Is it worth seeing the GP for anxiety?

[wowthisisnoteasy]

What can/will they really do?
I am terrified it will end up 'on my records' forever and have a negative impact.

I struggle to concentrate, meaning I rarely complete tasks effectively or efficiently. I struggle to sleep without somehow distracting myself to drown out the niggling voices which basically means I only sleep when I pass out. I regularly have an upset tummy.
I get light headedness, dizziness and occasionally some really awful headaches. I (almost daily) feel my heart thumping, sweat pricking, shortness of breath. I catch myself grinding my teeth.
The trigger can be something as simple as wondering if I'll hear if someone knock at the door (this morning I was expecting a delivery) or the worry of being late.

I'm not absolutely sure that's what this is; based on dr google, I assume this is anxiety attacks?

I used to be one of the most laid back people and over the years I've gradually managed to wind myself up more and more I think with trying to meet expectations - as a daughter, a student, at work (omg at work!), as a wife, and now definitely as a parent.

I've had a pretty easy time of things in the whole, occasional ups and downs but nothing that I feel could be described as traumatic. I have a loving family and some amazing friends. After months of thinking that this is getting out of hand, I've recently admitted this stuff to my husband and he was great but has no idea how to help/support this. I'm too terrified to reveal this to anyone else. I don't feel like this should be happening to me and I can already see the judgement/pity that will come if I let the world know.

Writing this feels like a massive step.....please be kind!

Yes, it definitely is. I developed anxiety after the birth of my first child. I couldn't function. I had palpitations, my hands shook, I agonised over the most crazy things (eg. if DH goes for that promotion, he will have to travel regularly, and what if his plane crashes? I will always feel guilty for proof reading his application form and my child will have no father and it will all be my fault, and I will forever wish that I had told him not to apply). I struggled on like that for about three or four years because I had no idea that there was something wrong with me. One day I was at my GP about something else and it all came out. He was amazing, and very understanding.

The answer for me was cognitive behavioural therapy, and antidpressants. It has changed my life. I can function again, I can concentrate, I can hold down a job, I can sleep at night (sometimes!).

Getting help for a legitimate medical problem is not a 'black mark on your records'. And frankly, even if it was, it would still be worth it to enable you to get back to living a normal life.

It's definitely worth seeing your GP. I couldn't leave the house for 4 years because of my anxiety now I've just completed my second year at college. It's scary getting help but you'll start to feel better soon, GP can refer you to counselling or CBT and or give you medication. Take it a day at a time and you'll get there 😊 x

It's absolutely better to get treatment for your anxiety - reducing /managing anxiety can make life feel SO much better.CBT can be great here.

If you're reluctant to speak to GP, try googling Wellbeing self referral. I don't know if this is a national service. In our area, it's what your GP will probably ask you to do anyway, so there may not be any point in the difficult task of getting a GP appointment.
Try not to worry about it ' being on your records' : this kind of issue affects a huge chunk of the population, at some bit of our lives. Nothing to be embarrassed about.
Best wishes

I'm in the same boat as you. I used to be so laid back I could have taken a nuclear war in my stride but now, dear god! My chest has been hurting all morning worrying about DS1 who has just started nursery and didn't want to go this morning. Motherhood has made me so highly stung I might snap. I have done my best to let things go and take it easy on myself and it has helped but not a lot. I've been putting off seeing the doctor, I don't need medication and won't take medication. We have had a lot of stressful things come up and once they are resolved the anxiety will abate, it has in the past. I've considered therapy but I really don't have the time, if I had the time for sonething like that I wouldn't be so stressed all the time. I'm sure that I am being stubborn and stipid but I am hoping to ride this out.

Thanks all.

I actually had a blood test today to investigate the headaches/migraines and I've found myself hoping that I have some sort of fixable chemical/hormone imbalance, perhaps relating to contraception or something equally easy to fix that is responsible for this shit.

I have resolved to discuss this properly with the dr when I discuss the bloods results.

Did you guys ever talk to your employer about this?

Yes, it's definately worth seeing your GP. I found a combination of ADs (also really useful for anxiety not just depression) and councelling/NLP ( neurolinguistic programming ) worked for me. I know a lot of people speak highly of CBT though I've not had it myself. Mindfullness, meditation and exercise also really help me. There's a great app called headspace which has 10 minute bitesized chunks of mindfulness, the basic version is free, it is so worth making the time for.

I also had a vitamin D deficiency, which was impacting on me too, very common in the UK. This was picked up in a blood test.