Why do GP's diagnose mental health issues?

After talking to me for less than 10 minutes my new GP diagnosed me as severely depressed and prescribed an SSRI. I said I was more anxious than depressed and that I didn't want to take an SSRI as I had a bad reaction to it in the past. She said, "Trust me, SSRI's are different now." Well, I had an immediate severe allergic reaction and was really traumatized, with my anxiety reaching an intolerable level. Even after stopping the SSRI my anxiety has remained elevated. The GP refuses to give me anything for anxiety even though I have told her countless times in emails and on the phone that I am suffering from severe anxiety. I don't understand any of this.

In the past a psychiatrist said I had problems adjusting to transition and change. I also feel I have a dependent personality in that I have a hard time making decisions even though past experience has proven I know what is best for me when I trust myself.

I think I should just let go of this diagnosis by the GP because she labeled me depressed in about 5 minutes. It is difficult to tease out anxiety from depression but I told the GP that anxiety wears a person down and probably causes depression. I repeatedly said I felt that anxiety was my primary problem.

The GP repeatedly refused to give me a benzo for anxiety. I am now relying on herbals and other holistic treatments. Maybe it will take longer for me to feel better, but I am determined to do it on my own.

Can we just let go of a diagnosis if we feel it is dead wrong?

Yep, you sure can!

I've had a few diagnosis' that I've pretty much said "screw it" to... Another few that were changed after another doctor did a more thorough examination.

Many GP's will hand out antidepressants but nothing more. My GP would give me antidepressants if I wanted her to, but she insists that my psychiatrist prescribe my benzos for me. I don't blame her though, since she's not a specialist in mental health and therefore its harder for her to discern who is truly suffering and who is drug seeking.

I'm like you in that its the anxiety that causes my depression. If I can control my anxiety, the depression goes away. (Imagine that!) Doctors don't seem to get this...they think depression=antidepressant. Well, in my case, if you put me on an antidepressant, I develop anger that builds to rage and/or I go hypomanic. Yeah, that's sort of what happens when you boost seratonin levels in someone who doesn't have a seratonin deficiency to begin with!

I can understand why they prescribe antidepressants for those who have anxiety, but I think that much of the time its the depression which leads to anxiety, not the anxiety leading to depression.

Find a good pdoc who will work with you on getting on more effective meds to help your anxiety.

Thank you so much for this!!!!!!!! I am so grateful for this response! Because when I took the SSRI it made me feel TOTALLY insane! I didn't sleep for three nights! I really felt psychotic. So, your comment ,"Yeah, that's sort of what happens when you boost serotonin levels in someone who doesn't have a serotonin deficiency to begin with," just rings so true for me. Of course, other lay people say, "Oh, you just need to try another SSRI, to find the right one," but this makes no sense to me because like you said, if I don't have a serotonin deficiency then why go in and mess with it???????????? I think that benzos bind with the GABA site and I have been trying to use herbs that supposedly do the same, such as passion flower, but you need a lot more of an herbal and it is costly. But I cannot thank you enough for your response because I truly did not want to say that this GP was wrong but now I think she was, and is even neglectful in not coming up with a proper treatment plan -- even if it means sending me to a psychiatrist to see if I need something to treat the anxiety. It is really difficult to tease out anxiety from depression, but I am fairly certain I am not clinically depressed. I am basically sick and tired of being anxious, and having panic attacks while coping with severe life stress. Reducing anxiety naturally is a tough nut, but at least you have confirmed I am on the right path. Boatloads of Bananas to you!!!

Yes, my anxiety just gets so bad that my system is simply exhausted and I literally shut down. I need much rest and downtime where I can relax and recharge. It's as if my mind gets to the point where it's so overworked that it says "enough!" and goes on an indefinite break. I know that I done suffer from MDD like others do (even though it is one of my diagnosises) as my mother and brother have MDD and they're just down constantly. With me, it's much more up and down. I'll be ok in terms of mood, but my anxiety levels build up. When the anxiety levels get too high, my body responds by numbing out and my mood drops. Once I've had enough time to recover (sometimes only a few days), my mood returns to normal and my anxiety levels are ok again. It stinks because I have the mood cycling, but it's not bipolar disorder as I cycle between normal and depressed. It's a real struggle to get my anxiety under control as I'm quite med sensitive, but Ativan has really helped. I'm fortunate that I have a doctor who is willing to prescribe it to me. He's known me for 6 years now, and he knows I'm not abusing my meds as I stretch out my prescriptions for much longer than they're prescribed for. I hope you can find a doc to help you!

