Support
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 conversation

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
Categories
Start a conversation

All discussions

Start a conversation

Onlooker36 Testosterone made all the difference for my husband
  • replies: 1

I wanted to share the experience my husband has had with testosterone because he didn't find out about it through the medical profession, although it is the medical profession that administers it. My husband experienced severe anxiety and depression ... View more

I wanted to share the experience my husband has had with testosterone because he didn't find out about it through the medical profession, although it is the medical profession that administers it. My husband experienced severe anxiety and depression as a result of an abusive boss about three years ago and has been battling ever since. He has been working with psychologists and psychiatrists and been on antidepressent medication for a while. One day he woke up sobbing for no reason and we both became very concerned, and he went off to get some help. Within a few days of this event he went out to buy a second hand dinghy and got talking to the chap and sharing their experiences of depression and anxiety. The guy recommended my husband get his testosterone levels checked. He said if it wasn't for testosterone, he wouldn't be here today. So, my husband went off to the GP and asked for a testosterone check. It came back incredibly low. The doctor advised that they would need to do a second test to verify the result (this is normal procedure). The level came back the same - very low. The treatment is a testosterone injection every 3 months in the buttocks. While I know this may not work for everyone, this has changed my husband's life. He is a different person, off the antidepressants and feeling far more normal than he has felt in several years. Apparently, when a person is feeling anxious for a protracted period of time, the body responds by lowering the testosterone in the system to help you cope. Unfortunately, it's not a temporary adjustment. The testosterone levels never return and so he will be on testosterone injections for the rest of his life. I find it interresting that none of the medical professionals thought to test his testosterone levels. If you want to know more ask your GP about it and even insist on a test. You can also google Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Hope this helps others out there.

HomeDog Testosterone vs Antidepressant Medication
  • replies: 1

I am a 46 year old male, happily married with 3 high school age children and a great job. For most of my adult life I have suffered mild anxiety, and from the age of 40, mild depression. I have tried several different antidepressant medications and s... View more

I am a 46 year old male, happily married with 3 high school age children and a great job. For most of my adult life I have suffered mild anxiety, and from the age of 40, mild depression. I have tried several different antidepressant medications and suffered lots of side effects only to feel just OK. I am wanting to feel great. In consultation with my GP and family, I stopped taking my medication just over 6 months ago and started heading down the natural route of eating well, exercising, resting and taking some vitamins. I am also seeing a Phycologist. For 6 months now I haven't got any closer. As a matter of fact I feel worse and not coping too well again. My doctor has run some more blood tests and has found low testosterone and a total cholesterol of 8.2. I also have elevated Liver enzymes indicating Fatty Liver. My doctor wants to lower my cholesterol with statins, and has prescribed me another antidepressant. None of which I have taken yet fearing the side effects and what they do to my Liver. My quest continues. Question; Has anyone experienced any success with increasing their Testosterone and eliminating or reducing their Anxiety and Depression? Cheers

Quivz Not motivated enough for therapy
  • replies: 3

I have depression and anxiety. My anxiety is (was diagnosed as) severe. My depression springs from my anxiety, but is not as severe. I sought help and got a psychologist and have had 10 - 15 sessions and get nothing out of it. They haven't told me an... View more

I have depression and anxiety. My anxiety is (was diagnosed as) severe. My depression springs from my anxiety, but is not as severe. I sought help and got a psychologist and have had 10 - 15 sessions and get nothing out of it. They haven't told me anything i dont know, they haven't got me to do anything i haven't always done. I've lost the motivation to continue as CBT appears to be all they have to offer and i can do that myself, and have been doing so my entire life. Medication has also failed as all the types i've tried do little more than make me less depressed. Apparently most of them should help with the anxiety, but this has not been the case for me. My conditions have prevented any attempt at lifestyle changes as i cant stick to any change longer than a few days without feeling like its futile or simply not something i want as part of my lifestyle in the first place. Diet is a product of lifestyle and i basically eat whats put in front of me and if nothing is put in front of me i either eat nothing or buy fast food. I don't have enough motivation to force the discomfort of diet or lifestyle changes. i first sought help several years ago because i felt like i'd hit rock bottom. The only thing thats changed is that i've got names for my conditions. Other than that i have not progressed in any way. All the doctor has to offer is a different psychologist. But he warns me that it will be the same approach anyway. So whats left? Should i be considering hospitalization?

