Doctor not particularly helpful?

[JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame]

Or maybe I was expecting too much. I had an appointment with a doctor today as I've been off work for the last week with what seems to be anxiety (permanent stomach churning, shaking, feeling I'm not doing anything right or well enough, racing thoughts etc). She asked me very few questions and I was in tears as she was running an hour late so had worked myself into a state. She asked me what I wanted to do but I didn't really know what my options were. She tried to persuade me to accept medication and seemed annoyed that I didn't want to, but I was taken aback as I didn't expect to be offered medication straight away, but perhaps this is routine? In the end she agreed to sign me off for a week when I said there was no way I was going to cope with work tomorrow (teacher) and printed me off a 4 page word doc on 'stress'. Not sure where to go from here or whether I was expecting too much from the appointment. She asked me what I wanted to put on the sick note and we settled on 'anxiety' but I'm still none the wiser as to how I can be ready for work next week (which I'm desperate to be).

[Marchate]

I would take the main problem as being she was running so late. She has probably had one or two difficult cases that couldn't be rushed. It's no excuse really, but I expect everyone who came after that was hurried through

Medication is not unusual if she thinks you are on the verge of depression. However, in this case she should have taken time to talk you through it. Given she was in a rush, she could have suggested another appointment tomorrow. Since she didn't, I suggest you make one for Thursday. What I do is try to get their first or second appointment to be sure of being seen at roughly the time you thought

Read about depression on the NHS site and mental health organisations. If you think you recognise yourself, say so to the doctor

Do you have a partner or children? Do you have responsibilities in addition to your work?

I hope this is temporary and you get better soon

[gamerchick]

Medication is usual for anxiety. Something like a beta blocker will take away the physical symptoms and allow you to think. They do help.

[JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame]

Thanks both. I am open to the idea of medication as I can't see how I can get back to work without it, but she didn't talk me through the options or point me in the direction of any information which would have been helpful. I think I was resistant as she hadn't taken any time to even ask me about the physical symptoms I was experiencing. Yes Marchate, I have a nightmare 3 year old, a partner that works a stressful job and trying to sell our house. Oh, and meant to be getting married in June but can't even contemplate it at the moment.

[Wolpertinger]

Anxiety so bad that you are off work and tears throughout the consultation would normally result in a suggestion of medication - most commonly a type of anti-depressant.

It's not that unusual that discussing your reasons why you didn't want to have medication and giving you extra time off work became the focus of the discussion.

Also these things take time to fix either with medication or counselling - wanting to be back at work next week and well may not be a realistic goal at the moment.

[JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame]

Ok, it's seems likely that I'm being too sensitive about it. I suppose if I said I wasn't keen on medication and there was no option of CBT etc there's not much more she could do. I think I will do some reading and take Marchate's advice and book another appointment (with a different doctor as perhaps it was her brusque manner that most upset me) and take it from there. How long is it before you usually feel the effects of anti depressants/beta blockers (realise that's probably a how long is a piece of string question)? The problem with teaching is the longer I'm off, the more behind I'm going to get with marking etc so it's going to make me even more anxious about going back!

[Marchate]

Truthfully, the longer you are off the better as the school will have to arrange cover. If you are trying to work while suffering anxiety or depression, how good a job do you think you can manage? Probably not your usual high standards x

If you don't allow yourself time off now you will be absent again soon - and again. One longer period of recovery will be better in the long run

Make that follow up appointment!

[Marchate]

Anti depressants can take a few weeks to have an effect btw

[sadie9]

When I used to work in a big corporation and someone was suffering from stress they would be signed off for around 3 weeks was the usual timeframe in the first instance. The idea is to remove a major 'stressor' in your life, in most cases, a person's work, so that your system can recover.
Does your workplace have an Employee Assistance program where you can talk to a counsellor? If your husband is already stressed (I know what that's like believe me!) then you probably can't talk to him about your problems...as that makes him worse, then him being worse makes you feel worse. Because that's how that goes. Ends up with you managing the house, the toddler, your job issues, selling the house, and the pressure of a wedding...all on your own. It's a lot for anyone to manage. Would deciding to postpone the wedding till next year or something like that help? At least you could get one thing off your plate.
So you could seek emotional support elsewhere? Could you afford to pay privately for a counsellor for a few sessions, that might provide a lot of support over the next few weeks. I have been through a house selling as well, it is a massive amount of extra pressure too.
When you are stressed, it affects our cognitive processes so we actually cannot think straight, and we question our decisions and even simple decisions become undoable. Have you ever noticed yourself at the airport, putting your passport away then immediately forgetting where you put it, because stressing has blanked your memory temporarily.
good luck with it.

[NanaNina]

From what I've heard teaching is making a lot of people depressed/anxious so do you think this is the root of the problem. I agree to make another appointment with a different GP and get meds and as Marchate says, get signed off for a month, because you won't be fit to be back next week and that will just put you in a downward spiral. The MIND website is quite helpful.

Is your sleep/appetite being affected.

[AliceScarlett]

Google IAPT, there may be one in your area. (CBT)

[Wolpertinger]

The thing to do is decide what you are going to do in your time off to get well enough to be able to face work again. Simply being off work is nice but then you have to go back and likely it will be the same again. Being off longer is usually better - they will have had to cover you instead of letting work pile up and prob missed you as well.

Options are:

Counselling: google IAPT and the name of your county as AliceScarlett says. This will be your local NHS counselling service and most let you self refer from their websites. Their may be a waiting list, locally it's about 6 weeks.

Anti-depressants: You will get told they take about 6 weeks to work, for me it's more like 2. They don't fix the problems but they help calm my out of control thoughts down a lot.

On-line resources: have a look at online CBT like moodgym (aimed at depression but still vv good) or a mindfulness app like Headspace. Both something you can do now while waiting for other things to work.

Do something nice: just plan one nice thing everyday. It might be watching a program you like, being in the garden not in this weather, doing some exercise but do something nice for you everyday.

[littlemissnorthernbird]

Just a quick message of support: please phone the education support partnership. They are able to offer you 6 weeks of free counselling. ...I've just started mine and in a very similar situation. Take care of yourself x

[MountainDweller]

for you. Anxiety sucks, am suffering too at the moment.

Beta blockers are good for anxiety usually - they calm the physical symptoms such as racing heart. Unlike anti-depressants they work really quickly, so definitely worth a try if they are being offered. Usually no serious side effects either - mine make mr a bit tired and a bit hot, that's all.

Xanax is good too but very addictive.