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hamington muliple diagnosis fear. Help!
  • replies: 4

I have fought depression for many years but very recently have been diagnosed with bipolar 2, G.A.D, B.P.D and ADHD. Its taken so long to diagnose my conditions because from age 9 I took medications for epilepsy which are also used to treat many ment... View more

I have fought depression for many years but very recently have been diagnosed with bipolar 2, G.A.D, B.P.D and ADHD. Its taken so long to diagnose my conditions because from age 9 I took medications for epilepsy which are also used to treat many mental health issues and from my early 20's I self medicated heavily with drugs. Its only after 12 months clean and a lot of therapy that I've been able to get to the real problems I ran from for so long. I'm feeling positive that there is some hope of getting my "disorders" under control but am also still a bit gobsmacked by it all, I know little about these illnesses and where to link into the right services. whilst my psychologist and interim psychiatrist have been great I'm very fearful that my G.P and new psychiatrist in charge of my medication review and treatments may focus too much on my former substance use and base decisions on that rather than the mental health issues at hand. I realise this may all sound a little paranoid but I live in regional Australia where unfortunately this does happen (it took letters and calls from a psychologist to get my G.P to put me on a basic antidepressant after he refused because I "didn't need more drugs" and needed to "just get moving". Has anybody had similar problems and or know of advocacy groups etc?. This is all rather new to me so any feedback would be much appreciated

clareeezy How effective is antidepressant medication and psychotherapy?
  • replies: 11

Hey guys,First time poster! So, in September of last year I was diagnosed with depression by my local GP. He put me on an antidepressant and referred me to a psychologist. Being skeptical, I neglected to go and see a psychologist because I simply tho... View more

Hey guys,First time poster! So, in September of last year I was diagnosed with depression by my local GP. He put me on an antidepressant and referred me to a psychologist. Being skeptical, I neglected to go and see a psychologist because I simply thought it would be a waste of time, and I was relying on the meds prescribed to me. Not only did I feel like it didn't work but it made me even more tired. I went through one cycle and never renewed my prescription, hoping that time would heal me...It is now January, a new year and I really want to get on top of my depression (and now anxiety) before it consumes the rest of my year/life. So I'm just wondering how effective is antidepressant medication (perhaps I'm on the wrong ones?) and if seeing a psychologist is actually worth it? and if so, what happens during a typical session? Is it dependent on the therapist? Is it expensive/covered by Medicare?Thanks,Clarence

littlelulu Mental Health Assessment for Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi I have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor , he wants to do a mental health assessment for anxiety.. can anyone tell me what this will entale please? Im actually a little scared about going Thanls Littlelulu

Hi I have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor , he wants to do a mental health assessment for anxiety.. can anyone tell me what this will entale please? Im actually a little scared about going Thanls Littlelulu

Riss Meds not working
  • replies: 9

Hi I was told I had depression and anxiety about 10 years ago now and was put on an SNRI that worked miracles. But sadly my body became use to the medication, it stopped working and I was already on the highest dose. so my doctor took me off it and p... View more

Hi I was told I had depression and anxiety about 10 years ago now and was put on an SNRI that worked miracles. But sadly my body became use to the medication, it stopped working and I was already on the highest dose. so my doctor took me off it and put me on another. It has been almost 4 months now and I'm almost on the max dose and I feel as bad if not worse then when I started it. I'm scared that medication wont work for me any more and ill feel this way forever. Has any one ever had this happen with meds before and did they find one that worked eventually?? Please help Riss

Loula Why am I on medication
  • replies: 3

I've just started medication for bipolar and I'm not liking it. For starters I can't swallow pills and it tastes like fish! I hate having to get weekly blood tests. I hate hate hate that my husband asks me every day if I'm taking it! I'm not brain de... View more

I've just started medication for bipolar and I'm not liking it. For starters I can't swallow pills and it tastes like fish! I hate having to get weekly blood tests. I hate hate hate that my husband asks me every day if I'm taking it! I'm not brain dead I'm just unwell, I can remember to take my pills! Ive been on it for nearly two weeks and it's just turned me into a crying mess! I cry 3 times a day and I have fear in me now! I'm though taking pain killers everyday to help get me through work and I need to take up to 3 sleeping pills to sleep and I only get 5 hours sleep! I swear it's not working and everyone says give it time. But I'm over giving things time I just want something to work out for once! I'm also on one of my highs and just want to go crazy even though I know everything I do will ruin my life. But then I think mabye I'm meant to go crazy. Mabye if I do these crazy things even though I lose everything I might be happy. i also think mabye my brain is meant to be crazy. Mabye I'm not meant to be normal and healthy. Mabye I shouldn't be married. Mabye I'm meant to be alone. Mabye I'm meant to suck at life. why am I on the pills? I'm not worthy of the normal lifestyle.

