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EeeDee A normal counselling session?
  • replies: 6

Hi, I am feeling very overwhelmed at the moment and can't stop crying. Some background my husband & I are seeing (skype) a marriage counsellor. I suffer with anxiety, had some traumatic experiences (with men mostly) which the counsellor is aware of b... View more

Hi, I am feeling very overwhelmed at the moment and can't stop crying. Some background my husband & I are seeing (skype) a marriage counsellor. I suffer with anxiety, had some traumatic experiences (with men mostly) which the counsellor is aware of but not discussed in any depth. I've had a loving but very strict, almost suffocating upbringing & witnessed domestic abuse, I still flinch even though my current situation is not abusive. Painfully shy I've worked hard at finding my voice and some confidence, but I'm still hyper sensitive & fragile. Today the counsellor focused entirely on my husbands feelings of frustration with me, as the session ended I was in tears, I feel completely invalidated, like a spoilt child for even daring to ask about my needs. As we signed out I heard the marriage counsellor say loudly a swear word. She phoned my husband to apologise, said we shouldn't of heard that but she was frustrated with herself & not at us or specifically me. I don't believe it, I feel silenced, I feel that to speak out & ask for something in return only ends in ugliness, I feel that I am the difficult one & should just learn to shut up & suck it up. I'm crying telling myself I'm horrible, selfish. unlovable and nothing is to be gained for asking for help. My husband says its not about blaming anyone & my turn will be next month, I know he is just trying to help in his way but it just feels that he was given the opportunity to communicate how he feels about me when we run into issues and I had no opportunity to give my side. I feel narcissistic or even like a spoiled brat for even thinking I should have had my turn to get heard & when I heard the counsellor swear at the end it confirmed everything I was feeling. Is it normal to focus on one partner for a session while the other is made to keep silent except to mirror back what they are hearing? I would of felt very uncomfortable if the roles were reversed and my hubby had to mirror back what I was feeling and experiencing without him having the opportunity to respond for an entire hour. Should we continue with these counselling sessions? I just don't know what's normal but something is telling me that I shouldn't be crying like this & feeling worse, its bringing up past traumas of 'keeping quiet'. But if I'm the one asking to pull the plug on these sessions then I will be seen as the difficult, selfish one. Any insight into what would be the healthiest course in this will be greatly appreciated. Thankyou.

Klaura MRI scan and inpatient treatment
  • replies: 4

Hi all, i have had treatment resistant depression for 10 years now and recently diagnosed with bipolar depression. I’ve been on 18 different medications, seen a handful of different psychologists and nothing is helping. My psychiatrist of 7 years jus... View more

Hi all, i have had treatment resistant depression for 10 years now and recently diagnosed with bipolar depression. I’ve been on 18 different medications, seen a handful of different psychologists and nothing is helping. My psychiatrist of 7 years just told me he can’t help me anymore and i feel alone. Over the last year my depression has gotten a lot worse and my suicidal thoughts have come back with a vengeance. On top of this I’m feeling more confused and forgetful than normal. My hands are losing strength and I’ve been told it’s caused by my anxiety. I was told ECT and TMR won’t work for me because of the number of medications I’ve been through. I’m at my wits end and something needs to change. My mum wants me to do a MRI but I don’t know what that’ll tell me. Does anyone know if this will benefit me at all? I’m also looking at inpatient care but I don’t know if this I’ll be of any benefit to me. I need more than a Band-Aid fix. Does anyone have any advice?

nootnoot Finding a New Psychiatrist
  • replies: 5

I have been seeing the same psychiatrist for around 2 years initially for my ADHD. My appointments are usually every 3 months and I am getting nothing out of them. She asks how I am going to which I tell her but she doesn't take it on board and chang... View more

I have been seeing the same psychiatrist for around 2 years initially for my ADHD. My appointments are usually every 3 months and I am getting nothing out of them. She asks how I am going to which I tell her but she doesn't take it on board and changes the subject back to how my ADHD medication is going. It's a lot of money every 3 months just to get a prescription. I'm after recommendations for how to go about finding a new psychiatrist. One that has experience with adult ADHD and is good to talk to about relationship issues/depression/anxiety. I'd prefer someone on my side of the city as I have a 4 month old baby and need to find someone to watch him while I go to my appointment. I will consider psychs further away if they have great recommendations. Thank you.

