Aibu to wonder if people really go to their gp to pour out their deep dark feelings?

[pelicantown]

I keep seeing people advising posters to go to their gp about a massive range of personal issues - from abuse, to relationship problems, depression etc etc. Which is great but I just cannot imagine how these meetings actually go.

My experience of gp appointments is awkward silence and a follow up appointment where there is more awkward silence. I seriously can't imagine ever telling my gp anything actually personal (even though I have plenty of issues I could technically do with help for!)

It's not my gp I have had various gps and it's all the same. Is it me seriously? Am I just a terrible patient?

Aibu to wonder if all then "see your gp" posts ever actually end in a gp appointment that isn't just pointless?!

[LiviaDrusillaAugusta]

I think if they do it's why it is so fucking difficult to get a GP appointment!

[Servicesupportforall]

Oh agree, my GP thinks I drink 10 units a week

[carabos]

My best friend is a GP. You'd be amazed at some of things that people think should be tackled by a GP - and just as amazed at the things they don't take to a GP until there's a crisis.

[Wolfiefan]

Well yes of course they should see a GP for depression.
Abuse and relationship issues no I don't see how a GP can help.

[LiviaDrusillaAugusta]

Depression is one thing but they can't help with relationship breakdown

[pelicantown]

Ubiquity - it's not for anything really I do have mental health problems I take medication but it was still awkward silence and just being handed a prescription. I just wondered if that was typical.

[enfru]

For MH issues going to the GP is the first step on a very long road to recovery.
The relief I felt when my DH finally accepted his feelings weren't in the "normal" range and went and asked for help after almost two years of him clearly having depression was immense.
If GPs are only meant to deal with the physical who are people with emotional and psychological issues supposed to go to?

[chitofftheshovel]

Why the fuck should you not go to the doctors if you are suffering from depression? Jesus.

[pelicantown]

Wolfe I didn't mean they shouldn't see a gp for any of those things just that I wondered how many did!

[Trainspotting1984]

I think the talk to your GP advice is massively poor on here sometimes. They are recommended for all kinds of things- relationship break ups, work stress, family rifts, financial problems

Now all of these situations can cause stress and anxiety which you DO need to see a GP for. But it's the idea that you go there before trying anything yourself, as though they have a magic solution that's wrong.

[pelicantown]

Chit obviously you should I didn't say you shouldn't !

[Ohdearducks]

I can't imagine many people do pour their hearts out, most probably they just say they feel depressed what help/support is there for me? Or words to that affect and the GP refers them for counselling or prescribes Ad's.

[Trainspotting1984]

Also another thing people do on here is indicate immediate relief. Drinking too much- talk to your GP. Well. Yes, your GP can help you with addiction. They will of course suggest you try a few things to help yourself first. Then it will be a very very very long process if they don't work. Posters will need plenty of other advice which could be more useful

[LiviaDrusillaAugusta]

Nobody is saying don't go for depression but someone said recently that she keeps making an appt to 'chat' to her GP

[MargaretCavendish]

OP, I don't think you meant badly, but your post comes off a bit 'ooh, can you imagine talking to your GP about feelings? How embarrassing! The GP would probably think you were weird if you talked about feelings!'. I think that's why a lot of people have bristled at it (as someone who has cried in front of the GP a lot it upset me a bit), and to be honest I think this is an unhelpful post which might put people off seeking help.

[QuiltedAloeVera]

I think GP may be quite a common first point of contact for people with depression, e.g. you go in because you have terrible headaches and you're tired all the time and seem to get tummy trouble every morning before work and your memory's shot and you don't know what's wrong with you, and the doc gently works the conversation round to how are things at work and at home and you burst into tears.

I might be projecting a tiny little bit.

[Trifleorbust]

I don't know about anyone else but I find the constant armchair diagnoses on here deeply irritated. According to MN, I am depressed if I sometimes dislike my children, I am an alcoholic if I sometimes drink (under the limit) and drive my car, everyone I know suffers from narcissistic personality disorder and I probably have BPD... You wouldn't think people could be angry, sad, upset etc without them having some sort of mental health condition if you paid any attention to most of the posts on here.

[MargaretCavendish]

I can't imagine many people do pour their hearts out, most probably they just say they feel depressed

The first time I saw the GP about depression I just walked into the room and burst into tears, I felt so overwhelmed. Yes, obviously in hindsight I should have sought help earlier...

[Trainspotting1984]

Exactly trifle. And your poor GP is supposed to help with all of that

[Foldedtshirt]

I've had several amazingly helpful chats with GPs over the years. I've never felt invalidated or that I was wasting their time. You could look at it as a poor use of resources or, as I do, as a very efficient way of diverting me from medication or addiction support or other therapeutic interventions.
How do you feel about talking about your feelings OP? I bottle things up but when it comes to a crisis I'm comfortable expressing myself.

[LiviaDrusillaAugusta]

Some of us do have MH issues - I just go, they shove pills at me and I go home.

[pelicantown]

Margaret - it was not that I thought it would be embarrassing just when I read about it on here it sounds like it's really easy just walk in talk about feeling walk out .

[QuiltedAloeVera]

I think the stigma around MH issues is still so strong that it is very difficult for a lot of people to consider that they might be mentally ill, even if they would be sympathetic to others in that situation.