Advice needed

[Jaytee38]

Do you think it's acceptable for a GP to say you are becoming too reliant on medication ? Currently I take propranolol only if needed and sleeping medication. I feel if I had a physical illness this would never be said.

I feel I need to restart an AD as I am struggling to function.

How can we address mental health stigma if health professionals behave like this.

I need to make an appt with her next week and I plan to bring this up. I will be polite but I feel mental health care is awful .

Any advice on what you would do in a similar situation.

My very understanding GP has point blank refused to prescribe me diazepam when im having an acute anxiety attack as she's worried i'd become addicted to them.
I had awful anxiety in 2012 that caused constant diahrroea, i was taking over the counter anti diahrroeals every single day, at least 2 but most days 4, when you're not supposed to take more than 6 in a 24 hour period which was definitely over lapping for me, and for no longer than 2 or 3 days. I became genuinely terrified of my mental reliance on them and panicked i'd become physically reliant too. I know if you abuse laxatives for long enough your body adjusts to need laxative to "go" at all, i was so scared i'd end "resetting" my digestive system to need them for the rest of my life, that i had to cut them out. I managed to only take them once or twice a week for a while, and now i only take them when i can feel the onset of symptoms. So i absolutely do think mental reliance on drugs happens more than physical reliance, nd your doctor honestly only has your best interests at heart.

I think it's because it's seen as being a certain length of term fix, whatever that length of term is.
Depression by its' very nature is an all consuming illness which is also personal to the sufferer it won't be cured by amoxycillin sadly,would be great for us all if it could be!

You need to be quite vocal.If you don't feel that your GP is up to it then seek advice from another in your practice.The vast majority have their own specialism.Check the website or ask at reception.

GP may have a point.
Some AD's are addictive and one can get hooked on them. Vallium comes to mind. Similarly sleeping medication can become ineffective after prolonged use.

They do play with your body chemistry in a big way... sometimes it is necessary, but such powerful drugs need to be used carefully.

Do you think it's acceptable for a GP to say you are becoming too reliant on medication ?

Warning about the dangers of addiction is part of your GP's job

The GP gave you advice and has a point, propranolol for anxiety and sleeping tablets are supposed to be for short-term use. I think restarting anti-depressants would probably be a good idea.

I suspect that your GP is concerned about your sleeping medication, rather than the propranolol or a typical antidepressant.

Only just saw this to come back to. She's not worried as I only use propranolol if things are very bad. I was put on z brand sleeping tablets back before risk was known. So I will come off but my mental health is worse if I have my insomnia

My issue is restarting AD. My CMHT have a habit of changing their mind. Oh the AD will only do so much you need psychotherapy. I agree. Went to it and did will. He reckoned 6 month break then do more. In that 6 months he's left and the recommendation letter lost so saying I'm not entitled to psychotherapy. So now I have neither. I do everything to help myself. However this just wouldn't happen if I had a physical illness. It's so frustrating.

Have you considered changing doctors? I had a horrible doctor that just didn't treat mental health seriously and so I changed doctors and I've had so much more help!

Hi. Yeah I have. It's a large practice. I'd chosen one to move to then found out she was leaving. Then same happened once I thought about another Dr. I've requested certain medical notes though and think this will help.