Experiences with GP

[Birdy05]

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?

[Baljit]

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.

[Birdy05]

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!

[mmMekitty]

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