I think I'm suffering from depression. What do I do?

[Simalacrum]

The title says most of it really.

I won't burden people here with the details, basically I think I'm suffering from depression, based on research I've done online and the fact that a lot of the symptoms correlate to how I am right now.

Basically every source says I should seek professional help and thus I've come to the conclusion that I should do so. Nothing worse than self-diagnosing, eh?

Problem is, I don't really know how I go about it.

I live in the UK and I know we have healthcare coverage and stuff but I don't really know how it works in this country, particularly in regards to mental health.

Where do I go? How do I find a doctor? Are there fees? etc etc.

If anybody could help me in such regards, I would really appreciate it.

 

[Mr. Charles]

As you live in the UK on the NHS treatment will be free - however, your quality and ammount of treatment will vary depednant on where you live. Presently NHS expenidture on mental health issues is very low and the severity of your case will dictate a response. The traditional approach on the NHS is to medicate followed up with CBT (Cognitive Behavioual Therapy - this aims to adjust your negative thinking). The medications often initial prescribed are reffered to as SSRI (Selcetive Serotonin Reputake Inhibtors) these include medications such as Prozac or setraline. As i mentioned you will likely be reffered to CBT. THen you will have a refferal and depending on your seveirty you will be added to a waiting list. YOu'll then recieve a course of CBT that will likely be 12 one hour sessions. Obvoiusly this depends on your personal scenario and there are other possibilities including commnuity mental health teams and admissions to hospital. Due to cuts in the NHS if you can afford to go privately I would recomend it. If your conditions is mild to moderate there are a great deal of very good private psychiatrists and psycologists out there.

I hope this helps you and I wish you the best of luck and I hope you have a speedy recovery

Kind regards

Chris