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RegularJoe Cold Showers = Hours of relief
  • replies: 4

Hi all, As someone suffering depression and anxiety I know just how hard it can be to get your self to do anything. One thing my therapist recommended recently is cold showers, and well.. it works (for me at least - maybe for you too). Pretty simple.... View more

Hi all, As someone suffering depression and anxiety I know just how hard it can be to get your self to do anything. One thing my therapist recommended recently is cold showers, and well.. it works (for me at least - maybe for you too). Pretty simple.. have your normal shower then finish 2-5 minutes of cold. It hurts..real bad (not as bad as depression though) but I notice a solid mood boost for between 2-5 hours. The other thing that is helping me is exercise... the more intense the better. Hope this helps someone out there.

Guest_F75DA28A Misdiagnosis?
  • replies: 4

Hi guys, Just wondering if anyone has a story where they feel they may have been misdiagnosed by a doctor/psychiatrist? here's a bit of background on my story: I have suffered from anxiety since I was 19 (8 years now), and possibly longer but hadn't ... View more

Hi guys, Just wondering if anyone has a story where they feel they may have been misdiagnosed by a doctor/psychiatrist? here's a bit of background on my story: I have suffered from anxiety since I was 19 (8 years now), and possibly longer but hadn't sought help prior. In 2010, I started seeing a psychologist and told her I suspected depression (I had a friend commit suicide who'd suffered from depression and I was afraid something similar was happening to me). Fast track to 2012, and I'd experienced an 'acute psychotic episode', which was the first time I'd had to see a psychiatrist. As you can imagine, I was immediately put on medication (And had some adverse effects to it), but the doctor concluded, after having seen me for 30 minutes, that I have 'schizoaffective disorder' (I'd never heard of it either till then!) But again, to add some context, I had zero rapport with that doctor and was always nervous in his presence, and sometimes my nervous energy manifests as what the doc referred to as 'the giggles' - no wonder he thought I had a mood disorder! I have since changed doctors but have been too scared to ask what the new doc's diagnosis is. I mean, as far as DSM-5 is concerned, I'm a pretty classic case of the GAD... I just don't understand why I need harsh anti-psychotic drugs when I do not experience any symptoms of schizophrenia or bipolar? Any tips would be appreciated! Btw i'm new to the forum so hope these kinds of questions are ok? Thanks, D

ZyGirl_DogLvr3 Difficulty Communicating with Psychiatrist
  • replies: 8

Long story short: This morning I was feeling jittery but with a cloudy, slow head. Words not forming properly. During the appointment when my Psychiatrist was asking questions, I could NOT answer them for quite a while because I just couldn't form th... View more

Long story short: This morning I was feeling jittery but with a cloudy, slow head. Words not forming properly. During the appointment when my Psychiatrist was asking questions, I could NOT answer them for quite a while because I just couldn't form the words. Luckily I wrote out a list however. But still; I felt like an idiot. I refuse to go to some appointments because I know I won't be able to communicate with the doctor properly. I am a well-spoken person and can put words together very well usually, but not when I "feel funny." It sort of sucks because there are people there to help but not when you're unable to communicate with them properly. I think it may have something to do with the Benzodiazepine meds I'm taking. They seem to dampen certain cognitive abilities: balance, vocalising & memory. Does anyone else here experience similar 'difficulties forming words and communicating' at appointments?

flyonthewall Share your story of your first visit to GP to seek help
  • replies: 7

I am yet to find the courage to seek help, and would like to hear of anyones stories regarding their first GP visit. E.g How you started the conversation? How long was your appointment? Did you see a new GP or one you see regularly, how did they make... View more

I am yet to find the courage to seek help, and would like to hear of anyones stories regarding their first GP visit. E.g How you started the conversation? How long was your appointment? Did you see a new GP or one you see regularly, how did they make you feel? Thank you in advance.

DotB418 Rehabilitation Officers/Return to work programs
  • replies: 2

Hey all, I hope this is in the right place and that I haven't missed another thread on the same topic. I'm curious to find out if anyone has used Rehabilitation Officers/Return to work programs in the work place for mental health? My work place is pu... View more

Hey all, I hope this is in the right place and that I haven't missed another thread on the same topic. I'm curious to find out if anyone has used Rehabilitation Officers/Return to work programs in the work place for mental health? My work place is pushing me to use one for my depression but I'm not comfortable doing so as I feel that this will be recorded on my work history (possibly used against me in the future for who knows what) and will undo the work that my doctor and psychologist have done over the past few years. Has anyone else had a similar situation or offer advice? Thanks in advance Cheers D

ChrissyStar EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) + Traditional Chinese Medicine
  • replies: 4

HI, I was thinking about receiving EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) sessions, followed/supported by Traditional Chinese Medicine. Does anyone have experience with these? It is the first time I have heard of it (I came across a brochure) and it sound... View more

HI, I was thinking about receiving EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) sessions, followed/supported by Traditional Chinese Medicine. Does anyone have experience with these? It is the first time I have heard of it (I came across a brochure) and it sounds right for me. But before I go ahead, I would like to hear of any comments or experience of those who have undergone such treatments. Any comments? P.S. I will be receiving treatment for anxiety/depression + drug addiction. Thank you.

