GP's and Anti-Depressants Important Info

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone! New Posters are very welcome to share your experiences with a GP too!

I had an appointment yesterday with my GP. He is aware of what I do on the Beyond Blue forums. I asked him about anti depressants and how he treats his patients with depression/ anxiety and why some GP's dont prescribe meds. This is what I learned yesterday from one doctor.

• He has always had an interest in depression and anxiety and prescribes AD's where the symptoms fit the criteria to do so
• He will refer to a psychiatrist if a patient shows symptoms of a more 'complex' mental illness and not prescribe meds himself
• Some GP's have little interest in 'getting involved' with depression and will refer to a psychiatrist with little if any discussion
• He isnt 'pro meds' or 'anti-meds' He treats depression as a serious illness with meds to improve his patients health & well being

• He mentioned that a pro-active GP can know more about AD's than some psychiatrists as GP's have more frequent patient contact

It did surprise me that some GP's have little or no interest in treating depression. I hope these GP's are in the minority.

I am interested to know any good or not so good experiences other people have had with a GP. I posted this thread originally so any people with untreated depression/anxiety have a better understanding of how experiences with a GP can be positive step towards recovery.

All your thoughts are most welcome

Thankyou for taking the time to read my thread

Kind thoughts

Paul

[blondguy]

Hi BlissfulPilgrim

Thankyou so much for posting from the heart. I am sad that you havent had any joy with a GP especially after such a protracted period of time. That would be awful

Just out of respect, I used to have many years of daily acute anxiety which then morphed into clinical depression and was fortunate as I found a clinic that had a 'mental health focus'

Bipolar is a common health issue on the forums.Beyond Blue have a dedicated thread topic about Bipolar...I will send you the copy & paste link as there are many gentle people like yourself that have this awful illness

I hope you can stick around Blissful 🙂

My kind thoughts

Paul

[BlissfulPilgrim]

So if the GP says I am bipolar and the psychiatrist says I am not - who am I supposed to believe? I have been misdiagnosed more than once - there is no trust

[Guest8901]

Hi BlissfulPilgrim, and welcome to Beyondblue. I hope your interactions here with other fellow sufferers of MH issues will help to provide some understanding and support for you.

In answer to your question about who to believe - your GP or your psychiatrist? The answer is to go with your psychiatrist. Your GP is a general practitioner who has a general knowledge of a very broad range of (mainly) physical problems. Although these days, most have a good understanding of Mental Health related issues, they definitely do not specialise in the MH area. Where as your psychiatrist has undergone many years of intense study in the Mental Health field. Psychiatrists are generally considered to be 'top of the tree' when it comes to all medical specialists. They have to do additional study to what most other specialists do, simply because they are dealing with the brain/minds of people. There is still so much we/they dont know.

But most definitely the psychiatrist is best qualified to accurately diagnose any mental health conditions.

I'm sorry you've been through the mill when it comes to seeking diagnosis, treatment and support in the past. I agree it makes us feel reluctant to trust anyone. But there comes a time that we all need to trust someone in order to move on and make our lives better. Trust a psychiatrist. If you are not happy with the one you saw before, there is no reason why you cannot ask for a second opinion via another psychiatrist. Ask your GP for another referral.

Good luck.

Amanda

[BlissfulPilgrim]

Hi Amanda, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Can you please explain to me how trusting someone will make it easier to "move on" or "make my life better"?

I have trusted many many people - not one of them has done either of these things.

At the moment I trust my son and my partner, and neither of those people have the resources to help.

The psychiatrist told me there is nothing he can do to help (lack of resources) and sent me back to the GP, who sent me back to the counsellor who sent me back to the mental health clinic who told me to keep seeing lots of doctors until I find one I like.

I am unemployed - this trial and error approach is not affordable. I have tried other GPs and they are not helpful. I tell them I wont take antidepressants and the first thing they suggest is that I take antideppressants. If I have the nerve to turn up at an appointment with my copy of my records they dont even bother to look. They say take responsibility for your treatment so I ask for a copy of my blood test results. No. Can I have a copy of the psychiatrist report? No. Every time I go to a new doctor they want to get permission to access records from previous doctors - who want to charge me $40. It is all a waste of time.

[Guest8901]

Yes Bliss, I know its hard. I too have a big trust issue. You really have been on a medical merry-go-round havent you. I'm truly sorry.

But I will try to answer your question of: "Can you please explain to me how trusting someone will make it easier to "move on" or "make my life better"?

If you can trust a psychiatrist enough to open up and tell them everything, they will hopefully be able to provide an accurate diagnosis for what ails you. If you can then trust their expertise enough to accept their diagnosis, then you will be more willing to try any recommended treatment. Keep in mind that Anti Depressants are not the only treatment option available for MH conditions. But they really need to know what it is they are treating, before making any recommendations for suitable treatment. Once diagnosis is know, appropriate treatment can be tailored to suit both the diagnosed condition, as well as taking into account your wishes regarding ADs.

Lack of adequate funds to pay for appointments certainly adds to the distress and frustration caused. Are you on a Mental Health Care Plan? That would help you to see other MH professionals such as a psychologist. Psychologists do not prescribe medications. They do however, conduct talk therapies to suit the individual as well as to provide a range of self help methods aimed to help cope with our MH conditions. Perhaps this may be of more benefit to you? Ordinary psychologists are not qualified to diagnose MH conditions, however, if you request a referral to a Clinical Psychologist, they can do so.

I understand your frustration and feelings that everything is just one big waste of time. But at the end of the day, if it eventually results in an accurate diagnoses and successful treatment, then thats not a waste of time at all.

I hope this is of some help to you.

Amanda

[ruralite]

Good on you mate.

[ruralite]

Your psychiatrist. GPs are jacks of many illnesses and masters of none.

[BlissfulPilgrim]

Hi Amanda,

Yes that merry go round was part of my mental health plan.

I was diagnosed with BPD in 2001. I was offered a 10 week CBT course held at the local MH clinic. I had to turn it down for a number of reasons - my previous experiences there make visiting that place traumatic for me (it is no friendlier than a prison); I had no formal or informal support to attend (I was supposed to turn up every week, turn my life upside down and then go home by myself to deal with it until next week, I have been unable to find a regular GP/therapist); I have heard these programs are often unsuccessful and I lack confidence that it will help.

So the psychologist and the psychiatrist said they couldnt help. I wont take antidepressants. I dont have a regular GP - havent seen one for more than 3 months (his diagnosis then was that the depression was causing pain in my arms). Are there any other options?

[Guest8901]

Oh dear ... I am so sorry. 😞

Little wonder you are angry and frustrated.

Unfortunately, no I am unable to make any further realistic suggestions. But I am new to the MH scene and have little personal experience.

Can I therefore suggest you talk to an expert? Give the Beyondblue Support Service a call on 1300 22 4636 and see if they can steer you in the right direction. They are available 24/7.

I'm sorry I was of no help to you, but hopefully they can help.

Wishing you the best. 🍀

Amanda

[BlissfulPilgrim]

Thanks Amanda.

Every time I hear that it feels like another nail in the coffin.