topic New and needing help in Welcome and orientation

New and needing help

Bananatime — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 22:35:47 GMT

Hey guys!
firstly I’m a 15 year old female from Tasmania. I have depression, anxiety, ocd, ptsd and a possible eating disorder.

sorry I’m new to this and don’t really know my way around or how to find things on these forums. I was just wondering if someone could talk to me and help me out? I have used reach out forums but it’s set out a bit differently than this..

thank you 😊

New and needing help

Aaronsis — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 23:10:06 GMT

Hello Bananatime

Welcome to the forum, it is so great that you have reached out for some support and some comfort.

You can share as much or as little about your story as you like, you will not be judged or made fun of, it is just love and support and I am here for you to chat to as you feel comfortable to.

I am so sorry you are going through a rough time, but this community is here for you and we care.

Hope to chat some more to you.

Sarah xxx

New and needing help

Bananatime — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:25:58 GMT

Thank you so much Sarah xx

Do I just post in this thread? And also is there any information I’m not allowed to share?
Again, thank you 😊

New and needing help

Guest_4643 — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:38:41 GMT

Hi there Bananatime, nice username and profile picture.

It's nice to see a teenager here, I'm 20 (I'll be 21 this year). I also wanted to say good on you for joining these BB Forums, I'm recently new myself. It seems pretty easy to use and everything is moderated for peace of mind, so it seems safe, supportive and friendly. If you see anything bad just click "report post" on a comment or whatever, and it goes to moderation. About the rules, you can see all that by going onto the "online forums" link. Good on you for reaching out, it can take a lot of courage as I know myself.

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles with Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and a possible Eating Disorder. If it makes you feel any better, lots of people have all of those, like myself. Well I have some symptoms of OCD but I haven't exactly been diagnosed with them. I'm so sorry you're struggling and don't have anyone to talk to, I'm the same.

Have you tried making an appointment with your GP (Doctor), and discussing your mental health and asking them if they can do a Mental Health Care Plan for you? This works with Psychologists, I think Psychiatrists have a different plan, but as far as I know, you can only see Psychiatrists if you're on medication. You can see a Psychologist though, you can either choose one or have your GP find you one.

How the Mental Health Care Plan works as far as I remember is your doctor does a referral for you to the therapist of yours or their choice (you have every right to choose one), and Medicare pays for it. You should get 10 sessions in a year, and that depends on the therapists availability. That's pretty much all I know about that. You can see them without a Mental Health Care Plan but it's better to get one because they are pricey, believe me.

You can now also get a Mental Health Care Plan for Eating Disorders, any type, which is pretty much the same as the other Care Plan, except I think you get more visits. You'd have to look that up, just search for that on Google if you'd like more information, or ask your GP that may be better.

I know how daunting it is to get a therapist, and a GP, but it can be worth it. Just be as honest with them as you can, and do your research with finding a therapist if you don't have one already is my advice, because every experience is different for everyone.

I'm so sorry that you're so young and dealing with a lot. I hope you find some support. You're not alone.

Please stay safe and take care,

Love and hugs,

Tayla xx

New and needing help

Aaronsis — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:42:56 GMT

Hello Bananatime

Great to chat to you and yes, you can just keep typing in this section..

You can check out the rules if you like and I will post a link here:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/community-rules

Essentially the rules are that you must not discuss medication from a point of brands, types and dosage, we can talk generally and the likes but actual reference to meds is not allowed. Also with regards to suicide and self harm the rules are that there cannot be methods or plans or the likes to be discussed. Also no goodbye notes and things that generally could upset or trigger other people on this site as we want this to be a space for everyone to feel safe.

Hope that is helpful and I look forward to chatting to you some more.

Hugs

Sarah xxx

New and needing help

Guest_4643 — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:46:26 GMT

Hi Aaronsis' ,

Can I please ask why, in a polite way, that you can't say anything about medication like what you mentioned?

I'm new to this also and I'm still reading the rules and trying to be weary of others and whatnot, so still finding my way around. I'm trying to be respectful of others and trying to help in any way that I can, if and when I can.

Sorry for my question. Thanks,

Tayla.

New and needing help

Aaronsis — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 01:11:27 GMT

Hey Tayla

Great to chat to you too and you have provided some wonderful support on the forum so thank you for being here and helping too, it really is part of the healing and talking about your issues and helping others, welcome to you xx.

The thing with medication is that we are not doctors and we are not professionals, some of us are on medication and some of us are not. That each medicine is prescribed by a doctor as they see fit, that fits a certain criteria in a person so one thing that suits Bob is not necessarily going to suit Mary, and infact could be harmful to Mary so by someone saying "ohh I take XXX and it is amazing and I am now cured and the world is wonderful"....people grab onto that hope and it may not be the same outcome for them, or they go to the doctor to ask about XXX and find out that it is not suitable for them, this can sometimes trigger people too.

