I've been just about coping with anxiety and depression and obsessive thoughts for years now. I feel like in some ways my brain just doesn't function right but there's also a lot of stuff from the past (and present) that's affecting me.
Mostly I can cope (in part through avoidance) but at times I spiral and I'm starting to do that again. I don't know what kind of help to seek. I really would like to try medication at this point but because I've never gone to GP previously he had no interest in putting me on it as a new patient. I've been referred to IAPT which sounds unhelpful to me - I know a lot of strategies and I do them but after years I'm really tired of trying to manage all these stupid irrational things myself.
I'd pay for a private psychiatrist (so I can get a throrough diagnosis and maybe meds) but I don't know if that would help and also very expensive and I don't know where to find one.
I'll probably pay for private counselling but again I'm overwhelmed and don't know how to pick one. I don't know, is it best to go through iapt and then GP again and hope after a while they actually work out how to help me??