The difficulties of diagnosis

So I am 52 years old, and I have just last week been diagnosed with clytothemia, which was partially a relief as I had thought it might be bi polar disorder - but the diagnosis was tentative, the anxiety disorders weren't discussed as I only had an hour with an NHS doctor, and the hallucinations and delusions I have suffered from all my life were attributed to former drug use, despite pointing out that the first ones I remember were when I was 9 or 10.

But I am happy to trust the doctor and run with the treatment offered, which is Risperidol & CBT, and I have joined this forum to help me through what I hope will be the beginnings of some sort of recovery.

Nice to meet you all!

[MAS_Nurse]

Hello Quantox

Thank you for your message and welcome to this group.

It sounds as if you have struggled for a long time . You sound very positive about moving forward after your diagnosis. Be aware that it can take a few weeks for medication to become effective.

Yes we are here to help and . Our members are very supportive so may have more information and advice.

You might find the topics and pinned posts informative.

Please do let us know how you are getting on

Best wishes

[Satsuma]

Welcome aboard... Do you mean Cyclothymia? I am a sufferer of that also.. I was diagnosed in 2010

[Hidden in reply to Satsuma]

Hi Satsuma, yes I did mean Cyclothymia - hopefully will be starting a course of Risperidol soon - may have misspelt that also.

I will check out some of your posts later, it will be useful to know someone who has been with this for a few years already.

Thanks for the reply.

[Satsuma in reply to Hidden]

Yes that's cool.. I no longer take any meds.. I've tried many over the years.. I have learnt that I have to master my mind and not let it master me... I am drug free and feel abfab nowadays.. I am able to do many productive things to enhance my lifestyle.. Days are brighter now and much more manageable as apposed to what they were..

[Hidden in reply to Satsuma]

Drug free? That's encouraging, hopefully I was diagnosed correctly, as I feel I'm on my last legs right now, and I am hoping that medication will make a difference. I have had a nasty turn of events just today, but have had glimpse of your posts and that kind of positicity is what I am aiming for, what I should always have been.

[Hidden]

Welcome Newbie..glad ur here with all of us.When u mention CBT I'm familiar with it..if we r both on the same page? Can u explain ur definition of CBT?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi hippolove1

Thanks for the welcome, and nice to know someone who is familiar with CBT.

My understanding of it is that the brain is neuro-plastic so it can be moulded and shaped by concious effort. The operator will find out what triggers undesirable thought patterns from the patient, and then suggest alternative ways of thinking so that the mind can be entrained.

I remember reading that before LSD was criminalised it had proven very effective in accelerating this process in the hands of a trained psychiatrist - 80% success rate curing alcoholics for instance, but I expect that there have been advances in the meantime for talking therapies - so let's see what happens.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

ok we r on the same page with the CBT! I personally think natural remedies and treatments are the way to go.Ive been on both ends of the spectrum and have had amazing luck going that route...plus Im still alive LOL..the other route Id probably be pushing up daisies (sorry I have a crazy sense of humor). I wish you the best of luck in trying to find what works best for u. Glad ur on board with us on mental health support community.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Our lawn was covered in daisies the other day, it looked like a thousand little suns all craning their pretty-petalled heads to the course of the real sun up on high - and then the landlord came and mowed them all up and fed them to his cows...

Not so sure bout that route - tell me more about the natural remedies please? 🌼🌼🌼

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Wow.. daisies would save me $ instead of hay that costs a small fortune for my cows... I better get me some seeds, lol Hit me up on" Chat" and I can divulge my natural remedy secrets lol