Hi Kelly8
It sounds like you are going through hell, I feel like we all live in some kind of purgatory having to pay for something – I just don’t know what!
Maybe see your GP if the sleepless nights and worry are making it hard to function. They could give you time off if you need it.
I would say pretty much most young people – if they have any money – are using some drug or other (and I include alcohol). But not all of them get addicted. What I want to know is why the government are not taking this seriously. And why universities are not clamping down on drug use and not drug testing their students. They have drug policies but what good does that do? young people need help – especially boys. Their brains are not even fully developed for a few more years.
After months of hounding my son, changing antidepressants etc – he has finally arranged an assessment for ADHD. Yesterday we went through a mountain of questions that he had to answer before the assessment. I’m not sure if it changes anything if they find out they have a mental health issue, but at least we know that they maybe trying to mask something with the drugs – maybe they are trying to calm their thoughts and fear and anxiety down.
Maybe take a look on the website Psychiatric UK- they are the organisation the NHS are using – they are private as well as NHS. We were lucky because we fall in an area where we can get it on the NHS. But honestly I would have paid privately.
The website has loads of useful videos regarding drugs and mental health diagnosis adults and children.
I would also like my son to have an assessment for Autism because I can see some behaviors that present in individuals with Autism. It makes sense to me that we have so many boys with addictions and these ‘conditions’ Autism, ADHD etc seem to be more present in boys than girls. The medical profession already know that there is more chance of drug use if a person has a mental health issue i.e bipolar, ocd, autism, adhd – the list goes on.
I think the assessment is done by two video calls. But all the information is on there. The first step is the GP – they give you a questionnaire to fill in and then refer you on if you score highly on the assessment.
Good luck.x