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Mia1987 Postnatal depression and dealing with medication
  • replies: 1

Hi I've recently been diagnosed with postage depression I have a beautiful 10 month old little boy. He has been a very poor sleeper since he's was born and I think it finally took its toll. I've suffered from depression on and off since I was a teena... View more

Hi I've recently been diagnosed with postage depression I have a beautiful 10 month old little boy. He has been a very poor sleeper since he's was born and I think it finally took its toll. I've suffered from depression on and off since I was a teenager, I am now 27 married with one baby. I finally gave in and started antidepressants 3 days ago and I feel awful! First day just felt nausea and headachy. Yesterday started feeling quite anxious and teary. Today is much the same. I went back to the doc yesterday cos I was starting to freak out. I hate feeling like this I feel worse than I did before I took anythin. He gave me some tablets for the anxiety to take for a few days until the side effects settle down. They work a little but not a lot and make me very sleepy. I feel in such a daze I feel horrible I feel useless I can't help my husband with our baby. All I can do is breastfeed him when needed. Which opens another batch of worries that the medication I'm taking could harm him. I've been assured from doc that he's safe. It's still worries me. Hubby keeps telling me it will get better once my body regulates the drugs. I hope he's right I just want to feel normal again. This is horrible. Has anyone had any successful stories where it's helped?

--Danny-- Entering rehab soon...really nervous..
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone, I've battled alcohol & marijuana addiction for last 16 yrs...binge drinking 3/4 times a week & for the last 8/9 years I have smoked weed daily.. well, I quit drinking alcohol 85/86 days ago. But now I've made the decision to quit weed! T... View more

Hi everyone, I've battled alcohol & marijuana addiction for last 16 yrs...binge drinking 3/4 times a week & for the last 8/9 years I have smoked weed daily.. well, I quit drinking alcohol 85/86 days ago. But now I've made the decision to quit weed! Tomorrow morning I'm booked in for a 2 hour assessment at the drug & alcohol dependance center.. there they will book me into a drug rehab clinic for 7 days..hopefully I can quit this drug that has ruled my life for 8 years!! The usual waiting time is 2 or 3 weeks.. I'm really nervous about the whole thing.. this is definately going to be the biggest battle I've had in my life!! If I can overcome this then I can conquer anything put infront of me!! There is 2 pieces left in my life that I feel are contributing to anxiety & depression & all them awful things..that's my marijuana habit & my high pressure job..I'm looking at changing jobs in the new year & hopefully quit the weed for good!! At the end of all this, I'm hoping that beating my demons I can finally find my inner peace & escape the strange hold that is anxiety & depression!! Wish me luck for a healhier & longer life! Danny

StarryNight Long term antidepressants user and now off them - anyone else?
  • replies: 7

Hi All,I've recently been off my antidepressants just 2 months ago after taking it for over 13 years. To be honest, it has been very hard. I suffer from GAD and my anxiety has been very high at times. However I am determined to be off medications for... View more

Hi All,I've recently been off my antidepressants just 2 months ago after taking it for over 13 years. To be honest, it has been very hard. I suffer from GAD and my anxiety has been very high at times. However I am determined to be off medications for a long time as I always hear how treatable anxiety is without medication, e.g. CBT as being the most effective treatment for anxiety.So far to combat all of this, I have been seeing a psychologist for the past month and a half, I've been working with her on CBT strategies, have taken up cardio based exercises 3-4 times a week, doing mindful meditation twice a day everyday, talking to family and friends and most of all have accepted my anxiety as part of me.So my question to everyone, is there anyone who has taken antidepressants and are now no longer on them and managing their anxiety OK? Or know anyone else who has been off them and is managing their anxiety OK?I would love to hear your stories. Thanks in advance!

