what will happen if I go to GP and tell him I can not cope?

[cottonwoolbrain]

Been under very severe stress for 2 1/2 years as a result of a situtation that had a horrible impact on our family life but I could do nothing about. Literally jumping when there was a knock on the door or a phone call or even when a car slowed down or stopped outside. I've been obsessed by it to be honest. Nocturnal epilepsy which had been under control got worse with one fit so bad last year I was admitted to hospital for a week and quite a few minor ones.

Now been told its over - well the most worrying bit anyway and I've mentally collapsed. Bursting into tears, insomnia worse not better, constantly feeling sick. MOst of the time though I just feel completely numb as if I'm watching everything through a big transparent screen - the worlds going on but its just passing me by - I'm doing things but not being involved in it... I'm making no sense. Doing everything on autopilot not even really noticing - feel detached.

I saw my neurologist this morning who made the mistake of asking me how I am feeling. I was able to tell him what had been worrying me. He's upped my anti convulsant dose as he's not happy with the fits but he also said he is going to write to my GP as he thinks I need some support with the stress as its making things worse.

I'll try to see my GP but no idea what I'm going to say. can't make any sense of it at all... should be BETTER now its over....fuck I'm making noo sense at all any GP is going to think I've lost it..

sorry

I have found that it is often when the most stressful part of a situation has passed that we collapse. It's similar to getting ill as soon as you start to relax on holiday. I'm recovering from PTSD and that often starts months or even years after the traumatic event.

Your GP won't think you've lost it, what you are experiencing is a completely normal response to what sounds like an incredibly stressfull situation. It is also something that your GP may well be able to help with. I would print out what you have written here for your GP to read. The numbness you describe sounds like something called dissociation, one of our brains tricks for dealing with incredibly stressful situations. Sometimes we get stuck in fight or flight response when we have been under a lot of stress.

As the previous post has said, when the worst of it is over, THAT is when it hits you. Partly because your body produces adrenaline to help get you through the worst, which then stops when the immediate danger has passed. My DD tried to kill herself some time ago. At the time, I functioned on almost no sleep and almost no food - I survived enough to support her through the worst. Once we got to a stage where we were confident she wouldn't do it again, I mentally collapsed, went to the GP's and was put on ADs. Research "fight or flight" if you want to understand it more, but be reassured it is perfectly normal to suffer when the main danger has passed.