Taking longer than normal?

LegacyUser

Hey, I plucked up the courage to go to the doctor as I have been feeling a bit depressed and not sleeping properly and also found that I'm isolating myself a lot and have been getting many comments from my bosses about my self esteem as of late. So after months of contemplation I swallowed the nerves and went to my doctor and told him everything, I was in a bad state because of a family bereavement the same week which I think spurred me to go. He took my details and filled out a form for a psychology centre near my area. He said that they will speak to me and decide what type of counselling is suited for me, whether for trauma, bereavement, or cbt etc. He said there will be a long waiting list or 6 weeks+ which is understandable. And he said that I will get a letter within 1 - 2 weeks of my doctor's visit giving me an appointment 6 weeks in the future.
Well I went to the doctor nearly one month ago now and I have still not received any letter from a counsellor. Is this normal? Should I have gotten something by now?

I don't know what to do, I can't afford to go to the doc again this month and I'm also afraid to incase he thinks I'm pushing it because I'm desperate and he think I'm unstable or something. I don't want them to think I'm very depressed because I'm not, I'm just very stressed. I'm only 21 so I'm afraid they'll contact my parents if they think I'm not handling the wait too well as my doc knows I live and work away from my family. I'm worried that my change in behaviour has damaged my popularity at work due to their worries over my self belief and confidence. I can't afford to lose my job and I don't know what to do. Is this much of a wait just to get a letter normal? Can anyone tell me what to do?

Thanks

sam34

ring the place he referred you to and ask them-

a) have they received the referral, as sometimes things get lost in the post

b) when they expect you will be seen

LegacyUser

Well done on going to the GP, I went 4th Jan and they referred me to the local Psychologist who was supposed to send me a letter. The letter never came so a few weeks later I rang the GP and they gave me the Psychologists name and number and I called them myself and turns out I have an appointment for late April (about 4 months waiting list then in my area) they had sent a letter but it had never arrived.

Just ring the GP and follow it up.

You'r concerns about the Doctor contacting your parents is silly (sorry not trying to hurt your feelings) The GP is bound to confidentiality and you are well over the age where its anything to do with your parents.

The GP won't have given you a second thought so stop fixating on that. They are trained to make every person feel unique but they see hundreds of people a month. Even if he does remember you he won't do anything unprofessional. As for him thinking you are not coping with the wait? Nah, you're just following up, thats a good sign. You care about yourself.

If you were suicidal then you wouldn't care. Anyway the receptionist will probably be who you deal with and so its unlikely the Doctor will get wind of it or give it a second thought.

Good luck!

LegacyUser

I cannot remember the name of the psychology centre, I should have paid more attention but I ended up crying even though I didn't want to and I just signed the form and didn't see the name of the centre. I know, stupidity on my part.
I also didn't mean to sound fixated on anything, the reason I wondered about him telling my parents was because he got me to right down my next of kin and asked me loads of questions about my current place and about the contact I have with my family. I know they see loads of people every day with similar issues.

Thanks for the replies, I don't know the name of the psychologists place so maybe I'll just ring the receptionist for my doctor and see what she says.

Thanks.