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Chemical_Inbalance Pre-employment medical
  • replies: 1

Hi, I've had a return of mental health symptoms recently and have restarted medication under guidance from my GP. The main cause of my issues I believe is my job. Just today a job has been advertised which I am going to apply for. I take medication d... View more

Hi, I've had a return of mental health symptoms recently and have restarted medication under guidance from my GP. The main cause of my issues I believe is my job. Just today a job has been advertised which I am going to apply for. I take medication daily. I have done a urine test I bought from the pharmacy and it shows positive for benzo. My worry is that the medication I've been taking is going to make me fail a drug test. I'd rather not disclose my mental health issues for fear of not getting a look in. I might have a week or two before needing to do a drug test (if I am even successful). I think I'll stop the medication.. I haven't been on it long term yet. If I disclose my medication to the medical group performing the test, can they remove any false positive? After all the employer is only meant to test for alcohol and illicit drugs. Does anybody have any advice? Really appreciate it.

PivotonianPariah91 Finding a therapist during COVID
  • replies: 1

G'day, I live rurally in Geelong. Tried my best locally to get a mental health plan with the doctor, but the wait time is excruciating. Furthermore, when I've gone for the appointment, they've changed the time and then forced me to wait all over agai... View more

G'day, I live rurally in Geelong. Tried my best locally to get a mental health plan with the doctor, but the wait time is excruciating. Furthermore, when I've gone for the appointment, they've changed the time and then forced me to wait all over again. My partner had a baby recently. Its been hard on her, but we are getting through. I had a traumatic upbringing. More emotional than physical abuse, and an alcoholic mother. Absent father who returned when I was almost 30. Rant over. But I have wild mood swings, and have always had from early adulthood. Gone from flying one minute, happy and full of confidence, to low ebb, no energy, and even flashes of anger. I don't want my daughter growing up with the anger I witnessed as a child, and I want to get my head straight, so I can be healthy for myself, and help my partner and daughter the best I can. I am also completing a Pharmacy degree, so its to all our benefits if my mental health is on track. I am sorry for the rant. Just really want someone to talk to. I don't have money, but I have the time to invest. Cheers

Jeza Neurofeedback (retraining the brain)
  • replies: 5

Hi all, Does anyone out there have any experience with Neurofeedback? It's a technique that can be used to reduce anxiety, depression and the effects of trauma through retraining the brain. I have done a lot of research into Neurofeedback and based o... View more

Hi all, Does anyone out there have any experience with Neurofeedback? It's a technique that can be used to reduce anxiety, depression and the effects of trauma through retraining the brain. I have done a lot of research into Neurofeedback and based on this, I believe that this technique may help me with some long term issues. I start my Neurofeedback work in 2 days so I'll let you all know how it goes. Wish me luck! Jeza

Stormgrl101 Major depression..Neurofeedback therapy..
  • replies: 2

Hello.. Well I have been dealing with depression and anxiety issues since I was 16 or 17,am now 26. I have done talking therapy, tried various medications, had a hospital admission but nothing seems to get better. Yesterday I saw a another profession... View more

Hello.. Well I have been dealing with depression and anxiety issues since I was 16 or 17,am now 26. I have done talking therapy, tried various medications, had a hospital admission but nothing seems to get better. Yesterday I saw a another professional to get results of recent testing and brain tests. He said that I have major depressive disorder and social anxiety, no chronic anxiety. He suggest I try a new type of therapy as nothing has worked for me previously and I am soon to start neurofeedback therapy. He showed images of my brain which showed parts of my brain not functioning as they should for people my age. He was quite positive that this therapy will help, and when I'm feeling a bit better, talking therapy will start to help. Has anyone had any experience with neurofeedback therapy?

Guest_9872 Autism level 1
  • replies: 12

I received a diagnosis of autism level 1 in 2020, at an age in my 40s. I requested the assessment myself, after suspecting I probably had the condition. I wrongly assumed that the diagnosis would lead to a list of next steps and that doctors and psyc... View more

I received a diagnosis of autism level 1 in 2020, at an age in my 40s. I requested the assessment myself, after suspecting I probably had the condition. I wrongly assumed that the diagnosis would lead to a list of next steps and that doctors and psychologists would understand the condition. Neither has proven to be the case. I am not entitled to NDIS because I am level 1, not 2 or 3, and I am an adult. I managed to find a psychologist (after looking for months) and get a mental health plan. I am working out all the implications of the diagnosis and I have done a lot of reading but I have been very disappointed at the lack of support from the medical/psychological professions ( with the exception of the psychologist I managed to find) and the government. There is no recognition of late diagnosed level 1 autism in New South Wales. I believe the other states are better, even though it is supposedly a federal issue. The support groups tend to be for males, younger people or level 2/3 autism. I am the wrong demographic for most support groups. I have done a lot of investigation and found very little other than books and blogs. I personally think that level 1 autistic adults should be entitled to most or all of what we would be entitled to if we were children. We did not receive the support in earlier decades.

