Advice needed

[Optima]

Hi my name is Mark and I'm new to this, I have been suffering from anxiety for many years now.

The last 6 or so years it has turned into health anxiety, I'm constantly googling symptoms and I'm worrying constantly.. I've been to many doctors and they all say I'm OK.. about 4 months ago I asked my doctor for a mental health plan and he did that, they have counselling at the GP so I didn't get the referral paperwork but I haven't heard from them.

My meds have been switched but it's been a few months and the worry continues,  I feel like I'm spiralling out of control, I barely leave the house, I dont have any friends and I dont want to burden my family with this any more.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

[HelloGail]

Hi Optima

Whenever I get a health plan I collect it from the receptionist occasionally in the past my doctor would print it out there in his rooms but with the recent Medicare and GP changes, I had to do it with a nurse in the new medical centre, it seems GP's are clamming down on all the referrals so instead they refer it to the nurse. He didn't even tell me I found out when I went back asking if I could pick up my referral for the physio as I had asked my new GP and the receptionist said you have to make an appointment with the nurse, by the time it was done, they delayed by 3 days in faxing it to my physiotherapist and by then I decided not to bother, it is still in my glove box, my rib pain eventually went. Optima, all I can recommend is go to the receptionist and explain your GP had done a referral plan to their counsellor. I am looking around for another new GP who is actually interested in my health. Five years I moved to the coast and miss the GP I had in the central west country for 26 years but too far to travel back there. Optima, maybe like me you may need to find another doctor, ask around, word by mouth helps. I am following up in 2023 a medical centre recommended by my neighbour. Best of luck. HelloGail.