"Mental health services Northwest Centre"

I have been looped round mental health services for the past 6 years for severe anxiety, manic low moods and paranoia.

Today was finally my appointment with Psychiatry. I already have alot of trauma going into this building as I have been profusely let down by this specific service and staff in the department. I arrived and waited 13 mins past my allotted appointment time, which only added too my anxiety and distress. When I was taken to the room by the psychiatrist there was a junior doctor in the room waiting. I asked if there could be no-one else in the room as this is already difficult enough and having someone else sitting looking at me is very triggering.

They proceeded to tell me that this Is how our junior doctors learn. I then had to state again, I didn't want anyone else present and they finally but begrudgingly asked the junior doctor to leave, I should have never had to ask twice. This felt like an awkward atmosphere had already been created at this point. Once we finally started talking, they asked about some extremely sensitive and triggering things about my past (which is only a point for later in this post in regard to the end result as I know these questions are relevant).

The appointment lasted about 30 minutes and they had determined a diagnosis, but also discounted me having any further assessment to other things I feel I may need help with (adhd specifically) and that this was their end result of seeing me for this extremely short period of time.

I will be honest that I wasn't happy with the decision and was very visibly distraught and crying. I tried to ask what they meant by a few things and they kept saying that the MH nurse at my next appointment would explain further. By this point I felt like I was an annoyance to them and after asking to please sit for a moment (as they sat in silence watching me cry) didn't respond to my question if it was ok to just have a few moments, no comfort offered, or a tissues or glass of water.

I remarked I thought they were being unprofessional as they sat in silence and in response to that I was told with a hand signal to the door it's time to leave, surely they could have spared me a few moments to compose myself.

After stating I can't go out like this, they put me in an empty room and left. To be ushered away so quickly after all the time I have waited for this appointment, the things that were discussed, given a diagnosis and then sent away was utterly shocking. I sat in the car park for over an hour unable to drive away from being so distressed and panicked. I feel even more lost than before.