u/Fabulous_Pear1344

I had a dream this morning that my hair had fallen out near my temples and towards the crown of my head - a smooth bald patch with the odd short hair. My hair was dark like my own but shorter, with layers and much straighter than mine. I noticed the loss of the left side before finding a similar uneven patch on my right.

Then I was with small group of people (I can't remember if there was anyone I know there). Somehow the solution to my hair loss was to see if I'd survive the sinking of the Titanic - I feel like it was to gain perspective and confidence somehow. I'm not sure if I was actually there or it was like an in-dream simulation. I remember walking through flooring corridors, following Joe Keery(?) at some point, to get to an upper floor. The water wasn't deep but it was rising. The upper floor was like a ferry, relatively open, lots of seats, ceiling above. I beat a high score on an puzzle arcade game, though I don't remember any machine. Sam Neill was there. I think the general consensus was I survived - the upper floor was safe and the ship didn't go under.

Suffice to say, I was very confused upon waking up and it felt both odd and unpleasant. I did watch a video on OceanGate within the past week, but I can't think of any other connections.

I (27F, ASD) have been contacted by the Community Mental Health Team today for an appointment next week with the CMHT and Neifhbourhood Mental Health Team (formerly Living Well) to assess which team would be more suitable for my care.

I've been struggling significantly with my mental health for almost two years - tried four different antidepressants, talking therapy, anxiolytics - and lost my job, suspended my studies. This particular episode stems from workplace trauma, though I have struggled a lot in the past. I've been under the care of my GP for almost two years, and was referred to secondary care in October last year.

I have panic attacks and meltdowns regularly, knowing my triggers doesn't help because accommodation comes at the detriment to others. I feel very hopeless, especially having waited so long for help. I don't think my current medication is helping, but I can't keep poisoning myself with bad prescriptions. Nothing is helping and there's growing resentment in the house because of my continued decline.

• Has anyone had an assessment like this before? What happened?
• Is there a team I should be pushing for? (As far as I'm aware NMHT is for mild to moderate issues and I don't feel that describes my struggles)
• Is there anything I should be asking the people doing the home visit?
• What general advice would you give for this appointment?

I've already spoke with a consultant psychiatrist from each team (NMHT in March, CMTH last week) and had them suggest different medication. I think it's psychologists planning to visiting next week (first time someone has rang ahead to book/discuss the purpose of an appointment).

Any advice or experiences appreciated! Please try to be descriptive and constructive (not overly negative), as I'm aware of general horror stories and I don't want to feel even more hopeless now I'm finally getting appointments. Thank you.

I was referred to the Living Well/Community Mental Health Team in October last year. My referral wasn't picked up till late February this year after chasing up multiple times with the GP. I then saw in my Health Record on the NHS App that the wrong person had been emailed about my referral and chasing up, causing delays. It was sent to someone within the NHS but not the intended person (the intended recipient was one letter different to the actual recipient). I can no longer see this information after the NHS app update. Am I correct in thinking this is a data breach? And what can be done about this?

I had a long awaited appointment with an NHS psychiatrist last week who suggested I just stop taking Mirtazapine and see how I go on, after I said I wasn't sure it was doing much. I've been on Mirtazapine for a year and a half (15mg➡️30mg➡️45mg➡️30mg➡️15mg) and struggled with antidepressant side effects before that. 45mg was too much for me and made me dizzy/gave me vertigo; that didn't subside till I was back down to 15mgs. Even then, I felt kinda odd, headachy, etc., when reducing.

He suggested I also start taking gabapentin while suddenly stopping Mirtazapine. It just rubbed me the wrong way and felt like poor clinical advice - even the NHS website states gradual tapering to reduce potential withdrawal. Is this bad practice or am I overreacting?

I (27F, ASD) recently saw a psychiatrist (first appointment, thirty minutes, had read my NHS notes) and he wants to prescribe my gabapentin for anxiety management until I can get some kind of secondary therapy.

I've had poor reactions to Escitalopram, Fluoxetine and Sertraline; Mirtazapine doesn't really do much for me but I've been taking it for a year and a half. Propranolol doesn't really take the edge off either, and I don't want to take 40mg because I've had issues with dizziness and vertigo.

