Did anyone go to the GP with anxiety and not get prescribed anything/diagnosed?

[Dysfunctional]

Don't get me wrong I don't necessarily want to get medicated. I don't believe I have GAD but I get very anxious when stressed and am tearful, irritable and angry when my axiety rises.

My Gp recommended I contact a local charity that offers free CBT but didn't seem unduly worried. I confirmed I was going to start private therapy and he seemed happy with that.

I feel a bit foolish for going because I feel there was no need for me to see him. Is it normal for GPs to recommend CBT in first instance. I was thinking I might be a grilled a bit more for a diagnosis/referral for specialist if required but he seemed to be satisfied that I had used an online test to discount GAD.

I appear very together in the GP surgery but my "episodes" make my home life very difficult.

I think they prefer to use meds as a last resort. I'm in a similar situation as I am in the early stages of pregnancy but getting episodes of anxiety but can appear quite together at other times!

No I'm happy that they don't dish out meds like sweets, contrary to popular belief, I just feel like I wasted the GP's time going but I had been asked to go by another therapist I had seen which made me think there was cause for concern.

I think the dh's have changed from the past so often do w
" watchful waiting" unless reasons to suggest otherwise, for a few weeks then suggest self help - such as online resources, prescription books, charities and then short term talking treatments often before medication. Obviously I am not a dr but from my own reading that seems a more common approach. Obviously not if they are concerned about someone and think they are at risk etc.

People do not get referred to an NHS psychiatrist usually after one gp appointment. Gp's can diagnose certain illnesses and medicate. Consultant psychiatrists are often referred to if gp level primary care help has not helped or if they think it is needed for other reasons.

Obviously there is no one size fits all treatment but there are certain pathways dr's follow.

Hope your private therapy is helpful for you.

I went to GP recently after having panic attacks. I was prescribed beta-blockers for occasional use and told to self-refer for CBT (as that seems to be how they do it around here.) I was only given a small number of tablets and following a telephone assessment by psychological services, I have been put on a waiting list of up to 6mths for CBT. The situation which causes me panic is largely unavoidable, so I will be making another appt with GP for further medication. I don't like taking it and only take it if I absolutely have to, but I can't see any other option, having read and tried all the self help leaflets, things are a little better but a long way from perfect.

Thank you for your comments. Some of you are obviously struggling with more serious issues and I realise mine are quite minor in comparison. I don't think I was holding anything back from the GP, it's just my anxiety is triggered in certain situations so doesn't manifest itself in others which is why I don't think I have GAD.

I wouldn't have gone to the GP if I hadn't been asked to do so by a therapist as private therapy usually helps me though I won't be able to afford that in the long-term.

I was just wondering why I'd been asked to see a GP if they couldn't do anything more than I'm doing already

Often therapist want to make sure your gp is aware. Also they are not dr's so cannot diagnose so may want you to get checked out by the dr in case they thought you had a mental health diagnosis that requires medication or psychiatric treatment, perhaps. Most NHS therapy is short term (6 or so sessions), maybe if your therapist knows you cannot afford private treatment they wanted you to get the NHS help? So by going you get get on the NHS waiting list? You cannot choose the person you see on the NHS or even the type of treatment usually. Not sure what the charity will offer but good to know you have a further option if private treatment has not worked enough for you.

I appreciate your advice Silverstars yes I think therapist wanted to cover themselves to make sure GP was aware as had anxiety for number of years and think maybe wanted to rule out depression as I had been low for a while but mine comes and goes and is affected by how stressed I am.

I had an appointment today, I am having blood tests tomorrow to see if it could be my thyroid that is causing anxiety, my Bo is slightly up too so having tests for that.
Not too sure what will happen after that.
I hope therapy works and you feel better soon.

my bp is up not my Bo

Maybe you subconsciously downplayed your symptoms?

Maybe you come across as ver calm and in control?

