Psychology assessment appointment - feel terrified.

[caroline]

Does anyone know what I should expect from a psychology department assessment?  I have one at the end of the month and am really scared.  I have managed to keep away from talking about my mental health for the last 10ish years (have been doing bit better, but mainly because of a terrible experience with a psychiatrist during an inpatient stay - i think that just added to the trauma). 

I am so scared they are going to say I am fine/don't need any help/wasting their time/lying/etc. (pretty much what the psych said all those years ago)   I'm also scared the will say the opposite!  Doesn't even make sense!

Should I mention Cptsd/ptsd?  Or is that not ok to do?  Don't want to come across as trying to tell them what is wrong with me.  Will they have notes of my past treatments etc?  Oh god, not sure how i'm going to manage this really.

Thanks for reading/listening.

[Contessa]

Hi Caroline,

Not sure if my experience is of any use, but a couple of months ago I was completely triggered and in need of a psych assessment. I was not diagnosed with CPTSD at the time, so was in need of immediate answers.

I would suggest telling them anything and everything necessary, remembering that they have never met you before. They should ask the right questions for you to answer. Also this is their job so they should take your concerns seriously. In the space of about a month to a month and a half, I had seen eight mental health professionals of different varieties, and two GP's (wow just counted that then), interspersed with a couple of hospital visits. Now that is drastic I know, but I suppose my anxiety was so high that I stopped doing everything else and kept lining appointments up (three professionals were in hospital, one was a family member at a funeral, ha!).

I suppose my point is, go with the flow. You're telling them what's happening/happened, not what is wrong with you If you feel that these professionals aren't validating your concerns, or you just don't seem to click, move on to another. The first team said I was doing well (which boggled absolutely everyone's brains before I went back into hospital), I didn't quite gel with the next psychologist, the psychiatrist I saw made me feel like I had brought it all on myself due to weakness of character, then finally the next psychologist just absolutely got it. Now it is all smooth sailing...

Now that all sounds extreme, which it was. But the point is, you have to feel comfortable. If not, ditch that person and move to the next Hopefully not eight of them, but it is all about you after all.

[caroline]

Thank you for the reply Contessa!

Sorry to hear you have been having such a rough time, and really glad you finally found someone who 'gets it'.  I will try and go with the flow.  I won't have the option of shopping around though as it's down to the NHS what is offered or not, so I guess i feel that after waiting all this time for the assessment, it i muck it up, then that's it.  At least until I got the courage to try again.  Maybe i'm just worrying too much - nothing new there.

I really like what you said here "You're telling them what's happening/happened, not what is wrong with you"  I will try and remember that this is what I'm doing and not worry about it so much.

Thanks so much again for the reply.  Hope all goes well for you from now on!

[Three Roses]

Good advice, Contessa. I would only add to make sure they know that complex ptsd is a whole different thing than ptsd. Not everyone in the healthcare community knows or accepts this, or even thinks cptsd is a valid diagnosis. But, here's a link to a printout you can take to your appointment, thanks to kizzie: http://www.blueknot.org.au/Portals/2/Fact%20Sheets%20Info/Fact%20Sheet_Health%20Practitioners.pdf

[caroline]

Thank you Three Roses, I will try and get this printed out soon.  Very helpful x

[caroline]

This is happening tomorrow, thought i was anxious when I first posted this, but that was nothing compared to now!  ugh.

[Contessa]

Hang in there Caroline! Thinking of you. Remember its all about you and what you need to move forward, not about the person assessing you. Will be keen to know how you go

[caroline]

Thank you so much, been trying to calm myself down all evening, now at nearly 1 in the morning - 12 hours till my appointment.  I'll post on here when i get back and feel ok enough to post about it! 

I have tissues in case i cry, cold sore patches (I get them when talking about this kind of thing! It's like they know!) and painkillers in my bag.  I have walked past the place i am going 4 times now, just to be sure.  I have arranged to call a friend after, no matter how the appointment goes.  She lives about 2 streets away from where my appointment is, so can come and meet me.  I don't know what else i can do, but it doesn't seem to make it feel any easier.  Oh well, best get to bed and try to sleep. 

Thanks for listening/reading. x

[Three Roses]

You'll be fine!   Let us know how you are after, we care.

[Dee]

Just be honest, you will be survive it.  I wasn't sure I would and yet I walked out with a sense of relief.

[caroline]

Thank you so much Contessa, Three Roses and Dee.

I made it through the appointment (just), you all really did help. I had my appointment and it went better than i could ever have imagined!  It was horrible, but it's done now.

I saw a clinical psychologist and she was really lovely and tried so hard to make things feel ok for me, I was quite a mess by the time i got there and waited the 20 mins - was very early as got so panicked at home about being late i went the other way and left the house far too early!

I have now been referred to a specialist trauma center, who will do another assessment, but she said it shouldn't be a problem to get on the waiting list based on todays interview.  It might be a long wait, so getting sent details about other stuff that is going on which may help in the short term.  I feel like i am in shock or something - or rather, i feel like i can't feel.   

there was talk of a group thing first,  called surviving to thriving (or something similar). Exposure therapy was mentioned as a possible step as was emdr and compassion therapy (? need to google that one as never heard of it before). 

Thank you all so much for the support and encouragement.  It really did help x

[Contessa]

So glad to hear it went well Caroline. Onwards and upwards! Keep us posted with progress.
Xox

[Three Roses]

Yes, so glad it's done! Good on ya

[Dee]

You did well, I was super early too.  One step at a time, it's all any of us can do.  I don't have the opportunity to participate in group therapy.  This is my group I will be interested in hearing about it if you chose to do so.