Any way of getting help without seeing a dr?

[Cantbeatatryer]

I struggle to talk to anyone about what is going on inside my head. In fact I talk to no one. I have spent my adult life being miserable and depressed and anxious.

I can not talk to a dr about how I feel or what I'm thinking. I don't talk to dh or a sibling but I'm struggling.

Is there any other way I can ask for help that doesn't require me to talk to a dr face to face as I just can't do it. But the thought of coping with this for years to come makes me feel like there is no point.

Please don't ask me to book an appointment with a dr as I can not talk about how I feel to anyone.

Thanks for reading.

Yes, please phone the Samaritans, they will have the right advice. You may not be able to face a doctor but you have to deal with this right now. Where I live we have an NHS service called "icope" which is a telephone based service for mental health issues. You my have something similar near you - the Samaritans will know, please talk to them.
It may be that you have experienced judgemental reactions to your problems before which has led to this withdrawal, and it's important you 'unlearn' those associations. It's very important you start by sharing with someone trained and sympathetic, I think the Samaritans should definitely be your first port of call.
Good luck and please keep us updated?

What do you feel you need? If therapy you can either pay privately or check if there is a local iapt or healthy minds or primary care mental health in your area. You can usually self refer to them

Is there a particular reason you dont feel you can talk? Embarrasment? Too painful? Anxiety? knowing this might help guide advice a little better x

If you call Mind or visit their website it might give you some suggestions - as PPs have said you can do therapies over the phone and some of them are free.
There are also some online CBT courses that you do the exercises yourself rather than working with a therapist, if you think that may help. You can Google them.

Good luck - I hope you feel better soon. In the meantime you can post here and we will support you, even if you pop over to threads in chat or somewhere for some light hearted conversation - sometimes just interacting with other people (even online) can lift your mood.

There's no judgement here, I know your thoughts can feel stupid when written down or spoken out loud (I know that more than anyone, believe me!) but no one will think you are stupid or silly.

I wanted to say thank you all for taking the time to read this and respond with some great advise.

I struggle as I don't talk about these kind of things with anyone and never have. It's probably how I was brought up and an attitude of just head down and get on with it and there are people a lot worse than me out there so I shouldn't complain.

It's took me a long time to realise I do need help but I can't and won't take that step to talk to a dr as I can't face doing that. Shame, embarrassment, anxiety, painful feel like a failure, it all of it stops me

I know I can't get help without making that first step so I just ignore it all and some days are better than others.

What you're feeling is very normal, it's so hard to make that initial step!

Often, people find it a bit of a relief once they're able to talk openly. It's just getting to that point that's so hard. Maybe you could write a list of pros and cons of seeing the doctor?

Would you be happier seeing a nurse? Most nurses would be fine about you going to them initially instead. Is it the profession/authority that puts you off?

Unfortunately, GPs are the gatekeepers to treatment. Could you type out how you feel and just hand it over? I've done that before.

Yes I've written it down before and just given it to gp.

Yes I've written it down before and just given it to gp.