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MarkBt Sense of loss after last session with psychologist
  • replies: 7

I had my last session with my psychologist on Friday as she is taking extended leave. I was feeling ready for a break, I had been going almost weekly for the best part of this year. Coming into the session I knew there would be change and I was feeli... View more

I had my last session with my psychologist on Friday as she is taking extended leave. I was feeling ready for a break, I had been going almost weekly for the best part of this year. Coming into the session I knew there would be change and I was feeling ready, slightly sad it was ending for now. After the session I caught the bus to work, on the way a song came on the radio that I hadn't heard for more than 15 years but I immediately connected with it and became very emotional - quite sad. At work, several long term colleagues were leaving that day for jobs overseas. One of them I was relatively close to. More emotion, but it was my relationship with the psychologist that I felt an overwhelming sense of loss for. I have been to several psychologists before, the last one over 10 years ago and for a longer period but I didn't feel this way when it ended. This time I feel a very deep sense of loss that I am struggling to come to terms with. I don't have any romantic feelings toward her or anything like that but I guess I hadn't realised how much I had opened up or that we had connected. The reaction has completely blindsided me. I didn't even feel this coming until the day of the last session. It is like losing a best friend to a far away place, the support and understanding that you are used to is suddenly no longer. As a result now I feel a bit fragile. I'm not sure how normal this is and I guess I feel a bit lost with it all. Perhaps I wasn't ready for a break, while I know it will pass I feel very lost with it all. Have others found this?

Lostflutterby Unsure about where to go next.
  • replies: 2

Whilst this doesn't specifically relate to mental health issues it is an issue that's affecting our mental health overall. My partner has chronic back pain. we have seen about 10 doctors in the last 2 years, all of which just say it's arthritis and t... View more

Whilst this doesn't specifically relate to mental health issues it is an issue that's affecting our mental health overall. My partner has chronic back pain. we have seen about 10 doctors in the last 2 years, all of which just say it's arthritis and tell him to walk or swim to fix it. His most recent doctor has given him a heap of pills that mostly just make him drowsy but also unable to sleep. He is irritable and it's not helping either of us with our depression. we have requested scans and his gp said no as the radiation is too harmful. this is what our local medical services are like. we will be trying an osteopath this week but it's becoming out of desperation. we don't know what to do. we have a 3.5 year old and one on the way. would really like to be able to do normal things like run around with our daughter at the park or have jobs so that we can have enough money to live. but this pain is getting in the way. or maybe one day, have an income to buy a house or a new car. I don't know what sort of specialists we can see or where to go from here. I'm sorry to post such a long thing. it's impacting us quite badly.

anita24 Am i with the right pyschologist? How is it meant to be ?
  • replies: 5

So i am on a care plan of 10 free sessions, the pyschologist i goto seems smart and seems to know what he is talking about. He doesn't show that he cares but explains parts of the brain and activities to do at home. The experience feels like i walk i... View more

So i am on a care plan of 10 free sessions, the pyschologist i goto seems smart and seems to know what he is talking about. He doesn't show that he cares but explains parts of the brain and activities to do at home. The experience feels like i walk im expecting to be quiet and then next minute im blurting out everything and theres never enough time to say what i need to say, it feels like a interview. Everything i say he has a question for then at the end gives me tasks to do. But.. Last session i went to the client before me took 15 minutes over, so there for mine was cut short of 45 minutes. I was a mess crying non stop talking non stop and suffering badly and he had enough time to give me advice and activity to do at home. But now the fact that my session was cut short is bugging me. Is this okay and does this happen? and how are clinical pyschologists meant to act? as this is the first clinical pyschologist i have been to. Thanks everyone

LePip Medicaiton Sads & Creative Loss
  • replies: 7

Hello, I've been reading up on medication withdrawals and although my symptoms sound fine and dandy (read "normal") I'm feeling very abnormal. I've been on an antidepressant for 1-2years now and have started to come off them. I've been lowering my do... View more

Hello, I've been reading up on medication withdrawals and although my symptoms sound fine and dandy (read "normal") I'm feeling very abnormal. I've been on an antidepressant for 1-2years now and have started to come off them. I've been lowering my dosage for over a month now. But have in the last week gone to zero and now I'm feeling all of the yucks. I'm experiencing side effects of dizziness, feeling like I'm floating, heavy limbs, fatigue, nausea, lack of concentration, general downsome feels. But my main issue is I am lacking all motivation and desire to create! I am worried that the medicaiton has really messed my brain - before taking I used art as my therapy & hobby but I feel I've lost it. Do any fellow creatives have a positive story of triumph for me to find hope in?! Does it eventually come back? Should I keep forcing myself to art and eventually it will feel real again? I'm trying other meditative practices like yoga and I do walk regularly but still feel flat. I certainly do not want to return to taking meds as although it makes me feel less terrible about living it actually makes me feel nothing at all. Any advice/conversation would be greatly appreciated as I'm finding it very difficult to chat about this with my family and partner at the moment. Pip

Torb Depression and low testosterone
  • replies: 7

Hi everybody, Just joined after reading other peoples posts and seeing all the support and suggestions people are happy to give in this forum. My story is that I have been treated by doctors and psychiatrists for a number of years now and things go u... View more

