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L-G How are you supposed to feel when starting on Meds? HELP!!!!
  • replies: 3

Struggled for 8 years with stress, anxiety and depression and always thought myself to strong to accept help Got to much for me last week, so I went to see the GP and broke down in surgery. I have alot of stress in my life. I have now accepted help a... View more

Struggled for 8 years with stress, anxiety and depression and always thought myself to strong to accept help Got to much for me last week, so I went to see the GP and broke down in surgery. I have alot of stress in my life. I have now accepted help and will go back in 3 weeks to see him, get a mental heath plan done and will start to see a Psych. He wants me on meds for 12 months. Dr Started me on 20mg meds taken at night last Friday with dinner, today is Tuesday and I feel terrible. He said 20mg is he lowest dose to start on, this is big for me as I dont even take a panadol if I get a headache. First few days and nights were kind of OK but last night I felt like I was on another planet. I feel out of touch, tired, slow, a little confused and forgetful and really spaced out, just overall weird and really odd. How long will this last for, will it get better, I want to stop taking them Any feedback you can share with me? I dont know how I am supposed to feel and wonder how I will ever function properly again? Is it worth it?

b_b_ Mental Health Care Plan - What to expect?
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I've been struggling with my mental health for almost 8 years now but have never formally spoken to a GP about it. I have made the step of booking an appointment to receive a mental health care plan, however, now I am stressing myself out a... View more

Hi there, I've been struggling with my mental health for almost 8 years now but have never formally spoken to a GP about it. I have made the step of booking an appointment to receive a mental health care plan, however, now I am stressing myself out about what to expect to the point of wanting to cancel the appointment. I know this is not a good idea and that I need to make the step even if it's something I'm nervous about doing. Normally when I find myself over-thinking things I find that the best way to reassure myself is to find out as much as possible about what makes me nervous in order to remove some of the scariness about it. I have looked at online resources but would appreciate some personal advice/accounts. So, in this spirit, I was wondering if anyone could give me a few tips about what to expect when seeing a GP about receiving a mental health care plan. What sort of questions do they ask? Things like that. Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks so much

Emmy. Back on anti depressants
  • replies: 2

Hi I suffer from panic attacks and a couple of months ago I came off my antidepressants (with the help of my GP) but soon after the panic attack returned and everything Id learnt from my psychologist couldnt help as they were so severe. Yesterday my ... View more

Hi I suffer from panic attacks and a couple of months ago I came off my antidepressants (with the help of my GP) but soon after the panic attack returned and everything Id learnt from my psychologist couldnt help as they were so severe. Yesterday my GP has put me back on the medication. I'm feeling really defeated. I was on them for 2 years (that seemed like a long time to me). I thought I was doing well

mercymaybe First time being hospitalised
  • replies: 6

hi everyone first post here!im a person who has had a life long experience with mental illness, I'm both a phyiscal trauma and child abuse survivor ive had ptsd since the age of four, and been dealing with major depression and anxiety, to the best of... View more

hi everyone first post here!im a person who has had a life long experience with mental illness, I'm both a phyiscal trauma and child abuse survivor ive had ptsd since the age of four, and been dealing with major depression and anxiety, to the best of my memory since I was 10. I turned 29 this year, so it's been a while. theres been some big ups and downs over the years but one of the things that has remained consistent is that I've had to manage the majority of my illness myself ive been off and on meds since I was 18, currently on, but I've never had consistent counselling because of a variety of reasons now, this current bad patch is as worse as I've been, unable to leave the house more then twice a week, severe anxiety, increasing sudden suicidal impulses that I have to tamp down, and I've begun the process of going into a mental health clinic as an inpatient I'm just scared, I guess. I've had to self manage, as best I could for all these years. I have supportive family and friends, but there's a difference between sharing my struggles with my loved ones versus authority figures. i would love to hear about other people's experiences with hospitalisation, especially your first time and how it went, the good and the bad!beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

Guest_2350 Medication for PTSD + Depression?
  • replies: 4

Hello All, I have started treatment with a psychologist and GP for PTSD and depression. Beside other treatments my GP recommends to take SSRIs to help me get through especially the treatment for the PTSD. I agreed with him that I will check out wheth... View more

