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RobL Unable to sleep in my third week of coming off anti depressants
  • replies: 5

Sitting here unable to sleep in my third week of coming off anti depressants. After 4 years the side effects were outweighing the benefits. I am feeling nausea, dizziness, brain zaps and a lot of other symptoms. I so want to kick the habit and work o... View more

Sitting here unable to sleep in my third week of coming off anti depressants. After 4 years the side effects were outweighing the benefits. I am feeling nausea, dizziness, brain zaps and a lot of other symptoms. I so want to kick the habit and work on being me again and fight the depression that has haunted my last twenty years. I am looking for hints or tips that others have used to hold back the darkness.

Lillypad02 Seeking professional help for anxiety.
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, first time on here I have suffered anxiety for a long time now and am only just seeking help because it's getting very bad. I'm worried it will turn into depression. I'm so sick of feeling nervous, worried and anxious all the time. Shoul... View more

Hi everyone, first time on here I have suffered anxiety for a long time now and am only just seeking help because it's getting very bad. I'm worried it will turn into depression. I'm so sick of feeling nervous, worried and anxious all the time. Should I go to the doctor and will they refer me to a phycologist or councellor? Or should I just find a good one myself? don't want medication if I can help it?

Stormgrl101 Anxiety Support groups experience
  • replies: 1

hi all my psychologist has recommended I research the GROW support group and also another (I'm in S.A.) I was wondering if anyone had any experience in these sort of groups? I don't know what to expect and I know I'd probably get into a high anxious ... View more

hi all my psychologist has recommended I research the GROW support group and also another (I'm in S.A.) I was wondering if anyone had any experience in these sort of groups? I don't know what to expect and I know I'd probably get into a high anxious state about going and whether or not you are expected to participate in discussions and things or if it would be okay to observe? I would like to be able to meet some likeminded people who actually understand. I did have a friend but she cut me off and decided she was fine without me. Now I am friend-less but my anxiety makes everything hard, especially with the whole making friends thing.

BPD007 BPD treatment
  • replies: 6

Hi there. My partner has been diagnosed with BPD. She is currently on anti depressants. She is seeing a psychologist using a mental health plan but the psychologist admits that she does not have the necessary skills to help my partner. The psychologi... View more

Hi there. My partner has been diagnosed with BPD. She is currently on anti depressants. She is seeing a psychologist using a mental health plan but the psychologist admits that she does not have the necessary skills to help my partner. The psychologist recommended electric shock treatment which I refused on my partners behalf as it does not seem right!! I feel like we've hit a brick wall & need help finding alternative help! Can anyone suggest a psychiatrist that can help without electric shock treatment? We live in Brimbank area of Melbourne. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

BK13 Commencing treatment with SSRI meds and psychologist
  • replies: 8

I don't really know if I have a question per se but I finally decided to seek treatment for depression and anxiety and I felt like sharing. I had tried once before a couple of years ago and was fobbed off by a crappy doctor (who did prescribe me meds... View more

I don't really know if I have a question per se but I finally decided to seek treatment for depression and anxiety and I felt like sharing. I had tried once before a couple of years ago and was fobbed off by a crappy doctor (who did prescribe me meds but his attitude and care factor didn't make me feel confident enough to take them!). I happened to find an awesome new GP a few months ago. I was already considering approaching him about my mental illnesses and then some fairly traumatic events happened in my life. Including my long term partner coming clean about a lot of things he had done and then trying to take his own life. I found him and had to call the ambulance, the police came too, it was awful. Since then his mood has improved to the point I'm no longer acutely worried of a relapse, however I don't think it would take much to push him back there. Every time I call and he doesn't answer the phone, I swear my heart stops until he calls back. All these horrible thoughts of what he's done. He's agreed to seek treatment himself but he's yet to make that phone call. He's in his early 40's and doesn't believe things can be any different as he's felt like this his whole life. So after all of this I decided it was finally time. I spoke to BB first to get me through a couple of tough moments and then I saw my GP last week and have been on my medication (SSRIs) for a couple of days. I am still waiting to get an appointment with the psych. I am already feeling very agitated, my jaw is tense, I woke up in the middle of the night and took forever to get to sleep. I can't stop yawning and my vision is a little blurred. My GP prepared me well for the side effects, however it still took a LOT for me to open up that packet and stick the tablet in my mouth. I put it off for a few days because I was too scared! Scared of what it would mean, how it would change me, how I would feel. I think it's definitely a good idea NOT to google too much. I started to but I was just terrifying myself even further. I have read a number of threads on the BB page which I have found very helpful. Realistic accounts of peoples experiences. I don't know how I'm going to go working when I feel like this. So far it's a bit tricky to sit at my desk as I'm so agitated & anxious! So it's like a step backwards ATM considering anxiety was really affecting my work already. I haven't told my boss or colleagues about the treatment (yet). I will stick with it though!

Trish_M Depression medications.
  • replies: 5

I have been taking a SNRI for about 8 weeks now. I started on a half dose and saw my GP after 3 weeks. At this point, my GP doubled the dose. Initially, I felt better but perhaps it was a placebo affect because honestly, after 8 weeks, I truely don't... View more

I have been taking a SNRI for about 8 weeks now. I started on a half dose and saw my GP after 3 weeks. At this point, my GP doubled the dose. Initially, I felt better but perhaps it was a placebo affect because honestly, after 8 weeks, I truely don't feel any different or better. What should I be able to expect from AD medication? After 8 weeks, I still feel very depressed, am teary most days, have withdrawn from social contact, sleep badly, am completely exhausted and feel leaden and joyless. Is this normal? Should I have noticed some improvement by now? Any suggestions?

