I want to speak to my Doctor, but how?!


Question: I want to speak to my Doctor, but how!?
Okay, now I have decided that I want to talk to my Doctor about how I've been feeling (depressed), but how do I start!? What words do I use!? And I'm apprehensive as every time I've been to the Doctors (for other reasons) I feel like I've been rushed, or they're in a hurry!. And that's something that has deterred me from speaking to my Doctor about it in the first place!. I would like to take my time in explaining how I feel, not just going in and blurting it out!. So, how do I go about approaching the Doctor with this sensitive subject!? Sorry if I sound daft/silly/stupid, but its really an issue for me, so much so that I haven't been to speak to anyone about it to date!.
Thanks for your help!.Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
I would print out a few article online and bring them with you!. I would tell the Dr that I had been feeling "down" (or however you would describe how you feel) and that you have been doing some reading!. Some websites too have a little test you can take to determine of you are depressed!. You could print out that little test for your Dr too!. Just Google depression, and you will find a LOT of information!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Just make an appointment with a doctor you like and just say "I've been feeling a bit down recently/ for the past few months" the doctor will know what he's looking for and ask you lots of questions about how long you've been feeling like this, appetite, sleeping patterns etc!. The doctor usually leads the conversation, you wont be made to sit there and give a big speech!.

I wouldn't phone up and ask to speak to the doctor over the phone, they're busy people, I worked in a health centre where if someone phoned up saying that we had to say "can I ask what it's about!?"!. Just phone up and make an appointment!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

First of all, you're not daft, silly or stupid - depression needs treated just as any other illness does, so recognising it and wanting to do something about it is one step in the right direction!.
As someone has already mentioned here, a psychiatrist would probably be your best option as a GP might just write you a prescription and keep you off work for a while!.
Just as in any illness, you need to treat the cause, not the symptoms!.
Personally, if I wasn't TOO depressed, I would try and talk to a close friend over a coffee!. Often enough, just through talking to someone you can trust can help you to help yourself!.
Whatever you choose to do, I wish you all the very best!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

I have a friend who is a GP and he has said that at least 30% of his patients come to him with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety!. He/she will have seen it so often that you don't need to approach it sensitively - blurting it out and getting straight to the point will be fine!
Good luck and don't put if off any longer!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

I would suggest that perhaps a good way to communicate with your doctor if you are unsure of how to explain things is to try to write it down before you go and then give it to the doctor for him/her to read!. This also make the process quicker for both of you , just keep it concise!. Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

hiya, most doctors have allot of patients to deal with anytime so i understand it can be frustrating, instead of going to a doctor why don't you go to talk to a councillor they wont rush you into talking and will help you over come your depression
hope you feel better soon hun xxWww@Answer-Health@Com

Make an appointment to see a psychiatrist!. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is able to order tests to make sure that there are no physical or neurological causes for your depression!. Best wishes!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

When you making the appointment with your Doctor, tell the receptioninst you would need longer appointment, as they make it only 10 minutes as a rule!. You do not need to say why, just say it is private matter and would require 20 minutes!. Tell your doctor that you feel depressed, for how long!. I would personally use phrases like 'i do not want to get out of the bed' 'i feel like sleeping all the time' 'i wonder if i will ever feel better' 'i have troubles going to sleep because at night life does not feel worth living'!. I would use some heavy stuff, not necessary suicide threats, but you need to grab your doctor's attention and not just dismiss it as a hormonal, stress or partner problems!. I doubt he will deal with it, most likely he will send you to specialist!. If he only prescribes antidepressants, tell him you want to speak to somebody about it and get help!. Only tablets would not make you feel better!. I would also tell the doctor that it is sensitive subject to you and stress to him that it took lot of courage to speak out about your feelings!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

The way I did it with my doctor is ring up when the office first opens ask the secretary if you can speak to your doctor when he gets on the phone tell him that you need to make an appointment with him about your state of mind and would you need a double appointment for him to go through everything with you as you really need him to listen to you he should say yes and hand you back to the secretary to arrange the appointment even if you cry he wont mind I balled my eyes out and couldnt talk for a bit he waited till I calmed myself and squeezed me in on a very busy day!.Good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com

Well one, you could either write it all down, and make damn sure he sees it, or you could just go in and tell the doctor that you've been depressed and you are wanting help!.!. You can't assume that the doctor knows whats going on in your mind, cause trust me, I've had a doctor recently inform me that everything that was wrong with me, was "In my head" and thats a total lie, granted I have some issues and its been a long year, but I was like I will not allow a medical doctor tell me I'm crazy and to pay him to boot!.!. Oh hell no!.!. Stand strong!.!.!. good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com

I would suggest calling your doctor's office and saying to the receptionist "I've been feeling depressed for a while now and I was wondering if the Doctor could make me a referral to psychiatrist so I can see if I need medication or anything!."

You don't need to go into any further detail than that to get the name of a good psychiatrist!.

Most regular Doctors won't try to listen to how you are feeling or to try and diagnose you b/c that is not their specialty!. You need a Psychiatrist who is a medical doctor that is trained specially for this issue!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Hello,

(ANS) No!.1 - The first point I would like to make too you is that (my dad used to be a family GP based in Liverpool) most GP's are not trained in depth to fully understand mental health matters & given the pressure on their time & services its no surprise they are in such a rush!. No! I'm not excusing them at all!. Most GP's get just 10mins with each patient which I still think is stupid but thats the truth of the matter!. just to put that into some wider context most GP's will see around 40 people a day!.

No!.2 - YES! contact the doctors surgery and ask if you can talk with your doctor over the phone (or get the GP to phone you back)!. I find from past experience that talking over the phone allows you to say things you might not have felt so able to mention if face to face!.

No!.3 GP's are NOT mental health professionals so please you need to be realistic about how the GP can help you!. The GP can either prescribe drugs like anti depressants which have a dubious value, or refer you for some counseling but its normally only short term (i!.e!. x6 sessions often), or might refer you to another specialist!?

No!.4 You really have no need to feel stupid/daft or silly in this situation, why!? because GP's are paid to provide a service to the public (to patients) its there job to try and help you!. Depression is no joke and they should at least be willing to listen to your concerns!.

**My father was trained by the famous Professor Barlint during the 1970's!. Barlint made the connection between patients who came to see the GP with physical symptoms and deeper underlying mental emotional problems!. Back in the 1970's & 80's doctors like my dad could give LOTS of time to people suffering like yourself!. My dad retired back in 1990 & then died in 2000 but over the last 20years the NHS has been pulled through a hedge backwards and the NHS today is NOTHING like the NHS in my dads day!. I think my dad would be extremely upset to see how people are treated now!. Doctors used to seem far more caring back in those days I think!. What I call "old fashioned" doctoring is now rarer & rarer in my view!. Its a very sad state of affairs!.

IvanWww@Answer-Health@Com





The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories