I wrote a topic ages ago about not being able to find any support here in NL for PTSD.
So, for the last 6 years I have been agoraphobic and its been quite an ordeal.

I want to put this on the forum for anyone else who may arrive here and have the same struggle as I have had which has taken me 6 years to find which departments can help people with PTSD.

Firstly, your huisarts has to fill in a form to refer you to the GGZ. If he/she doesn't take your situation seriously ask to see another huisart or change huisarts if necessary. Simply don't give up at that point.

If PTSD is severe causing symptoms such as agoraphobia you have to make this very clear and be very assertive in telling the GGZ this once they do contact you. This is where my personal problems arose, because they seem to assume that because you can 'speak' that you don't suffer with agoraphobia. In fact their views of PTSD as very different to views in the UK or the US for example.

I kept having monthly appointments sent to me asking me to visit their department going back to last November. Each month I'd politely call them and remind them that I cannot come to their office due to having agoraphobia. This led to them having another meeting, yet each month another letter arrived asking me to attend another appointment. This went on for months, in fact it went on for so long that we decided to return to the UK where I would get emergency treatment.

After one of their usual meetings, 3 weeks ago I received a telephone call again asking me to go along to yet another appointment. To be honest, I had got to the point after waiting for some form of support for 6 years that angrily I finally told her what I thought about their department. I basically asked the lady on the phone if this was some very cruel test? to see how long an person could be left suffering daily with panic attacks until they either topped themselves or went completely mad due to isolation? I also told her that I saw their service as completely un professional. I lastly told her that I dreaded to think of how many other people may have commited suicide due to their neglect of people suffering with severe PTSD. But, what I hadn't realised was that I was ' ranting at the psychiatrist.

She responded politely, but obviously quite ángrily telling me that she would send out what she called her emergency team. To be honest at this point I thought OMG she's furious and she's now likely to give me even less help or at worse section me for saying my views! She acted very fast and had 2 people here within 1 hour. One very big guy (I think incase they thought I was some nutter) and a psychiatric doctor.

They came in looking all around , think they assumed my house would be all messy which of course being agoraphobic my house is usually spotlessly clean because I don't have much else to do, then we sat down. Then they saw how much I was shaking. They asked how long I'd been shaking like this and I told them since I got here 6 years ago and couldn't find help. The big guys attitude changed and so did the doctors and they immediately became very supportive and caring, if fact I think they must have felt slightly embarassed as they knew how long I'd been asking for help. They phoned another psychiatrist to ask for some type of medication describing to him how severely my body was shaking all over and muscles twitching. They finally! realised I did have severe PTSD and from that moment have been nothing but very helpful, phoning every few days checkking to see that there are no adverse reactions to the medication e.c.t

I am now booked in for psychotherapy for next week and had to travel by bus and train to my first appointment 2 days ago. I was fine and although most people see this as something they easily do every day, to me it was a great achievement and even the doc was shocked to see me standing in her office, she admitted herself that she didn't think I'd manage it. After the appointment I stopped in a town and shopped álone'for 2 hours spoiling myself and buying myself a nice summer dress and some new shoes. Since then I have been shopping reguarly, alone. I feel as if I have missed 6 years of my life, yet now have my life back and am thrilled, well thats actualy an understatement. That evening I sat down crying with happiness. My husband no longer has to go shopping after his long day at work, because I can now do our shopping, I'm just so happy.

I just don't want anyone else to go through what I have been through. So, if anyone ever has this problem here, the department is the GGZ and make sure you explain clearly, getting others to support you if necessary to explain severe symptoms if you are suffering with severe PTSD.

A very happy LJ

Good for you LJ !
Fancy going to the pub then ? :o)

Yep I certainly do

I'm really pleased you have finally found help Laureljoanna, and hope your experiences continue to be positive ones.

I do think it is very difficult for none dutch speaking people to get in contact with the correct agencies throughout the Netherlands, not just Amsterdam.

I have had an interest in PTSD for several years now, and attended several workshops on stress and burnout, run through the Nederlandse Academie voor Psychotherapie. They were presented by Kees Meijer, based in Amsterdam, who has written extensively on the subject of stress, burnout and PTSD.

It concerned me that there were several participants who did not know the term PTSD but once it was explained of course recognised that they had treated people with the disorder. It was also not clear to them that an individual could suffer from PTSD due to personal circumstances, rather than being a victim of a disaster involving many people.

So knowledge of PTSD is growing and help is available, partly because of disasters such as the New Year fire in Volendam, which impacted not only those at the disco where it happened, but many people in the emergency services, as well as others first on the scene.

I wish you luck in your recovery, and lots more happy shopping trips!

