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Essellarh New medication versus Limbo
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I havent used a forum such as this before & it seems to help & support many. I was recently diagnosed with bipolar2 & I feel as though I am in limbo, at the mercy of my seemingly upredictable & highly fluctuating moods/emotions. In hindsight ... View more

Hi all, I havent used a forum such as this before & it seems to help & support many. I was recently diagnosed with bipolar2 & I feel as though I am in limbo, at the mercy of my seemingly upredictable & highly fluctuating moods/emotions. In hindsight I guess the same could be said from much earlier on (diagnosed with depression&anxiety at 15years, Im now nearly 29). However it was only this year that something 'clicked' as being perculiar, that something being a few mild hypimanic episodes.I am SO tired of this instability & have just started taking a mood stabilizer medication with much hope & anticipation - it has been such a long time since I have felt well. The dosage will apparently take weeks of adjustment & I am concerned that I am going to 'lose control' during this process as I am feeling particularly fragile of late & more on the down swing.. which is usually quite debilitating & leaves me struggling to keep up the facade when I need to, & stuggling to function in general as it worsens. This is a major concern as I am currently finishing a degree & sorting out employment for next year - both definite causes of stress, but much excitement & anticipation too. So I am afraid to just rely on this medication in combo with other strategies to get me through this down phase, but through starting a new career. Has anyone else taken a mood stabilizer? What was your experience in terms of your moods? Also, I have been wondering if it is even possible to monitor how you are going..? My psychiatrist (who is great, though rarely available) has alluded to the notion that if I continue to monitor my moods, some patterns may emerge & triggers may be identifiable. Do mood stabilisers assist with this? I have been monitoring my moods for months now & I cannot identify any patterns, or triggers.. .. .. Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Chloe90 Medication Withdrawals
  • replies: 4

Hi I'm new to the forum and just wanting some support having a rough time at the moment. As of last night was advised by my psych to cease taking one of my medications. Just wondering if anyone experienced any withdrawals from this my psych said I sh... View more

Hi I'm new to the forum and just wanting some support having a rough time at the moment. As of last night was advised by my psych to cease taking one of my medications. Just wondering if anyone experienced any withdrawals from this my psych said I shouldn't cause it's a small dose but the first night was HELL my anxiety is through the roof, didn't sleep at all last night, feel constantly nauseous like what the hell is this normal? anyones support would be much appreciated I'm going out of my mind here! Thanks Chloe

Jessie83 Biofeedback opinions?
  • replies: 1

My psych has suggested I try biofeedback. Just wanting to know if anyone has tried it and how they found it? Does anyone know if this is a long term or short term treatment? It's very expensive.

My psych has suggested I try biofeedback. Just wanting to know if anyone has tried it and how they found it? Does anyone know if this is a long term or short term treatment? It's very expensive.

angeplussix being off medications.
  • replies: 3

Sleep at the moment is my best friend. Its been 3 weeks since any meds accept a few days were I was put on a very low dose of a anti psychotic med. My head feels so werid . I can't explain the feeling sensation I have its truly bazaar. Its a combinat... View more

Sleep at the moment is my best friend. Its been 3 weeks since any meds accept a few days were I was put on a very low dose of a anti psychotic med. My head feels so werid . I can't explain the feeling sensation I have its truly bazaar. Its a combination not one more than the other just all messed up together....ears popping from altitude/ water in your ears / feeling tipsy/ feeling stoned /yawning.. my head keeps coming in and out of focus but so quickly that I don't loose focus. But feeling dizzy most of the time and nausea to the point of being sick . And having very little appetite I have tried to explain this to the mental health team looking after me at the moment but the just don't get it. Does any one out there have a similar strange feeling unable to explain.

Anna03 Can my antidepressant be working 1 week in??
  • replies: 2

I have recently been prescribed an antidepressant and for the first 6 days I felt really fizzy and nauseous. All of a sudden after the nausea was almost unbearable it pretty much stopped, and I feel better than I have in a long time. Can it be possib... View more

I have recently been prescribed an antidepressant and for the first 6 days I felt really fizzy and nauseous. All of a sudden after the nausea was almost unbearable it pretty much stopped, and I feel better than I have in a long time. Can it be possible that the medication is working that quickly? How long did it take you to start feeling better?? Thanks

jordank Me and my Medication (SNRI) Advice?
  • replies: 1

Hi I have only just figured out how to post in the community forum and not bluevoices.. so confusing. This is what I posted in BlueVoices. I am 22 years old and have always suffered from depression. It runs in my family - Mum has anxiety and severe p... View more

