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toyMR2 Self help
  • replies: 2

You won't post this so, no point! I will discredit these instutions by other means!! In case you guys might be interested, depression of it's mildest forms are blocking crucial opportunities for those that are diagnosed. These sites should not be ass... View more

You won't post this so, no point! I will discredit these instutions by other means!! In case you guys might be interested, depression of it's mildest forms are blocking crucial opportunities for those that are diagnosed. These sites should not be assessing those of good character but have admitted to feeling somewhat down. Very bad for business!!

Oizys OCD and skin picking
  • replies: 3

Evening. With the stress of multiple events that happened this year, I have begun experiencing a new kind of hell, skin picking. Only my feet. I have displayed some mild OCD in the past(handwashing), but my biggest issue is anxiety. I am not sure who... View more

Evening. With the stress of multiple events that happened this year, I have begun experiencing a new kind of hell, skin picking. Only my feet. I have displayed some mild OCD in the past(handwashing), but my biggest issue is anxiety. I am not sure who I need to speak to this about, my therapist or my doctor. I know it should be both, but who do I contact first? I've been keeping it hidden from both. Been going on about 6 months now, and as much as I am aware that doing it is what is causing me pain, I am only able to control myself to an extent and then I am back to open wounds and bruising. I have been on the same tablets on the strongest dose for about 12 years now and I just don't feel like they do much of anything anymore. Does anyone have any suggestions of where to go from here?

mocha delight On the therapy journey
  • replies: 82

I’m starting this thread to post about anything related to my treatment & therapy ect ect ect. Which I’ll start of saying I finally got a appointment with a psychologist on the 9th of September so over 3 weeks away. But not with the one me gp referre... View more

I’m starting this thread to post about anything related to my treatment & therapy ect ect ect. Which I’ll start of saying I finally got a appointment with a psychologist on the 9th of September so over 3 weeks away. But not with the one me gp referred to as that psychologist unfortunately for me was not taking on new clients so I found one off the ‘find a professional’ from beyond blue of course and I did not no where else to go look. So already feel nervous & anxious about this appointment and I only made it today besides this psychologist is not one my gp recommended & referred me to. So now I would ever be grateful if anyone give me tips/hints ect ect ect of what to expect from my first ever psychologists appointment. What do I need to know? Now that most of you all have definitely gone through that first time psychologist appointment what kind of things should I ask/tell/mention? How many appointments average until I get a diagnosis? Do psychologists make the diagnosis’s? Does a gp? Or how do I get a diagnosis if a gp’s/psychologists don’t make the diagnosis? Ok yes I’m a complete newbie to trying to get a diagnosis but I just want to be completely prepared of how it works before my appointment. Did I mention I’m nervous and anxious?

roropotato GP referral
  • replies: 1

Hi, I recently saw a GP about feeling depressed and anxious. She prescribed me some meds and put me on a mental health care plan and she asked me to pick a psychologist to forward it to. I looked online and picked a practice and doctor and went back ... View more

Hi, I recently saw a GP about feeling depressed and anxious. She prescribed me some meds and put me on a mental health care plan and she asked me to pick a psychologist to forward it to. I looked online and picked a practice and doctor and went back to my GP with my choice, and she then faxed my plan to them. However it didn’t occur to me to actually check in with the practice first. I called to make an appointment only to be greeted with an automated message saying they are fully booked till March and aren’t taking new patients. I have a few other practices and doctors in mind and will definitely call beforehand to see if they are taking new patients. My question is, do I need to book another appointment with my GP to get the mental health care plan forwarded to a new psychologist or can I call reception and ask them to do that? Thanks in advance!