Hi everybody, Just joined after reading other peoples posts and seeing all the support and suggestions people are happy to give in this forum. My story is that I have been treated by doctors and psychiatrists for a number of years now and things go up and down. To complicate things I also have low testosterone levels which gives me the same symptoms as depression being low energy and general lack of interest in life and wanting to be left alone. What has complicated things over the last two years is moving from Adelaide to Brisbane and losing contact with my GP. Coming up here I had to start again and it turned out to be allot harder to get the medication and testosterone injections approved. Anyway, after about a year of going from specialist to specialist I'm now back on the testosterone replacement program again so hopefully soon my levels will go up to more normal levels again but it takes time. My psychiatrist first gave me one type of medication for depression but that didn't work so now I'm onto a different type but things are not going well even after almost a year. It is very up and down. Don't know what to do. Try a third medication? Try a psychologist? I'm still confused about whether it is the low testosterone or depression that is causing me to feel like this. Anybody out there with a similar story that could provide some feedback?

DN129 How do you go about finding a good psychologist?
  • replies: 5

Look for the small 'one shop' people? Part of a big psychology centre with several practicing co-workers? Google reviews? I know you get a certain amount of visits heavily discounted by the Government. I believe the number is 6 per year? After that i... View more

Look for the small 'one shop' people? Part of a big psychology centre with several practicing co-workers? Google reviews? I know you get a certain amount of visits heavily discounted by the Government. I believe the number is 6 per year? After that it starts to get very expensive. I tried a psychologist to limited success, I would like to have another go and truthfully despite the fact I have nothing against the previous shrink maybe a bit of change would be helpful.

Lost_Girl Opiate withdrawal and stopping ADs
  • replies: 24

Hi, I have been on opiate medication for chronic tension headache for over a year and have just weaned off them. I am in week 2 of withdrawal. I am stopping the pain meds because my specialist believes the underlying root cause of my headache has bee... View more

Hi, I have been on opiate medication for chronic tension headache for over a year and have just weaned off them. I am in week 2 of withdrawal. I am stopping the pain meds because my specialist believes the underlying root cause of my headache has been addressed and any residual pain is likely to be chronic daily headache caused by the opiates. I was taking a low dose of ADs to manage my moods prior to stopping the opiates. As part of my withdrawal I am experiencing severe vomitting etc and have not been able to sustain taking the ADs. In addition I have had a severe chest infection that I am only just starting to get over. I have been having to go to my GP to get injections to stop the vomitting just so I can stomach the antibiotics. My body is in a lot of pain with no relief other than sleep. In addition to the headache I also have back pain, chest pain from coughing and being sick, my stomach is constantly cramped and I have restless limb syndrome in my arms (all withdrawal symptoms). What I am hoping for help with is ideas on how to improve my mood. I think I know all the answers having been on the forum for some time but I just need some guidance. Due to my physical limitations a number of options like getting out for a walk and even what I can eat (or keep down) are not viable right now. However, I am crying all the time again and most days I just don't want to wake up. Please hit me with suggestions. I feel like I am losing hope again.

Rollin Anxiety Medication
  • replies: 2

Hi All I am wondering if anyone can provide any advice on what anxiety medications have worked for them. Also how the medication made them feel, better? worse? no change etc. Did you combine this with other forms of relaxation, exercise etc. I am mai... View more

Hi All I am wondering if anyone can provide any advice on what anxiety medications have worked for them. Also how the medication made them feel, better? worse? no change etc. Did you combine this with other forms of relaxation, exercise etc. I am mainly afflicted by severe anxieties in social and other situations where I have a panic or anxiety attack. I try the relaxation techniques that helps but feel I need something else as well, so will be seeing my GP next week. Thanks a lot Regards

B2B Treatments
  • replies: 2

Hi every one Its B2B here I have posted on here before for many things but this time I'm doing something a little different. I have suffered from saviour depression and Anxiety since I was a child and began taking medication as an adult. I have been ... View more

Hi every one Its B2B here I have posted on here before for many things but this time I'm doing something a little different. I have suffered from saviour depression and Anxiety since I was a child and began taking medication as an adult. I have been on meds now for almost 10 years and would like to know if there is any one ells out there that has been on medication that long? and what other ways and things they do to help deal with there illness. looking forward to hearing from you. B2B

Proper_Etiquette Speech therapy
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you have any stories or experiences relating to life after speech therapy. I was a 'stutterer' when I was a kid and was probably the root of my issues I have had throughout my life. This resulted in bullying and mas... View more

Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you have any stories or experiences relating to life after speech therapy. I was a 'stutterer' when I was a kid and was probably the root of my issues I have had throughout my life. This resulted in bullying and massive self esteem problems, including a persoid of self harm. I had a wonderful speech therapist paid for by my parents and she did such an amazing job and after 6 months or so I was talking like a pro. I have found however later in life I have had the problem come back, triggered by stressful situations. I have been living with it so long that I mask it very well, only people I am extremely close to can pick it up. Am I the only one who has had this problem reoccur? Are there any exercises or self therapy I can do at home to help with this?