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Amy_G Continue with therapy or try just medication?
  • replies: 3

I was diagnosed with depression like 3 months ago and I’ve been going to see a psychologist for 10 weeks but it’s been completely useless. I’ve also been taking antidepressants for almost 4 weeks and they haven’t worked at all yet either so the GP is... View more

I was diagnosed with depression like 3 months ago and I’ve been going to see a psychologist for 10 weeks but it’s been completely useless. I’ve also been taking antidepressants for almost 4 weeks and they haven’t worked at all yet either so the GP is increasing the dose, and she said that since the therapy isn’t working that the problem is likely to be mostly chemical so like if therapy hasn’t worked at all by now it probably won’t… But I kind of just think that my therapist wasn’t very good. It seems like her whole approach was to tell me to do things that I didn’t want to do or couldn’t be bothered to do usually, and even when it was clear that I couldn’t do those things and that nothing she was doing was helping, she just kept going with that approach the entire time. Then she basically said it was my fault that there was no progress because I wasn’t “fighting” hard enough. So I can’t decide whether I should just keep going with the medication without any therapy and see if there’s a change, or whether I should find another psychologist and try again with that? Or maybe I could wait until next year and get a new mental health plan and try therapy again then so at least if it’s useless I won’t be wasting money? I’ve been doing some of those free online self-help cbt things, like moodgym etc., and they’ve also been no help, so I sort of don’t know if cbt would be any better in real life or not? This is so frustrating everything feels useless :(

grandmakris48 My Bipolar Disorder
  • replies: 1

I saw my Psychiatrist today. I don't care for him much because he likes to play god. I am dual diagnosed and he focuses only on my addiction and not my bipolar. I have been telling him for the last few months that I don't feel like I am on the right ... View more

I saw my Psychiatrist today. I don't care for him much because he likes to play god. I am dual diagnosed and he focuses only on my addiction and not my bipolar. I have been telling him for the last few months that I don't feel like I am on the right Psych Medications. He kept refusing to adjust or change my medications. I finally got so upset today that he called in my therapist to intervene. I don't know exactly what worked, but he finally adjusted my medication. He switched gears quickly when I told my therapist that he wasn't helping me. I still don't care for him and might have to end up going to a different doctor, but I will give it a try. I feel like I won a battle today!

Bigc Started on medication anxiety is through the roof???
  • replies: 4

Just started on an antidepressant for my anxiety and depression, been on it for about 8 days and my anxiety has been so much worse than i can ever remember. I have multiply things stacked up to worry about. Half of them being things that 99.9% didn't... View more

Just started on an antidepressant for my anxiety and depression, been on it for about 8 days and my anxiety has been so much worse than i can ever remember. I have multiply things stacked up to worry about. Half of them being things that 99.9% didn't happen or my past when i was like 12. I have been getting sick intrusive thoughts which i don't want to share either. I am not a bad person i know that. I am the type of person that feels bad if they step on a snail. However i don't seem to trust myself anymore or have any faith in what i have done and haven't done. I would think of a thought, something that happen that is acceptable as i can remember it, then ulter it into something that isnt acceptable then start to become paranoid that that was the case, has anyone else done that. I am seriouslty losing my mind.Has anyone had any similar experiences and will my antidepresant eventually help me, i have heard it may take up to 6 weeks.

MrsCam are generic brands of meds really the same??
  • replies: 8

Have to refill my prescription tomorrow. Last month, which was the first time Id filled this script as I was just started on this med during my hospital stay, the pharmacist gave me a generic brand... My gp and my counsellor both say it should be wor... View more

Have to refill my prescription tomorrow. Last month, which was the first time Id filled this script as I was just started on this med during my hospital stay, the pharmacist gave me a generic brand... My gp and my counsellor both say it should be working the same as the original that I was on when in the hospital and when I first got home but I am not convinced. Any thoughts or oppinions would be appreciated

2teray has anyone tried an SNRI antidepressant
  • replies: 2

Hi I am new to this and in need of some help please. I have been prescribed an SNRI antidepressant and I am very nervous about taking medication, I had tried a few different medications several years ago when I suffered with depression, anxiety and a... View more

Hi I am new to this and in need of some help please. I have been prescribed an SNRI antidepressant and I am very nervous about taking medication, I had tried a few different medications several years ago when I suffered with depression, anxiety and agoraphobia, so badly that I didnt leave my home for 2 years. I eventually got through this difficult time on my own but I had tried medications and psychologists during this period but nothing helped me, I just had to really kick my own arse, which I did once I realised it had been 2 years. I have unfortunately found myself right back in the same situation as I was 7 years ago, I am not as bad but I know I am getting worse so my doctor has prescribed this medication. I have tried to kick my backside for 2 weeks now because I really dont want to take the medication as the other meds made me not care about my condition or anything else anymore but i am not doing too well so I am starting to think that maybe I should take the meds, however I really need to know if anyone else has tried these and what effect they had if any. Please help if you can. Thank you for reading my post.

