Think I have PND but scared to call doctor

[Hippster]

I know this is so ridiculous but I want to speak to the doctor as I’m worried I have PND. The thing that’s stopping me is speaking to the receptionist. What should I say? I feel like if I say I think I have PND they’ll laugh at me for being dramatic.

You don’t need to tell the receptionist anything specific if you don’t want to (but even if you did they won’t think you are being dramatic honestly) x

Nobody will laugh at you. Please pick up the phone. It's the anxiety which comes with depression which is making you feel this way x

You take a deep breath, ask for an appointment and say you are struggling with your mental health and that you have a baby. That should get you at least a phone call from a GP. If it is easier to speak to midwife or health visitor they could maybe do a referral? Hope you get help soon.

OP you can also self refer or call NHS 24.

Oh poor you. I am a GP. Nobody is going to laugh at you I promise and it’s not being dramatic to say that’s what you think is wrong with you. I had PND myself, it’s awful. PND is so much more common than people realise, reception will not blink an eye at this.

However you can also just say something more vague like you’re feeling low in mood etc. if you find that easier. Or just say that you want to discuss a mental health issue? Do add that you’ve recently had a baby if you can as this is relevant info. You also don’t HAVE to explain why you’re calling to reception if you don’t want to, so you can also just say it’s private etc.

Although honestly it does really help me as a GP to have a rough idea in advance as to why people are calling/what the issue is. Mental health issues are fairly high priority in my eyes, as it’s hard to know how severe a mental health issue is before talking to someone properly about it, so for example if it’s a telephone clinic without specific times allocated and I can choose the order I call people back, then you’d be pretty high up on the list for a soon phone call back as someone who recently had a baby and is struggling with their mental health.

I know it’s hard to call when you feel low like this but it’s so important to speak with your GP about this. You could also ask someone (like a partner or sibling or parent) to call on your behalf if that’s easier and explain the situation initially as long as you’re ok to talk to the GP yourself about it ultimately.

Good luck!

No one will laugh at you. Please go and see your gp, and ask for help. I deeply regret not seeing the GP for what i know now was most definitely PND, some kind of post birth psychosis, and trauma after a traumatic birth. I thought that I would be judged, and thought of as an inadequate mum, which of course it wouldn’t have been true in any way. After all these years, it has messed me up in many ways, to this day, but I think it’s too late to see anyone about that. Don’t be me and please take care of yourself and see the doctor.

No one will laugh at you Pandas charity have a great watsapp service that will support you too and assist with getting your thoughts together to speak to the Gp!

I cried on the phone to the receptionist getting the words out to be told no appointments left she was devastated herself and told mention e consult the next morning- could you do that and out it all down in writing might be easier if your Gp does e consults that is

Nobody will laugh. There's still time to call today. The worry that you'll be laughed at is probably symptomatic of the PND. Try to drown it out but saying aloud (or thinking loudly) the steps of the call, e.g. "opening my contacts, finding the number, press the dial button, connecting, ringing..." etc.

All you need to say is "I'd like to speak to a GP about my mental health. I've recently had a baby." They will take it from there and ask for your name and sort an appointment.

You can do it.

Could someone call for you? My mum made my appointment as I was so upset I was unable to speak. When I saw the GP he was so kind and treated me with such empathy, I'll never forget it. I thought he'd just brush it off but it was the complete opposite. I hope you get the support you need 💐

You don't have to tell the receptionist anything - I've never had to say why I need to see the GP.
And if a receptionist ever did laugh at you then immediately report them to the practice manager.

I’ve also been to the gp a few times since I had DS for unrelated things and I’m worried they’ll think I’m making it up as I came across fine at those appointments. DS is 6 months old so I feel a bit odd going for it!

Things change, people mask, it takes people time to realise or accept they are unwell, doctor was maybe more focussed the presenting complaint...lots of reasons why you might seem 'fine'. None of that matters. You need help now and you are seeking help now. That's all anyone in healthcare will care about.

Tell the receptionist it's trouble sleeping and tiredness

Go for it OP who cares what she thinks or says. People mask things all the time until they can't any more and need meds.

Get someone else to phone if you're not up to it. The sooner you get some meds the better you will feel. Congrats on your baby!

Many, many people go to the GP for help with their mental health every day. They will not be checking for what you've said at any previous appointments. They are there to help you to feel well again. Don't let anything put you off. Well done for recognising that you need help. It's completely ok to see a GP for this

Can you get someone to call for you and maybe go with you? The only time I've taken someone to a doctor's appointment with me is when I was suffering from depression and was too upset to explain what was wrong. It really helped to have my husband with me.

I sincerely doubt a receptionist is going to laugh at you! You don’t even have to say why you want an appointment. Or you could opt for something more vague like “discussing you mental health” or say to want to “discuss pnd with the gp”. PND is common enough that they will likely have had people wanting appointments for it before.

How's you get in OP?

Did you call (or send an e-consult if your Gp has that as mentioned above) yet OP? I promise nobody is going to think you’re making it up just because you’ve come across as “fine” for 5 minutes here and there. Also totally normal for people not to present until 6 months after the birth and longer, especially for the first year, so don’t worry about that.

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-natal-depression/treatment/#:~:text=Association%20for%20Post%20Natal%20Illness,info%40pandasfoundation.org.uk

Lots of links on that page above. Including self referral and various organisations.

And you can go via 111/nhs 24 in Scotland.

https://111.nhs.uk/guided-entry/mental-health-help

The Receptionist was so so nice and gentle to me when I rang in tears and said I was feeling depressed. He didn't ask any intrusive questions, or ask for more details or anything. He just said "oh I'm so sorry, let me see what I can do" and got me an appt. He asked me if I had anyone to keep me company until the appt and checked I would be OK waiting for the appt time, and that was that. They are trained in this stuff - they will have heard everything under the sun and will deal with calls like this every day.