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jsm1974 Finding the right therapist on a Mental Health Care Plan
  • replies: 8

I'm currently seeing a psychiatrist, who has been predictably unsupportive as well as a therapist. I've struggled with depression (complete with constant suicidal ideation) and anxiety my entire life, but due to recent events these have become far mo... View more

I'm currently seeing a psychiatrist, who has been predictably unsupportive as well as a therapist. I've struggled with depression (complete with constant suicidal ideation) and anxiety my entire life, but due to recent events these have become far more intense than ever before. My therapy sessions have felt very disconnected up to this point, but today it was almost as if he was accusing me of not actively engaging in my own recovery despite the fact all I do is try. Much of what he said left me feeling far worse than when I walked in, so I'm thinking it's time for a new therapist. The complicated part is that I'm on a mental health care plan and have just had a review and my 7th session, which leaves me 3 more plus the additional 10 for COVID. What I'm wondering is whether it is too late to change therapists at this point?

Ellie_C89 Getting support is really hard
  • replies: 4

For a long time, I have struggled with my mental health. I go through periods when everything is fine but as I get older I feel like my resilience is getting weaker and weaker and I am finding it harder to deal with things that wouldn't have bothered... View more

For a long time, I have struggled with my mental health. I go through periods when everything is fine but as I get older I feel like my resilience is getting weaker and weaker and I am finding it harder to deal with things that wouldn't have bothered me in the past. I am 32 and since I was 16, I have been medicated for depression and anxiety but never had a formal diagnosis by anyone. I have long-standing issues and I have been to many GP's and felt like I haven't gotten anywhere productive. The medication doesn't work and getting in to see a specialist is almost impossible since COVID hit. Appointments are full until next year. I am at a point now where I feel like everything is too much and when I think about disappearing I feel relief at the thought. I know this isn't right and having a father that committed suicide, I know all too well the pain that it causes those left behind. But as time goes on the things that have been a barrier to me ever thinking of taking that next step are slipping away. I call Lifeline on the days it gets tough but there is no real continuation of support, its a bandaid and I am left thinking can I really keep going like this until next year just to see a specialist. I am sick of my anxiety, depression, anger outbursts, constant worrying, fear, paranoia, tiredness and more getting in the way of me enjoying my life. It is exhausting constantly having to push through and do daily tasks and maintaining this perfect professional persona at work. My sister has been diagnosed with PTSD, Bipolar disorder and a myriad of other things and in hindsight, I should have sought help a lot sooner, but I am the older sister and I tried to be strong. People relied on me to be the rock, but now it is desperate and I don't know what to do. Even getting into a GP is difficult if you want to see a good one that actually cares. I am scared if my partner knew how dire my situation is he would not want to be with me anymore and I am scared of losing my job because I am so sensitive now. I know we shouldn't rely on google to diagnose ourselves, but I have for a long time felt that I have more than just anxiety and depression. But when I have spoken about it with a GP they just put me on a different anti-depressant. I get so angry a lot and I am trying so hard to not be like my parents but I feel like every day I am becoming more and more like them and then I hate myself more and more and its this destructive cycle that just doesnt end.

Alooshk Multiple counsellors??
  • replies: 8

Hello everyone! Has anybody tried having 2 counsellors? I have a psychologist at the moment who I think is great I've seen some progress with him but with his long line of patients and clients he has he doesn't have a lot of time to tend to me and my... View more

Hello everyone! Has anybody tried having 2 counsellors? I have a psychologist at the moment who I think is great I've seen some progress with him but with his long line of patients and clients he has he doesn't have a lot of time to tend to me and my emails. Even when he does he doesn't have all the time in the world to read what I've written and usually sends a very short response. Sometimes it's 1 email to every 9 I send to him. It's nothing against him he is great but a lot of the time it's urgent and it just feels like I'm left to sit with the issue. Is this the norm? Do counsellors tend to be as absent as mine? And should I find a therapist on the side to be there for every other moment where he's not? Maybe one that is more nurturing, more present and doesn't have the huge spread of patients to give more attention? How would that work? Would my psychologist and therapist need to work together? Would it be counter productive? Just confuse me? Thanks!

