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Anyone feel they have been dismissed by a GP?
Hi,
at the age of 14 I had my first anxiety attack; screaming in the middle of a crowded restaurant. This lead onto OCD. By the age of 16, hours were spent dedicated to rituals such as cleaning until 3 O'clock in the morning, leaving only 4 hours before school. By this point I thought it was time to see my GP, who dismissed me as having exam stress but still gave me leaflets on OCD and anxiety to educate me on the subject. I felt rather insulted, I could have taught the GP a thing or two about OCD and anxiety seen as I'm the one living with it! At the age of 19, I had a bout of depression and was given and short course of tablets. When asking about counselling for the OCD, anxiety and depression, I was told, "sorry we don't provide it". 18 months later I feel overloaded with rituals and anxiety. I lie in bed for as long as I can until I have no option but to get up and start the exhausting day all over again. I didn't even shower for a full week or brush my hair; I've stopped caring for my appearance, I'm too overwhelmed. I've even got HIV anxiety, been to see 4 different doctors who believe I'll be fine but it's not good enough so I've took a test and I'm just waiting on the results. I feel the GP should have offered me help a long time ago.....?
at the age of 14 I had my first anxiety attack; screaming in the middle of a crowded restaurant. This lead onto OCD. By the age of 16, hours were spent dedicated to rituals such as cleaning until 3 O'clock in the morning, leaving only 4 hours before school. By this point I thought it was time to see my GP, who dismissed me as having exam stress but still gave me leaflets on OCD and anxiety to educate me on the subject. I felt rather insulted, I could have taught the GP a thing or two about OCD and anxiety seen as I'm the one living with it! At the age of 19, I had a bout of depression and was given and short course of tablets. When asking about counselling for the OCD, anxiety and depression, I was told, "sorry we don't provide it". 18 months later I feel overloaded with rituals and anxiety. I lie in bed for as long as I can until I have no option but to get up and start the exhausting day all over again. I didn't even shower for a full week or brush my hair; I've stopped caring for my appearance, I'm too overwhelmed. I've even got HIV anxiety, been to see 4 different doctors who believe I'll be fine but it's not good enough so I've took a test and I'm just waiting on the results. I feel the GP should have offered me help a long time ago.....?
As I'm not familar with your health system, definitely heed Lilly's advice. In the mean time, try to pick up the book The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free of OCD. Also there is one called Self-Coaching by Joseph Luciani. Another, that I have not read but is recommended by others, is called Brain Lock.
You cannot just give up. You have hit the depression side of unchecked OCD and that is why you are not taking proper care of yourself. YOU need to say ENOUGH and get up and order these books and when you get them you need to read and do the worksheets (OCD Workbook). We have to rely on ourselves sometimes to jolt us back to reality. Yell at yourself if you have to...whatever it takes to get you up and going.
There is treatment for this that works. I know because it has worked for me. You are just not seeing the right people. Maybe Lilly can help you figure out what your next step is with your socialized healthcare system.
You cannot just give up. You have hit the depression side of unchecked OCD and that is why you are not taking proper care of yourself. YOU need to say ENOUGH and get up and order these books and when you get them you need to read and do the worksheets (OCD Workbook). We have to rely on ourselves sometimes to jolt us back to reality. Yell at yourself if you have to...whatever it takes to get you up and going.
There is treatment for this that works. I know because it has worked for me. You are just not seeing the right people. Maybe Lilly can help you figure out what your next step is with your socialized healthcare system.
Hey
Sorry to hear you're having a hard time.
At the moment I'm receiving medication prescribed by my GP and was referred to a counsellor (through NHS). I think there are not always counsellors in every practice, but in that case i wonder if they would refer you to another practice?
I told my GP I was anxious when I was younger and he said he could offer me help with it, but I thought it would pass so I said it was OK. Then on other occasions I mentioned being anxious but he didn't bring up getting treatment. Only when I sort of made a point of saying this anxiety is taking over my life did they take action (I guess you have to show them its not something fleeting).
I guess you could try a different GP in your practice or I think on NHS you can visit another practice (its your right to apparently). Unfortunately the waiting list for counselling can be very long (I waited from Dec til June). But I got some free sessions through my university and then paid for 6 sessions privately til the NHS came round. The counsellor said this was the best idea as I've improved a lot since January and we can progress quicker in the counselling sessions.
What do you think you can try?
Sorry to hear you're having a hard time.
At the moment I'm receiving medication prescribed by my GP and was referred to a counsellor (through NHS). I think there are not always counsellors in every practice, but in that case i wonder if they would refer you to another practice?
I told my GP I was anxious when I was younger and he said he could offer me help with it, but I thought it would pass so I said it was OK. Then on other occasions I mentioned being anxious but he didn't bring up getting treatment. Only when I sort of made a point of saying this anxiety is taking over my life did they take action (I guess you have to show them its not something fleeting).
I guess you could try a different GP in your practice or I think on NHS you can visit another practice (its your right to apparently). Unfortunately the waiting list for counselling can be very long (I waited from Dec til June). But I got some free sessions through my university and then paid for 6 sessions privately til the NHS came round. The counsellor said this was the best idea as I've improved a lot since January and we can progress quicker in the counselling sessions.
What do you think you can try?
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