Discussion & help on depression & mental health related issues

TheAlmightyFloater said:
Wondering if I can ask some questions here (and it's completely fine if no one feels like answering).

How do first visits to the GP go? What happens at them?

Were any options other than pills/medication discussed? Or are antidepressants the first thing offered?
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Fletch said:
Mine was straightforward but then I knew when I went what I had to do, I have spent many years avoiding any type of medication for anything but I have never been able to lift myself out of the fog of depression so wanted to try SSRI's

He asked a few questions, did I feel like harming myself, have I taken them before, remarked that i looked very smart and able to look after myself, which I do. He then suggested an anti-depressant and prescribed it there and then, I took the first tablet before I got home and then every morning since then.

You will get a 2 week trial first so they can monitor you and review at your next appointment. Only thing I would say is that I have noticed a drop in libido but not too bothered at this point, I'm hoping this will return to a normal level.
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COYBL25 said:
I think it all depends on your GP and how the surgery is run. I saw my GP first who then referred me to the practise CPN - Community Pysch Nurse. She did an evaluation based on a tick box sheet on general mental health. Each question gave a score out of one to ten and the sum total gives a rough idea of your mental health. There's a name for this test, but I can't remember it. At the time I wasn't il enough to fall under her care, so I was reffered back to the GP. He then prescribed a short course of anti depressants and then got me back in for a review. They didn't agree with me, so he changed them for different ones which had anti anxiety properties too.

Your GP will have seen many many patients in your position mate, so don't feel embarrassed in anyway. Be totally honest too, as the more info the GP has, the more they can help you.

You don't need to mention anything about medication at all to the GP as he / she will have a full knowledge of what's available and that's why it's important that they have as much info as possible, so that they can decide which is the right one for you.
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Hi mate most points are covered in the above replies
In my experience and everybody differs, going to the GP was difficult as I felt in some ways embarrassed. After discussing it with the GP I walked out feeling bigger and stronger and a certain weight of my shoulders. I realised after it that I had done something for me and something that was going to have rewards for everybody close too me. I am I guess lucky as I got free couselling through work, this helped no end as talking through things and understanding is/has helped me no end.
If you work for a big company see if this is available
I guess the point I am trying to make is speaking with your GP and getting help maybe the best decision you will ever make.

good luck:)
 
Lowste said:
Hi mate most points are covered in the above replies
In my experience and everybody differs, going to the GP was difficult as I felt in some ways embarrassed. After discussing it with the GP I walked out feeling bigger and stronger and a certain weight of my shoulders. I realised after it that I had done something for me and something that was going to have rewards for everybody close too me. I am I guess lucky as I got free couselling through work, this helped no end as talking through things and understanding is/has helped me no end.
If you work for a big company see if this is available
I guess the point I am trying to make is speaking with your GP and getting help maybe the best decision you will ever make.

good luck:)
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Counselling seems to be the best and worst option for me. I am by nature a very private person (even posting in this thread makes me itch) so talking about it seems terrible.
At the same time I realise that talking about it first is probably better than diving straight into meds and may even resolve issues without the need to take it further.

My uni probably offers free counselling too, although I'd probably be lucky to get one or two sessions booked before my course ends in April.
 
TheAlmightyFloater said:
Counselling seems to be the best and worst option for me. I am by nature a very private person (even posting in this thread makes me itch) so talking about it seems terrible.
At the same time I realise that talking about it first is probably better than diving straight into meds and may even resolve issues without the need to take it further.

My uni probably offers free counselling too, although I'd probably be lucky to get one or two sessions booked before my course ends in April.
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Join the club mate
I am the same so going the Dr then going on my first counselling session felt like i was entering something I had little or no control over and it scared me.
The counselling shocked me.
I sat there like a captured SAS soldier as nobody was going to get anything private out of me. I reckon within 5 mins I was singing like a Canarie, and it felt good but more importantly it felt right.
Little things they said about me in the sessions shocked me, as I knew they were right. I guess in what I told them all made sense to them, and they simply started to form a picture of me.
In my situation the counselling has kept me off any medication, but I guess it is different for different people
As for your Uni, I am sure they have a website look on it for Wellbeing or the likes. In most cases these sessions can be set up quickly and I am sure most Uni's have them in place
Worth looking into
 

TheAlmightyFloater said:
Thanks for replying.