Momoffour Depressed, anxious and overwhelmed.
  • replies: 1

I am a Mom of four kids, part time ER nurse and wife. We have two cats and two dogs. I love my job and my family but have struggled with depression since I was a teenager and since two years ago have been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. I ... View more

I am a Mom of four kids, part time ER nurse and wife. We have two cats and two dogs. I love my job and my family but have struggled with depression since I was a teenager and since two years ago have been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. I am on seven different medications for depression, anxiety and insomnia. I am followed by a psychiatrist and psychologist. I am not getting better. I am sitting here at two o'clock in the afternoon still in my nightie, house dirty and cluttered and feeling completely overwhelmed and anxious. I want my kids to have their Mom back and my husband to have his wife back. Is there some natural remedies I could do that work? I.e diet, homeopathic remedies...

gremz unusual reaction to missing SSRI - almost manic?
  • replies: 3

Hey guys I've been on SSRI's for 9 months straight now and taken them on and off a few times before. Last time I stopped taking them (around this time last year) was very foggy. But my doctor told me it was because I felt so sluggish and dead and the... View more

Hey guys I've been on SSRI's for 9 months straight now and taken them on and off a few times before. Last time I stopped taking them (around this time last year) was very foggy. But my doctor told me it was because I felt so sluggish and dead and then so alive off them. It didnt turn out well, and took a long time to recover. This time, I;m surprised to say I'm experiencing the same sort of thing. I've been depressed and fatigued and feeling 'stoned' for months now. I forgot to take my meds two weeks ago and was energized, but I just took it as a good day. Today I forgot my meds and couldnt go back home for them as it was a busy day. Usually I am someone who suffers social anxiety, even crossing the road is stressful for me because I think everyone in the cars is staring. Today though, well, completely out of character. I don't want to call it manic because I could sit still and what not. My brain was different though, it was high. I swore at strangers that annoyed me and embarrassed my mum in the shopping center by over reacting to everything. I struggled to hold a conversation without just talking over people or being distracted by something else. So really what I'm getting at is today I did things that on my SSRI would leave me MORTIFIED and I just don't care. What is up with that? Shouldn't I be more depressed and anxious? I don't want to stop taking the meds because last time I crashed and turned into a sobbing mess that couldnt leave the house. Other times that I have forgotten my medication, I've usually remembered before I even left the house due to such high emotional stress and crying and distorted thinking. Whats going on? Is this normal?

Dave15 Tired of been depressed now - looking at ECT??
  • replies: 11

Hi guys, I am so sick and tired of being depressed now - almost 3 years, done the med's, done the therapy, tried self medicating, Yoga and Meditation.... I am starting to think there is no cure.. I am trying to line up some ECT with a psychologist so... View more

Hi guys, I am so sick and tired of being depressed now - almost 3 years, done the med's, done the therapy, tried self medicating, Yoga and Meditation.... I am starting to think there is no cure.. I am trying to line up some ECT with a psychologist soon - anyone comment on success of ECT therapy? I have a few good days and then the smallest thing sets me rolling downhill - I can feel it surge through my bloodstream, and then it takes days to shrug.. now it is affecting my work... No-one seems to understand, and I cannot find a solution.. GP's seem to try push the SSRI's, mess up my brain, kill my sex life, and my psychologist cries with me, and looks happy to see me leave, mental health plan only has 10 visits, cant afford to pay the stupid rates they charge, need to hide the visits from work, and I cant stick to stuff, as my down days are really down, then I give up and think up reasons not to do the good stuff..... among other things, like running away and deserting normal life.. I try to protect my family from this and stay at work late and try to act happy at home to keep the ones I love around me, but my wife would sh..t herself if she knew how bad I really am.. I keep trying to protect people around me from myself, but cant go on anymore - there must be a cure.. Maybe a brain fry will help.. anyone been helped with ECT therapy?

