Does anyone know how and where I can find a psychiatrist? I don't speak dutch, so it would be great if the person is fluent in english.

I have severe mood swings, happy one moment, and really sad the next.
I have realized that I enjoy feeling sad and lonely, the more detached I am from others, the more safer I feel.
and also over the years, I have collected plenty of emotional baggage, and I have told by quite a few friends that I need some help.

And I have realized that I need to get started somewhere...

mail me and I will help you with the needed info
menonurse@hetnet.nl
regards
Denise

Already replied to your post under relationships. Look there...Drop me a pm if you have more questions

Hiya, I just recently posted a topic about post trauma, since I had been searching for years to find the correct departments to help with mental health types of issues.

The department you need to get in touch with is called the GGZ. You need to go to your huisarts and be honest with him/her, tell them about how you feel especially your mood swings e.c.t. If they are not helpful try to see another huisarts in the same surgery, or at worst get a new huisart!

The huisart can then refer you to the GGZ, you can ask for them to do this specifically because of your problems. They have a form in their surgery to complete based on what you tell them and then they forward this directly to the GGZ in your area. You will then be called for an intake appointment (initial type of appointment) where you will be able to discuss the problems you are having and the department will propbably then have a meeting to see what they feel is the problem and what would be the best way to help you.

They have therapists, psychotherapists , psychiatrists e.c.t. I'm pretty sure that your medical insurance covers all of this, so don't get pushed by people to pay privately and then get your money re-imbersed. Check with your medical insurance first of all.

If I added up the amount of money I have paid to various private therapists I have seen here in the last 6 years who couldn't help me one bit, in fact some of them 'damaged me more since they didn;t have any experience in what I suffer with' it would run into thousands of euros, I wish I'd found the correct route initially!

In 3 weeks since they have been helping me I have basically gone from being completely agoraphobic for 6 years to getting my life back with their help.

This is the best route to take. Like I say I wish I'd know this year ago!

Heres the link I put in on the other topic: http://forum.expatica.com/Post-traumatic-s...NL-t105555.html

The good thing about the GGZ is that many specialists work is obviously 'specialised' in various areas. Therefore they will know who will be the best person to help you and have that person assigned to helping you.

Good Luck

It sounds like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_peopl...ipolar_disorder

bipolar did cross my mind, but, we are not experts so we can't really comment. It could also be PTSD (baggage mentioned) or even culture shock or depression or perosonality disorder or many other things. This is why it's so important to get the right help from the right professionals.

Hence my last post got to the huisarts to get referred to the GGZ

Or Cyclothymia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclothymia

Or Social phobia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_phobia

Or even Premenstrual syndrome:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premenstrual_syndrome

I think I understand a little of how you feel sailsatsun. It's difficult getting through life without having to go through some sort of baggage, most of us at some point or another have to go through things we'd much rather not. Unfortunately, not all of us, including me, are able to let go so easily, especially when it happens so early in life, most of which should be the best of our years and so it prevents us making the most of out lives. Not everyone of course can understand this... but not everyone is so sensitive.

I would like gto add to Wesley's sound comment, that we don't live alone on an island. There really are sensitive people living around us, ready to listen to us and to participate in our cfeelings of the moment. The problem is only that they are not always easy to find or not always there at exactly the moment that we need them.
I concur with Laureljoanna that you should make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible to sort things out. Life is too nice not to be enjoyed to the fullest!
Good luck!

remember too that access has a database of all known therapists etc. many languages.