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GADAdam Can someone explain why starting meds has made my anxiety, unbearable?
  • replies: 2

Hi all. I'm new here and I was hoping from all you beautiful people that we can get some advice up in here on the effects of starting an SNRI anti depressant for anxiety. If anyone can point out to me that this is normal then I'd very much appreciate... View more

Hi all. I'm new here and I was hoping from all you beautiful people that we can get some advice up in here on the effects of starting an SNRI anti depressant for anxiety. If anyone can point out to me that this is normal then I'd very much appreciate a reply. It feels like its making it worse. I've been on an SSNRI for GAD for 9 years and as it turns out I was able to get off them over the past 9 months. And while my anxiety felt just as challenging on them than off, I've become conflicted weather i should continue back on my SSNRI . I feel like hell ever since starting them again 5 days ago and need to go away for two weeks and its completley thrown a spanner in the works. I don't know what to do anymore. Do I keep taking them or work my way away from them again and perhaps try something else? Thankyou so much for listening. Looking forward to a reply.

Jadessy Anti depressants and anti anxiety medication
  • replies: 2

I’ve just recently started taking anti depressants and the side effects make me feel horrible does anyone else have this or have had this cuz I know they take a while to fully get into the system. does anyone actually feel better being on them, I kno... View more

I’ve just recently started taking anti depressants and the side effects make me feel horrible does anyone else have this or have had this cuz I know they take a while to fully get into the system. does anyone actually feel better being on them, I know everyone is different but I just would like to know all yours views and opinions on anti depressants

alwaysrosie ASD+Dyslexia - Adult psych specialists
  • replies: 6

Hi there I'm getting very aggravated at the fact that my poor husband who is suffering terrible social symptoms has been knocked back by two autism specialist psychiatrists because he is an adult. I am an ex-nurse and cared for my mum with MDD for ma... View more

Hi there I'm getting very aggravated at the fact that my poor husband who is suffering terrible social symptoms has been knocked back by two autism specialist psychiatrists because he is an adult. I am an ex-nurse and cared for my mum with MDD for many years but I've never found it so difficult to get in to see someone. He finally decided that this might be the issue, has a referral from GP and a mental health plan, but can't proceed with new treatment without a formal diagnosis of ASD (asperger's) and dyslexia. He has been treated for depression and anxiety for almost 10 years now but it doesn't help his social symptoms. He is about to be fired from yet another job for "behavioural" issues when this could be easily solved if he had a formal diagnosis. Just for context, he has worked through numerous online tests for both Asperger's and dyslexia and scores in the "high likelihood" range for both. Can anyone help me find a ASD psych specialist who would be willing to assess him? Looked at autism australia website with no luck!

Guest_125 Bad experience with therapist. Having to go without a therapist for a while. Not coping overly well.
  • replies: 13

Just wanting to get this off my chest I guess. A few sessions in, and my last therapy session didn't go so well. I got really overwhelmed in the face of him challenging me through the CBT. I cried and then kind of shut down - couldn't organise my tho... View more

Just wanting to get this off my chest I guess. A few sessions in, and my last therapy session didn't go so well. I got really overwhelmed in the face of him challenging me through the CBT. I cried and then kind of shut down - couldn't organise my thoughts and couldn't bring myself to speak and struggled to make eye contact. I have been undergoing CBT and have found it to be quite an invalidating experience at times. Towards the end he softened his approach which eased me up, and at the very end he didn't try to make a new appointment - he just said he would contact me with his appointment availabilities to make me a new appointment. He was supposed to contact me early last week and still hasn't contacted me. It is now heading towards the 2 week mark since my last appointment and I can feel myself slipping backwards, especially because of the situation with my therapist. It is really hurtful because I feel like he has either forgotten about me or doesn't want to see me anymore. I know that the obvious thing might be for me to be the one that reaches out, but I can't bring myself to do it. I just feel ashamed about how I was at my last appointment. Because of this my husband has made me an appointment with my GP to look at getting me a new therapist. It's not for another week and a half, and then who knows how long until I get someone new. The uncertainty of when I will see someone next is really hard to cope with. The hardest thing about it is that this is my first ever therapist and it has turned into a rubbish experience. I feel really defeated at the moment.

Lui Doesn't help to talk
  • replies: 5

My daughter, 22, is seeing a clinical psychologist for depression/anxiety. But she finds it uncomfortable to talk about her problems. the counsellor has over 30 years experience, is great, and understanding, and lovely. We both love her. I'm the same... View more

My daughter, 22, is seeing a clinical psychologist for depression/anxiety. But she finds it uncomfortable to talk about her problems. the counsellor has over 30 years experience, is great, and understanding, and lovely. We both love her. I'm the same. I can talk about things when they happen, with family or something, but it's hard to speak about things at other times, and especially with other people Is counselling really that useful. Does she need to keep seeing her?

Arthurly Doctor was no help
  • replies: 8

Hi all. After struggling with this that seems for years, I finally plucked up the courage to admit that I had a problem, and needed help. That was a big thing for me. My friends and family have been very supportive, but I really don't want to bog the... View more

Hi all. After struggling with this that seems for years, I finally plucked up the courage to admit that I had a problem, and needed help. That was a big thing for me. My friends and family have been very supportive, but I really don't want to bog them down. They have their own problems to deal with. So I went to the Doctor who confirmed I had depression. He suggested I contact a therapist and gave me some phone numbers. He also suggested I go private, and his main concern that the info would be on record. So I contacted the therapist, who was then concerned that I wasn't on medicare and suggested I go back to the Doctor. I did that and the Doctor once again convinced me not to go on Medicare. I went back to the therapist who convinced me again that I should be on Medicare. I have given up. All I wanted was some help and I feel like I have been kicked from pillar to post. So looks like I'l have to go cold turkey. This is shit. Is there ANYWHERE I can just go for help? I live in Southern Sydney area.

