Ask Nurse Jenn - Our Resident Mental Health Nurse!

[Sophie_M]

Hi everyone,

This is a thread for asking questions of our resident Mental Health Nurse, Nurse Jenn who pops into the forums regularly.

PLEASE NOTE as per our community rules, Nurse Jenn won't be able to answer questions about medications, these are best discussed offline directly with your mental health professional.

BEFORE YOU ASK NURSE JENN PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

• Nurse Jenn’s time is limited! We cannot provide an ongoing dialogue with Nurse Jenn in this thread - one post/question per person please
• We'd recommend you have a look through the forums before posting here to see if your question has already been answered by Nurse Jenn, our other members, or if there's information about it already on the beyondblue website.
• If a question pops up that has already been answered previously, or if alternate resources are available, one of our moderators will reply and direct you to the link.
• When writing your question, imagine you are speaking to someone in person i.e. provide a clear and detailed post with enough information that outlines how Nurse Jenn can help you.

Background

From Nurse Jenn

Long ago I was struggling to find my way in my career. I was training to become a registered nurse and I didn’t seem to fit into the traditional ‘medical model’ of delivering care.  Then I started my mental health rotation and I found my place in helping others. I am now 45 years old and have been in the mental health field as a nurse, manager, educator, project officer, advocate… for over 22 years across several countries and cultures (Aus USA Canada NZ).  I have experience in a number of different child and youth mental health teams, early psychosis teams as well as adult and older adult hospital settings. I have also worked as the manager of the beyondblue NewAccess program and understand what it’s like to live regionally where services can be limited. 

Working with people around the globe has made me aware that worry and stress do not know age, culture or country. It is a phenomenon of being human. I have felt it myself in different periods of my life and seen struggle it in loved ones and people everywhere.  I have felt the traumatic loss of a close friends death by suicide (as so many have) and recently experienced the extreme joy of becoming a mother.  

I am thankful everyday that I can walk beside people who need some support to find their own balance and strength. I am very grateful to be here on the beyondblue forum with all of you.

I hope that my professional and personal experience can provide you with some support, direction or even just an acknowledgement that what you are going through is real, and tough, and that you can achieve more than you know.  

[Lilly18]

Hi, I'm really wanting another opinion on something, I'll ask away if that's ok.
I am not looking to diagnose myself I would just like some insight or ideas on what it is that's happening to me.
I have noticed about 4 times a year, for just over a week I become extremely irritable, angry and explode over the slightest thing, maybe sensory sensitive too, my words come out mumbled from not having any patience and my brain going too fast. My eyes physically look different too as if they are beamed but also looks like i havnt slept in months. After about a week of that, it will end in 1 day of horrible depression like I need to be wrapped up in bubble wrap in a hospital. Then I'm fine by the next day.
I tried to explain this to my Gp and was told it was a panic attack and sleep if off. Which is not possible with 3 young children. Please give me any information on what this could be?
For a few years it lined up perfectly with my period and I thought it may be pmdd, but it has been happening at other times now that sent around my period for the last two years that I have noticed.
I do see my Gp every month or so. Do you have any suggestions?
Thankyou

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi there Lilly18,

Great to see you reaching out on the forum. Your symptoms sound difficult and I’m sorry you are having to go on a journey to find out what the cause is.

On the forums, it is really tough to to offer any specific diagnosis as I would need to do a full assessment of your symptoms and perhaps with the support of a GP, complete a full physical health exam.

I wonder if you went to a woman’s health centre or got a referral to one you might find a doctor who specialises in woman’s health who was able to go through your symptoms in more detail? I also wonder if you have done any treatment for worry or panic in the past? If so, has it been effective?

Persistence is key in finding answers to health mysteries. Every health provider has a different way of working and sometimes it takes a few tries to find a person who is the right fit for your current needs.

I would also suggest a daily health journal that can track any symptoms that arise and possibly look at patterns or triggers. You could even just do this during the episodes you have been experiencing. This information can be helpful to your healing team.

