Too anxious to seek help

[chocolatepanda]

Hi all, first time here - well I created an doubt I didn’t use a few years back!

This is a big step for me because I’ve felt too anxious to reach out to anyone. The thought of a dr appointment, mental health plan, referral, then finding the right psych for my needs ... it’s all just so overwhelming!

I would love some tips from others who’ve gone through this. My issues are past trauma, current relationship woes, eating disorder, self-destructive behaviour ... and just generally feeling it’s all a bit too much to bear. I took a mental health day yesterday from work but don’t feel like telling my boss what’s going on because I don’t feel like I have a good reason to be so stressed right now.

[Just Sara]

Hi and welcome CP! 🙋‍♀️

Trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea? Yep...know it well.

The thing is to self care to a point where you're up to leaving the house to see the GP. I know this sounds sort of reiterating the whole ordeal, but getting the ball rolling means it's over with and, maybe a prescription to help you sleep and cope better.

I've got to go to my mums so I'll be back later to finish responding. You've come to the right space for anonymous posts and caring people who've done it all before.

Catch up soon...Sez (Hugs)

[Purple_Horse]

Hi chocolatepanda,

This is my first time posting on here as well (or replying for that matter!). I’m honestly in the same situation as you, I know I need to seek help, but it’s a catch 22 when your anxiety is the very thing stopping you. Just wanted to reach out because I know it’s so hard and your post is exactly what I wanted to write about.

Last year I finally managed to gain the courage to speak about this with my GP and it was extremely hard, I won’t lie. I finally took that first step and filled out a mental health plan with the GP, only to be discouraged when the medical receptionist told me to just call the psychologist myself when I tried to book an appointment.

My GP has since moved on and I don’t feel comfortable with my new doctor to go through all that again.

Sorry to not offer any advice on this topic, just know that I feel the same way! I sometimes just feel better knowing other people are going through the same thing.

PH x

[geoff]

Hello Chocolatepanda, and a warm welcome to the forums and certainly appreciate the concern you are facing but want to thank you from approaching the site and opening up to people you don't know, it's courageous and well done.

You don't necessarily need a reason to feel stressed, if you are suffering from any mental illness it can have an impact on how you think, feel and behave, but to seek help can be quite daunting to begin with.

Can I suggest a couple of options to think about, if you have someone who knows how you are feeling, then get them to help you and make an appointment, they can be with you during the initial session?

Secondly, if you can write down how you are feeling and perhaps why, on some paper which you can pass onto your doctor, this will stop the question 'how can I help you'.

Just wanted to post this first of all because we have had to struggle with our own type of depression and know what it's like to feel this way.

Hope to back from you.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

hey chocolatepanda -

not to here to give advice sadly as I totally relate and understand everything you posted!

Finding a thearpist is hard. It's not you, it's just really hard and takes a lot of steps, effort, mistakes etc... it's really reasonable what you're feeling that it's just a bit much.

I'm also very stuck in that regard, but I keep trying, even until I find the perfect therapist, I still keep trying to get help. I'm very disillusioned about the system, but every so often I've lucked out into finding someone who helps.

I hope you do find some good help, and I just wanted to applaud you for writing here - that is one step forward, and sometimes, that's an enormous thing. Well done to you!

[InhaleExhale]

Hi Chocolatepanda and Sleep21,

I can definitely relate as well to the immense difficulty of this whole process.

I'm very lucky in that I had a family member helping me to make appointments, attending them with me and generally giving support. It took me three psychologists to find the right one and I think this is unfortunately a very common story.

Your reason to be stressed is that you're having mental health difficulties which are both common and indiscriminate. They can happen to anyone! Mental health days from work are great. They so important to keep us healthy and you should never feel guilty for taking them.

I hope having a chat on these forum's will build your confidence in talking to your family, health practitioners and colleagues about how your feeling.

I would love to hear back from you.

InhaleExhale.

[Guest_1643]

Hi InnerExhale, I'm really happy to read that you had a family member to help you.
Having someone in your corner makes a big difference.
I think it helped me also after years of struggling to find good mental health support to acknowledge that the system is tricky and hard. (sometimes we can blame ourselves!)

I think had I had someone to support me and tell me that, i'd have felt a lot better about it. I'm so happy to read someone who has support from a family member - that person who does that is a gem and a blessing. Not many people understand how to support someone with mental health struggles, but sounds like this person does!

[Mindfully23]

Hi chocolatepanda,

Thanks for reaching out to the BB forums!

It sure can be overwhelming to seek out help, especially when you're used to managing on your own. However, the first step (seeking help) is the hardest, and you have done just that! Great work!

I don't have personal experience with the problems you are tackling, but I believe that you must have a good reason to be feeling stressed. No one knows your past experiences, including your boss, so they shouldn't let you feel as if you have no reason deserve to take a mental health day off work. In saying that, you don't need to explain the reason why you needed the day off work! Everyone needs mental health days!

I commend you for seeking professional help, and I hope that it helps you. We are here, too, for moral support at all times.

Best of luck,

Mindfully23