saturnzoon Feelings of emptiness, heart broken, big black hole
  • replies: 1

Why is it that we get told when we get near our trigger warnings to seek help, and when you do they don't want to know. I had a case worker that was rude and always talked down to you or cut you off, some people you just don't gel with and I hate peo... View more

Why is it that we get told when we get near our trigger warnings to seek help, and when you do they don't want to know. I had a case worker that was rude and always talked down to you or cut you off, some people you just don't gel with and I hate people that cut you off don't really listen to what your saying so it's like a brick wall. Good thing I thought getting a new case worker, they turn up I was told her name and that was it, the old worker take us to centrelink then informs me in the car she'so dropping me off and I lost it with her got out sat around corner as I have social anxiety and don't go anywhere on my own. So I forgot new worker name and didn't even get to know her. My old worker was suppose to help me see social workers why I got cut of my carers payment, but she didn't and I had to see anyone. I have had a lot of stuff going off last month and just getting worse, I contacted the mental health service and firmly told to ring case worker who doesn't want to even see me, I have asked for hospitalisation or respite cause haven't eaten or taken my meds for 6 days now as swollen glands. I'm not coping to much going on which I can't really say or even think about. I feel nothing In side of me anymore, I've tried to do the right thing but the people who are suppose to help you must think I'm just a trouble maker and sick of me, so I'm not contacting them anymore, I have no more fight left in me just lay in bed or motivation left , having no friends and kids not understanding I'm all alone, but I did try.

DefiantPanda Psychologists
  • replies: 5

Hi, I'm unemployed and I used up six sessions referred to me by my GP to see a psychologist. Unfortunately I didn't really gel with that psychologist... Partially because it was more about CBT and I believe I need to talk about my issues rather than ... View more

Hi, I'm unemployed and I used up six sessions referred to me by my GP to see a psychologist. Unfortunately I didn't really gel with that psychologist... Partially because it was more about CBT and I believe I need to talk about my issues rather than do CBT again. So I want to find another one and really give therapy a go, as in, keep attending until I actually start to see improvements. And actually build rapport with someone I can really trust. So I wanted to know what it might cost me but the website is a bit unclear. Say I had to pay a psychologist fee of $120 a session... Would I get any of that back on a medicare rebate without a mental health plan from a GP? And if not what if I signed up for private health insurance? I've had issues for years and I really want to try to get better but six sessions just isn't going to do it for me so I need to figure something out.

Voice_Mail Withdrawal is really bad...
  • replies: 1

I've been on a fairly high dose of an anti-depressant for the past five years, but for the past six months my depression has come back with a vengeance, so my psychiatrist suggested changing medications because I was already on a high dose. Anyway, I... View more

I've been on a fairly high dose of an anti-depressant for the past five years, but for the past six months my depression has come back with a vengeance, so my psychiatrist suggested changing medications because I was already on a high dose. Anyway, I have tapered off the original medication and started the new tablets, but the withdrawal symptoms are really bad. The past week and a half I've had brain zaps, dizziness, a weird pulsing feeling in my body, nausea, heart burn, headaches, insomnia... I can barely walk or stand, even sitting up makes me feel dizzy and nauseous. I wake up every hour or so during the night. My anxiety and depression symptoms are going crazy - shaking all the time, bursting into tears over nothing. I've withdrawn off this medication before, and I remember it being bad, but not as bad as this. At the worst, I feel like I'm dying. I don't know how long I can cope with this, or what I should do.

Sof Coming off anti depressants help!
  • replies: 5

So I've been on medication for only 5 months. My doctors convinced me that i needed it and I SO wish I hadn't started! Yes it helped the constant mood swings and crying for no GOOD reason but it's changed me so much it's scary. i had my baby 9 months... View more

