**The Mental Health Thread**

[McBain]

Have you got an IAPT you can go straight to? It sounds like the docs have given you the same treatment but I also try to avoid GPs for mental health stuff.

Ive never heard of that but I’ll certainly looking into it, thanks.

edit: ah it’s Mindsmatter and the likes. I had a bad experience with Preston Mindsmatter when I rocked up for an initial discussion and the person who was supposed to be doing it simply went home for the day. They didn’t say they were ill or anything, no reason given. I didn’t go back.

I’ve filled the referral form out for a different branch. Thanks again.

 

[joelk2]

Great now another issue. Youngest has moved back into her bed and she won't let me sleep in our bed. The eldest has bunk beds with the bottom one free so I'm not being unreasonable by sleeping on that am I?. Our sofa is horrendously uncomfortable, I struggle to sleep much as it is.

 

[secretspy]

Great now another issue. Youngest has moved back into her bed and she won't let me sleep in our bed. The eldest has bunk beds with the bottom one free so I'm not being unreasonable by sleeping on that am I?. Our sofa is horrendously uncomfortable, I struggle to sleep much as it is.

If it's a spare bed then use it. It's your home too remember

 

[joelk2]

If it's a spare bed then use it. It's your home too remember

Well I did. I didn't go down well but the sofa is just too uncomfortable.

 

[ninjabib]

Who wont let you sleep in your own bed? Makes no sense. If its your partner tell her to sleep on the sofa if she is unhappy

 

[Eurofighter]

Well as some of you may know, I have a serious mental illness, I have been trying to get more sleep, but am still only getting about 6.5 hours a night when I know I need 8. I just keep waking up early. I have managed to cut down on the beer a bit though which I think will help. my brain feels like it is permanently frazzled but I am getting better slowly. Chin up.

 

[Mrwong]

Well as some of you may know, I have a serious mental illness, I have been trying to get more sleep, but am still only getting about 6.5 hours a night when I know I need 8. I just keep waking up early. I have managed to cut down on the beer a bit though which I think will help. my brain feels like it is permanently frazzled but I am getting better slowly. Chin up.

I only sleep 4 - 5 hours a night, wish I could sleep longer.

 

[Mrwong]

I’m at the point of binning GPs off, they’re woefully inadequate in dealing with mental health. I could list the numerous problems I’ve had over the past 12 months with GPs putting me in hospital, not putting prescriptions through, ignoring symptoms etc but I would literally be here all day.

Had a call with my GP this morning and I think that’s the last straw. Put it this way I had to explain to him what I meant by “abdomen” because in his mind an ECG would rule out any problems in the stomach. I’m not making that up either. This is also the same guy that uses words like “well, you’d be dead already if it was serious” as if that’s any sort of comfort or consolation.

Pretty sure I’m going to handle it myself as the NHS has done absolutely nothing to help me, if anything I’m worse now than I’ve ever been given the cocktail of drugs they’ve tried me on.

Frustrated, angry, irritated, demoralised are all words that spring to mind right now with hope rapidly failing.

GPs are plenty but have very little understanding if mental health. NHS can't help they do not have the capability to help and if get to see someone they have a pretty poor understanding, all they do is prescribed drugs but failed to get to the bottom of the problem. The NHS does not have the time to spend a year or so with individuals on. Weekly bases.

The only solution is private.

 

[Ayahuasca]

Unless you're one of the 1 in 1000 or whatever it is that can get by on 4-5 hours, you really need to sort that out first before trying anything else for your mental health. The effects of sustained sleep deprivation on your mental health are very well evidenced.

I would go private and get a sleep study done.

 

[Mrwong]

Unless you're one of the 1 in 1000 or whatever it is that can get by on 4-5 hours, you really need to sort that out first before trying anything else for your mental health. The effects of sustained sleep deprivation on your mental health are very well evidenced.

I would go private and get a sleep study done.

It is because of the mental Health of a trauma, very specific that the NHS can't seem to understand.

 

[RxR]

It is because of the mental Health of a trauma, very specific that the NHS can't seem to understand.

