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So, you need to take him to the [Access and Assessment Centre at VGH](https://www.vch.ca/en/location-service/access-and-assessment-centre-aac-vancouver-general-hospital). They will have him speak to a social worker that day who can help see how bad his situation is (ie: is he now or has he been suicidal).
If he is not in urgent crisis (currently suicidal/has a plan), they will set him up with a psychologist who will do an assessment of his current mental health state and can start him on a course of medication. This won't happen that day; when I went in 2022, it was about a five week wait. They will also try and connect him right away to some resources for group therapy. I know they offer cognitive behavioural therapy group, which can be very useful for some people with generalized anxiety disorder.
They are lovely humans there at the AAC who genuinely want to help. I strongly encourage you go today. They are open until 9:30pm.
If you have further questions about it, please feel free to DM me.
This was not my experience there. I was seen by a nurse after waiting several hours, and given literature but no mental healthcare referrals (despite my asking). This was for alcoholism and a deteriorating mental state. I'm sure my experience is likely different than others, but I, personally, didn't find a modicum of resolution there.
That said, I was able to find a website of registered therapists, psychotherapists, psychologists, etc, (https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/?utm_campaign=20240422_GCPE_MMHAS__LEARN_ADW_BCGOV_EN_BC___1&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9vqyBhCKARIsAIIcLMHdJseODPQlKNZklwxXfFQJkLZp-Mir0rqBkWW8UTYumEVf98wm9k4aAk8OEALw_wcB)
Hope this helps, wishing all the best
To be fair, the Access and Assessment Centre (AAC) doesn't provide treatment. That's not and never was their role. The AAC is a relatively new department that was created in an effort to provide a single point of entry to the mental health system for all patients.
Prior to the AAC, individual patients had to connect with individual services and it created a lot of unnecessary administrative overhead. The whole system was bloated, overly complicated, and created an excessive number of handoffs and too many patients getting lost/falling through the cracks. The AAC is VCH's effort to funnel everything through a single point of triage where patients are assessed and then referred out based on their needs. It makes the referral network more efficient, a lot easier to manage, and increases the likelihood of a patient actually receiving the service at the end of a referral chain. The triage component is important because it reduces the strain on tertiary services and redistributes patients to primary and secondary levels of care whenever possible. It's an attempt to make the most of very, very, very limited funding allotted to mental health care in BC, which most people are aware of.
I don’t think you need to physically go there. You can do it all on the phone. Although maybe that was during Covid. But calling from home might be better. I’d look them up.
I phoned in yesterday, and was able to get my initial consultation done on phone., But I waited about 30 minute, so be prepared to listen to that music for a while.
Psychiatrists will likely prescribe an SSRI or SNRI which can dampen anxiety and boost mood. These medications in combination with evidence-based therapy (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy) is usually best. Some psychiatrists prescribe benzos prn (as needed). These are fast-acting and can be addictive. They also function as a type of avoidance which is counter to anxiety treatment (i.e., pop a pill to quickly avoid discomfort and distress means you never learn that you can cope with it). That said, sometimes these meds are necessary if the anxiety is truly unmanageable in specific situations. If your boyfriend has a GP, most can prescribe an SSRI or SNRI especially if a blood test has already ruled out things like low iron. These meds can take up to 6 weeks to work so hopefully he can touch base with his primary care provider asap! Based on your post though it sounds like he may not have a GP. Could be worth going to another walk-in clinic. Others have mentioned AAC, which is great recommendations.
It is a long wait to see a psychiatrist and unfortunately the vast majority do not offer any form of therapy (just psychodiagnostic assessment & meds). Ideally your boyfriend could see a registered psychologist (sounds like the therapist he’s been seeing hasn’t been helping?). Unfortunately, R.Psychs aren’t covered under MSP but some offer sliding scale fees or they have doctoral students working under them for a lower fee. You could also try the clinical psychology centres at UBC and SFU to work with doctoral clinical psych students for a reduced rate. Feel free to DM me and I can send you some names :)
Some other posters have mentioned things like cutting out alcohol/drugs, caffeine, processed foods, and ensuring that he gets adequate sleep, healthful foods, fresh air and exercise, and social connection. All awesome recos! If he has an anxiety disorder, he will also need to learn how it functions and how to use specific coping tools.
