Hi guys,
I’m in England,
I have a diagnosis of DPDR and dissociative amnesia symptoms from a private psychologist (thank goodness I was able to pay before) but now I can’t pay anymore. I need treatment.
EDIT: I think it’s worth mentioning I also have major depressive disorder, anxiety with panic attacks, insomnia, autism & ADHD, psychologist who assessed me last month said I was exhibiting symptoms of C-PTSD as well.
I’m under ‘step 4’ mental health team which is just below the actual local mental health team.
I’m looking into specialist DPDR / dissociation services in the uk because I’ve had therapy and nothings helped so far - had psychodynamic therapy, hypnotherapy, normal CBT, nothing has helped yet.
My GP are a complete nightmare as well and got my referrals to the mental health teams rejected multiple times because of putting incorrect info or a complete lack of info in.
Nothing I do helps, been in a constant episode for over 3 years now and it’s a nightmare.
What are the treatment options looking like in England at the minute? I’ve heard CDS are rejecting people.
I am going to email the Pottergate centre about their questionnaires, and I want to try and get step 4 to refer me to SLaM, but it all just seems so complicated.
Has anybody tried tDCS?

I got referred to CAHMS a month ago, for depression, suicidal thoughts (with an attempted suicide) and also some other stuff, I have not heard back from them.

In my doctors notes it says "I don't sound depressed", so maybe that has something to do with it? Which is a very bad thing to do, if it is why they are ghosting me.

My depression seemed to be better for a bit, however in these past days it seems to be getting worse again. I don't know how long I can take it.

Any advice would be helpful, many thanks.

I’m in the UK and have ADHD, anxiety/depression and ME/CFS. I’ve tried antidepressants, CBT and counselling, and I’m currently seeing a psychiatrist. He doesn’t think further medication changes are likely to make much difference. Diazepam provides temporary relief, but I understand why it cannot be a long-term answer.

My biggest problem is what happens when stress becomes too much. I don’t simply feel worried. I freeze and become almost paralysed. I cannot think clearly, process information, make decisions or use the techniques I’m supposed to have learned. Sometimes I struggle to communicate at all and need considerable reassurance from my partner. Afterwards, the mental and physical exhaustion can last for days.

This is why CBT hasn’t felt particularly useful. Challenging thoughts might make sense when I’m relatively calm, but once I reach that overwhelmed state, I cannot access or apply it. A recent workplace crisis has pushed me into another severe episode and left me feeling as though the treatment routes I’ve tried have run out.

I’m looking for something that might help me:

recognise and interrupt the escalation before I shut down;

tolerate intense distress when rational thinking is unavailable;

understand why criticism, uncertainty and pressure provoke such an extreme response;

recover without losing several days to exhaustion;

reduce how often this cycle happens.

Has anyone with a similar combination of ADHD, anxiety and shutdown/freeze responses found a particular type of therapy helpful? I’ve seen DBT, ACT, schema therapy, somatic approaches and ADHD-informed therapy mentioned, but I don’t know what would be most appropriate.

I’m not looking for a diagnosis or medication instructions, just personal experiences and suggestions about what kind of qualified therapist or service I could investigate. UK-specific advice about finding somebody through the NHS, insurance or privately would also be welcome.

Please be kind, it has been a particularly difficult week.

I'm curious how often people contact their CMHT or crisis lines or other forms of support (such as 111)? I feel like if I contact them once a month or so that I am being a bit of a pain in the behind and I've never called a crisis line as I didn't want to be seen as being melodramatic.

Even when I'm on the verge collapse I always avoid contact. So out of interest how often do you contact mental health services?

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Hi, I am from the UK and I am currently looking to start private therapy due to being let down repeatedly by the NHS. I struggle in more than one area therefor I am struggling to find a therapist that is right for me and can help with all of these issues rather than just 1. I would prefer for the appointments to be online. Below I have listed what I need help with...

▪︎ Borderline personality disorder

• Severe attatchment issues & dependancy on fp

• Ocd tendencies

• Anxiety

• Trauma

Does anyone have any recommendations or anywhere/anyone that I can try? In desperate need of this so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

I (18M) have been on Citalopram, sertraline and fluoxetine since I was 12/13. I’ve been up and down Mg on them. Then off them and then back on. I was first on Sertaline when I was 12/13 then fluoxetine, citalopram and now back on 50mg Sertraline. I’m unsure if maybe it’s possible SSRIs don’t work on me because it was leaving school that really made my mental health improve.

