To feel so unsupported by GP?

[Bananapancakes3]

I went to the gp a few weeks ago to talk about my problems with anxiety. I’ve had counselling before for it but I’m struggling with it again.

I was also involved in a car crash over the summer which is giving me constant flashbacks and panic attacks

I told the GP how I’d been feeling and was referred to the mental health services - for which there is a waiting list of 3-4 months.

I understand the pressures on the NHS but I feel so so unsupported by the gp and have no idea what to do in the meantime. I left uni today before my lecture as I had a panic attack and then a reversing car failed to see me and then beeped it’s horn and it brought back the panic attack and I sobbed all the way home.

Anyone got any advice for what to do in the meantime?

I think if this were a physical illness, the advice the OP would be getting would be "go back to the GP and explain your symptoms and get something to help during the wait for the consultant". But as it's mental. the advice is "well, what did you expect? If you don't like it, pay for something out of your own money".

My GP suggested this website: www.stepiau.org/home recently so I’m passing on the suggestion to you! It’s free and something you can do straight away yourself while you wait for more support.

3-4 months really isn’t that long to wait for counselling sadly! Did they suggest any medication you could try?

It is so shit we have to wait so long to access mental health services, I’m so sorry for your experience OP. I would try another GP. I am on propranolol for anxiety - I take it when I feel panic attack coming on and it really helps to control physical symptoms - increased heart rate etc. Could you ask a different GP about that? Even if just whilst you are waiting for CBT/counselling.

Don’t be afraid to be brutally honest about the ways in which your anxiety affects you, your job, your everyday life. Make sure it sounds as bad as it really is. Give key examples.

Forgot to say look up local services via Google. I now know of a few places in my city that offer free CBT that you can apply to. Some have a criteria such as being a certain age as they are charity based but another couple are locally based therapists who do it to be kind on a free basis

Agree with those suggesting headspace app and researching mindfulness techniques
Researching fight and flight can help make the physical symptoms of anxiety seem less scary as it explains why our body reacts when we are anxious
Also don't underestimate how much impact small lifestyle changes have On your mental health - sleep, exercise, cutting down on alcohol, healthy diet, learning a new skill or hobby, spending quality time with friends and family, making time for relaxation activities ...

OP, I'm so sorry you've been suffering with anxiety, I've had an anxiety disorder for over 20 years, I know it's horrible, it makes you feel crap, causes physical symptoms- nausea, vomiting, sweating, shaking, I've had all of those, plus many more.
I'd suggest you go back to your gp and ask for some medication, it's all that worked for me.
In the meantime, be kind to yourself, the anxiety will get better, it will pass, you've had a shit time of it recently with the car crash- no wonder you're feeling anxious!

I think you’re getting a bit of a tough ride here. It’s horrible feeling like no-one can help you when you’re feeling so bad.

If you can’t afford private CBT or similar, I would as others have suggested look for online CBT resources.

Also, google ‘Anna Mathur anxiety course’.

Thank you so much to all the lovely supportive posters! I’ve downloaded headspace and calm which both seem helpful so I’ll try and use them every day and get into better habits. I do exercise quite a lot but I’ve got a complicated relationship with exercise/body image so sometimes it does more harm than good unfortunately.

I’m definitely going to go back to the doctor and ask about medication. It’s worth having a more open conversation. I also don’t particularly think the gp listened to me - he glossed over my car crash (which was really traumatic) and barely batted an eye when I told him about my self harm. It’s a gp connected to the uni so he probably sees it every day but I did feel slightly fobbed off - which may not be fair to the gp, I do know how stretched they are.

I use Headspace and Calm apps. If you are a student seek a DLA assessment as you could get help with counselling and paid for meditation apps like Headspace or Calm

Definitely see a different GP - good luck and well done for having the strength to go in the first place

Are you under 25 OP? Often YMCA or youth centres offer counselling services for young people with little to no waiting list.

Could you speak with your car insurer? I would suspect you may be able to have some sessions paid for as part of the accident claim.

Lots of good online resources have been offered. Moodgym is another, you have to pay but I don't think it's too much and it really helped me.