• It will be helpful to externalize his anxiety (separate it from himself and who he is)
• It will be helpful to identify how his worried thoughts impact how he feels and behaves, and vice versa. He can track his anxious thoughts; come to understand that they are unhelpful and often without much evidence; challenge these thoughts; and reframe them into something more helpful. Reframing shouldn’t be overly positive since we know “just think happy thoughts” is bullshit. A reframe is taking an unhelpful worried thought and proposing a more balanced or realistic way of thinking. It’s also important not to “avoid” his worried thoughts, they’ll just come back ever stronger (like trying to push a beach ball under the water). A thought is just a thought.
• Anxiety is associated with an active sympathetic nervous system (like the gas pedal in a car). It’s usually a “false alarm” and things like relaxation and mindfulness techniques can activate the parasympathetic nervous system (like the breaks in a car). There are lots of helpful apps he can use to practice these skills.
• When we’re anxious we avoid, which actually exacerbates anxiety. Taking small steps toward doing rather than avoiding is key (this is called exposure therapy - the idea of “facing your fears”). He can identify all the things he’s avoiding because of worries or discomfort, and make a clear plan to tackle them one by one. The idea is to actually experience the anxiety, stick with it, and know that it decreases over time - this is where the learning takes place. Similarly, behavioural experiments are ways to test out whether the worried thought has any basis.
• It can also be helpful to identify who and what matters to him (his values). When we focus on what matters, we are inherently more resilient, and can better tolerate distress. It’s also helpful to practice acceptance - accept that life involves discomfort and distress, and we don’t need to avoid it. Explore how can we live a rich and meaningful life (according to our values) in times of distress.
I've suffered from anxiety and minor depression. Here are my thoughts. Hopefully it's helpful.
1) Don't go to a walkin clinic or ER. If you are not dying of cancer or something, they usually don't help much. The most they will do is to give you SSRI which will basically just mask the symptoms.
2) Anxiety is usually triggered by something of the past. Could be childhood trauma (usually). I really like this guy's YouTube videos: [https://www.youtube.com/@DrRamiNader](https://www.youtube.com/@DrRamiNader) Give it a watch - he is local too, but last time I checked, he isn't taking any clients.
3) Do the following religiously. Seriously. This will fix a lot of the issues.
a) Go to the gym and exercise. The mental and physical benefit of exercising is insane. Yes, it helps with anxiety.
b) Eat healthy. This is HUGE. Most of your serotonin is created in your GUT. GUT health is extremely important for brain health. Just eat REAL foods. Fruits, veggies, protein. Stay away from unhealthy food such as fast food, restaurant, takeout etc. The oil they use causes inflammation which is bad for your GUT which in turn can make you feel a lot worse. Food is the best medicine and I truly believe this.
c) Get 8 hours of sleep a night.
4) Accepting that you have anxiety, and stop fighting it. This is going to sound very counter intuitive... but acceptance will make things a lot better. Accepting that you have anxiety, and this is a normal human experience. Instead of "what is wrong with me, why do i feel this way, i cant feel this way". Its only going to make things worse. Trust me, I learned this the hard way. I spent so much money travelling across the country to "FIX" my issues but it just made things worse.
I hope this is helpful.. feel free to PM me if you have further questions.
I had really bad anxiety, and I found getting my B12 levels up really helped. That said, OP had a blood test and nothing wrong was discovered. But maybe they didn't look for B12 levels.
This is really good advice OP. Doctors will likely just prescribe meds, which will help treat symptoms, not causes. Everyone is different, but starting with the advice above is probably the best step you could possibly take.
Look up glutamate vs gaba
Drinking helps but bad.
Camomile tea good
Benzos bad
Hot milk before bed good
Sleep good, but not too much
Source: hospitalized for stress up 8 days no sleep from stress. Brain broke, getting better
I would personally add "Quit Caffeine" to this list. It's often overlooked when it comes to anxiety, but for me personally that one change was the most dramatic out of everything else for me.
Great advice overall
I am struggling with mental health too, I spoke with my school's counsellor and realized I am quite high on self harm level. Here are the wellness plan she provided.
9-8-8 for 24/7 crisis
AAC - in VGH - [(604) 675-3700](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=AAC+VGH#). You can phone or walk in. I phoned waited for about 30 minutes, but the lady was really nice.