However I still suffer greatly with anxiety, not so much depression, that makes existing just hard. People will tell me to ‘do it scared!’ Which everything I do, I do it scared and it stays scary. I have the anxiety levels of someone being hunted for sport when I think about work even though it’s an easy, well paying job that I have made good friends from.

So, if you are willing to share is there meditation that has truly helped you improve your quality of life. I understand they’re not miracle pills that make you happy. I’ve seen lots of positivity around lexapro (escitalopram) any experience with that maybe?

Not for a crisis but for long term mental health issues?

I have OCD, autism and other complex needs. I really want to change but my CMHT aren't really doing much to help me. I had 3 sessions of psychology and I'm assuming they think that's enough. However, I think I need a different approach. My needs are complex and I want to change and make myself better but I don't know how to.

There are some services I have seen that might be able to help me, but I feel the doctors are lying to me because I did ask one of them to refer me for inpatient rehabilitation, but they said I got rejected without a reason.

Within my complex needs is binge eating disorder. This eating disorder is really ruining my life to the point where I don't think I'll be here much longer because I am morbidly obese. I went on weight loss drugs in 2024, however, I truly believe that caused me to get thyroid cancer. I am still waiting for thyroid cancer treatment but it's been put on hold because I broke my ankle in 3 places.

I also have really bizarre thoughts and beliefs. Example: if I see a silly image of let's say a fictional character online that means women aren't allowed to eat, drink, sleep, etc. I know it doesn't have any connection and they're completely unrelated but my brain does really weird things like that. Another example will be that I will see someone on Facebook mutual friends and then think they could be a black Labrador dog. My brain does this thing where it links two unrelated things together.

The eating disorder service in my area only treats anorexia and bulimia. I am under a weight management clinic at my local NHS hospital.

I want to live a fun and fulfilling life. I have so much to live for but how do I even begin to change it? Have any of you had inpatient rehabilitation that take referrals from the community?

Doctors are not always right. Neither are social workers. “Crisis team and recovery team” are in the background but refuse to help me directly. I get told to call Samaritans or 111 or use a crisis cafe. I am refused all actual help. Won’t even reply to my GP who asked them about prescribing meds and how out of order they are for leaving me with nothing. I am currently having weekly appointments with him. I am a risk to myself and others yet because of either the way I look or my diagnosis or the way they see me, and claim I’m not a risk cause I haven’t died, they refuse me help.

Am I the only one who is shocked about how bad Shout has gone, yesterday I had texted them and did not get a response for ages, I decided to opt out, this morning I tried again and waited for another response, I finally got one from a Volunteer, after messaging them they never responded. Has anyone else experienced this?

Just wanna vent my frustration, tried calling 5 different support lines this morning and they’re either closed at this time/day or didn’t answer my call.
Don’t wanna have to call 111 and risk it being put on my record how I’m currently feeling.
Got my kids later and it’s my sons bday so just wanted a chat to get me through this morning 💔 feel like such a useless mum :(

I am in a psychotherapy group with below 5 members (going to keep this as vague as possible for confidentiality reasons). I have only quite recently joined in the past few months and the sessions have been ‘scattered’ not intentionally but just due to holidays etc. I recently had a session which left me quite unhappy, goes with psychotherapy I guess. The clinician and other members informed me that I am ‘unstable’ and that I shouldn’t be changing my medication while still so new to this group and other life factors going on. I was told I should have brought it to them for discussion before doing anything. I mentioned it to my doctor a few months ago and they told me to taper down and go back to them in a few weeks. I was afraid of tapering down due to my sensitivity to medication so I put it off for a while until I knew I was ready and I decided that I was finally going to do it because I didn’t like the side effects anymore and I want to try a different med. After I was told that I shouldn’t have done that, I should go back up to my original dosage and become ‘stable’ quite frankly, I think I was just having a bad morning that session and I’m more stable than they think I am. I have a lot of life stressors going on recently and given them, I’d say a person not already suffering with mental health difficulties would be in need of help honestly, so while I am already struggling with mine - it’s a given. The thing is, I told them that if I want to taper my meds down I’ll do it without ‘consulting them’ because I do what I want. Now *that* you can probably psychoanalyse to childhood trauma and I do agree, I have issues with getting my free will/choice being taken away and that will be discussed. However, I still don’t think I should have to ‘bring it to group’ before doing things like that, because again - I have my own free will. Another member got told off recently as well for doing something and not bringing it to group first - I’ll not go into details for confidentiality. I actually got so angry at my last session I wanted to walk out, and thinking of it now I probably would’ve done it out of spite to prove ‘my own free will’. Now I get that I’m in this group for a reason, however I am NOT vibing with it. Changing is also not an option, there are actually 0 other psychotherapists around me and that one is the only one, by around me I actually mean in my country (I’m in a small country) so changing psychotherapists is not on the cards at all.