Matt_VG Medication - does it get worse before it gets better?
  • replies: 3

Hi there This year has been hard. Anxiety with some depression. I've been doing everything I can in terms of lifestyle changes but in the end I surrendered to needing medication to help while I work through everything. I wasn't able to sleep much and... View more

Hi there This year has been hard. Anxiety with some depression. I've been doing everything I can in terms of lifestyle changes but in the end I surrendered to needing medication to help while I work through everything. I wasn't able to sleep much and felt in flight mode all the time/ hypervigilant. I started medication and it helped calm me and helped sleep quite a bit too. My mood was still not fantastic and my psychiatrist suggested changing the dose I've been on that now for over 2 weeks and pretty much after starting, my anxiety increased and sleep worsened a bit. I've had some good days to but overall I'm hypervigilant again, What is others' experience? does the 'get worse before it gets better' last for a while sometimes? I don't know where else to turn to and it's been really hard for me. To know if staying on this dose is right or not... At the moment I'm taking her advice but i guess part of me is just looking for reassurance

Yuko Is it ok to ask a GP to prescribe me anti-depressants?
  • replies: 9

Hi, I’m new to the forums but unfortunately not new to mental health issues. As a bit of background, I was prescribed anti-depressants 15 years ago which helped me but I stopped taking them due to lack of money (I was working and renting in the city ... View more

Hi, I’m new to the forums but unfortunately not new to mental health issues. As a bit of background, I was prescribed anti-depressants 15 years ago which helped me but I stopped taking them due to lack of money (I was working and renting in the city on traineeship wages). I have managed to keep my head above water but over the years my depression has started to get a lot worse and just before Covid hit I was really struggling. With each Covid lockdown I got worse and worse and with my husband working from home and my daughter remote learning I was no longer able to keep myself together around my immediate family. I enrolled in an online therapist-lead CBT course which really helped with my social anxiety but it’s also allowed me to see that there is a very real line between symptoms I can manage myself and when I get to a point when I no longer feel rational, I get very agitated and panicky and have strong urges to self-harm. I spiral really badly and for the past year I have started to have suicidal thoughts. These really dark spiral moments are much more regular now and they last for longer and I’m getting really exhausted fighting it. I am really scared and I need help. I DO NOT want to hurt myself, I want to be here for my family but I am incapable of thinking clearly when I am spiralling and I am really worried about losing control. I want to go back on anti-depressants because my earlier experience was that my moods started as a roller-coaster of ups and downs but after a couple of months on medication it was like small waves. It was a huge improvement to my life. I have booked an appointment with a new GP who has experience with mental health issues, I am nervous about it as I have felt very dismissed over the past 15 years but I really need help at this point. After explaining my situation to the GP is it ok for me to directly ask them to prescribe anti-depressants? I feel like my life depends on it, or maybe I’m just still spiraling? Thanks in advance for and advice you can offer

Chris_B Are you looking for a doctor, therapist or support group?
  • replies: 41

Hi everyone, We are unable to provide recommendations for specific practitioners here on the forums, but if you're looking for a practitioner in your area, please use our practitioner directory here. Our practitioner directory is designed to help mem... View more

Hi everyone, We are unable to provide recommendations for specific practitioners here on the forums, but if you're looking for a practitioner in your area, please use our practitioner directory here. Our practitioner directory is designed to help members find a medical or allied health professional in their local area who can help to diagnose, treat and manage depression and/or anxiety. The directory is not an endorsement of the health professionals listed or the services they provide. The health professionals who appear on the directory are those who have chosen to provide us with their details. We are not responsible for keeping the information up to date, although we make regular requests for listed health practitioners to do so. Please feel free to share general advice on the forums about what to look for in a good mental health practitioner. The Black Dog Institute have a great section on their website about consulting various kinds of professionals, including GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors. This resource explains the difference between practitioner types, what you can expect from an assessment and what to do if you're not feeling better after seeking treatment. UPDATE 22/7: The website Patient Opinion Australia contains feedback on a range of health practitioners, which you may find useful in finding a good practitioner, or telling your story of a less-than-ideal experience. UPDATE 6/2/17: For support group listings, please consult the Black Dog pages here. We are unable to provide recommendations for support groups here on the forums.

