"Dismissive locum GP"

I have been attending the same medical practice all my life for various health problems and the doctors have always cared well for me. A few months ago I was feeling extremely anxious and low and got up the courage to go to the doctors and see what support they could offer me. I saw a locum doctor who didn’t seem interested at all, he was chewing gum and looking at his computer rather than at me. He had printed off a prescription before I had finished trying to explain how I felt and he didn’t ask me anything about the background to why I might have felt like this or what my lifestyle is like. When I asked if he thought talking therapy might be an option he said I was ‘too emotional to get any benefit’.

I took the heart medication he prescribed for a few days because I didn’t know where else to turn to, but all it did was make me feel tired and luckily I was encouraged to go and see a different doctor in the practice. The difference was massive- they took time to talk me through the reasons I might be feeling this way, immediately made a referral for talking therapy and started a discussion about whether I felt antidepressant medication could help. I’ve now started CBT and feel a lot better for it so I’m glad I didn’t give up but I am still annoyed that I didn’t get the help I needed the first time I asked for it.