Unsympathetic GP

[gettingoneithit]

I had a bad time with my mental health a long time ago and now want to reduce/come off my medication.

I discussed this with my GP so that we could work out a plan to do this. As I rarely have GP appointments and they are so busy I told her how I had rebuilt my life (it hasn't been easy). I thought the GP could have been a bit encouraging about this but she wasn't.

I also told her that I thought my mental health problem had been triggered by childhood abuse and again there was no response.

Am I right in thinking the GP could have been a bit more sympathetic/encouraging?

YANBU.
BUT, it’s a 10 min appointment. Once you’d worked out a plan to reduce meds then the appointment is done really, and GP’s don’t have a lot of training to deal with the whys re MH issues. Counselling is probably where you need to discuss your trauma tbh.

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

I do understand how shit it is though. In one consultation I mentioned about self harm, it was ignored, so I repeated it a couple of minutes later. GP just carried on as if I’d never spoken and sent me on my way.

I’m glad you are feeling things have improved and you are feeling positive about reducing meds, I hope you can get some ongoing support to deal with the childhood abuse.

You went for a medication review, not counselling.

I wasn't expecting counselling but a well done for making good progress or a sorry to hear that wouldn't hurt.

I have worked in mental health and I'm all for encouraging recovery whatever form it takes.

@FlawedHumanBeing - thank you. The GP should have offered some help with the self harming or pointed you in the right direction. I hope you got some help in the end