Mental health plan

[flower_girl1]

Hi All

So I am at a cross roads right now. I have been ADs for a few weeks and I have to go back to the doc soon. I a, having a never ending debate in my head about booking a double session with the GP to get a mental health plan. I am. Wry anxious about this choice for a lot reasons and I just can't make up my mind what to do. I can definitely feel the effect the ADs have on me and I still don't feel quite normal but I am not sure i can accept the idea that there is something really wrong with me. I am certain what I have been experiencing for the last few months has been anxiety and perhaps a little depression as a result but still I can't comprehend the idea of saying of asking for any kind of mental health expertise. The meds were hard enough. There's just a lot of things that run through my head that I don't think I can really voice to any one!  What if I go to a doctor and they say that I am fine or its something like "you just need to get out more"? What if I am just being a hypochondriac? Can any one tell me what the mental health plan actually involves? Are there questions? Just how personal do they get? How do you know if you need one or if meds will eventually be all you need. I am just feelings very lost and scared about this choice. A very big part of never wants to sit and talk about how I really feel, aanother part is desperate to.

flower_girl

[Beltane]

I had this feeling before i got diagnosed. depression and anxiety seem like very very scary things- like you don't want to be diagnosed with them cos they seem so scary! but think about it this way- if you have them, you have them whether you're diagnosed or not! Its better to go to the doctor and get treated for it then to continue suffering without treatment.

I'm surprised you werent given a mental health plan when you got put on AD's- meds usually dont work alone- they help a lot, but you need to get therapy and make lifestyle/ behavioural changes to really see the benefit and get better again.

So first you make an appointment with your doctor (or a new doctor if you dont feel right with your current doctor). Try as hard as you can to be honest about how you feel- i know its really scary and you're worried what they might say but no good doctor will tell you you're being silly/ hypochondriac- did you know 1 in 6 people suffer depression in their life time? its very common! IF they dont listen, just find another doctor.

they will ask you some questions about your symptoms- like if you struggle to eat, sleep, work, how your mood feels.

They also have a written checklist called a K10- theres questions like "how often do you feel tired for no reason" or "how often do you feel worthless" and you put in a response from 'never' to 'all the time'. please try to be honest in this- the doctor uses it to judge the severity of whats going on to figure out exactly what help you need. theres no point lying or pretending as then you wont get the help that you need and you'll have to keep suffering. just keep telling yourself "this will get me the help i need"

So then the doctor might diagnose you with something like depression. Most cases of depression/ anxiety are dealt with by a general doctor and a psychologist- rarely do people see psychiatrists.

Then the doctor writes you up a plan. The plan will most likely include a referral to a psychologist- you can research and find a psychologist you want, or they can choose one in your local area for you. You will get 6 initial Medicare funded visits- so medicare pays most or all of the bill. Then you come back to the GP for a review and see how you are going, then you get another 4 sessions if you still need more. They reset every year- you get 10 every year.

The plan may also include other things- like your medication/ a new medication, lifestyle changes you plan on making- basically its a plan to get you better!

[Beltane]

it may also be helpful for you to know that the majority of people diagnosed with depression/ anxiety who then receive proper medication and proper therapy go on to make a full recovery. over a few months or a year they'll see their therapist less and less as they get better- some people are able to come off their medication after a year or so, and they'll never get depressed again.
others stay on the medication, and maybe check in with their therapist only if they're feeling overwhelmed. so you might start off seeing a therapist once a week- seems like alot- but as you get better it'll be once a month, then once every 6 months, then maybe you only need to see her if things get out of hand!
try not to get too far ahead of yourself- think about it this way. you're already in suffering. uncontrolled anxiety/ depression is very hard to deal with! would getting diagnosed and seeking treatment make it WORSE?! no! how could it make it WORSE?
The only thing meds and therapy will do is make it BETTER. try to remember that.
Also when you see a therapist, they will ask you lots of questions, because they need to know whats wrong and how they can help. but if you are uncomfortable or anxious about the questions, just let them know. those therapists know exactly what they're doing, and they know that people who come to see them are already very anxious/ worried- so they will be very kind and take it very easy. its actually quite nice. I'd get to sit on a comfortable couch with the therapist ont he couch opposite me, and i'd make myself a cup of tea (or she'd make one) and it'd be quite relaxing. i often feel MUCH better after a therapy session- it helps so much