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Stress - again

6th Dec 2011
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December 6 - Well you lot have slowed me down. I've never given so much thought to what I wrote before.

And as a result of what you do I've done something I really don't do very often - I went to see my GP. Like many men I avoid this if at all possible, but my wife has a season ticket for the rest of the family and given all the comments made I decided to do something that I have never tried to do before - I went to ask for an opinion on what I was doing and not on my health. But don't worry - I also paid a fee - no scrounging off the NHS here. All GPs do private medicals for insurance companies and so on. I paid the equivalent fee to ask for an opinion on what I'd done.

So this is what I learned.

First, the GP (and OK, it's only one GP) really supported my decision.

Second, as she explained, a GP has ten minutes (at most) with someone like my manager. The manager says they can't work. What's she to do? And how does she prove it? There's a test apparently - but it's incredibly insensitive (she described it as about as much use as a Cosmo quiz - and that took me back but apparently they haven't changed much). So, when in doubt she signs people off and reckons all GPs do. What else can they do? They have to accept the patient's word.

Third, as she pointed out, there is no real follow up. GPs are not occupational physicians. They have a focus on physical illness; few have real training in  mental health and stress is something most GPs learn about by suffering it, and not in any lesson. What is more, no one really knows (like depression) what the cure is. Sure you can medicate to some degree - but it goes away. No one knows why. 

Fourth, she was sure proactive management helped. Her choice would be to prescribe gardening - she reckoned it's physical, you have to care and you have to have hope for the future. I loved that! I liked this woman.

But did she think I was right to push this person towards help? You bet she did. She wished she had the capacity to do so more often.

Have I done everything right? No, of course not.

But I thought I'd share this. Hope it helps.

And because of what you've all been saying I might do more stuff on general philosophy if you don't mind sometime soon. Because sure as heck you have had me thinking. Including "why do I do this?". But if I'm honest, learning is why, and I have.

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Replies (4)

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By stephen_hoare
07th Dec 2011 12:04

Let's hear it for the CEO!

After all the stick handed out to the CEO, can we all please leave him alone now?

Everything he has been told by his GP agrees completely with everything I have learned from medical friends and colleagues and I think it shows that he has handled the situation with concern and sensitivity.

Now, can those with axes to grind about stress (their own or others') not take it out on the CEO?

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By anzanijohn
07th Dec 2011 13:16

Get your wellies on

..or perhaps at this time of year read a gardening book and look at a seed catalogue.

Basically, keep an eye on your own health.  As you said we men have a tendency not to seek help as soon as it may be appropriate.

Oh and on a non-medically qualified basis - if you find Troll storms have a negative effect upon your health and general outlook that is perfectly normal.  Try not to feed them and the symptoms should vanish when they do [and they will].

Enjoy your Xmas holidays [when they arrive].

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By chatman
07th Dec 2011 14:16

Good advice from the GP

As the GP pointed out, they have little or no training in mental health, and so, while her comments sound sensible, they are not necessarily the last word.

Any physical exercise is good for depression. Unfortunately it's the last thing you want to do when you're depressed, so it's quite hard to go and do it.

There are treatments which work, both drug-related and talking-related, but doctors do not seem to know which ones will work for which patient, or when they won't work, but they are worth trying.

BTW depression does not always go away. Sometimes it lasts the sufferer's entire life time.

Top respect to the CEO, though, for taking other points of view on board. Looking forward to the stuff on general philosophy.

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By RussellD
09th Dec 2011 09:07

Please continue

Having been 'slowed down', I for one hope you dont feel less inclined to continue blogging - I look out for your blog each time I visit the site. 

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