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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MisterM Unsure what to tell my psychiatrist in my yearly check up next month
  • replies: 10

Hi all, The psychiatrist that prescribed me my medication wants a check up with me next month. I have been on medication since Feb 2015. I felt the medication worked well for 6 months then I went back to how I was before the medication. The moment wh... View more

Hi all, The psychiatrist that prescribed me my medication wants a check up with me next month. I have been on medication since Feb 2015. I felt the medication worked well for 6 months then I went back to how I was before the medication. The moment where I relapsed coincided with workplace bullying and being fired from two jobs as well as stress from family. So I am not sure if me relapsing is due to the medication not working anymore or life stresses being too much. My psychiatrist said he wanted to get me off the medication after one year. Do I just say to him that I am not sure if it has helped and let him decide?

NBAC79 Online programs
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone. Can anyone recommend a good online treatment program, preferably cbt for anxiety? Just after something I can work through regularly on my own rather than waiting weeks to get in with my psychologist.

Hi everyone. Can anyone recommend a good online treatment program, preferably cbt for anxiety? Just after something I can work through regularly on my own rather than waiting weeks to get in with my psychologist.

Guest_2350 DBT - what is it and did it help you?
  • replies: 3

Hello, I had two mental health professionals suggest DBT to me. I am not really sure what it is and how it can help and would be grateful to know your experience. It was suggested to me to do it in a clinic? Has anyone done it in a clinic? Why did yo... View more

Hello, I had two mental health professionals suggest DBT to me. I am not really sure what it is and how it can help and would be grateful to know your experience. It was suggested to me to do it in a clinic? Has anyone done it in a clinic? Why did you do DBT? Thank you, Yggy x

shygirlk Feeling Upset
  • replies: 4

Hi I had to cancel my appointment with the psychologist as I was not feeling well enough to go and the receptionist said I had to pay a late cancellation fee of $25.00, I called at lunch time and my appointment was at 6.30pm. I asked if there was ano... View more

Hi I had to cancel my appointment with the psychologist as I was not feeling well enough to go and the receptionist said I had to pay a late cancellation fee of $25.00, I called at lunch time and my appointment was at 6.30pm. I asked if there was another appointment I could take this week instead, and was given the option of an appointment on Wed except the receptionist said I still had to pay the late fee. As I am already paying about $120.00 for the consultation I think its unfair that I also have to pay the late fee as well. The receptionist then said she had my credit card on file and would just deduct the payment. As I was not in the mood to argue, I said ok and hung up. I received a call 10min later that my credit card would not go through as the date had expired, and that I have to come in and pay the late fee and if I didn't then I would not be able to have another appointment until I did. I feel really upset about all of this and don't want to really want to go back though that would mean I would have to find another psychologist and start all over again from scratch. Not sure what to do, has anyone had any experience with this?

RedJam88 Anxiety over how Medicare works
  • replies: 3

I am finally seeking help for my anxiety and depression. I think I need to go speak with a doctor about it. But something that always gets me anxious is that I don't really how Medicare works. I barely go see the doctor in general, let alone someone ... View more

I am finally seeking help for my anxiety and depression. I think I need to go speak with a doctor about it. But something that always gets me anxious is that I don't really how Medicare works. I barely go see the doctor in general, let alone someone who can help with mental illness. Can someone please explain to me how medicare works? What does it cover? How much do I have to pay the doctor? Im anxious that it's going to cost me lots.

canadiangirl Advice on how to tell your doctor your depressed.....
  • replies: 3

Hello everybody. I'm new here, My name is Reill. I struggle with depression and low self-esteem on a daily basis. And I need help, its not fair on my children, my fiancee, and myself. This is eating me alive. Ive lost heaps of weight. I think of my h... View more

Hello everybody. I'm new here, My name is Reill. I struggle with depression and low self-esteem on a daily basis. And I need help, its not fair on my children, my fiancee, and myself. This is eating me alive. Ive lost heaps of weight. I think of my home as a giant shell, and I'm the little hermit crab peering at the world outside. I've lost all happiness and umph for life. Im hardly happy anymore, I barely laugh. Is this how a young woman should feel. I cant bring myself to get out there and meet other moms to make friends. Im lonely. Hell, I can barely leave the house. Im lazy, unproductive with goals, I want to work and feel good out but I'm tired, I have no energy. All these things sound good in my head but I never do them..How is this fair on everybody? Especially my children. As with my self-esteem, well I have none. I hate my image, I hate everything about it. I hate my body so much that I dont even want to share it with my fiancee. He tells me I'm beautiful everyday. But I dont believe it. I tell him to "F off"or "your lying" how does he think im beautiful when I dont see it?? Ive talked to my doctor about it. Ive told her im depressed. But I havent told her everything, as I have a hard time talking about my feelings. My blood test came back that I have hyperthyroidism. I've been on medication now for a week but im still feeling awful. This must be more than hyperthyroidism. Any advice on my feelings, and how to talk with my doctor. Thanks for taking the time to read my post. xx

