Hello. So, I've got a GP appointment Monday to discuss my mood fluctuations. My issue is I'm twenty-one now and even though I've had acute anxiety (which led to agoraphobia) since I was a teenager I've always avoided my GP and gaining help through those channels. I had counselling but I self-referred so the GP wasn't involved.
I really want my GP to help this time because my mental health problems have changed a lot. I want a referral for counselling or a psychiatrist or something, but I'm concerned because I haven't been in the "system" and therefore they don't know how long I've experienced problems they'll dismiss me. I went back in August but failed really to get across how bad my problems were and I was given some mild anxiety pills =/ I don't even believe I have anxiety issues to the extent I used to, I think it's a problem with my mood which ends up leading me to self-harm to control myself.
I guess I avoided the GP because I was scared of being stuck in the system and controlled. Plus I didn't want to be diagnosed. Retrospectively this may be why I'm in the place I am now, because I wasn't able to access help. I want to ask for a psychiatrist but if the GP doesn't know of how bad my MH problems have been they won't just refer me straight away? I'm so desperate for some help.
Could you try writing down exactly what is going on this will give you a mental jog in the appt and if like last time you struggle to portray exactly what is going on you can even give it to the GP.
It might be useful to say something along the lines of when I was x (age) I had counselling for x amount of time and I found it xyz! This will help add the time dimension for the GP
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
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Thanks for replying. I wrote down the symptoms I've been experiencing last night and will try my best to memorise them (think I would feel awkward giving it to my doc). I'm also really hypersensitive and paranoid so one look from my GP can make me think they think I'm lying or an attention seeker or something. It's so silly but I can't help feeling like this. Guess I just really don't trust those who I see holding power over me ... Plus my mum has a GP phobia so she doesn't even want me going despite how desperate I am!
You could always just ask for a referall to your cmht? That is what I did with my GP, I went and asked for the referral and they asked me questions about why.
It is up to the cmht then to assess you and decide the best treatment they can offer for you. Ultimately, cmht also take self referral in some instances, so you can always try that, if your GP is unhelpfull.
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
Hey. I went to my GP and she as actually pretty useful. I've been referred to my primary care mental health team. I think they do assessments. Thanks for the comments - glad to have received some support.
Well done for going and I'm glad that you got a referral and saw a helpful GP. Will you be seeing her again for a bit of a follow-up or whatever? I think that the primary care MHT are similar to a CMHT and yep, you'll more than likely be assessed by them before they decide how best to help you. Anyway, probs just telling what you already know! I hope it all works out for you.
Oh, btw, are you glad that you went to your GP in the end?
Hi Caz - that used to be my nickname at school as my name's Caroline.
I'm very glad I went. We had a little talk about medications but because I'm apprenhensive about going on them until I can understand why my mood is so all over the place she's just given me some more information. She said come back in a few weeks for a chat and if I want to be prescribed something, most like SSRI antidepressants at this stage.
I'm pleased I got an understanding GP. She seemed to genuinely want to help and wasn't brusque and detached like my last one ...
I didn't mention my self-harm to her though. Mainly because I didn't want her wanting to look at my arms... Going to try and force myself to tell it to whoever I'm sent to with the Primary Care Team.
Oh, just a question to anyone who might be more informed than me. Will the Primary Care Team pass what they learn through my assessment onto my GP? I'm thinking yes... Don't know how it really works. In which case it wouldn't matter who I told about my SH since they'll know anyway!
Sounds as though you should stick to this GP like glue then! I'm really lucky to have a GP as good as mine, I genuinely think that I might be dead if she hadn't have looked after me so well. Sorry, moidering on there!
I think you're right to not rush into taking meds and understand your apprehension, but don't be afraid to try them if you and your GP deem it necessary. I mean at the end of the day, you've got nothing to lose, if you don't find them helpful you can stop taking them (with your GP's supervision of course) or try another type of AD.
Do try your best to open up about the self harm. I know the thought of showing your arms is horrible, but in all honesty my GP was lovely about it. Really sensitive and gentle, just had a bit of a look and treated a cut for me, job done. But anyway, even if you tell them you won't HAVE to show anybody unless you want to.
I'm not entirely sure how much will be passed on to your GP, but I would presume that yes, she would be informed of something like SH or any other significant symptoms. But at the end of the day your GP sounds like a good 'un that genuinely cares, so the more she knows the better really to enable her to help you to the best of her abilty.
I think I will open up about it, it's just going to take time. I mean my close family or friends don't know, so it's quite secretive at the moment.
My GP didn't seem to think it was imperative I go on medication even though it is affecting my day to day life. I think she prefers people to go to counselling first and then think about medication, although if I feel worse and it's stopping me from even functioning I would like to consider it. I'm just wary of pills making me feel even worse.
