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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

Clues_Of_Blue Possible ADHD
  • replies: 10

Recent conversations with my counsellor, family, friends and partner have shed a different light on a whole bunch of things that have been normal for me for as long as I can remember. Like most people, when I heard about ADHD, it was usually about li... View more

Recent conversations with my counsellor, family, friends and partner have shed a different light on a whole bunch of things that have been normal for me for as long as I can remember. Like most people, when I heard about ADHD, it was usually about little boys bouncing all over the place. If you're not specifically looking, it's not at all clear it's something experienced by girls and adults of both sexes as well, and the symptoms are surprising. My sister has recently discovered she has it. It runs in families, but that's only one box checked. Mind running constantly, like two or more radio stations blaring all the time. Check! Constantly getting distracted and bouncing from task to task to task, forgetting each as a new one (or one I started earlier) presents itself. Check! Insanely lengthy (and plentiful) to-do lists everywhere, reminders and alarms - and still forgetting important things (like meds) regularly. Check! There's a lot more, but that's the gist. I have a referral to a psychiatrist in hopes of diagnosis (or ruling it out, but somehow I don't think so) - and I'll be stewing on it at least 3 months, as the dude's booked up until June. I'd like to hear from anyone who has been diagnosed, about the journey there. I'm somewhat concerned about being taken seriously and listened to, as everything I'm reading suggests even professionals are often poorly educated about ADHD and an adult has an uphill battle getting a diagnosis for this - a female adult all the more so. I'm writing down every example I can think of, of symptomatic behaviour (so many notes!), and could do with an idea of what sort of questions they will ask - a lot of what I'm reading suggests adults and women present very differently to little boys, but the little boy symptoms are often what they base diagnostic criteria on. Sounds like a problem area right there. I'd also like to hear about symptom-related experiences, coping strategies and therapies that have helped people here. I've already read a few good tips, like having someone around to keep you "on task" when possible to get things done around the house, regularly tweaking routines to keep boredom from undermining attention to important things, aiming to achieve something small early in the day to break the sense of getting nowhere for the day ahead (boy that's a big one for me, I struggle when I don't do that). I could waffle on for ages (following that daisy-chain of runaway thoughts), but I'll stop there for now. Blue.

JaneC76 Why won’t anyone help me? Am I too much?
  • replies: 3

I have PTSD, I have an NDIS plan as I’m unable to work because of it. Ive been unwell for around 8 years, with multiple in patient stays. I’ve been doing well up to around March then it’s been very up down due to numerous triggers & general stressors... View more

I have PTSD, I have an NDIS plan as I’m unable to work because of it. Ive been unwell for around 8 years, with multiple in patient stays. I’ve been doing well up to around March then it’s been very up down due to numerous triggers & general stressors. As a result I’ve also had problems with insomnia to varying degrees. The last week there were some nights I had no sleep at all. I had my long standing appointment with my psychiatrist on Monday & told her the situation. She sounded frustrated & asked had it not occurred to me to ring her for an earlier appointment rather than wait so long. It hadn’t. I don’t want to be a burden & will try my absolute best to manage on my own. She prescribed a medication to assist sleep. It didn’t work & she didn’t follow up with me like she said. At this point my husband is concerned. I can’t function. I’m not sleeping or eating so he rings on Tuesday but hears nothing back. So I decide to skip some daytime meds in the hope of finally getting sleep. And voila it works, I sleep some. Not much but at least it’s something. Wednesday morning I have appointment with my psychotherapist who works in the same place as my psychiatrist. although this is Victoria where we are currently in lockdown I sob over this FaceTime appointment. Therapist says she is emailing my psychiatrist to ask whether I should have a hospital admission & whether I should be skipping medication. My therapist says don’t worry either me or your psychiatrist will call you back or if we can’t get a hold of you we will call your husband. But we will call you today. Its nearly 11pm & no ones called. Is it me? Am I doing something wrong? I’m constantly told I should reach out more but when I do I get nothing. The whole situation feels so hopeless for me.

Davey_NSW Withdrawal from medication
  • replies: 7

Hello everyone, I’m coming off almost 15 years of an SSRI, which is being managed in conjunction with my GP. I have managed a reduction in my dose and have now been completely off my meds for about 2.5 weeks. I am still experiencing withdrawals such ... View more

Hello everyone, I’m coming off almost 15 years of an SSRI, which is being managed in conjunction with my GP. I have managed a reduction in my dose and have now been completely off my meds for about 2.5 weeks. I am still experiencing withdrawals such as insomnia and foggy mind. Any tips on how on how to manage these withdrawals and how long I can expect to experience the withdrawals?

softdrinksandwich Antidepressant effects changing in first few weeks
  • replies: 2

I started taking medication 3 weeks ago to deal with severe OCD, anxiety and depression. My first week was strange as I adjusted to the medication - I was feeling better but really I was feeling different. Thinking differently, acting differently, it... View more

I started taking medication 3 weeks ago to deal with severe OCD, anxiety and depression. My first week was strange as I adjusted to the medication - I was feeling better but really I was feeling different. Thinking differently, acting differently, it was all an adjustment. I also had some minor side effects - nausea, dry throat, insomnia. The second week I felt amazing - my head was clear, I was thinking positively, and while I felt so different, I felt so good. I'm at the end of my third week, and things have changed again. My intrusive thoughts have returned significantly, and I'm once again much more anxious and stuck in my own head. I'm sharing this to understand if anyone else has had similar experiences. Is it a negative thing that the meds worked really well at first and have now tapered off this week? I want to be clear and say I do plan to keep taking the meds, as I know they can ultimately 6 weeks to really work long term. But this initial rollercoaster has had me concerned and perhaps I want to be reassured that it's all part of the process.