Immediate support
Immediate support

Treatments, health professionals and therapies

Information on a range of different areas, including managing relationships with GPs and psychologists, and finding the right services for you.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

All discussions

Start a discussion

Willow Jude What is it like to call a helpline?
  • replies: 17

Hi there, I’m wondering what it is like to call a helpline. My psychologist has recommended I consider calling one during times when I am struggling with some overwhelming feelings (not necessarily suicide/self-harm related, more like intense hopeles... View more

Hi there, I’m wondering what it is like to call a helpline. My psychologist has recommended I consider calling one during times when I am struggling with some overwhelming feelings (not necessarily suicide/self-harm related, more like intense hopelessness, loneliness, etc.), but I find it difficult not knowing what to expect. There are so many things that I worry about when I consider calling - How will the conversation go? Will they think it's okay for me to use a helpline just to talk to someone when I am not a risk to myself? Will I be made to feel like I am wasting their time after a certain amount of time? Can I be forced to go to hospital or something if I am considered at risk of harm? So if anyone has any experiences with helplines that they’d be willing to share to give me a little insight into how it goes, I would really appreciate it! Thanks, WJ

MisterM How do you all afford psychology/psychiatry sessions?
  • replies: 87

I know there are 10 sessions covered under Medicare where you only pay a smaller fee but every time I have been the 10 sessions run out so fast. I am unemployed, even recently working casual I wasn't earning much. How do some of you people afford to ... View more

I know there are 10 sessions covered under Medicare where you only pay a smaller fee but every time I have been the 10 sessions run out so fast. I am unemployed, even recently working casual I wasn't earning much. How do some of you people afford to go weekly/fortnightly. When I was working full time I was going every week/fortnight and spent over $3,000 in a year on seeing my psychologist. It's just too damn expensive, how can sessions cost $200 approx per 50 mins, what justifies such a high fee? I don't get it.

Faitful79 Trust Issues
  • replies: 3

The day started with me going to my GP who I trusted. I went with a letter explaining how I was feeling. She told me the only way she had to help me was for me to go to the Emergency Department. I did question her and say was she sure this was the on... View more

The day started with me going to my GP who I trusted. I went with a letter explaining how I was feeling. She told me the only way she had to help me was for me to go to the Emergency Department. I did question her and say was she sure this was the only way and she said yes. She wrote me a letter and said she would call them so they knew I was coming. I told her that the main thing I was worried about was being treated by male workers because of my past with which she communicated that in her experience she has mainly dealt with female at this hospital. She also said she would ring me later on to see how I was going (this never happened) and that we would catch up in a week (which never happened as as she went on annual leave the day after I saw her). I went to hospital with her letter and the first thing that the triage nurse said was that my doctor didn’t have to send me to the emergency department for this (another lie). I had to talk to a male mental health nurse who walked in and pulled the curtains shut - found the whole experience frightening and useless and I said whatever I could to get out of the place. He let me go home after me telling him I want to kill myself but because I’m a christian and it’s a sin he felt I was safe to go home. The next day the Acute Care Team rang me to make an appointment but because it was another male mental health nurse I just told them I was fine and didn’t require their services. I’m really quite hurt by all the lies my GP told me just to get me to the hospital. I did forget to mention that 3 weeks before this the GP call an ambulance to take me to the hospital but my support person told them I was fine and they were happy with that. I’m doing much better now but how do you trust your doctor again? Or do you just find another? Has anyone else had a similar experience? I just wish she was honest with me.