Keep us posted on how you go with your progress.

Wishing you the best possible outcome,

Nurse Jenn

[calmseeker]

Hi Nurse Jenn,

Wondering if you could provide any info on an issue that's been causing anxiety in my household for last few days. My adult daughter (25 years) has had fortnightly periods since January and now it has changed to being no period at all for last 5 weeks. Pregnancy test has been done and is negative. She has finally made an appointment to see GP on Tuesday but is STRESSING so badly that something awful is happening to her. She has always had a perfectly normal cycle with no issues up till now.

I have consulted DR. Google and have come up with cysts, thyroid issues, STI's and PCOS (she doesn't seem to have PCOS symptoms). I don't want to alarm her with any of these things, but she has more than likely googled them herself and probably increased her anxiety anyway.

I know she is going to be super stressed the entire weekend and I am dreading it as my own anxiety condition is not so great either, and I feel at a loss to be able to calm her. Any info at all would be super appreciated.

Regards

CS

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi calmseeker,

Thank you for your post and sorry I haven't been on this thread for a few days. I am sorry to hear of the anxiety you are feeling around your daughters menstrual cycle irregularity. I cannot offer specific health advice to a medical condition unfortunately. A GP will be able to complete a physical health assessment and order the appropriate tests if required. I know from experience that menstrual cycles can be irregular for many different reasons such as stress, diet, changes to activity. I would encourage your daughter to keep a record of her cycle (I am sure she has done so) and any changes to routine.

As for your and her worry about these symptoms, it is normal to feel some worry about health conditions. You are taking the exact right steps towards getting some resolve to this anxiety...Getting GP appointment, using the forum for support (have you tried looking up 'health anxiety' here....it is very common). Until Tuesday, you might find some comfort in using some techniques that have helped your anxiety in the past with your daughter such as mindfulness or using distraction. Smiling Mind is a great app design to help us relax and learn to get rid of worry. I wonder what has worked for you the past to help with anxiety and if you could revisit any of these strategies?

Dr Google can be helpful in some cases however I tend to encourage people to use HealthDirect as a reliable source of information for Australians. It does give offer some facts and has a free number to call https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/irregular-periods

I wish you the best of the luck on Tuesday and if you feel comfortable, please check in and let me know how it went.

Nurse Jenn

[Guest_4643]

Hi Nurse Jenn.

I was wondering how I can ask my Psychiatrist if I can see him more, so perhaps 2-3 weeks rather than 4-6+? So how can I word it without sounding selfish, pushy and demanding? I emailed the Telehealth company and spoke on the live chat with them to tell them there's an email for him but the lady was rude and hung up on me. If I had his email or something I'd email him myself but i don't.

Speaking of which, of course I respect privacy etc, is there a way to ask him if I can contact him outside of sessions like email? This would only be for important things so questions about meds and serious things. the triage refuse to help me and I don't know why so he's my only professional that helps.

Thanks, please be mindful that I do respect his privacy, I just don't want to make him uncomfortable and I would only email if allowed to for serious issues/questions.

Tayla

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi Tayla,

This question sounded really familiar to me and I looked back and have responded to you on the same topic a little while back. For your reference I have copied and pasted the post below. I am not sure I have to much more to add from my previous post expect to be clear in what you are asking for with your psychiatrist.

You could try writing a letter and getting your psychiatrist to read it when you are at your next appointment requesting extra time. Personally, I do not generally offer time in between structured sessions if that is the model of care I am working under. In some roles, I do and am more flexible, it just depends on what role I am working in. It will depend on how your psychiatrist operates and the only way to know is to be direct in what you are asking for. I hope this helps.