Rosie_Moo_ Have you experienced Occupational Therapy treatment?
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I am an Occupational Therapy Student, and am just wondering about anyone's experiences with Occupational Therapy in assisting with certain mental health conditions and difficulties. If so, I'd love to hear about what you did with them, and no... View more

Hi all, I am an Occupational Therapy Student, and am just wondering about anyone's experiences with Occupational Therapy in assisting with certain mental health conditions and difficulties. If so, I'd love to hear about what you did with them, and not only your positive experiences but any negative experiences as well to assist myself in gaining knowledge on how to approach this area of practice to ensure optimal outcomes. Thanks, Amy

Sparkles183 SNRIs The Good And The Bad
  • replies: 2

2 weeks ago after trying almost everything to overcome this mood, i decided to go for my last option and go to the GP, to get an antidepressant for the first time in my life, the GP gave me a trial pack of a SNRI and a prescription. after day 1 on th... View more

2 weeks ago after trying almost everything to overcome this mood, i decided to go for my last option and go to the GP, to get an antidepressant for the first time in my life, the GP gave me a trial pack of a SNRI and a prescription. after day 1 on the med i started to get the normal side effects, but by day 4 i started to get visual disturbances ( hallucinations ) i felt like i was drunk half the time, i also felt like i was going off my head every time i heard back ground noises louder then what i was listening too. these 3 side effects freaked me out. I went back to the GP on day 6 and she told me to stop the Med, STAT,and now i have to wait 2 weeks before i can go back to the GP and try a new Med.she also made me get tested for acute narrow angle glaucoma which is another rare side effect of the med, so far they don't think i have it but have to get 1 more test next week before i get the all clear. now i am freaking out that the 3 side effects are linked to something more serious not just the med.and i am feeling more agitated and depressed then ever, to the point i cant sit through a class or type without wanting to cry.one part of me does not want to go on a new med because the horrible side effects, and a bigger part of me wants to keep trying, because despite the side effects. I did start to see some good benefits in the med , even after a few days i could notice a difference in my mood and anxiety levels.(even my psych said he could see the difference) I noticed it relaxed me that much, that i could go and talk to someone that i would not normally talk too because my anxiety, and felt like i could speak to them freely without freaking out. so I guess i saw both the good and bad in that med, i just need to keep playing the waiting game before the the DR finds the right med for me, then i can start on the road of recovery. just wondering has anyone else had any of them horrible side effects on a SNRI?

Lori32 Feeling alone - tapered off meds
  • replies: 5

Hi all! I have suffered from panic disorder and agoraphobia for 16 years....6 and a half of those taking antidepressants. I've never really been great on them....always struggled... So I decided that it's my mind and my thoughts creating this monster... View more

Hi all! I have suffered from panic disorder and agoraphobia for 16 years....6 and a half of those taking antidepressants. I've never really been great on them....always struggled... So I decided that it's my mind and my thoughts creating this monster so I thought I'd taper of the meds....BIG mistake! I went into a downward spiral of anxiety and panic attack after panic attack, couldn't leave my house and have had a tremor ever since. I have currently gone back on my original dose and am just coping.To top it all off my son got an award at assembly today and I couldn't bring myself to go sit in the hall with everyone else so I missed it and it broke my heart....I have a referral to see a psychiatrist but it's a 5 week wait! I just don't know what to do.....Maybe I should try different meds but I'm so scared to taper off this one again. And scared of side affects of a new one as I remember withthis one I got so much worse before I started getting better. I just want to function normally again I'd appreciate any support or advice....Lori

Jo3 Inner child therapy/sand play
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone Some of you already know that I had memories 4 yrs ago of being sexually abused as a child between the ages of 9-12 by three different guys. I have been noticing lately that I am behaving, at times when in therapy, as a child. Tantrums, s... View more

Hi everyone Some of you already know that I had memories 4 yrs ago of being sexually abused as a child between the ages of 9-12 by three different guys. I have been noticing lately that I am behaving, at times when in therapy, as a child. Tantrums, speaking and acting like a little girl. And it's this little girl that is screaming for love; screaming for a hug from her dad and wanting to be told that everything will be okay. At times it is frustrating because I know I am an adult but this child comes out almost every day. It's embarrassing to put this in writing here but I am wanting some advice from others. Has anyone had any inner child therapy with a counsellor/pyschologist/pyschiatrist? Has anyone had therapy with sand play or art therapy? I've heard that sand play is quite effective for inner child therapy. If anyone has had this type of therapy before I would be interested to hear from them. Thanks Jo