It is best to leave the specific medicine chat in the doctor's room.

I am not sure if this is helpful Tayla..

Hugs to you

Sarah xx

New and needing help

Bananatime — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 01:49:09 GMT

Wow thank you so much Tayla! I’m already blown away by the level of support offered here! My name is Anola by the way.

I have seen my GP and have a referral to a psychiatrist and psychologist but I haven’t actually met them yet.. I’ve been waiting over 2 months and have over 1 month until I meet the psychiatrist, the psychologist will be like a few weeks after that. I am currently on meds and I have been in and out of hospital lately for severe iron deficiency. I am getting an iron infusion soon 😓 so scary!
the reason I reached out to you guys is because I’ve had no one to talk to for the 2 months that I’ve been waiting as I am on school holidays so I don’t have access to the school counsellor. I have a counsellor with kids helpline but of course with my luck.. she’s on leave. it’s just been too much for me to deal with on my own and especially since I have found out that my mum and step dad are moving to NSW and I’m moving to my dads house (I’m from tassie so they’re going to be so far away from me). My emotional support dog (in my profile) is going with them as well and I’m absolutely heartbroken.

thank you for all the information! It’s really helpful and I’m so sorry to hear what you are struggling with.. (ocd)
thanks,

Anola

New and needing help

Bananatime — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 01:50:34 GMT

Thanks sarah 😊

I will read through the rules now and make sure I don’t mention anything that you’ve said not to.

New and needing help

Guest_4643 — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 03:53:36 GMT

Hey again Aaronsis', thank you for replying and letting me know all of that. That's totally understandable. I wasn't aware of that properly so my apologies.

Thank you so much for saying your kind words, it really means a lot and I really appreciate that. It means so much to me and I'm glad I can help someone even though I'm struggling myself. It makes me feel better, and I hope it makes others feel better also.

Thanks for wording your response well also, it did come to mind but I've never done a forum before let alone Beyond Blue so hence me asking, sorry about that.

Yes your response was helpful, thanks very much. And thanks again for your welcome and kind words to me. I hope to chat to you more. Thank you for supporting people like myself also.

Love and hugs x

- Tayla xo

New and needing help

Guest_4643 — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 04:03:28 GMT

Hi Anola, nice name.

You're more than welcome for me commenting and giving you answers, I hope it all helps you. Mental Health Care Plans are pretty easy to get, I'm not sure about the one for the Eating Disorders though, as that was implemented early this year or in December last year, but that's a great thing that they're doing that. It should be just as easy but I really have no idea.

I'm so sorry that you've had to wait so long for a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist, that's sad. I hope that you can see them sooner, I know how it feels waiting that long. But that is common for a long wait list, it depends on who you see and the time and whatnot of course, like anything. I really hope you can see them both soon and that they support you.

In the mean time you can use websites like this and these forums and web chat, call Beyond Blue or email them. You can also check out Lifeline, SANE, and websites like that. There's also eHeadspace, but for me I've had bad experiences with them every time I've used it which has been a lot since the others were busy at the time. But it's different for everyone, they may be good for you.

And I'm so sorry that you've been in hospital with an iron deficiency, that's so sad and scary. I really hope you recover soon. I'm also sorry about everything else you mentioned, I can't imagine how hard everything you're going through is. So I'm thinking of you and sympathise with you.

I have Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety and Social Anxiety, Avoidant Personality Disorder and a couple of symptoms of OCD (washing my hands a lot, putting things in order, straightening things like books). I also have PTSD from losing my grandparents and stuff like that.

I'm sorry you're on meds aswell, I am aswell, I've been on a few so far that I started in August last year. Before that I've never been on meds and had a Psychiatrist, but I do now and he's great.

I wish I could give you some information here about the company I do sessions with my Psychiatrist with through Telehealth but I'm not sure if I can share it here. It's all bulk billed through Medicare - Psychologists, Doctors, some other specialists and Psychiatrists. Well the GPs you have to pay (it's only like $60) but for everyone else it's bulk billed.

I'm so sorry that your counsellor is on leave on Kids Helpline, but it's nice that you have one. And I'm so sorry about your parents. Your dog is adorable though. That's my dog in my profile pic.

Please take care.

Much love and hugs,

Tayla xo

New and needing help

Aaronsis — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 05:55:01 GMT

Hey Tayla

It is so great to have you here and supporting people and I am here to chat to you too. If you like I will try and find a post that you have written so that I can support you too.

It does really help, to know we are not alone and to hear the stories of others and realize that we can help and support another person, it is a wonderful part of healing especially grief.

Hugs to you Tayla

Sarah xx

New and needing help

Guest_4643 — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 06:11:21 GMT

Hey again Sarah.

Thanks so much for your kind words, it really does mean a lot to me. The same applies with you.

I did make a post about some questions about a Psychiatrist, that should be under the "Treatment & health professionals" thread.

Thanks,

Tayla xx