What WILL happen if I call 111 and press option 2

[HowdoIgetbacktothe80s]

Although I have suffered with anxiety and depression for most of my life the last few years have been dreadful and with some physical health issues as well to add to the mix, I feel terrible. So worn down and I don’t know who I am anymore.
I have episodes of deep depression/crying and the last 6 months or so I have had some very scary, dark thoughts.
I haven’t told anyone this as it scares me.
Last October I was so low that I went to see my GP, I sat there crying and told her that I sometimes have these fleeting dark thoughts when I cross the road that if I walk in front of a lorry it will stop (this is the truth and took me a huge amount of courage to admit this).
As I was sat there crying, telling her all of my fears, she took a piece of paper and whilst writing on it said ‘if you feel this way call 111 and press option 2’ and pushed the paper over to me.
Tbh, I don’t know what I expected from revealing my thoughts to her but it took me aback, it felt like she hadn’t taken me seriously and was palming me off to someone else. I felt like a fraud.
So, I have sat on this since then, afraid to tell anyone else or to ring 111. However, I am so very low atm, I have so much going on in my life (caring for my mum who has Alzheimer’s and the last 5 years helping my ds through school refusal/anxiety) and it is having a detrimental effect on my marriage and life in general.
The last few days I keep thinking about calling 111 and asking for option 2 but I’m so scared. Scared that no one will take me seriously as I appreciate just how overwhelmed the NHS is especially the mental health departments and I worry incase it opens a can of worms and I get sectioned or something awful.
Has anyone spoken to option 2? What will happen? I don’t know who else to talk to.

So sorry to hear how tough things are for you and how bad you feel!

I am sure someone with more knowledge will be along soon.

While you feel like this and are not sure what to do- have you called the Samaritans? They can't treat you or give advice but talking to them can really help sort you thoughts out. They do have time to listen properly

I think your GP could have been more helpful. Why not just try ringing 111 and seeing what happens when you press option 2? You might get some proper help. Sending hugs, it must be very hard.

Option 2. is for people who need urgent mental health care, so it sounds appropriate.

I'm sorry you're feeling this way at the moment, it sounds like things have been really tough.

I would recommend contacting your local IAPT service. You may be offered talking therapy and should be given information about support that is available locally to you. There may also be cater support available locally to you.

There's also Qwell.io who offer online mental health support from trained professionals.

Good luck x

No idea what happens if you press 2 but your Dr is an arse. Is there another one you could talk to? I’ve mostly had helpful GP’s when I’ve been suffering with my MH, all except one who basically ignored I’d said something then ignored it again when I repeated it!

You can self refer to counselling in many areas if you think that may help? I hope you find some support soon
www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

Thank you everyone. I might give them a call tomorrow, if I have a spare moment when dh and the kids are at work/school.
Wont lie but it’s a scary thought to call a stranger and admit how I feel/think.
My gp did also tell me to contact my local IAPT service, I have used them a few times for video call CBT. They can only now offer typed CBT which I have tried in the past but it actually made me feel worse, it felt very robotic, like I was communicating with a pre-scripted computer. I just want to talk to a human being.
EwDavid and Poisonrunningthroughmyveins thank you for the suggestions, I will try them.
LiesDoNotBecomeUs I have thought of calling the Samaritans many times but never quite plucked up the courage to do so.

I hope you can get the help you need very soon 💐. You do deserve the support!

That's really disappointing that it was text based CBT, I totally understand that must have felt really robotic and potentially invalidating.

The waiting lists for counselling with IAPT may be quite long depending on where you live but they should be able to direct you to other options. There are lots of charities who offer free/low fee counselling so that may also be an option. If you're worried about being able to keep yourself safe 111 is a good option, there should also be a local crisis team who you can contact.

LiesDoNotBecomeUs Thank you
EwDavid I have just been back on to the IAPT website and there was a section to apply for group therapy, I’ve just applied in the hope that may be an option for me. Poor mental health is a lonely place, hopefully connecting with others may help? I will also have a look for local mental health charities, thank you.

In my area, option 2 puts you through to the county's mental health line. Someone on there will talk to you, to find out what's going on, and give advice/suggest strategies. If they believe you are in immediate danger (or someone else is) then they will escalate the call.

@HowdoIgetbacktothe80s
Nothing will happen to you, I have phoned them a couple of times when I was at my worst with anxiety, both times there were women who answered my call and were ever so caring and gentle with the conversation, they ask questions
as to how I'm feeling and what has been happening in my life, also give you coping strategies and helpful numbers for counselling, although I found just speaking with them enough to make me feel better. Also I'm under care with my gp. Honestly don't be afraid to call them, they won't judge you or take you away, they are there to listen.

Is there any chance the GP did this, because you may well be able to get the proper help you need more quickly that way, than the GP could do it?

Just a random thought I've had and more than likely wrong.

You're right, poor mental health feels like such a lonely place but the irony is so many are in the same boat. There's so much support out there though, the tricky part a lot of the time is knowing what there is and how to access it. If you're anywhere in the Midlands feel free to send me a PM and I'll do my best to send some info. Or just if you want a listening ear 😊

Thank you, I am going to try and call them today.
EwDavid sadly, I am many miles away in Essex. Thank you so much though.

Just a quick update.
The therapist (from the IAPT) called me last night for the assessment. I told her everything, what I am experiencing and the scary/uncomfortable dark obsessional thoughts which I have.
She said that unfortunately she could only offer more CBT. I have had 6 lots of CBT in the last 5 years. I explained that I know CBT and how it works and try my hardest to practise the methods every day but this depression is deeper than that, nothing seems to be helping. It is hard to articulate but it feels physically driven, no matter how much I try to remain positive and push myself, it’s like I have a huge bungee rope attached to me, pulling me back in. It is exhausting.
She mentioned there may be some group therapy sessions and she would find out and get back to me. I have had an email this morning to say there are no group sessions for depression or anxiety so they have now discharged me!
So that’s that. Back to square one.
I know they can only offer what is within their budget but I feel just as lost now.

That's really disappointing, I'm so sorry they haven't been more help to you. Have you looked into charity run counselling options in your area? Also for a short term option Qwell are a really good online counselling support. There should also be a local crisis intervention team who you can contact if you're really struggling. I know CBT isn't what you're looking for but there's a book called Overcoming Depression by Paul Gilbert which is really good. It's based on CBT principles and can be used as a sort of self help book but it also just gives some really good insight into depression itself.

Can you speak with another gp at your surgery? You've had a lot of cbt and it isn't cutting it.
Sorry if I missed it but are you in any medication? Gp can prescribe antidepressants. There are several types although they usually start with SSRIs.

Gp can also refer you to the mental health team in your area for further support.

EwDavid Thank you, I will take a look. I have looked at local mental health charities but can’t find anything, everything seems to come back to my local IAPT.
RichTeaCheddars I will see if I can speak with a different gp. I have tried several different antidepressants but sadly they exacerbate the digestive issues I suffer from. I practice hypnotherapy and the Mindful app every day and have done so for a year but it’s not really having much impact on my mental health right now.

Sorry to revive a zombie thread but I came here from Googling basically the thread title and I really feel for you, OP - @HowdoIgetbacktothe80s, how are things now? (feel free to PM or ignore me, as well)