Hello All, I have started treatment with a psychologist and GP for PTSD and depression. Beside other treatments my GP recommends to take SSRIs to help me get through especially the treatment for the PTSD. I agreed with him that I will check out whether I want to take medication. I am concerned about side effects - especially the very common side effects on the digestive and nervous system as well as the withdrawal. I do not like to take medication. I understand why he wants me to take it and start it soon, but I am just wondering if I cannot get through with alternatives. Have you tried to stay off meds and how did it affect you? Have you tried to get through with alternatives? I am already focussing on: healthy diet,exercise, getting out in the sun, massage I can also focus on: mindfulness meditation I am willing to try: bibliotherapy, moodgym, St.Johns wort, raja yoga - and I am definitely willing to try chocolate

Guest_2350 Mental health and eating disorder
  • replies: 2

Hello, I have developed a pattern where a mood slump triggers my old eating disorder to resurface. The last slump I had freightened me but it also jerked me out of the feeling, that someone can help me without me being my usual proactive self. I am a... View more

Hello, I have developed a pattern where a mood slump triggers my old eating disorder to resurface. The last slump I had freightened me but it also jerked me out of the feeling, that someone can help me without me being my usual proactive self. I am a fighter and I need a partner in this battle. A coach, a person who can guide me and sometimes catch me, but also someone who can push me. I also now know that I need to address my eating disorder - I cannot afford ED to lash out at me when I am supposed to cope with other mental health issues. It makes me weak and prone to sickness. All I ever wanted is to make everybody, who is not in this world anymore, proud of the life I live, that I have embraced the chance on this planet and that I am grateful for the time I am allowed to spend here. So many people have not been blessed with suffcient time here, or even the location where I was born, or with my talents, and I would just like to know that I did not waste this life. My eating disorder has always been in stark contrast to my believes and I still do not understand why I cannot control it. I have channelled it into being obsessive about healthy food and looking after my health, but since starting therapy the bad side is coming out again and again and gaining momentum every time. Are there people here who battle an eating disorder or is this the wrong support network?

Sparkles183 Tips needed for seeking psychological treatment after inappropriate treatment From previous psychologist needed.
  • replies: 2

Hi all My Doctor has recommended to start seeing a psychologist again as she thinks it may of affected me how I was treated by the psychologist I was seeing last year. All though I did end up seeing another psych after that I only went to her for one... View more

Hi all My Doctor has recommended to start seeing a psychologist again as she thinks it may of affected me how I was treated by the psychologist I was seeing last year. All though I did end up seeing another psych after that I only went to her for one session as I ended up moving to a different state. Now here I am a year after what happened with that,Psyhcoligest trying to seek help but in away I am to scared to as I disclosed to my doctor I am fearful it may happen again. Although I did report the psychologist the long process of the investigation has affected me more and has raised my anxiety and depression Levels a little bit more. ESP that I found out recently that the investigation has gone to the next step... so what I am asking has anyone got any tips on what I should expect from my next psych. Esp that my first psych ended up like that although I am almost crying and totally numb writing this I think it is kind of weird that I have to go to another psych to debrief what I went through with my last psych... Thanks in advance for all your help Sparkles

triptych Mental Health Plan
  • replies: 8

I've had depression and anxiety for some time.. It has effected my employment in the usual ways, usually making my employment history patchy. Between my last and current job I had quite a long gap not working, with rejection after rejection I found m... View more

I've had depression and anxiety for some time.. It has effected my employment in the usual ways, usually making my employment history patchy. Between my last and current job I had quite a long gap not working, with rejection after rejection I found myself at my lowest and saw a doctor about getting help. Feeling useless and despondent and blaming myself for all of my problems, when I filled out the questionaire, I quite easily qualified for a mental health plan and found the subsequent 10 visits with a councillor very helpful, gaining some very useful insights and tools going forward, not the least of which was learning to self-analyze properly and honestly. Recently, I had a panic attack at work.. I thought I had had them before, but this one was so extreme it made what came before seem slight. I was stood down from work pending an investigation into my welfare. Now, usually, this would have sent me spiralling into my usual blaming, despondancy, self loathing etc, but I've been working really hard on the way I look at things, and trying to stay positive. This time, when I went to see a GP (a new one), when I filled out the questionaire, not being in a bummed out, self loathing place, my results did not qualify me for a Mental Health Plan. I really want to see someone to talk about my panic attacks, which are fairly new, but can't afford to not be bulk billed. Has anyone got any advice? I feel like I've shot myself in the foot by feeling positive, which seems paradoxical from a seeking help with my mental health perspective.

