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Ellu Psychoanalysis
  • replies: 2

I have had bi-polar disorder since I was 15 (I am 63 now) and have lived a chaotic life with medication (which I am still taking), hospitalization, ECT and psychotherapy. I have recently (2 weeks ago) started psychoanalysis, and it has already change... View more

I have had bi-polar disorder since I was 15 (I am 63 now) and have lived a chaotic life with medication (which I am still taking), hospitalization, ECT and psychotherapy. I have recently (2 weeks ago) started psychoanalysis, and it has already changed my life. It is a way of reflecting on the past and gathering clues to your behaviour, especially self-destructive behaviour. With insight comes understanding, and negative emotions can be identified and neutralized. Sad to say my psychoanalyst doesn't have a couch, only a chair, but I thoroughly recommend this treatment to older people who want to learn about themselves so they can get on with the rest of their lives. It is best to undertake this while you are relatively well, otherwise the illness gets in the way. Good luck to my fellow travellers!

GreenLime First meeting with a Psychiatrist, and medication was mentioned, very scared!
  • replies: 8

I just had my very first appointment with a Psychiatrist and went over all these issues I have pertaining to anxiety, OCD, depression and possible eating disorders and the Dr. mentioned medication, and that it may be necessary for me. I've come out o... View more

I just had my very first appointment with a Psychiatrist and went over all these issues I have pertaining to anxiety, OCD, depression and possible eating disorders and the Dr. mentioned medication, and that it may be necessary for me. I've come out of the appointment with only that on my mind, medication. Now I'm terrified. What is the medication going to do me? Is it just going to worsen my symptoms? I really don't want to become dependent on it and I'm really scared that it's going to radically change my life. I always thought about the possibility of taking medication but now that it could actually be a reality I just can't bear it.

tweetheart Voluntary Admission advice
  • replies: 23

Hey EveryoneI need some advice please, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety last year. I was admitted to a private clinic and remained there for 7 weeks, I returned to work part time but have relapsed and have been off work sinc... View more

Hey EveryoneI need some advice please, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety last year. I was admitted to a private clinic and remained there for 7 weeks, I returned to work part time but have relapsed and have been off work since July, in July I was readmitted for 3 weeks but discharged myself due to being mistreated by some of the nursing staff, I went to see a new psychiatrist who suggested I increase me medication and see him in 2 weeks, I sought a second opinion and this psychiatrist wants to admit me for 2-3 weeks, given what occurred I am too scared to be admitted but this psychiatrist has made me feel comfortable and has assured me I will be safe, I've been off work since July and unsure when I will be well enough to return.

maxation too smart to be sick
  • replies: 3

Anybody else get the impression that if your considered smarter than the average bear.the mental health people and also doctors wont help you?? I guess its like having a big brother who snobs you everytime you pass your exams. Or make new friends.you... View more

Anybody else get the impression that if your considered smarter than the average bear.the mental health people and also doctors wont help you?? I guess its like having a big brother who snobs you everytime you pass your exams. Or make new friends.you know.beyond. im actually penalized for being smart.descriminated in every way posible.my iq was only 160s last time.average. but i do get ignored every day.lol Maxwell

KazKaz When my child is too anxious to visit a GP for a medical certificate
  • replies: 1

My 13 yr old daughter is too anxious to visit a GP yet requires a medical certificate as she is no longer able to go to school - Doctor's surgery wont help and the school will not accept that she needs time off to get better without a certificate - s... View more

My 13 yr old daughter is too anxious to visit a GP yet requires a medical certificate as she is no longer able to go to school - Doctor's surgery wont help and the school will not accept that she needs time off to get better without a certificate - school will not send work home for her without a doctor's certicicate as they "don't home school"- this is creating more and enormous anxiety in my daughter and in me! Is there an alternative route? Going to a doctors surgery is not an option and they will not visit my daughter as she has not been to the surgery for years although is still registered there.

