topic advice in Treatments, health professionals and therapies

advice

boatee — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 22:20:22 GMT

had anxiety/depression for years,on AD meds,had bad time over past 3 months,have been tried on 2 stronger ADs,but due to history of reflux,both new ADs set reflux off massively,GP says might try another one,but have hypochondriasis as well,so not helping at present,and i know its trial & error,but anyone got some advice,all help appreciated,take meds for reflux

advice

MarkJT — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 22:51:41 GMT

boatee. hey mate, welcome to the forums. A very safe place that is free of stigma and chocked full of people with lived experience of mental health conditions to give advice and support.

You have a bit going on that is for sure. Is the hypochondriasis being treated? It would seem to me that to keep trying an AD that agrees with your reflux, you need to get the hypochondriasis under control. Not easy at all i would think.

I may be wrong here (and happy to be corrected) but I think i can draw a correlation between hypochondriasis and catastrophising which i do heaps. Over time I have learnt to control it, I do not know if i will ever get over it completely but learning to control has certainly helped me get the anxiety of it under control.

This has allowed me to then work on other matters that need it.

Happy to discuss further and support you through your journey.

Mark

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boatee — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 06:38:25 GMT

thanks for the welcome mark,& yes,hypochondriasis/catastrophising are same thing,but mine is because of not being told where to get the proper help i needed along with all the differing info on meds & support,even now if i present to hospital,i'm still getting very little help with my mental problems[not bad enough],but back to gp wednesday to talk about meds again,talked to local pharmacist as well & was told most of the stronger meds will cause stomach upset,just take more stuff to help settle stomach,& my counsellor helping to sort things out,plus visiting AA meetings & a group called GROW,doing some buddhist meditation,& call help lines to help get through tough times,thanks for advice,boatee

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MarkJT — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 22:18:17 GMT

boatee, it sounds like you have not got any continuity to your treatment. Does that sound right?

When you go to the GP, talk about this and how you need to separate the conditions you have into treatment categories.

For my treatment, I started with my core issue and that was PTSD and the incident that caused it. Once I dealt with that sufficiently enough i went onto the anxiety and then onto the depression. I was very fortunate though in that one of my early psychs was awesome and she dictated this.

Brilliant that you are visiting AA meets and the GROW group (what is that about?). Also the Buddhist mediation is fantastic (I do mindfulness) and using the help lines is really good decision making. That is what they are there for.

Mark

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boatee — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 08:51:26 GMT

mark,all my troubles started with first ex,drinking got heavier to the point that in april 2016 i presented to ed at local hospital twice in 5 days,& was told to quit drinking which i did[none for 18mths],but the problem is that no one at the hospital or gp gave me any advice on where to get help,then like a tightly wound spring,i uncoiled big time, have had 2 stays in mental wards,but even there wasn't given much info,had to find most info myself,have seen psychologist,had to stop because of eye trouble,now with councellor who found a point where things started,working on it,& GROW is anxiety/depression support group,they have web site,was also told the reflux was only partly caused by grog,mostly from anxiety/stress,started new ad today,see how this goes,boatee

advice

MarkJT — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 22:26:59 GMT

boatee, brilliant that you have not had a drink in that amount of time - you should be very proud of that as that is a huge achievement.

Personally I actually like the fact that your tightly wound spring uncoiled as this means that you can now rebuild your base and once your base is built, then you can really concentrate on getting back to good health. (I am excessively positive and always strive to find the silver lining in every event).

So i reckon we need to work on you concentration on the now and not putting emotional energy into the past. What happened is history and we cannot change history.

The support group is brilliant and I am very interested to see how you go with the new AD's.

Mark

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boatee — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 21:08:06 GMT

thanks mark,but everytime i take 1 step forward,then something sets me back 5 steps,for instance,have 26yr old daughter who i've done all i can for,had to disassociate from for my health,needs help herself won't get it,is part of my problem going forward,i'm feeling now she's doing all this to get back at me,even though i've been there for her through most things,like thursday,started not good,had meditation,felt great,called to see sister,eveyone in panic because daughter rang in panic[has 3 kids under 3],& then that put me down to the lowest point again,even trying everything i know,still doesn't help,she knows i'm struggling,but don't think she cares,had more than enough & then her stuff sticks in head for days creating more overwehlming anxiety,then usually end up at ed because of it,what else can i do,boatee

advice

MarkJT — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 22:05:34 GMT

boatee, you certainly have a lot going on so i reckon the best thing to do is to work on one at a time.

