Have to get this off my chest

MarkM88
MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,119 Connected
edited February 2022 in Mental health and wellbeing
Well I’ve been suffering with my MH a while now and I’m still on the talking therapies waiting list to be seen so on advice I booked in with the GP again. 

However, I’ve had 4 hours sleep with worry, I’m anxious, my stomach is churning, I can’t stomach breakfast. 

Hope she can help me. Appointment is 9am today. 

Comments

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi Mark sorry to hear you are struggling and hope your gp can help 

    You know we are all here to support you 

    Let us know how you get on 
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,653 Online Community Programme Lead
    Sorry to hear you've been struggling @MarkM88 and that you've had a particularly anxious night. Waiting lists are sadly much too long in most areas. Have you been directed to any self-help guides and support while you wait for the therapies to begin?

    Best of luck with your GP today, please let us know how you get on. 
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,445 Championing
    I hope your appointment went okay this morning, @MarkM88. Please do let us know how you get on :) 
  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,119 Connected
    @janer1967 @Adrian_Scope @Tori_Scope I attended this morning, she was lovely, she said she would write a letter to the appropriate team explaining everything I said to her so they are fully aware of what’s happening, however that won’t necessarily speed anything up but will ensure they have all the information. 

    She has agreed to some medication for the short term which I was reluctant to accept last time but have agreed this time. 

    I tried to access local support but couldn’t find anything near by. 
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Thanks for coming back to us I hope the meds help take care find a good box set to watch 
  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Community member Posts: 265 Empowering
    Morning @MarkM88,
    I'm so glad to hear that the appointment was positive for you. Remember that there's never any shame in taking medication, if you need it. It's much better to protect yourself <3. It's a shame that local support didn't seem to be very available, but I hope you know that you're always welcome to check in with the community here, if you need a chat :)
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,546 Championing
    Hi @MarkM88 - I'm also sorry to read that you've been struggling with your MH, but pleased you have such a supportive GP.
    May I recommend that you try the following breathing exercise which can reduce stress & anxiety. It's actually something that we all should practice, as it's the correct way to breathe. Please see: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/therapies/abdominal-breathing.pdf
    I have read that CBD may be helpful with some MH problems, particularly anxiety & depression. Tho there haven't been sufficient studies to emphatically prove this as yet, some studies indicate it may have some promise, such as here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31866386/
  • Sandy_123
    Sandy_123 Scope Member Posts: 58,347 Championing
    Hope the meditation works well for you, its good that you got support.

  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,119 Connected
    Thanks everyone I much appreciate the support and kinds words. Thanks @chiarieds for the links, I will have a look into the breathing exercises, I’m always open to new things to try. 
  • Libby_Alumni
    Libby_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 1,247 Empowering
    Hi @MarkM88

    I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling recently, but please give yourself a lot of self compassion for being proactive and gaining the right support from the GP.

    With regards to the medication, you should only do what feels comfortable for you - if you do give it a go, then I hope it helps your situation :) sometimes it's good to identify what is making us feel a certain way, whether that be anxious or worried etc. When I feel anxious, I try and note down my spiraling thoughts and try to understand why I'm feeling this way. It always helps getting something on paper, and it's very relieving for my mind. Maybe it's worth giving it a go? :)

    I hope you start to feel better soon and remember, we are all here for you.

    Libby
  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,119 Connected
    @Libby_Scope thanks for the support and kind words. 
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Hello @MarkM88 I just want to echo everyone and say that I hope the new meds will work well for you, and, well done for posting earlier this week- often getting things off our chests can have a big positive difference in helping us working through how we're feeling, and taking steps to feel better in ourselves. This is one of those steps! :)
  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,119 Connected
    @Alex_Scope much appreciated. I started the medication this morning but I know it will take weeks to start seeing any change. 
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Indeed, time will tell @MarkM88 we're all behind you :)
  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,119 Connected
    Thanks it means a lot. 
  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,119 Connected
    @chiarieds I must admit that pdf with the breathing exercise is great. I wasn’t sure at first but it’s really helping me. Thank you. 
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,546 Championing
    edited February 2022
    Hi @MarkM88 - so pleased the breathing exercise is helping; something else in finding out what may help. I've said this before, but it does often seem to be a combination of things that helps the most. Thank you for being open to trying it.
  • Danielle_2022
    Danielle_2022 Community member Posts: 265 Empowering
    @MarkM88,
    If the breathing exercises helped, I wondered if I might recommend some ASMR? I was so unsure about it at first but have personally found it to be very relaxing and grounding, especially if I'm having trouble sleeping. Either way, I'm glad that you're slowly starting to find things that work for you!

    Keep us updated on your progress and remember that we're always here, cheering you on :)