He suggested just stopping Mirtazapine and seeing how it made me feel - whether it was actually doing anything - but that goes against everything I've been told about antidepressants and tapering. This concerns me. Then he wants me to try gabapentin as a second anxiolytic (counting propranolol as first). Is that good practice? Surely there are better options? I've tried PharmaGaba supplements before and they didn't do much and I didn't like the taste of them. I know it's not the same pharmacologically. (He also said to take propranolol when I go for blood tests and ECG, but then I'd be on Mirtazapine, propranolol And Gabapentin, which doesn't seem right in my head).

I'm concerned about side effects because of my history and concerned about the potential correlation/causation between gabapentin and dementia (family history) and cognitive decline.

I have no easy way of contacting the psychiatrist, no direct number or email, I can only call reception and pass on messages, like if I need an appointment sooner than in a few months time. I could try, but my family would not like this if I got caught asking and showing reluctance to try medication. I'm not sure my GP/family doctor can advise on this, either, with them being general.

Any advice appreciated, thank you for taking the time to read.

I (27F, ASD) recently saw a psychiatrist (first appointment, thirty minutes, had read my NHS notes) and he wants to prescribe my gabapentin for anxiety management until I can get some kind of secondary therapy.

I've had poor reactions to Escitalopram, Fluoxetine and Sertraline; Mirtazapine doesn't really do much for me but I've been taking it for a year and a half. Propranolol doesn't really take the edge off either, and I don't want to take 40mg because I've had issues with dizziness and vertigo.

He suggested just stopping Mirtazapine and seeing how it made me feel - whether it was actually doing anything - but that goes against everything I've been told about antidepressants and tapering. This concerns me. Then he wants me to try gabapentin as a second anxiolytic (counting propranolol as first). Is that good practice? Surely there are better options? I've tried PharmaGaba supplements before and they didn't do much and I didn't like the taste of them. I know it's not the same pharmacologically. (He also said to take propranolol when I go for blood tests and ECG, but then I'd be on Mirtazapine, propranolol And Gabapentin, which doesn't seem right in my head).

I'm concerned about side effects because of my history and concerned about the potential correlation/causation between gabapentin and dementia (maternal grandmother had dementia) and cognitive decline.

I have no easy way of contacting the psychiatrist, no direct number or email, I can only call reception and pass on messages, like if I need an appointment sooner than in a few months time. I could try, but my family would not like this if I got caught asking and showing reluctance to try medication. I'm not sure my GP/family doctor can advise on this, either, with them being general.

Any advice appreciated, thank you for taking the time to read.

I have my first appointment with a new NHS psychiatrist next week. I've spoken with a psychiatrist before but it was no different than talking with a General Practitioner. I had no information prior to that appointment and have no information about this one. I'm assuming it will be similar to the other appointment (a bit like triage).

I was considering typing up a document for this meeting, outlining my personal history (including periods of mental health difficulties, triggering incidents, general life events), moods and symptoms relating to my mental health and ASD, and treatment history (as I've been on antidepressants, anxiolytics, sleeping tablets, talking therapy, CBT, etc.). Not as a substitute for the appointment but to help the doctor understand me and my history without them having to memorise it all. I've explained it all before numerous timed the past two years, so it might actually save time.

• Would this be clinically useful?
• Is there something I should be writing about (to be helpful)?
• Is there anything else I can do to prepare?

I have my first appointment with a new NHS psychiatrist next week. I've spoken with a psychiatrist before but it was no different than talking with a General Practitioner. I had no information prior to that appointment and have no information about this one. I'm assuming it will be similar to the other appointment (a bit like triage).

I was considering typing up a document for this meeting, outlining my personal history (including periods of mental health difficulties, triggering incidents, general life events), moods and symptoms relating to my mental health and ASD, and treatment history (as I've been on antidepressants, anxiolytics, sleeping tablets, talking therapy, CBT, etc.). Not as a substitute for the appointment but to help the doctor understand me and my history without them having to memorise it all. I've explained it all before numerous timed the past two years, so it might actually save time.

• Would this be clinically useful?
• Is there something I should be writing about (to be helpful)?
• Is there anything else I can do to prepare?