Is this depression/anxiety?

[jaxhwc]

I think you're going to say yes but I have been to 2 docs who have not actually given me a diagnosis and instead 1.offered drugs 2.told me to do more exercise/mindfulness/treat myself etc.

So tell me what you think (this is for the last 6 months)

constant low mood
nothing brings satisfaction
no motivation
feeling like a failure
crying most days (sometimes big breakdowns, sometimes little cries in public caused by hearing a song or something silly)
trying to get out every day with 1yo but really resenting having to leave the house at all
fantasies of self harm (I have a history of it but not recent)
confidence completely gone

This is what I think is anxiety:

(periods of time lasting a few hours a day)
hard to breathe
increased heart rate
tension at base of neck, leading to headache
seemingly comes from nowhere
sometimes shaking/panic/tears/vomiting
The panic happens when things don't go as I expected i.e. friend is late, husband comes home early.
paranoia- thinking people are out to get me/attack me, thinking people are sending subliminal messages through other peoples fb accounts. (I know it sounds barmy)

I'm considering going back to docs but I don't really want drugs and I don't know whether they can actually offer me any other solution than things the second doc said, which I am trying to do but struggling as a mum to a young child with DH working away.

Did the GP do the PHQ-9 and GAD 7 with you? Mine used them as a base guide for diagnosis and then treatment

No nothing like that, just asked a couple of questions like, am I sleeping etc

Mines always done them. Could you see a different GP and pre fill them out and take with you?

What are you asking really? Your symptoms sound like depression and anxiety like symptoms
The dr has suggested two ways of treating these - medication and/or therapeutic techniques. Presumably you would then review in due course if these are having a positive effect and if not review why
This seems to follow your presenting issues. What are you wanting?

Sounds like anxiety and depression! I am going through the same. I'm on medication sertraline and propranolol and seems to be helping 😊

They do don't they chapsie? Which is why I thought a doctor might actually give me a diagnosis but they haven't. Neither actually acknowledged that I was suffering with either which left me confused, hence the reason I'm asking what others think here to get an idea of the experience of others in a similar situation.

Grumpbum that sounds like a good idea, I hadn't heard of those before you mentioned.

So what can doctors offer other than medication? If that's the only thing they can offer I won't bother going back and I'll just continue with what I'm attempting to do already.

I agree with @chapsie. The treatments your GP suggested are fit for anxiety and depression, so I'd say the diagnosis is implicit. I'm not sure what else you were hoping for - was it just an explicit "yes I think you're suffering with depression"?

I really hope you're able to try a few strategies and things improve for you - no matter what it's called, it's a tough thing to go through

Thanks skylucy, yes I thought I might get a "yes that sounds like x to x degree and thus the treatment may be x"

I don't know, maybe that's not normally what they do but I imagine if I had a rash or something I would expect them to say "that's a mild case of dermatitis so I'll prescribe you this cream"

Perhaps I have trouble accepting it without an explicit diagnosis

Most GPs are familiar with the questionnaires @Grumpbum123 mentioned and the scores give an idea of mild/moderate/severe. Could do it on day of appointment and take in -save time.

You could google "IAPT"and see if there's one in your area, sometimes you can self refer or ask your doc.

But prob best to go back to GP, and be clear on your query.I often take a list of Qs on a post it

Also if you are postnatal some areas have specific support services for this

Thanks weekend that's helpful.

So you've seen two doctors who have both offered some kind of treatment but you've refused because you felt they didn't give you a diagnosis? Would you have accepted the treatment if they had?

The first one was in America and he said "great news, there are loads of drugs for those symptoms" so I said "let me have a think about if that's what I want"

he did not prescribe me anything or discuss any particular drug that may be offered.

The second one said "considering all the things going on in your life it's perfectly normal for you to feel the way you do" "what are you doing for yourself?" Me: "nothing, I don't get time" doc: "well why don't you try giving your dc to your mum so you can do some exercise, treat yourself etc.
*
Albeit a nice idea, not practical because my dad is suffering with dementia and she is his carer. I'm not about to dump more responsibility onto her.*

I have not ' turned down' any treatment

I'm asking what the experience of others is

There isn't much provision for mental health with GPS. Mine is only able to offer medication and even then only certain ones. I got a psychiatric referral from IAPT through Mind and they authorised my GP to give me more old fashioned Antidepressants as I couldn't tolerate the usual ones.

Thanks flares I think I'll look into some other avenues of support.

I completed the questionnaires which suggest I have moderately-severe depression and moderate anxiety.

I just found it weird how neither doctor acknowledged these specifically and thought maybe what I was experiencing was too mild and therefore didn't warrant a diagnosis.

Thanks for all your advice

In my area (West London) we have a self referral service. I believe it is available in other places too communitylivingwell.co.uk/how-we-can-help/talking-therapies/
You fill in a form online then they call you to arrange a phone consultation. Then they book you in for a face to face appointment with a practioner. You will then start on a course of whatever treatment you need. It is an excellent service.
I hope you find some support soon.

That sounds excellent magissa, I'll have a look thanks

I've had a number of other MH diagnoses (from a psych as my GP doesn't feel in a position to diagnose) but I don't think I've ever been given a formal diagnosis of depression even though I'm on ADs. I think it's probably implicit rather than explicit and that's always been my experience of it. I don't know why, I agree that sometimes you expect someone to actually tell you that you have the symptoms!

Thanks calypso, yes it would seem normal to me that they would just say it.

I've actually just realised this morning where the issue lies and it's not with the doctor. It just dawned on me that my family don't believe me, my husband doesn't believe me either. I suppose I wanted the doctor to explicitly confirm it so I could feel like I wasn't making it up. I can see now why my post may have seemed odd to some because the symptoms read quite obviously as depression/anxiety but I think unless I'm about to commit suicide they won't acknowledge it.