So I've been on medication for only 5 months. My doctors convinced me that i needed it and I SO wish I hadn't started! Yes it helped the constant mood swings and crying for no GOOD reason but it's changed me so much it's scary. i had my baby 9 months ago and love him and love being a mum. I had a lot going on in my life before he was born and I had mild anxiety and depression but wasnt on meds. Basically my partner has 2 daughters and whilst being together their mother lost custody because of drugs. They are in care with family members and the eldest is hopefully coming to live with us. Whilst pregnant I think this is what set off my anxiety and depression. Also I have no family here so I feel completely alone. Whilst being on medication I have gained weigh and lost all interest in sex. I don't even feel comfortable with hugs! And that is so not me! I decided that I want to come off the drug so begun cutting my dose slowly. My doctor doesn't want me to come off but instead try another drug. I just don't want anything and know once it's all out of my system I will be back to normal. So I tapered down slowly and I've had nothing for 7 days. The first day I took nothing I felt great! Actually I felt really good for 5 days. Then yesterday I begun to feel spaced out and not normal. Like I wasn't really there but was it's hard to explain! Almost like I was really tipsy! Today I felt the same and crying uncontrollably. I meet my friends and feel like I'm not there or just don't feel right. They don't know what I'm going through I just hope they'd understand and I don't push them away.And my partner, I've been so up and down with him I feel so bad. I snap and dont even want a hug! I feel like I'm pushing him away and he doesn't get it. He doesn't know how to react or deal with me. He told me this last night. I don't know what to tell him coz it's new to me too. I also keep having bursts of emotional moments when I just want to run away and go home to England. But I know it's not going to happen Sorry for the long post I just don't know what to do or who to turn to. I honestly have no one here I can go to. if there's anyone else going through the same or been through it, how long does this last? Will it go away? Thanks for reading

MisterM Mood Gym
  • replies: 2

After my appointment this week my psychiatrist has asked me to go to a website called Mood Gym and to do the exercises on there. Anyone here use this site or have used it?

After my appointment this week my psychiatrist has asked me to go to a website called Mood Gym and to do the exercises on there. Anyone here use this site or have used it?

pinkkyt OCD - Support in NSW
  • replies: 3

Hi all,Long-time lurker, first-time poster.I'm desperately looking for help / treatment for OCD & body dysmorphic disorder in Sydney NSW. I'm looking specifically for a psychiatrist at first to review my current medications (haven't been reviewed in ... View more

Hi all,Long-time lurker, first-time poster.I'm desperately looking for help / treatment for OCD & body dysmorphic disorder in Sydney NSW. I'm looking specifically for a psychiatrist at first to review my current medications (haven't been reviewed in years and years), recommend something for the OCD, and then I'd also like to do CBT on the side with a psychologist.At the moment, I spend 3-4hrs on my compulsions and they cause me extreme distress - constant crying, constantly late for everything (despite being a perfectionist who builds 2hr buffer times into everything!), led to me quitting work, and I just can't bear living like this anymore. I've had these issues since I was 15 or 16, and now I'm 24.I'm specifically looking for a psychiatrist who is specialised in OCD (and body dysmorphic disorder) if possible. I don't want another general psychiatrist who deals with a bit of everything - I'd really rather have someone with significant experience / interest in these areas, as I've been dealing with them for so long. I've also tried many things on my own - endless self-help books, online courses (eg MoodGym, mindspotclinic etc), and working with my regular psychologist via CBT. But after 2yrs, she has said she recommends I only see a specialist psychiatrist as she thinks I'll need meds to help kickstart my treatment and reduce the severity of what's going on a bit, before I can really make improvement.I have talked to two GPs for a psychiatrist referral, and both said they didn't know anyone in specific but I should call the Mental Health Care Line. I called this line and they gave me numbers of various private clinics with psychiatrists attached to them, and said I should call the clinics and ask if any of their psychiatrists specialise in OCD etc. I did this - with FIVE clinics - and all five said "Well, all our psychiatrists can deal with OCD.. but no, they're not specialists. They do mood, anxiety, eating, alcohol/drug etc". When I explained I wanted someone with significant experience, I was told to see my GP or contact the mental health care line. It's an endless circle!I also used various online directories to find a psychiatrist by specialty. I would add 'OCD' as a specialty area, get hundreds of results, click on the profile of each psychiatrist... and each of them would have almost every condition listed, i.e. they are still just generalists.Do you have any other suggestions of what i could try next?

Bluey_moon After some advice
  • replies: 20

Hi guys, I wondered if you would be able to offer a personal opinion! So my GP was away a few weeks ago, so I saw another GP at the same practice. At the recommendation of the mental health team he changed my meds, he also gave me a referral for a pr... View more

Hi guys, I wondered if you would be able to offer a personal opinion! So my GP was away a few weeks ago, so I saw another GP at the same practice. At the recommendation of the mental health team he changed my meds, he also gave me a referral for a private psyciatrist. Here in lies the problem, my normal GP thinks I have seen enough people and thinks I shouldn't go. I'm in two minds, is another person going to tell me anything different? And I know it will cost a lot more and I don't have much more to spend. My husband thinks I just need to work harder, so I haven't told him about this! And the kicker, I'm secretly petrified he will tell me my biggest fear is true, the "s" word

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map