Going to your doctor

If you think that you might be depressed, visiting your GP or doctor is an important first step. They can give you information about the condition, discuss various self-help options and, if necessary, prescribe antidepressant medication or suggest psychological therapy.

On average, your doctor will see at least one person with depression, low mood or anxiety each day, so you don’t have to be embarrassed or nervous about telling them how you are feeling. Most people who develop depression do recover and are able to get back to how their lives were before they got ill. Your doctor is there to help, but there are things you can do to help make sure you get the best support and help you need.

What your doctor can do for you
What you can do to help your doctor
How to make the most of your appointment

What your doctor can do for you

Your doctor will start by discussing your symptoms to make sure that they are not caused by any other illness. They may do some tests just to rule out anything else. If you are diagnosed with having depression, they will then decide on how severe the illness is and what the best course of action is.

When talking about depression, your GP or health professional will probably describe it as: mild, moderate or severe. This refers to how much it is affecting your ability to cope with life.

In mild cases feelings of low mood may come and go but you will generally be able to cope with everyday activities.

Your GP will probably suggest self-help options like the ones suggested on the What I can do to help myself? page. This might include relaxation, attending a support group, or taking regular exercise. Exercise does benefit many people with depression, so your doctor might talk about what exercise you could do that would be helpful. It is becoming more common for doctors to also suggest self-help workbooks or online courses. Quite often these will be books that have tasks and activities that will help you look at what changes you can make in your life to reduce stress and improve your mood. Not all surgeries have book prescribing in place, but if you think it will help you then ask your doctor about this option. We’ve included a list of self-help books and online courses on our Resources page if you are interested in finding out more.

In moderate cases a persistent low mood is accompanied by some physical symptoms and keeping up with things like work, study, socialising becomes a struggle.

The self-help options mentioned above may also help you if you have moderate depression, so your doctor will probably talk these over with you as well. You may also be offered counselling or other forms of psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is an approach which helps you understand what might be causing your low mood and teaches you skills and techniques to help tackle your problems and deal with upsetting situations. Larger surgeries might have counselling services as part of the clinic, but if not, you might be referred on to another service.

In cases of severe depression you will experience persistent low mood, intense physical symptoms and will be unlikely to keep up with normal activities and responsibilities.

It may be that your doctor thinks it best that you start on antidepressants as well as you doing some self-help work and counselling. If you do start taking medication, you may be asked to go back and see your GP after about a week, just to check that you aren't having any unpleasant side-effects and that the dosage is right. Your doctor will talk to you about this and also discuss how long you should continue taking your medication. It is important that you agree to this, or talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. For more information read the section called About antidepressant medication. If you are severely depressed or if you are not responding to medication your doctor may decide to refer you onto a psychiatrist. This might also involve a change of medication or admitting you to hospital for assessment.

If you are too ill to go to work, college or University your doctor will write you a medical certificate signing you off for a specified time which you can give to your employer, lecturer etc.

What you can do to help your doctor

Your experience of depression, low mood or anxiety will be unique to you, so it makes sense if you work with your doctor to find out what sort of care and treatment is going to be most helpful.

Ask if there is a doctor at your surgery who has an interest in depression

When you are making an appointment it might be worth asking if there is a doctor there who has an interest or specific expertise in depression. While this isn’t essential, their knowledge and understanding might be useful in talking about the range of options and local services that are available to you.

Write down how you are feeling

It can be really hard to talk about how you are feeling to other people, especially if you haven’t really done it before. And it can be hard to remember the details of times when you felt worse if you are now feeling a bit better. Your doctor will ask you questions about this, so it can be really useful if you write some of this down before your appointment and take them along with you. You can either show these to your doctor if you prefer, or use them as prompts when you are describing your symptoms. Things you should include are:

How your mood changes over the day
Whether you feel worse at a certain time of day, eg: in the mornings
How long you have been feeling this way
Any questions that you want to ask your doctor

Ask a friend or relative to come with you

If you’re feeling nervous about going to your appointment, or don’t feel confident that you can talk about it, you might want to take a friend or relative along with you as support. This might be useful afterwards as they might be able to help you remember the advice the doctor has given you about you need to do next.