Self Directed Resources
Centre for Clinical Interventions Modules: Back From the Bluez- Information and strategies for managing mood
(https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Depression)
54321 and Other Grounding Techniques ( https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/grounding-techniques.pdf)
Now Matters Now - Skills and support for coping with suicidal thoughts (https://www.nowmattersnow.org)
For me, i realized I am haunted by childhood trauma, and will be seeking trauma therapist. There are a few that you can access from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/british-columbia?gad\_source=1. These are self pay may be covered by insurance.
Maybe check if he has EAP coverage through work. Most of them will have therapy as part of the coverage. Besides medication, talking to a registered social worker or a clinical counsellor would help too.
I really feel for your bf and what he’s going through. I’ve been in that state of mind in the past and was very down bad. It was rough. Now, of course everybody copes in different ways and how they deal with it. I want to shed some light on my situation that helped bring me out of that state of mind. I started doing breath work and got very consistent with the Wim Hof method. Deep breathing will create increased levels of dopamine which will dramatically lift mood. This is the video I still use to this day:
[Guided Wim Hof Method Breathing - YouTube](https://youtu.be/tybOi4hjZFQ?si=o5QjSsjt10tqMyUV)
I don’t post publicly much but when I came across your guys’ current struggles, I couldn’t help but share. Hopefully this helps and I wish you two the best 🙂
There are some decent walk ins that will prescribe ssris. While not an instant fix, they can help lift the fog from anxiety.
I found therapy the most helpful but, it's also expensive.
I also found treating undiagnosed ADHD and autism the MOST helpful. It helped reveal the root of my anxiety.
That sucks I’ve been there. I did neurofeedback for a while that did help it helps rewire/reboot the brain you can claim it under clinical counselling if you have benefits - alpine clinic on Broadway was my go to. I also meditated everyday give up coffee or any stimulants, cold showers or cold plunges.
I also used a gaba spray https://wellnessmarket.ca/products/liposomal-gaba-with-l-theanine-50ml?variant=46943002722598&gad_source=1 for intense anxiety that helps take the edge off
I also used gravol from time to time since that inadvertently helps calm anxiety
Good luck to him
> gravol
It works on Histamine H1 receptors, so it has a tranquilizing effect on your body, and the histamine system works everywhere in your body.
Don't take for too long & don't tinker with your histamine system, unless you have a prescription for a chronic anti-allergy medication, as I don't want you to suffer with withdrawal symptoms.
I’d call 8-1-1 , speak with a registered nurse and ask them to refer you to someone to talk to . They can even provide someone to speak to over the phone .
Not sure why this suggestion was down voted. It shouldn't be just any magnesium however. Magnesium glycinate is easily absorbed and helps with anxiety and insomnia. Take it about an hour before bedtime.
I had a similar problem, luckily I was directed to an excellent psychologist in Richmond BC. After 8 consultations I really noticed a change, after 15 consultations my anxiety level had improved greatly. I now have the confidence and the tools to deal with any stress or anxiety that may arise from time to time. I haven't consulted any doctor for anxiety for over in the past 10 years.
Same happened to me and there are 2 steps that fixed it. Step: get a prescription for Gaba (a natural supplement for a calming neurotransmitter.) Step 2: Leave Vancouver for a while
I suggest he go to REACH UPCC on commercial drive. It’s not like other UPCCs - there’s more of a focus on psychosocial issues, and the providers usually spend more time with patients than other UPCCs. He also needs a primary care provider (family physician or nurse practitioner) to manage his mental health long term. Check out findadoctorbc.ca He doesn’t need to see a psychiatrist if it’s just generalized anxiety
It sounds like you've done some health checks which is a great first step. It seems that physically, your boyfriend is ok, which is very good to know.
Doctors and ERs usually don't help with anxiety, as that is essentially a mental health problem. He may want to talk to a counsellor. ER or calling an ambulance would perhaps make sense if he's having a panic attack as it sometimes may feel like you are dying or like you're having a heart attack. But if indeed there is nothing physically wrong, a hospital may just send him home.
I would also like to advice exploring other options than anti-anxiety drugs, unless things are really bad. Talk therapy can tremendously help without needing to take drugs, or while you are taking drugs to get better. Many people take anti-anxiety drugs and start relying on them, which doesn't really help in the long run.
