counselling

[windycity8]

ive been having panic attacks about a situation that happened to me recently. the doctor has prescribed amitryptilene to calm me at night. i dont want to tell the doctor what has caused it but have asked to speak to a counsellor who is at the same surgery. if i tell the counsellor will the doctor then find out? im applying for jobs and also worried that if they ask for my medical records then this reason will be seen.

[4getmenot]

I doubt any job would ask for medical records

[windycity8]

even working for the home office?

[4getmenot]

Mmmmm, not sure. Can you ask the counsellor first if this info would go to your doctor?

[woofgang]

employers might ask for confirmation that your health is robust enough for the job you are applying for but they DO NOT get to see any part of your medical record without your explicit permission; and any NHS employee who allowed it to be seen would be in deep doo doo, even the police need a court order. You can tell the counsellor that you want your sessions to be kept totally private and that's likely to be possible although some counsellors who work for GP practices do record joint notes with the docs.
Not my business but it really would help if you could tell the doc what the problem is, even an outline would help him/her to help you....

[woofgang]

No, not even the Home office. They can ask questions like would the person be able to do this? could they manage under this or that stress? and any employer could expect it to be confirmed that you aren't suffering from any infectious diseases (but not what) ie that you won't put your work colleagues or the public at risk.

[windycity8]

im wanting to see the counsellor for help to stop me obsessing about what has happened to me, going over and over in my mind the situation i was in etc. if i mention this then im worried i would be seen to have mental health issues.

[woofgang]

no you wouldn't, believe me that is normal!!
IMO and I am not an expert but i know a bit, what you need to sort out is what would close out the episode for you.

[woofgang]

medical info WILL NOT be disclosed to employers without your permission.

[windycity8]

but seemingly could be asked for and if a no then detrimental. when we try to sort ourselves out it seems to impede our progress in more ways than one, unsure of opening my mouth to counsellor now even though i know i need to get help!

[woofgang]

Your health is WAYYYYY more important than any job. Please believe me I have learned this the very hardest way.
If the job is so important then you could ask why they need to view your health record. what they want to know regarding your health and suggest that you will allow them to ask your GP specific questions. Most of the record will be irrelevant to what they actually need to know AND atm your GP record is not your entire health record. Many hospital based services keep their own records and will only send summary letters to the GP.
personally I think its just companies being barstewards and they should be told to stick it where the sun shineth not...you never know that might impress the hell out of them.

[woofgang]

The other thing I would add is that if the job that you want could affect your health then IMO you DON"T want the job, again hard experience

[beryl100able]

Beware. My son suffers from a mental illness and his personal data were disclosed with the result that for months he was unable to get work that he can do standing on his head. He's now in the process of suing the stupid person who disclosed this information. If you need counselling, ask the counsellor if he will disclose any data to the GP, and ask for his undertaking IN WRITING not to do so. The law may prohibit disclosure but you can't trust anyone these days unless they're actually afraid of being sued. Meanwhile, try spiritual healing which can be very effective and doesn't involve contact with people who may be contacted by a prospective employer. Search for ways to find inner peace, put your mind and soul at rest as much as you can, and try to put this in the past - having learned whatever you have to learn. Best wishes!

[woofgang]

Yes actually you can trust people. I am sorry that your son had an unhappy experience, personally I wouldn't touch spiritual healing with a long bargepole, especially if my emotional state was frail.

[whoiswise]

First of all, you don't have to use the surgery counsellor - there are many outside charities that you can approach, especially useful if one is related to your recent bad experience. Second counselling should absolutely confidential otherwise its value is much reduced. Thirdly you may need to check about employment implications but you should also be aware that insurance companies require full disclosure of anything which YOU think might influence their assessment of the risk they are insuring - what this means I don't actually know exactly but ask the insurance association ABI Media URL: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Question894104.html
Description: Panic attack and how to treat etc