Alooshk Profanity From a Psychologist?
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone! At this point I feel like I'm just coming onto Beyond Blue to complain about my counsellor, clearly a sign that I need a change, but it's still something I'd like to get a second opinion on about. For me I definitely think this puts the ... View more

Hi everyone! At this point I feel like I'm just coming onto Beyond Blue to complain about my counsellor, clearly a sign that I need a change, but it's still something I'd like to get a second opinion on about. For me I definitely think this puts the nail in the coffin for me. I had already complained about his sense of judgement, lack of emotional reassurance or even just lack of presence in my life even when I'm going through something difficult, but this one kind of took me off-guard and was a totally uncalled for response. His response to something I'm going through was (exactly these words) "they're bull**** of your own making. no one else thinks that **** but you. just saying!!!". I don't know if I'm overreacting here but this is not really something you want to hear from a psychologist now is it? Not a little bit unprofessional?? Or uncalled for? Would just like to get some other people's perspective on this.

Carpetenthusiast Feel lost with finding a psychologist
  • replies: 5

I've been to 2 therapists, the first was brief and I changed for practical reasons, and the second I went to for a good year or so. It did help significantly in only certain areas, but I still felt that I had major issues that are supposed to be "tre... View more

I've been to 2 therapists, the first was brief and I changed for practical reasons, and the second I went to for a good year or so. It did help significantly in only certain areas, but I still felt that I had major issues that are supposed to be "treatable" which haven't been resolved yet, and I really feel that I need to continue therapy while resolving these issues(anxiety related). I recently stopped going because he got somewhat condescending over time, and I felt that his views were simply biased in a way that's too different to mine and I started to feel judged and talked down to, so I stopped. I found a psychiatrist, who prescribed me SSRIs and told me to go back to the psychologist. I decided, that my anxiety isn't absolutely debilitating, and I thought it over and researched it and decided that I haven't gotten to the point of needing SSRIs, yet. So I didn't take the medication, and cancelled all appointments. I really feel that I need a therapist, because I need it while resolving certain issues, but I am feeling lost. My last psychologist was overall very experienced and skilled, but we were simply not the right match to go forward. So I feel hopeless because I take a look at websites and feel that most therapists will be mediocre. I've read stories of people going from one mediocre therapist to another hopelessly. I feel there is no solution of finding "therapist reviews" anywhere. Thing is, my anxiety is deeply complicated and other mental issues, a generic therapist that can't handle heavy issues is not going to help me. I feel trapped and unable to reach out...

JustAnotherMonth scared to try
  • replies: 4

so i have been to many diffrent therapist in the past my biggest issue is i wont say anything unless directly asked, they ask me about my day my week ect. and im just thinking how is this helping i want to just talk about the issue at hand (my trauma... View more

so i have been to many diffrent therapist in the past my biggest issue is i wont say anything unless directly asked, they ask me about my day my week ect. and im just thinking how is this helping i want to just talk about the issue at hand (my trauma) and i feel to awkward to just come out and say it. i feel like they tiptoe around it like its a bomb and i am just wanting to face it, it doesnt help that im the type of person who doesnt understand broad questions, they just go over my head and ill answer the most direct because thats what i think they are asking, i also dont get when they are implying something in my head i am not regestering that it was them asking me more because it was just a comment not a direct question (my partner does this too and he often has to explain i missed what he meant like i dont register him saying "im feeling sad" as him asking for me to hug or talk to him because well he didnt directly ask for that) anyway my point is i am worried about going back to the doctors as i am worried they are just going to tip toe around it again and just make me more confused and frustrated. i have been off medication a year becuase it made me extremely sleepy and well i started to feel better but lately the hullucinations and paranoia are comming back and at random that feeling that the world isnt real when i know it is thinking its a dream, paranoia and constantly worrying if i really did something or not (ie. did i really cross the road on a green light or did i imagine it (then i will hyper focus on the fact it might have been red and have a breakdown from stress) did i go to the park or was that imaginary too ect.) honestly its gotten to the point i dont trust myself, for the saftey of my son my partner and MIL has taken over all childcare duties until i can get my medication sorted. most days are good but the bad ones are really bad and im so worried what to do without having a psych that can just ask me direct questions the worst part is i dont even know what is wrong with me im not diagnosed but i know that this isnt normal im scared it will get to the point i wont be able to tell myself "no thats not real"

