Treatments and therapies - Beyond Blue Forums

PGX Genetic Testing for Medication

replies: 1

Hi, can anyone who has had this test give feedback on whether it helped you with choosing the right medication? I'm too scared to try antidepressants again because of my horrific experience trying them feeling like they were making me crazy. Thinking... View more

Hi, can anyone who has had this test give feedback on whether it helped you with choosing the right medication? I'm too scared to try antidepressants again because of my horrific experience trying them feeling like they were making me crazy. Thinking of getting this test.Thanks

Support Group

replies: 1

Hi all, just coming on this forum to ask around, is there a such thing as a sort of support group where people with similar struggles just do things together? I'm trying to research as I recently got a health card, so hopefully I can have another cha... View more

Hi all, just coming on this forum to ask around, is there a such thing as a sort of support group where people with similar struggles just do things together? I'm trying to research as I recently got a health card, so hopefully I can have another chance at some sort of help. My problem is, I don't really want traditional group talk therapy or to talk about my issues because I find it best if I personally keep it to myself (I guess I just have the notion in my head that in groups people are supposed to talk and I don't mind listening but don't want to talk in depth about myself), but I feel like having a space to socialise with others and do activities whether it be walking or art or similar would be beneficial. Am I mistaking this for friends? I am looking at the concept "body doubling", but I don't think that's exactly what I'm looking for. I'll scrape facebook and do some more research. I don't know what's wrong with me or have money to pay for a copy of my medical record, all I know is I was working on DBT when I last had a therapist, maybe if I can get a GP bulk billed I can ask if they have any groups if I'm only allowed to be referred?Sorry for the mess of a post, I don't know the right term for what I'm looking for is but would deeply appreciate any information or experiences anyone has. Thank you for reading, hope you are having a good day.

Erectile Dysfunction causing stress on a long time marriage

replies: 6

Hi all , first time posting here but exploring all options for assistance and support. I am a 53 year old male , married for over 25 years and still madly in love with my wife. Life has had some real ups and downs over the last few years and i have b... View more

Hi all , first time posting here but exploring all options for assistance and support. I am a 53 year old male , married for over 25 years and still madly in love with my wife. Life has had some real ups and downs over the last few years and i have battled depression and anxiety and am proud to say I now manage these issues medication free after some lifestyle changes. Over the last 12 months I have suffered from erectile dysfunction and its really starting to have a negative impact on my wife as she feels I no longer find her attractive and its causing some serious stress on our marriage. Everytime I try and perform and fail it knocks both of us down and its at the stage I feel pressured when trying as I know failing is going to cause issues. I have spoken several times to my GP and have tried oral medication but this has very little impact and only gets to about 50% improvement. How do I install confidence with my wife that this is nothing to do with the way I feel about her or my attraction to her and what steps can I take to improve the situation and get help. My GP doesnt see it as one of lifes biggest health problems and doesnt seem to show the interest level I would have liked. I also have type 2 diabetes which I believe may be a contributing factor to the problem. Would like to hear from anyone in a similar situation and if anyone has actually found a solution that works.

What to do after losing faith in medical professionals?

replies: 13

I find myself in a situation where I never want to see another medical professional associated with mental or physical health. Multiple GPs, an endocrinologist, a psychologist, 3 psychiatrists, & other mental health care professionals have let me dow... View more

I find myself in a situation where I never want to see another medical professional associated with mental or physical health. Multiple GPs, an endocrinologist, a psychologist, 3 psychiatrists, & other mental health care professionals have let me down (a miracle that I'm still alive?). Given that this is a mental health forum, I will focus on mental health side. The psychologist that I had been seeing for about 16 months ditched me when the going got tough - I remember hearing words like "I was too fragile". A psychiatrist prescribed me medication that led to my losing consciousness. I ended up in a private mental health facility where my first psychiatrist merely listened - no treatment offered. Staff at the facility didn't seem to care about my being triggered many times per day, until a nurse came to see me the day I announced my decision to self discharge (due to multiple incidents involving other patients). I eventually got assigned to a psychiatrist who seemed interested in caring for me, but they prescribed me medication that caused another serious health issue (if they look at my health record they would have been aware of the problem I'd face). As a result of all this, I've been off work for about 25 weeks and never want to see/trust another health professional again. I've already informed most of the people involved that I will never walk into their premises again.

Anxiety and Sleep Disorder

replies: 2

Anxiety is disrupting my sleep pattern. I have restless nights and then fatigue in the morning. How do you cope with this issue?

My Son is Showing Signs of Depression. Should I Tell Family My Anxiety Is Triggered?

replies: 11

My 19yo son is showing signs of depression (lack of motivation, not showering as often). He is supposed to attend TAFE Mon and Tues, but he has to get a very early train because the campus is not in our town. Our town doesn't offer the course of stud... View more

My 19yo son is showing signs of depression (lack of motivation, not showering as often). He is supposed to attend TAFE Mon and Tues, but he has to get a very early train because the campus is not in our town. Our town doesn't offer the course of study he's doing. He enjoys the course. Our routine is I get him up and he gets ready, and I take him to the train station. This morning he said he didn't feel well and preferred to maybe catch later train (which would get thim there in time for afternoon classes). When it was time to get up for that train, he was still feeling not great. He does look a bit lethargic and off-colour today, admittedly. I suggested he set himself a goal to have a shower and brush his teeth, which might make him feel a bit better. He's not working at the moment, so it's important he continue with TAFE for 'occupation'. I'm being as supportive as i can be and pointed out if he wants to talk to anybody, the college has a counselling service if he's worried about anything. Now, here's my question: I'm thinking of having a family meetign tonight and telling everyone how this is making ME feel. I have anxiety and catastrophise. I am exhausted. I have to work and am studying. In about 8 weeks, I have to do a three-week prac in a nearby town (I'm doing a teaching degree) and it will be exhausting for me. I need support and reassurance that my son is going to attend his classes. His dad has health issues and is unable to work. I don't think my son has a memory of his dad in long term employment at all, and I wonder if this has affected him. SHOULD I TELL THEM HOW I FEEL OR WILL I LIKELY MAKE IT WORSE FOR THEM? Thank you, everyone.

