Just contacted GP and so proud

[LindaEllen]

I've suffered with anxiety (and depression that I think stems from the anxiety) since I was about 18 and I'm now 30. It's never been debilitating but it certainly limits the way I live my life.

For goodness knows what reason (as I'm not actually feeling too bad at the moment!) tonight I finally got the courage to send an online consultation form to the GP.

They're not doing face to face at the moment so I guess I'll either get an email reply or possibly a phone call.

But either way I'm really proud of myself.

I think one of the reasons I've not done it so far is that I'm scared whatever they suggest won't make me feel better - and then I have no options left.

Does anyone have any success stories of finally telling the GP and then getting treatment that really helped them improve their lives?

Hopefully this time next year I'll be able to say happy Christmas and really mean it!

That is good news, well done! A big first step in getting the help your need and deserve. I really hope 2021 will be brighter for you.

Good on you finishing off this year with positive action.

Massive congratulations! I myself know how hard that can be. The first step is the hardest and you did it

Well done op. I did the same about 2weeks ago. I think I’m hindsight I’ve struggled since I had my dd 3.5years ago but I’ve just muddled through. My mum dying a year ago and some problems in my marriage (and just the general shit year for everyone) I suddenly felt like I needed “a break” from feeling how I’d been feeling. I did the online consultation and they got back to me very quickly. I felt embarrassed as It was my family dr I have had since I was born, I’m 35 now, and I honestly thought he might tell me to do some mindfulness or something and see how I feel (not knocking mindfulness) but he’s prescribed me propanalol and I’ve been taking them a week and already feel a bit calmer. He’s also told me to write down my feelings and what I’m struggling with as if i was sending him a letter and he wants to arrange a chat in a few weeks.... I’m a bit 😬 about that bit but I’ll give it a go.

It’s funny you should say you finally did it when you weren’t feeling too bad, I was the same. I think I had to feel a bit better to look back and see how bad I had got.

It is a massive first step.

This is incredible, well done you! You absolutely should be very proud

Well done OP, I know its a tough step to take.
I really struggled with anxiety and depression since about 5 years ago when menopause started and at the same time my mother became gravely ill with a chronic illness.
I went to the doctor a number of times but always shit out when it came to accessing talking services etc, it all just seemed to much. I manage it my own way but 2020 has been tough.

Well done for taking the first step, but please be braver than me and follow it through. I wish you all the best

Well done you.

Yes, I remember thinking that when I actually said the words out loud to the gp he would think I was an awful person (esp as I had PND and was holding by beautiful baby in my arms while talking to him). But he didn't flinch, he listened to the very few words I managed to get out and made a plan for me. Best thing I ever did and wish I did it sooner.

Sending you best wishes for 2021, hopefully (with the help of your gp) it will be a better year

Well done! I need to take a leaf out of your book.

OP, I've just done it!
Thank you so much.
Now anxious that because I mentioned I'm stressed by work (though this is not the cause of my anxiety) they may ignore my request and just say well you are only anxious because of work.
I have been trying to deal with this anxiety alone for 15 years. Scared they will dismiss me.

@Samiad85

Well done op. I did the same about 2weeks ago. I think I’m hindsight I’ve struggled since I had my dd 3.5years ago but I’ve just muddled through. My mum dying a year ago and some problems in my marriage (and just the general shit year for everyone) I suddenly felt like I needed “a break” from feeling how I’d been feeling. I did the online consultation and they got back to me very quickly. I felt embarrassed as It was my family dr I have had since I was born, I’m 35 now, and I honestly thought he might tell me to do some mindfulness or something and see how I feel (not knocking mindfulness) but he’s prescribed me propanalol and I’ve been taking them a week and already feel a bit calmer. He’s also told me to write down my feelings and what I’m struggling with as if i was sending him a letter and he wants to arrange a chat in a few weeks.... I’m a bit 😬 about that bit but I’ll give it a go.

It’s funny you should say you finally did it when you weren’t feeling too bad, I was the same. I think I had to feel a bit better to look back and see how bad I had got.

It is a massive first step.

Thank you for replying, I hope you feel much better soon!

Can I ask, do you take your meds daily or just when you feel particularly anxious? I'm worried that they'll offer me something to take as and when needed; but mine is more like a low level general thing rather than particular situations that cause panic, so as and when wouldn't work so well I don't think!

Thanks to everyone else for your replies as well, I hope that you all manage to find your peace 💗

Mine sounds very similar to how you describe, general low level.
I take propranolol daily, in the morning but my dr said I could take one later in the day if I felt like I needed it, I haven’t so far.
I hope it goes well for you and would love for you to let us know how you get on.