EmMay Medication Withdrawal
  • replies: 3

I have never belonged to or posted in a forum (of any nature) but, in the lowest depths of my current psyche, I feel compelled to. Maybe by publicly acknowledging my despair it gives me some sort of power over it? On one hand I know pragmatically tha... View more

I have never belonged to or posted in a forum (of any nature) but, in the lowest depths of my current psyche, I feel compelled to. Maybe by publicly acknowledging my despair it gives me some sort of power over it? On one hand I know pragmatically that how I feel is a biochemical reaction mixed with genetic predisposition. However it is so hard to pull myself out of the black hole of self-loathing, anxiety, hysteria, fury, self-pity, anger and hollowness. I have been dealing with depression and anxiety for 15 years (since diagnosis) but more likely 25 years. And, when in the middle of a relapse (albeit one brought on by severe withdrawal from antidepressant) I can't reconcile the notion that I will ever feel any other way again. I don't know what it's like to live without the feeling of constant pressure and foreboding. Even when my depression and anxiety is "controlled" my perfectionist nature plunges me into a roundabout of constant negativity and disappointment. This, mixed with a sense of shame of having a "mental illness" means I'm never really free. It's something that you can't quite share with anyone, you can't quite articulate how it feels especially in the face of - "look at all the great things in your life" or "just try to snap out of it".

Stormgrl101 Medication change and hospital
  • replies: 6

hi Today my psychiatrist was discussing going into hospital or a respite care place while I will be going through a medication change. Just wondering if anyone has experiences to share or if they have been through something like this and could tell m... View more

hi Today my psychiatrist was discussing going into hospital or a respite care place while I will be going through a medication change. Just wondering if anyone has experiences to share or if they have been through something like this and could tell me what it was like for them. I have never been in hospital for anything before and not sure how to feel. I'm scared I will miss my pet bunny and boyfriend too much.

allofme 30 year old male on antidepressants for 9 years and its stopped working
  • replies: 3

hi ive been on an antidepressant for 9 years and for the last 12 months ive been having horrible anxiety and panic attacks. im not derpressed or even have racing thoughts,what is happening seems more physical then anything. i find it hard to breathe ... View more

hi ive been on an antidepressant for 9 years and for the last 12 months ive been having horrible anxiety and panic attacks. im not derpressed or even have racing thoughts,what is happening seems more physical then anything. i find it hard to breathe and have a swimmy head most the time and am always in a state of uneasy. i went to my gp this morning and he thinks maybe my antidepressant isnt working anymore so he recommends i go 24 hours without it then start a new medication. i know what the withdrawls from my antidepressant are like and told him i dont think i could go off them cold turkey but he said alot of people do it this way so i guess i just have to trust him. i just want to feel normal again, ive had a heap of blood test and i know its just my anxiety causing it all. do any of u guys have and ideas on what could work and if my gp is right?

Loco_ Cant shake the feeling of guilt
  • replies: 2

Hi All, I've been seeing my psychologist since April roughly around once a month so far due to scheduling issues. Recently we moved to fortnightly sessions as we identified that a monthly sessions just weren't working. The session before last she off... View more

Hi All, I've been seeing my psychologist since April roughly around once a month so far due to scheduling issues. Recently we moved to fortnightly sessions as we identified that a monthly sessions just weren't working. The session before last she offered to schedule an appointment for the late December just before Christmas as my next appointment wasn't until the new year. I said that I should be okay, mostly because I feel that I need to demonstrate that I can cope alone. At my last session I asked right at the beginning if we could schedule an extra appointment as I was coping very well. She said she had planned to phone me during the break, but we can make an extra appointment if I feel I need it. At the end of the session she gave me a gift, something small and meaningful, that I could use to remind of our work together during the holiday period. I was walked out the session she asked me again if I felt I needed the appointment or if a phone call would suffice. I said I would take the appointment if it didn't inconvenience her, and the appointment was scheduled. Now I'm so anxious. I feel really guilty. I know that the appointment is during her usual non-contact time, as are my next two appointments after that (only way we could do fortnightly sessions for now). I feel like I'm draining her resources, when there are other patients who likely need that time too. I feel guilty because she tried to do what she could to make the break easier (offering a phone call and the transitional object) but I still asked for the session. I feel like I'm being way too needy. I thought about calling her office when she's in next (only works there 2 days a week) and talking to her about this, but that causes more anxiety as I feel contacting her only makes me seem even more needy. My next appointment is Christmas Eve which will be great because family and social events are a huge trigger for me, so this time of year sucks. However, I feel like I should cancel because of the anxiety and guilt around being needy. I worry if I cancel that she will just assume I'm doing okay and then I will feel let down when I don't hear from her. Has anyone else every experienced these kinds of thoughts and feelings within the therapeutic relationship, and how did you manage them?

Cinda78 Feeling worse on Medication
  • replies: 2

Hi cam someone please help me. I have been taking medication for 11days and am feeling worse than when I started. Can anyone please tell me if this will pass. Thank you

Hi cam someone please help me. I have been taking medication for 11days and am feeling worse than when I started. Can anyone please tell me if this will pass. Thank you

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