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zabelli Tapering off anti depressants...
  • replies: 5

I have been on anti depressants for 5yrs now and for the past 2months I have tried tapering down and eventually off. I'm not sure if this is a question or somewhere for me to 'talk' about it. I guess I'm interested to see if anyone else is/has experi... View more

I have been on anti depressants for 5yrs now and for the past 2months I have tried tapering down and eventually off. I'm not sure if this is a question or somewhere for me to 'talk' about it. I guess I'm interested to see if anyone else is/has experienced this. AD's did wonders for my mental health, it saved me. But I'm at a point in my life where I want to stand on my own two feet. Ever since tapering off though I have really bad days where I'm tunnel visioned and can't seem to pick myself up. I'm always on the verge of crying and my anxiety is crazy! I feel like my depression is back and that's my biggest fear. I don't know what feelings are real or what is just in my head as my mind adjusts to new seratonin levels. Do I continue with the reduction? Or give up and keep taking my meds for the rest of my life. I'm on a high dosage and the side effects are so bad I'm at a loss!!!!

emax Online course to help with anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone, I am new to beyondblue. I've been doing an online course to help cope with anxiety and I'm finding it kinda helpful but thought maybe if I had somewhere to talk to others who feel the same way I do it might make it easier to manage. S... View more

Hello everyone, I am new to beyondblue. I've been doing an online course to help cope with anxiety and I'm finding it kinda helpful but thought maybe if I had somewhere to talk to others who feel the same way I do it might make it easier to manage. Some days I feel like the world is a dark and scary place and I am filled with dread and anxiety and hopelessness and other days i think 'nah, I'm fine, it's all ok, I WILL BE GREAT today", then i remember i forgot to get milk or something trivial and it all comes unhinged again. I like exercising to Jessie J and Ellie Goulding because it makes me feel happier and calmer and cycle sprints give such a rush of endorphins, but some days it all seems like it will be too much effort so i just don't bother. I wear myself out thinking and overthinking and trying to solve the worlds problems from inside my head, and just need to learn how to calm myself down and chill (or do something to distract myself) and to realise I'm not alone with this, that others go through it too and whilst I may not be mentally OK, I am only human and one day I will be. Hope to make some buddies here that can grow with me

Beetle Slipped back into balck hole-missed AB, stressed and sicklish
  • replies: 3

HI AllI am pretty stressed out at the moment. New job, health concerns and worry and had just a quite intense medical procedure done. I am on AB's every morning and yesterday I forgot to take my AB, I didn't realize I forgot until I looked at the pac... View more

HI AllI am pretty stressed out at the moment. New job, health concerns and worry and had just a quite intense medical procedure done. I am on AB's every morning and yesterday I forgot to take my AB, I didn't realize I forgot until I looked at the packet at night. I felt pretty down and 'isolated' . isolated in terms off having this tunnel vision & feeling disconnected from everyone around me. I could physically feel the darkness sucking me back into it. At work I could not engage with people and felt like I wasn't really there and caught myself thinking suicidal thoughts.Somehow I made it through the shift, floating around forcing myself to 'engage'. Somehow it worked, I finoished my duties, I made it home.I felt awful this morning, forced breaky into me, took my pill and could feel that it started working after an hour.This whole experience was pretty scary and I wonder if one missed pill can have such an effect? I take a Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor for severe depression and anxiety.Has anyone experienced such a thing were one missed pill threw u back? Or is it in my head? Am I paranoid to slip back into my suicidal world were I have been for so long?thanks to all those wonderful people on this forum.Love Beetle.

