Can I ask for antidepressants?

[NotSureFeelingLost]

I am thinking about going to the doctor for antidepressants but I don’t know where to start. Can I just go to the GP and ask? Or will they suggest therapy first? I am open to therapy but right now I just don’t have the time, I have done it before and it was exhausting. I thought anti depressants or anxiety meds might give me a bit of a breathing space.

I have had a job change recently, it’s my dream job, but I’ve really struggled. It’s a huge step up and I’ve moved from a job and people I adored. I feel like I’m failing. I also feel like I’m blowing it way out of proportion and over reacting. But I keep getting tearful at the drop of a hat and have this constant niggling panicky feeling.

The thing is I’ve struggled with these moods privately since I was a child. Self harm, low self esteem. No one cared when I was a kid and so I just got on with it. So why now I’m an adult can’t I just do the same? And how do I even explain it. I am not good at asking for help in general, and am distrustful of doctors. I don’t think they’ll believe me about how long this has been going on, as I am now late 30s. I just feel so pathetic!

Of course they will believe you!
Explain how long it’s been going on, but that you’ve been able to mask it previously, and you’re tired of coping. That you’ve tried talking therapy in the past, and it didn’t work. So now you’d like to try antidepressants, and see if they are the answer.

Thank you for replying. It’s seems so simple when you say it!

Yes it’s fine, I went to the dr and explained I was feeling very low and anxious, and that I was willing to give therapy a go but really needed something to give me a lift now and the energy to push through and so a daily dose of serotonin sounded very welcome, and they gave me an immediate prescription for citalopram and a referral for counselling that would take longer to go through

I went to Gp last year . My life situation was horrific . Out of my control ..

Gp suggested counselling but I couldn’t because I was already at breaking point . She encouraged me to take antidepressants to cope and get sleep .

In terms of counselling I have had really good and really bad . You might be in a better place to cope with it when on antidepressants .

There is nothing a gp hasn’t heard before .