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

Chris_B Ask Dr Kim | Archived live chats
  • replies: 98

Good afternoon everyone, Dr Kim is here and we're ready to start. Welcome Kim, our first question is below: I am a 23 year old female with contamination-focused OCD. Do you have any advice about how I could deal with anxiety over my boyfriend's healt... View more

Good afternoon everyone, Dr Kim is here and we're ready to start. Welcome Kim, our first question is below: I am a 23 year old female with contamination-focused OCD. Do you have any advice about how I could deal with anxiety over my boyfriend's health? He is the only person I kiss and share drinks with, which means that if he does get sick, I will be likely to get infected. I really love and care about him, so the anxiety is not just about fear of contracting germs and illness, but also wanting him to be healthy and well.

Zoostar84 Treatment-resistant depression
  • replies: 15

I had an appointment with my psychiatrist and previously we had talked about a plan to wean myself of one of my medications and start a new medication. I was willing to try and thought it was a great opportunity to do it now as I am currently on annu... View more

I had an appointment with my psychiatrist and previously we had talked about a plan to wean myself of one of my medications and start a new medication. I was willing to try and thought it was a great opportunity to do it now as I am currently on annual leave. My psychiatrist made a minor adjustment to the medication used to help someone with treatment-resistant depression like myself. My next appointment is in 2 months. I left feeling a bit disappointed and a bit frustrated knowing that I will be buying a certain medication that is only partially effective and I know my psychiatrist eventually wants me to stop taking it. I thought to myself, it's similar to buying a faulty product. Well, for the next 2 months I will be keeping up my busy gym routine. I will also reward myself by having a massage. I don't enjoy my work but I am looking forward to going back to work as I want to get back to my busy lifestyle. Anyone have any suggestions for treatment-resistant depression?

KaraArtist When I seek professional help I get multiple diagnosis, multiple treatment options
  • replies: 27

I feel like I am nothing, worthless, hopeless. I don't know what direction to turn, when I seek professional help I get multiple diagnosis, multiple treatment options and they HATE when I say that I don't like to take medication because every one I h... View more

I feel like I am nothing, worthless, hopeless. I don't know what direction to turn, when I seek professional help I get multiple diagnosis, multiple treatment options and they HATE when I say that I don't like to take medication because every one I have tried has caused side affects, that for me, were worse than the actual problem. I just want to stop feeling like this. it seems like no matter what I do I always end up back here. I have moved to the town I love, have an amazing fiance', stopped working due to consistent migraines and this has had a positive affect on my moods, and I have let go of all the poisonous people in my life. Yet I find myself back here, in the dark. Now what do I do?

Relay_for_life Antidepressant stopped working
  • replies: 2

Hi all, here I am again after 3 month of increasing my medication dose , went on holidays . I was very settled , came back , felt like I am struggling but kept pushing and functioning . And after 5 weeks I found my self sobbing in the car , depressio... View more

Hi all, here I am again after 3 month of increasing my medication dose , went on holidays . I was very settled , came back , felt like I am struggling but kept pushing and functioning . And after 5 weeks I found my self sobbing in the car , depression is creeping hard and I can not believe it is that real . My GP suggested therapy again and changing medications . GP also suggested phsycayrist but I felt like he is giving up on my case . I did have suicidal thoughts which was scary because of my faith , I won't do any thing to harm my self but I just want to disappear at the moment . I sometimes can push myself and sometimes I just want to give up on my self . My husband has been overseas as well so that might have triggered this episode . My husband has been very supportive . I just can not stand being this wife and mum who cannot provide normal life for my family . I am seeing my phsycologist tomorrow and I am reducing my AD dose getting ready for changing medication . Is there any hope I will be able to feel and function normal again . It has been nearly 10 months now in this trip . I have changed from the most bubbly , sociable person to this human who can't face the day .

biscotti81 Anxiety Group Therapy Bullying
  • replies: 16

I recently joined up an anxiety group therapy program of say 10 people suffering anxiety who attend on a weekly basis, run by a psychologist, who share their struggles with anxiety, together with the facilitator discussing different topics each week.... View more