GreenEgg Adjusting to medication
  • replies: 2

Hello I’m in my second week of taking an SSRI and I’m feeling a bit down. I know that the first weeks are normally the worst and benefits can take a while, but I can’t help but think it’s just not working for me and won’t work.I guess I’m wondering i... View more

Hello I’m in my second week of taking an SSRI and I’m feeling a bit down. I know that the first weeks are normally the worst and benefits can take a while, but I can’t help but think it’s just not working for me and won’t work.I guess I’m wondering if you have any similar experiences, and any tips for managing side effects - mentally in sticking with it and physical too. I feel like my anxiety is worse, especially my physical symptoms. I’m really tired and restless at the same time. My chest feels tight all the time, my hands have been trembling and my jaw is hurting from clenching it. I tend to have this normally but it seems worse and more constant.I keep having thoughts like am I really feeling depressed or anxious, maybe I’ve just convinced myself and the dr’s and I’m not really and this is not doing what it’s meant to.Thank you G

josh88 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy
  • replies: 1

Just wondering if anyone has had any success with this therapy. I've been in discussions with my psychiatrist about it as an option for me to think about. I've been suffering from chronic depression for about 15 years. I've tried 6-8 different medica... View more

Just wondering if anyone has had any success with this therapy. I've been in discussions with my psychiatrist about it as an option for me to think about. I've been suffering from chronic depression for about 15 years. I've tried 6-8 different medications and a range of different psychology therapies. I'm wondering if anyone has tried this therapy and what the effect was, or whether I shouldn't get my hopes up too much. Thanks in advance. Josh.

Caite Accidental Cold Turkey of Anti Depressants
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, Just looking for someone who’s been in or is in a similar situation; bit of a background, I decided last year after 6 years on anti depressants to come off them as I was ready, I (now regret) started to come off them without my drs knowledg... View more

Hey guys, Just looking for someone who’s been in or is in a similar situation; bit of a background, I decided last year after 6 years on anti depressants to come off them as I was ready, I (now regret) started to come off them without my drs knowledge and went the naturopath way instead, big mistake, she placed me on many different herbs that fought against the anti depressant, I than went to my dr with dizzy/vertigo, sinus pain, headaches and internal tremors, he said it was a result of not being on my anti depressant and to go back on them so I did, I still was experiencing the same symptoms so I went back again we ran some tests and determined it was low iron (this is a usual for me) after multiple appointments he decided that my anti depressant was fighting against my body as I had the same symptoms still, he took me off within 4 days, I now know this is called cold Turkey and should never be done, it’s now been almost 3 months off them and the past 2 months I’ve been almost fully bed ridden, I feel like I am rocking (vertigo), internal and external tremors, tired, achy all over, flu like symptoms, I’ve had a herbalist who has been really helpful in getting serotonin syndrome out of my system however I am still struggling with the discontinuation syndrome, I’ve gone to another GP for a second opinion and am currently doing the tests etc, I just need to know if anyone has ever been through cold Turkey and does it get better? I currently can’t drive, barely functional day to day, just ready for it to be settled Thank you in advance

Applestamp Losing hope that I can be helped.
  • replies: 3

I've had a lot of mental health issues from a young age, through most of primary school and high school I was terrified of engaging socially, my mother was in rehab for much of my early childhood and developed a distrust of mental health carers which... View more

I've had a lot of mental health issues from a young age, through most of primary school and high school I was terrified of engaging socially, my mother was in rehab for much of my early childhood and developed a distrust of mental health carers which I inherited. In my late primary school my father wanted to try and help me so took me a childrens mental health event. At the time I was unable to engage and it culminated in an incredibly traumatic moment where I was publicly humiliated by one of the staff while trying to articulate my struggles. During my early highschool years I ended up seeing 2 professionals, one of them was unhelpful but un-eventful, I ended up having an angry out burst at the other. I became increasingly angry and occasionally violent, by late highschool I had began drinking heavily and using other drugs. I felt angry at my parents and increasingly at mental health professionals. A few years after dropping out of highschool I tried again, through my GP who was pretty much the only person I'd been honest with. On my way to my second appointment I had an anxiety attack and missed the appointment. I got a text saying I owed the standard fee + $200 cancellation fee. I cancelled all my appointments, went home and attempted to commit suicide, I didn't succeed but I did spend several days in severe delerium. So I lived, and now too terrified of brain damage to try again. Everything since has been worse, my fears have grown, my distrust of medical professionals has reached a debilitating level, I've lost track of what my body should feel like, what sensations and pains are normal since I'm afraid of speaking to a doctor. I work online in IT, and my experience of provider carelessness around user information in that field has left me unable to trust even online services. I'm stuck, online services need real information I can't share, they want my GP, they want me to engage in therapies that I've got trauma associated with. And most of them don't have the time or resources to do it via text, they want phone or video calls if not in person meetings. To be clear, logically I don't think mental health professionals are out to get me, but I can't trust them enough to get help. I can't trust my family enough to talk to them about it, I can't trust my GP. I feel so stuck and I've felt stuck for so long. Is there anything I can do? Are there services available for people who have this kind of fear?

