hi all,
as most of you know I have been in hospital thinking that my walking problem was due to something like my Lupus turns out they couldn't find anything wrong and sent me home saying that I had depression,high anxiety and a phobia of getting cramps. Well I have gotten to the point of where I am fed up feeling like this so I started to ring around the mental hospitals in my area to see if they could help, you would think that being mental hospitals they would help people with all sorts of issues and problems yet everyone of them has rejected me. I also have panic disorder, anxiety and agorophobia. One of the hospitals i rang said they could only help me with the panic disorder in a group environment,another hospital I rang wouldn't accept me because I wasn't local to the area it's a 15 minute car trip yet I'm not local. The original hospital I was in doesn't have a mental health unit. I'm so annoyed I want to get better but how can I if no-one will take me ? I've been on so many anti-depressants of late as well and none of them are making me feel any better. I need to find a really good doc that can help with the phobias and the walking.

Destiny.

Hi destiny,

I've been reading a few of your posts around the site and feel there are a number of issues that you just don't seem to be able to get on top of. What I did notice tho was that they all seem to stem from the issues of 'cramps'. From what I read, these cramps (which may or may not be a symptom of Lupus - depending on which authority you ask) are the core focus of your anxieties.

From this basis alone, I would suggest, as with any 'neurosis/fear/phobia/etc' therein lies your fundamental cause out of which are spawned multiple associated fears and anxieties and life-altering issues. The situation you describe yourself in appears to have become quite complex and protracted. This is not a criticism, merely an observation and a consideration that you have moved away from trying to resolve the core or primary issue and are now faced with other issues because the primary issue hasn't resolved.

Question on the physical symptoms of cramps: What is known about your original primary issue (the cramps - and anything else?) and any possible solutions to this problem?

In regard the psychological coping with this issue, I sense a number of different problems that you are having to face - not least of which appears to be finding the right therapist/therapy. Sometimes bouncing from one therapy to another does not help. Much like medication does not always work straight away and sometimes there are lapses even with a medication that seems to work for a long time.

There are a number of strategies you can employ to try to regain control of the issues and they are fairly simple to understand - but doing them tho is often the difficult part as it requires commitment and perseverance which, in the fluidity of your coming and going issues, can equally wax and wain your stamina for coping.

As a suggestion, I would advocate going back to the primary cause, the immediate issues this causes and the solutions that you have indicated have worked in the past. As for the minor issues that keep popping up and annoying you - I'd let those pass if you can as they often don't amount to much (such as psychiatrists opinions!). The psychological problems that exist in between the minor and the physical problems are something that can be addressed, but addressing the primary cause is the first issue.

Hope this helps
Ian

Hi Ian,

There is nothing that can be done about the cramps so I am basically trying to will myself over it. The medication that was used to stop getting cramps is now off the market someone had died from taking it, I also tried joint and muscle creams specifically formulated for cramps and they didn't do anything either. I just can't seem to understand why I can't get over this phobia this has been going on for 9 months now. Yes I've had cramps before felt a little shaky but was fine otherwise. For the life of me I can't seem to figure out what is going inside my mind, why it is doing this to me and why it happened I just want answers and no-one seems to be able to give me any. I'm still trying to find the right support and CBT was not for me unfortunately my counselor and I did it for so long I've actually lost track of how long we did it for and I'm still the same slightly improving but pretty much the same.


Destiny.

Hi Destiny,

Can I ask what sort of support you are getting currently?

Ian

At the moment none because I am looking into getting the right person to try and help me overcome my phobias. The counselor I was seeing usually deals with people who have agoraphobia or been in abusive relationships so she didn't really know what to do with this "cramp phobia" plus my mental health care plan has run out and I'm on a pension. I have spoken to my local community health centre but when I spoke to them they said I wasn't in a crisis situation and there was nothing they could really do. I have spoken to a couple of different people and now am just waiting for replies. I don't really want to get the community mental health team involved either they have a really bad reputation around here and I know a few things about them. I use to work for the Department of Health so yeah.


Destiny.

Hi destiny.

destiny18_au Wrote:At the moment none because I am looking into getting the right person to try and help me overcome my phobias.

