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Original poster

Visiting a GP about "mind issues"

45 replies

Thaigal · 29/12/2006 23:38

I have long suspected that all is not right "upstairs" with me, I'm not stupid or anything but I know I act oddly sometimes, to me it's just funny, others find it wierd and childish and I can see why but I still find it funny. I've read up on it and some of my behaviour when I look back at it seems to indicate bi-polar?

I worry over very silly things, I become all wound up and stressed about simple things like getting a different bus for the first time or going somewhere where I don't know the route 100%. I tend to avoid social situations as best as I can, I only have 1 friend and I often make excuses not to see her.

I constantly feel annoyed and angry, often about petty things that happened years ago such as me getting the blame for breaking something as a child when it wasn't me, I feel angry that I was picked on at school and I blame my mum for not dressing me in the right clothes, now I have an obsession with my own kids clothes that they always have to be "the best", I'm not a snob but I worry that if I dont buy their clothes from certain places they will be bullied and end up as "losers" when they're adults (reading it back it sounds ridiculous I know).

I don't sleep very well, when I do go to bed (usually around 1am) I daydream myself to sleep re-living a stupid dream that I had as a teenager...

I also have an obsession with violence, domestic violence inparticular, I have no idea why and I know how awful that is, especially if anyone reads this that has suffered (I am sorry ) I KNOW this is not normal.

So, I thought it was about time I got myself sorted, or at least looked into. I have an idea that this could all be down to abuse I suffered as a child but I don't know, its the only thing I can think of that has maybe made me go a bit loopy.

So, what exactly do you say to a doctor to the effect of "please can I see a shrink? I'm going mad... thanks "

Has anyone done this? a new doctor has started at the surgery, a female who is a very "lovey grandma" type (but younger!) and I would feel easier talking to her than the other male doctors.

Please help, also if you have any idea of the other symptoms I'd love to hear it
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Thaigal · 30/12/2006 00:22

Cab you don't know how relieved I am to see someone talking like that! I honestly thought I was one on my own, maybe I am not so abnormal after all... I just find silly things hilarious and if something draws my attention like that (like the slippers!) I probably would obsess over them for a while, I wouldn't go as far as to ruin them but I have been know to hide my ex's "funny items" in daft places and tie his shoe laces in huge knots etc. When nobody seems to share your sense you humour you do end up feeling like maybe there is something wrong with you.

OP posts:
cab · 30/12/2006 00:25

Thaigal I know what you mean - I really miss the maddies I used to have when I was younger - nothing wrong with a good old giggle now and again. Folk take themselves so seriously as you get older. OK I probably need therapy too....

lemonice · 30/12/2006 00:26

I'm confused now but haven't read the slippers thread..

twinsetandpearls · 30/12/2006 00:28

I have a friend who I think has an odd attention seeking personality ( not that I am saying you have but stay with me for a while.. it will become clear) and while I do think she is a pork pie short of a picnic ( and as a diagnosed mad woman I can say that) she certainly does not have bi polar but perhaps a perosnlity disorder. Anyway she is constantly at her doctor obsessing with every change in her mood and her personlaity traits and seems desperate for a diagnosis of some kind to explain her lovable but odd personlality. She is very unhappy but has been delt quite a shit life and therefore that is not surprising. The reason why she worries me though is bevause we live in a health authority that still uses ECT, something for which I have been considered as I have never responded to any treatment. It always worries me that my friend will end up on a very serious medication with nasty side effects ( she is currently on lithium - well she claims she is but she does like to fabricate things but that is for another thread) or even worse undergoing ECT.

I am not saying you aremaking things up or being attention seeking but I am saying that you need to think carefully when using words like bi polar or manic as they are serious conditions.

The books would be a good idea, I think there is also some stuff on the NICE website.

I hope I ahve not put you off going to the doctor, mental illnesses come in many forms and need not be as extreme as bipolar.

cab · 30/12/2006 00:29

Lemonice it was brilliant - if one is slightly off the wall, as I suspect we all are in our own sweet ways.
There was something about the initial post that just rang a bell with me. I think we all need our eccentricities - (SP) - feel that's what makes people special. Wish you lived down the road theagal !!!!

lemonice · 30/12/2006 00:34

yep i think there is a big difference between the i'm mad me and bipolar

and there are lots of ways to live which don't need treating or diagnosing that's why i was asking if it mattered..

I can't imagine anyone wanting to be on lithium or any other medication for the hell of it

I do think (and this is an aside) that there is a coming fashion for being manic dperessive which is a bit disastrous

twinsetandpearls · 30/12/2006 00:38

Ican't imagine it either lemonice which is why I said that there is something wrong but thatneed not be bi polar or manic depression.

cab · 30/12/2006 00:41

Guys I think you've got her wrong. She's taking a lomg hard look at herself as we all do sometimes and wondering if she needs a bit of help or not. She certainly doesn't sound like someone who's wishing an illness upon herself - just wondering out loud if a bit of help is necessary or not.

lemonice · 30/12/2006 00:41

I think there is an underlying suggestion that you have some issues which you would like to talk through, unfortunately talking is something which there tends to be a really long wait for on the nhs

twinsetandpearls · 30/12/2006 00:43

I wonder if she is on lithium as it is not a medication given out lightly but again the question has to be asked why would you claim to be on a medication such as lithium if you are not. Maybe it is a friendship stratgey, she is pretending to be madder than me so I feel better!

cab · 30/12/2006 00:44

Does it say she's on lithium?

lemonice · 30/12/2006 00:44

cab that's why I said as an aside ie not referring to the op

seeing a psychotherapist or counsellor on the nhs is difficult especially if you aren't obviously suffering an acute problem

twinsetandpearls · 30/12/2006 00:46

sorry that is my fault, told you I wa attention seeking me and my barmy mate have hijacked the thread and confused everyone.

No one said she was making anything up or thatshe shoudl not go to her doctor but just to be careful using words like bi polar or manic.

cab · 30/12/2006 00:46

sorry lemonice - I really have drunk too much - what's an aside? God I have to go to bed.

lemonice · 30/12/2006 00:48

an aside is what frankie howard does when he is being the common man

cab · 30/12/2006 00:48

So to conclude gals does she need therapy or just a good giggle?

cab · 30/12/2006 00:49

Yeh I'm pished but I know whatr an aside ISSS but what aside were you referring to - god somneone send me to bed!!

lemonice · 30/12/2006 00:50

no one can say from a brief thread..if worried see the gp but also think about doing some reading and paying for counselling but try and work out what kind you fancy first before dipping your hand in your pocket

idontlikecrusts · 30/12/2006 00:58

You could look more deeply into general depression too as it isn't always displayed as the classic lethargy and being down.

Also Personality Disorders - such as narcissistic, histrionic, etc.

Bipolar is very specific and you will need a definite diagnosis from a mental health practitioner honestly whatever you have going on.

The defining characteristics broadly being a swing from manic 'up' behaviour to down, slower 'low' behaviour over days weeks or months in a cycle.

More expert posters have already replied here.

There are a myriad of possibilities see your GP but we aware that you may have to battle for help as GPs are not always very clued up and are generally underresourced.

lemonice · 30/12/2006 01:03

some counselling looks back and may unearth stuff from childhood etc, some people benefit from this and others hate it

others look at coping and behaviour

others look forward to the future and don't look at the past

it does depend on what way you feel you need help

anti depressants also act on anxiety and panic, obsessive behaviours and mood disorders

gps are not necessarily good at this area but some are more interested/trained

psychiatrists are experts in chemical therapies

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