gymgirl New to all this
  • replies: 1

Hello I’m in search of where I start.about 3-4 months ago I’ve started to feel down, to recently finding it hard to get out of bed and crying at nothing. I admit I have been pretty depressed. I have a doctors appointment next week provided I don’t ca... View more

Hello I’m in search of where I start.about 3-4 months ago I’ve started to feel down, to recently finding it hard to get out of bed and crying at nothing. I admit I have been pretty depressed. I have a doctors appointment next week provided I don’t cancel it with a doctor I have no clue about new one. How do I start this conversation without thinking it’s all a big joke. As for a while I’ve been sweeping it under the carpet but that isn’t working anymore.

SleepingisWhenImHappy Need Help on finding information please
  • replies: 2

Hi Thanks first for taking the time to read im in dire need My depression has increased where I have not moved out of bed in 3 weeks My main support was my doctor who’s away due to family issues im on a disability The replacement ones aren’t renewing... View more

Hi Thanks first for taking the time to read im in dire need My depression has increased where I have not moved out of bed in 3 weeks My main support was my doctor who’s away due to family issues im on a disability The replacement ones aren’t renewing some of my scripts and will not issue an MRI I requested that the hospital needs to help my back issues I live paycheck to paycheck im worried about my meds once run out having serious medical problems Does anyone know as a person on disability any doctors that could help or where I can turn for help as my health has declined been breathless just walking to kitchen now. any suggestions I would appreciate thanks

Erin_Shorr Tapering off antidepressants
  • replies: 4

I have been on antidepressants since 16 years old, I am now 29 (I have been tapering down for 2 years). Even this has been too fast because I have been in post-acute withdrawal symptoms for almost 6 months now. I decided I wanted to come off these as... View more

I have been on antidepressants since 16 years old, I am now 29 (I have been tapering down for 2 years). Even this has been too fast because I have been in post-acute withdrawal symptoms for almost 6 months now. I decided I wanted to come off these as I didn’t like the way they were making me feel, I take a holistic approach to things now. I was emotionally numb, developed a ray of health issues, memory problems, the list goes on. Every minute of every day now I am suffering with depression, SI, intrusive thoughts, insomnia, severe anxiety, panic, worry, constant negative thoughts, mood swings, rage and basically not able to function. The scariest thing is my cognitive function, unable to process information, decision making, concentration, understanding, memory etc. I feel so incompetent and dis-able as simple tasks have become so hard for me. I have to work to make money but it’s awful being there when I’m like this (I work as a Disability Support Worker). I am completely terrified. Constant waves with no windows now. I have lost most people, I know they all look at me and roll their eyes as they think I’m doing nothing to help myself and NEED medication or to bridge to a new one. This makes me feel very alone, it goes against everything I believe in I don’t want to put another mind altering drugs into my body that is THIS hard to come home. I’m struggling to see any future or light here. I just want to know if anyone else has experienced this and things got better? I think I’m holding onto a lot of stored trauma that I’ve never processed. I struggle with self esteem, confidence issues, feeling of not being good enough for anything, constantly doubting myself. If anyone can relate please help me.