Pounce medication and sleepiness - can it improve?
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm new to these forums. I'm newly diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I've been on one medication for a couple of months now. Was hospitalised for a week in September after having a bit of a breakdown at work, then was released into my mother... View more

Hi, I'm new to these forums. I'm newly diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I've been on one medication for a couple of months now. Was hospitalised for a week in September after having a bit of a breakdown at work, then was released into my mother's care. I had to either do that or go to the long term care facility. I also had my medication increased to the maximum dose while I was in hospital. After three weeks under her care, I was back at home and back at work, but only three days a week. I am terribly anxious and close to panic all day when I'm at work and generally terribly depressed when I'm at home - all alone again. So now to the point - I went back to my gp and said I wasn't getting better and he prescribed a new med, in addition to the original one. It has side effects of drowsiness and weight gain, to name a few, and he said he doesn't normally prescribe it for this reason. Weight gain is not an issue for me because the dietician in hospital wanted me to put on 15kg anyway (I'd lost weight because I wasn't eating). However, after several days of research and consideration, I tried the new med for the first time last night. It made me feel wasted! So sleepy I was falling asleep during my favourite tv show, and crawled to bed and crashed at 8pm. Got woken by the phone at 10am. Still drowsy at 12pm. Obviously I can't drive in this is a condition, which is a problem, as I live in a rural area. I don't think I could work in this condition either. Can it get better? Can the side effects reduce over time? I don't know whether to continue with it.

Manz Unsure about taking meds for anxiety
  • replies: 7

Hi, I'm new to this site. I've jad anxiety for a while mostly social anxiety but stresses in my life lately have made it worse and I've sought treatment. I'm really scared of taking the meds though because I've been told they will make me more anxiou... View more

Hi, I'm new to this site. I've jad anxiety for a while mostly social anxiety but stresses in my life lately have made it worse and I've sought treatment. I'm really scared of taking the meds though because I've been told they will make me more anxious at first and I don't know if I can cope with that right now. I can't go on anything else as the others cause weight gain. I'm 28 and have 4 children and I'm scared what I'll feel like. It might be ok but id like some advice/personal experiences (please not horror stories!). Thanks

PinkDiamonds25 Is it time for a current mental health assessment?
  • replies: 9

This year has been so stressful for me.It just seems to be one thing after another that is getting me down. long story short, I had a breakdown in 2010 aftersuffering for years from depression and anxiety symptoms- I don't remember ever not having th... View more

This year has been so stressful for me.It just seems to be one thing after another that is getting me down. long story short, I had a breakdown in 2010 aftersuffering for years from depression and anxiety symptoms- I don't remember ever not having the symptoms really, I just thought that it was "normal" to feel that way. one of the things that tipped me over the edge was my job, I had a boss with unrealistic expectations from me (expecting me to do the work of many people), being constantly put down and harassed, made to work ridiculously long days (sometimes 15hrs, 6 days per week).. I ended up on a workers comp claim which was dragged out for over a year, reliant on centrelink and more stressed.during the course of the claim I was subjected to 3 evaluations from separate psychiatrists and they all come back with different ideas on what they thought might be wrong with me, there were terms like personality disorders and things mentioned in the reports.i seen a psychologist regularly who said I had agoraphobia , depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress..I somehow improved my condition after a year or so.since 2010, I have suffered with depression and anxiety on and off but had mostly been able to get through the tougher days. this year has been a shocker, I have had so much going on,we had to have my father involuntarily admitted to hospital with a psychosis issue- that was so scary, I think he was going to hurt himself. my father had to sell our family home due to losing his job, now his brother has died 2 weeks ago" this had left him so upset and blaming himself.. I'm trying to support dad through this hard time but I've since started feeling very anxious and depressed myself.everyone seems to ask me for support but no one stops to realise that from time to time I need to put myself first too. im so tired and down but I don't know if I'm just grieving? i wasn't that close to my uncle but his death has really hit me hard-I feel so silly! I just can't stop thinking about it all. I'm going to have a talk to my gp about it and see about going back on my meds and hopefully get a referral to someone. i want to get a current assessment done to see if they can help pinpoint if I have more then just anxiety/depression- that way I might know what to focus on to get through this faster. i feel so silly but I just can't seem to shake this. Is it best to go to a Psychologist or a psychiatrist for this? I just want a current diagnosis

Mal50 Mental blocks during sessions.
  • replies: 3

As far back as I can remember, whenever I've seen a psychologist to talk about my life-long depression and traumas, I've gotten mental blocks and haven't had the first clue what to say. I want so very much to open up but I break into a sweat and the ... View more

As far back as I can remember, whenever I've seen a psychologist to talk about my life-long depression and traumas, I've gotten mental blocks and haven't had the first clue what to say. I want so very much to open up but I break into a sweat and the words just won't come out. I get so exasperated with myself, and after only a couple of visits I just give up. I think to myself that it's just a waste of my time and theirs. Is it because of repressed memories that I keep getting those damn mental blocks and hitting a brick wall?

Ajirmat46 Advice regarding first GP appointment.
  • replies: 3

Recently I have been through a difficult period. About one month ago I sort of collapsed psychology and could no longer cope with anything. At this time I was too scared to go to a GP for help as I have a fear of doctors and was also really scared to... View more

Recently I have been through a difficult period. About one month ago I sort of collapsed psychology and could no longer cope with anything. At this time I was too scared to go to a GP for help as I have a fear of doctors and was also really scared to leave the house. Due to meditation as well as the support of my partner I have been able to begin the process of working through the mess that I was in a month ago. I have an appointment with a GP tomorrow. Hopefully it will set me onto some kind of path to recovery. I'm also on Newstart and have just found out that Centrelink have penalised me for not attending appointments (I found this out whilst trying to make an appointment for a Centrelink social worker). Although I do need the money I'm not too upset about it as I actually expected no money and to be cut off completely. Anyway now that I actually have the strength to see a doctor I'm hoping they might be able to support a temporary expedition from Centrelink activities. My self esteem is non existent, I can barely speak to people and the issues that set off my "breakdown" are still there. As I have never seen this GP (as well as never really seeing doctors I am also in a new city) I'm not really sure whether they will believe me or support my request for an exemption. I also have Autism Spectrum Disorder so I find it really hard to explain myself to doctors.. Anyway I guess I'm really apprehensive and worried about the appointment. Any advice?