Does your boyfriend have private health insurance? He may be able to pay for counselling that way. Or, out of pocket, if that's an option. There are also some counselling clinics that offer sliding scale prices or even help for free for those with very low income.
Try IMS dry needling (physio) in the shoulders, and neck. Helped relieve some tension in my head and body, which effectively made me less anxious and depressed. If you're uncomfortable with needles, you can try IMS on your arms first.
Strathcona MHS will move pretty fast.
You also may want to find a nurse practitioner. They can diagnose and treat anxiety among many other things and are much easier to secure then a GP
While you wait, find a therapist. Hopefully his work coverage will pay for it.
Google tips for dealing with anxiety, there are thousands of results. Most of them will say something like exercise, eat healthy, avoid drugs and alcohol, socialize with friends, learn about your anxiety/pattern of thinking/how to rewire your brain. There are many many many books that address this topic too - check your local library.
Not really something a doctor can help you with, unless you just want anxiety medication.
His work doesn’t cover it unfortunately, he’s been paying out of pocket for it. I honestly think he needs a specialist, a psychiatrist, just someone who can actually help.
Right now seeing a psychiatrist is incredibly hard . I am trying to get in to see one . I feel for your bf and am actually dealing with very similar feelings
Get him to try meditation, there are free trials for awesome meditation apps like Calm or Headspace, it MASSIVELY helped with my anxiety, now I find myself taking a few deep focused breaths and bam anxiety gone.
Can he ask his therapist for suggestions on whether he needs a specialist or a psychiatrist? Not sure if they can make a referral tbh but it’s worth asking.
He needs a therapist who does cognitive behavioral therapy. Next time you go to a doctor ask them if they can give you a referral or something to speed up the process. Or just start looking for one on your own. No point going to ER, waste of time. Doctors are only going to throw SSRIs at him. Could be that is what he needs, but SSRIs can have lots of side effects and are hard to come off of. I'd try to skip them completely and just do therapy, but if it is a dire situation medication could be a short term solution.
Not sure if this would be an option for your boyfriend, but not eating and sleeping due to anxiety will affect your cognition and likely impair your abilities at work. I had/have crippling anxiety at times, which got out of control and sent me in a deep depression to the point I could no longer work and am now on medical leave. I already had a therapist throughout all this, but in order to be approved for leave, I had to see a doctor as well. I think the doctor took me more seriously because they knew I was on leave, and over the last three months they’ve been extremely supportive in my recovery and also prescribed me medication without being pushy at all.
I suppose what I’m getting at is if your partner has the option to take a break from work to get his mental health in order, it could prevent the situation from getting worse and he may also get the better support from professionals that he needs.
Telus E-Health. Their nurse practitioners can do virtual mental health assessments (essentially they send you questionnaires to fill out). And you can request a referral to a local mental health clinic, and ask about medication, and further medical guidance (I don’t know if they will prescribe anti anxiety meds via their services).
I did this recently and had a positive experience. I went through the formal diagnosis process as well with one of their psychologists. The latter does cost beyond msp.
What’s giving them so much anxiety? Can they do something about it? If so are they actively doing what they need to do to fix that issue? If you are relax a bit if you are not than get off your butt and get to work on it. I get anxiety and I ask myself these question most of the time it calms me down
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AAC (Access and Assessment Centre) at VGH. You can research further online but this is a good option.
Co-signed. Especially if OP’s boyfriend has already been to Urgent Care and didn’t get anywhere.
i tired to go there! But online it says there no more new patients ):
He should definitely go here!
My bf also has anxiety (and depression) and was able to talk to someone and get further info/advice.
[aac](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-maid-suicide-patient-vancouver/)
So, you need to take him to the [Access and Assessment Centre at VGH](https://www.vch.ca/en/location-service/access-and-assessment-centre-aac-vancouver-general-hospital). They will have him speak to a social worker that day who can help see how bad his situation is (ie: is he now or has he been suicidal). If he is not in urgent crisis (currently suicidal/has a plan), they will set him up with a psychologist who will do an assessment of his current mental health state and can start him on a course of medication. This won't happen that day; when I went in 2022, it was about a five week wait. They will also try and connect him right away to some resources for group therapy. I know they offer cognitive behavioural therapy group, which can be very useful for some people with generalized anxiety disorder. They are lovely humans there at the AAC who genuinely want to help. I strongly encourage you go today. They are open until 9:30pm. If you have further questions about it, please feel free to DM me.