Maddieb ECT for depression
  • replies: 8

Hi, Over the last 7 years I have tried several antidepressants, therapy, physiatrist, relaxation, healthy living but still struggling with depression. I am not sure what to do to help my situation and it has been suggested to me that I try ETC. ive r... View more

Hi, Over the last 7 years I have tried several antidepressants, therapy, physiatrist, relaxation, healthy living but still struggling with depression. I am not sure what to do to help my situation and it has been suggested to me that I try ETC. ive read a lot about it and of course seems scary. Some doctors say there’s a lot more medications to try first and other say it’s a good idea. im wanting to know if anyone here has tried it and what their experiences were. thank you

Sally65 Backed myself into a corner
  • replies: 3

I've been off meds for BADII for over 7 months and have been doing really well on natural and nutritional therapy, until now. Problem is, I have been off work with the flu (and now struggling to meet deadlines), have found out my knee surgery was bot... View more

I've been off meds for BADII for over 7 months and have been doing really well on natural and nutritional therapy, until now. Problem is, I have been off work with the flu (and now struggling to meet deadlines), have found out my knee surgery was botched and can't be fixed, have chronic health problems that are wearing me down and now, have been diagnosed with arthritis (explains why I have chronic pain and can't sleep). I was so determined to stay well through healthy diet, exercise, meditation and alternative health supplements that my stubborn side can't even contemplate defeat. But, the dark thoughts come crashing down and there's nothing I seem to be able to do to control them. On the surface, I'm the most together, organised person you will ever meet! Family and friends are none the wiser, but bubbling and boiling beneath is what I recognise to be a path to rapid self-destruction. I was just so convinced that toxic medication could be replaced by lifestyle change etc. and don't want to concede or dare I say, admit defeat to those who will say, 'told you so!'

bigstar Internal Family Systems
  • replies: 4

Hey there, First time poster / long time reader. Was wondering if anyone has done 'internal family systems' with their psych. I've done for the past 3 or 4 sessions with great success and I thought I was making some great progress. But yesterday, whe... View more

Hey there, First time poster / long time reader. Was wondering if anyone has done 'internal family systems' with their psych. I've done for the past 3 or 4 sessions with great success and I thought I was making some great progress. But yesterday, when I was under(in the trance, as it were), something happened, where I saw a deep darkness, like a depression like no other; I had that depression before, 6 or 7 years ago which almost killed me, and I saw it again, in the trance, and it terrified the hell out of me. I got out of the trance and told her this needed to stop because I didn't feel like I had the strength or the tools to deal with what it was revealing but that still didnt stop me from having a panic attack after. I spent the rest of last night walking. Anyway today I've woken up and I'm still very bad and pretty anxious and I have the feeling the one might have when a wolf is that door. The beast is back and awake but hasn't broken in yet. I'm terrified of this therapy as well. Although well intentioned, it has opened up something that my subconscious has done very well to keep hidden or locked. So has anyone had some sort of similar experience? I'm at a loss as to what I do. I dont want to go see her again, but there is some part of me that feels like I have to encounter this beast if I am to make a recovery and find out what it is, but then another part of me that wants to forget about therapy and try distract myself with ordinary endeavours and hope that I go back to being normal. Its like there is an opportunity for healing or total destruction. High risk / high reward. Sorry, I am aware that the language I am using to describe my internal battle isn't as 'clinical' as some of you might like, but this is how I make sense of it all in language. Any guidance would be appreciated; especially any accounts of experience with internal family systems. thank you

Inkup How effective was therapy for you?
  • replies: 6

Hi All, I've been fighting my demons (depression, anxiety and stress) for about a year now. I was placed on a mental health plan at the start of the year, seeing a Psychologist and getting on meds. I've heard from a few people dealing with the same t... View more

Hi All, I've been fighting my demons (depression, anxiety and stress) for about a year now. I was placed on a mental health plan at the start of the year, seeing a Psychologist and getting on meds. I've heard from a few people dealing with the same thing as me that it took them time to find the right meds and the right psych. Meds, I felt, have helped but I still feel like life is a struggle. I am due to see my GP to hopefully switch or increase my dosage again. My Psych focuses mostly on CBT and at first, I found it amazing. But now I find it tedious and frustrating. Understanding the reasons behind my feelings was good but now its just so repetitive. I feel as though we just talk about the science and theory behind it all and I just don't feel any better. I kind of want to talk about whats happening and I how I feel, and I almost want someone to tell me to pull my head in! I guess my question is, how effective was therapy for the rest of you? I have been suggested to see a new Psych or see a Psychiatrist instead. I am hesitant to go back through it due to the costs involved (after 10 sessions I feel more stressed about the cost). I honestly felt like it was a waste of time to me but I'm currently stuck on the same level and my mental health isn't improving. What worked for you? What types of therapy worked for you? Or did just talking to friends and family have the same effect for you? Thanks in advance.

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