Appointment with my GP tomorrow about my anxiety - feeling, well, anxious about it

[whattosay14]

I have an appointment with my GP to talk about my anxiety for the first time. It's something I've suffered with for years, but it's reached a point where it's affecting me a lot at work

I'm feeling nervous about it. I want to ask for medication as I think having something just decrease the level of anxiety/panic I feel would help me a lot.

If you have been to the GP about anxiety, how did it go? What kind of things were you asked? Were you asked your preference of medication vs therapy?

Thank you

I explained what I was going through and they listened and asked about my thoughts on medication etc. I didn't want to go down the medication route to start with but changed my mind and they were helpful.
Write what you want to say down if you think you might forget when you are nervous.

I think they will probably have to follow the relevant NICE Guidelines, perhaps this one, or similar:
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg113/chapter/1-Guidance#principles-of-care-for-people-with-generalised-anxiety-disorder-gad
With my son, they gave him mild medication at first eg phenergen (anti-histamine) but as they proved ineffective, they have been changed over time- sertraline, mirtazapine, pregabalin, beta blockers etc. He was given the option to self refer to counselling services (with fairly long lead in times) so the meds have been useful whilst waiting for therapy.

Write some notes to take with you about how it affects you- when/ impact/ frequency etc.

They took me through a standard list of questions, I did indeed come out as officially anxious and was prescribed sertraline. It’s not a miracle but it’s helped.

My anxiety is a bitch and has been for a while. I’m off work now because of it.

Im on fluoxetine and a short course of diazepam which has helped a bit. It’s affected my heart so I’m justnwaitong for cardiology assessment.

I have been on sertraline before and I found that great, had to come off for other reasons

I had my appointment today

I had to go through some questions and scored as having 'severe anxiety'

I have some online CBT to do and an appointment follow-up for 2 weeks to see how if helps and, if not, next steps

I was pleasantly surprised with how helpful I found the appointment. I have read so many self-help books and looked up so many things about anxiety to try and tackle it on my own but I think hearing it from someone is different and lets it sink in more

I'm glad your appointment helped. I hope it is the start of good management and recovery for you.