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Treatments, health professionals and therapies

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Sarah24 How do you find the right services?
  • replies: 4

Hello All, I'm hoping someone can give me a little guidance. I find it really hard to know who to contact for support when I'm struggling with mental health issues. Some places only help with certain issues & some cost a fortune. I'm only resorting t... View more

Hello All, I'm hoping someone can give me a little guidance. I find it really hard to know who to contact for support when I'm struggling with mental health issues. Some places only help with certain issues & some cost a fortune. I'm only resorting to the internet now because of frustration, I need someone I can call or visit. I always seem to end up calling 6 numbers and giving up because none of them is the service I need. What are your tips for finding the help that you need? Thanks for your support

Meatballs Seeing doctor about possible anxiety??
  • replies: 3

I have an appointment booked with my GP, in the hopes of getting referred to a psychologist. I'm terribly nervous, because I feel like they'll tell me I'm just overreacting or something. What normally happens at these types of things?

I have an appointment booked with my GP, in the hopes of getting referred to a psychologist. I'm terribly nervous, because I feel like they'll tell me I'm just overreacting or something. What normally happens at these types of things?

Tough_break Feeling lost, would a psychologist help?
  • replies: 6

G'day I'm new to this so please bare with me. ive had a lot of ups and down in the last 4 years. To cut a long story short I feel like I know the answers to my problems or thought process and keep telling myself I shouldn't think negatively but this ... View more

G'day I'm new to this so please bare with me. ive had a lot of ups and down in the last 4 years. To cut a long story short I feel like I know the answers to my problems or thought process and keep telling myself I shouldn't think negatively but this makes me feel more useless that I can't change the way I think. I went to my gp 18 months ago and was put on anti depressants I thought they were helping a little bit but then went down hill. They upped the dosage to highest point and all that really changed was bad headaches etc I run my own business and was finding it hard to concentrate, I slowly reduced rate and stopped around Christmas time. I dont feel any worse but seem to be having I think anxiety attacks. I don't really want to keep taking pills either. Im aware of a long waiting list to see anyone as I'm in a very small town. Im wondering if anyone else has felt like this and got help and what they found to help the most?

Jemma82 Bipolar type II psychiatrist/ diagnosis question
  • replies: 5

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this in regards to bipolar diagnosis- I have been seeing a psychologist for 18 months who is sure I have bipolar type II. She suggested I see a psychiatrist and I have since has two appointments with her... View more

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this in regards to bipolar diagnosis- I have been seeing a psychologist for 18 months who is sure I have bipolar type II. She suggested I see a psychiatrist and I have since has two appointments with her. In the first appointment she said it definitely sounded like I had bipolar but that she would need to talk to my psychologist and another psychiatrist I had seen first.I finally saw her again yesterday and she has put me on medication. When I asked her if she was then diagnosing me officially with bipolar ii she answered by saying she "was confident I have bipolar" but that she doesn't know me well enough and hasn't seen me in a hypo manic episode. Is this common? For a psychiatrist to take more than a few sessions to diagnose and perhaps need to see you in hypomania before an offical diagnosis?It's confusing because in other parts of our conversation like what to say to my brother she says 'say you have bipolar' and when I have said I feel like that's lying she said 'it isn't lying'.I don't mind waiting for a diagnosis but everyone else I have talked to seems as though they were either diagnosed in the first or second appointment.im also worried that now I'm on medication I may not have an opportunity for her to see me hypo manic. She said that the label isn't important - just the treatment and while I am happy to wait for her to be sure and happy to take the right medication and move forward I still want to eventually be diagnosed or told I don't have bipolar.does anyone else feel that although the label doesn't matter it's still important for you to know if you are officially bipolar or not? To me It just helps remove all doubt. Plus I feel like I can't explain my reasons for mood changes to ppl, or research illness or learn about it without official diagnosis.anyways any thoughts would be much appreciated

Kell_M Advice for trusting health professionals
  • replies: 6

Hi, ive had major depression my whole life but only diagnosed a little ova 2 yrs ago. I'm having issues with trust regarding my ex psychiatrist, psychologist & now current dr who I can prove has lied. I'm the mentally ill one, I sound paranoid but I ... View more

Hi, ive had major depression my whole life but only diagnosed a little ova 2 yrs ago. I'm having issues with trust regarding my ex psychiatrist, psychologist & now current dr who I can prove has lied. I'm the mentally ill one, I sound paranoid but I know I'm not. Has anyone have any advice? I'm struggling to find another psychiatrist & dr & am on a waiting list for psychologist. many thanks