I was once diagnosed bi-polar. It was a hard thing to hear and then learn to accept and figure out how to deal with. However, after a lot of time researching the heck out of it, trying many meds, and seeing multiple therapists that diagnosis has been discarded for me. Yes - they sometimes get it wrong! Especially mental health issues that have no test for confirmation. You know yourself better than your GP does and obviously your GP did not listen to you. I would absolutely discard the diagnosis in your shoes.

Now, if you see another doctor or two and they all tell you the same thing, I'd change my tune. If that happens maybe the truth is that yes you are depressed and you just really don't want to hear it. However, that doesn't sound like it's the case right now.

As for not getting the benzos you wanted....I recently realized I have anxiety. I went to my psychiatric NP who prescribes all my meds. She also refused to give me benzos. She explained why (they are dangerous and she only uses them for isolated cases of panic attacks - such as someone having a panic attack when they fly, etc. She was very adamant they are not to be used for general, daily anxiety like I am experiencing) and I was really disappointed. I did more research and talked to some people on her and pretty much what I learned was that she is right for how benzos should be prescribed and she's right that my type of anxiety shouldn't be treated with them. It sucks because I'm pretty sure it would work initially, but it's true that it's not a real solution to my problems.

I'd definitely look at other options- medications or otherwise. I went on Prozac even though I have been on it before and was very skeptical of it working, and surprisingly I'm having great results. Now with your history I wouldn't try SSRI's, but maybe you can find a doctor that listens to you better, spends more time with you and can recommend other options.

Good luck!

Yes - I experienced something similar! Professionals repeatedly diagnose me with major depression, but my counselor, who knows me best, reminds me that it's anxiety that is my primary problem. A psychiatrist or somebody who prescribes medicine only speaks to you for about... what...? 50 minutes at most? Do you really think they have enough time to understand what's truly happening with you?

I have been misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder, psychotic depression, and bipolar disorder. Although I MAY have suffered from all of those at different times in my life, I do not suffer with them now. They might pop back up at a certain time in my life, but they are no concern of mine at this point in my life.

Also, I have taken an SSRI and it made me feel INSANE. I don't know if it was a manic feeling or just some sort of episode was triggered in me, but it made me feel cautious about trying an SSRI ever again.

They are so quick to hand out antidepressants for anything today. They prescribe them, but not all of them, for pain, ADHD, migraines, hot flashes, anxiety, and I'm sure there's a lot more off-label uses for them. Here's the funny thing: these medications might help those problems, but aren't always the best option.

That being said, I do believe that my anxiety does cause depression in me. Who wouldn't feel depressed if they felt as if their brain and body were working together to keep you in a cage? Geez...

But to answer your question, yes, if your diagnosis is just flat out wrong and doesn't fit you, then you can definitely let it go. I've let go three of mine. Medical professionals, particular mental health professionals, mess up diagnosises... a lot.

Hello. I wouldn't know why your GP diagnosed you with a mental illness in general. When I went to my GP, they referred me somewhere else, but I live in Canada, so it was covered my free health insurance here so... Anyways, I have anxiety that causes depression in me at times, and I take an SSRI, so SSRIs are not only for depression, but since you said you had an allergic reaction to it in the past, I don't know why the GP would give that to you. Have you heard of BuSpar? It's an anti-anxiety medication that isn't addictive. It isn't a benzo so you shouldn't worry about not being able to get that. Maybe you can ask your GP about that? I am not saying it will work for you, but it isn't a SSRI or a benzo, though I know you wanted a benzo, but at least it is something for anxiety? Anyways, hope you find something helpful .

Also, yes, you can let go of a diagnosis if you want. But many people with anxiety disorders are also diagnosed with depression. I'm not saying this is your case in any way, but in general.

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My GP diagnosed me with depression and generalized anxiety disorder in less than 5 minutes. Since then, I've been diagnosed by 2 psychiatrists...who also diagnosed GAD, major depression (instead of just depressive disorder), and panic disorder. So while they added more, I think the GP was close enough and a fine starting point. The psych dr just doubled my dose pf Paxil which was already prescribed by my GP.

General practitioners (aka internists, aka primary care providers) cannot make a mental health diagnosis.

Well they can in the same way that a proctologist can.

GP. "Trust ME" equals "Don't trust YOU."

Patient is trusting ME then saying words telling YOU...my physical experience taking internal drugs You prescribe by writing right on a piece of paper probably with a right hand.

