I panicked at the Dr. office!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2003
I panicked at the Dr. office!
4
Thu, 08-10-2006 - 10:35am

I had an OBGYN appointment this week with a brand new dr. My old one wasn't thrilled that I wanted to use a midwife and have my babies at home. Oh well his loss. Anyway, this new DR sat and talked to me about all sorts of health issues, not just the one's in his profession. I was very impressed. Well he asked me if I've been feeling down or depressed lately and I said no! I don't know why I just froze up like that, but I did. He looked at me like he didn't believe me, but didn't press me to talk about it. I don't know why it is so difficult to talk to people in person about this. I mean the guy was willing to talk to me about it, and even give me advice on it. He gave me all kinds of tips on staying healthy (probably because I'm overweight and he was concerned), on preventing diseases and all sorts of things. The man was willing to help me and I chickened out. After my appt. I got in my car and wanted to kick myself in the butt. Here was my opportunity to talk to someone, a professional, about what I'm feeling, someone who could help me, and I didn't do it. I told DH and he didn't seem to think it was so terrible. He just said that maybe next time I'll be able to open up to him. Yeah but next time is next year. I know he is trying to be delicate about this and make me feel less like a heel, but I wish he'd encouraged me to tell the DR.

How long did it take for you to tell your DR about your problems? Was it as hard as I think and feel it will be, or is it easier once you start opening up? I went in thinking I'd tell him if he mentioned depression. But the second he mentioned it, I froze.

Thanks for listening.

Nikki

Nikki

DS, Bailey Scott - 6/3/05

DD, Jocelyn Elizabeth 1/24/09

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Thu, 08-10-2006 - 11:05am

hey nikki, sorry to hear the you froze up...but its okay...it happens some times.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2004
Thu, 08-10-2006 - 11:07am

It is very hard for me to admit to a doctor that I'm having problems with anxiety and depression. Every time I have to see a new pdoc or tdoc I have anxiety about what I'm going to tell them. I don't think it's unusual to have those kinds of feelings. For me, I alway thought that it had something to do with the fact that if I told them they were 1. gonna confirm that I have an actual issue that I may need help dealing with (control issue on my part) and 2. make me do something about it (again, control issue). But most docs aren't like that. They'll give you your options and talk to you about it and help you come to a good decision, but the thing to keep in mind is that it is always your decision how much help you want to accept.

For me, it was good to finally tell someone what was going on, because it helped me admit to myself that I really do have a problem with anxiety and depression. I just kept waiting for it to go away, but it wasn't going away. If anything it was getting worse. Admitting it to the doc helped me to get a step closer to accepting that I do have the problem, but it also helped me realize that I do have choices and I can choose to learn to cope with it. I still don't like that I have anxiety and some days I wish I could just forget about it and ignore it, but what I have come to realize is that I can choose my attitude about it. I can blame myself for not being able to handle things, or I can accept that I need to learn to handle things in a better way.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 08-10-2006 - 12:02pm
It will get better, Nikki. You will learn to be more comfortable & put your mental health on the same level as your physical well being. I think part of the problem for most of us is the old stigma about mental illness. For some reason we don't feel our fears/anxiety are as legitimate as other illnesses. But, if you had diabetes, you would seek treatment, right? You wouldn't be embarrassed about it or think that others would see you as a failure when you weren't able to cope on your own. This is just as real as diabetes & highly treatable. When you finally are able to share your thoughts & accept them as valid, you will be much relieved. Good luck! (((hugs))) jan




 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Thu, 08-10-2006 - 12:21pm

Hi Nikki, I have done the same thing, more than once.

Sheri Ann