Most important things first!

Each GP appointment only lasts for around 10 minutes. Not long when you need to discuss something as complex as your feelings and emotions! Because there isn’t much time it is really important to talk about the most important concerns and symptoms first, so that your doctor has time to address these as a priority.

Ask about follow-up consultations

Check with your doctor what the next steps are, what you can do and when you should go back and see them again. Make sure you are clear on this before your leave the room. It’s important to keep your doctor informed if you start feeling worse or if you don’t think the treatment is working so that you can find something that is better suited to you.

If you are unhappy with your doctor

If you are unhappy with your doctor or if you don’t feel comfortable talking to your doctor then ask to see another doctor at the surgery. Of maybe go and talk to a practice nurse first if that would be better. The other option would be to change surgeries. Ring NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24 or visit their website to find out about surgeries near to you: www.nhs24.com.

How to make the most of your appointment

Ask for a longer appointment if you find it difficult to talk

If you think you’ll clam up and find it difficult to express yourself during your appointment, you can request a longer appointment. You will have to do this when you make the appointment, not when you show up on the day. The person taking the booking will probably ask you why this is necessary, so give some thought to you this and explain that you feel you need more time to talk things over and not be rushed.

Don’t bottle things up!

It will really help you and your doctor if you are open and honest about how you are feeling. If it’s been a particularly hard day, then tell them. If you’re feeling distressed talking about things, tell them. If you need to cry, then do it. This is all part of your illness and part of getting help.

You’re there to talk about YOU!

It’s important to make sure that the discussion with your doctor covers all the important points and concerns you have, and focuses on how YOU are feeling. You’ve taken the courage to go along, so try not to brush things off, or down-play things once you are there.

Make sure you’ve understood everything before you leave

Sometimes we spend so much energy and concentration asking and answering questions, that we forget the directions we’ve been told. It’s good practice before you leave your appointment to go over things briefly, to be clear you understand what is happening next and what you have to do. If memory is a problem then maybe write a few notes down so that you don’t forget. If you do find that over the next few days you’ve forgotten something that was told to you ring your GP back and ask them to tell you again. This can be really important if you have been started on medication.

Remember that you are not alone!

Remind yourself that you do not have to deal with this all by yourself. Your GP is there to help you, and there are lots of other people and organisations that can offer support. Ask your GP for information about local support groups and helpful organisations.Check out the Resources page for a list of useful contacts.

Become your own expert

Read up on depression and anxiety so you have a better understanding of what it is all about. This can help you feel more in control with what’s going on now and what you can do in the future. Depression Alliance Scotland have a range of factsheets available – you can either request copies be sent out to you or download them from the website at: www.dascot.org/publications/. Or visit the Resources page for list of other organisations and websites that might be helpful.

The 3 bigguns to remember

Prepare. Write down how you are feeling and the times of day when you feel worst. What were you doing? Take this with you. If you feel nervous about talking to your GP ask a friend or relative to come with you as support. This can be handy afterwards, as they might be better remembering the advice the GP has given you and what you need to do next.
Be honest and open. Your GP can only work on what you tell them. Your concerns aren’t silly and you are not wasting their time. It’s important to tell them as much as you can. This will help you both to decide on what sort of help or treatment will be best for you.
Become your own expert. Don’t rely on your GP to know everything! Find out as much as you can about depression and what help you might can get locally. This will help you to feel more in control of your illness.