Whose Yous and whose mes? Fact GP disregards chart to repeat same drug class...name changed...speaks volumes.

Definition of insanity..doing same thing over and over again...repeating....expecting DIFFERENT results.

Wow. So much information! Thank you. I cannot believe you were misdiagnosed as bipolar. That seems like such an extreme mistake. I am learning a lot by being on PsychCentral, and everyone is so generous with sharing their stories.

I have been whining about "no benzos" since I came on here and I think I need to shut up about it. I was prescribed diazepam (a benzo) by dentists for jaw clenching (bruxism) for years. Then I had an endocrinologist who gave me a monthly prescription of diazepam for insomnia. He seemed to have no problems with it. When he retired I found no one wants to prescribe benzos. I was prescribed benzos for bruxism and insomnia for a 20 year period and never had a problem with needing to increase the dosage, or with stopping them altogether. If my script ran out and I moved to a new place I never freaked out and sometimes went years without them. Heck, I didn't even know diazepam was addictive. It seemed more like a pain reliever to me because anxiety causes all my muscles to tighten up and they get sore. But you know what?, I am done done done with the benzo rant. If some people get addicted, well than they have ruined it for others who find this drug works perfectly fine for anxiety. (Now dentists will only prescribe just a few, if at all.)

I am presently engaged in trying to retrain my anxious brain. I think I have probably suffered from anxiety my whole life but it becomes pronounced when I am stressed. I have always referred to myself as high-strung. I think it would be great to leave all thoughts of benzos in the dust, and come out with a natural way to manage anxiety. I guess this is starting to excite me.

Mark my words, in 20 years time they will be taking SSRIs off the market! The clinical trials have been hidden but they will come out. OR - a mercifully more effective and kinder medication will be invented. (Fingers crossed)

Please excuse my ignorance but I don't know what MDD is. So do you go from normal to anxious to depressed? If you stop and attend to the anxiety does it also stop the depression from happening? I just recently discovered that it seems like I need more sleep than I have needed before, or maybe I didn't link up sleeping less hours with anxiety. I used to sleep 7-8 hours and it seemed fine but now I seem to have panic attacks more with those hours. If I sleep 8.5 hours to 9 hours I seem to have less anxiety. I only recently made this connection. Sleeping 9 hours seems really excessive and I thought I was sleeping from depression, but maybe it is really that anxiety wears me out. I am going to start calling you Doc Banana!!!

Wow, this was just so helpful. I was given the antidepressant by a GP after a less than 10 minute consult! Strangely, I even protested, saying I had had a bad experience with SSRIs in the past. You know what got me? When she said , "Trust me," and I wanted to and said so. What I should have said is, "I have seen you twice in the past year for a total of less than 30 minutes. You are now insisting I take a drug I said was problematic for me in the past. Where does trust figure in? Do you really mean "blind faith"?"

Here is something else very weird. I have read that when you go to the GP if you cry in the office the GP will throw an SSRI at you. I think I was describing how anxious I was about being unemployed and how my financial situation was becoming a major crisis, I was all alone...and yes, I cried because mainly when I am having to get all personal with a medical professional I hardly know if humiliates me and upsets me, and being chronically unemployed feels shameful. And that's when she said I absolutely needed to take the SSRI.

Crying = depression? Always??? But I did read a warning online, do not cry in a GP's office.

Are you talking about Buspar??? It's really hard for me to imagine just letting go of a diagnosis, but thank you for telling me, yes, I can, if I want to. I really need to step up and be more of an advocate for my own mental health. Thanks.

Well, that seems so simple. Am I splitting hairs??? Thanks. Okay, and Paxil is an SSRI, isn't it? Excuse my ignorance. I'm on a learning curve.

I guess it's common for GP's to prescribe SSRI's here in US now but I don't agree with it. I went along because I was extremely anxious and agitated by the time I went to the GP and she simply didn't talk about referring me. I think it has to be taken into consideration that going to get help for a mental health issue is of itself, anxiety provoking. I wasn't thinking clearly. I have heard this happens to other people. You know, they are upset and not able to think clearly on their feet, and are desperate to trust someone in authority. This is d-a-n-g-e-r-o-u-s. You feedback was great. A lot of food for thought. Thanks so much! PS Love the shoes!!!

