New to the page… frustrated

[guest59]

Hi guys,

My name is Ben.

Ive been living with (believe i have been) depression and social anxiety since my late teens.

I have noticed over the last 8-10 months that these feelings have become much stronger, i feel as though I go through low points much more than i ever have before, and being in social situations is nearing on unbearable for me.

Tonight I finally made the move to visit a GP in the hope to speak to someone…

I became extremely frustrated that this GP simply palmed me off a months worth of tablets with a "you'll be right" attitude and to visit them in 2 weeks to see how i was feeling. I asked multiple times if I could possibly book to see some form of specialist for a chat instead, to which i received the same answer over and over. Take the tablets and ill see you in 2 weeks…

Have I gone into this with too high of an expectation, or is this standard procedure for an initial visit?

If it isn't standard procedure then does anyone have a good GP that can actually point me in the right direction?

[Neil_1]

Hi there Ben

Welcome to Beyond Blue and thank you for coming here to provide your post.

I’m hearing you loud and clear with this GP that you visited.  Here’s a script, get this medication and take the tablets.  Come back and see me in two weeks time to see how you’re tracking along?  Boy oh boy, you dug deep and made the effort to get professional support/help and this is what you were received.

May I say “good on you” for not taking that as an answer and coming here to seek further support.  You’ve come to the right place.

Ben, on this site, you can do a search for GP’s and hopefully you can find one or more in your local area.  The thing with these GP’s is that they are all qualified in dealing with mental health issues – I’d be absolutely gob-smacked if any of the GP’s would palm you off and shoot you on your way with a script.  They will take in your issues and be able to provide you with appropriate advice, dependent on your situation and then will be best placed to refer you to potentially some kind of psych (counselling sessions).  What will be also very interesting would be to see if they do decide to put you on anti-depressants and if so, would it be the same kind as what you were given last evening??

I’d actually be really interested in hearing about that side of things – in fact, I’d like to hear of the whole “other GP” experience.

I do hope that it works for you as you hope it will – and as I’ve suggested it will.

Kind regards

Neil

[Mati]

Hi Ben,

I totally get your frustration, I once had a GP who laughed at me when I asked him if I could be bipolar because the waves of depression were pretty regular (he had been "treating me for postnatal depression", and having a GP you can trust and talk about stuff with is REALLY important, and it took me a little while to find my current one!

if you don't like your current one, keep looking, I'd say!

With your frustration of being brushed off with meds, as far as I have experienced that's the norm unfortunately. Many years ago in the UK I had a long discussion with my GP there and he said with depression you get the meds first, and are being checked regularly if the dosage is right and then counseling starts after a few months.

like you, I didn't get it now, and I still don't (quite) get it now. And it's hard enough to get the courage together to look for help once, and to admit that you actually have a problem, so I get that you were hoping for a lot more help, but I would suggest stick to the meds the GP gave you, see how you go with them, and keep going back (or look for a new GP if you don't feel like you can fully trust this one)

good luck Ben!

Mati

[EmmaP]

Hi Ben,

As Neil said, well done for getting help with your GP and then reaching out into this community! That is often one of the hardest steps to seek help so well done 🙂

I had a similar situation to you. I sought help with a youth organisation for my then- undiagnosed depression and anxiety. The youth worker I saw palmed off my anxieties as 'situational' and didn't even accept the depression side of things as a real issue. I came away feeling frustrated and deflated.

I then went and saw my GP who I had only gone to once since moving areas and I found she was incredibly helpful, caring and took my concerns very seriously. She diagnosed me with anxiety and depression and not only put me on medication (because I have a family history of depression and she said it could be a brain chemical imbalance that could react very well to medication) but immediately referred me to a bulk billing psychologist and made me up a mental health plan. I had to change medications with my GP because of side effects but she also took my side effect concerns very seriously and has booked me in for another two weeks to make sure its all going well. She always enquires sincerely into how I'm going and how I'm feeling. And on top of that my psychologist has been extremely wonderful and I have also 'clicked' with her as well luckily enough. I know that not everyone is as lucky as me how ever to find mental health professionals that they click with.

As both Neil and Mati have suggested, I also suggest visiting another GP (perhaps using the GP locator on this website) to get a second opinion, because its always a good idea to be able to see a councillor or psychologist to be able to talk through your feelings and what you are going through, in conjunction with medication if it is prescribed to you. You should always feel like you are being taken seriously, after all they are offering their services to you! Keep going until you find someone you click with, its worth it!

Good luck and see how you go! Please keep us updated on how you go with it all 🙂

EmmaP