Bipolar Mother - NHS / Private routes have done her no good
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I'm wondering if anyone in the UK has found a way out from Bipolar disorder via the NHS?
In short, my mother had a traumatic experience with a fire about 7 years ago. Since then she's been to more doctors than I can count, with each one seeming to disagree on what medication she should be on. She's had years of coping with side effects coming off one medication and I feel the doctors treating her have lost sight of any baseline to show exactly what my mother is actually suffering for. Initial diagnosis was severe depression, which shifted to bipolar, and I'm not even sure if all the doctors agree on that.
We also tried private through my fathers work but she discharged herself. She's been to hopsital multiple times for overdoses, and the last year or so, whatever she's on has turned her into a borderline alcoholic. She says the has constant voices in her head telling her to kill herself for at least the last year, without end, and uses the alcohol in an attempt to escape it. NHS say that she doens't currently meet the criteria for being sectioned, and meanwhile my family are coping the the drama and scenes she causes on a daily basis.
Surely 7 years of ongoing diagnosis and failure to treat my mother can be brought up in court as some sort of incompetency? My mothers life and those around her has been made a misery for over 5 years and it's getting to a point where we just can't cope anymore - she needs constant care and supervision I feel, in order to make her better (along with the right medication!!).
If anyone has any advice on what action to take it would be much appreciated.
0 likes, 3 replies
sharon12462 s03700
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karin65289 s03700
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callianne_65675 s03700
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If you can, speak to her GP or even your own and explain that the diagnoses were unclear.
It is often found running alongside a mental illness other factors. Like a personality disorder for example.
I have been diagnosed BP2, with Bipolar and PTSD.
I haven't had that much experience with the NHS, but I do find the patient and family have to be active in getting help or you are just left to handle it.
The patient too has to accept help (I'm not great at accepting help). Which is a natural human right, but somewhere along the line we have to accept responsibility for our care and our help, diagnosis, and meds.
If your mom is suicidal then she would meet the requirements for being sectioned. Is she suicidal, though? There are support groups for carers or families that are dealing with mental illness. I hope this helped.