Nurse Jenn

Post from 30 January 2020 in reply to mb20lover

Hi mb20lover,
It is hard to answer your question specifically as I don't know the relationship you have with your Psychiatrist. I can recommend that sometimes writing a letter helps figure out exactly what you want to say. You could write your psychiatrist a letter and express exactly what you want to say to them on paper. You may give it to them or read it to them (or parts) or just seal it up and put it away. Writing things down can sometimes provide you with more clarity on what you are trying to express.

Every health professional sets different boundaries in a therapeutic relationship. It is difficult to speak about your Psychiatrist and what boundaries they have. You could just ask at your next appointment what boundaries they have if you are having a bad day in terms of contact and let him know that you were unsure. Another suggestion would be to ask them to support you in developing a plan in how to manage the really hard days and establish if contacting your Psychiatrist is an available option.

It is understandable that you feel a level of trust to your Psychiatrist and being thankful for the care they provide you is a normal response. In my own experience, when people I work with thank me for listening and being there for them, I don't generally feel uncomfortable.

I am not sure I have answered your question specifically and hope that some of these suggestions help you find ways to talk with your Psychiatrist at your next appointment. Discussing boundaries is important when you begin a healing journey with any health professional.

Wishing you the best possible outcome,
Nurse Jenn

[Guest_4643]

Thanks Nurse Jenn, I forgot that I asked a while back, sorry. I'll write it down even if I email the Telehealth company or fax it to them for him, or even just write it down and put it beside me so I can ask in the session next time, thanks.

Tayla

[ReeCar123]

Hi Nurse Jenn,

I would much appreciate your help. My partner is currently suffering from emotional exhaustion and is really energy depleted. He is often very tired, cannot concentrate, his head crazy, he feels numb and foggy, he is a bit down etc.
I have given him some good links to read and he was very happy about that. He is trying to exercise, eat healthy, do mindfulness (probably not enough) etc. but he still struggles regularly.

Is there anything else that could really help and are there things I could do to support his recharge?

Thank you so much!

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi ReeCar123,

Thanks for reaching out. You are doing a great job already establishing a supportive environment for your partner and that is often half the battle. I also wonder are you doing okay? It is tough supporting others through a health issue and hope you find some support for you also.

Providing your partner with reading material about his symptoms, encouraging exercise and mindfulness are really good starting points. Other avenues to try could be:

1. Reaching out to a GP and getting a physical health assessment and talking about his current symptoms

2. Trying a program such as Mindspot which has treatment courses related to low mood, anxiety, worry and panic. You do not need a GP referral, the course is free and available online and/or via telephone. www.mindspot.org.au

3. Keep a symptoms/mood/activity diary and list these each day over a period of time and look for patterns and triggers. There are apps that can help with this like Daylio.

4. Some people look at their diet as a cause of some symptoms which may be an avenue you wish to explore - you might discuss this with a GP or other health provider.

5. Try a program like NewAccess (Developed by Beyond Blue) - which is a phone based coaching service that helps people with low mood and worry. It is only available in some parts of Australia but is free and can be done over the phone - you can find out if it is available in your area by checking out this link.

These are a few options but visiting a GP (even if it is by a phone or video consult) can be really helpful in getting a health care plan in place. If you or your partner need some additional support, or just someone to talk with, you can always call the Beyond Blue support line on 1300 22 4636.

Wishing you the best possible outcome,

Nurse Jenn

[Guest_1643]

Hi Nurse Jenn,
I saw this posted somewhere else, don't want to double up but cannot find it.... was just curious about how reviews for mental health practioners and doctors work. Where is the best place to access online reviews, (many doctors have no reviews at all - some have many!) I was considering which hospital to go to.. or weather to go to hospital last year. A certain hospital admission was offered to me, it was really empowering to get informed and read reviews of the hopsital - which ultimately led me to decide NOT to go (which was the best decision for me). How do we get that informed in regards to the doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists or social workers we work with for our mental health? I wish there was more of a review system to share experiences, to help us make educated choices. It helped me so much re the hospital. Thanks for any feedback - would love to hear