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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

razzajazza First time on medication for anxiety, first 2 weeks questions
  • replies: 4

Hi there. Just looking to hear any other experiences with starting medications. I considered myself to have mild anxiety but after 3 months of not being able to get it under control it was causing me a lot of physical problems. I have been clenching ... View more

Hi there. Just looking to hear any other experiences with starting medications. I considered myself to have mild anxiety but after 3 months of not being able to get it under control it was causing me a lot of physical problems. I have been clenching my hands and feet at night causing lots of muscle tension and pain. I went to the GP who suggested a low dose anti-depressant. If it wasn't causing me physical problems I probably wouldn't have tried it but I felt I should at least give it a try. I am 10 days in and am having lots of side effects and wondering what I have done. Its mostly the increase in anxiety that is bothering me the most. Im pretty much super anxious from about 2am until mid afternoon. I am going back to the GP on Friday but until then I will continue on. I understand that this can happen. Im looking for some sort of light at the end of the tunnel though! Anyone else have similar and then it started to work well? How long did it take and did it happen quickly or slowly? Thankyou in advance!

greygloves Hospitalization
  • replies: 5

First post here. I have been hospitalized twice with my last admission being over 5 years ago. I had a different psychiatrist and psychologist back then and my new people are well, new. I could probably use a stint at the moment. I am not doing so gr... View more

First post here. I have been hospitalized twice with my last admission being over 5 years ago. I had a different psychiatrist and psychologist back then and my new people are well, new. I could probably use a stint at the moment. I am not doing so great. I really need to get my meds into a strict routine of actually taking them because I am in the "I really don't give a rats anymore" phase. I am not coping and would just like to sleep my life away thank you. I sabotage myself though, come up with every reason I can to not go in. So many people rely on me (kids etc), I work for myself and have deadlines, who will pick up the slack with the kids, how will I explain to clients that they will have to wait because I am having a 'special rest'? I basically feel very selfish for even thinking about approaching this, how can I possibly just up and leave my life for a few weeks. My husband will most likely not cope and he will resent me, and he will make it so much harder (this is a whole other story)... I know I can't help it, I suppose I think that I have survived this long out of hospital, may as well keep going with it. I convince everyone around me that i am completely fine. My own mother would be shocked to think I even require being in hospital. I am that good at playing happy and in control. So of course I convince my psych team of that too. I would never even think to ask them if I could go into hospital, I would feel like a huge drama queen. A huge part of my problem is asking for help, I just feel like I should be able to cope even when I'm not. Asking for help is admitting defeat and I have a huge fear of being perceived as a drama queen or attention seeker and my psychs are so new too... See? Sabotage. I need help but cannot get it, my mind stops me from getting it. I see both of them on Tuesday and by the time that rolls around I will have come up with a new "I can do this" plan. How often do medical people actually say "I think you should be in hospital"? What do I have to do or how do I have to act? I do actually want help, I want to help myself. I cannot continue like this. This sucks. Sorry for the huge post

Desert_girl Change of meds
  • replies: 1

I'm new to the site, finding it quite helpful. I have been on the same anti depressants for the last three years for panic attacks, anxiety and then leading to depression.. I have known I'm not on the right meds for over a year and a half now, finall... View more

I'm new to the site, finding it quite helpful. I have been on the same anti depressants for the last three years for panic attacks, anxiety and then leading to depression.. I have known I'm not on the right meds for over a year and a half now, finally went to the doctor to change them, feeling abit scared about the change and weaning of my current ones and onto a new one. I work away remote three months at a time so the doctor was a bit hesitant about changing my meds as there are no real doctors available for weeks at times.. But I suppose there isn't really a "perfect" time to change meds, it's something you just have to do. I have support out where I work from my co workers and there is a remote area nurse as well. I'm just feeling a bit nervous about it as I don't want to fall into a deep hole of feeling like crap again and not be able to work or be able to get home if I fall down again as it takes two days to get back "home" and many flights. I don't know how I will react to the new meds, then I'm giving myself anxiety just thinking about the change. My family thinks I should be changing the meds around family and friends but I also believe they are the some of reason I get anxiety/depression. I haven't really had the same doctor to monitor me ever because I travel a lot which is one of the things that keeps me "sane" haha. so hopefully I can get some support while I'm away at work from this site while changing meds

Anonymous2 Request my records be disposed of
  • replies: 3

I am currently a client of a psychologist at a private psychological practice. I am aware the Australian Psychological Society's recommended approach is for records to be disposed of seven years after last contact with a client. However, at any given... View more

I am currently a client of a psychologist at a private psychological practice. I am aware the Australian Psychological Society's recommended approach is for records to be disposed of seven years after last contact with a client. However, at any given time, I would like my records, specifically the notes taken by my psychologist, be disposed of, or the originals provided to me, upon my request. Will my psychologist honour this request if I were to make it? If not, under what circumstances can they be compelled?