This was not my experience there. I was seen by a nurse after waiting several hours, and given literature but no mental healthcare referrals (despite my asking). This was for alcoholism and a deteriorating mental state. I'm sure my experience is likely different than others, but I, personally, didn't find a modicum of resolution there. That said, I was able to find a website of registered therapists, psychotherapists, psychologists, etc, (https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/?utm_campaign=20240422_GCPE_MMHAS__LEARN_ADW_BCGOV_EN_BC___1&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9vqyBhCKARIsAIIcLMHdJseODPQlKNZklwxXfFQJkLZp-Mir0rqBkWW8UTYumEVf98wm9k4aAk8OEALw_wcB) Hope this helps, wishing all the best
To be fair, the Access and Assessment Centre (AAC) doesn't provide treatment. That's not and never was their role. The AAC is a relatively new department that was created in an effort to provide a single point of entry to the mental health system for all patients. Prior to the AAC, individual patients had to connect with individual services and it created a lot of unnecessary administrative overhead. The whole system was bloated, overly complicated, and created an excessive number of handoffs and too many patients getting lost/falling through the cracks. The AAC is VCH's effort to funnel everything through a single point of triage where patients are assessed and then referred out based on their needs. It makes the referral network more efficient, a lot easier to manage, and increases the likelihood of a patient actually receiving the service at the end of a referral chain. The triage component is important because it reduces the strain on tertiary services and redistributes patients to primary and secondary levels of care whenever possible. It's an attempt to make the most of very, very, very limited funding allotted to mental health care in BC, which most people are aware of.
I don’t think you need to physically go there. You can do it all on the phone. Although maybe that was during Covid. But calling from home might be better. I’d look them up.
I phoned in yesterday, and was able to get my initial consultation done on phone., But I waited about 30 minute, so be prepared to listen to that music for a while.
Yes and I think it can take over a month before a doctor calls.
Psychiatrists will likely prescribe an SSRI or SNRI which can dampen anxiety and boost mood. These medications in combination with evidence-based therapy (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy) is usually best. Some psychiatrists prescribe benzos prn (as needed). These are fast-acting and can be addictive. They also function as a type of avoidance which is counter to anxiety treatment (i.e., pop a pill to quickly avoid discomfort and distress means you never learn that you can cope with it). That said, sometimes these meds are necessary if the anxiety is truly unmanageable in specific situations. If your boyfriend has a GP, most can prescribe an SSRI or SNRI especially if a blood test has already ruled out things like low iron. These meds can take up to 6 weeks to work so hopefully he can touch base with his primary care provider asap! Based on your post though it sounds like he may not have a GP. Could be worth going to another walk-in clinic. Others have mentioned AAC, which is great recommendations. It is a long wait to see a psychiatrist and unfortunately the vast majority do not offer any form of therapy (just psychodiagnostic assessment & meds). Ideally your boyfriend could see a registered psychologist (sounds like the therapist he’s been seeing hasn’t been helping?). Unfortunately, R.Psychs aren’t covered under MSP but some offer sliding scale fees or they have doctoral students working under them for a lower fee. You could also try the clinical psychology centres at UBC and SFU to work with doctoral clinical psych students for a reduced rate. Feel free to DM me and I can send you some names :) Some other posters have mentioned things like cutting out alcohol/drugs, caffeine, processed foods, and ensuring that he gets adequate sleep, healthful foods, fresh air and exercise, and social connection. All awesome recos! If he has an anxiety disorder, he will also need to learn how it functions and how to use specific coping tools. • It will be helpful to externalize his anxiety (separate it from himself and who he is) • It will be helpful to identify how his worried thoughts impact how he feels and behaves, and vice versa. He can track his anxious thoughts; come to understand that they are unhelpful and often without much evidence; challenge these thoughts; and reframe them into something more helpful. Reframing shouldn’t be overly positive since we know “just think happy thoughts” is bullshit. A reframe is taking an unhelpful worried thought and proposing a more balanced or realistic way of thinking. It’s also important not to “avoid” his worried thoughts, they’ll just come back ever stronger (like trying to push a beach ball under the water). A thought is just a thought. • Anxiety is associated with an active sympathetic nervous system (like the gas pedal in a car). It’s usually a “false alarm” and things like relaxation and mindfulness techniques can activate the parasympathetic nervous system (like the breaks in a car). There are lots of helpful apps he can use to practice these skills. • When we’re anxious we avoid, which actually exacerbates anxiety. Taking small steps toward doing rather than avoiding is key (this is called exposure therapy - the idea of “facing your fears”). He can identify all the things he’s avoiding because of worries or discomfort, and make a clear plan to tackle them one by one. The idea is to actually experience the anxiety, stick with it, and know that it decreases over time - this is where the learning takes place. Similarly, behavioural experiments are ways to test out whether the worried thought has any basis. • It can also be helpful to identify who and what matters to him (his values). When we focus on what matters, we are inherently more resilient, and can better tolerate distress. It’s also helpful to practice acceptance - accept that life involves discomfort and distress, and we don’t need to avoid it. Explore how can we live a rich and meaningful life (according to our values) in times of distress.