Matine Health retreat for depression covered by health insurance?
  • replies: 2

Hi there, does anyone know of any health retreats / clinics covered by health insurance? As background, I have treatment resistant chronic depression and have been in and out of mental hospitals over the past 2 years. I've tried every anti-depressant... View more

Hi there, does anyone know of any health retreats / clinics covered by health insurance? As background, I have treatment resistant chronic depression and have been in and out of mental hospitals over the past 2 years. I've tried every anti-depressant deemed relevant, tried TMS and tried ECT. Nothing works. Right now I am struggling to cope but don't want to go back to a hospital environment where they don't do regular exercise / yoga, don't focus on healthy eating, don't have therapies other than pushing more medicine down your throat. So does anyone know of a place I can go which would be covered by private health insurance that could help? thanks

Zhamay Medication for Kids?
  • replies: 6

Does anyone have children on medication? My 9 year old daughter has general anxiety, social anxiety and some sensory processing delays. She seems to be getting more and more anxious as her problems build up and I would like to try her on medication i... View more

Does anyone have children on medication? My 9 year old daughter has general anxiety, social anxiety and some sensory processing delays. She seems to be getting more and more anxious as her problems build up and I would like to try her on medication in the hope that she will open up to her psychologist and occupational therapist so that their treatment is effective. Her GP has referred her to a psychiatrist but we don't have an appointment yet and I don't expect one until next year. I would like to hear from anyone who has experience with this as I understand there are concerns with children taking antidepressant medication. I am worried that if we don't try this her problems are going to get much worse and I am very concerned for my little girl.

Owly Finding a therapist for existential oriented depression (SA)?
  • replies: 9

Hi all, I am currently struggling with what I would describe atypical depression - I have high self esteem, don't suffer from stress from specific events, but have an underlying feeling of depression and despair from living in a society I don't under... View more

Hi all, I am currently struggling with what I would describe atypical depression - I have high self esteem, don't suffer from stress from specific events, but have an underlying feeling of depression and despair from living in a society I don't understand or feel comfortable living in. To me, most people seem to be disconnected from the world around them, either lacking in deep values (superficiality, and ignorance), not acting in accordance to their values (in-authenticity), or they have values that justifies harm and cruelty to others (including other species). This can be justified looking at all the underlying trends of social and environmental issues we are faced with today. Humanity now has a effect on the world that is many magnitudes of order out of balance than it has been for hundreds of millions of years. When participating in our society, it is basically impossible to do so in anything other than a superficial way. You have no idea what really goes into those products you buy, in terms of who's labour, what they were paid, where all the resources came from, is it safe, the effects on the environment or other social issues. In the past, I dealt with this by ignoring these feelings, focusing on day to day live, focusing on the moment, which worked to an extent. But when I do this over time, I feel disconnected from the world. The longer I try to live focusing on just day to day issues, the harder it hits when I snap out of it. The problem is once you have delved deeply into scientific and social issues, you realise the shallowness of our current science (which I studied at university) and the immense difficulty in dealing with social issues, is difficulty to 'un-see' them. It is also incredibly frustrating to see people whom I admire working very hard and creatively to deal with these issues, with little to no measurable progress. Additionally, I have struggled with chronic illness since I was an adolescent, which has limited my ability to actually get involved in these issues in a substantial way. I have a generic referral for a clinical psychologist under the govt mental health care plan system. As such, I am looking for a more open minded therapist in Adelaide who is experienced at dealing with existential issues and has a flexible approach to therapy, rather than trying to use a pre-canned method (eg CBT). I have tried Googling, but all of the descriptions seem to be generic. If anyone has any concrete suggestions, it will be greatly appreciated!

Sugarcane Post surgical pain
  • replies: 3

I shall not detail my operation, as my ongoing pain is the issue, I have had it one year not long but seems forever, I have run out of medical help, done it all. My pain is up and down, however it very hard to put up with and harder to deal with the ... View more

I shall not detail my operation, as my ongoing pain is the issue, I have had it one year not long but seems forever, I have run out of medical help, done it all. My pain is up and down, however it very hard to put up with and harder to deal with the idea that I may be this way for years or forever. Sometimes I am strong and some times I curl up and cry. But it has left me unsure about my future. What can other share on this type of predicament.