Dr Kim dropped a really good post in another thread: Topic: Treatment Resistant Depresson TRD. Running out of options. Feel like giving up.

Can you search for this thread (just copy and paste the thread name in the search function in top right corner). Have a read of Dr Kim's post and then see what you think.

Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint so one step at a time.

Mark

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boatee — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 22:09:00 GMT

hi mark,but after last post,went to counsellor,had complete breakdown,she helped by sending me back to hospital[with letter of explanation],this time the mental health people actually took it more seriously,spent 6 days in mental health unit away from everything[so helpful],new medication[full dose now],plus one to stop night thoughts,home thursday,back to some of same problems,not helping,& yes,trying to take small steps,but at times find it hard to understand,then put into action,seeing gp for follow up today,let counsellor know i'm home,see what happens from then on,not going back to GROW at moment,but will probably stick with AA & see how that goes,boatee

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MarkJT — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 00:44:49 GMT

boatee, great to hear that the hospital staff took the matter more seriously.

Ok so from what i see you are going pretty well, I know that is hard to see at the moment but your thoughts are good. It is very difficult to take those small steps, its difficult to take any steps at all where you are but you are.

Not going back to GROW at the moment looks to be good self care. Even though support groups can be a good thing, you still need to be able to absorb the support and if you are not in a very good place, sometimes it can be more harmful than good. You will know within yourself when you are up for attending again. It is all about you at the moment - self care is priority #1.

I was in the same boat with my stay in hospital - very much needed, very much appreciated and so good for me.

So again, just have to reinforce, keep taking those small steps - move forward, even the tinniest of steps forward, it is still moving forward.

With the hypochondriasis, when that comes up, just pause and tell yourself to investigate the thought. Look at the reality surrounding the thought, would it actually happen etc. Once you do that, you will start to get on top of it.

Mark

advice

boatee — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 21:47:15 GMT

went to gp fri arvo,had follow up from hospital team sat morn,neither had updated info on meds[still taking them till i'm told any different],get r eye fixed this wed,should take some pressure off,& then can work on couple other problems,still trying to take those little steps forward,hard at moment with other family problems on going,but with support will do best to get ahead,but all advice very much appreciated,boatee

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MarkJT — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 03:00:01 GMT

boatee, those small steps are working well and your mindset is good.

Nothing new on meds is a good thing. Means that they are settling in well.

What are you getting done with the right eye? Good to hear what ever it is, it is getting fixed and take some pressure off. Another little step taken in the right direction.

Take each problem as it arises - don't take them all on at once as that will only serve to overload you.

Just keep doing what you are doing, small steps - i know it is cliche, but it is cliche for a reason - because it works.

Mark

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boatee — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 04:46:11 GMT

mark,found out last xmas that had cataracts on both eyes,progressed rapidly to the point of no driving[didn't help mental problem,lost independence],had left eye done 6 weeks ago[brilliant],right eye tomorrow[wed],hopefully will help with anxiety/depression,see gp friday arvo,need scans on left shoulder[2 ops already] & left side of neck to make sure nothing untoward going on so that i can help my head & health get back in the game,, get some fitness[swimming most of my life],to go forward in little steps,plus counsellor going away for 3 weeks,found male psychologist close to home,asking if i can see him,what he can do,may work out better,who knows,boatee

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MarkJT — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 09:09:58 GMT

boatee, that is great that the left eye is working well so hopefully the right one follows suit. Best of luck with the work that is being done tomorrow.

Looking forward to you getting back into the pool as exercise is just so critical to good mental health.

I was feeling pretty ordinary this morning until i went for a nice run and then stretched listening to music and then felt much better.

Just want to reinforce that you are making good decisions, things are moving along and to keep going. It is each step at a time and once they all fall into place, then we really start recovering.