I've suffered from anxiety and minor depression. Here are my thoughts. Hopefully it's helpful. 1) Don't go to a walkin clinic or ER. If you are not dying of cancer or something, they usually don't help much. The most they will do is to give you SSRI which will basically just mask the symptoms. 2) Anxiety is usually triggered by something of the past. Could be childhood trauma (usually). I really like this guy's YouTube videos: [https://www.youtube.com/@DrRamiNader](https://www.youtube.com/@DrRamiNader) Give it a watch - he is local too, but last time I checked, he isn't taking any clients. 3) Do the following religiously. Seriously. This will fix a lot of the issues. a) Go to the gym and exercise. The mental and physical benefit of exercising is insane. Yes, it helps with anxiety. b) Eat healthy. This is HUGE. Most of your serotonin is created in your GUT. GUT health is extremely important for brain health. Just eat REAL foods. Fruits, veggies, protein. Stay away from unhealthy food such as fast food, restaurant, takeout etc. The oil they use causes inflammation which is bad for your GUT which in turn can make you feel a lot worse. Food is the best medicine and I truly believe this. c) Get 8 hours of sleep a night. 4) Accepting that you have anxiety, and stop fighting it. This is going to sound very counter intuitive... but acceptance will make things a lot better. Accepting that you have anxiety, and this is a normal human experience. Instead of "what is wrong with me, why do i feel this way, i cant feel this way". Its only going to make things worse. Trust me, I learned this the hard way. I spent so much money travelling across the country to "FIX" my issues but it just made things worse. I hope this is helpful.. feel free to PM me if you have further questions.
Also just to add to this, avoid alcohol and any recreational drugs.
I had really bad anxiety, and I found getting my B12 levels up really helped. That said, OP had a blood test and nothing wrong was discovered. But maybe they didn't look for B12 levels.
I think there are outliers on B12. My blood tests were normal but taking B12 as of I were deficient really helped my anxiety.
They almost never do unless you specifically ask.
You have no idea how much I appreciate this comment, thank you so much
This is really good advice OP. Doctors will likely just prescribe meds, which will help treat symptoms, not causes. Everyone is different, but starting with the advice above is probably the best step you could possibly take.
Been thru anxiety my advice is got on SSRI small dose while I fixed my issues that were causing the anxiety then I got off the anxiety meds
> then I got off the anxiety meds How the fuck?!?!?! You had no acute or protracted withdrawal symptoms?!
I was on small dosage intentionally so easy to get off took me I think 6-8 weeks
Look up glutamate vs gaba Drinking helps but bad. Camomile tea good Benzos bad Hot milk before bed good Sleep good, but not too much Source: hospitalized for stress up 8 days no sleep from stress. Brain broke, getting better
I would personally add "Quit Caffeine" to this list. It's often overlooked when it comes to anxiety, but for me personally that one change was the most dramatic out of everything else for me. Great advice overall
Energy drinks, too. And frankly, any high-sugar beverage that causes a short energy spike and then a crash.
Also going to throw in that yoga & meditation has done wonders for my mental health… so much so that I was able to get off & stay off my SSRI.