Hi I have only just figured out how to post in the community forum and not bluevoices.. so confusing. This is what I posted in BlueVoices. I am 22 years old and have always suffered from depression. It runs in my family - Mum has anxiety and severe panic attacks, sister has severe depression and dad has severe depression and we think bipolar disorder. I have always suffered from depression, the last couple of years I have had really bad anger issues but only recently started to think I have cyclothymia (mild bipolar disorder). It took a few breakdowns to get me to the doctor and to a psychologist. I thought I was making great progress, I started going to meditation and doing mental exercises.. but the last couple of months I have gotten worse. My worst moment was probably one day a couple of weeks ago. Do you know when everything seems to be in a black haze? You have no peripheral vision and its just a black tunnel and there is no way out.. that might sound strange but the day was like that. Just awful. All I could think of is how hard done by I was, how everyone hates me, how my boyfriend hates me and I felt numb. So numb I became frustrated, which made me mad, which made me punch the wall.. It felt so good to feel something that I did it maybe another 5 times.I haven't been violent again but have noticed myself starting to feel numb and thinking about things like punching the wall and what I can do to feel again.. and then I think about other ways of harming myself ... and then I realise what I am thinking and that scares me. I have noticed I can't "hide" my anger like I used to.. I used to just be silent and irritated and wouldn't talk to anyone. Now I find myself getting up and slamming drawers, doors and cupboards and yelling at everyone. I still burst into tears randomly.. My psychologist is on holidays and I haven't seen her in about a month and my next appointment isn't for another 3 weeks but I feel like I am going down hill fast. I went to see my doctor yesterday and she gave me a script for medication. I took my first tablet last night at about 8.30pm and woke up at 4am with really bad nausea, I was huddled over the toilet for about half an hour coughing and spitting up. I have been tired all day (probably due to being up all night), really sweaty and pretty nauseas. I have also been yawning alot and every time I yawn I feel like I am going to vomit. I googled it and a girl said she had the same thing on the same medication and her doctor said that was unusual but alot of other just said it was the gag reflex and I thought I have been up dry reaching all night Its probably a bit sensitive.. I also suffer form Vasovagal Syncope (blackouts).. and fits (yay)... So the feeling I get before I pass out is awful, it is a sickening feeling. I get unbearably hot, my throat gets all caught up, light headed, blurred vision and then bam I wake up on the ground. One of the side effects of this medication is dizziness and I have a couple of times today had the start of the feeling and then they go away before I pass out. I was wondering what side effects other people experienced? And how long did they last for? I know it varies between people but I am curious. Is anyone else on medication and what were your experiences like when you first started? Anyway.. Thank you

jess334 Antidepressant related nightmares
  • replies: 2

Does anyone have any opinions? My psychiatrist has just changed to from one antidepressant medication to another because the first had stopped working for me. Its day four and I've had two nights of repetitive nightmares. From about 2am to when I get... View more

Does anyone have any opinions? My psychiatrist has just changed to from one antidepressant medication to another because the first had stopped working for me. Its day four and I've had two nights of repetitive nightmares. From about 2am to when I get up at 7am, I wake up every 30 minutes after this dream where I already am awake and can hear something in my house, but I cannot move to check if there is anyone there. Eventually I wake up, but I am so tired that I can barely keep my eyes open, so I fall straight back into the dream. Its even hard to tell when I really am awake after my alarm goes off. I know medication can cause these vivid dreams, but I want to know if anyone has any experience with how long they last. Because I'm still switching medications (reduced in the morning) I can only take it at night, at least for the next two weeks.

Happyme3 Depression, ADHD or both
  • replies: 2

I am really confused as I have being seeing a psychologist for my depression and they thought I may have a ADHD as I am struggling to concentrate. I have been reading all the symptoms and it really seems to fit me. My psychologist then sent me to ano... View more

I am really confused as I have being seeing a psychologist for my depression and they thought I may have a ADHD as I am struggling to concentrate. I have been reading all the symptoms and it really seems to fit me. My psychologist then sent me to another centre who are specialists in ADHD for an assessment. The second I said that my issues with attention only came about when I was 18 made the psychologist stop within seconds and tell me that it was not likely it was ADHD but just the depression creating the symptoms. Whilst it is true that all my issues only started when I was 18 and till then I was excellent at school and was very organised and attentive, since leaving school and having my depression I can't focus or complete things. I was told that the symptoms needed to be present before the age of 12 to be considered a developmental disorder like ADHD. They did say that I could still complete the therapy program to help me focus and get more organised but recommended better therapy for the depression. Now I am confused. I have been in therapy for over 8 years and I am very reliant on my therapist. The centre were very kind and didn't disrespect my therapist and encouraged me to continue but I was given the impression that I needed more skills training. They recommended something called CBT and ACT therapy along with their mindfulness and executive program. I am feeling torn!! Any advice would be great!

amamas Meds - help me please
  • replies: 5

I'm in the process of changing meds at the moment as the last ones were making me worse. How do people do this????? I'm going CRAZY!!!!! Down to no meds tomorrow and I'm feeling insane right now. Dr prescribed me a benzodiazepine to help me calm down... View more

I'm in the process of changing meds at the moment as the last ones were making me worse. How do people do this????? I'm going CRAZY!!!!! Down to no meds tomorrow and I'm feeling insane right now. Dr prescribed me a benzodiazepine to help me calm down and sleep tonight. I hope it helps because I am going NUTS here. Any handy tips goes cause I am losing the plot big time!!!!!!!

Paul1 Emerging into the light: Lesson Learned
  • replies: 1

I learned something very useful about depression. I had suffered from depression on and off for about 15 years. I discovered that a simple regimen, coupled with standard treatment under my specialist, has enabled me to live a positive existence. Seve... View more

I learned something very useful about depression. I had suffered from depression on and off for about 15 years. I discovered that a simple regimen, coupled with standard treatment under my specialist, has enabled me to live a positive existence. Several years ago, a Melbourne researcher published a paper linking natural sunlight exposure to increased levels of serotonin. Further clinical studies have lent weight to and put into practical application this discovery. I find that, in my case, one hour per day of natural sunlight makes a significant positive difference. This means simply being out in the unfiltered sunlight (ie without sunglasses or glasses), which I weave into the day with light exercise and usual activity (eg eating meal outside) is enough to make a great deal of difference. My understanding is that it is the light entering the eyes, rather than light on the skin that is significant. I believe that there is nothing peculiar about my condition or situation to suggest what works for me should not work for others. Further details below 1. Best wishes to fellow forum members, Paul1 1. 1. Lambert, Reid, Kaye, Jennings, Esler: Effect of Sunlight and Season on Serotonin Turnover in the Brain, The Lancet, Vol 360, Issue 9348, pp 1840-1842, 7 Dec 2002.