GP's and Mental Illness

whippy

Hi there,

I'm looking for some feedback and ultimately, advice.

My partner is incredibly down and has been up and down for years. He say himself he thinks he suffers from depression. He has little to no self enteem and is growing increasingly frustrated and volatile. He has no interest in socialising, or even going outside and he's started to drink a little more than I think is healthy.

On two occations over the last 18 months I've managed to persuade him to go to a GP. Both visits were disasters.

The first GP perscribed him anti-depersents two minutes after meeting him and told him to go home to his fathers farm for a while and bale hay. The next told him that he was too intelligent for counselling and told him to take B vitimens.

I don't know where to turn now. I was under the impression that you access services through your GP?! Now I feel like I've set him back as I know how difficult it was for him to go to those doctors in the first place and I'm worried now that he'll be put off seeking help for how he feels.

I'm getting very angry. I know that is only two doctors and we could have been unlucky but I have a suspicion that that is not the case. about 8 years ago I was suffering from depression and my GP at the time perscribed me Seroxat, never offered my counselling and when I asked told me it was a chemical disorder not an emotional one and when I asked to come off it he refused to allow me. Thanks to a fantastic nurse where I went to college who helped to wean me off it after two years, I'm fine now but I'm still a little angry about it.

Now I want my partner to get the help we both believe he needs but I can't risk setting him back even further by sending him on another path that will drag him further into himself.

Is this a common problem with GP's?

It's also quite difficult to know where to go for advice. Of course you can find association website with lists of therapists but how do you know who you should be approaching. I suppose that's what I had hoped the GP would help out with.

Sorry for going on.

I'd appreciate and thoughts / advice.

Thanks,

Whippy

Kevster

Here are some words of advice:

- Stick with the same GP
- Be VERY aware that medication will not solve his problems (most of the work has to be done by him, and not the medication)
- Tell him to tell the GP exactly what he and you want. Don't just sit there and be told things. Be proactive during each session.

I'd write more but I'm feeling anxious and depressed

p.pete

Sorry whippy, we can't have advice threads like this as per the forum charter, but please take a look at this sticky:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055744231