topic Experiences with GP in Anxiety

Experiences with GP

Birdy05 — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 03:30:19 GMT

Hi! I am just curious as to others experiences with their GP discussing anxiety and OCD and treatment? I have just seen a GP for the first time regarding my mental health - I have never discussed this with any GP at all - and the outcome of a 15min conversation was medication. I’m definitely not anti medication however I feel that in my case it was a bit of a rushed decision by the GP and there were no conversations about trying lifestyles changes or anything first - only that I should see a psychologist once we move in a month which I am 100% open to!

I guess my question is should I be going back and expressing my hesitancy and seeing if we can start off differently or should I trust her judgement with it? I feel like it’s such a big decision to start medication based off a 15min conversation with a GP I am not familiar with!

Others thoughts and experiences?

Experiences with GP

mmMekitty — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 04:31:22 GMT

Hello Birdy05,

Absolutely, you can go back to your GP & discuss your concerns about the medication. If you think you will find it difficult to talk, write out your concerns & questions beforehand. If anything, this will help you feel more prepared, & if you still struggle, you can give them what you wrote.

mmMekitty

Experiences with GP

Justin95 — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 04:51:17 GMT

Good on you for taking the next step to liberate your mental health. At least your GP recommended medication, mine recommended to drink plenty of fluid.

hope this helps

Experiences with GP

mmMekitty — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 05:08:32 GMT

Hello Birdy05 & Justin95,

Also, if you are not confident with what your GP recommends, you can always seek a second, or third opinion from other GPs.

mmMekitty

Experiences with GP

Petal22 — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 06:02:41 GMT

Hi Birdy05,

I understand, If the gp you saw prescribed medication and you are uncomfortable with it please go back to the gp so you can discuss further or see a second gp for a second opinion.

I understand anxiety I had severe anxiety OCD, I saw my gp when I was experiencing symptoms and we did a mental health together I was also put on a antidepressant to help me to manage my anxiety. I saw a clinical psychologist and I was diagnosed with OCD by a psychiatrist. I also did a 8 week group therapy for my OCD.

I believe medication and therapy go hand in hand.

I have written two threads you may be interested in reading.

From someone who had OCD and recovered

Effective treatment for OCD Metacognitive Therapy

Please ask me any questions

Experiences with GP

Petal22 — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 07:16:45 GMT

Also Birdy05,

A antidepressant is usually managed by the gp prescribing so if you decide to go on this you are best seeing a gp you want to stay with so it can be monitored with you.

Experiences with GP

mocha delight — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 08:25:38 GMT

Hi birdy05 my gp when I had made an appointment to talk about ‘my issues’ she asked me about if there was any family history of mental health and how I’d been going ect ect ect. But then again I’d typed out a list of symptoms & signs of depression I’d been experiencing which I handed out straight to her before that so I found that very helpful. I also liked how she gave me the option of if to trying antidepressants, seeing a psychologist or both antidepressants & seeing a psychologist first which I choose trying just antidepressants first but I now wished I had gone with the option of both trying antidepressants and seeing a psychologist. But that appointment was not an easy one as I lost my grandma 2/3 days beforehand so with that and talking about ‘my issues’ I did break down emotionally so like yeah.

Experiences with GP

Blhaj — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 12:18:20 GMT

Hi Birdy,

Personally I would seek a second opinion if you're feeling a little uncomfortable. A good way I've found to find GPs is looking online at the practices website. Sometimes the website will have a section detailing what each doctor specialises in.

I'm sure 99% of doctors are great but findings doctors who specifically list "mental health" as a speciality makes me a little more comfortable.

Hope all goes well

Experiences with GP

mmMekitty — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 12:39:15 GMT

That's a good idea, Blåhaj. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I looked online when I was wanting a Psychologist & wanted one who would suit my needs. The profiles I found were helpful.

However, a note of caution. My local GP practice has a website & I saw on there the GP I had just seen, was supposedly interested in mental health, but when speaking to her, to ask for a Mental Health Care Plan, she seemed totally uninterested in why I wanted it, how I was feeling lately, nothing. Can I put it down to the short consult? I don't know.

I hope, Blåhaj, that you are right, & not as pesimistic as I am... 😸nor as cynical.

& Birdy05, I hope we can help some more. If you have more questions, please don' hesitate to ask.

mmMekitty.

Experiences with GP

mocha delight — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 12:48:14 GMT

mmMekitty I’m pretty sure it was somewhere on the forums to book a long appointment when having to with wanting to talk about mental health issues but if not I might of/and read that when I did some research on google but not 100% sure which one it was a bit over a year ago mind you.

Experiences with GP

Baljit — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 16:23:36 GMT

Hi Birdy05,

If you are feeling hesitant and needing to discuss your diagnosis and treatment, then absolutely you should return and see your GP and discuss all the possible treatments available to you.

Please do not feel uncomfortable or guilty as GP’s are trained for these types of scenarios. Also, I feel that a 15 minute consultation is not long enough, I would recommend a minimum of 30 minutes at least and ideally with a GP that you have seen and feel comfortable with on previous occasions.

As per my own personal experiences I had a thorough consultation with my regular GP, who listened to me and really understood how I was feeling and it was agreed together that I should take some immediate anti-depressants as well as an immediate session with the counsellor.

I then had a review a week later and between the three of us we jointly discussed and agreed my recovery plan which involved a combination of medication and counselling.

Too, support your recovery it’s vitally important that you have a GP that knows you and understands and then meets your needs.

I hope this helps and I wish you all the best on your recovery.

Experiences with GP

Birdy05 — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 06:20:23 GMT

Thank you so much everyone! I think I felt a bit trapped and that I had to start taking them because I was prescribed then. I feel like I wasn’t apart of discussing my treatment but rather told this is what I have to do. The GP was lovely but I feel this decision was rushed for myself personally.

I am going to go back to her and discuss my concerns - I’m apprehensive about starting a completely new medication and then relocating in 5 weeks (she knew this) and not being able to seek help straight away when I get there so I feel I need to go back and discuss options for between now and when we move.

Thank you everyone so much!

Experiences with GP

mmMekitty — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 09:15:01 GMT

Hello Birdy, & everyone,

I want to thank Mocha Delight, for reminding me about longer consultations. I agree, if you want to discuss, well, anything, in fact, ask to have a long consultation when making your appointments, with your GPs.

I know these things, but somehow forget to ever ask for the long consultations myself. I hope you do better than me!

Baljit has also written very well about this, too. Thank you, Baljit. I think, if it seems particularly difficult or complicated to talk about, a 30 minute consult would be much better. I hadn't realised I could ask for that long, myself. 😸 I will try to keep that in mind for the next time I am certain I will need more time talk & to give my GP more time to ask more questions.

Birdy, you say you are moving? Can you research Online for GPs or any other service you'd like to find in the area where you are moving? Those maps show all sorts of things these days. (makes me feel so old!))

All the best,

mmMekitty