I'm writing a book actually, but it never gets finished because of the twists and turns in life. Yes, I am going to recover, may even go back to university and completely change course and study psychology. Never know, I'd probably make an excellent psychotherapist one day if I don't leave it too late to study
As for shopping, once back in the UK I am going to shop till I drop! can't wait!

I'm really happy you finally got the help and support you need Laurel, and it's great that you've finally come out smiling. Have a great summer!

Hi laureljoanna

I'm pleased you read and commented on my earlier post, I do agree with you that the symtoms of burnout are not the same as PSTD; What was addressed on the workshop was that when people present with symtoms, which are labelled as burnout as they are not in a state to function in work situations, there is then the opportunity to explore whether there could be an underlying trauma, which has developed into PTSD.

I hope you get to finish your book

Well done you. Its terrible that you had to insult them to get results. The dutch do not seem to be so enlightened or believe everyone is just taking the mickey. I have allegies complicated by burnout and believe you me they just roll their eyes at me whenever I have an appointment with them like i am making it up and the exagerating the severity of my condition.

Good for you laureljoanna. I am so happy that you found a way out of the tragic loop. Keep up the good work, and know that others are cheering for you. -- Quest

I have absolutely no faith in Dutch doctors of whatever kind.
My partner has been suffering from all sorts of mainly stress related problems ever since we've moved here. Only once did a doctor get interested - when my partner's employer actually called the doctor himself.
I only asked once for help with my depression. Got referred to a place where a rather disinterested lady told me that the therapist in question was not there and anyway, none of them had any available appointments until at least 9 months later. I was feeling so low I just couldn't even think of a good reply.
I've paid for it with losing my job and, basically, having been unemployed - and in consequence almost unemployable - since.
The only other attempt I had at getting any kind of psychological help was when I found an english speaking therapist who, after the first consultation, decided to charge me not the amount he told me about in the introductory email, but according to my partner's income...
It should suffice to say it was a substantial amount, even by this country standards.
I don't think I dare try anymore.
I'm now simply hoping the day I can leave this country for good and find some dedicated medical professionals is not too far away..

Best of luck to you.

My Dutch ex went to the doctor suffering a seriously heavy flu.

"Do you work?" asked the doctor.

"Yes." replied the ex.

"You're suffering work-related stress. Take two weeks off." The Doctor prescribed!!!

Because people just love skipping work, he assumed this was the same phenomena. *sigh*

mamsygirl, You need to visit your huisarts and ask for a referral to the GGZ for your partner, this is a simple form which takes 2 minutes to complete with the docs signature or huisarts stamp from the surgery. The GGZ is the mental health team and deal with everything from stress related issues to psychological injury to mental illness.
Once in their system they look at what the problem is and do an introduction meeting to discuss symptoms and stress related problems then have a meeting to decide which therapist/psychotherapist would be best to deal with each individual case. Plus, this is FREE! if medication of any kind is needed mie was covered by my health insurance, so I assume it is standard.

I had terrible luck in finding help for some years and paid a fortune seeing useless therapists. I was also nervous about going to the GGZ since people told me various things as if I'd be labelled( people who had no experience at all abut this particular department I'd like to add) . But after meeting various people in the department I was finally allocated a psychotherapist since my PTSD is severe and she was a real gem. In fact everyone I met eventually from the GGZ has been more than helpful.

Adding to that the psychotherapist they assigned to me was possibly the best I have ever met and really knew her stuff, knew all about trauma related issues and specialised in them, so they do have the expertise there!!! you just have to get yourself into the system by being referred by the huisarts.

I'm still not settled in the UK yet, but once I am I shall be starting a website and adding various information to enable people to get the support that they need for the Netherlands in English which they fail to provide in English there.

Good luck

Happiness coach , just been rushed off my feet but will catch up with you soon

I' d just like to mention that on arrival here my sister booked me an appointment with her doc here and he saw me quickly and told me to register immediately even if I wasn't staying in the area I am currently in. He immediately phoned the mental health team while I was in his office and said I have a critical case of PTSD DSM1V in my office. After he put the phone down he said they will see me shortly since this is a critical case. Phew! nice to meet someone sensible again Plus I can bypass the waiting list.
I wish they took the DSM criteria as seriously in NL, but I think the red tape is usually the huisart.

They don't take it seriously here because too many people fake it to get out of work...

It's pretty hard to fake DSM1V PTSD ouloveit. Your physical shaking and muscle twitches sort of give it away pretty easily, so unless you are on valium or something similar it's not easy to fake at all

Yeah ok, but they had to come out to see you on this occassion and because you wouldn't go to them, they acted like you were making it up.
We are not debating the authenticity of your or others condition
simply discussing the mentality in holland