Not enough GP help with anxiety and depression

[HighAnxiety]

Have recently been dealing with a lot of issues and everything came to a head in December and I found myself unable to cope due to severe depression and anxiety.
I feel sick all the time, can't eat or sleep.

Went to GP in December. He referred me for CBT and suggested a mindfulness app. Never mentioned the possibility of medication.

Since then I have had a brief phone assessment from mental health services and referral on for group CBT sessions. Haven't had an appointment yet or any indication of when I will get one. So basically no help yet.

I'm now really struggling to keep going into work. I'm doing a temp job I hate at the moment and have to literally drag myself in every morning. I'm having increasingly strong urges to throw myself in front of a train.

I've got another appointment with the GP on Tuesday. I need to find a way of coping with everyday life and keep on working. What should I be asking for from the GP?

Hi,
So sorry to hear you are feeling like this. I have been suffering severe anxiety and depression for about a year so know how you feel. When you first go to the GP they tend to suggest therapy/meditation etc before pills however given how bad you feel, I think you should go back and ask about the possibility of starting an anti depressant and see what they recommend. I know how frustrating waiting for cbt is... I had some group sessions but have been waiting 3 months for individual help. Do you have anyone else you can talk to about things?

Hi Ribbon, thanks for replying.

I am on a waiting list for group CBT no idea how long it will be before I get an appointment. I was given the choice of group or individual but the waiting list for individual is over six months so felt that was a non starter. I will really struggle to keep my job if I don't find a way to control my symptoms very soon and I have to keep working. I think I need some kind of medication to get me back on an even keel in the short term.

I have a good friend who has suffered long term depression who I have been talking to as he understands how I am feeling. He has told me to ring any time if I need to talk which is really helpful.

In my experience they don’t give a crap about how you feel. Depression isn’t a priority and they don’t care if it isn’t resolved. As long as you continue to function nobody cares if you’re miserable.

Whirlie, I'm not even functioning at the moment. The immediate priority is to get my symptoms under control enough to hold down a job.

I think I'm going to have to pay out for private therapy to really get myself sorted out. NHS treatment seems to be non existent. I'm lucky I can do that it is really dire for those who can't afford it

Sounds like you are struggling also, hope things improve for you soon

I did eventually get referred for therapy. It was spectacularly unhelpful. Their advice was to take antidepressants, get some exercise and fresh air. Imo that might relieve the symptoms a bit but wouldn’t address the cause. I was hoping they’d help me to work through my issues and feel better, but no, they were only interested in addressing the symptoms. I asked them how they thought drugs would resolve me being unemployed and they just shrugged their shoulders.

Imo you need to figure out why you’re depressed and do something about it. Exercise and stuff can help to boost you enough so you’re capable of doing something about it. But ultimately you need to resolve what’s making you unhappy and work through whatever issues are troubling you. That’s my opinion anyway.