Red, I am sorry if I put pressure on you, it was not meant. You are not ranting, you are stating a fact and even if it was a rant it is honest and welcome. It always will be with me.
Ashley, we have six doctors here plus two visiting Psychiatrists and two Therapists for over six thousand people. One of the GPs has read the CBT manual for doctors. Does he understand it, does he have time too. GPs put people on pills with no referral or follow up with a therapist. I imagine it is the same elsewhere. The blind leading the blind right over the brink. And when there is a referral later the therapists are left with the mess to clean up. People on the wrong meds, people scared of meds, and scared of the system now. People committed for six weeks to get them straightened out because they are scared and lost and won't volunteer. People like me, only I lucked out, I got the right help.
That six thousand translates to fifteen hundred with some mental condition and very little help. So I try where I can. Will we ever get the numbers down, I doubt it. There just is not enough information out there. People think CBT is a broadcast company. They think the psych ward is a place of straight jackets locked doors and tranquilizers ruled by white coat Gestapo. In truth for most it is like a group home, a quiet place where you can talk and get calm. Staff wear ordinary clothes, there are no bars and only the main door is locked. You can get a pass. There are rules, but they are not harsh. I would go again if I ever thought I needed to. I doubt I ever will need to. ER is a far scarier place.
There are lock downs but we will never be in the category they are for.
The reason I started this was to get people to look at how they cope, we all do, we have to. And also to look at their triggers and how they interact with their core beliefs. I wanted people to see that we are stronger than we think, and we can do this. We can get better even if this is all the help we will ever get. CBT does work.
The coping skills of those that are just beginning are far more valuable than mine and worth sharing. People may not ever realize they are using them. We all have coping skills, even the so called normal people.
Davit