Hylo46 OCD (intrusive thoughts) scared to take medication 
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I have been diagnosed with OCD and Anxiety. It's great fun, NOT! Intrusive thoughts are widespread that I will hurt someone etc, don't feel comfortable listing the exact thoughts, but they are debilitating like many of you know. I have been p... View more

Hi all, I have been diagnosed with OCD and Anxiety. It's great fun, NOT! Intrusive thoughts are widespread that I will hurt someone etc, don't feel comfortable listing the exact thoughts, but they are debilitating like many of you know. I have been prescribed medicaiton and of course, have read that side effects, one that stood out was impulsiveness, can cause you to be impulsive... this has scared the crap out of me and I haven't been able to start the meds, it's my worst nightmare, I can't get the fear out of my head that what happens if the meds force me to be impulsive and act on my terrible intrusive thoughts, it could be anything, hurt my niece or nephew - lose control I guess. Does anyone have a similar worry or do SSRI make you lose control? thanks!

FifthLeg Psychologist Resignation
  • replies: 12

I’ve been seeing my psychologist for about 3 years. Last week someone from his admin called me and said that my psych had resigned effective that same day. She said that she could make an appointment for me with one of their other psych’s. I explaine... View more

I’ve been seeing my psychologist for about 3 years. Last week someone from his admin called me and said that my psych had resigned effective that same day. She said that she could make an appointment for me with one of their other psych’s. I explained that I would not be comfortable with another psych and would prefer to follow my psych to wherever he was going to practice next… Admin said they can’t disclose that information or tell me my psych’s movements after his resignation… I asked if I could fit one more session in before my psych left and she said no because he was leaving that day… I hung up! She called back and said the only thing she could do is close my file, and for me to ask my doctor to keep an eye out for my psych on a list doctors are provided with… I am so confused because I am worried about what would make him resign like that at the last minute? It must have been something big or terrible… I feel like I didn’t get to say goodbye, or thanks or have any closure… I want to be able to tell him that no matter what happened to make him quit at the last minute like that – he was a good psych, & helped me a lot. … I feel a big sense of loss, even grief… How can businesses think it’s appropriate to not allow continuity of care by allowing me to follow my psych wherever he goes? How can I get closure or make sense of this?

s64aqua Leaving SSRIs Behind
  • replies: 6

Hi i really don't expect any response to this but after 15 years I realised antidepressants were not helping me. I needed to access my old self and was confident that he would be strong enough and wise enough. I still think he is but..... i began red... View more

Hi i really don't expect any response to this but after 15 years I realised antidepressants were not helping me. I needed to access my old self and was confident that he would be strong enough and wise enough. I still think he is but..... i began reducing my dose from a plus 25% prescribed overdose back in April. Was being very careful. Each step down seemed to have me feeling better. Clarity was fantastic and building hope. 3 weeks ago I went cold turkey from a dosage 1/5 of where I was in April. This has been hellish. Lucky I lost my job in September because I would have surely either lost it under adverse circumstances since. My symptoms are numerous. I am so angry I ever agreed to take antidepressants and scared, so very very frightened. Stopping taking the drug has left me totally useless something I can only mitigate by staying busy, walk the dog, sweep the floor, cook a meal too big for one then not eat it at all. Even if nobody reads this I don't care, feels a bit better to have described this. So thanks for a place to write it down.

Teaandpugsleys Psychologist wants me to see a psychiatrist...
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone I’d greatly appreciate some opinions on my current treatment situation. I recently started therapy with a new psychologist after two and a half years of weekly/fortnightly treatment (and a very traumatic therapist-initiated termination) ... View more

Hey everyone I’d greatly appreciate some opinions on my current treatment situation. I recently started therapy with a new psychologist after two and a half years of weekly/fortnightly treatment (and a very traumatic therapist-initiated termination) In my third session last week, my guard slipped and I could feel my vulnerable self emerging, which I’d been numbing a lot recently. Only this emergence happened without warning and in response, I had a dissociative episode. I knew where I was, but felt so paralysed with fear I didn’t feel I could be an active participant in my surroundings. I can hear what people say to me in this state but I can’t speak back or connect. It’s very distressing and I don’t feel my conscious mind has any control over the situation. It happens in intense waves and feels like falling down a vortex in your head. My concern was my new psychologist’s reaction. She threw around the word “psychosis” and wants me to be assessed by a psychiatrist. This really concerns me. I really want to keep moving forward, and I feel like going to see a psychiatrist is nosediving me back ten years, putting myself into a position of being pathologized, trapped in a treatment pigeonhole as being much sicker than I feel I am being coerced into taking medication I don’t want. I can see the scenario playing out already. - Psychologist wants me to see a psychiatrist. - I don’t want to but go in order to accommodate her and out of fear she won’t feel able to treat me otherwise. - Psychiatrist listens patiently, then writes a script. - I do my past meds spiel saying its not beneficial and I don’t feel comfortable with it. - He tries to assure me this new medication doesn’t have side effects. - I reluctantly go with it as he smiles, pats me on the head and gives me my script. - I take the medication once or twice and experience at least one if not all of the following: inability to concentrate/hold a conversation/write with a pen/feel any emotion whatsoever/use my brain in any way/physical symptoms - I go off the medication and prove the point I was trying to communicate that psychiatrist involvement isn’t a good idea. I can’t tell you guys how many times this has happened I want my new psychologist to feel comfortable treating me, but I really don’t want to go through this situation again. What can I do? If you were in this position, what would you do?