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.

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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

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?

B2B Up does
  • replies: 2

Hi Dr Kim I have recently seen a psychiatrist and he has increased my medication. I have been on the high does for 3 days now and am starting to feel a little shaky. I had no side effects on the initial 2 days but am now feeling it. my question is ho... View more

Hi Dr Kim I have recently seen a psychiatrist and he has increased my medication. I have been on the high does for 3 days now and am starting to feel a little shaky. I had no side effects on the initial 2 days but am now feeling it. my question is how long does it take to experience side effects when you start a new does and will it pass. or could this have nothing to do with the meds. KIndiana regards B2B

Ambrosius International Travel/Time Zones
  • replies: 2

Greetings everyone, New user here with a history of Depression successfully treated with medications commonly used for Bipolar Depression. I'm very curious to know whether any of you have received beneficial information concerning medication scheduli... View more

Greetings everyone, New user here with a history of Depression successfully treated with medications commonly used for Bipolar Depression. I'm very curious to know whether any of you have received beneficial information concerning medication scheduling during international travel. Anyone willing to share their experience or what has worked for them or someone they know would be greatly appreciated. Best wishes to all, Ambrose