Immediate support
Immediate support

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.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

All discussions

Start a discussion

Selly Energy Drinks and Anxiety/Depression
  • replies: 6

I have recently dropped back into a mild depression/anxiety about 5 weeks ago after returing from overseas. In the leadup to my holiday I used to have a can of Monster Energy drinkj once a day - it was somehting I wanted to stop due to the perceived ... View more

I have recently dropped back into a mild depression/anxiety about 5 weeks ago after returing from overseas. In the leadup to my holiday I used to have a can of Monster Energy drinkj once a day - it was somehting I wanted to stop due to the perceived health issues and so I did when I wentOS for a month. Since rtuerning I have had two cans in the last two weeks and both times have noticed that I felt a lot more calm and balanced after lost that hoorible anxiousness in my stomach. I dont partocualy want to go back to consuming these drinks on a daily basis but was interested ti know if anyone else had experienced similar or would know why this is the case?

JessC Does medication really help?
  • replies: 4

Hi there, I was clinically diagnosed with moderate to severe depression this morning by my local GP. She has recommended that I start medication to help assist me back to normality. My parents have always been skeptical about this and makes me wonder... View more

Hi there, I was clinically diagnosed with moderate to severe depression this morning by my local GP. She has recommended that I start medication to help assist me back to normality. My parents have always been skeptical about this and makes me wonder if medication is the answer. Can anyone enlighten me with some personal experiences whereby medication has actually helped them and allowed them to get back on track? Thank you, Jess

Unit1 Increasing sensitivity to medication? Is this possible?
  • replies: 3

I figure on this forum I probably won't be allowed to name specific brands of medications but a brief history of my treatments - Many years ago I was put on a SSRI that worked wonders for me for a while and went off it reasonably easily, only later t... View more

I figure on this forum I probably won't be allowed to name specific brands of medications but a brief history of my treatments - Many years ago I was put on a SSRI that worked wonders for me for a while and went off it reasonably easily, only later to go on another one which was OK but not as effective. A gap of many years and I once again was prescribed a third type of SSRI that made me very anxious and going off it was quite scary and left me suicidal for a day or two. Vowed never to take meds again. Some years later I was prescribed a low dosage of a TCA as part of a non-pyschological treatment but even this low dose made me very anxious so I went off it. Fast forward many years and I found myself reconsidering meds with my GP and whilst expressing my concerns over previous experiences he prescribed me a commonly used (and reportedly low-side effect) SSRI med on a low initial dose. I had some misgivings but decided that some side effects are worth putting up with and expected them to be transitory. I took one tablet at about 9pm and went to bed feeling pretty good. Woke bolt upright at about midnight feeling very anxious. tried to get up but was very dizzy. Sat on the bed and spiralled into the most terrifying panic attack I have ever experienced. Felt nauseous and went for the loo… remember hearing a bang (me falling on something). Woke up later on the floor in a pool of sweat and couldn't get up but felt less anxious so a little relieved but still scared. Fell asleep again and woke up on the floor later, cold and wet with sweat, and went to go to the loo and discovered I had soiled myself. Spent the rest of the night reading, keeping myself focussed away from the anxiety. Told my doctor the next day - not sure he believed me, or didn't want to…just told me to stop taking it. I realise a reaction like this from just one tablet must be extremely uncommon but as you can imagine I don't think I could face trying meds again. I am not anti-medication or trying to suggest meds aren't a wonderful saviour for many people and indeed initially it was a saviour for me but do you think it is possible to become progressively more sensitive to meds? So sensitive that I would have reaction like this from just one low dose tablet? My doctor did not have any comments when I asked him and frankly he didn't seem to want to discuss it.

