Do i mention it to my gp?

I'll apologize in advance, it's long.

For the past few years I've suffered from anxiety and depression, I'm out of education now and need a job but due to my anxiety I feel uncomfortable just walking down the street let alone in a crowded work environment, because of this I've been applying for jobs like warehouse work but I'm not having any luck.

I've decided to see my gp to get some help but there's a detail I'm afraid to mention as I think it might affect the possible treatment I might receive in a negative way.

I've always had anxiety but it was muted before and I was still confident in many ways but when I was 16 I started smoking weed, I started smoking more and more to the point I was high most days, by the age of 18 my anxiety was getting worse and I was becoming unhappy from 18 -20 I smoked continuously and I went into depression and I had strong anxiety, I'm now 21, I haven't smoked weed in 6 months and even then I had cut right down but my anxiety and depression is at an all time high.

I believe I was prone to anxiety/depression anyway as I believe I may be bipolar but I do feel cannabis has made it a whole lot worse and had a long lasting affect.

Problem is I feel that if I mention my experience but missing out cannabis I would get referred to a specialist as well as medication but I fear that if I mention I used to be a heavy cannabis user I'd either get a biased treatment or told its only temporary ( which even if it is I don't care I can't carry on like this)

Do you think I should mention my previous experience with weed?

Voting Results
56% Normal
Based on 41 votes (23 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • CountessDouche

    Yes! Yes! You mention ALL of it to your gp- trust me, they've heard it all before, and recreational marijuana use will not make you look like an addict. It is ESPECIALLY important that you talk to your physician about having ANY symptoms of bipolar disorder, otherwise they might prescribe you a SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which can trigger mania followed by suicidal tendencies in anyone with bipolar disorder. At the end of the day, you will never get the best treatment unless you are completely HONEST with your physician- it's not like your admitting to anything worse than what they've already heard!

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  • seakelp

    Yep, but equally as important is that you talk to a therapist/councilor.

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  • Sam_I_Am

    Medical professionals aren't going to punish you. They want to help you. A lot of people self medicate before seeking professional help. You are completely normal.

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  • jessjane02

    A cone a day keeps the Doctor away ;)

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  • DemonicFortuneCookie

    Leave.

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  • CrimsonDeadly

    Depends where you are... The UK government has started allowing businesses to buy your medical records (yeah, you read that right) when they're thinking of employing you... There was a petition that went around and everything...

    Anywhere else though and you're safe

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    • Yeah our goverment sucks. They were also told by the UN that the british privacy laws are too intrusive and Cameron basically said so what? its not changing

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