Yes. I looked it up on Medscape and it was spelt BuSpar so I spelt it like that. And I know letting go of a diagnosis wouldn't be easy at all. I was just saying that if didn't believe it, then maybe get a second opinion from somewhere else if possible? And as stated, many people are diagnosed with both anxiety and depression. I'm not saying you are one of these people, but generally speaking. Hope this helps.

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I am not sure if it is common or not, but SSRI's are one of the more common prescribed drugs because many people have depression and anxiety and that is the top choice to treat both in terms of medication I think.

I know it is because I went through it myself. Especially because I was asking a referral because I thought I had social anxiety disorder at the time, and I am diagnosed with it so... I was right. And I know it can be dangerous.

Yep. You are welcome . I didn't mention anything about shoes, but okay thanks. Well, I don't think I did.

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Okay. Cool. Thanks.

Mighty cool feline. Okay, after thinking about it a lot I think I am coming out of depression (a sort of prolonged grief after my sister's death 18 months ago) and what's left is anxiety about financial issues, and other stuff. I told my GP this. I said I seemed to have complicated grief that took longer than normal to be integrated. There was another thread where someone said they kind of missed depression once they started coming out of it. I can relate because although depression is difficult one kind of lets go of responsibility and involvement. So it seems like anxiety would arise as one gets back into life but is like a baby horse on shaky legs. So yeah, the wrong medication could really mess with this process. I don't know if I am right but I'm going with this. I read many reviews on BuSpar online. I was surprised the responses were all over the place. Some people had really great and beautiful recoveries on BuSpar, while others as much as called it the devil's drug. Interesting. Very.

Thanks. I love tigers a lot.

What did your GP say when you told them you are coming out of depression and you are anxious about other things? I'm no GP, but I would have looked more into GAD so...

I know my pdoc has missed depression in me. She only screened for MDD, but I am pretty sure I have pervasive depressive disorder, meaning I have been depressed for longer than 1 year (since I am considered a kid) and not the same symptoms as MDD. Well, kinda, but. And also seasonal affective disorder. I can't stand winter and the mood it brings.

What do you mean that medication could really mess up with this process? Anyways, it's a 50/50 thing I guess then. One of my friends from here loves BuSpar and has worked well for her. So did you ask your GP about BuSpar, or you will the next time? Let us know what happens then .

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Because now I am beginning to form a whole new theory about --- everything mental. Haha.

These drugs...one must remember...they are meant to take the edge off things...but additionally, new infrastructures need to be put into place. The literature on SSRIs is pretty adamant in upholding this model. The patient has to figure out how to become mentally strong, more resilient, and how to integrate life's losses. Some of us are always going to be more vulnerable to life's ups and downs. We may need to go on medication periodically. But I am beginning to believe that the best medicine is a new way of living, and looking at things. New brainlight.

I guess therapy is supposed to create more brainlight via behavioral modification. However, a lot of therapy is reduced to spinning wheels. It is costly, and if it doesn't bring about change, it's a waste of time.

I think I have extreme chemical sensitivity and these drugs affect me dramatically, so naturally I am wary. As well, I am still peeved that the one drug that worked is now taboo. Since I live in a place where medical marijuana is legal maybe I should just say to heck with all the doctors and go visit my neighborhood green pharmacy. Hmm, I wonder what my GP would say if I emailed her and said I found a new "green" replacement for benzos?

I am now working on developing a holistic model that allows me complete control over my healing. That's the way I want it. Blame it on PsychCentral. This site is empowering! --- Have a great rest of the weekend, tiger.

Oh sorry! MDD is major depressive disorder.

I have PTSD so the anxiety is pretty much inevitable. That is, there are SO many things that set off my anxiety that it's more a matter of pushing through life and minimizing the effects afterwards rather than prevention.

[[[ETA well that's not completely true.....I do a lot to prevent anxiety. I guess my point is that I push through life rather than shying away from anything that may cause me anxiety.]]]

If I focus on taking care of myself, I can prevent a major downturn. This is why I have to space out my activity. An active day is both preceded by and follows a rest day.

Thanks for a great thread! It's helping me re-focus on taking care of myself so my depression doesn't get bad again. I tend to push myself too hard because I want to be "normal" but I push myself too hard and I always crash.

Bananas! LOL.

Maybe give Buspar a try?

I am SSRI sensitive and well, since Buspar affects serotonin too, I had adverse effects at higher doses. (The same sorts of effects I had while taking SSRIs.)

But, at lower doses, it worked well.

Maybe it will work for you?

(((Bananas!!!))) For focus on self-care! Way to go!