There was a point last year where I was feeling very low and I knew that I could no longer cope with my feelings of anxiety. I went to see my GP and was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression.
I was given a prescription for antidepressants and referred to an NHS counselling program. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the program helpful. The majority of my sessions were over the phone and I felt that I was not engaged or able to develop a meaningful relationship with my counsellor.
After four months of the treatment, I decided the NHS counselling wasn’t helping and instead sought private therapy. I was very happy with the private treatment I received.
During the process, I saw several different GPs at my practice. The first GP I spoke to didn’t make eye contact with me during the entire appointment. And although I understand that he may have been distracted, it made me feel that I couldn’t trust him and that I was being judged for how I was feeling.
Thankfully, I was able to find another GP at the surgery who made me feel that I was listened to, and I really felt that she really cared about my feelings.
If I was to offer advice to someone who is feeling low or anxious it would be to understand that you are allowed to feel what you are feeling and even though it’s in your head, it’s still real. Find a GP that you make a connection with and you feel listens to you, and if you don’t think you have that kind of relationship with your current GP, consider looking for a new one.
More information
Your Experiences
Hear people's experiences of accessing treatment for mental health conditions, and their ideas for how care could improve.
Examples of outstanding care
Find out what some GP services are doing to improve the lives of people with mental health conditions and recognise their concerns.
Take part in the conversation
Join the conversation on Twitter using the #YourMentalHealthCare hashtag, or tell us about your care through our website.