seeing gp later to talk about my mental health...how do I say it out loud, where do i start?

[woahthere]

Just that really. Im worrying myself silly that I now dont know what I'll say. I dont want it all to come out in a rush or confused, Im scared I'll end up just crying like a loon and not say what I need to. Im not sure what Im trying to achieve by going to the doctors as Im not sure about ad's. What is the best way to start off. So the gp will say...what can i help you with, and I will say........ what exactly? I feel crazy?

[iseenodust]

Brilliant that you have made the appointment.
Don't worry whatever you say they will have heard more colourful/'crazy'.
If it will help reduce worrying now try writing down 3 key things you want to get across
eg how long you have felt unwell, the impact it is having on you, then if you can feel.
Crying is fine if it helps get across the magnitude of what you are feeling. they will have tissues!

Good luck and look after yourself.

[KeemaNaanAndCurryOn]

I did the same thing this morning. You'll probably find it easier when you are in there as when you start talking your GP will understand as they've seen it before.

Its good advice to note down some of the main points if you're really worried about forgetting what you want to say when you get in there.

[DinahMoHum]

dont worry about crying. Ive been a complete wreck at several appointments. Its fine

[woahthere]

thank you, bit frightened im going to chicken out and talk to them about my ingrowing toenail instead lol! genuine question though that im worried about is, that i have self harmed in the past few months, and I think about it a lot. I also have mental images of killing myself all the time, at least once a day. Its not that I want to kill myself, or leave my beautiful children...I do know that I have a place on this earth but at the moment my thoughts are uncontrollable. I feel like I should tell the doctor this, but Im worried that they would think I was a genuine risk to myself or my family. I couldnt deal with it if ss got involved. My job would be at risk and everything. Would they do anything like this?

[ItWasThePenguins]

I had the same issues, but just wrtie down a list, or a short note, and hand that over to the doc, then you can answer the questions when they've read it. Sooo much easier than admitting it out loud.

And don't worry about crying. They must be used to it.

I really wouldn't worry about SS, it was never mentioned to me, but I was worried so always slightly down-played the suicide/death side of things (I felt the same as you I think, would never do it, but often thought about it).

HTH,
Pm me if you want to chat.

[KeemaNaanAndCurryOn]

They won't do that. I know as I had the exact same convo with the GP this morning. What he did was sort out some diazepam to get me through the worst of the next few days and arranged a call from the MH crisis team.

They won't involve SS or anything else, but they will help you get through this.

[NoWuckingFurries]

You're being so brave. Well done on making your appointment. I'm afraid I just cried and blurted out what I was feeling. It was so scary and I just felt like I had to get it all out as quickly as possible or I would chicken out. Your doctor is a professional and will have heard everything before. You'll be fine. I felt better from even just having spoken about it! ADs helped too :) I agree that writing down a few things might help. You could just give it to the doc, so you don't even have to say anything at first. Good luck with everything. You'll be fine :)

[woahthere]

erm, that was odd. I sat down and said, the thing is that Im having trouble dealing with my emotions at the moment and feel like i need some help. He started clicking on his keyboard and muttering about finding a website. He gave me a phone number. I said 'do i talk to you about this' and he said 'this is what the phone number is for' he then said, 'do you think you are depressed' and i said yes i think i might be, he gave me a questionnaire to fill in and then when i went silent and didn't get up and walk away he started clicking on his computer and found another number on google. I could have gone on google. Im a bit confused, is this normal?

[KeemaNaanAndCurryOn]

No, your doctor was shit. My experience couldn't have been more different. Can you see a different GP?

[woahthere]

it was a locum, it was the soonest appointment i could get at the time and i accepted it because i was being told it would be almost june otherwise. it took a lot of courage to pluck up, i find it hard to make these appointments, and actually quite hard to get the time off to go them. will try to ring this number tomorrow. i had thought already of googling therapists myself, but decided gp would be better in the end. was wrong maybe!

[ItWasThePenguins]

Not normal. I was given ad on my first visit to gp and referal to pnd therapists at hospital.

[BBQJuly]

Agree you need to try again and see a different GP. It's a nuisance for you trying to get the time off, but you really do need to get better advice and help.