Guest_5608 Medication Decision
  • replies: 6

Hi There, I have depression and anxiety. I have been seeing a psychologist for almost a year, this has been helpful. Although, almost everyday I just feel terrible, so worn out, emotional exhausted by people, hate being out in public by myself as I f... View more

Hi There, I have depression and anxiety. I have been seeing a psychologist for almost a year, this has been helpful. Although, almost everyday I just feel terrible, so worn out, emotional exhausted by people, hate being out in public by myself as I feel so self conscious and nervous, gained a bunch of weight recently after maintaining a health weight for 10+years, zero motivation and ambition anymore, jaded feeling, and trying to survive a toxic work environment so I can pay for short term medical expenses + weekly pyscholgist appointments. I got recommended a SSRI by my GP, it's been sitting in my cupboard for months without me ever taking it. I think because of my Retail job I'm scared of navigating any potential side effects while working there, there will be little support for time off and we are chronically short staffed which just adds pressure. Also, I heard insomnia is a common side effect of SSRIS? Worried about this is affecting my job and mental wellbeing. I should mention my depression and anxiety pre-dates my current job. I just find the job much harder to cope with than I used too. Any advise would mean the world

tmas Information about neurodivergence?
  • replies: 1

Basically, a number of professionals (there have been many) have used the term neurodivergent, including my last therapist and current psychiatrist who I am finally seeing next week after far too many months. I was listening to The Neurodivergent Wom... View more

Basically, a number of professionals (there have been many) have used the term neurodivergent, including my last therapist and current psychiatrist who I am finally seeing next week after far too many months. I was listening to The Neurodivergent Woman podcast and it resonated A LOT. Im not self diagnosing by any means and perhaps some of what I’m experiencing comes down to OCD. I just have never shaken the feeling that something more is happening and I haven't had the confidence to actually pursue any of this with a professional (I never even saw my official diagnoses until I was discharged from hospital and they gave me papers and stuff in summary). What Im asking is what have your experiences been with neurodivergence? How would you approach this with a professional and what would that entail? Much thanks, feel free to inform me about language and stuff.

engorged_fairy Why shouldn't I cancel all but functional and holistic services?
  • replies: 4

My psychiatrist has helped me - They found a medication really works for my anxiety. Nothing will help for my depression due to being depressed during developmental years, apparently. I don't think he can do much especially since I've reached the max... View more

My psychiatrist has helped me - They found a medication really works for my anxiety. Nothing will help for my depression due to being depressed during developmental years, apparently. I don't think he can do much especially since I've reached the maximum dose of that medication. I've been seeing psychologists since 1999, possibly 1998, and they have never helped. I'm at the whim of my brain. I feel like I'm wasting Medicare money and their time if they continue bulk billing, and wasting my own money or NDIS money if I start paying for the services. I don't want to cancel support workers because they help me around the house and actually do specific things, and take me to appointments and take me to nice places where I can feel a little bit better (get me out in nature where I can calm down a little). I don't want to cancel equine therapy because the horses and her dogs make me feel happier. I don't want to cancel yoga therapy, because sometimes I feel a little better after an appointment. I'm not going to cancel immediately right now, but it's been playing on my mind that I might be wasting my and their time, and also money (whether it be my own, Medicare, or NDIA) by continuing the medical/psychiatric services that do nothing. Why should I keep them? I really want to find an answer, because I know they can be so helpful.

Ames82 Struggle to actually take the meds ,
  • replies: 7

I have depression , anxiety and CPTSD. I have been given anti depressants as well as anti psychotic meds. Previously I was able to take the anti psychotic meds as I saw it as a quick fix as within a hour they kicked in . However now I can’t even take... View more

I have depression , anxiety and CPTSD. I have been given anti depressants as well as anti psychotic meds. Previously I was able to take the anti psychotic meds as I saw it as a quick fix as within a hour they kicked in . However now I can’t even take any form of meds because I’m so low that self care is basically Non existent. My doctor says” you just need to put it in your mouth” but if only it was that easy. I have tried a psychiatrist in the past to help with meds but it didn’t help. I’m looking for support in how I can motivate myself to take the meds. I’m really struggling and it’s obviously a viscous circle that I need meds to help with everything but the struggle to take is worse than ever. Any advice would be appreciated .