Excuse the blunt and not-well-informed opinion, but it sounds like you have more than just phobias and they seem to be a part of the complex symptomatology rather than the underlying cause.

Quote:The counselor I was seeing usually deals with people who have agoraphobia or been in abusive relationships so she didn't really know what to do with this "cramp phobia"

I presume this was a type-specific sort of counsellor with select training and not a formally trained counsellor such as psychologist?

Quote:plus my mental health care plan has run out

Does this mean you're supposed to be better?? How can a care plan 'run out' if the problem remains?

Quote:when I spoke to them they said I wasn't in a crisis situation and there was nothing they could really do

Hate when they do that and tell you to wait til it reaches crisis point before they'll help.

Quote:I don't really want to get the community mental health team involved either they have a really bad reputation around here

Unfortunately, that doesn't give away anything about your location - as so many areas sadly suffer this same reputation.

If you need any help with the services, only too happy to stir them up a little for you if so required.

Ian

Hi Mr Ian,

Here are answers to some of your questions:

Quote:Excuse the blunt and not-well-informed opinion, but it sounds like you have more than just phobias and they seem to be a part of the complex symptomatology rather than the underlying cause.

Well apparently the hospital thought I had a mental breakdown of some sorts they aren't really sure either so set me up to see a psychiatrist there. They were meant to call me every week to see how I was doing but after two weeks stopped calling. The one time the psychiatrist did ring they asked me all these crazy questions about if I was hearing voices and some really other odd things plus when I asked questions like do you think I'm on the right medication or I don't think I'm improving is there something else that might be able to help me either medication or therapy I received no reply from the psychiatrist. I could have talked to a brick wall and gotten the same answers, they didn't ring again and I never rang them.

Quote:I presume this was a type-specific sort of counsellor with select training and not a formally trained counsellor such as psychologist?

The counsellor I saw was not a psychologist I started going to her because when I was pregnant I had really bad morning sickness it was so severe I didn't want to through up in front of people and I became agoraphobic. My GP recommended her as she was the only one who really dealt with a lot of pregnant women he knew of and where in the area. I also saw a psychologist at the hospital who basically did the same thing as my counsellor in fact she was no different so everything she said to me was nothing new. About thought diaries, about fears and she really didn't help me at all I actually felt worse when I saw her, the other psychologists were in the hospital and I have seen them before but I hated going when I first had panic attacks and agoraphobia at the age of 17 I got over it, they taught me the basics but I hated the fact that I had to always switch psychologists because one was on leave another was only there casually, or on maternity and I would have to tell my story over and over again. The woman I saw at the hospital was actually going on maternity leave at the end of the year and she couldn't guarantee me not seeing a few people so I thought nope not doing that again because I would leave in tears frustrated at having to go everything once again at least someone should have checked the tape recorder that they recorded my sessions on or my notes.

Quote:Does this mean you're supposed to be better?? How can a care plan 'run out' if the problem remains?

Sorry Mr Ian I've forgotten where you are from and because Australia now runs the mental health care plan under medicare and you can see a counsellor or psychologist up to 12 and another 12 after that well I used up all my 24 appointments and because I'm on a disability pension not for the phobias well for the panic disorder, agoraphobia and the Lupus that severely stuffs up my life I can't afford to pay 250.00 for half an hour sessions with someone when I know I need an one hour sessions every week.

Quote:Hate when they do that and tell you to wait til it reaches crisis point before they'll help.

It's very nice of them isn't it ?

Quote:Unfortunately, that doesn't give away anything about your location - as so many areas sadly suffer this same reputation.

I'm in west part of Sydney NSW Australia not exactly known for being great in the public health care system.

I'm trying to find a psychiatrist who is willing to come to my house.I think I need a psychiatrist who can tell me if I'm on the right medication, the right dosage etc,etc. Not being able to walk normally or properly and being so agoraphobic I can't actually leave my house so I'm not in a very good position. I'm still trying and of course can't find one but am determined because frankly I just want all of this to be over I'm actually fed up with feeling like a prisoner because my mind tells me to do so.

Destiny.