If you don't mind my asking, did you go in asking to try SSRI's or did the doctor suggest them?
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To be honest mate I knew what I wanted, I knew what I had to do, I'm 47, I'd had enough of feeling like I did / do, I wanted to change things, I asked the doctor for them, he didn't try and talk me out of it or suggest something else. Took my 14th pill yesterday and in for the review tomorrow.
 
TheAlmightyFloater said:
I get that not everyone experiences side effects, and that the majority of side effects are minimal in terms of harm caused.

I have seen the side effects first hand though, and the over-zealous nature in which the pills were prescribed in the first place.

I just thought I'd ask and see if anyone has experienced something similar.
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Your earlier questions have been well answered but it does pay to have a regular GP. One that you trust, not Dr. Weekoff!

Anyway, if they do prescribe a medication, you have a right to know what the known side effects are. You can keep an eye out for any of these & get back to your GP as soon as you notice them.

Also, your GP may refer you to a specialist rather than go straight to pills. Again, ask your GP if this is a worthwhile exercise in your particular circumstances. It may not be needed, but it could give you some peace of mind when your mental state is easily described to you. I personally found it particularly helpful when Dopamine was explained to me.
 
TheAlmightyFloater said:
Wondering if I can ask some questions here (and it's completely fine if no one feels like answering).

How do first visits to the GP go? What happens at them?

Were any options other than pills/medication discussed? Or are antidepressants the first thing offered?
Click to expand...

I just explained how I was feeling, or not feeling. And how something wasn't right. I did nearly break down tbh.

I got started on anti depressants straight away as well as offered counselling but I know some doctors will ask you to return in a week depending.
 
Fletch said:
To be honest mate I knew what I wanted, I knew what I had to do, I'm 47, I'd had enough of feeling like I did / do, I wanted to change things, I asked the doctor for them, he didn't try and talk me out of it or suggest something else. Took my 14th pill yesterday and in for the review tomorrow.
Click to expand...

BiggyRat said:
Your earlier questions have been well answered but it does pay to have a regular GP. One that you trust, not Dr. Weekoff!

Anyway, if they do prescribe a medication, you have a right to know what the known side effects are. You can keep an eye out for any of these & get back to your GP as soon as you notice them.

Also, your GP may refer you to a specialist rather than go straight to pills. Again, ask your GP if this is a worthwhile exercise in your particular circumstances. It may not be needed, but it could give you some peace of mind when your mental state is easily described to you. I personally found it particularly helpful when Dopamine was explained to me.
Click to expand...

AdamDex said:
I just explained how I was feeling, or not feeling. And how something wasn't right. I did nearly break down tbh.

I got started on anti depressants straight away as well as offered counselling but I know some doctors will ask you to return in a week depending.
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Thank you all for your replies.

I've got an appointment with a GP in a week. I asked for a specific GP because she took a family member seriously when they had similar issues and other doctors at the practice didn't.

We'll see how it goes. Again, thanks for all your answers.
 

bugsy said:
Isn't there something you can do with being bilingual must be a call for Russian/ English mate
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Not really mate. I was looking for this for more then SIX month without any success. There are loads of EU sitizens from Lithuania and Latvia who live here for many years and they speak Russian as well.
 
LinekersLegs said:
A couple of months back I had a bit of a medical scare but thankfully further test results I got today came back benign. Yippeee!!!!

Cheers for all the kind messages posted both on this thread and privately, I very much appreciated it. When I signed up for a football forum I never would have guessed I’d be embraced by such a supportive community, thanks all xxx
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Good news.
 
LinekersLegs said:
A couple of months back I had a bit of a medical scare but thankfully further test results I got today came back benign. Yippeee!!!!

Cheers for all the kind messages posted both on this thread and privately, I very much appreciated it. When I signed up for a football forum I never would have guessed I’d be embraced by such a supportive community, thanks all xxx
Click to expand...

Great news x
 
LinekersLegs said:
A couple of months back I had a bit of a medical scare but thankfully further test results I got today came back benign. Yippeee!!!!

Cheers for all the kind messages posted both on this thread and privately, I very much appreciated it. When I signed up for a football forum I never would have guessed I’d be embraced by such a supportive community, thanks all xxx
Click to expand...
:cheers::cheers:
 

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