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Drug therapy - introduction

Your access to treatment will depend largely upon your relationship with your GP Not everyone finds it easy to get on with their G.P. and different doctors have different levels of expertise and interest in mental illness. Most doctors are busy and have limited time but, if you are ill, you need and deserve help. Here are some suggestions that may help you communicate your needs and situation to them:

  • Take a friend with you for emotional support.
  • Write down in advance the key points you need to get across.
  • Ask questions - about your condition, treatment options and where to get more help.
  • Don't put a brave face on your illness - make sure your doctor knows how ill you are, especially when you are at your worst.

If you really find your doctor unhelpful or unsupportive, consider using another doctor in the practise, or changing practise - doctors are there to help you, and the good ones can.

Drugs
Not everyone benefits from medication; about 30% of people do not find they are useful and there are almost always side-effects to deal with. There are now hundreds of different drugs to treat every type of mental illness. Most users want to find out about the drugs they are taking so that they know how they might help them, and what sort of side-effects to expect. You can find out about this by asking you doctor, reading books, talking to other users (or phoning the Medicare helpline on 0207 919299 weekdays 9am - 5pm and they should be able to put you through to a psychiatrist) and on various web-sites such as the U.K. Psychiatric Pharmacy Group Website at www.ukppg.org.uk. It is important to remember that different people are affected differently by the same drug.

Talking therapies
There are a whole variety of talking therapies that can help Mental Health users, varying from counselling to cognitive behavioral therapy. Some talking therapy is available on the N.H.S. and it is possible to access therapy through your G.P. but this seems to vary from practice to practice; but talking is expensive and many people end up going private. To get private therapy look in the classified ads of Venue (www.venue.co.uk) or in Spark Magazine (www.thespark.co.uk). The British Association of Counselling will provide a list of approved councillors in Bristol from www.bacp.co.uk A reputable private practice offering C.B.T. and other therapies is Avon Counselling and Psychotherapy Service, Orchard St, Phone : 9304447 or Womankind, on 0117 9252507, who can provide a list of agencies which provide low-cost counselling and psychotherapy.

Alternative Medicine
There has been growing interest in recent years in a whole range of alternative medicine. Many people suffering from depression use St John's Wort as a natural anti-depressant. Some find acupuncture helpful at times. Again, the Spark is a good place to look for alternative medicine practitioners.

Art Therapy
Many mental health users find different forms of artistic expression very therapeutic. Art in it's many forms allows people to find a voice, get absorbed in an activity and create something to be proud of. There are many groups throughout the city offering drawing, painting, dancing, singing and ceramics as an activity for users.