singingringingtree

My OH is suffering from 'medium to high anxiety' related to an incident at work (he is a police officer). The force has given him some counselling sessions and the doctor has prescribed a six-month course of 'low grade' anti-depressants, acknowledging this is work-related anxiety and not depression, and is likely to be a temporary thing. He has not missed any time at work over this and he has never suffered from anything like this before.

We have just dropped off our docs and the next stage, all being well, will be the meds, assume around springtime. We are hoping that he will be off the pills by then.

My questions are:

* Has anyone any experience of going to the meds with something similar (ie anxiety rather than depression)?
* Would a report from his doctor explaining what has happened, and what action was taken, mean he won't need independent evaluation?
* Or would just a chat with the doctor at the meds suffice if he is off the pills?

Tried a search but all seem to relate to depression over a long period.

Any advice gratefully received.

lins and Stef McLachlan

Hi
Having been a Police Officer myself...I did have a similar Stress related illness (work). We are now at the stage of waiting for medicals and I have been given a printout from my GP to take with me but it has only been recorded as Panic attacks. The report shows my last 10 years...so will not give concern. Get a similar printout, that will tell you what it is recorded as in your medical note and you just have to tell the DMP the same as is.

Hope this helps
I think they are looking for ongoing mental health issues....not normal things
We are all only human after all! lol
Stef

Nibbles2005

I have suffered from anxiety (GAD) for over ten years and declared it on my medical form. I have been controlled for years on an SSRI called Cipralex, anti depressants have anti anxietic properties too. The medical people are looking for things that will cost the systems over $5,000 a year and anxiety controlled with drug unless you are under LOTS of specialist treatment will go nowhere near that. It was not raised as an issue on my medical at all and can not imagine it would be on your husbands given he is short term issue related anxiety. Relax it won't be any issue x

Walsh Clan

My OH had work related stressors on his file (Irish Navy), so we brought a note from the GP stating that they and all other conditions were clear and he was free from any follow ups etc. The DMP attached this to the file sent to London and our pprs followed shortly after that.

singingringingtree

Thanks guys for all your comments. Good reassuring advice from all.

drivemel2

Hi
My husband got a stress related ulcer from being a police officer plus high blood pressure so was worried when we went for our meds on Oct 22nd.
Our DMP in Hampshire was great and even though the blood pressure was well up he left him on the machine chatting until it went down. He was only interested in any condition that was current and if your husband is off the tablets by the time of your meds. I wouldn't worry. I am on thyroxine and my daughter has lymphodoema in one ankle so he just needed a short note from our GP about our conditions. We've just got our PPR, so try not to worry.

singingringingtree

Thanks drivemel2, that's really encouraging. It's just sod's law that he has 27 years in the job dealing with the most vile things and then the lid comes off months before the medical. Perhaps 'someone' is trying to tell us something! Just before this happened he was working 12-hour shifts, primarily running firearems incidents - blood pressure through the roof (now back under control without meds thankfully).

Lorna999

I would suggest that his anxiety would be classed as a 'reactional anxiety secondary to a specific situation' so I wouldn't be too worried. Good luck wth your application
Lorna

drivemel2

I know how you must be feeling my OH has just finished after doing his 30 years. He has no regrets at all about leaving.

Cdnshaz

My husband finishes his 30 yrs in March, right now on light duties due to injury
he has had more broken bones and light duties in the last couple of years then in his whole life.
Be glad when he is done and then I will feel he is safe.

Yoong

Hi there,
Have your husband join yoga or mindfulness meditation group to bring down
his stress level and anxiety.Fortunately there is enough time for him to
learn stress management before the medical.I think he will be fine.
Yoong