I have been diagnosed as depressed for ten years. Since that time my condition has not got any better, in a way only worse.

I was thinking about referring self back to doctors and ask them to refeer me to mental health team but am apprehensive about who idea as they could decide the best cause of action for me is some in-patient treatment.

This is one thing I dont want and could not stand and I dont think it would do my CV any good. It also means they have the opportunity to get their claws into me and rip me too shreds. Once the get their claws into you its hard to get them out and it has major impact on other areas too - ie a big blot on my life record or record of me with courts, police etc.

Whoa whoa whoa, Crestfallen,

Going back to see your psychiatrist is most likely the only way you will be able to rise above your depression. Your doctor will not refer you to a mental health team and neither should you conclude that you need to be. If they thought every person that came in with depression should go into an inpatient care facility, we wouldn't be able to build the facilities fast enough, our economy would suffer, the dominoe effect goes on and on. It is the psychiatrists goal to help you. He doesn't want you to need to go beyond him.

And, no one will decide you need to be in an inpatient care treatment program until they have exhausted all other forms of treatment, to prove that you cannot get better with the traditional methods. And since you are over 18, you do have a say in that decision. Unless you exhibit solid behaviors that mean you clearly intend to hurt yourself or someone else, and or you are a threat to society in some way. They can't just toss you in cause they want to.

No one in the mental health field has any interest in ripping you to shreds, at all. Why would they? UNLESS - again, you are exhibiting behaviors that reflect that you may not be in good and clear touch with reality. Or that you have signigicant self defeating behaviors. In either case, they want to help you. That is their purpose, their desire and why they went to school for years to begin with. They are not, and cannot, change who you are. Any changes in you come from within yourself. How they decide what will help you, is by getting to know you so they can be comfortable with who you are so they can be effective in their role. The typical reason that people seek help from these professionals is because they recognize things about themselves that are not acceptable to them. The therapist knows that most people behave based on only what they know.
If you have never prepared an estate tax return, why would you try as you know that you can't. You didn't receive the training to be able to. The same is true with people's behaviors. You are who you are based on what you have been taught or things you surmised in your growing up years. How a therapist helps you is by letting you know that there is a way to do something different than what you know. They already know that you don't know this other perspective or if you do, they will help you to understand why it is that you aren't going that way. Their purpose is to get you back to being an independant person that can take care of themselves and support themselves in a way that allows you to be successful. at the same time, teaching you how to make good life decisions. How well or not well a patient responds to this help is completely up to that person. The therapist and doctors have no interest or reason to make you a worse person.

To get therapy and or help from medications is not even close to being a blot in your life. Yes, it may come out in courts or police records that you are doing this, but that is to your benefit, not harm. How often have you heard a judge order someone to get therapy or go to jail? This is something you would want the judge to know about yourself. This shows that you want to help yourself to become a better person. And they may only know this if you tell it, or you authorize your attorney to say so. When a judge orders someone to go through counseling, it is only because that judge feels that it will help the person. If not, then you can go to jail.

There are no hidden life records that reveal these sorts of things. The only records are those held by whatever medical professional you sought help from. They don't advertise this stuff. There is a degree of patient/doctor confidentiality. But remember, there is an exception to everything in life. If your behavior is getting you in trouble, or you are a threat to others, then this is example of when it would be helpful for them to tell someone, when they are asked.

Do yourself a favor and go see that doctor. It will only help you, not hurt you. When you are feeling good, good things happen in your life. When you are down and out, negative or not good things happen in your life as you can't see anything any differently.

Good luck to you, I wish you the best,
Always Trying

Hi Crestfallen,

I agree entirely with Always Trying on this one. I know going back to the psych team can be frightening, but these people are there to help you, not hurt you. And they can't force you into in-patient care. If you want to get better, you really should go get medical help. And it won't hurt your CV...everyone I work with knows about my BP, and it hasn't hurt their impression of me (I think). Regardless, they can't use it as a grounds to discriminate against me, and they seem to accept the situation.

Again, please seek medical attention if you think it would help. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Cheers

Depression is not going away on its own. You said it your self. In the past ten years it only got worse.
You need to get some professional help. Dont forget that everything between you and your doctor is strictly confidential. Nothing you say to them will affect CV or anything else.

You have misconceptions about mental health care (regardlees of where you live.)

First, inpatient treatment occurs when you are a danger to yourself or others or are treatment resistant as an outpatient. Hospitalization is a last resort.

Second, they do not get their claws into you and tear you to threads. Mental health professionals do not do that. They are there to help you, not harm you.

Third, if you have previous incidents with the police and courts, that may be a part of your "life record" as it is public knowledge. Mental health and physical ailments are protected by confidentialy and not open to the public.

Go see your GP for a referral. It will be the best thing you can do for yourself. Don't suffer when help is available.

Let us know what you decide to do.
Sheepwoman

at present just sweeping problem under carpet - i know not good but facing music is shocking