If you have ever visited a general practitioner (GP) for a physical health concern you will understand there is often a certain amount of emotional angst that goes with it.
Many don’t realize that GPs are trained to be wholistic, are acutely aware how persistent negative emotions can impair health, and so are well placed to help you. So don’t be afraid you to voice your feelings to your GP, to address both your physical and emotional concerns, and to allow healing on all levels to occur.
Common Emotional presentations to the GP
Apart from the diagnosis of an illness, many people present because they feel their health is now suffering due to an intense emotional upset (ie death or breakup), or a prolonged stressful work or family situation, that has left them feeling exhausted.
Alternatively, some just feel like things aren’t right, they are feeling increasingly sad or anxious and not coping well, even when things should be going ok, like the ‘baby blues’, when it is expected that you should feel elated. If these feelings continue, people will often feel an added sense of guilt or shame because they know ‘other people are worse off’, which makes it even harder to cope.
The good news is that there is often a sense of relief when patients share their thoughts, seek help, realize these are common scenarios, are not on their own, and that help is available.
So why is the GP a good place to start? Often GP have the privilege of already knowing you, your background and your medical history. If you have moved recently, then your medical notes or summary can be sent from your previous doctor to provide more background.
GPs are trained to ask questions about factors that may affect your emotional state. For example, the amount of social support you have when about to have a baby is an important factor for parents to cope, and can alert them and the hospital to provide more support after the birth, for both mother & baby.
The information you tell your GP is confidential, and will not be divulged to anyone, unless you are a minor, are unable to make rational choices or your life is in danger, in which case the confidentially agreement is void.
GPs are trained in the investigation, treatment and specialist referral of your mood and emotions.
What your GP can do!
– Ask about general health, diet, lifestyle, emotions and recent or past triggers
– Assess mood with standardized questionnaires (for example Kessler-10 or DASS) that indicate the type and severity of mood changes.
– Examine for underlying health issues, such as infections (such as glandular fever), or deficiencies (such as low iron, B12, zinc) or thyroid, adrenal and gut problems which are all linked to mood disorders.
– Investigate and treat health issues (An example might be a persistent cough keeping you awake at night which is subsequently affecting your energy levels, work, mood & relationships and is creating extra stressors)
– Review effective dietary, lifestyle, relaxation and emotional coping skills to help reduce mood symptoms
(For example regular nutritious meals, slow breathing, short breaks at work & home to hydrate and get sunshine, regular exercise and sleep routines)
– Review ineffective methods you may think are helping throughout the day or helping you avoid addressing the real issue or making better choices. For example, excess coffee, energy drinks, sugar, comfort eating, alcohol, smoking tobacco or marijuana or risky behaviours.
– Refer to a psychologist (for which there is now a Medicare rebate for up to 10 sessions), therapist, mediator
– Prescribe medications and
– Refer to a psychiatrist (Doctors who have done an extra 5 or 6 years medical training after medical school in mood disorders)
So if you are feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of work and life, and your mood is dropping or your anxiety levels are rising, go ahead and book a longer visit with your GP, as it is likely that you will find that assessing and addressing these issues can make a huge difference to your wellbeing.
“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but whilst we are here we should (try to) dance” – (Anon)
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