Anxiety relief?

[mrsforgetfullness]

I have a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that won't go away. I've take AD's for depression and anxiety in the past but not for a few years. I've tried valerian and it helps with the anxiety but it makes me really zonked and I need to be on the ball for work.

The stupid thing is that I'm too scared to go to the GP about it because the waiting room and even talking to the GP makes me anxious. When I'm nervous I can't think straight and I'm sure not to make any sense so they'll think that I'm worse than I really am, meaning more doctor's trips and more anxiety.

Not quite sure what to do. Work's not going well because I'm too nervous that I'm going to make a mistake so take much longer than I used to to complete tasks. My colleagues think I'm weird because I don't talk much - mainly because speaking to people I don't know well makes me nervous and I can't think of anything to say and come across as being unfriendly or just plain rude.

Could you write down just what you did then and take it to the doctors, or post it to them?

Can I ask if this awful feeling in the pit of your stomach is a fairly recent thing, though I know you have suffered previously with a mental illness. It sounds to me (and I am no medic) but I suffer from intermittent depression and anxiety, that your are describing the symptoms of anxiety, which is the medical name for fear fear of the present, fear of the future and fear of fear.

I think you are going to have to get to the GP as your condition will just deteriorate and maybe make improvement all the more difficult. Did the meds help with the dep/anx in the past? I know about the fear of the waiting room and the GP but one third of all GP consultations are related to mental health, so do the maths when you are in the waiting room! I'm sure you know that 1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives, and 1 in 6 will be suffering at any one time.

You are not going to be telling the GP anything he/she hasn't heard on numerous occasions before, so please pick up the phone and make the appointment. Make a bullet point list of your symptoms or as someone has already said, print out your post and take that, although a clear list is easier for a busy GP to read. Anxiety is often the first symptom to show itself in an episode of depression/anxiety, and so if you just leave it, you might find the depression returns.........and I know the torment of this mental illness.

Come back and tell us when you have made that appointment!

That's a good point insulatingbadger and nananina, writing down the main points would be a good idea.

Thanks Nananina. The feeling has got increasingly worse over the last few months, although it has been coming and going for a while now. Some days I'm ok, but others I just keep my head down and go on autopilot and avoid things as much as possible. The meds did help in the past, so I suppose they're worth another try. Just don't want anyone family finding out because they're not the best at dealing with mental illness, but I suppose I can get around that as well, especially if the meds help.

The GP visit ratio is a really helpful statistic to remember, I didn't realise that it was that high actually. I'll make an appointment on Monday (hopefully for a quiet time).

Thanks for helping me to put things into perspective.

Hello there - I think fluctuations in mood are the "nature of the beast" with depression and anxiety.

I don't think many people are any good at dealing with mental illness. I am lucky to have a DP who is understanding and a couple of close women friends. I keep it from my sons as much as I can, which is quite easy as they seldom ask about my health! I think the other thing is that there is still a stigma attached to mental illness and that is another reason we try to hide it - I always feel ashamed when I am very depressed and feel there is something I should be able to do to get better, whereas I wouldn't feel like this with a physical illness. My CPN tells me that these feelings are symptomatic of depression/anxiety.

Glad you are making an appointment, but might be best to wait till Tuesday as Mondays are always busy as GPs have to pick up all the stuff from the weekend. BUT don't put if off any longer!

There are lots of online resources that might be useful for you.

Perhaps not as good as working with a therapist for some people, but a good starting point (and also there's good evidence that it works).

For example:

lots here www.getselfhelp.co.uk/links2.htm

this site is NHS recommended www.fearfighter.com/

Anxiety UK have an app here: www.anxietyuk.org.uk/get-help/mobile-app/

and lots of useful information www.anxietyuk.org.uk/

Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice and the resource links.

I finally made an appointment with my GP who put me on citalopram. After a few minor side effects and a dose increase I'm now feeling much less anxious. I still have a way to go but am feeling much better than before.