Overcoming fears and traumas

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What steps can one take to effectively overcome childhood fears and traumas, ensuring they don't continue to hold sway over their present and future?

ADHD and meds.

replies: 7

Hi All, Like many, I've been diagnosed with ADD as an adult. It makes a lot of sense of to me, and I'm glad I finally have an explanation for a lot of my experiences. I've recently started ADHD medication and have just increased it, I'm just wonderin... View more

Hi All, Like many, I've been diagnosed with ADD as an adult. It makes a lot of sense of to me, and I'm glad I finally have an explanation for a lot of my experiences. I've recently started ADHD medication and have just increased it, I'm just wondering what I should be expecting from the medication? So far, I've noticed 3 distinct "phases". about an hour after I take the medication, begin to feel a general sense of "calm". The best way I can describe this is, I feel content. I'm not looking to move on from each task rapidly, and I'm far less distracted by outside "noise". I find my job less annoying, and people in general less annoying. I can read a book if I want to, something I haven't been able to do for years unless I become "obsessed" with the book. I don't want to say I feel euphoric, because it's more subtle than that, but I'm definitely in a better mood than "normal". After about 4 hrs, the calmness and contentness wears off. My mood more or less returns to normal. However, I definitely still am able to concentrate much better than normal during this period, and make far less careless mistakes if I'm at work. Six or seven hours after taking the dose, It becomes obvious the medication is "wearing off". I start to become more distracted by "noise" again. I start to have a song playing in my head on loop. I start to make careless mistakes a work, and generally feel more "scattered". So my question really is, am I aiming for phase 1, on terms of treatment? Or is phase 2 more like the aim? Would increasing the dose further prolong phase 1 and 2? Or just make them more pronounced? At the moment, I'm taking the dose later and later in the day, in order to have "phase 1" active during important times. My doctor has mentioned adding a short acting medication to cover me for the afternoon. Does a shorter acting med feel different? Sorry for all the questions, but this is all very new to me. Many thanks to all who respond.

Miscarriage and anger with GPs who did not detect infection

replies: 3

Hi everyone,I am new to this forum and just joined a few minutes ago (although, have been reading some of the posts here as it has gotten me through the past few days and nights, so very grateful to you all).I know miscarriages do not scientifically ... View more

Hi everyone,I am new to this forum and just joined a few minutes ago (although, have been reading some of the posts here as it has gotten me through the past few days and nights, so very grateful to you all).I know miscarriages do not scientifically have any reason and that it is hard to pinpoint one, and am told it is a chromosominal rejection that is completely natural. But in my case, the two weeks leading up to my early miscarriage (7-8weeks pregnant) I suffered severe gastro, prolonged, and presented to several GPs with pelvic pain. Did the ultrasounds and the fact there was no heartbeat was not an issue. Both the private and public GPs said it was viral so I just had to 'wait it out', no antibiotics needed. As I was finally improving I saw that I had a referral sitting on my table from another online GP I had consulted two weeks ago which I had ignored as I managed to get face to face appointments asap and started seeing my GPs. Something told me I should submit the tests anyway from the online GP, and to my usual and second GPs surprise, the results showed I did have another infection which was an UTI. So my GP called me up immediately last Saturday morning to say she will give me an antibiotics that was completely pregnancy safe, to start going on those. So I did. Last Tuesday, we found out my hormones were dropping and just the day before was when I could confirm I had my miscarriage. I am being told 'at least I can have a baby' or 'it was not a big thing because there never was a heartbeat', which is true I guess, but I am quite angry that the first face to face GP was so sure it was viral and rejected my idea of being given antibiotics just in case (or at least should have asked me to do a UTI test). The second face to face GP was also quite insensitive and treating me like a science experiment (and also took two samples from me that day by the way, but I guess did not think to test either for UTI?), but I feel stuck with both because it is just so hard to switch GPs, especially the second one who is a private GP whose practice I have been going to since since 2009. Right now, I am terrified that if I am this shaken by grief for such an early loss, how am I going to deal with the prospect of an even bigger one if I start trying again this year? Am I even ready to have children any more? Is it worth putting myself through all these emotions and grief? I do not know who I am anymore and feel completely lost on all aspects of my life.

Voices are out to get me

replies: 1

I’m posting here cause I feel as though this is a safe place to start to start this conversation. I have been dealing with voices for a few months now and I’ve been putting myself in to panic attacks because the voices are so strong and I feel like I... View more

I’m posting here cause I feel as though this is a safe place to start to start this conversation. I have been dealing with voices for a few months now and I’ve been putting myself in to panic attacks because the voices are so strong and I feel like I’m being watched 24/7 and they are out to get me and judge me for everything I do, I am wanting to know if anyone has had anything similar and hoping for some tips and reassurance.

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