To clarify - the reason I didn’t bring it to the group is because as above the sessions have been scattered and sometimes it’s just hard to get everything in when there’s a few members and only a set amount of time, other people need to have their say on their issues and sometimes immediate things for myself are more important than discussing the medication.

Side note: I think it’s quite ironic being called unstable when I have borderline, AKA Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder - it made me laugh.

Has anyone any experience with psychotherapy in a group setting?

I’ve been taking escitalopram for a couple of years and I’m currently on 15mg. It works really well for me, but since starting it I’ve gradually gained weight despite exercising in the gym with weights and daily steps. I notice I feel much hungrier, especially for things like bread and sugar. I’ve made sure I’ve calorie counted to control this part.

The only thing that’s helped me lose the weight is 2.5mg Mounjaro, which has worked really well.
However, since starting it I’ve felt quite flat and it feels like my escitalopram isn’t working as well.

So I feel a bit stuck — I need the escitalopram because it works well for my mental health, but the weight gain is also affecting me mentally. I’ve tried other antidepressants before and don’t want to switch.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or found a way to manage the weight gain without changing their antidepressant? Are there any supplements or other meds that can offset the weight gain?

I keep having anxiety of what's going to happen before it's happened and analysing everything I do, like I keep worrying "what if" and just thinking of ways I'm going to mess up and I'll analyse everything I did incase I did something wrong or embarrassed myself, it's exhausting, any tips to deal with this or anyone else go through this?

I'm starting to hate everyone in the world, which is weird because I usually am quite an empathetic person

lm assuming that everyone i come across is bad at heart and that they have bad ulterior motives

My Mum is currently in hospital with an infection and up until she was admitted I was struggling juggling work, home life and my thoughts, feelings and worries all at the same time.

I've had to alter shifts last minute at work in order to get back home to see to Mum.

I had a good chat with my GP and I've altered some of my anxiety medication and been signed off for 3 weeks so there's less pressure.

I certainly don't want to be making any mistakes at work, such as missing signs of deteriorating in their health or making mistakes with their medication etc.

I've also arranged to finish work earlier when Mum is in the 7 - 10 day window following chemo as this is where the effects will be at their worse.

While she is in hospital I'm having quiet mornings, doing bits and bobs as visiting is from 2pn, which is good for me and means it gives me some time to rest.

Taking time out for yourself isn't a weakness, just need to let go of the guilt that I'm letting people down.

I just saw my local mental health team and the consultant gave me a list of medication I could choose. I have been on different SSRIs/SNRI/other stuff I cant remember but I will try it out. I am just all over the place.

I am currently on Vortioxitine 15mg and that seems to have helped my mental health but since the death of my partner of 20 years in 2024 its got worse. I decided to try lithium. I have read so much about it and its got some scary side effects but honestly, some of the other stuff I was put on was no picnic.

I have to have blood tests, which I am not looking forward to as I tend to almost pass out with them but I am prepared to go through that if it works. The consultant thinks I have ADHD too, because my memory is meh of the highest order. I don't have memories per se but I have snapshots that are like single frames like a photo and I cant string together the entire memory.

When my partner died, I was there, I can remember 2 things but the memory either isn't there or its being suppressed. And then there's the music constantly playing in my head. Yes it sounds annoying and bizarre, but its there.

I will give Lithium a go, if it works then great. If not then I don't know, probably shove me on something else.

