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Something’s not right

AlexP
New Contributor

Not sure what else I can do!

Okay so my husband had a really rough childhood but throughout that, between the ages of 12 and 18 he got diagnoses's of Autism, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia. For whatever reason, he wasn't given any meds until he got sent to the mental ward where they dosed him up for 3 months (although they only put on the records he was there for 2 weeks), gave him 2 more diagnosis's of Adjustment Disorder and Mood Disorder and then sent him out into homelessness without his meds (this was all before I met him). 

Anyway, this has given him a warped view of meds that he's only getting through now because his mental health has gotten so bad. 

He's unmedicated, has almost constant mild hallucinations, has a breakdown every other day, can often not even handle deciding what he wants for lunch without getting stressed,  and so much more it's! It's killing me watching him go through this when he very clearly should be getting medication. 

We have gone to GP after GP for 3 years now begging them for help and the most recent one FINALLY got us a referral to the local mental ward psychiatrist who met him for 20 minutes (in which I had to talk for him for basically the entire time because he wasn't dealing and even then he had a breakdown at the end) and got mad at my husband when he had a breakdown?!? then put in his official file that he 'doesn't believe he has schizophrenia' even though I told him in depth about all the auditory, physical, and visual hallucinations he's getting and the fact that my husband was rocking back and forth for most of the appointment. 

We got a call from the original GP who referred us today and she told us that because of what he's put down, there's nothing she can do for us without us having to pay $200/session for a private specialist which we just don't have the money for (he's on disability and I'm his carer). 

I just had to hold him while he cried his eyes out and had another breakdown once the call was over. My heart is breaking. I don't know what to do. Please. If anyone has ANY advice for us, he's exhausted  he doesn't want to see GPs any more and I don't blame him.

We just want to get him medicated but because we're young and poor and he's got a lot of mental illnesses I guess no one cares. I don't know. I'm worried if we can't get help for him soon that he'll give into the auditory hallucinations that tell him to off himself. 

Sorry this was so long but I'm just so desperate for help

5 REPLIES 5

Re: Not sure what else I can do!

@AlexP  Hi AlexP and welcome to the forums. Okay my advice is to find the money some how to have sessions with a skiled private psychiatrist. There are alot of duds out there and I have had no luck in the public system only private.......  I have schizoaffective disorder which is schizophrenia with a mood disorder and my son has schizophrenia plus autism we are not wealthy and live off benefits but manage to see private doctors. You will find that once your partner is propertly medication it will be a weight off his and your shouldners. It will take time for the medication to work properly sometimes even months while the meds are being adjusted just stick to the plan. 

 

If you want to talk some more just put a @ in front of my or others names  like I did for you and I will get back to you asap. 

 

ps: we are a friendly bunch here 🙂 greenpea

Re: Not sure what else I can do!

Hey @AlexP,

It's great you are reaching out here and please continue to use the forums for support. 

I also know chatting to someone when you've hit a roadblock in your treatment can be helpful too, so I wanted to let you and your partner know about these helplines:

 

The SANE Help Centre: 1800 187 263 (10am-10pm Monday to Friday AEST)

Blue Knot Foundation (National Centre for Excellence in Complex Trauma): 1300 657 380 (9am-5pm Monday to Sunday AEST)  

 

They are sensitive to mental health issues and the effects of trauma, if you or your partner want another place to get support or talk through options with. 

Re: Not sure what else I can do!

You can get 6 visits to a specialist on your GP mental health care plan - didn't he tell you that ?

Re: Not sure what else I can do!

@AlexP

 

Schizophrenia can be an overwhelming experience and diagnosis.  Perservere until you find a decent psychiatrist.  I have managed with a frugal mix of public and private, private enough to get good advice.  At first I accepted public as gospel, but gradually I learned, and over time a couple of gps have suggested things that made a difference.  You care and it is draining and scary to live with that fear.  Everybody is entitled to the basic 6 sessions on mental health plan in Australia. It is usually bulkbilled for those on pension, but some doctors reserve the right to make individual decisions rather than a blanket policy.  You have the right to go to someone else for a differnt approach or opinion. Having some sense of choice can be immensely freeing and give you both a sense of agency and hope. 

Take Care

Apple

Re: Not sure what else I can do!

GP - this situation sounds serious so please don't say you can't go to a gp because he doesn't want to - drag him there - he needs help

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