Well done!

I think you misunderstand what "debilitating" means no matter you're sorting it now

I am extremely ill at the moment (severe ocd, agoraphobia, depression and anxiety 4 years housebound) and telephone consults with a new therapists are actually working REALLY well for me.

I appreciate and sympathise this year has sucked for many, for me I have finally found a therapist that gets me and I'm improving weekly after a truly shit year last year where I was massively let down

Onwards and upwards for us both I hope!

This time next year I hope to be no longer housebound and possibly even working and have a social life - we shall see

@Samiad85 I have found mindfulness really genuinely helpful and my mh issues are pretty bloody bad!

Not saying it's a cure all but definitely helpful

Meds can be amazingly helpful in conjunction with other therapies and i speak as someone who's had many difficulties with meds as I keep developing really bad side effects even allergies and seriously bad reactions to some

@LindaEllen I took a low dose med daily. Its amazing, honestly felt like a dark cloud had been lifted off my head. The feeling of dread that was in my mind from morning to night was replaced with happy music.

[quote Stepintochristmas2020]@LindaEllen I took a low dose med daily. Its amazing, honestly felt like a dark cloud had been lifted off my head. The feeling of dread that was in my mind from morning to night was replaced with happy music.[/quote]
That is what I want to happen so much! I'm so glad they're working for you :).

GP got in touch today and said we need to have a telephone consultation. I don't know why I thought this, because obviously they're not going to just give you drugs, but I gave them lots of info in the contact form and I kind of wanted her to email me a prescription and say take these once a day and you'll be fine.

So now I have to wait a week for my telephone app, I'm scared about what I will have to say, I feel pathetic, like my problem isn't bad enough - but I think that's because I'm desensitised to my own feelings as they've been going on that long. I can't even remember feeling 'normal', if I'm honest.

But either way I'm so scared.

@samiad85 how long did it take for your propranolol to work if you dont mind me asking

@LindaEllen

GP got in touch today and said we need to have a telephone consultation. I don't know why I thought this, because obviously they're not going to just give you drugs, but I gave them lots of info in the contact form and I kind of wanted her to email me a prescription and say take these once a day and you'll be fine.

So now I have to wait a week for my telephone app, I'm scared about what I will have to say, I feel pathetic, like my problem isn't bad enough - but I think that's because I'm desensitised to my own feelings as they've been going on that long. I can't even remember feeling 'normal', if I'm honest.

But either way I'm so scared.

OP, I was inspired by your post and also contacted my GP online on Xmas Eve. Like you, I gave lots of info, but had an email back saying I need to call the surgery to arrange a telephone consultation. I haven't done this yet, as like you, I am worried about what yo say and that they will say no to any medication.

Don't be scared - they just want a chat so they can make sure they're taking all your needs in to consideration. Remember a lot (an awful lot, in my experience) of doctors have been through the same thing.
Also, please don't think that if your first choice of treatment doesn't work then you've got no options. There are a lot of different medications and a lot of different therapies available, it's just about finding the one that suits you

Well done! I hope that they can help you, try not to play down how much this might've affected your life over the years

Well done.

Yep, I have had anxiety for years, never occurred to me to talk to doctor or that it might be worthy of any consideration (I manage to live my life fine, it’s just that anxiety makes it miserable.)

Anyway someone pointed out that maybe this was draft, so I arranged CBT and a phoner with GP. He prescribed sertraline which has kept my mood steadier and allowed me to engage w CBT, and I can see genuine change after just a couple months.

I hope you get a good result OP and well done for finally doing it. I can’t believe it took me so long. I think you do need to do some work like CBT also, but medication important too.

It's the best decision of your life. You're probably at Chapter 3 Keep going xxxxx
Chapter I

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost… I am hopeless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it there.
I still fall in… it’s a habit… but,
my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter IV

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter V

I walk down another street.

OP don't take it literally as being your fault mind 😉 xxx

Congratulations OP! This is the first step to recovery and you are right to feel proud!

Thanks all! @middleager get it booked - I did mine the second I got the email as I just knew if I left it I wouldn't do it. I'm finding the 'new year new start' thing quite motivating for getting things started.

Appointment is on Monday morning, thankfully a telephone one. I'm writing some notes about the way I feel and how I get anxious in various situations. I'm pretty sure I have generalised anxiety disorder but I'll just give them as much info as I can and see what they say.

I feel bad making a fuss when there are worse things in life .. but the more I think about it, the more I think that perhaps I have actually been anxious since I was a teen (half my life ago!) so it's become normal to me.

At the moment I feel scared but also kind of hopeful that something might change.