I recently joined up an anxiety group therapy program of say 10 people suffering anxiety who attend on a weekly basis, run by a psychologist, who share their struggles with anxiety, together with the facilitator discussing different topics each week. I suffer from Generalised Anxiety Disorder, social anxiety and major depression plus chronic illness/pain. It was a big step for me to go along to the group. I suffer from a great deal of social anxiety in groups. As the weeks have gone by, it became apparent that most of the members suffered from anxiety however on the lower end of the spectrum. I being the only one with an anxiety disorder. Fair enough. I usually speak when asked and offer my comments when I feel up to it, however mostly am quiet during the sessions. Social anxiety causes me to freeze in group situations like these. This together with my pain levels and body tremors, make things a little difficult. There is another lady attending the group sessions who I noticed last week was rolling her eyes and smirking at others and the leader whenever I said anything. This then made people react, which made me turn around and look at her, and she would quickly change her demeanour. Today, while I was having a particularly bad day and became quiet emotional in the group, expressing my frustration and some of my struggles with anxiety, some other members shared their stories also and displayed empathy. It was then that another member offered to be a support person for me and this lady rolled her eyes and smirked at this other lady which made her stop and look at her, which made me turn around and realise she was engaging in this behaviour. She continued to do this to others while talking to me and the group facilitator also.At break time, I got up and went to outside and then returned after a few minutes. Upon entering the room again, I overheard her say "Oh, she probably went to ......." in a snide way. It was then that I lost it. I turned around and said to the facilitator thank you however I'm leaving the group. I then turned around to this lady and said "I can see you rolling your eyes at me and others and smirking. You are a bitch, a bully and a narcissist" I then stormed out in tears, the facilitator followed me, saying that I was very inappropriate, that I should leave. I told her that if she witnessed this, why did she allow it to continue and why should I pay for the remainder of the therapy (which is stipulated in their consent form x4)

james1 Therapies involving memories
  • replies: 10

Sorry, I don't know where the search function is. I wanted to start this and see if anyone wants to share their experiences. I'm finding it very scary thinking about my next session on Wednesday! My psychologist and I are working on Schema Therapy an... View more

Sorry, I don't know where the search function is. I wanted to start this and see if anyone wants to share their experiences. I'm finding it very scary thinking about my next session on Wednesday! My psychologist and I are working on Schema Therapy and we've done work on 1) distress tolerance, 2) a schema logbook, and 3) imagery rescripting. The first two have been okay, though I have to admit I'm only doing my "homework" probably half to three-quarters of the time. But last week we started the imagery rescripting and that was really hard. A brief description of imagery rescripting: This technique involves picturing and describing a recent upsetting memory including the sensory information, thoughts and feelings. The patient then thinks of the earliest childhood memory associated with these same feelings then pictures and describes this older painful memory. The therapist or patient "steps in" to the memory to ensure the child version of the patient has their emotional needs met in the "rescripted" memory. For example, they may step in to argue with the punitive parent on behalf of the child-patient. They then leave the revised memory when the needs have been met and the child-patient feels safe. Continued application of this technique is designed to help the patient link current experiences and feelings with unmet childhood needs, and help them develop the "healthy adult" mode which ensures their emotional needs today can be met. I found this really difficult because, even though I'd chosen an early memory which I didn't think had any emotions attached to it (falling off my skateboard and having to wait over an hour before my mother came back), listening to my psychologist tell off my mum-memory for not being there just shattered me. I'm not sure how to put it. It felt like I'd deliberately forgotten how much I wanted things like someone to stay and watch, to be there if I fell, to smile if I did something well, and to give me encouragement if I almost did a trick (to be honest, I was just trying to stay on the board while going downhill). I always knew I wanted these things because I was really envious of my friends' great families, but never getting that from my parents just meant I tried to bury them. And having them brought up again was just too much. It wasn't even "traumatic" as far as experiences go, but the emotional pain felt so real. So I'm feeling nervous and afraid about going on Wednesday. No characters left, hope to hear from others!