Venus667 What are my options for a free, bulk-billed psychiatrist?
  • replies: 2

At the beginning of this year, I was diagnosed with ADHD-PI and Aspergers. However the psychiatrist was very judgemental, shaming, and VERY expensive. Safe to say I won't be going back to them. I got prescribed a non-stimulant medication because she'... View more

At the beginning of this year, I was diagnosed with ADHD-PI and Aspergers. However the psychiatrist was very judgemental, shaming, and VERY expensive. Safe to say I won't be going back to them. I got prescribed a non-stimulant medication because she's 'worried' I would abuse stimulants. The medication did nothing for me. I stopped taking it after a few months because of undesirable side effects. Now I feel like recently my mental health is spiraling as a consequence to the anger, guilt and regret I feel for the things I do (or not do) because of my executive dysfunction. I cannot bring myself to shower, clean my room, or study, and because of that I get very little sleep because of the regret that I didn't do the things I promised myself to do that day. It's also taking a toll with my personal relationships... I lash out easily because I'm so frustrated at myself that I take it out on others. My boyfriend called me lazy because I really struggled to clean my room, so I kicked him out (bad move on my part, but we made up). I've been having more bad days than good days. When I'm really emotional, I try my hardest not to take it out on others and instead take it out on myself. Self harming, self-depreciating thoughts... It's gotten really bad to the point that I automatically consider of self harming when anything bad happens. I understand that psychologists are covered by Medicare when referred by a GP (which is something I'm going to take advantage of). I'm just wondering if there's a way to get a psychiatrist covered by Medicare because I really need stimulant medication to help overcome my executive dysfunction.

reallym3again narcissistic abuse syndrome - c ptsd support australia
  • replies: 14

looking for support for narcissistic abuse syndrome or cptsd experienced professionals in australia.. it has been too long, i need to get real support instead of videos from o.s. persons who offer so much wisdom but i cannot connect to work through m... View more

looking for support for narcissistic abuse syndrome or cptsd experienced professionals in australia.. it has been too long, i need to get real support instead of videos from o.s. persons who offer so much wisdom but i cannot connect to work through my stuff. i want to heal so i can be a better mum.

Miniegun Your experience with benzos, and changing SSRIs?
  • replies: 6

Hi guys, hopefully this complies with the rules re: medications I'm having issues with my anxiety (GAD) at the moment and it has come at a REALLY bad time. I finally managed to get out of hospitality work after 11/12 years and got a job in insurance.... View more

Hi guys, hopefully this complies with the rules re: medications I'm having issues with my anxiety (GAD) at the moment and it has come at a REALLY bad time. I finally managed to get out of hospitality work after 11/12 years and got a job in insurance. I think the shock of a different workplace, the legalities, a confusing data entry program, and all the new stuff I need to remember kind of triggered my anxiety and it got really bad with bad nausea. I did 3 weeks of training, went home on a Friday and saw a doctor, who gave me an SSRI. I then missed the last two weeks of training due to the SSRI kicking my a**. Last Friday I went back to the doctors and he stated that by the two week mark I should have seen an improvement, but if anything I was way worse. I was having very tight, horrible feels in my chest like constant panic attacks and I wasn't sleeping, so the doctor told me to cut them off for 5 days and has given me another SSRI to start taking this coming Wednesday. He also gave me benzo tablets and is working on a Mental Health Plan so I can see a psychologist and finally try and get this GAD I've had for 20 years under control or gone. Work has extended training just for my circumstances, and is asking me to come in this week for solo training, after which I am on my own WFH (reason why I'm trying to get my anxiety under control). If I don't attend, my training is failed and I lose this job. I tried to organise something else with them to give myself time to get my anxiety under control but they weren't very open at all to that. So now I need to try and tackle this coming week without breaking down as I am still feeling very anxious and stressed. This leads to the benzo question: I'm looking at taking the benzo for my first day back into training tomorrow, but I'm also concerned I won't sleep tonight due to the anxiety. (I catch a bus into work and travelling does trigger motion sickness in me if I already don't feel great). My GP told me it lasts '24hr' but I'm not too sure. For the SSRI question: If I start taking the new SSRI this Wednesday, I am just concerned about being nauseous/tired for the training and WFH afterwards. Would love to hear others experience with both