How to confront my family doctor about depression?!
Question: Once I've explained to him a very explicit thought/vision I've had, and said I thought I needed help. He just blew it off as nothing. I was also diagnosed with scoliosis that day, so maybe that was just a big distraction? Is there a certain way I should tell/ask him? I don't really feel comfortable saying "I think I'm depressed." because I feel like he'll just blow it off and think "yeah right just like everyone else right?"
Answers: Once I've explained to him a very explicit thought/vision I've had, and said I thought I needed help. He just blew it off as nothing. I was also diagnosed with scoliosis that day, so maybe that was just a big distraction? Is there a certain way I should tell/ask him? I don't really feel comfortable saying "I think I'm depressed." because I feel like he'll just blow it off and think "yeah right just like everyone else right?"
A general practictioner MD isn't really the best person to see for depression, especially if you don't feel comfortable with them or feel they're insensitive. You really should see a mental health clinician. If you're worried about insurance coverage, call their 800 number or whatever and ask about referrals, maybe they have a website where you can find someone covered by your policy, etc. About 80% of people who go to a GP for depression will get a rushed, 10 minute chat, a prescription for anti-depressants, and little follow-up. And that's ok, if that's what you're looking for, and some people are. But it sounds like you want to talk with someone a little more understanding. In healthcare, like most things, you need to sometimes be a little agressive to get what you need.
you can seek a counselor on your own and maybe switch docs if you're not getting the care you want
if you are open and honest with your doctor about something as serious as depression and he just blows you off,then it is time to find a new doctor. There is no excuse for that. The number one trait a good doctor should possess is good listening skills!!
This can be kind of awkward. Here's some things I'd say if I were in your shoes.
"Do you have any recommendations, as for, like, non-prescription depression treatments?"
"Are there any medicines I can take for mild depression symptoms?"
"Yeah, I was wondering if you are licensed to diagnose depression."
Your patient rights allows you to change doctors and seek a second advice, But you need to tell them what you want, what is best for you. Get e referal to a good Pyschiatrist. Seek counsel from public health until your appointment is ready for doc. There is alot of help out there for you. You need to tap into it. Most GP only have a few hours training with mental health. That is why sometimes you have to search out the help you need. Dont be discouraged it is not that hard to find good help.
I used the WebFerret search engine: "depression: test" and got around 30 hits. Use your search engine, Yahoo's, Altavista, Entireweb, etc. Do an online test: print the result, and take it along. HOWEVER, first go to www.womentowomen.com and read their article on antidepressants. The servers at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris (in section 2) appear to be down (hopefully only temporarily). In addition to providing the relevant reference to that website, I'll also refer you to the blog of shaneris at www.myspace.com Although most of the material is more or less duplicated there, I am unable to provide you with section, and page numbers, unfortunately, so you will just have to scroll through, until you find the appropriate blogpost. Sorry for any inconvenience: you can either be patient, and wait until they come back online, or wade your way through the Myspace blog, but it is probably more easily located in the blog of sacha reinhardt, also at Myspace. This is the first time it has occurred, and I certainly hope it will be the last. Use the multidimensional approach to treating depression, including occupational therapy (keeping busy, so you have little time for unproductive introspection), relaxation exercises, either 4, or more (some people take up to 10, depending on size, and potency) Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily, or preferably "krill oil*". Work your way slowly up to 20 - 30 minutes of exercise daily, depending on age, and physical condition. It doesn't rely on antidepressants, which are only effective in the long term with about 30% of people. You can, however, include supplements such as Inositol, SAMe, or herbal remedies, like St. John's wort (Hypericum Perforatum), which has been demonstrated through independently conducted German double blind testing to be effective in many cases, including clinical depression. American testing, which I strongly suspect of having been influenced by those with a vested interest in maintaining/increasing their billions of dollars of profits for antidepressant sales, have (not surprisingly) shown it to be ineffective in clinical (major) depression. Counselling, in the form of Rational Emotive Behavio(u)ral Therapy, or Cognitive Behavio(u)ral therapy is advisable, at least in the early stages, after which it can become a bit "same old, same old" for some people. Closely examine the http://www.1-800-therapist.org website, and I suggest setting an initial limit with the therapist of, say, 6 months, so they have no (unconscious) reason to try to stretch it out, indefinitely, as some do. Go to the searchbar* at http://www.mercola.com and enter: "EFT". Give it a good tryout, preferably through a registered practicioner: there is a locator for the USA there. In Australia, there is http://www.findatherapist.com.au/ Phone (Australia) 1300 365 411, and www.naturaltherapypages.com.au See http://www.babcp.co.uk/ in Great Britain. In other countries, type the term: "therapist", followed by your country's 2 letter code, for example, if I was in New Zealand, I would type: "therapist;nz" and then enter it by clicking on the green "go" arrow, on the right hand side of the address bar, to use the search engine (for those of you new to computers). The WebFerret search engine consults several other search engines, and collates the results. Try yours, Yahoo, AltaVista, or Entireweb, otherwise. If the amount of daylight you have been exposed to recently has reduced, perhaps due to the change of seasons, instead of taking 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily; replace 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements for the winter months only! (or, as probably a better alternative to the 2 cod liver oil supplements: 1 teaspoonful of cod liver oil, with a little butter, to ensure its use; I take mine on sourdough rye bread, or toast, covered with fishpaste, and pepper, to mask the strong taste). Consider having your doctor test your vitamin D levels, using the 25 Hydroxyvitamin D test. Optimal levels are 50 - 55 ng/ml (115 - 125 nmol/l. It should be above 32 ng/ml. Those people who receive adequate exposure to sunlight, daily, won't need the vitamin D from cod liver oil, but many people, particularly those in latitudes far from the equator, find this difficult, to achieve. You can also enter "depression", or "Seasonal Affective Disorder" in the Google, or Wikipedia websites.