Could a GP help with this?

[sleepyduvetcat]

I think this is the best topic for this question but I apologise if not!

Every so often I'll have a period of being 'down'. Nothing in my life changes (it's never around an upsetting event) but I'll become really sad and reclusive and it will just get worse from then. I'll spend about a week wanting to run away or self harm (I used to do this when I was younger but stopped when I was pregnant 2 years ago and haven't done it since). I can feel myself changing and I'm not nice to be around - I don't want to speak to anyone, I don't want to socialise with anyone - I just want to go to bed and cry. I can't stand to be touched either - I won't let my partner give me a hug to comfort me and I just can't explain why I'm like this when I am.

Then after about a week I'll just start to feel better and I'm back to what I think is my 'usual' self - holding a conversation, making plans, feeling happier etc.

I don't think it's hormonal as it doesn't happen around my period or even every month - maybe every 2-3 months?

My question is - are the 'down' periods something a GP could help with? Are they too infrequent to warrant any action - is this an abnormal thing?

When I'm in one of my down periods I want someone to help me but can't find the words or effort to call and make a GP appointment, and then by the time I'm feeling better it doesn't feel needed.

Please let me know if you have a similar experience and can recommend something. Thank-you.

Its definately worth asking your GP about it, they may well be able to help. Might also be worth keeping a mood diary, to see if there are any other things that link these times. For me high stress levels lead to urges to self harm.

I'm a GP. You can certainly talk to your GP about it. Intermittent depression is fairly common (though admittedly it's most often linked to the menstrual cycle), so your GP will probably have come across it before. Go and talk it through, but keep an open mind about the best treatment - depression is a very individual disease, so what has worked for other people may not be the best thing for you - you and your GP need to work out the best plan for you together. Good luck

PS mood diary a good idea.

Why don't you start keeping a daily record of your mood and how you feel so when you go to the GP they might be able to see if there is a pattern??