Hi I was recently diagnosed with depression and anxiety following a serious of bad events in my life over the past 18 months, including a misccariage and my husband being taken seriously ill due to misdiagnosis by a gp. My low mood started to develop last year which my GP did pick up on but I passed it off at the time as stress due to work, but following a bad experience on holiday including not sleeping and feeling anxious all the time I decided to seek help. I have also suffered from an eating disorder in the past for which I had counselling at school/university.
Initially my GP referred me for an assesment for talking therapy and asked me to come back. He did mention pills but I explained that I didn't want due to wanting to try for a baby. I should add I am waiting for surgery which may solve the problem but must likely won't. I am also in constant pain since having a prevous surgery in March. I went to a follow up appointment with him but was still waiting for the assesment and the topic of pills came up again. The assesment resulted in me being put on a list for CBT but I am still waiting for the appointment (3 weeks).
Over the past 2 weeks I have been feeling more and more down, not helped by my hospital appointment being cancelled and my husband called my GP for a telephone appointment for me and the result was that I now have a prescription for sertraline. I do believe my GP has listened to my concerns about taking the pills but I still feel pressured into taking them. I actually feel more anxious now at the thought of taking them.
I've read about the side effects and really don't want to risk feeling any worse at the moment as I have a lot on at work which I am trying to keep on top off as I run my own company and am responsible for groups of teenagers. I've also read about people struggling to get off them again.
One of my particular concerns is that we have applied to adopt a child and I am worried that this will affect our chances. We already have several negative points against us due to a large age difference between my husband and me and his recent health problems which have caused some long term effects.
I haven't taken any of the pills although my husband is now pushing me to take. I have to travel alot for work at the moment and I just can't bring myself to take them. I am supposed to go back to GP in 2 weeks to see if they make a difference but am tempted to cancel the appointment and wait to see if the CBT helps.
So I was just wodnering if anyone else has experience of feeling pushed to take antidepressants and whether you have taken them or not? Does it affect how you are treated by the GP/ counsellor?