Unrelated, but I get very very calm in crisis. So when DH had an anaphylactic shock once, and wS swelling up and could not breathe I walked calmely into the lingroom abd told my mum and dad, very calmly, that DH had passed out and I was going to call an ambulance. My mum said "yes dear" and continued her crossword. It was my tone rather than the words she picked up.

I had the same with the dic, when I went in I very calmy explained my depression and anxiety problem. I did not mention I had smashed furniture and banged my heD against the wall wailing the night before. The doc obviously thought it could not be so bad, as I was so calm ( and did not tell him everything)

Ok, this phone and I are never going to be friends.... Typos!

I downplayed it because I wasn't anxious in that setting and enjoy chatting to GPs on medical matters. My anxiety gets triggered after a few stressful days and in the moment I do lose control a bit like you've described Bravepotato. Sitting here now typing and relaxed its as if these things never happen. I often wonder whether its like someone with an anger problem. If its triggered enough at a low level I can lose it- then all is calm again.

It's very much like a pressure valve- i think therapy for me can let that pressure leak out in a more controlled fashion

Ok and thanks arya- hope the tests resolve something for you. I too had my thyroid checked but negative. In some ways its good if you get a positive though because then you feel there's a reason and a cure- do you see what I mean

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. It's exhausting isn't it, I just want it to stop now.

This is very interesting as I have literally in the last couple of weeks gone to my GP and told him that I had been suffering from anxiety and was waking up in the middle of the night having full-on panic attacks. He prescribed me some sedatives to help me sleep at night (he made it clear that these were a short term measure). I said that I was apprehensive about taking medication straight away and would like to explore counselling first. He referred me straight away and I had a phone call the very next day from someone to set up an initial telephone pre-assesment. I had this and it was confirmed that they could offer me a course of 6 one-to-one sessions and they are due to start next week.

I thought this was par for the course but now i'm wondering if i just got lucky. Or I presented as a total mess when I saw the GP.

I think i have had low-level anxiety for the past couple of years but I have always been able to manage it and deal with it. The first time it really stepped up and became quite severe was the end of last year. This coincided with a significant event that I had to organise and plan and my anxiety went through the roof. I was laid low for a good few weeks, had to take time off work and had a host of blood tests to try and get to the bottom of what was wrong. I was having nightly panic attacks then and actually went to A&E at one point. At the time I was given Diazepam but I didn't take it. My GP then prescribed me some beta-blockers which I only took if I woke up and my heart was racing. I was also feeling sick and listless so at the time I didn't think it was anxiety, more that I was feeling anxious because I was ill. Then I just suddenly felt back to normal. But since then I have had another two episodes (the last one being a few weeks ago) and they have again both coincided with events that have required lots of organisation. Cue my trip to the GP.

I also appear very calm most of the time and people that I have told have been very surprised. I'm very good at putting on a brave face. At the moment I feel absolutely fine and keep thinking i've made a fuss about nothing and am wasting everyone's time. But I know in the back of my head that it's just a matter of time before it happens again so I want to get to the bottom of it and try and find some coping strategies.

Sorry, this has been really long. But to finish off, I think I would have felt even more desperate if my GP had brushed aside my worries and told me to embark on some self-help.

I think ths CBT is a bit of a postcode lottery- it is at least 6 month wait at my GP's for anxiety and panic attacks and depression. The telephone pre asessment people have to give advice on where to find private or sliding scale clinics to most people and advise self help things such as an outside walk each day or finding a mindfulness class etc. They then send a follow up letter with address contacts for what has been suggested. The phone call usually ends by trying to get the patient to agree to self refer and come out of the NHS list!

My friend who works in the CMH team is despairing of the funding crisis and lack of help in our area.

I know it is an outside chance - but did you get your ferritin and haemoglobin levels tested?. When I was at Uni I was diagnosed with panic attacks and given beta blockers but had to go to A&E with breathlessness and chest pain a few weeks later. They did blood tests - I was very anaemic and needed injections- when my iron stores were good again I had a dramatic fall in the number and severity of attacks.