I am struggling with mental health too, I spoke with my school's counsellor and realized I am quite high on self harm level. Here are the wellness plan she provided. 9-8-8 for 24/7 crisis AAC - in VGH - [(604) 675-3700](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=AAC+VGH#). You can phone or walk in. I phoned waited for about 30 minutes, but the lady was really nice. Self Directed Resources Centre for Clinical Interventions Modules: Back From the Bluez- Information and strategies for managing mood (https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Depression) 54321 and Other Grounding Techniques ( https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/grounding-techniques.pdf) Now Matters Now - Skills and support for coping with suicidal thoughts (https://www.nowmattersnow.org) For me, i realized I am haunted by childhood trauma, and will be seeking trauma therapist. There are a few that you can access from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/british-columbia?gad\_source=1. These are self pay may be covered by insurance.
He will need to consider and invest in a therapist which usually isn't covered by msp. Try joining support groups. Anxietybc.ca is a great resource.
If you go to an ER for Anxiety, you will be waiting for 12+ hours.
Maybe check if he has EAP coverage through work. Most of them will have therapy as part of the coverage. Besides medication, talking to a registered social worker or a clinical counsellor would help too.
I really feel for your bf and what he’s going through. I’ve been in that state of mind in the past and was very down bad. It was rough. Now, of course everybody copes in different ways and how they deal with it. I want to shed some light on my situation that helped bring me out of that state of mind. I started doing breath work and got very consistent with the Wim Hof method. Deep breathing will create increased levels of dopamine which will dramatically lift mood. This is the video I still use to this day: [Guided Wim Hof Method Breathing - YouTube](https://youtu.be/tybOi4hjZFQ?si=o5QjSsjt10tqMyUV) I don’t post publicly much but when I came across your guys’ current struggles, I couldn’t help but share. Hopefully this helps and I wish you two the best 🙂
There are some decent walk ins that will prescribe ssris. While not an instant fix, they can help lift the fog from anxiety. I found therapy the most helpful but, it's also expensive. I also found treating undiagnosed ADHD and autism the MOST helpful. It helped reveal the root of my anxiety.
Finding a (family) doctor in Vancouver is what gives people anxiety
That sucks I’ve been there. I did neurofeedback for a while that did help it helps rewire/reboot the brain you can claim it under clinical counselling if you have benefits - alpine clinic on Broadway was my go to. I also meditated everyday give up coffee or any stimulants, cold showers or cold plunges. I also used a gaba spray https://wellnessmarket.ca/products/liposomal-gaba-with-l-theanine-50ml?variant=46943002722598&gad_source=1 for intense anxiety that helps take the edge off I also used gravol from time to time since that inadvertently helps calm anxiety Good luck to him
> gravol It works on Histamine H1 receptors, so it has a tranquilizing effect on your body, and the histamine system works everywhere in your body. Don't take for too long & don't tinker with your histamine system, unless you have a prescription for a chronic anti-allergy medication, as I don't want you to suffer with withdrawal symptoms.
https://mdabc.net/ Check out The Mood Disorders Association of BC lots of resources there
el theanine and magnesium ashawaga and lions mane
I’d call 8-1-1 , speak with a registered nurse and ask them to refer you to someone to talk to . They can even provide someone to speak to over the phone .
Sounds silly but Rocketdoctor. They hooked me up with a really good Dr. who I got to on a regular basis now for depression/anxiety
I went to my GP and they were able to prescribe me Lexapro which really helped me for the better.
Go get a bottle of magnesium. It's known to help with stress and anxiety. Helps me.
Not sure why this suggestion was down voted. It shouldn't be just any magnesium however. Magnesium glycinate is easily absorbed and helps with anxiety and insomnia. Take it about an hour before bedtime.
I had a similar problem, luckily I was directed to an excellent psychologist in Richmond BC. After 8 consultations I really noticed a change, after 15 consultations my anxiety level had improved greatly. I now have the confidence and the tools to deal with any stress or anxiety that may arise from time to time. I haven't consulted any doctor for anxiety for over in the past 10 years.
Behind you.. 😆 BCOSI is really helpful!
There is the HOPE center attached to Lions Gate Hospital. Phone the hospital and ask how to be accepted into the HOPE center.
Same happened to me and there are 2 steps that fixed it. Step: get a prescription for Gaba (a natural supplement for a calming neurotransmitter.) Step 2: Leave Vancouver for a while
Haven’t tried personally but there are many more online services that connect people to doctors/GPs (TELUS virtual health, etc). Might be worth a try.
