Finally taking a step but I’m scared

[H-c]

So long story short I’m going to the gp to talk about my mental health and I’m so scared. In a way a part of me feels relieved that I’m getting help but a big part of me don’t want to go. So many what if’s and so many things that could go wrong. Another thing is there will be someone that’s going to be right there during the appointment so I can’t really say I want to. What if I finally get help and i get told there are a ton of things wrong with me.(I’m not making sense but what I’m trying to say is what if i already know somewhere deep inside me I need help for ONE thing but after talking to the doctor I get told there are multiple things wrong with me?). To be honest I’m split, I don’t wanna go but i know I need to.

What if I feel even more worse after the appointment?

I don’t know what to do.. I’ve already had bad past experience with my previous gp, and I’m really scared it’s going to be a repeat of that whole experience. Them telling me that there’s nothing physically wrong with me and I should just “relax and exercise”

[geoff]

Hello H-c, seeing your doctor can at times be quite daunting and this may still happen if you've been seeing them for a long time, but rather than trying to explain to them what's troubling you, is for you to write down on some paper what does concern you.If you can do this in point form, rather than a letter, it's much easier for them to read the points, whereas in a letter they could get lost with the main reasons why you're there.

Your doctor is to offer solutions in helping you, whether it's by suggesting medication, putting you on a mental health plan and referring you to see a psychologist, it's their job to look after you and to be a solid backstop where you can always contact them.

To relax and exercise may sound to be perfect, unfortunately, for people struggling this may not be possible, only when you start to open up, then this may be possible.

Doctors have an instinct to know how people are feeling and will gage by how you respond to any questions, they are there to help you.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Croix]

Dear H-c~

While it good to see you here once more also I'm sorry as it means that things have not improved.

I guess all though your previous posts one thing stands out, that people have not understood how you feel and have basically missed the point, fobbing you off with trivial answers that don't help.When one has suicidal thoughts that simply makes things worse.

At one stage you were going to write a "goodby letter", and that is a pretty fair indication to anyone with any sense that things are bad.

So why not write a note to your doctor? Geoff mentioned doing this and I have done exactly that. The good thing is that you have plenty of time beforehand to get down things as they exactly are, and in the consultation you do not have to explain from scratch by talking -just hand over the note. I found I just had to answer questions where the doctor needed a bit more detail.

I did use point form as otherwise it was too long and muddled.

I was taken seriously and found the whole process a lot easier.

When you write a note put down all the hard, frightening or embarrassing bits. I found that takes a fair bit of courage, but without them all the effort will be wasted and you will be no further forward. The other plus I found is that when I handed the note over was too late to chicken out :{

From your posts in 2020 I'd guess you are well over the age where you can say you want to talk to the doctor privately, again a hard thing to do as it might upset the person with you, but if it allows you to speak more freely it can be worth it. They can always go with you and then sit in the waiting room.

Many people, me included, either find they can't speak clearly in to a doctor, or try to minimize what is wrong. Either way you can end up not giving the right information, and without that any treatment will be based on the wrong thing.

After feeling so bad for too long I was desperate and any effort became worthwhile.

I'd like you to be in the good place I'm at now

What do you think?

Croix

[Petal22]

Hi H-c,

Just take it one step at a time.

Do you have to have the person who's going with you in the appointment with you? I think that if you can talk more freely with out the person in the room then go in to see the doctor yourself.

Be as honest as you can with your gp so they can help you and get a full understanding of how you are feeling.

Try not to overthink things.

Geoff and Croix have given you great advice to write the doctor a note.

[geoff]

Hello H-c, Croix and Petal have also agreed on writing points down, but can I please suggest, that those very difficult concerns that are troubling you, not to be avoided, simply because by mentioning these items could be the catalyst in helping you get to first base, in other words, these points could be causing most of your problems.

Please take care.

Geoff.

[Beeee]

Hello H-c,

You're taking a big step and I think it's normal to be scared. I myself put off seeing my GP about my mental health for years because I was worried what they were going to say. In the end, nothing turned out as badly as I thought it would. Your GP is there to help and support you. Further, once you begin seeing a psychologist, it's really up to you to guide the sessions and work on what you feel like is affecting you. Perhaps at the start of your first session you could even ask not to put a label on things, but work more generally towards better mental health.

Hoping your appointment goes well.

Beeee

[H-c]

Update:
I went to the appointment and from the start everything was a mess. What I feared most happened. Now I’m getting referred to a psychologist for a condition related to ocd. From the start someone from the center messed up my account or something and then my go couldn’t find my previous records anymore… now I’m really stressed and I don’t know what to do? I used to go to the same center for my headaches and everything but now it has disappeared apparently. What should I do

[That Other Guy]

I'm sorry they made some sort of mistake but I am sure they can get to the bottom of it, and have your best interests at heart.

[Croix]

Dear H-c~

It sounds like you had a pretty grim time of it. There is no excuse for misplacing you records as they give a more complete picture of what has happened in the past, otherwise things have to start again -sigh. This is extra bad becuse you were very worried about going in the first place.

I do know that my own pharmacy keeps computer records of my prescriptions they have filled, do you think you might get some sort of record that way, even if it just the medication details, dates and the prescribing doctor's name? Might be some help to show the current GP and new psych what happened before.

With that tentative diagnosis of an OCD related issue, what do you think about it? is it something that might be on the right track?

Please let us know how you get on

Croix

[Banksy92]

Hi H-c

If you're really not happy with the outcome of your appointment or referral, why don't you get a second opinion at another GP clinic? Tell them you want to start fresh and just see what they think without looking at your history. Cant hurt?

Just a thought, hope you're doing okay.