Durras The Face in the Mirror
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I'm seeing my psychologist tomorrow and found something to help me prepare for it with questions she may ask and questions I may ask her. I realized I can't answer any questions that she may ask if it is these ones I have found such as: What ... View more

Hi all, I'm seeing my psychologist tomorrow and found something to help me prepare for it with questions she may ask and questions I may ask her. I realized I can't answer any questions that she may ask if it is these ones I have found such as: What is your main reason for being here? - Ok I don't know who I am, I'm confused with the way I am. How long has this been a problem? - Ok all my life, can't remember my childhood so I have to say all my life. This brings me to think if this is all I can say then who am I. Who is it that is looking at me in the mirror each day when I brush my teeth, when I get dressed etc. I know I have been feeling lost with myself for awhile but now when I say MYSELF who am I. What has this person been for the past 44 years and who is she now and where is she going or heading or what is she doing. I really don't know this face in the mirror at all. I try to think back to my past for help but it is all a blur a fuzzy screen and hazy. I recall bits and pieces like an overseas holidays when I was 8 or 9 and doing a school play, the house where I lived and the school where I didn't fit in but noting of close family ties. Well this is all I thought I would put in for today, REALITY has hit me that I don't know the face in the mirror, maybe she was fake all a long, a pretend (if that makes sense) got the name but no identity to her. I'm thinking of writing a story based on this, thought it might help in my recovery and bringing things up to surface and clear and air. Hope everyone has a good day thinking of you all Carol

Elizabeth CP How to Work effectively with 2 different professionals eg psychologist & psychiatrist
  • replies: 3

I have been seeing a psychologist for several years and he has helped me deal with a number of crisis including a son who was suicidal & had several psych hospital admissions, a husband who has a degenerative condition and has had a large number of h... View more

I have been seeing a psychologist for several years and he has helped me deal with a number of crisis including a son who was suicidal & had several psych hospital admissions, a husband who has a degenerative condition and has had a large number of hospital admissions, injuries and acute illnesses including becoming blind. I have also had a few injuries and episodes of illness as well and we had to move house. I became the sole breadwinner but I am now a full time carer. I have always had a tendency to be depressed and have always struggled with low self esteem The stresses over the last few years led to me becoming very depressed and I reluctantly went to my GP and tried some anti depressants. The side effects made me worse rather than better. I was then referred to a psychiatrist to see if he had any alternative ADs The medication he prescribed made no difference to my mood except for feeling worse due to the side effects so I stopped taking them on advice of my GP and refuse to take any others despite pressure from the psychiatrist. I am now seeing the psychiatrist once a month except for Jan and I return next week. I still see the psychologist fortnightly. I am wondering what should I be doing to ensure I am getting benefit out of both and avoid just repeating things. The things I would like to achieve are: Ongoing support to deal with the crisis in my life so I can pick myself up and keep going. Gradually learning strategies to better cope when things go wrong rather than relying on therapists To change the negative thinking patterns so I don't feel worthless and guilty To eventually change behaviours that are destructive to my wellbeing I currently either do too much and become exhausted or feel guilty becomes I'm not being productive. I need to learn to relax and enjoy myself (Even things I previously enjoyed I no longer enjoy) This is really hard as I often feel like why bother as I won't enjoy it or it will go wrong I would like to learn strategies to deal with my PTSD How can the psychiatrist help me if I won't take medication. Any advice on how others used their different professionals effectively would be appreciated

rosiecat Dumped by my Psychiatrist
  • replies: 5

Has any one else been dumped by their doctor? Went to Psych today, feeling crap as usual and was told that I should look for someone else because he couldn't help me any more. I was in this huge rut and he didn't know how to help me, someone else mig... View more

Has any one else been dumped by their doctor? Went to Psych today, feeling crap as usual and was told that I should look for someone else because he couldn't help me any more. I was in this huge rut and he didn't know how to help me, someone else might. This is after nearly 10years. I feel terrible, sad, angry, hopeless and despairing. I'll get over this in a few days I suppose, when I can think a little clearer. All that is going through my head now is "what's wrong with me that nothing helps?"