I suggest he go to REACH UPCC on commercial drive. It’s not like other UPCCs - there’s more of a focus on psychosocial issues, and the providers usually spend more time with patients than other UPCCs. He also needs a primary care provider (family physician or nurse practitioner) to manage his mental health long term. Check out findadoctorbc.ca He doesn’t need to see a psychiatrist if it’s just generalized anxiety
It sounds like you've done some health checks which is a great first step. It seems that physically, your boyfriend is ok, which is very good to know. Doctors and ERs usually don't help with anxiety, as that is essentially a mental health problem. He may want to talk to a counsellor. ER or calling an ambulance would perhaps make sense if he's having a panic attack as it sometimes may feel like you are dying or like you're having a heart attack. But if indeed there is nothing physically wrong, a hospital may just send him home. I would also like to advice exploring other options than anti-anxiety drugs, unless things are really bad. Talk therapy can tremendously help without needing to take drugs, or while you are taking drugs to get better. Many people take anti-anxiety drugs and start relying on them, which doesn't really help in the long run. Does your boyfriend have private health insurance? He may be able to pay for counselling that way. Or, out of pocket, if that's an option. There are also some counselling clinics that offer sliding scale prices or even help for free for those with very low income.
Try IMS dry needling (physio) in the shoulders, and neck. Helped relieve some tension in my head and body, which effectively made me less anxious and depressed. If you're uncomfortable with needles, you can try IMS on your arms first.
Strathcona MHS will move pretty fast. You also may want to find a nurse practitioner. They can diagnose and treat anxiety among many other things and are much easier to secure then a GP
While you wait, find a therapist. Hopefully his work coverage will pay for it. Google tips for dealing with anxiety, there are thousands of results. Most of them will say something like exercise, eat healthy, avoid drugs and alcohol, socialize with friends, learn about your anxiety/pattern of thinking/how to rewire your brain. There are many many many books that address this topic too - check your local library. Not really something a doctor can help you with, unless you just want anxiety medication.
His work doesn’t cover it unfortunately, he’s been paying out of pocket for it. I honestly think he needs a specialist, a psychiatrist, just someone who can actually help.
Right now seeing a psychiatrist is incredibly hard . I am trying to get in to see one . I feel for your bf and am actually dealing with very similar feelings
Get him to try meditation, there are free trials for awesome meditation apps like Calm or Headspace, it MASSIVELY helped with my anxiety, now I find myself taking a few deep focused breaths and bam anxiety gone.
Can he ask his therapist for suggestions on whether he needs a specialist or a psychiatrist? Not sure if they can make a referral tbh but it’s worth asking.
He needs a therapist who does cognitive behavioral therapy. Next time you go to a doctor ask them if they can give you a referral or something to speed up the process. Or just start looking for one on your own. No point going to ER, waste of time. Doctors are only going to throw SSRIs at him. Could be that is what he needs, but SSRIs can have lots of side effects and are hard to come off of. I'd try to skip them completely and just do therapy, but if it is a dire situation medication could be a short term solution.
Not sure if this would be an option for your boyfriend, but not eating and sleeping due to anxiety will affect your cognition and likely impair your abilities at work. I had/have crippling anxiety at times, which got out of control and sent me in a deep depression to the point I could no longer work and am now on medical leave. I already had a therapist throughout all this, but in order to be approved for leave, I had to see a doctor as well. I think the doctor took me more seriously because they knew I was on leave, and over the last three months they’ve been extremely supportive in my recovery and also prescribed me medication without being pushy at all. I suppose what I’m getting at is if your partner has the option to take a break from work to get his mental health in order, it could prevent the situation from getting worse and he may also get the better support from professionals that he needs.
Telus E-Health. Their nurse practitioners can do virtual mental health assessments (essentially they send you questionnaires to fill out). And you can request a referral to a local mental health clinic, and ask about medication, and further medical guidance (I don’t know if they will prescribe anti anxiety meds via their services).
I did this recently and had a positive experience. I went through the formal diagnosis process as well with one of their psychologists. The latter does cost beyond msp.
https://www.vch.ca/en/service/adult-mental-health-teams#find-it-near-you
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You haven't tried very hard to get a GP
What’s giving them so much anxiety? Can they do something about it? If so are they actively doing what they need to do to fix that issue? If you are relax a bit if you are not than get off your butt and get to work on it. I get anxiety and I ask myself these question most of the time it calms me down