that my GP and mental health nurse wouldn't be very receptive. I'm sure they would argue that treatment is more important. I really cannot see them taking any steps to help me get a diagnosis. I'm pretty sure they've labelled me "treatment resistant".

It's my experience that the NHS is geared up to treat rather than diagnose.  And I can appreciate and understand that, but it doesn't diminish the fact that I'd like a diagnosis.  Currently I feel like a flake, a neurotic who cannot cope. 

I have looked into seeing a psychiatrist/psychologist for a diagnosis. It's £110 per hour, and more than one session would be needed to get a full picture. And again, he was more geared up to offering treatment rather than diagnosing.

I often see other people from the UK posting of forums and they state their diagnosis. How did they get that. 

How do go about getting a diagnosis, bearing in mind the lack of support from my GP practice? I genuinely feel they'll be obstructive. At the very least they would say that there is no point in diagnosing me as they're is no other treatment available in any event and that even if I was diagnosed as having C-PTSD then I've had the treatment they could offer, it that I'm having private therapy.

Any suggestions?

Thank you

[JamesG]

hi Snook

well, I wanted exactly the same thing and the doc said.. why? You have a trauma, and this is post that... that's your confirmation. Now that may seem flippant but he's right. I wanted a diagnosis to counter the endless gaslighting I'd had pointed at me about how ill I was getting but really... it's what I know that counts. Having said that, he then wrote PTSD on a form for the DSS which I haven't had to use but in a silly way I'm quite proud of it.

You are unlikely to get a diagnosis option I'm afraid. Right now they just don't do it very willingly. But you know, that's the thing. If you've had a trauma, be it large or small, or of any kind really, if it affected you then that's the story. End of. We are all different and what happened is different too. But if you have the classic symptoms then there is the diagnosis that counts. We Know... thats what matters.

[helliepig]

what about finding a therapist who specialises in trauma and go and talk to them ? would be a lot cheaper than a psychiatrist.
In my experience as a patient and also a health professional, I'd say NHS mental health services are stretched far too thinly and often what patient's need is simply not available. My personal feeling is also that many mental health professionals in it don't understand trauma at all,  let alone how it presents or how commonly it underlies so many presentations.

CPTSD is so complex I'm not sure unless you work in it all the time you really get it, so i'd start there??

[Rainagain]

Hi
I'm in the UK and have been treated for anxiety/depression for years.
As part of a court case I have been assessed by two psychiatrists recently.
I had to pay for these myself. One charged 250 quid for a written report and recommended meds, the other was an expert witness who charged 2,500 quid for report and prognosis.
Both were good (I thought) even though they diagnosed different but related disorders.
You have to be diagnosed by a psychiatrist for it to 'count', a therapists opinion isn't recognised as a diagnosis.
Snookie, you could get an assessment and report from a psychiatrist and pay privately, although the NHS wouldn't pay for me to be assessed they were keen to have my assessment added to my medical records once I'd done it myself.
I'm not sure if the NHS aren't correct, what good is a diagnosis really? All the treatments for what we have involve talking therapies and antidepressants anyway, if the NHS treat the symptoms rather than finding out what the disorder actually is then it makes little practical difference.
The only benefit to me is personal, I feel its OK to feel poorly as the psychiatrists have validated that I'm pretty damn unwell and my outlook is for more of the same going forward.
But that is simply what I knew inside already.
It might be worth 250 quid to have that validation and get it on your medical records if you feel you want to invest your energy and cash in hunting down a diagnosis.
I'm not sure how I feel about being diagnosed after 30 years of issues, it helps to explain to others but people who know me are well aware that I am pretty 'out there', its actually more obvious to them than it is to me really.
Another consideration is that the run up to the psychiatrist assessments caused me lots of extra stress as it involves handing yourself over to somebody else to judge you, I was very anxious before during and after the assessment worrying if it would harm my case or if I had explained myself properly (memory issues and inability to concentrate make it hard).
It worked out well in the end but I wouldn't want to have to do it again.
My advice is ask yourself what difference a diagnosis would make for you, if you want to proceed get a copy of your medical records (costs around 50 quid from gp) and find a psychiatrist who will look over your history, do an assessment and report for you.
People like us aren't Ill enough to get full treatment on the NHS as we aren't running through the streets naked waving an axe.
Good luck whatever you decide.

[east17]

Hi Snookie
You mentioned in your post about seeing a MH nurse. Are you currently under a CMHT? There is normally a Psychologist / Psychiatrist attached to the CMHT - could you ask (if you haven't already) to be referred to see them?
You said you've had Counselling, Psychodynamic Therapy, EMDR and CBT; it seems that you have been offered various therapies without a dx, which suggests that your issues have been taken seriously, so I am wondering what you feel having a formal diagnosis will give you?
If the NHS is unable to provide further help, then unfortunately the only route is the private one. However, some MH charities /organisations do offer reduced fee therapy so it could be worth enquiring. Try The Counselling Directory if you haven't already, there is a lot of useful information there.