Guest_2350 Help - coping techniques - role of professional helpers
  • replies: 4

Hello, I need help. I have been diagnosed with C-PTSD and depression. After over 20 years I have finally opened up to my GP and a psychologist, but now I can feel myself retreating in my shell and old coping techniques emerging. I know I am like that... View more

Hello, I need help. I have been diagnosed with C-PTSD and depression. After over 20 years I have finally opened up to my GP and a psychologist, but now I can feel myself retreating in my shell and old coping techniques emerging. I know I am like that, I push people away, people that I love, when I get really upset, I do not want hugs, I do not want to talk about things, I just want to be left alone. I find it extremly difficult to open up and ask for help. I think when I do, I will never stop crying. My eating disorder, that I have controlled for a long time, is back in full swing and I have started to think about drinking and smoking again. I just want to numb my numbness - that is probably the best way I can explain it. I can feel angry about being angry and I can feel sad about being sad, but I struggle when I get numb. I don't think I understand the role of my GP and my psych in my way to recovery. I have managed to open up to these two people, I chose them to help me with my recovery and have decided to let them in. I see them every week. I take notes with me and am trying to be open with them. For me it is like a contract with them - I give you the fact - you help. Then I feel like I covered some ground or I feel raw. Sometimes a week drags to eternity between visits. Sometimes I call a helpline in between - where I get advised to talk to my doctors - not very helpful. I feel like I am getting worse. Am I doing something wrong? Are they doing something wrong? Am I too impatient? What am I supposed to be doing? What is their role? How am I supposed to get through times when I cannot get hold of anyone? Am I over-analysing what should be and how I should feel? Should I revert back into healthier coping techniques like focussed over-training and/or over-working? I have tried all of these and all of these come at a price. I feel like never posting here again, dropping the psych, changing GP, so the new one does not know about this and just burying my thoughts and feelings for as long as I can... What are your experiences at the beginning of you journey? What has helped you and how were you being helped? Is there help??? Thank you.

deactivateduser016 My experience with online CBT
  • replies: 1

I'd just like to share my experience with an online course I did for my anxiety (GAD). I couldn't recommend this course highly enough so I thought I'd post about it here! About me: I've had anxiety for as long as I can remember, and had a stint of OC... View more

I'd just like to share my experience with an online course I did for my anxiety (GAD). I couldn't recommend this course highly enough so I thought I'd post about it here! About me: I've had anxiety for as long as I can remember, and had a stint of OCD when I was around 9ish years old. (I don't remember it much.) Last year, I started to have panic attacks and my anxiety got very bad; I had to drop out of uni, cancel a holiday and broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years. I was put on an antidepressant and I also visited a psychiatrist (who didn't help.) Why I started the course: My psychiatrist prescribed me medication and that was it. She had no interest in finding out what caused me anxiety and how to deal with the root cause. I was SO frustrated. Although the medication was helping a lot), I felt like it was a bandaid solution. I also hated the side effects. I wanted to treat the cause. Why was I so anxious? The program: I didn't even have to get out of bed to do the course, I could do it from home haha! After a few months of procrastination, I finally got around to doing the course. The course involved a weekly lesson and after each lesson you have homework to do for the week, which gradually gets harder. The lessons basically teach you to recognise your thought processes that induce anxiety and to retrain your brain to think realistically. (I don't know how else to explain it.) For example: One lesson talks about 'thought distortions.' Things that people with anxiety tend to think, which are totally unrealistic, but we convince ourselves that they are true. 'Catastrophising' was one of these distortions. I.e., you make a mistake at work. Instead of acknowledging you made a mistake and moving on, you think things such as I'm such a crap worker' and 'I'm totally going to get fired' etc etc. I'd never realised I do this, and during the course I learnt how to recognise this train of thought, stop it, and turn my thoughts into something more realistic. Anyway this is one of MANY MANY lessons I learnt during my course! Me after the course: I tapered off the medication and have not had a panic attack in months. I've even put myself in situations which would have induced panic attacks (plane rides, small spaces), but have managed to calm myself down during techniques I learnt in the course. I'm still on a journey to get better, I'm not quite there yet, but this course has helped SO MUCH. I hope it may help some of you too