Cwideoraefta Rape through hypnotherapy -- after effects
  • replies: 8

Some years ago I was assaulted by a debriefing counsellor I consulted. The debriefing counsellor used hypnotherapy with the excuse of trying to help me. The truth was she sexually assaulted me under hypnosis. I have experienced many years of psychoti... View more

Some years ago I was assaulted by a debriefing counsellor I consulted. The debriefing counsellor used hypnotherapy with the excuse of trying to help me. The truth was she sexually assaulted me under hypnosis. I have experienced many years of psychotic illness as a result, which I have battled. Originally, I needed the debriefing as I was running a support group for troubled teenagers. There were some incidents involving some deaths for which I unfairly and unreasonably blamed myself, hence the debriefing counselling. My main issue is that I feel that some of the hypnotic suggestions have done damage and I want to deal with that. It also meant many years of diversion from dealing with core psychological issues that were the reason for my reaction to the incidents (I am treading on eggshells here avoiding terminology that may breach the forum rules, so please bear with me). I had a brilliant psychiatrist who helped me a great deal manage and battle the psychosis but that psychiatrist has retired due to ill health and age. One psychologist I saw at my local hospital was clearly out of his depth (cannot blame him for that) and recommended I look into hypnotherapists for advice. Each one I contacted has said they cannot take me on. My depression has been getting slowly worse recently, and I need some guidance on how to handle all of this. Thank you.

NurseK What I wish health professional would know when I say I am suicidal and what I need them to do
  • replies: 4

I am a health professional, in fact I am a mental health nurse and a provisional psychologist. Along with these credentials I was diagnosed a year ago with depression and anxiety, and unfortunately 10 months ago I started experiencing Akathisia I hav... View more

I am a health professional, in fact I am a mental health nurse and a provisional psychologist. Along with these credentials I was diagnosed a year ago with depression and anxiety, and unfortunately 10 months ago I started experiencing Akathisia I have been suicidal on and off over the past year. Sometimes this last for a few days other times it weeks or months. I have presented to an emergency department because I felt I could no longer keep myself safe. I have used crisis teams, I see a psychiatrist weekly , a neuropsychiatrist fortnightly and a psychologist. Throughout my journey I have also seen my GP regularly. Over the past year I have told health professionals that I am suicidal between 30-40 times, these weren't just thoughts of dying, I had a plan, I had access to what I needed and I had intent. Of all these times I disclosed my suicidality only three health professionals did their job. They stopped and delved deeper into why I was feeling suicidal, what my plans were, how intent I was in carrying out my plan and if I had a plan in place to stop me for acting on these urges. For all the other times I disclosed I was feeling suicidal, I was ignored. It was as if the words had not come out of my mouth. They moved on to the next thing and then sent me on my way saying they will see me in however many weeks. After my ED presentation and speaking to the medical doctor that I wasn't coping with my Akathisia and I wanted to die, without a mental health assessment, I was informed to stop a medication and was sent on my way. I walked out of that ED room and cried. I wasn't coping. I needed help and here a hospital was turning me away and making me deal with this anguish myself. As an in-patient nurse it is my job to keep my patients safe. We are a locked facility and patients have very little access to things that can cause them harm. If a patient voices they are suicidal it is my job to ask the difficult questions to ensure there safely. This should be the same for all health professionals. I do not talk about my suicidal thoughts and plans to gain attention. Just because I have turned up to my appointment does not mean I am coping and does not mean I will remain safe. I disclose my suicidal thoughts because I need help and I need to share the burden. The burden of having these feelings and the burden of trying to stay alive for my friends and family. Please remember this the next time your patient is brave enough to say they are suicidal.

Natster Bipolar support groups
  • replies: 1

Does anyone know of any support groups for people with bipolar where the primary objective is just to meet and hang out with other people with bipolar or other mental health issues?

Does anyone know of any support groups for people with bipolar where the primary objective is just to meet and hang out with other people with bipolar or other mental health issues?

MoonWings First Psychiatrist's Appointment
  • replies: 3

Hello! So I'm visiting a psychiatrist soon for OCD. I was wondering if I can bring up any other mental health problems I'm having, such as the fact I believe I'm depressed. I'm also super anxious, could anyone give me any words of advice? Thanks, Moo... View more

Hello! So I'm visiting a psychiatrist soon for OCD. I was wondering if I can bring up any other mental health problems I'm having, such as the fact I believe I'm depressed. I'm also super anxious, could anyone give me any words of advice? Thanks, Moon.