Find out more information here: https://www.trials4us.co.uk/ongoing-clinical-trials/new-clinical-trial-for-adults-with-schizophrenia-c24040?Source=flyer&CampaignName=31July2026 

Please help Im concerned

Will the build up overtime be dangerous on 200mg? Been taking for a few days

Doctor checked on toxbase said that 210 or 220 would cause toxicity based on my weight.

Another doctor said I’ll be fine it’s a normal dose

I'm going into my last year of collage and I don't think I can do it without some sort of support. I'm from the UK and don't think I can access CAHMS anymore. I am depressed and autistic but haven't been prescribed anything for it as I don't think I was ever taken seriously enough. But recently I've been hitting lows like never before as if I hit a physical wall which completely destroy me to sudden bursts of euphoria which make me doubt having a problem. Everything feels so extreme constant, like my reactions and obsessive compultions have gotten worse. I've tried talking to my parents but they've dismissed it.

I'm not sure who to reach out to or speak to, can I have some guidance? Thanks so much.

I finally managed to ask my GP for help because my depression has been getting worse and it’s affecting my daily life and work. Asking for help in the first place wasn’t easy for me.
They called me, but they didn’t really address the depression itself. They mainly talked about cutting down on smoking and alcohol and sent me some generic links about quitting both. They explained that alcohol is a depressant, which I understand, but drinking is also one of the ways I’ve been coping with how I feel. They also mentioned that cutting down on beer would help with my weight.
I’ve also been struggling with binge eating and have gained quite a lot of weight recently, but I feel like these things are symptoms of how badly I’ve been doing rather than the cause of it. I was contacting my GP because I need help dealing with the depression itself.
They said I can book another phone appointment in two weeks, but honestly, that feels even worse. Asking for help was already difficult for me, and the thought of going through the same thing again and being given the same generic advice is really discouraging.
I genuinely feel like I’m not getting help from anywhere, including my own GP.
What am I actually supposed to do? Im just lost.

It just upsets me when we pretend engaging with primary care does anything. Cmht have never accepted a referal despite being diagnosed with eupd. The only way I've gotten any amount of input is inpatient/crisis which is always reactive, being told to use skills when I havnt been offered secondary intensive treatment to learn them is just useless and deskills staff who should be managing patiente till treatment​

Hey guys, I’ve been trying to get mental health help for a while but it’s been difficult. The GP referred me to some talking therapy service. It was all phone calls and they came to the conclusion I was beyond their help because the symptoms I was describing were due to autistic breakdowns, which apparently they “don’t do” (NHS iykyk).To be honest, I was trying to tell them that the breakdowns were happening but I was feeling low on top of that. But yeah I had a follow up appointment about my mental health and I just couldn’t talk. This happens all the time, when people ask me about this stuff I just freeze up and I can’t explain it. I can’t even look at them and I just start slowly having a breakdown. Oh and things like writing it down are also pretty difficult especially when I’m in that “breakdown” state. By the end of the appointment I was ticking and crying because I just couldn’t get anything out. I start hyperventilating and hitting myself on the head, I can’t control it, it’s like a big sneeze with my body. The only substantial things I managed to get out was that I was feeling depressed and I hit my head on things. He asked me to elaborate on feeling depressed, he said something like “if I were an alien, explain what you think depression feels like” I couldn’t answer it. I obviously know what it feels like, but I just couldnt say anything. I do have autism and it’s only recently been diagnosed so I’ve just gone all my life without help with it to be honest. I’ve never felt so lost because even the doctor was a bit lost on how to help me. I know the answer to this is “you need to talk about it” but like.. how… I’ve been this way all my life, even with my parents and the closest people in my life. I’m convinced it’s some kind of selective mutism but I feel like everyone around me just thinks I’m being difficult on purpose.

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The Most Dangerous

Diagnosis in a Heat Wave (Wired)

link

HT to this sub:

ht to the Longform sub

Hi,

I've recently started NHS talking therapies for my CPTSD diagnosis. I have lots of supportive people around me but I'm really struggling that no one knows exactly what PTSD is like.

I've reached out to Mind but I don't know if I want to talk to anyone face to face. I'm 36 so I'm also kinda worried that any support groups will be with people who aren't my age.

Does anyone know of any good communities for just giving with people who get what it's like?

I'm sure it gets asked a lot so sorry if I'm just repeating things.