Alison "My GP listened to me and understood - it wasn’t my fault, I was suffering from depression. From that first appointment I went on to receive additional support and treatment. Two years on I’ve got fantastic support in place when I need it."

add your own quote

Brought to you by Depression Alliance Scotland.
About Us | Can you really say 'crap'? | Funders | Contact Us

Going to your doctor
If you think that you might be depressed, visiting your GP or doctor is an important first step. They can give you information about the condition, discuss various self-help options and, if necessary, prescribe antidepressant medication or suggest psychological therapy. On average, your doctor will see at least one person with depression, low mood or anxiety each day, so you don’t have to be embarrassed or nervous about telling them how you are feeling. Most people who develop depression do recover and are able to get back to how their lives were before they got ill. Your doctor is there to help, but there are things you can do to help make sure you get the best support and help you need. What your doctor can do for you What you can do to help your doctor How to make the most of your appointment What your doctor can do for you Your doctor will start by discussing your symptoms to make sure that they are not caused by any other illness. They may do some tests just to rule out anything else. If you are diagnosed with having depression, they will then decide on how severe the illness is and what the best course of action is. When talking about depression, your GP or health professional will probably describe it as: mild, moderate or severe. This refers to how much it is affecting your ability to cope with life. In mild cases feelings of low mood may come and go but you will generally be able to cope with everyday activities. Your GP will probably suggest self-help options like the ones suggested on the What I can do to help myself? page. This might include relaxation, attending a support group, or taking regular exercise. Exercise does benefit many people with depression, so your doctor might talk about what exercise you could do that would be helpful. It is becoming more common for doctors to also suggest self-help workbooks or online courses. Quite often these will be books that have tasks and activities that will help you look at what changes you can make in your life to reduce stress and improve your mood. Not all surgeries have book prescribing in place, but if you think it will help you then ask your doctor about this option. We’ve included a list of self-help books and online courses on our Resources page if you are interested in finding out more. In moderate cases a persistent low mood is accompanied by some physical symptoms and keeping up with things like work, study, socialising becomes a struggle. The self-help options mentioned above may also help you if you have moderate depression, so your doctor will probably talk these over with you as well. You may also be offered counselling or other forms of psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is an approach which helps you understand what might be causing your low mood and teaches you skills and techniques to help tackle your problems and deal with upsetting situations. Larger surgeries might have counselling services as part of the clinic, but if not, you might be referred on to another service. In cases of severe depression you will experience persistent low mood, intense physical symptoms and will be unlikely to keep up with normal activities and responsibilities. It may be that your doctor thinks it best that you start on antidepressants as well as you doing some self-help work and counselling. If you do start taking medication, you may be asked to go back and see your GP after about a week, just to check that you aren't having any unpleasant side-effects and that the dosage is right. Your doctor will talk to you about this and also discuss how long you should continue taking your medication. It is important that you agree to this, or talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. For more information read the section called About antidepressant medication. If you are severely depressed or if you are not responding to medication your doctor may decide to refer you onto a psychiatrist. This might also involve a change of medication or admitting you to hospital for assessment. If you are too ill to go to work, college or University your doctor will write you a medical certificate signing you off for a specified time which you can give to your employer, lecturer etc. What you can do to help your doctor Your experience of depression, low mood or anxiety will be unique to you, so it makes sense if you work with your doctor to find out what sort of care and treatment is going to be most helpful. Ask if there is a doctor at your surgery who has an interest in depression When you are making an appointment it might be worth asking if there is a doctor there who has an interest or specific expertise in depression. While this isn’t essential, their knowledge and understanding might be useful in talking about the range of options and local services that are available to you. Write down how you are feeling It can be really hard to talk about how you are feeling to other people, especially if you haven’t really done it before. And it can be hard to remember the details of times when you felt worse if you are now feeling a bit better. Your doctor will ask you questions about this, so it can be really useful if you write some of this down before your appointment and take them along with you. You can either show these to your doctor if you