Hi everyone, I'm back.

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, mb20lover here. I wasn't sure where to post this.

It's been a while since I was on the forums, so I just wanted to make a post saying that I'm back. However, I'll try my best to limit my time, comments, etc on here.

I won't bother tagging anyone, and I'll try to keep this as my only open thread that I have created.

I've missed everyone I've spoken to on here, and I hope to talk to some new people. I have been using my offline supports - my Psychiatrist, GP, Parent support of course, and a Social Worker. I'm in the process of finding a Psychologist but I'm having no luck.

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and say hello, and also I hope I haven't upset anyone on the forums or anything like that because nothing was intentional, so I deeply apologise.

An update on me, I recently turned 21, can't do much with COVID though, it's a hard year for everyone unfortunately.

I also have a milestone, an achievement, I've been seeing my Psychiatrist for a year which is the longest I've stayed with a therapist. And I also finally have a GP I feel comfortable with. I'm on different meds that seem to be working a little but I still of course have my moments, but these meds I've been on the longest for out of any of the ones I've tried.

Other than that, please don't feel pressured to comment anyone, although it would be nice to connect with some people, old or new, but like I said that's okay. I just wanted to check in.

If you've read this and made it this far, thank you. Stay safe and take care everyone, as much as possible with the unfortunate COVID circumstances.

Thinking of all the Beyond Blue Mods & Users. I've missed everyone.

- mb20lover.

[Guest_4643]

Hey Sleepy.

Yes the DSP does make it cheaper, some places it's free (but most places bulk bill anyway), but for me it's $25 rather than $35 or $40, or if it was a surgical appointment it would be $75 instead of $100 or something, I don't know, but I don't go for that. Even if it's a long appointment, I pay $25 & Medicare pays the rest (so for a long appointment it would be about $75 total I think).

I've tried that too but can't get in to see any either. I'm gonna get annoyed if they ask me that when I see them again. Literally every single time I see them both.

PS, should I ask my Psychiatrist why he's always late when he sees me?

[AliasKind]

Hey Tayla,

Gee I'm so sorry for your mum and yourself about what happened to your mum. Sounds just horrible, utterly dreadful. Relief she is off the tubes and out of an induced coma. How did seeing her today go? Have been thinking of you, hugs x

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla I hope your mother's doing ok.I haven't had any medical appointments run on time.Once I had to wait over 3 hours to see a specalist. Common to wait over an hour for them.

[Guest_4643]

Hey AliasKind. Thank you. Yes she's a bit better now.

Mark, wow that's ridiciulous.

I still feel like my Psychiatrist forgets about me when he's a few mins late, and I feel like hanging up. He's never on time and should be prepared

[Matchy69]

Tayla one guy stormed out of the waiting room that day as he only 2 hour parking.It was really bad that day and I don' know why.I know it' not good for anxiety waiting for long periods.

[Guest_4643]

Wow, I don't blame him though, I'd be annoyed. Mum had an appointmemnt at a hospital 30 mins from us (where she is now) a few months back & Dad took her, the appointment was about 8:30am or something, they didn't get seen until about 5pm, and then got home late. I would've walked out after an hour or so

[Guest_1643]

hey Tayla, you should ask your psychiatrist why he's late. It's helpful to be be able to bring those things up. Don't worry about his feelings... he's not your friend. he gets paid well, has a high-profile positon from what you said, is powerful, highly trained, and a professional...
You should never be scared to ask questions about your health care - asking questions is how you get the top care. Also if you do ask a question and anyone shuts you down or acts angry - that is a sign they are not th right professional for you. So it benefits you tonnes and helps you gain clarity and make decisions about what you want to do going forward if you ask questions. It's also okay to write it down before hand what you want to say, and practise it. No harm in that

[Guest_1643]

just to clarify - i saw a very bad therapist who used to get angry when i asked questions. he didn't answer them, either. So i got too scared to ask questions and he just took advantage of me, I didn't get any better with him.
Now I practise assertiveness because I really wasn't at my most asertive with that therapist. I still don't even know what kind of therapist he was, because he woudln't answer. i would ask him what his cancellation policy is and he wouldn't answer. Had I kept asking more questions I would've found out that he didn't have good policies and practises. Also perhaps if you ask he'll see how hard it is for you to ask and help you with that. And also see the reasons you feel scared to ask. Maybe you feel intimidated or like he'll get angry at you. I used to feel like that - like if I was too assertive I'd "get in trouble" or be called rude or aggresive.
I'd honestly rather get into trouble, be called rude and aggressive, and have a good doctor. Also, my fears never really happened - when I became more assertive, my lovely lovely GP said "I need to be called out. Please let me know if I get something not quite right, we're only human." Doctors and therapists are only human.

[Guest_4643]

Hey Sleepy.

Good point. He doesn't seem to get mad with me if I ask questions, he seems to prefer it, but thats about medication, etc that I ask about, not stuff like him being late. I don't want to sound rude either. But he knows I have trouble expressing my feelings, needs & wants, such as that. I'm sorry you had a bad therapist too, but I'm glad you now have a good GP.

I also wanted to ask him and my GP, mostly my Psychiatrist as I feel more comfortable with him and trust him more (I trust my GP but I've only seen him for a few months, my Psychiatrist for a year), if I can see them every 2-3 weeks again. But I don't want to sound pushy. The reason is because they're both making me see them once a month, and it's really hard to cope. They tried to get me to see the GP 2 weeks after my Psychiatrist or vice versa but that's still once a month so it's no different. I know they're doing it to see how long I can go and if I can cope but I can't.

I don't mean to sound selfish as I know there's other patients, I just felt better when I was seeing them every 2 weeks. My Psychiatrist said thats the best he could do since he knows I'm struggling. Do you think I should ask this again please? If so, any suggestions?

[Guest_1643]

Hi so sorry just because of my own things I'm working on I'll have to take a break from answering. Hope you work it out.