Hi new, not sure where to get help.

[Nayr]

Hi, 29 yo/male I've recently noticed that my catastrophic thinking has gotten quite bad, and I've just assumed the worst possible outcome is going to happen this has made me incredibly anxious and exacerbated a depressive period of time I've had recently. I want to get professional help ideally in person, is going to my GP and asking about a mental health plan the way to go about it?

Thanks.

[Croix]

Dear MZ_2000~

I'd like to welcome you here to the forum, it's a good choice as you can look around and see others who have had to cope with similar matters.

I myself have bouts of depression and ongoing anxiety, though life is out of sight better than it was. Like you I would think anything could end in the worst possible way, my thinking was not reasonable, but skewed by anxiety.

Going to your GP is certainly the best way to start to get things on track, while I cannot say if you are eligible for or can afford a Medicare Mental Health Plan (this is a standard-fee subsidy, but very often there is a gap to pay) at least you can be diagnosed and assistance given.

I was lucky enough to have an understanding GP and a psychiatrist and after finding the right medication (which took a while) and therapy I'm now in a pretty good place and catastrophization does not happen that often. Better yet I can recognize it for what it is and get a more balanced view from my partner.

If you find the idea of explaining everything face to face, do as I have and use an extended consultation to hand over a paper listing your circumstances, the past and how you feel. This gives a long time beforehand to get everything down completely (I use point form) and during the consultative you may just need to answer questions about what you have written.

It's a good thing for a doctor to have a list from which to work, and makes taking easier and gives an accurate picture as you can't forget (or deliberately leave out) things.

Apart from medical assistance to you have anyone in oyur life to give you support? Just listening and caring means a lot, and in my case a more sensible view of what I'm worrying about is extremely helpful.

Please let us know how you go

Croix

[Nayr]

Hi Croix

Really appreciate the response. I'll look into booking a gp appointment for this.

If you don't mind me asking what did the medication do for you? For what I've read this is an behavioural issue and treatment was CBT.

Thanks

Mark

[Croix]

Dear Mark~

It took a fair while for the medication connected wiht the psycological effects of anxiety/depression to be found. There was a long periods where various types were either ineffective or had unacceptable side effects. Now I'm on a pair that stops a lot of the swings in mood, reduces anxiety, makes me go over things in an unhappy loop a lot less, allows me to see when I'm not thinking clearly and seeing just the worst, and promotes sleep.

It makes life reasonably enjoyable and stable. I'm afraid I do not know what a "behavioral issue" is. The therapy was not CBT but 'talk' (though I'd tried CBT early on) and is effective and works long-term, I'm still seeing my psych.

I will stress that works for me, both in medication and therapy is in all probability different from what works for you. All I'm pointing out is there is a very reasonable chance you can gain great relief, particularly if you  consider yourself in charge and don't hesitate to say if a particular course of treatment is not doing what one hoped for.

I hope that helps

Croix

[sbella02]

MZ_2000,

Thank you for your honesty in your post, and welcome to the forums. Well done for recognising that your thinking is affecting you like this, that's such an important first step in the process of healing. Croix has given some great advice already, I would like to echo their words.

Going to your GP is a good idea, that's what I did to get my mental health care plan. If you would feel comfortable confiding in any close friends or family about your feelings, this can also be a good means of receiving social support, as they may also be able offer some valuable and specific insight. Journalling is another good way of keeping track of difficult thoughts, so that you can pinpoint what may be causing them, if there are any recurring thoughts, and how you're feeling in the moment.

I hope this helps, wishing you the best in the next stages of your journey.

All the best and take care, SB