Trauma can be objectively (numerically) complex, and scientifically defies a one-size fit-all treatment approach. This is pretty well known to clinical psychologists in Britain who specialise in treating trauma.

The least complex (easiest to successfully treat) case type has the following characteristics:

1. Event first occurred after the age of 18 / adulthood
2. Only one instance of trauma has occurred
3. The trauma is relatively recent (not chronic / multiyear)
4. No other impairing concurrent psychological conditions exist.

If you have a web search for the trauma specialist book chapter on 'trauma and self regulation', you will be able to confirm the above numbered points for yourself.

 

[Mrwong]

Trauma can be objectively (numerically) complex, and scientifically defies a one-size fit-all treatment approach. This is pretty well known to clinical psychologists in Britain who specialise in treating trauma.

My local team have zero understanding if it, it is very specific. The problem is I am still trying to get to see someone who specialises in this.

GPs and others have been pushing yet my local team have been dragging their heels and delaying contacting specific national team presumably because of the cost involved we are talking 6 figure sums here.

 

[RxR]

@Mrwong - that doesnt sound pleasant.

 

[ninjabib]

My local team have zero understanding if it, it is very specific. The problem is I am still trying to get to see someone who specialises in this.

GPs and others have been pushing yet my local team have been dragging their heels and delaying contacting specific national team presumably because of the cost involved we are talking 6 figure sums here.

I had to have Trauma therapy after a work accident killed me for a minute and they brought me back, it did require specialist therapy but i went private and it did not cost anywherte near 6 figures. More like 5k in total.

 

[secretspy]

I seem to struggle with sleep too, though when I was younger I was a heavy sleeper. I wonder if it's partly down to working different weekend shifts as a kid and falling out of a decent routine + other health issues being a factor

(From age 11 to 16 I was helping my mum with cleaning at local cinema/theatre, a Saturday could be 4am to 7am and then that Sunday could be midnight to 3am. Each weekend would vary)

Its improved a little now that I try to switch off from tv and phone before bed, try to stick to the same time of going to bed and waking up etc. Does anyone else find they are worse in winter? I had to get a sunrise alarm clock to help.

I agree that there are a lot of GPs who don't seem to be able to offer much help when it comes to mental health/sleeping difficulties
It's pretty much just a "here take this tablet" attitude sadly

 

[Freakbro]

I'm a 5hrs a night person have been for decades, 6 is a luxury if I get it! but I must be the 1/1000 who can still function on it, as I'm never tired because of it.

Ive definitely turned from a night owl in my 20-30's to a lark now though in my 40's and I find I'm at my most productive from 7am to 1pm

 

[LuckyBenski]

Does anyone else find they are worse in winter? I had to get a sunrise alarm clock to help.

It takes me literally 2-3 hours to really be awake and alert. It's terrible in winter because I'm waking in the dark, so it really does take a couple of cups of tea and a journey into work before I'm sorted. Summer isn't so bad as the sun is up helping me become conscious before my alarms.

I get about 7 hours now I'm working from home but used to be more like 6 before. And at weekends I can sleep more like 9 hours easily. I just don't shift well from wake to sleep and vice versa.

 

[OZONE]

I seem to struggle with sleep too, though when I was younger I was a heavy sleeper. I wonder if it's partly down to working different weekend shifts as a kid and falling out of a decent routine + other health issues being a factor

(From age 11 to 16 I was helping my mum with cleaning at local cinema/theatre, a Saturday could be 4am to 7am and then that Sunday could be midnight to 3am. Each weekend would vary)

Its improved a little now that I try to switch off from tv and phone before bed, try to stick to the same time of going to bed and waking up etc. Does anyone else find they are worse in winter? I had to get a sunrise alarm clock to help.