MedievalPhil newly diagnosed and wondering if meds are working
  • replies: 2

I have never made a post for anything before.. I have spent my whole life knowing I was different to everyone else. I've attempted suicide once, but thought about it a lot. 2 kids to 2 relationships and just found out on Tuesday I am not the biologic... View more

I have never made a post for anything before.. I have spent my whole life knowing I was different to everyone else. I've attempted suicide once, but thought about it a lot. 2 kids to 2 relationships and just found out on Tuesday I am not the biological father of the youngest. It's been the worst year yet this year. going through family courts is a nightmare. it ends next week with a conference to nut out the final details for custody of her and I still get to have her in my life, I am desperate for it to be over though. I sought help many times in the last decade especially, I've gone to gp's on 4 occasions, got referals to psychologists on mental health plans... achieved absolutelynothing... they didn't even diagnose me with depression... even took myself to the emergency room once and they sent me home..I didn't understand that the behaviours I exhibited were out of my control, I had and still have to be honest a lot of shame and guilt about my behaviour. I've isolated myself from anyone whoever wanted to be my friend. I don't know how to be friends with people...I'm reasonably attractive for middle aged man, but girls always say I am super full on... but I don't know how to be any other way.... I diagnosed myself this year as going through the family courts exacerbated my symptoms to the point where my highs were almost a euphoric feeling... up til then I had week long batches of feeling hyperactive, super confident, anything was possible.... but I thought everyone had that..... no one ever asked the right questions... but when I had that massive high this year I knew something was wrong... I did a bit of internet research and was shocked when I read through the symptons for bipolar.... it was a scary shock because I matched everything.. I took myself to the gp, he gave me an referral to a psychiatrist and I got diagnosed on the spot....I've been on medication now for 3 months, but only on full dose for about 4 weeks... I had some pretty bad side effects at first... but all good now... but I don't feel any different.... is this normal?.. should I be feeling different now? will I feel different after all this court stuff is over?... am I still a mess because of the dna test and once I accept this will I get better?... I don't trust doctors telling me what I should and shouldn't feel... I trust other bipolar people because you are living it? Is there hope because I was expecting to be better by now and I still feel hopeless?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.

Essaerae Nervous/Mental Breakdown & It's Being Ignored
  • replies: 2

I have way too much to type so I'll try to make it short.I had a huge breakdown yesterday afternoon due to years worth of build up from anxiety, depression, anger, stress & addiction. And recently I have been suicidal.I was having intermittant fits o... View more

I have way too much to type so I'll try to make it short.I had a huge breakdown yesterday afternoon due to years worth of build up from anxiety, depression, anger, stress & addiction. And recently I have been suicidal.I was having intermittant fits of uncontrolable laughter and crying.My husband took me to the hospital, where they directed us to go to the "assessment section" behind emergency.I have debilitating social anxiety and when we got to the point where I would have to walk through emergency to get to where we needed to go I lost it. I could not walk through all those people, it would have killed me. My husband had to calm me down in the hallway and just hug me tightly for ages. He decided to take me home and has made a GP appt for Friday so as I can get another Mental Health Care Plan done. This will be the 3rd. I found the last 2 visits have not helped me at all. I feel as though I need to stop everything and be admitted to a ward. I need to stop working.I need to help myself but I do not have the time to do so. What should I do? Am I just being selfish?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.

Jessie394 Struggling going back on medication
  • replies: 5

Hi, I've just started going back on a low dose of anti depressants and I'm really struggling. I'm having some terrible side effects. Nausea, light headedness, sudden and overwhelming waves of anxiety and depression. I was wondering if anyone else has... View more

Hi, I've just started going back on a low dose of anti depressants and I'm really struggling. I'm having some terrible side effects. Nausea, light headedness, sudden and overwhelming waves of anxiety and depression. I was wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences and how long they lasted for. Any help or advice would be very greatly appreciated. Thanks, J x

guest148 Should I see a psychologist?
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but recently I've taken to MMPI-2 test online and found that I scored quite high on the depression scale. I'm not sure what to make of this, I don't really feel like I'm depressed, no... View more

Hi everyone, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but recently I've taken to MMPI-2 test online and found that I scored quite high on the depression scale. I'm not sure what to make of this, I don't really feel like I'm depressed, not enough to score that highly, at least. Should I go to a psychologist to make sure? I'm worried that I'm concerned over nothing and will waste their time. Thanks in advance.

