topic Finding help in Anxiety

Finding help

Tinks_1 — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 09:13:12 GMT

I recently had an anxiety episode that began late on a Friday. It was still intense on Saturday morning so I decided to go to the doctor. No doctor available so I went to the ER at my local hospital. I had a 6 hour wait and was only seen when I persisted in getting attention. There was only one doctor available who did not seem to see ER patients for 4 hours. The stress of waiting made it worse. My question is: what could I have done instead?

Finding help

white knight — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 01:35:38 GMT

Hi Tinks, welcome to Beyond Blue forums

Not much!!. And not much has changed in 35 years since I went to an ER at a hospital for major flu symptoms in 1979.

I was left on a trolley with one sheet, shivvering away for 9 hours until I found the energy to leave.

It's almost like they dont want you there. But it isnt like that. Usually they are under staffed and cant get through the backlog. In the Alfred hospital 15 years ago I was a security guard and the number of overdoses (illicit drugs) filled the ER department up. Then they have to prioritise. Medical staff mean well but communication is woeful. There might be a reason for this. If they spoke regularly to all patients they wouldnt get their job done processing others. It's a tough environment.

My suggestion is, prevention is better than cure. As one who's had anxiety and now largely overcome it, get medication right and take the common and proven steps to recovery- relaxation classes, progressive muscle tensioning exercises and sort your life out to encourage calmness and comfort.

FYI in my case my anxiety peaked in 1987. I took medication for the next 12 years. I commenced the above exercises. I moved to the country. I eventually sorted out my toxic marriage to eventually remarry a more supportive and caring lady. I got a dog that sooths my nerves etc etc.

take care

Finding help

Tinks_1 — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 09:40:14 GMT

Thanks for that.

I have actually moved to a quiet coastal town and have a supportive husband. We have only been here a year and my new doctor halved my medication. ( I have had anxiety for over 40 years.) Nothing seems to have changed much in that time. However I think this site is a blessing.