SillySonia New psychologist today
  • replies: 2

I have seen various professionals over the years ranging from counsellor, to psychologist and psychiatrist and not found them to be beneficial. Today I had my second appointment with a new psychologist in Sydney and I was quite happy. He is very unde... View more

I have seen various professionals over the years ranging from counsellor, to psychologist and psychiatrist and not found them to be beneficial. Today I had my second appointment with a new psychologist in Sydney and I was quite happy. He is very understanding and totally understands me. He speaks like a regular guy not this doctor patient tone. He is getting me to complete a diary where I write down my thoughts and feelings and what I did about them. Then he will identify the pattern and get me to change it. Not going to happen overnight though. He says that western society has conditioned us to think in a particular way. He uses CBT and eastern philosophy to help his clients. I have a nervous tendency to pull my hair and this results in hair getting all over the place much to the annoyance of family and friends. I now have to try not to pull my hair. That's my homework this week. Apparently every time I resist I am creating new neural pathways in my brain. Maybe that's something that each of you can start doing today. If you have a nervous habit like biting your fingernails etc when you feel anxious, recognise this and try hard to resist. Do something else with the hands.

Ryan_S Trying not to chicken out this time
  • replies: 4

For the past six years or so, I have constantly thought all the horrible thoughts I can think about myself, that I am hopeless, stupid, fat, unlovable, ugly, mean, lazy all of it. Every now and again I think about suicide, sometimes guilt is the only... View more

For the past six years or so, I have constantly thought all the horrible thoughts I can think about myself, that I am hopeless, stupid, fat, unlovable, ugly, mean, lazy all of it. Every now and again I think about suicide, sometimes guilt is the only thing that stops me. Whenever I imagine it I think about my mother finding my body, or my ex hearing about it and maybe feeling guilt and I realise I can't put those people through that. I don't want guilt to be the only thing that keeps me living any more. About 6 months ago I decided to see a counsellor and after two months of talking about it and not doing it something got in the way. I fell in love with my first girlfriend. This of course did not stop all those horrible feelings and thoughts but it was like a big beautiful band aid of the problem. Two months ago she broke up with me due to personal problems (her own depression after some horrible experiences that happened to her). All those horrible feelings came rushing back worse than they ever were before. I went back to thinking about counselling but could never quite work up the courage to knock on the door and ask for help. Three days ago I reached out to a friend after a night where for the first time I burst out crying completely unprompted by anything. It was definitely one of two low points. I reached out to a friend that night and told her I needed help. I asked her to come with me to book a session with a counsellor at University. I have avoided her ever since. There are so many things that actually scare me about all of this. I am frightened that the counsellor is going to tell me that I actually don't need counselling and I need to "suck it up". I am scared that they aren't going to be able to help me. I'm scared I'm not actually meant to be seeing a counsellor and maybe I'm meant to be seeing a psychologist/ psychiatrist/ monk/ voodoo lord. Basically its a bit of a last straw and I'm worried if this doesn't work what I can do next. I have resolved that tomorrow I am going to finally book an appointment and I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what I can expect.

binjyb Some ONLINE things which have helped me
  • replies: 1

..if you are looking to learn some skills , be supported and have access to extra info re: mental health , I will suggest you have a read here: http://www.mindspot.org.au/ There is also education/help available for a wide variety of things, including... View more

..if you are looking to learn some skills , be supported and have access to extra info re: mental health , I will suggest you have a read here: http://www.mindspot.org.au/ There is also education/help available for a wide variety of things, including living with CHRONIC PAIN -here: http://www.ecentreclinic.org/ they are clinical trials, well supervised , very personal , and the skills shared are most useful.I found the courses hard at times , but am so pleased to have done the ones I did Hope they help you as well.

em001 How to talk to your doctor
  • replies: 1

Hi, I was diagnosed with Depression late last year. Recently I have been having suicidal thoughts and am not sleeping at all. In the middle of the nights is the worst and I am scared I will reach a point where I wont know what to do when I have these... View more