Jemma82 Can anyone help me understand issue with diagnosis? So confused
  • replies: 7

Hi, Jemma here, I'm new to the forum. Quick intro- been struggling with mood swings for years and seeing a psychologist for 18 months who suggested Bipolar type 2 and asked me to egt a referral to a psychiatrist for diagnosis. As my appointment is no... View more

Hi, Jemma here, I'm new to the forum. Quick intro- been struggling with mood swings for years and seeing a psychologist for 18 months who suggested Bipolar type 2 and asked me to egt a referral to a psychiatrist for diagnosis. As my appointment is not for over a month, my GP also referred me to a professor as a well known clinic for an opinion. I had this 1.45 hr session this morning where he told me that bipolar type 2 is very difficult to diagnose, you cannot take a bloodtest and hypomania is much less obvious than mania, however he was confident that I have bipolar type 2, said he was 70% sure and has recommended I begin on a mood stabliliser and start seeing a regular psychiatrist. however, im confused about only being 70% sure. What does tis mean exactly, do I have it or not? I asked him this and he said people often say their diagnosed with it but really you can never be 100% certain. I kmow it is not important to have the label, but to me it kind of was as it would be a relief to me knowing/understanding what is actually wrong with me. So is it true you never really get an aboslute diagnosis? Or is 70% a diagnosis? Im confised as he said it was a lot to take on, big day for me to hear this news etc. but the he's only 70% sure!? Any advice would be much appreciated.

meatloaf Tired of meds and pyschiatrists
  • replies: 4

I've been on a merry go round of AD over the past 12 months...none of them work and the physical side effects are horrendous...I don't want to take any more I feel like a lab rat being tested. I also feel I'm going nowhere with my pysch..we talk abou... View more

I've been on a merry go round of AD over the past 12 months...none of them work and the physical side effects are horrendous...I don't want to take any more I feel like a lab rat being tested. I also feel I'm going nowhere with my pysch..we talk about the same crap every time and she thinks I'm pyscholocially sabotaging my recovery. I'm over it all I want to stop all meds and give my body a break ...I'm depressed on anti depressants so can't see I'll be worse off off them.

Foghornclj87 Realisation regarding taking medication for GAD
  • replies: 3

My name is CJ and I was diagnosed with severe GAD in November 2009. I recently had a massive panic episode while travelling overseas. We're talking uncontrollable crying, hyperventilating, shaking etc. So bad was this episode that I had to fly home e... View more

My name is CJ and I was diagnosed with severe GAD in November 2009. I recently had a massive panic episode while travelling overseas. We're talking uncontrollable crying, hyperventilating, shaking etc. So bad was this episode that I had to fly home early. I've analysed my reaction & concluded that it was the culture shock of a third world country that smashed my carefully developed boundaries of control. I've taken anti-depressants & anti-anxiety medication off and on since my diagnosis (usually only during times of extreme depression or anxiety). However I've always believed that through my personal development & a healthy lifestyle I would eventually "heal myself" of the need for medication. Before this most recent episode I haven't had an anxious episode or need for medication in more than 2 years. This most recent episode makes me question my assumption about my need for medication. Now I'm coming to realise that I may need to take medication for the rest of my life, even when I perfectly happy and functional. Has anyone else had these thoughts or experiences? I love to hear from others.

Sammyd Funny feeling from medication
  • replies: 6

I am only on day 5 of my medication and today I had a massive panic attack (I am on for anxiety and panic) and now I have had these funny tingling sensation through my head and in different places of the body. Am scared that it is a bad side effect o... View more

I am only on day 5 of my medication and today I had a massive panic attack (I am on for anxiety and panic) and now I have had these funny tingling sensation through my head and in different places of the body. Am scared that it is a bad side effect or part of what happens anyone else had this

punk rock warlord alcohol v tranquilizer
  • replies: 9

Might appear a strange question, but given the choice what do people consider to be the better option to curb anxiety. I used to self medicate with alcohol, now I very rarely drink at all, but do take a tranquillizer when I suffer badly from my anxie... View more

Might appear a strange question, but given the choice what do people consider to be the better option to curb anxiety. I used to self medicate with alcohol, now I very rarely drink at all, but do take a tranquillizer when I suffer badly from my anxiety. I know neither option is a good one but surely taking a benzo is better than drinking to numb the pain?