Is it even worth trying to get to speak to a GP about anxiety?

[BellatrixLestat]

I suffer anxiety anyway and am on medication for it.

Obviously with what is going on everybody's mental health is going to be under strain.

I don't feel like am going to cope much longer. I feel I'm wound so tight that one more thing and I'm going to snap and o don't know what to do.

I'm still at work (frontline service, not NHS). I'm a manager so I'm trying to stay positive for my team and coordinate them as best I can during this uncertainty but I'm falling apart myself.

I have three young children, my eldest is just about old enough to understand what's going on and is worried and scared. Schools are closing but I'm still expected to work. My mum usually does childcare, she is 59 so not too old but does have an underlying health issue which could leave her vulnerable so I don't want to put the burden of childcare on her.

DH also works frontline service (same industry) so is in much the same position.

I can't sleep, my mind won't stop, feel like I'm on the brink of a panic attack all day.

Would there be any point trying to speak to a GP at this time? I can't see how they would have the time, and probably feeling much the same way and have to carry on so I feel a bit stupid

@BellatrixLestat I spoke with mine on Monday and she was lovely.

I’m suffering badly too 😔

I’m now having weekly CBT sessions as a telephone consultant.

I appreciate the strain GP’s will be under right now, but it’s definitely worth a call.

They can prescribe you medication even if they can't get you into therapy or something. I think its worth a try, yes. Mirtazapine is helping me right now.

You can use PushDoctor to access a GP if you need to.

Psychiatry UK is an online service where you can get access to a psychiatrist who will be able to assess you an issue prescriptions. You need to pay, but it's cheaper than an in person consultations. It's done via video link. They'll contact your GP to instruct them on what medication you need so they can take over prescribing.

PushDoctor is more affordable, but they can't do serious psychiatric evaluations. They will prescribe for anxiety though. I'm taking Propranolol for the anxiety and it's keeping me calm.

Yes I did the other day and he prescribed me beta blockers

Totally worth it - your GP can discuss anxiety with you over the phone, and IAPT do lots of work by phone or online.

When you say you might snap, what do you mean by that? What is it that you're afraid you might do?

Yes, yes, yes. I had a telephone appointment with my lovely GP yesterday who did not hesitate to put me straight back on to sertraline after a 6 month break. She took the time to chat to me more generally and check that I knew what financial support was available, check on my asthma and that I had what I needed for that etc.

Please get in touch with the, OP.

Yes, absolutely yes. Contact your GP. Mental health/ anxiety is not stupid. You need to look after yourself x

I'm a therapist and if there is one thing that I can tell you that is the most useful tool I have found is EFT tapping. I teach everyone that I work with how to do it and it is the one thing that's keeping me sane right now. YouTube tutorials will show you the basics, it is simple enough to learn in minutes and you often feel better as you're doing it.

Also, take it easy on yourself right now, you are doing the best you can, keep trying to access support and look after yourself. I hope you feel better soon.

Yes.
Depending on where you are they might not be as busy as you think.
I rang mine this morning and got a call back quickly and they sorted out a prescription over the phone. Usually they have an open surgery twice a week which is always packed to the gills so I was surprised how quick it was.

I havent had anxiety for a while, I had pnd a few years back and have mostly recovered.
But my anxiety is back the worse it's ever been, my youngest has been poorly with high temp and cough, I am on my own because husband is classed as a key worker and he has been staying with his dad so he can carry on working.
I'm not sleeping, trying to hold it together for the kids.