I agree that there are a lot of GPs who don't seem to be able to offer much help when it comes to mental health/sleeping difficulties
It's pretty much just a "here take this tablet" attitude sadly

It's because most medical professionals receive very little training in sleep. Most doctors are aware of common prescription medications that induce sedation (eg zopiclone, zolpidem) but these do not address the core of insomnia. As a medical professional and insomniac myself, I suggest the following to anyone who struggles with sleep:

1. Bright light therapy when you wake up for one hour. I use Re-timer glasses myself. These effectively provide the 'wake up signal' to your retinal ganglion cells which initiates the circadian rhythm. Light is the most powerful stimulator for regulating the master clock in the hypothalamus known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Other stimulators include physical activity (a morning exercise session would be ideal!) and breakfast. The single most important element is to establish a fixed wake/sleep cycle.
2. Melatonin 0.3mg 4 hours before your desired sleep time i.e. 6pm. I prefer the Sundown Naturals brand.
3. Limit light exposure at sunset and use f.lux. Replace all your bulbs with low wattage warm white/yellow lights.
4. If you cannot sleep after 15-20 minutes, get out of bed. The last thing you need is a mental association that you cannot sleep in your own bed.

My shift work has reignited my sleeping issues; I have slept for 5 hours for the past week and feel goddamn awful. Bleh.

 

[RxR]

Anecdotally, after recently reading a US psychiatrist case report where one client was successfully treated for a hearing voices problem with vitamin D supplementation as part of the post blood test workup (his levels were low), I decided to experimentally give it a try myself (without a prior blood test) to see if it could perhaps reduce the volume of the pulsatile tinnitis which has been impairing my own concentration and ability to sleep.

It has been beneficial in my case - reducing the tinnitus volume I experience by around 50 percent. The lowered volume effect has enabled me to get near a full nights sleep most nights, which I really appreciate, and use my white noise blaster therapy a lot less. It may wear off though, we'll see. Other unforseen beneficial side effects have been around a 30 percent reduction in pain from my chronic rheumatoid arthritis. My ability to concentrate has significantly recovered as a result of the lesser degree of off-topic pain and noise signalling. The above + effects were quite rapid - within 2 days.

The above effects were from taking 2 x ('one a day') Vitamin D3 (colecalciferol 25 micrograms (1000IU)) pills per day bought from the local chemist - 60 for AUD$9.

 

[RxR]

//To avoid adding to my above post a 3rd time...

A caveat or two is warranted.

1. A more intelligent approach would be preceded by a blood test to ascertain if vitamin D levels are insufficient to begin with. I infer mine perhaps were by the positive effects of taking the supplementation.

2. Excess vitamin D intake / supplementation on its own can precipitate tinnitus. As I already have it (the pulsatile / vascular form - no damage to the mechanical apparatus of the ear / ordinary hearing ability), I have little to fear from its sudden appearance.

3. The experiment objectively suggested itself as potentially worth a personal trial, as auditory cortex overactivation is common to both the hearing voices problem and pulsatile tinnitus.

4. In my case, several of the positive effects rapidly diminish when I stop taking the vitamin D3 supplement as follows:

A. tinnitus noise volume goes back up to former distressing levels within 2 days of cessation.

B. Rheumatoid athritis pain resumes its previous severity within 24 hours of cessation.

C. My ability to sleep mostly through the night reduces to former distressing levels again within 48 hours - related to A.

D. Understandably, my cognitive function (memory and attention) resumes its previous impaired level within 2 days of ceasing supplementation - consistent with the effects of A - C.

E. Anecdotal benefits to an individual are inadequate proof of potential benefit to another. I merely mention the above facts as being of potential interest insofar as they have provided a personal improvement to my own mental and physical health.

F. Supplement has only been taken for 16 days in total, excluding 2 days stoppage to determine what, if any, permanent gain had been induced. Again, a blood test would determine if any vitamin D level insufficiency has been remedied. This has not been done.

G. A moderately elevated mood was found to occur within 90 mins of first dose, lasting noticably for more than 4 hours This effect was found in two other individuals known to me, at the same time of onset. While an increased feeling of happiness is generally regarded as positive, the relaxation produced is nonetheless a fresh cause of psychological concern in the case of extreme bradycardia ( as in, '****, I hope this doesnt make my heart stop' (get any slower)).

Edit. Related psychiatry case reports on various conditions being related to vitamin D insufficiency and abated by supplementation can be accessed by the curious via a search like the following:

https://www.google.com/search?q=vitamin+D,+Psychiatry+Case+Reports,+pdf&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-m

The case which prompted my initial interest may be found here:

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crips/2020/2046403/