I think
CBT and medication probably will help the old OCD.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Sun 30 May 2010, 15:28, 1 reply)

quite likely.
[vent]

but you just try getting CBT. You see, it's part of a class of treatments which are specifically excluded from the much-vaunted waiting time limit of 18 weeks.

So, instead of being able to expect the most effective treatment within three-and-a-half months of presenting to their GP (which many people delay doing until the problem has grown significant), many are at 52weeks+ and still waiting; and that's after the inevitable months-long delays as the GP tries to fix you with pills alone before making the referral (because it would be too efficient to refer you at once then cancel, if by some miracle the drugs alone work and CBT is no longer required).

So, you have: delays in seeking help + delays while trying drugs + delays while on waiting list = a lot of people struggling with mental health problems for well over a year of their life.

As an aside: My employer, eager to be seen to be helping, introduced a scheme entitling us to a selection of cheap and ineffective help with the problems they were inflicitng on us. Hopi ear candling was one thing they offered, FFS! Sure, discredited complementary therapy will help me with feeling suicidal because I'm being savagely bullied, or the way my back hurts after hours moving tons of goods, trying to be fast enough for my bosses satisfaction (!).

The only half-decent option was six free 'ordinary' counselling sessions; but these were low-quality, barely enough to scratch the surface of the issues. Related to the OP, I have depression. Telling me I have depression is not help. Telling me I don't have depression is not help. Telling me to stop having depression is not help. Telling me to act like I don't have depression is not help. And telling me to plan on not having depression is not help. After five sessions of this (not six, becasue work commitments prevented me from attending all of the work-funded and work-triggered sessions), I had the "option" of if I needed more, I had to pay for them (On mimumum wage? Get real!).

[/vent]
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Sun 30 May 2010, 16:11, closed)