FAMILY DOCTOR
Your
family doctor is the cornerstone of your mental health care. She is
the first person you should talk to when you realize you have a
problem. Remember to be open and honest so you can receive the help
you need. Don't downplay how much you're suffering but don't
exaggerate either. You need to build trust with your doctor and
that's only possible through honesty. If you feel your family
doctor is not listening to your concerns then I recommend you find
another one. It is critical that you feel comfortable with your
family doctor and that you trust her judgment.
Lifestyle
changes
Don't
expect to be given medicine or therapy right off the bat. Initially,
your doctor may assess your condition and recommend things you can do
to help yourself. Her first advice might be simply to exercise more.
Don't scoff at the impact of exercise on mental health. It has been
proven to be as effective as many medications. Mindfulness exercises
as well as proper diet and regular sleeping patterns are also
helpful. It's possible you can address your mental health concerns
through lifestyle changes alone.
Safety
and support network
In
those early days, my family doctor asked me to make an inventory of
my safety and support network. These were people who I could reach
out to for help or even just for conversation to distract my mind
from deadly ruminations. These could be friends, family or health
care workers. Depression is a disease that tells you to isolate
yourself but in reality you need to do the exact opposite. You need
people in your life. Generally I'm a shy with a very limited social
circle. I've been a loner my whole life and have been suicidal
since high school. In fact my first attempt was a failed overdose
when I was in grade 13. My second attempt was a year later in
university when I ended up in ICU. Since then I had managed to keep
my illness secret and my urges in check,. that was until three years
ago, when I found myself completely overwhelmed.
The
first person I reached out to was my family doctor. It's not that I
knew her very well. I think I only had one appointment with her
before. A few years back I had to get a physical for a job I was
applying for and so I randomly chose a physician from Google who was
taking new patients. I generally do not like going to the doctor's
but I had nowhere else to turn. Her priority from that very first
appointment was to help me build a safety and support network. At
each appointment, she encouraged me to tell my wife that I was
struggling. I didn't want to be a burden on my family so I resisted
revealing my condition. In the end though my family doctor's
persistence prevailed. I told me wife. It was an awkward
conversation, but when it was over, it was a relief. I also told my
closest friend, whose consequent support was limitless. He was with
me every step of the way.
My
family doctor also worked on expanding my safety and support network
with specialized services. She put me on waiting lists for
psychiatrists,
mood disorder clinics, and urgent care services. Most wait times were
a year or more and I was discourage but she promised to be there for
me, to listen and counsel as best she could. Unlike other health
services, there was no limit on the number of visits I could make to
my family doctor. In those early days, my appointments were quite
frequent. I cannot thank her enough. Without her help, I would be
her today.
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