Hi, I was diagnosed with Depression late last year. Recently I have been having suicidal thoughts and am not sleeping at all. In the middle of the nights is the worst and I am scared I will reach a point where I wont know what to do when I have these bad thoughts. Last week my GP told me she thinks I should be in Hospital - I refused and told her I am ok. I saw my Psychologist last week too and this is the first time I admitted to suicidal thoughts. I was so embarrassed and ashamed that as soon as I admitted it I clammed up and couldn't talk about it anymore. I don't want to go to my next appointment with her because of this. Does anyone have any real life advice on how to open up to and be honest with GP / Psychologist. I know I need help and thinking about my appointments I plan out in my head what to say to them but when I get there I just cant get the words out. I tell them I am ok when I am not. I know I need help but can't ask for it. I don't want to die but am scared that in the dark times at night I will make a stupid decision. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

iamsotired hate how I feel
  • replies: 1

I saw my psychiatrist this afternoon psychiatrist look very concerned by my lack of energy, lethargy and general sadness more blood test tomorrow increase medication doesn't help how I feel now

I saw my psychiatrist this afternoon psychiatrist look very concerned by my lack of energy, lethargy and general sadness more blood test tomorrow increase medication doesn't help how I feel now

Mark h Help needed with medication side effects
  • replies: 1

Hi there. 5 months ago I decided to work hard to come off an antidepressant after being on the drug for four years. I thought I could cope and was really proud when I came off completely. I have been drug free now for 4 months.a month ago, I gave up ... View more

Hi there. 5 months ago I decided to work hard to come off an antidepressant after being on the drug for four years. I thought I could cope and was really proud when I came off completely. I have been drug free now for 4 months.a month ago, I gave up drinking alcohol and really thought I was doing well. I have a great life, wife, kids, business etc. Everything should be shining for me. Two weeks ago, I decided to take on more work than I could handle and as a result, last Friday I crashed like never before. I started feeling very low, had horrible thoughts, anxiety attacks which have scared me to the point of nearly wanting to administer myself into hospital. My gut churns every day and I find it hard to experience any sort of regular bowl movement. Yesterday, I saw a great doctor who I am sure will help me. She has told me that my condition is most likely genetic and to get me through has put me on a different antidepressant.I took a tablet yesterday and another this morning but today I have felt even more nauseas, overwhelmingly tired and confused at times with dizziness. How long does it last for...does it get better?i need to get through this for my family. Any help you have would be great.thanks,mark

Suzbj Finding a Doctor
  • replies: 3

Find a good Doctor. I have had some bad experiences with doctors over the years and have had a few wonderful doctors that have been long term. My last wonderful doctor left the area about three months ago and I have seen three doctors since, leaving ... View more

Find a good Doctor. I have had some bad experiences with doctors over the years and have had a few wonderful doctors that have been long term. My last wonderful doctor left the area about three months ago and I have seen three doctors since, leaving in tears. While it is recommended to see your GP re depression and/or mental health. Here is what I have to say about that. Be careful. A doctor is not automatically going to be informed, understanding or empathetic to something that isn’t a ‘physical’ illness. So pick your GP carefully. If you are put down, belittled or humiliated, understand it is their lack of knowledge, understanding and education – it is not a fault of yours. Depression is real and it does have biological foundations just like any other illness. I also have Type 2 diabetes and have never been put down for that. I drove home today crying my eyes out from the utter humiliation of this last third doctor I checked out today. I needed to shake off that humiliation and emailed web chat on Beyond Blue which was sensational and really made me buck up and dust myself off. The point is this: Doctors aren’t Gods. They are people. They too have their lived experiences. They too have their weaknesses and strengths. Being a doctor doesn’t necessarily mean having the expertise or training to be empathetic, understanding or resourceful. So if you don’t have a good experience with your doctor,find another doctor, try, try again until you find someone you gel with and trust and is on the same page. But whatever you do, don’t blame yourself or see yourself as ‘less than’. I’m getting pretty good at not caring what people think. I truly mostly don’t care what people think these days. I think... “That’s THEIR problem. And they are entitled to their opinion. But it has nothing to do with me and I am not taking it on board.” I was disappointed with myself today because “I took the doctor’s personal opinion on board.” “Why did I do that?” I asked myself, crying all the way home. “Because somehow I feel vulnerable when I go to a doctor.” I forgot, they are just people too. I’m still searching for a doctor and I will find the right one for me eventually. Cheers Suz xx