prefer, or use them as prompts when you are describing your symptoms. Things you should include are: How your mood changes over the day Whether you feel worse at a certain time of day, eg: in the mornings How long you have been feeling this way Any questions that you want to ask your doctor Ask a friend or relative to come with you If you’re feeling nervous about going to your appointment, or don’t feel confident that you can talk about it, you might want to take a friend or relative along with you as support. This might be useful afterwards as they might be able to help you remember the advice the doctor has given you about you need to do next. Most important things first! Each GP appointment only lasts for around 10 minutes. Not long when you need to discuss something as complex as your feelings and emotions! Because there isn’t much time it is really important to talk about the most important concerns and symptoms first, so that your doctor has time to address these as a priority. Ask about follow-up consultations Check with your doctor what the next steps are, what you can do and when you should go back and see them again. Make sure you are clear on this before your leave the room. It’s important to keep your doctor informed if you start feeling worse or if you don’t think the treatment is working so that you can find something that is better suited to you. If you are unhappy with your doctor If you are unhappy with your doctor or if you don’t feel comfortable talking to your doctor then ask to see another doctor at the surgery. Of maybe go and talk to a practice nurse first if that would be better. The other option would be to change surgeries. Ring NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24 or visit their website to find out about surgeries near to you: www.nhs24.com. How to make the most of your appointment Ask for a longer appointment if you find it difficult to talk If you think you’ll clam up and find it difficult to express yourself during your appointment, you can request a longer appointment. You will have to do this when you make the appointment, not when you show up on the day. The person taking the booking will probably ask you why this is necessary, so give some thought to you this and explain that you feel you need more time to talk things over and not be rushed. Don’t bottle things up! It will really help you and your doctor if you are open and honest about how you are feeling. If it’s been a particularly hard day, then tell them. If you’re feeling distressed talking about things, tell them. If you need to cry, then do it. This is all part of your illness and part of getting help. You’re there to talk about YOU! It’s important to make sure that the discussion with your doctor covers all the important points and concerns you have, and focuses on how YOU are feeling. You’ve taken the courage to go along, so try not to brush things off, or down-play things once you are there. Make sure you’ve understood everything before you leave Sometimes we spend so much energy and concentration asking and answering questions, that we forget the directions we’ve been told. It’s good practice before you leave your appointment to go over things briefly, to be clear you understand what is happening next and what you have to do. If memory is a problem then maybe write a few notes down so that you don’t forget. If you do find that over the next few days you’ve forgotten something that was told to you ring your GP back and ask them to tell you again. This can be really important if you have been started on medication. Remember that you are not alone! Remind yourself that you do not have to deal with this all by yourself. Your GP is there to help you, and there are lots of other people and organisations that can offer support. Ask your GP for information about local support groups and helpful organisations.Check out the Resources page for a list of useful contacts. Become your own expert Read up on depression and anxiety so you have a better understanding of what it is all about. This can help you feel more in control with what’s going on now and what you can do in the future. Depression Alliance Scotland have a range of factsheets available – you can either request copies be sent out to you or download them from the website at: www.dascot.org/publications/. Or visit the Resources page for list of other organisations and websites that might be helpful.	The 3 bigguns to remember Prepare. Write down how you are feeling and the times of day when you feel worst. What were you doing? Take this with you. If you feel nervous about talking to your GP ask a friend or relative to come with you as support. This can be handy afterwards, as they might be better remembering the advice the GP has given you and what you need to do next. Be honest and open. Your GP can only work on what you tell them. Your concerns aren’t silly and you are not wasting their time. It’s important to tell them as much as you can. This will help you both to decide on what sort of help or treatment will be best for you. Become your own expert. Don’t rely on your GP to know everything! Find out as much as you can about depression and what help you might can get locally. This will help you to feel more in control of your illness. "My GP listened to me and understood - it wasn’t my fault, I was suffering from depression. From that first appointment I went on to receive additional support and treatment. Two years on I’ve got fantastic support in place when I need it." add your own quote
Brought to you by Depression Alliance Scotland. About Us \| Can you really say 'crap'? \| Funders \| Contact Us
Copyright: DAS, 2008; Last updated: 16/6/08