EllaElla Depression & Anxiety - Downward Spriral
  • replies: 6

Hi,Im 29 years old and have been suffering from Panic Disorder for 9 years. Within the last 2 years I have also been suffering from Depression. I have been on an SSRI & anti-anxienty medication which enabled me to live a normal life. However, within ... View more

Hi,Im 29 years old and have been suffering from Panic Disorder for 9 years. Within the last 2 years I have also been suffering from Depression. I have been on an SSRI & anti-anxienty medication which enabled me to live a normal life. However, within the last few months my doctor has been unable to prescribe me the anti-anxiety medication i have been taking for 9 years and has changed my medication, three times! None of them work as well as my original medication did.I feel like I am drowning all the time and have no motivation to leave my house. I've quit my job becauseI kept having panic attacks at work so needed to avoid the place. I am starting to avoid everything and everyone because my panic attacks are constant. I broke up with my long time partner, I dont see any of my friends anymore. I have no motivation to live. Has anyone else experienced something similar when being made to change anti-anxiety medications?I have tried on multiple occasions see a Psychologist but it never really helped me. I feel lost and I don' t know what to do. My depression is getting worse with each day and my anxiety levels are always high so i avoid everything and everyone to try and prevent my panic attacks. I am on the highest dose SSRI so i cant up my medication, and haven't been able to find a fast acting anti-anxiety medication. The way I see it, if this is how my life is going to be then i don't see any point in living. Constant sadness that no one seems to understand and panic attacks everyday. Who would want to live a life like this? If it hasn't gone away after 9 years i don't think it ever will. Just wish I could disappear. Anyone else out there feel the same? Or am I the only one losing my mind.....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.

d1106 I'm worried that medication won't work
  • replies: 5

I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for the past 13 years. Up until now medication has always been extremely helpful and because of this I didn't feel the need to share my condition with anyone. So I have been on my own all these years.... View more

I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for the past 13 years. Up until now medication has always been extremely helpful and because of this I didn't feel the need to share my condition with anyone. So I have been on my own all these years. Over the past 5 to 6 weeks medication has not been as successful despite trying something new. Because of the way I feel now I've had no choice but to tell my immediate family. I really didn't know how they would react and feared they would think me weak. I could not have been more wrong. My family are supporting me without question which is a huge relief. No more hiding doctors appointments, medication and nice just to tell someone how I'm feeling. I think a lot of my depression and anxiety at the moment is stemming from a bit of a loss in confidence with the medication and the worry that no medication will work. Is this a normal thought? Anyway I've started a new medication and hoping it will bring me back to normal so I can get on with life.

Bulletin_Board_Archive What is your experience with CBT?
  • replies: 9

Originally posted by: Jemma on 12 February 2013Hey Friends, I posted on here about August last year with details about my blue days and my journey with depression and anxiety. Today I finally found myself a doctor who listened and valued me. I didn't... View more

Originally posted by: Jemma on 12 February 2013Hey Friends, I posted on here about August last year with details about my blue days and my journey with depression and anxiety. Today I finally found myself a doctor who listened and valued me. I didn't get pushed out the door with a pill to fix the problem. Today I started my mental health plan- feeling hopeful about what the future holds! Whilst I was waiting for the doctor I got the usual sweaty,trembling hands and heart palpitations. After about 5 minutes of discussion I felt like a huge weight was lifted of my shoulders and I was being taken seriously. Now to the crux of my post. I have been referred to start CBT. What are peoples experiences? What can I expect? Do I have to pour my heart out and tell my life story? (It could take years). I kinda feel anxious even thinking about it. I haven't been on medication for 18 months as it impaired my memory and concentration- which is essential being a uni student. May have to go back on the meds if it doesn't work out. Would love to hear about anyone's experiences!