Worried about talking to doctor about anxiety problem

Mental health
1

I'm new to this board.

I've had issues with worry and anxiety my entire life, and as far as I know I was born this way.  There was never anything in particular that triggered it.  My parents, and everyone else, just considered me a worrier, but never really knew how bad it was.

About 7 years ago, I noticed my anxiety slowly getting worse and worse.  I've been trying to figure out why, but have come up empty.  At the time I really didn't know much about it until I Googled it.

I exhibit almost all of the mental symptoms - irritable, agitated, fatigue, self-conscious, sense of detachment, fear of going crazy, poor memory, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping, worry, expecting the worst, frequent anxiety attacks.

I also have a lot of physical symptoms - light headed, headaches often, muscle tension, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, chest pain/tightness, upset stomach, restless, frequent urination, digestive/intestinal issues, twitch/shakes/tingling.

I've never seen a doctor about it, probably because I'm too damn anxious about it.  I worry he won't believe me, or that I am just after some meds or something.  I also find it pretty embarrassing.  I was getting to a breaking point and knew it.  Every day I could feel things getting worse and worse.  I was having almost daily anxiety attacks, but thankfully I was able to take some extended leave from work for unrelated reasons.  That leave is ending in a few weeks, and I am still a wreck, so I've got suck it up and go see my doctor.  Any advise?

 

2

See your Doctor Mike. He'll be able to help you. You're not alone.

3

I would see the doctor. It's hard to talk about and can make you anxious, but they can help. I take citalopram which helps, if you don't want to take medication they can refer you to counselling. I had my first session yesterday.

4

Hi - Make that appointment and while you are waiting for the day make a plan and write it down. Write down your symptoms, print out what you have written here if you prefer  - it seems very clear to me then write down what you want from the Dr just to remind yourself what you will need to ask about. Have you thought about medication or would you prefer to try counseling instead, or both? What are the waiting lists like for support in your area. Do they do exercise on prescription? Will you need more time off work and therefore need to ask the Dr for a note? What physical tests will the Dr need to carry out if any and if so how long is it to wait for the tests and then wait for the results? Does your Dr recommend any online support if you have to wait for further treatment? Are there any support leaflets the Dr can print off for you? Is there anything you need to do to prepare for the appointment such as do you need to take someone with you? Do you know where to park your car, or which bus to take? A plan will help everything go well and for you to get the most out of the appointment,  then after the appointment can you go somewhere for a cup of tea or a walk  just to relax a little? All will be ok, The first step is the hardest. You can do it - all the best

5

Hello Mike

You seem to be carrying this burden alone!  Please see your GP, as others have suggested.  There is nothing to be embarrassed about.  Much more is known and understod by GPs today.  You CAN get help, and ther is always this site to go to for a chat.  Yes!  I do believe some of us are "born" worriers.  I think there is something in the genes.  Good Luck, and please do not suffer alone anymore.

6

First of all please pay absolutely no attention to what you read on Google as it is a merely a large collection of opinions, some of which are useful, but many which are completely off-the-wall, useless and very misleading.

So what I am saying is that you should not attempt to self-diagnose, as doing so could well increase your anxiety and it is in any event a complete waste of time and nervous energy.

Doctors spend many years training in order that they can assist us with our health problems, and therefore it is to your doctor you need to go.

If your doctor recognises that you do have a problem and cannot personally deal with it because it is outside his or her field of expertise, then he/she will refer to another doctor who can deal with it.

So basically you have to STOP worrying, and deal with your difficulty/ problem/ illness in a methodical way and please take the correct course of action which is to make your doctor your first stop.

7

If not for a little research on the internet, I would not have known that anxiety is a diagnosable condition, nor would I have considered contacting my doctor about it.  I have booked an appointment.  I do understand that the internet is not a substitute for a doctor and anything read on the net must be taken with skepticism.

I'm not sure I follow your comment saying I need to stop worrying.  This is an anxiety forum, right?  If I could simply stop worrying, I wouldn't need to be on this forum, nor would anyone else really.  People with anxiety worry excessively and uncontrollably even if they  understand that those worries are completely unfounded.  Perhaps I misunderstood your comment.

8

Ok then let me put it another way.

