5 days on Mirtazapine 15 mg. Still depressed. How long before it takes effect?

the perfect storm, new meds and PMS, I'd imagine anyway

yes & unresolved issues eating away at me. I feel evil though today, worried about how all this is affecting my kids...

due back to docs to discuss the meds anythime soon?

Funny you say that because I felt like I was more verbally agggressive on it. I put it down to the fact I was always tired on it and tbh I am moody when I'm tired.

Not had pms prolems yet though. . . .

This is where talking theropy helps. You can get all those problems out in the open instead of feistering inside.

I worry about my kids to. Boty myself and my wife suffer with depression, her more so than me. Sometimes kids do get caught in the cross fire, its unfare and creates a lot of guilt. It does provide motivation to get better though, as we all want to be there and give our kids the best they deserve.

Thanks for your input, so I'm not going completely mad! I always worry about going into psychosis or having another breakdown. I've been overtired for so long that I got used to it & was getting better with my fatigue moodiness. The slightest irritating noise & the school run are proving more difficult to deal with. 

I've self reffered again today for the local well being service. I've found someone local who looks good, does NLP & hypnotherapy but I need a new car too so it's a catch 22.

dinky_dee I have started going to a counsellor privately to discuss unresolved issues. I found myself bursting in to tears about 3 months ago.

I have often wondered how much of the depressive symptons are really just adverse effects from long term lack of sleep. Problems caused by long term sleep deprevation are well documented. 

Is a private councsellor very expensive? I was considering paying for my wife to go to one as she suffers terribly with depression.

Hi Tony

A counsellor (in London) normally charges around £50 per hour and possibly give a concession, say during the day.

I went to MIND for 2 years to see a counsellor and I think the full price was £30 and then you paid what you could afford. I should say that at MIND I don't think you can self-refer. You have to be suffering from a MH condition and be referred by a medical person - I am not sure if the GP is enough.

I might add that she would have to see a counsellor regularly so that if she missed an appointment she would still have to pay the fee.

Finally my doctor wanted to refer me for counselling before I had my last breakdown. I am not sure whether this was public or private.

I have never got to attend CBT - mainly because I was attending counselling and you cannot go to a therapist and a counsellor at the same time. The two might conflict.

The NHS website says finally "It looks for practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis."

As I understand it concentrates on what you do rather than what you think. Doing things will improve your self-esteem and self-confidence which will make you feel better about yourself.

You can if you don't tell them...all this one therapy conflicts with another is rubbish in my opinion.

its the anxiety that causes the sleep problem though.

First off I saw a student therapist for free at my local womens aid. i had to wait 6months or so though. I paid £10 (voluntary contribution when i was on JSA) for one counsellor (general one) then £30 for a psychodynamic one through MIND. Didn't like her at all so I quit but thought it would have been beneficial with a different person. I self refered for that. I think you can just ring them up to get on the list. The guy I've found has told me £60 an hour but he does NLP, I did psychotherapy & hypnotherapy. Ive found that around £60-70 is the price for therpists with degrees etc. Not all of them have to have a degree in psychology or psychotherpy by the way (incase you weren't aware) so you do have to be careful.

Thanks for the info I will pay more if it gets better help. I hope the cost would pay for itself if it gives enough improvement cos depression has a lot of hidden financial costs.

Well, obviously you can if you don't tell them - but given that what you are then doing is against the implied contract - so IMHO the therapy/counselling is starting with a basic falsehood.

And what is the basis of your opinion on this? Maybe you can discuss this with your therapist(s).

There are certain people on patient.info who I have found have started threads a number of times on the same problem. It is rather the same thing. Wiith a second opinion one tells the doctor that this is what one is doing.

I recently left my previous GP - I didn't discuss it with him, but I am not allowed to have 2 GP's at once.

See www.walescounselling.co.uk/how-to-get-the-best-from-counselling.html ;

See the link in previous post where it says

"They go on to explain how uncomfortable feelings are normal and that therapy is not always a comfortable process and with any process things can go wrong."

The BACP advise that "you:

Accept your uncomfortable feelings

Think about what has caused them

Discuss them with your therapist"

Well if you are seeing more than one therapist/counsellor how will you be able to tell which counsellor is causing the uncomfortable teeling.

Typically (and I have been in counselling/groups as long as my arm) you will wnt to discuss next week on your thoughts/feelings following the previous weeks consultation. That is part of the process. It is  not like meeting two different friends for coffee and not telling one about the other.

It is not unethical for the client - it is ill-advised.

On a practical basis in the NHS they obviously are not going to pay twice for the same thing. Going privately it would be very expensive.

I see several GPs at my surgery can't always get the one I want! 

It takes a while to find the right thearpist so why just stick to one if it's not going to be the right person or fit for you... I've had to wait up to 8months on the NHS & could have had a breakdown in that time for all they know or worse. I'm on my own with two kids & lack of social support, having suicidal ideation most days & I was discharged!! When you change therapist on the NHS you have to have go through an assessment phase all over again. It's a waste of energy sometimes & causeds more anxiety & frustration. All these privatisations are messing the system up.

 

your comment about the NHS not paying twice..not sure what you mean? I think you may have misunderstood my comments. I meant, to have therapy on NHS (if you can get it) whilst paying for someone else if need be.