Should I see my GP about my mental health or is this just how everyone is feeling at the moment?

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

My mental health isn’t great at the moment but I don’t really know if I should speak to my GP or I am just dealing with normal ups and downs and challenges of lockdown life.

I’m mostly able to function (do my job, look after kids etc), I don’t think anyone at work would know from interacting with me that things aren’t ok. My DH knows I am struggling a bit. At times I’m finding normal life a bit of a struggle as it’s affecting my focus and concentration.

More often than not I am feeling somewhat depressed - I can often distract or lift myself out of it for a bit but I tend to feel I’m faking happiness or it takes a lot of effort and I sink back into feeling depressed afterwards. Sometimes I feel like I am carrying a lead weight. But sometimes I do feel genuinely happy - the DC will make me laugh or I’ll get a hug from DH or something, so it’s not as though I am incapable being lifted out of a dark mood.

I am not feeling at all suicidal but at the moment often feel like the main point of being alive is because the DC need me, not because I am getting much enjoyment from life, mostly I feel like I am going through the motions.

Over Christmas I had a sudden attack of anxiety that came out of nowhere and lasted about a week - I found it very hard to focus on anything, waves of panic kept sweeping over me and I lost about half a stone because my appetite went completely (though oddly I slept fine). This has mostly eased but I still have small waves of anxiety.

I feel I am not really ‘present’ for the DC a lot of the time and they’re on screens too much and eating crap as I can’t find the motivation to take them out, engage them in anything constructive or cook a decent meal. Or I snap suddenly and shout at them.

I am a bit fed up of feeling like this but I’m still getting through the day, and I know everyone is finding things tough right now.

Is this just within the normal range of feeling down and anxious or not?

Gosh that was an essay, thanks to anyone who bothers to read it!

You’ve articulated, far better than I ever could, exactly how I’m feeling.

I’m sending hugs and waiting to see what other MNs suggest. Is it Weltschmerz or something more sinister?

I think those are all pretty normal reactions to these extremely abnormal circumstances.

What strategies are you using right now?

Sorry to hear you're feeling down and anxious. It is a crap time and some of what you describe is probably normal for many at the moment.

Have a go at the following questionnaire to give you more of an idea of whether to see the GP or not.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mood-self-assessment/

The Dr Chatterjee books and website are good for tips on wellbeing and I would try other things before ADs personally.

drchatterjee.com/

IME they will either suggest waiting 2 weeks (with some instructions on wellbeing) or will offer ADs straight away.

Just because a lot of people feel this way at the moment doesn't mean it's normal. It sounds like it's affecting your life quite a bit? So I would see my GP. I did, and started antidepressants and now feel a lot better. Don't get me wrong the whole pandemic situation is shit still! But I'm coping with it much better. I hope you start to feel better soon.

Having accessed mental health services in the first lockdown, I would really reach out for help.

You could go direct to your GP or another option is to self refer to mental health services. For example Google 'mental health self referral and your local authority name'

I accessed 6 sessions of 121 CBT therapy for my anxiety and made me feel so much better. I had already been suffering with anxiety for a couple of years without asking for help, and lockdown/full time work/home schooling made me even worse.

Please don't struggle, there is nothing to be ashamed of or to worry you are not the priority at the moment, you are 💐

Lots of people are up and down at the moment but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t speak to the Dr. It’s a lot harder to find your way back to good mental health once you get really low so no harm in having a discussion now whilst you are noticing you are struggling. Too many people soldier on for too long. I hope things improve for you soon

This is how I feel. I was on medication for anxiety but stopped just before lockdown, I need to get back on I think.

The main reason I asked for medication was because I was snapping at the children out of nowhere. I'm not all quite patient and it was odd and unfair to them.

I also lose my appetite and have a feeling of dread when I log onto work that never quite goes away and makes it very difficult to concentrate on what needs doing. There's so much and homeschooling too to fit in.

I think it is a sign of the times to be honest. But it doesn't mean medication won't help.

Agree that a lot of people are feeling this way but that doesn't mean it's the norm/just put up with it.

There are some fantastic resources out there - these guys are really good:
www.actionforhappiness.org/

Usually quite patient!

Vit D
VIT. B12

Deficiencies can make a bad situation feel a whole lot worse.
Once you have a decent supplement regime, a walk everyday, good diet, sleep, and you still feel as you have described, that is anxiety. And asking GP for help is important.

I was going through a very bad patch, lots of external stuff happening to justify my anxiety. However if I had not seen the GP I might not have realised I had hypothyroidism, Hashimotos disorder, and vitamin d deficiency. Talking therapy which I arranged privately.(CBT) also helped to reframe some of external factors.
I did not end up taking antidepressants, not that in some cases that might not also have been the right clinical approach. The medication for thyroid disorder and vit.d, CBT, and exercise all helped me. Grinning and bearing it wouldnt.have.

Seek help if you feel you need it.

I thought that this was a good option.
An overview:
It's normal to feel anxious and low in the face of such an unprecedented global crisis.

Anyone can sign up (for free) to specific online self-help around the pandemic. Start right away on some emotional coping strategies and practical ways for maintaining well-being at this difficult time.

Sign-up here:

cornwall.silvercloudhealth.com/onboard/cornwallnhsft/programs/137/details

You don't have to live in Cornwall to sign up (check Junk for confirmation email)

Tbh when I start reading any sort of podcast on anxiety I feel worse, much worse. Whereas a human being giving some sort of advice, medical overview or feedback (ie GP) is always going to "take you out of yourself".

The reason a lot of us get anxious is because we judge ourselves for not solving our own problems. Just being able to hand the burden over for even a ten minute appt is a step in a different direction.

Thanks everyone. I will have a look at some of the suggested resources. I’m finding doing anything that engages directly with how I am feeling makes me feel worse, but maybe I need to work through that.

Interesting you mention hypothyroid @Nettleskeins - I had blood tests last summer and my thyroid levels were really low, but the GP said that some people do have naturally low thyroid levels so it could be ‘normal for me’ - I assumed he was probably right as I know one of the symptoms is weight gain and I’m borderline underweight (always have been) but lots of my other symptoms match up.

I could do with speaking to my GP anyway about other things so maybe I will mention it.

I’ve tried the NHS self assessment and it suggests I should see my GP about depression which makes me feel less worried that I’d just be having a whinge.