How to go about getting help from a doctor for mental health?
Posted , 4 users are following.
Due to personal reasons, I haven’t seen the doctor in years. I’d say it’s been at least 6 years since I went to get a check-up or anything. I moved this past year and I’ve found a doctor whom I plan on scheduling an appointment with eventually. I’d like to get answers to mental health issues I’ve been dealing with since I was 13. I have talked to my doctor about the possibility of having depression - but he didn’t think there was anything wrong with me since it wasn’t constant. Ever since I was 17, when I did a school project on borderline personality disorder, I’ve felt like I finally had an answer. I remember reading about it and thinking, “wow that sounds familiar.” Since, I’ve done a little more research and found that I had been living with several of the traits for years now, I just never could figure out how to explain it as the one time I did, I was denied that anything was wrong with me. I’d like to speak to my new doctor about it, but I’m not sure how to go about it. I don’t want to go in saying “I think I have borderline personality disorder” but I don’t know how else to explain what’s wrong with me. Help?
0 likes, 4 replies
lester90053 alex08877
Posted
If he is not a mental health specialist ask him to refer you to one.
alex08877 lester90053
Posted
I've only spoke to one doctor about this, and as far as I know he wasnt a specialist. I plan on finding another doctor to talk to where I live now, I just dont know how to go about
hypercat alex08877
Posted
If you are in the UK go and see your doctor and say you want to be referred to a counsellor. In many areas you can refer yourself so ask if you can. If you do some googling about facilities in your area you will find this information.
If you are in the USA then you look for your own counsellor. Online is always a good place to start. x
Amy88121 alex08877
Posted
Hi alexo8877
I have always been one to bottle up my feelings too. I usually do that to try and block out intrusive / unwanted thoughts in the hope they will go away.
I have gone through a few things in my life in the last 5 years, including loss of several loved ones, helping my Mum through severe anxiety, my Dad had a heart attack (thankfully he is ok now) and other family members being diagnosed with cancer. That has bought on a lot of anxiety for me over the years and now for the last 8 months or so, I am dealing with relationship anxiety.
So anyway, as I mentioned, I tend to keep things to myself and find it hard to speak out. I can imagine that if I went to the doctors like you and they told me there was nothing wrong with me, I would lose complete confidence in my doctor and probably withdraw from thinking they could help.
I haven't been to the doctors directly for my anxiety however, my friend who works for the NHS told me about a self referral service that you can sign up for. Your doctors are made aware that you have done this, it will be placed on your doctors file but you don't need to be referred by your GP. If you look via the NHS website and search for self referral counselling, it gives you a link to local services in your area. I did the same and have had a self assessment over the phone. They then determine which therapy is most suitable for you. In my case, I start CBT at the end of this month.
Hope this helps, good luck and keep me posted with how you get on 😃