OatyBoaty Desperately need help in helping an adult victim of online sexual predation/grooming/narcissistic abuse
  • replies: 17

Hi, I can't summarize this situation if I tried, but I have attempted to condense it as much as possible (13 posts...lol) My ex-girlfriend of 4.5yrs (who I will call Sara) a 27y/o from NSW, Australia has been successfully groomed by an online sexual ... View more

Hi, I can't summarize this situation if I tried, but I have attempted to condense it as much as possible (13 posts...lol) My ex-girlfriend of 4.5yrs (who I will call Sara) a 27y/o from NSW, Australia has been successfully groomed by an online sexual predator (21y/o from Laredo, TX) that she has never met last year, and his abuse continues. (I will call him Miguel), and I need help stopping it. I was (un)fortunate enough to have experience with almost exactly this scenario before before with some female friends about 13yrs ago, so immediately saw all the red flags and identified what was going on after the break-up, otherwise I would have up and left her the moment she broke up with me (as a result of his influence), and viewed the whole thing as "she monkey branched, she cheated, she's a horrible person, don't look back", I am staying and fighting because the women I knew who suffered at their hands of online predation engaged in suicidal behaviours...1 died by suicide, the other lived to tell the tale, in great detail. I hoped I would never have to have that experience...but here I am, in the midst of it. He groomed her over a 2 month period, caused her to 'break up' with our mutual friends, and mistreat her family. Her poor behavior created a divide between her and I, and since she had no friends, she went to him, and he manufactured a break-up (which I've since found out she WASN'T wanting to do, but did it because at the time, she was angry), then immediately (within 3 days...possibly less) told her he loved her and started love-bombing her, and isolating her from everyone, right as we had JUST moved into a house on our own that her parents owned after living together at her parents place for the last 2.5yrs in a DLUG that we renovated. 9 days after the breakup, she questioned his intentions in a really naive and silly way (I snooped messaged to find out what I was dealing with, I had never snooped in my life), effectively telling him that she wishes she didn't care what people said about him, but she does, and is hoping he will clear up her doubts, before asking him if he is manipulating her (doh!). 2 days after that, he sexualized their relationship online. I lived with her for 2 months in the new house, it was hell. Whenever we got close, he told her things like "Be careful of yourself around him" and "You had a moment of weakness". He would match her hours of sleep, or cut his sleep so he could be with her more (almost 24/7), and hoover her with love bombing.

Purofilion HAVE NO MOTIVATION FEELING SCARED ALL THE TIME
  • replies: 4

I have had Crohn’s for 40 yrs. I am on a lot of pain relief which in the past weeks I’ve increased the dose of but I know I can’t maintain that. I’m retired from work and sick and tired of being sick tired. I’m also scared . I don’t want to get out o... View more

I have had Crohn’s for 40 yrs. I am on a lot of pain relief which in the past weeks I’ve increased the dose of but I know I can’t maintain that. I’m retired from work and sick and tired of being sick tired. I’m also scared . I don’t want to get out of bed . To people I smile, slap on lippy, put on decent clothes but inside I’m empty, & scared & don’t want to do ANYTHING. I spend a lot of time thinking it’s easier to be finished. Any advice? Please!! — I know I should put “1 foot in front of the other” but I can’t start that or know how. Because life is attached to the loo or the shower, (I get diarrhoea a lot) I don’t have the ability to make plans. I’m often cancelling .

KMF Constant fatigue and antidepressant
  • replies: 4

Hello I have been taking an antidepressant since November last year. I am experiencing the side effect of constant fatigue which I’m finding very challenging. I would love to hear from anyone who is or has experienced this side effect. I will be touc... View more

Hello I have been taking an antidepressant since November last year. I am experiencing the side effect of constant fatigue which I’m finding very challenging. I would love to hear from anyone who is or has experienced this side effect. I will be touching base with my care team soon - I can’t keep living like this. Thanks