Coco18-8 First session
  • replies: 5

Hi, I just had my first counselling session and idk I just thought I would feel better after it but infact I do not feel better. I feel nothing really, I’m not sure why but I had this vision that all would be better after my first session but I don’t... View more

Hi, I just had my first counselling session and idk I just thought I would feel better after it but infact I do not feel better. I feel nothing really, I’m not sure why but I had this vision that all would be better after my first session but I don’t feel amazing. If anything I’m a little upset that I’m going to counseling, ashamed maybe and misunderstood I understand it’s my first session so it will take time for my counsellor to understand me but idk I just feel sad for some reason. Is this normal?

Deckard Getting help for possible dysthymia, but months to see a psychologist. What to do in the meantime?
  • replies: 3

Finally took steps after a decade or more of feeling flat, down, dull and lacking joy. Saw a GP. Initial thoughts are dysthymia (seems to fit). I know I’ve picked a terrible time to finally do something about this with Covid affecting so many and men... View more

Finally took steps after a decade or more of feeling flat, down, dull and lacking joy. Saw a GP. Initial thoughts are dysthymia (seems to fit). I know I’ve picked a terrible time to finally do something about this with Covid affecting so many and mental health services taking such a battering (funnily enough, changes from Covid haven’t really affected my life), but my first referral has estimated April next year to actually see someone. What am I meant to do until then? I don’t really want to feel like this for another 6 months.

Here2Talk Thoughts on rejection by a psychologist
  • replies: 17

Hi all, Don't know why I’m posting. To simplify my back story, I have had generalised and social anxiety for most of my life. been through a few therapists, all of whom have been supportive, though only ever allayed my symptoms marginally... I went t... View more

Hi all, Don't know why I’m posting. To simplify my back story, I have had generalised and social anxiety for most of my life. been through a few therapists, all of whom have been supportive, though only ever allayed my symptoms marginally... I went to a clinical psychologist (drove 250kms to really try to sort myself out properly this time.... maybe.... and by halfway through a first session has said maybe I have add and that I shouldn’t her and to find a psychiatrist instead. Without going into my concerns here (simply because the story is lengthy), I don’t agree that there’s nothing she can do for me, she is seeing me for one more session to clarify. Yet part of me is conflicted and hurt- why would a “professional” - with two bachelor degrees and a master degree and a PhD abandon someone after - it was clear by half an hour into the first session that she was not interested.... Why can you not even pay people to talk to you? And why do I want to continue therapy with this person? Part of me is cognizant of how difficult and expensive it has been to set this up but I feel like almost I’ve been betrayed..... anyway... comment if you have thoughts

crepuscolo Grief and the HSC
  • replies: 8

Hey guys - first post here I'm not too sure what forum this classifies under, but here it is. My father passed away a month and a bit ago, while in the middle of trials. I am usually a high achieving student, but the past few weeks have been impossib... View more

Hey guys - first post here I'm not too sure what forum this classifies under, but here it is. My father passed away a month and a bit ago, while in the middle of trials. I am usually a high achieving student, but the past few weeks have been impossible to focus. Now, the HSC is 45 days away, and I have a big exam at the end of this month. I really don't know how to juggle the HSC and grief my dad and I were best friends so it hurts all the more. Thank you, and stay safe. C