Matilda22 Long time in therapy and still feel terrible
  • replies: 6

Hi all,I have been seeing a psychologist for over 4 years now having initially had a bad experience with a psych beforehand. I trust my psych completely and I feel we have a very good relationship however I continue to have ongoing anxiety and depres... View more

Hi all,I have been seeing a psychologist for over 4 years now having initially had a bad experience with a psych beforehand. I trust my psych completely and I feel we have a very good relationship however I continue to have ongoing anxiety and depression relating to many things, one being childhood sexual assault. I have being increasingly suicidal lately, which my psych knows about. No matter what I do, I can't seem to get out of this hole I'm in. I have previously tried meds but they left me feeling very sick so I ceased. No one around me knows how unwell I am, and I do not intend on exposing this to my family or friends. Has anyone else had the experience of being in therapy this long without feeling better? I'm sick of feeling so exhausted all the time . Any thoughts would be appreciatedMatilda 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.

BeeGee Experiences with NaSSAs / tetracyclics or tricyclics?
  • replies: 5

I posted earlier that I was coming off my SNRI - I'm happy to report that I now feel like me again instead of an emotionless robot. I was reading a systematic review of studies comparing the efficacy and tolerability of a NaSSA (starts with "m") with... View more

I posted earlier that I was coming off my SNRI - I'm happy to report that I now feel like me again instead of an emotionless robot. I was reading a systematic review of studies comparing the efficacy and tolerability of a NaSSA (starts with "m") with SSRIs, SNRIs and TCAs this morning. According to this review it seems that there is a statistically significant improvement in "m" over SSRIs and SNRIs (although worse tolerability than SSRIs), and comparable efficacy and tolerability to TCAs. I've only been able to find one post on BB about NaSSAs by Girl_Anachronism, and she was not doing well at the time. Has anyone else tried NaSSAs and can share their experiences? I'm also interested in how people have found TCAs after unsuccessfully trying other first-line drugs? I know everyone can respond differently to any given drug, but it would be good to hear those experiences anyway.

wow_not_good Antidepressant experience was like flicking a switch within a few days...
  • replies: 2

Hi,My background is that I'm 30 and have just quit my job due to a lot of situational anxiety. I was looking forward to doing something more fullfilling. I then had a bombshell dropped on me the day I returned to the city from my rural healthcare job... View more

Hi,My background is that I'm 30 and have just quit my job due to a lot of situational anxiety. I was looking forward to doing something more fullfilling. I then had a bombshell dropped on me the day I returned to the city from my rural healthcare job. My boyfriend of 2 years dumped me. Sure I was distressed. I had even thought we needed to see a counsellor... I had not expected that sense of betrayal.Four days later, early in the morning, there was some loud noise from the street that woke me. Bam! Just like that my heart went into fright or flight mode! Moderate depression was the Psychiatrist's diagnosis a few days later. Nothing felt moderate about not being able to get out of bed for 3 days constantly shaking. The walls felt like they were closing in on me. I was a failure. There was no past, present or future. I was living at home with my parents and felt totally dependant on people I don't even really trust that much. I wasn't suicidal yet. But I've ideated it at times of depression in the past. The depression was quiet at bad as shaking, total loss of hope, blackness. I started antidepressants that Saturday of the "bang". I think it saved my life since by Tuesday afternoon it was like a switch was flicked. I read all of this stuff about antidepressants being hard to get off. I don't want to muck up my brain chemistry. It probably wasn't that great to start with if I was near catatonic state. Any experience to share? It's a little stressful looking at the implications of withdrawal. I can get through that right? I'm a resilient person! Just thought I'd check that it was the people that aren't interested in changing their wicked ways that basically became dependant? I realise where I went wrong & what was out of my control... I need to prioritise myself more. Grieving is going to be another challenge...Thanks!

Chimpy Medications
  • replies: 2

After being on ADs for well over 20 yrs now.....I have to say I honestly don't feel any better even though I have seen soooooo many doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists. They make me feel calmer as I also suffer from anxiety but the biggest problem ... View more

After being on ADs for well over 20 yrs now.....I have to say I honestly don't feel any better even though I have seen soooooo many doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists. They make me feel calmer as I also suffer from anxiety but the biggest problem is I feel soooooo tired all the time . Everything is an absolute effort which in turn makes me worse because I very rarely achieve anything but the normal everyday routine. I come off them and feel more alive, achieve more but then become anxious about things again and the brain gets a bit scrambled. I have been diagnosed with rapid Bi Polar where it was explained to me I have very rapid turnarounds......every 2 weeks I have a few days of manic where I can conquer anything then I come down for a week or so and then the mani returns. To be honest I have learnt to tell everyone exactly what they want to hear as its like....here we go again, same old questions, same old answers. I wonder at times if I really need medication or whether I can do trol this myself? The trouble is the onset of manic is quick as in the click of a finger!!