Rosebud78 Help- therapy advice leads to family melt down what do I do now
  • replies: 9

So I have started to see a new therapist, who is just filling in until I can see someone else in her practice who is better suited to my needs apparently, 路‍ and what she had me do today regarding boundaries has basically got my whole family in melt ... View more

So I have started to see a new therapist, who is just filling in until I can see someone else in her practice who is better suited to my needs apparently, 🤷‍ and what she had me do today regarding boundaries has basically got my whole family in melt down. After just 1visit (this was only the second visit) she said that I had very bad boundaries(and yes that is right) and that I needed to tell my 20somethings foster/adopted sons and daughter-in-law who all have trauma backgrounds of their own what I need from them in our home. They may not have been big things but her way of doing it-via a letter that I put in the fridge for them to read- went very very very badly. The kids now think that I don’t love them or want them at home. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to sort out this mess at home nor do I want to go back and see this woman again! I feel as if I have destroyed everything that my husband and I have worked hard to build. Like I have lost my whole family. I just don’t know how to move forward

Jeff_M Anxiety diagnosis and medication - struggling to get any improvement
  • replies: 3

Hi there, keen to hear any suggestions/shared experiences for Anxiety/maybe OCD. My 15 year old daughter was diagnosed as having OCD about a year ago but we're not sure that's what is really happening. We've tried three medications to bring down the ... View more

Hi there, keen to hear any suggestions/shared experiences for Anxiety/maybe OCD. My 15 year old daughter was diagnosed as having OCD about a year ago but we're not sure that's what is really happening. We've tried three medications to bring down the anxiety so she can function - get to and stay at school for a day. If she has OCD it seems to be ruminations/obsessions/compulsions, not contamination OCD, with most obvious manifestation being obsessive perfectionist approach to schoolwork, but diagnosis is also that she has all of the anxieties at a high level. She tried two SSRIs last year but neither had any effect and one made her quite agitated. She's now been on a tricyclic for three months but only a therapeutic dose (as I understand it) for six weeks, and she's not feeling any improvement. Therapy isn't really working as her anxiety is still so high. Today we went to look at hospital treatment but she didn't like the idea and I could see how the procedures would trigger her anxieties. We've looked at lifestyle things like calming, meditation and exercise but she hasn't been in the frame to do any. Keen for any thoughts/suggestions on next or other steps.

Mark h Can anybody recommend non prescription treatments for Anxiety / Depression?
  • replies: 10

Good afternoon everyone. I am hoping you can help with any advice or experiences for myself. I have been diagnosed with a long term anxiety disorder (so GAD) which of course borders into depression also being that they tend to run side by side with e... View more

Good afternoon everyone. I am hoping you can help with any advice or experiences for myself. I have been diagnosed with a long term anxiety disorder (so GAD) which of course borders into depression also being that they tend to run side by side with each other. I have been taking medication for many years now and at night to help with sleep. Recently my wife and I have separated which has caused a flare up with anxiety / depression. It's been extremely stressful and it looks like this will continue for a while yet. Ii am told it may take up to 2 years to get myself back on my feet and so far it's only been 4 months. I would love to hear from anyone who can recommend any herbal treatments or supplements that have helped in relieving anxiety / depression symptoms. I have of course looked online and read through different sites and it looks like the main ones include Rhodiola, Vitamin D, Omega 3, GABA and Kava. I have also heard that whilst it can be costly, CBD oil is also a good option to look into? Whatever help and advice you can provide would be great. I don't particularly want to increase my meds as such because of the side effects so if herbal supplements or other remedies can help I would rather pursue these options. Thanks again for all of your continued support and help. Mark

Klaura Type of therapy for treatment resistant depression
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I’ve been dealing with treatment resistant depression for seven years and have tried CBT and normal “talk therapy,” which haven’t helped. My main issue is fatigue and being so tired that I can’t be bothered doing anything. I’ve been gett... View more

Hi everyone, I’ve been dealing with treatment resistant depression for seven years and have tried CBT and normal “talk therapy,” which haven’t helped. My main issue is fatigue and being so tired that I can’t be bothered doing anything. I’ve been getting worse lately and have been skipping more and more days off work because I’m so exhausted. does anyone know of any type of therapy that may work for me? Thanks

Klaura Is it worth going into psychiatric care?
  • replies: 7

Hi all, I’ve been dealing with treatment resistant depression for 7 years and haven’t gotten much better. I have periods where I can’t function at least once a weak and I spend the day sleeping because I’m too tired to do anything. Im getting really ... View more

Hi all, I’ve been dealing with treatment resistant depression for 7 years and haven’t gotten much better. I have periods where I can’t function at least once a weak and I spend the day sleeping because I’m too tired to do anything. Im getting really low because I’m so exhausted and I can’t tell if it’s my medications or the depression and insomnia. I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere with my psychiatrist anymore and I feel he’s getting desperate and besides the six antidepressants I’m on, he’s also put me on a large number of supplements to counter a potential metabolic disorder but it’s not helping. I’ve tried therapy and apparently I’m not eligible for ECT or TMS. Im wondering whether it would be worth going into a hospital to have more one on one treatment. Would anyone recommend? Thanks x