What happens when ypu tell your GP you have anxiety?

[QwertySmalls]

I have called in sick today, I haven't slept all night from anxiety.

It has been building for a few years peaking and returning to normal. I have tried to self medicate with St. John's wort, Magnesium and Angus Cactus flower but it is not working anymore.

I'm in temporary accommodation and have a mice and rat issue for 3 years that is not being resolved ( I have contacted the landlord, housing agency, council, MP, environmental health). I think this has been the straw that broke the camels back.

When I phone my GP what will the next steps be?

I am really unsure about medication that has personality side effects or will even have no effect on the anxiety. I'm also worried that they won't take me seriously.

My anxiety is fixating on things until I can't move or sleep. I feel constantly on edge and unable to enjoy anything. I feel like I'm watching the world go by and my children are growing up so fast whilst I'm stuck in this mindframe.

I recently spoke to my GP as my anxiety was getting worse. They discussed whether I wanted to go down the medication or therapy route (or both). I had to wait a few months but have my first therapy appointment next week. I was taken seriously every step of the way and my anxiety doesn’t sound quite so crippling as you’re experiencing. Good luck!

Firstly:

Your GP will not immediately put you into medication. You can say you are not sure yet. The first important thing is to recognise your anxiety, and to care for yourself.

Your housing situation is very stressful, and the rats/mice would make anyone feel dreadful.

My advice would be to focus on self-care as much as possible each day - eating, drinking enough, a walk, a laugh with your kids.

You really do matter and anxiety does not define you. Be open with your GP and start the conversation with them.

Mine referred me for therapy and gave me a low dose of citalopram which I didn't start for a few weeks.

After that she checked in with me regularly, responded to my request for a discussion on reasonable adjustments for work and signed me off sick when I needed it.

When I finally started the medication she worked with me to get the dose right for me. I've been on it for two years now.

Does the medication help a lot?

He said 2 things to me:

1. The fastest way to get out of this is medication. (I had a newborn and did need a fast way out of it for his sake)

1. Gave me names/numbers for counsellors.

There was no prying and no judgement. I should have done it sooner.

Mine signed me off, gave me a cbt referral with an interim self help service until I reached the top of the list and didn't do anything except say it was up to me when I declined propanolol.

Never felt judged and did feel listened to - he correctly surmised I needed breathing space and strategy to live with it.

The only thing that bothers me is that it's on my notes, ready to be the "cause" of anything actually wrong with me - a lazy diagnosticians dream- and making me a target for ghastly well intended but sickly patronism. I do not tolerate it.

The only thing that bothers me is that it's on my notes, ready to be the "cause" of anything actually wrong with me - a lazy diagnosticians dream- and making me a target for ghastly well intended but sickly patronism. I do not tolerate it

yes, this would concern me too

I think everyone would feel pretty crap and anxious in your scenario.
I'm sorry the various agencies have been so appalling. Would you consider contacting the local papers or going in social media to highlight your case? I'm so cross for you that you're suffering and needing to be medicated because of the utter incompetence of agencies in sorting your accommodation.

The press is the next resort but I dont have a common name and feel like everyone at work will think I'm disgusting when they find out.
I have also seen the way the council and landlord lied when I got the MP involved and claimed that they didn't know they were so sorry. I can imagine the response. "We contacted xx temporary accommodation team who have told us that they are aware of Miss xx situation and are in the process of pest treatment. They apologise but unfortunately there are over 2000 people on the waiting list."

I phoned my GP this morning and have a telephone appointment tomorrow.

So sorry to hear of your anxiety. I suffer from it sometimes too. It was made worse recently with a rat problem as well. We solved it ourselves. We used wire wool to block up any holes we could see. Stuff in as much as you can. It's cheap stuff. Sprinkle peppermint oil near any openings, rubbish bins etc. They really don't like the smell. Good luck.

When I went to my GP they gave me options. I chose beta blockers cause they had worked for me before. They didn’t help the panic and anxiety in this case, so I went back and was given a low dose of citalopram and signed off work for a month. I was also referred to the community mental health team.
I had monthly sessions with a psychologist for a year or so (hard to gauge exactly how long cause we had to pause during worst of the pandemic). I stopped those at Christmas as I now had the tools to cope better. I am also gradually reducing my medication - over the years I went up to a high dose cause I couldn’t cope. In a few months I should be completely off the citalopram and going it ‘alone’. This particular flare up has been a 5 year journey though.

They won’t force you to take medication, but I did find it helpful. You do have to ride out a short period of feeling worse though until the medication settles you. It’s worth it. For me, I have been unable to leave my home at my worst and severely limited in my ability to do anything, especially travel. On Monday I drove several hours to visit my parents - nothing to most, but a massive achievement for me. So there is light at the end of the tunnel and medication is a good tool for getting through the rough point.

So, I went today and have been prescribed sertraline 50mg and have been referred to the mental health team.
I feel nervous about taking them.

Sounds like you have made an important step today. Were you able to discuss with your GP about being nervous to take them?

They prescribe you whatever the drug rep they take advice from is pushing right now. For a few years it's been SSRIs. I've been prescribed these three times for anxiety and stress much to my detriment. Stopped using GPs once I realised through my work they take advice from drug reps.

My GP referred me to MIND initially for CBT to look at coping mechanisms. Think I had around 6-8 sessions with a counsellor there.

Lovely people and gave good advice, but nothing I found particularly useful because my brain just doesn’t work that way (Kind of overrides any coping mechanism I’m trying to implement).

Went back to my GP because my anxiety got so bad, (thanks to a nasty new neighbour who moved into the flat downstairs) I was having palpitations.

GP prescribed me some beta blocker tablets to slow my heart rate and reduce the effects of the anxiety. So they won’t take my anxiety away, but they will help the physical reaction I have to it (Tablets are Atenolol, but they also prescribe Propranalol - same thing)

And I have to say they have helped quite a lot. I don’t get so ‘worked up’ on these tablets. Even when I am anxious, they seem to keep me calmer and keep the sweating/palpitations/shaking etc at bay.

Sorry to jump on here but has anyone tried Ashgwand (think I've spelt that wrong)? Like the OP I'm very nervous of taking meds and just wondered if any had any experience of it

It's Ashwagandha. My DD takes it because she's too young for meds. She says it really helps. You need the K-66 stuff (I think that's right and I got it from Healthspan). Research does show that it reduces Cortisol levels. It’s expensive though

No, I got it from Prowise! It’s reduced at the moment.

prowisehealthcare.com/product/ksm-66-ashwagandha/

I was very reluctant to take my medication and held off for a few weeks. I mentioned it to my counsellor at my referral call for CBT and she asked if I would avoid medicine for a physical illness.

In my experience the medicine and CBT worked together to allow me to cope. Give it a try please.

Thanks! I have Fibromyalgia too and they prescribed me Amitriptyline, was only on 10mg and couldn't function on it , was like a zombie 24 hours a day so prefer to go down the natural path