To speak to GP about mental health?

[raindough]

My parents don’t believe in “mental health issues” and always told me to get on with things. They said that seeking help for mental health will only backfire on you, as you’ll have to disclose that you’re “crazy” or “broken” to employers etc and that it will stay on your “record” forever, and so from then on any medical issue you have or any grievance at work will just be blamed your mental health

The situation is that I feel really flat and unmotivated with lockdown and if the GP can prescribe something to help, I’ll gladly take it. It’s been a few months and I haven’t been able to bounce back. But DM thinks I’m just silly, immature and that I just have to power on through life’s downs.

What are your thoughts?

I suspect your parents views are a product of age - up until relatively recently they wouldn't have been uncommon and in some places and cultures they may still be right.

Thankfully you can go and talk to your GP, explore possibilities for lifestyle changes, talking therapies and medication and you don't have to tell anyone else if you don't want to.

Including your parents.

I think you should speak to a GP. Would your parents expect you to hobble about on a broken leg with no treatment? Why do they view mental health as less important than physical health?
I’m sorry you are feeling like this, please speak to the Dr. No, employers do not need to know about your mental health issues, or any medication you are prescribed.
I hope things improve for you soon

I’m afraid your parents are talking absolute twaddle - that really is terrible advice! I’ve been to the GP countless times about my MH since my teens (I’m nearly 40 now) and not once have I ever had to “declare” it to an employer or anyone else About a third of the population suffer from depression at some point so that would be a hell of a lot of people written off by employers if it were true! Seriously though, please see your GP and don’t keep suffering - you’re not alone and you don’t have to put up with feeling like this

Could have written this post myself OP, my parents are the same! How old are you? Do you live at home? In all honesty though, it hasn’t come up as often as they made it to seem out as it did.

Interesting replies

To those of you that spoke to your GP, did it help?

Definitely a cultural thing with my parents. Mental health is a taboo topic🙄 You’re right in that they’re exaggerating at how often it will come up at work, I have never been asked about medical issues by my employers either

I’m 24 and live in a shitty flat share (London) with neighbours that make working at home very difficult. Currently on performance management in a stressful call centre job. Neighbours blast rave music all day, are generally intimidating and hostile, always drunk etc which impacts my ability to take calls etc. I need a new job/home but zero motivation

Yes it helped. Antidepressants made things more bearable and made me feel more positive.
It lifted me up enough to have the confidence to apply for, and get, a new job away from a horrible bullying manager. The manager had created a horrible situation for the department, had every member of staff off sick with work related stress at one time or another, but we were all so low and broken and too scared to complain, we felt stuck.
I left, wrote a very detailed complaint to personnel, and he was moved sideways out of his job.