The Retreat York PD unit

[faithful]

My care coordinator mentioned he thinks I should consider going informally to the retreat in York. Apparently it specialises in treating BPD using the DBT model. He thinks a therapeutic community would be beneficial to me.

I just wondered if anyone had an experience of one and knew what to expect?

After speaking to my friends I think I will give my care coordinator the go ahead. But I  am worried I wouldn't be accepted and wouldn't get funding for it. I don't know. I don't think I'd be seen as unwell enough to be accepted into a therapeutic community.

Also, I'm supposed to be starting treatment for OCD soon and I don't know how this would interfere with applying for funding for a therapeutic community.
Plus, I am awaiting the result of my Autism assessment. If I am diagnosed with high functioning autism/ aspergers, could this affect things?

Thanks in advance!

[Bod]

I spent a year there and it was the turning point for me. It was extremely hard work and it takes real commitment to change, definitely not an easy option but I can truly say it was a life saver for me. I can really recommend it, it is worth thinking about. The OCD and Aspergers etc shouldn't be an issue, they have a very holistic approach.

[Lorien]

I once had a lot of assessments for a different therapeutic community and was seen by a psychiatrist there for about a year during that. I decided against it personally because I was never comfortable with that being a thing that would be helpful to me or the diagnosis fitting particularly well. But I don't mind digging out some of the paperwork from then to help me remember what the process was if that is helpful?

I know that there was a 'prep-group' that I was supposed to do first and that I met with several different people who went through different questions as part of the process. But the referral to the community was made by the psychiatrist that worked there, so I don't know if that changed anything slightly. 

[princess890]

Hey

I would take every opportunity you have and go for it, it could be what you need to feel better and recover, it will take some time getting into the routine of living on the unit but it should be something you should definitely consider if it helps you. I would suggest you contact your CC and request that she makes the referral for the service. Then once accepted start making arrangements.

Then make a note either on a piece of paper or in a word document of things you need consider
Work (if you work)
Kids (if you have kids)
Pets
Benefits - you would have to let ESA that you are going to the unit
Bills, rent/mortgage

Then make a note of everything you need to take with you
Reading books, colouring, kindle, phone, small amount of money
clothes for the day
Pjs, washing bag
current medications

Then make list of requirements
Are you vegan, vegetarian/carb free
allergic/intolerant to certain foods and medication

[faithful]

Thank you all!
I see my care coordinator on Wednesday and will let him know then that I will go for it.

Its good to know that Aspergers and OCD wont affect things.

I'm hoping it would be a life saver for me too! I have a commitment to change and I'm willing to work hard for it, it's scary but in a good way if that makes sense.

I don't work or have kids or pets. The only thing that would worry me is what would happen to my house if I was away in a therapeutic community for a year.

Thanks for the info about the referral process and assessment Lorien!
Thank you all x

[princess890]

That's fantastic that you are seeing the your care coordinator on Wednesday. Do you know when you will going to the PD Unit?

[Tucan]

I went to a day therapeutic community 8 years or so ago. When I was there, there were people with aspergers/autism. You can have more than one thing. I did find it useful myself, it helped with the self harm (which is much reduced in both severity and frequency). It also helped with the aspergers, being in a community try would guide me if I said something wrong, and I learnt how to tell others emotional states by looking at hands etc as I don't look at faces. They didn't know at the time that I have aspergers. I shouldn't have gone there as it was a personality disorder service, they thought I had one but I didn't. However it still helped me. I now work part time, and things are not great but they are better. It isn't easy but grab an opportunity like this with both hands. There isn't enough out there for personality disorder.

[princess890]

It maybe the best way forward for you, if it helps think of lots of positive reasons to get yourself motivated for the PD Unit. Think to yourself, I am doing this because I want to recover, I want my life back, I want to stop self-harm and live a normal life. I don't want to end up getting stitches every couple of weeks for self-harm. This is not the life I want.