Depression

[Carriemunky]

Can I post questions about depression here?

[Bbbananas]

Isn't he under the care of a CPN (community psychiatric nurse) or such an organisation? Do you have details of your local crisis team? THey would be far more help and more knowledgeable of his condition than any social worker. He should be able to get a referral or access to a CPN through his GP.

[Carriemunky]

tamborine and umm, you guys sound like you know what you are talking about. Is this true? is the social worker wrong. Help me, I'm nearly in tears, don't know where to turn any more

[Carriemunky]

sallabananas he has a CPN as did I during my postanatal depression but she always failed to keep appointments or when she turned up just treated him like scum. We have lost faith in the system

[ummmm]

I use to work in a psychiatric hospital. You need to go to his GP and explain the situation. Hopefully they will section him until they get the meds right. It's trial and error though.

[Carriemunky]

we have tried his gp. He has asked to be sectioned and they wont do it

[Bbbananas]

I would ask for a transfer of care to another CPN. You don't have to 'stick' with the one you're first put with if you don't have any rapport or don't think they are of any help.

[tamborine]

Go to your GP & demand treatment for him, preferably in Psychiatric ward in local hospital. Patients are often sedated for 36h to help with withdrawals, medicated for dehydration etc.

[Carriemunky]

He is supposed to have a meeting with psychiatrists, gps, social workers etc so that everyone knows what is going on. Any points that have been made this morning I will certainly raise. It's good to know that people care and are trying to help

[Carriemunky]

ummm has anyone managed to successfully get meds and not take an overdose for a long period of time?

[ummmm]

Yes of course. If he is sectioned he will be monitored 24 hours a day.

[yinyang]

Carrie, not much help I can offer but I do understand a bit what you're going.
The west of Scotland seems to be very poor at dealing with mental health problems. If you're a drug addict or alcoholic there is a lot of help available but as you have found, hardly any for mental illness.

It does seem to be very difficult to get someone sectioned round here, even when they obviously need help. We experienced this a few months ago with the husband of a family member.
In the end he presented himself at the hospital and refused to leave, said he would harm himself right there on their doorstep if they did not admit him.
Unfortunately, as you said, all it really achieved was a lot of monkeying about with his meds BUT the time he was in there for really gave his wife some breathing space and I think that's what you need now.

I have seen first hand how trying to cope with a partner with problems can wear you down and know how exhausted and drained you must be. wanting to lash out is understandable but just puts peoples backs up.

You need to see your gp for your own sake, I think. If he is not sympathetic then ask to see someone else in the practise. This is too much for you - or anybody -to deal with on your own.

[Carriemunky]

It sounds like the ideal answer if only we could get people to listen to us. WE have a few different doctors at our surgery and they all dont seem to know what to do or care. I would love him to get better

[tamborine]

mention his latest arrest - that should swing it for psychiatric. Being sectioned is not a stigma today - too many in same condition.

[Carriemunky]

thanks yinyang. I don't mean to get peoples backs up. I am really stressed and a bit touchy, I apologise again to people I have offended this morning. So how do I get him sectioned if the doctors don't care. Do I get him to go to the hospital and do the same as this other guy?

[tamborine]

how old is he and does he have kids - for their sakes some action should be taken.

[Carriemunky]

He told his social worker yesterday about arrest and asked to be sectioned again. That's when she said they will just mess with his meds.

[ummmm]

Like I said...they will mess with his meds. His meds are not working. He needs to be sectioned until they find meds that do work.

[Carriemunky]

He is 35. We have 3 kids. Two 7 year olds and a baby of 14 months

[Carriemunky]

sounds like such a simple solution so why is it not so simple to get him into the psych hospital

[tamborine]

Waste no more time - get to docs now & demand psychiatric treatment before he does something stupid like try to cook & set the home alight. He'll be a new man in a month!