How to get a GP?

MrMorooka

Hi, I've self diagnosed myself with Avoidant Personality Disorder, and would like to see someone about it. Probably won't help, because I don't believe in psychotherapy, but I have to do something. As I understand it, the first step would be to go to my GP. I don't have one. So today I worked up the ability to call a local practise. I asked if they were taking new patients, and they said I could have an appointment in a few weeks(!). Then they told me to drop in and get a registration form or something.

I suppose I'll do that tomorrow morning before work. But is that really how these things are supposed to work? I reach out like we're all told to do, and have to wait weeks to be seen(by just a general doctor who can't help)?

miezekatze

I would go to a bigger practice with longer opening hours, maybe a chain like Primacare or something like that. I think places like that would usually give you an appointment within a week or two.

MrMorooka

This seemed like a big practice(it's in a community health unit or whatever these big buildings full of medical stuff(that aren't hospitals) are called). No primacare locations near me, but thanks.

Anyway I guess from your answer this is the norm, you have to wait a week or two to be seen(and then pay them €50 every time for the privilege, and then €1000s for each therapy session if that's what you need). I'll just have to bear with it.

SteoL

Depends on the practice obviously but I know of a doctor who does appointments in the afternoons only. Morning time it's walk in only with the exception of certain things like bloods. I'd say if you kept looking you could probably find a practice with a similar setup.

Airyfairy12

[Mod Snip] Can you ring another practice? there must be more than one in your area.
You dont even have to go through a GP, you can just ring a psychotherapist yourself, google psychotherapists in your area and some should show up. It wont cost you thousands per session, dont be ridiculous. Some charge up to 100, some charge 30 or 40. It is expensive but youre working so you should be able to manage it, you should priorities your mental health.
Otherwise if you just want medication a GP can help you out with that.

MrMorooka

Airyfairy12 wrote: »

Youre very negative. Can you ring another practice? there must be more than one in your area.
You dont even have to go through a GP, you can just ring a psychotherapist yourself, google psychotherapists in your area and some should show up. It wont cost you thousands per session, dont be ridiculous. Some charge up to 100, some charge 30 or 40. It is expensive but youre working so you should be able to manage it, you should priorities your mental health.
Otherwise if you just want medication a GP can help you out with that.

I don't know what I want. Like I said, I don't actually believe pyschotherapy works- you tell them whatever you think is wrong you, based on what you tell them they give you a label for a condition. No real science or medicine there, it's based on what you say and how you say it. Then the 'treatment' is just you paying them so that you can talk to someone(how pathetic is that?) and they give you some bull**** exercises that boil down to "think differently". It's dumb, it's not science, it's not effective. It's basically just a stopgap until we actually understand the brain and can fix these things properly, with physical intervention- we're just meat machines after all.

And yeah, no **** I'm negative. Why state the ****ing obvious? (I see the mods snipped out your comment, but whatever, you said it.)

Regardless, I at least need a GP, right? Have to start somewhere. So I'll go collect this form tomorrow if I remember, and see what happens after that.

Taltos

Mod Note
Airy - I've snipped your opening comment. There's a fine line between tough love and brutal honesty and for someone like the OP your comment crossed that line. Please take care in future as due to the nature of the issues discussed in this forum we take a firm stance on posts that potentially breach our charter.

MrMorooka

Taltos wrote: »

Mod Note
Airy - I've snipped your opening comment. There's a fine line between tough love and brutal honesty and for someone like the OP your comment crossed that line. Please take care in future as due to the nature of the issues discussed in this forum we take a firm stance on posts that potentially breach our charter.

She can take it and so can I, don't worry about it.

MrMorooka

This is a pathetic thread, people have real problems and look what I'm doing. Just delete it please.

Wesser

What part of the country are you in?
There are LOADS of GP practices that have apps within 48 hours. I think you just need to ring around but most of all you need to see a GP who comes recommended. If you get to see someone good it would be worth the wait if they have a waiting list.

You need to think seriously about what you want from the appointment. Onward referral is an option there are many forms of help and talk therapy that involve many different techniques and price ranges , versus medication. But you really need to think before you go in about what you want out if the appointment. And don't get angry with Dr if she suggest some form of therapy!!!!!

Good luck. Youre worth it!

Big Bag of Chips

My GP is quite busy but if I ring in the morning I can usually get an appointment that day or at worst the next. Get out the phone book (do phone books still exist?) and ring all the GPs in your area. This thing of waiting 2 weeks for a GP appointment is ridiculous.

Airyfairy12

MrMorooka wrote: »

I don't know what I want. Like I said, I don't actually believe pyschotherapy works- you tell them whatever you think is wrong you, based on what you tell them they give you a label for a condition. No real science or medicine there, it's based on what you say and how you say it. Then the 'treatment' is just you paying them so that you can talk to someone(how pathetic is that?) and they give you some bull**** exercises that boil down to "think differently". It's dumb, it's not science, it's not effective. It's basically just a stopgap until we actually understand the brain and can fix these things properly, with physical intervention- we're just meat machines after all.

And yeah, no **** I'm negative. Why state the ****ing obvious? (I see the mods snipped out your comment, but whatever, you said it.)

Regardless, I at least need a GP, right? Have to start somewhere. So I'll go collect this form tomorrow if I remember, and see what happens after that.

From experience therapists dont usually diagnose or label you with anything, I asked a friend about this as he's trained as a councillor and he told me therapists dont like to openly diagnose someone because people can become their illness and it can prevent them from healing, like if someones told they have depression, they carry that label around with them for years and focus on themselves being depressed, he said it can encourage negative thinking patterns.
Youre not paying to talk to someone, youre paying someone to help you to move past negative patterns and thinking that are causing you problems but you need to find a good therapist that you gel with.
Theres a lot of useless counsellors, most of them have done part time Hdip mickey mouse courses in Dublin business school then set up their private therapy sessions and charge 50 - 80 euro an hour, theyre not equipped to deal with real mental health problems and theyre such easy course's to get into the mental health services are swamped with dodgy and under qualified therapists. Before you choose a therapist research them first and make sure theyre properly qualified so you're speaking with someone who knows what theyre doing and can work with you to get better.
Positive thinking does work for allot people, I wouldnt knock it before giving it a fair chance.

Teyla Emmagan

MrMorooka wrote:

This is a pathetic thread, people have real problems and look what I'm doing. Just delete it please.

What you don't think you have a "real" problem? You're obviously unhappy so it sounds like that's real enough. I am disappointed for your sake that you were told you would have to wait so long for an initial appointment. Normally when I ring my doc they get me in that day, or at the worst the next day. There simply has to be somewhere in your area you can get a walk in. My doc has an out of hours service (a doc in a hospital that loads of GPs use that takes appointments at night/on weekends). I think you need to look around more. Or you can book at lot of psychologists directly. But keep looking anyway, you've made it this far.

LynnGrace

Some of the information here might help, OP.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=53588881&postcount=2

MrMorooka

I registered at the GP this morning and got an appointment for Monday week. Will see what happens. Thanks.

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