Can you think of any benefit whatsoever in worrying yourself into an early grave?

Action is need not worry, and that is why you shouldn't hesitate seeing your doctor before things deteriorate.

 

9

There is no benefit to worrying.  I completely agree and fully realize that most of my worries are ridiculous, but that does not make a difference; I still worry.  I've been trying to stop worrying my entire life.  It is uncontrollable.

I have booked an appointment with my doctor, though I can already feel the anxiety building, and have been trying to distract myself.  I worry that he won't believe me, or think I am just after meds, or time off work or something else.  It is embarrassing, and I feel bad about it because I haven't had anything tramatic happen in my life to warrent these feelings.

10

Unless you feel you have a good reason to believe that your doctor will not believe you, I would suggest that maybe you are once again worrying about nothing.

I cannot think of a reason why any doctor would think that you are seeking medications other than because they are strictly necessary, neither can I can I think of any reason why he would think you are specifically seeking time off work, unless again it is strictly necessary.

11

I probably am worrying about nothing, and there's nothing I can do about it.  Hopefully my doctor can!

12

Mike how have you been today? ..any change?

Regards Karl

13

My son did the same as you and internalized his anxiety...he was working and living away from home....luckily I paid an unannounced visit.....a visit to the doctor and medication and CBT He is now coping really well.... still living away from home and workig hard....I felt awful that he had endured this dreadful thing all alone....if you can...tell your family....but you must get to the doctors...with your list of symptoms and ask for help....it is there....I wish you all the best....keep posting on here ....people do care...we care...

14

Just try and accept worrying as another manifestation of the anxiety state - which it is. Of course as someone suffering from anxiety at the moment most things are going to make you feel anxious including your first visit to the doctor to explain how you feel. When anxious your mind is always trying to look for the threat to pin the anxiety on and justify it - the anxiety cycle is just like throwing petrol on a fire. Acceptance of the feelings, thoughts and symptoms of anxiety helps a great deal ie don't fight yourself or keep looking for the 'answer' there isn't one as such. Don't forget we need anxiety as the fight or flight is what saves us from real physical threat and danger.

I'm in recovery at the moment from anxiety but only 2 weeks a go my anxiety led me up the path of feeling tremendously fearful of death and dying any moment. Now my anxiety has abated I'm not giving the death thing much thought.

If it's any consolation, statistically 40 to 50 % of what GP deal with is anxiety or depression issues so they are well versed.

Good luck. Accept your going to worry as you are anxious at the moment. Take the pressure off.

15

You ok Mike?

16

Made it out to my doctor.  He was receptive, but felt it wasn't as bad as I was thinking.  Regardless, he gave me 25mg Sertraline to start, and said if it wasn't making a difference in a month or so, he would up the dose.  Also wants me to contact one of their in clinic counselors, and suggested a book called 'Mind over Mood'.  Been taking the meds for almost two weeks.  Hope they start to kick in soon.

17

Well done...go back to Docs if no improvement.....don't let the anxiety take over your life.....you must fight it....accept it but don't give in to it...best wishes

18

Hi Mike, I know these posts are quite old now but, tomorrow I'm going to see my dr tell him/her I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for ages..... I just wondered how you are now? Any advice? Thanks

19

You clearly don't suffer from this disease and, therfore, have no right to accuse them that "worrying will put them in an early grave"!

You know if it wasn't for self righteous people like you, I would have gotten help instead of being beaten by my father because I "worried too much and it was annoying". Shame on you. You have no idea what people go through. You're yet another reason I still have a hard time with people I don't know because they mast be just as cruel as my father was. I pity you.

And, Mike, please, get the help you need. You'll be guided to the right person who will help you. Medication may not be the answer. Personally I found medication and group therapy to help me. Do what's best for you and never let anyone else tell you differently.

20

Seriously you sound identical to me and i just cannot physically talk to my gp about it i really want to i just cant physically talk on the phone to even make an appointnent i also have kids so I'm never on my own when i go to the doctor which makes it worse just feel as if i am going to be judged. My mum has never known i used to have extreme personality changes where the door bell would ring and id refuse to answer it or the phone or when she said she had people coming over. she always used to call me bipolar which made it impossible to open up to her. If you manage to ever see a doctor please let me know what he said\did\suggested...