Great stuff.

Mark.

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boatee — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 08:54:41 GMT

eye done,will know tomorrow if ok,but come home this arvo feeling little slow,but then stuff to do with eldest daughter surfaced,& living with parents & sister here put me in bad place again,they don't understand,that if she won't help herself,what do you do,i've tried my hardest,but had to distance myself from her,but the subject keeps coming up,not doing my head space any favours & i can't go anywhere else except back to hospital if they don't listen,& yes i know they're worried about her,but you can't get through to her,hoping this is the kick in the backside she needed & starts listening,can't handle it,had it with her,destroying family,boatee

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MarkJT — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 22:58:34 GMT

boatee, hope that eye is now working well to match the other one and you can tick that off the things to fix.

One of the questions i get most commonly asked is how do you help someone who doesn't want to be helped. I have no real good quality answer as it is just so exceedingly difficult to do.

You are obviously treading a very fine line with your own health and your daughters health providing clashing priorities. Your own health is everything as without it, it is bloody hard to help other people without your health also deteriorating further.

I am confused as to the living arrangements you have described above.

Are you living with your sister and parents or is that your daughter?

Has she been diagnosed with anything? i.e. has she seen a GP or psych?

Mark.

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boatee — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 03:50:40 GMT

hi mark,sorry about confusion,i live with parents,23yr old daughter & her son,older daughter was living with her kids & was told by a gp nearly 12mths ago that she needed to see someone about her mental health,but didn't do as asked[listened to her friends] now where at this spot because she won't listen to myself or any family,putting massive strain on family,hopefully hospital has done something to help her,eye going ok at moment,takes couple of days for them to fully adjust,but i ended back at hospital wednesday night looking to get put back in mental ward,didn't have a spot,but they kept me there so i could settle,will check up on me & if i'm still feeling low & a bed is free,they may re-admit me for however long is needed,also found an actupunturist who does similar things to my counsellor,but going to try new ways to help me through my mental problems, & give me things to try at home to help me get better,can only try,boatee

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MarkJT — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 06:00:33 GMT

boatee, no need to apologise mate. My scrambled brain might have been able to read it right!!

Really like your post mate. The thought of going back to hospital can put a lot of people off and will shy away from doing that but you, by all appearances are happy, well not happy per se, but you have recognised that a hospital stay would be beneficial and that is a great thing. Really tells me that you are taking your mental health seriously. Great stuff.

Really hard when someone doesn't want to be treated. I assume that your other daughter has spoken to her? I think that you need to set a boundary with her as your own health is priority number one. If she is causing you so much grief, somehow you need to put her out of your thoughts and concentrate on you. I say this as once you are feeling quite good about yourself then you can put some quality time into the daughter.

Hope the eye is going well.

Mark

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boatee — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:07:48 GMT

hi mark,eyes going great at present time,still waiting to hear from counsellor,but wasn't feeling good sunday night after seeing one of my mates,i know he understands at times that i'm struggling,& he's on his own[thai girlfriend who i know he misses],but sunday arvo just caught me by suprise,& yes, he does have his own problems,i understand that and try to help him where possible,but he didn't seem to be himself & i agreed with him that i've become a hypochodriac lately & said trying to work through it,but then he started on about,because i haven't worked for years, i'm getting medical things done for near nothing & because he's working,he can't get his medical problems fixed without paying for it, & is in a fund,but even so,he still has to find extra funds to cover the gap,plus few other thing were said,but like i said,i don't think he really realises just how bad the last ten years have destroyed my confidence,but hoping wednesdays visit to acupuncturist will help me get this little thought that's holding me back changed so i can go forward,little steps,boatee

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MarkJT — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 02:40:05 GMT

boatee, other people's problems are not your problems and i say that with respect to your mate. The welfare system is set up so that those that are not working can get medical procedures done and those that are working can pay. Also there is private medical insurance as well to cover large amounts of costs associated with medical matters. You cannot be held responsible for the system that is in place.

What have you become a hypochondriac about?

can you separate what the major things you need to get fixed and the minor ones?

Mark