Episode Summary
Having had my first appointment with an NHS therapist this week, I received a letter seeking to confirm what we had discussed. This is the fourth contact I have had with the NHS in a matter of weeks.
In this episode I dissect today’s letter and share my thoughts on what it contains. Unfortunately, there are a few alarm bells going off that are cause for concern. I might just be naturally negative, given my experience, or perhaps I am predicting the future.
Episode Show Notes
00:12 – The Background to this episode:
- I’ve been on a waiting list for NHS treatment for 6 months.
- Two weeks ago I had a letter telling me I was still on the waiting list.
- This week the NHS got in touch to arrange my first appointment.
- Today I received a letter from my therapist summarising where we were after the first appointment.
00:58 – In today’s episode I want to share my feelings about the letter.
01:03 – After getting quite frustrated with the impersonal approach from the NHS so far, I was very pleased to see the letter was tailored to me and from a named person (my therapist).
03:03 – Despite the personal approach, the letter raised 3 alarm bells:
- I was referred for Interpersonal Therapy yet my therapist (an interpersonal therapist herself) is recommending CBT. Was I misdiagnosed and could I have been seen earlier?
- The letter misrepresented how I viewed the problems I was facing.
- I have initially only been offered 4 sessions and then a review – that’s 4 hours to address challenges I have that very nearly ended my life!
06:50 – My thoughts on this letter:
- My symptoms have subsided either because of the time that has elapsed and/or the work I have done on myself. However the causes are still there.
- It took a lot for me to overcome the stigma of struggling with a mental illness and I am worried that having “come clean” that the underlying issues won’t get resolved.
- I am concerned that if they are not addressed, then I might well find myself back in the same state as I was 6 months ago. If that happens again I’m not so sure I’d seek help.
- I have been hanging on to the hope of finally getting the help I need to be able to live a more fulfilled life and deal with the inevitable challenges life will throw at me.
