Immediate support
Immediate support

Treatments, health professionals and therapies

Information on a range of different areas, including managing relationships with GPs and psychologists, and finding the right services for you.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

All discussions

Start a discussion

Izzieste First Psychiatrist Visit Ever / So Many Issues To Mention
  • replies: 37

Hi everyone, after struggling with mental health pretty much my entire life (I'm now in my 40s) I have finally accepted my GPs referral to a psychiatrist. I've always felt a sense of being disconnected from everyone. I am highly sensitive to people a... View more

Hi everyone, after struggling with mental health pretty much my entire life (I'm now in my 40s) I have finally accepted my GPs referral to a psychiatrist. I've always felt a sense of being disconnected from everyone. I am highly sensitive to people as well as noise and bright lights. I feel drained after being around people or in brightly lit and noisy shopping centres. I also feel very stressed and anxious in a messy room or office. I'm afraid of heights, being immersed in water (so no pool, ocean, boats or water-based activities), bridges, spiders, snakes, medical procedures and I am claustrophobic. I do not cope well with chaos, which is making life and work very challenging because there no longer seems to be a lot of stability in life or work. I feel a bit calmer when there is order and structure, routine. I have low self-esteem, body image and trust issues. I have a type A, perfectionist personality and very high expectations of myself and life. I feel angry and frustrated all the time and emotional outbursts, after which I feel mortified and embarrassed. I've gradually been withdrawing from people to the point where I no longer see anyone outside work and my family lives overseas. I avoid dating completely as well because it seems like such a huge effort with a lot of risk of rejection and being on an emotional rollercoaster. I have a feeling I have lifelong GAD and depression, but for a while I've been feeling like there is more going on, like a mood or personality disorder. I've been taking medication for a few months but don't feel like it's helping me enough and overall my mental health is rapidly declining. I can't afford to lose my job so I feel like I have no choice but to get a proper diagnosis to help my GP and psychologist work out what approach might work better for me. At the same time, I am very nervous about what a psychiatrist will say. I have so many issues I don't even know where to start. Should I make a list before I go to maximise my appointment time? Do they just ask questions or do any other assessments? Can they force you to go to hospital without your consent? My gut feeling tells me I need to just stop thinking about it and just go, but it's a bit nerve-wracking at the same time.

MamaL How long for antidepressants to work?
  • replies: 2

Ok so my doctor prescribed me a dosage when I first saw her, and I was on that dose for 3.5 weeks - when I saw her again she upped the dosage as it wasn’t having the desired affect. It’s now been over 1.5 weeks at the new dose and I don’t think anyth... View more

Ok so my doctor prescribed me a dosage when I first saw her, and I was on that dose for 3.5 weeks - when I saw her again she upped the dosage as it wasn’t having the desired affect. It’s now been over 1.5 weeks at the new dose and I don’t think anything has changed yet.. does anyone know how long it will take for them to work properly? Or should I be going back to my doc soon? The physical symptoms I’ve been getting have been making it hard to do normal everyday activities on a day by day basis, so I’m trying to work out what to do. Maybe I’m just being impatient?? Also, I only noticed recently on the box that it says to “disperse the tablet in water and drink it or as discussed with doctor”, we never discussed this so I was just swallowing it like a normal tablet - am I supposed to be drinking it?! Would it be more effective if I did? The taste of it makes me gag as it is!

LucyJ84 Anger Management
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, I've decided to look into Anger Management after recently hitting my boyfriend. This isnt the first time either. We have had arguments and when I'm angry I also tend to go too far in nasty things I say. I also have a tendancy to throw th... View more

Hi everyone, I've decided to look into Anger Management after recently hitting my boyfriend. This isnt the first time either. We have had arguments and when I'm angry I also tend to go too far in nasty things I say. I also have a tendancy to throw things or slam doors. I dont want to go to my GP because they do the Mental Health Care Plan, and if I'm referred to a Psycologist, it is on my medical record for life that I have a "Mental Illness". I'm hoping to find some cheap or even free therapy. I dont mind if its one on one or group. I also dont mind how long I'd have to commit, I'd just like some help. I'm in Sydney, CBD would be preferable but not essential. Can any of you help or point me in the right direction? Hope you can help, Thanks! Lucy

DannyG New ECT
  • replies: 3

Hi all i have read the existing threads here on ECT i have a new psychiatrist who is recommending I have ECT as an inpatient. is anyone willing to share their experiences? many thanks

Hi all i have read the existing threads here on ECT i have a new psychiatrist who is recommending I have ECT as an inpatient. is anyone willing to share their experiences? many thanks

Panic90 Support Groups
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone I am looking to join/participate in a support group. I don't know how to find one to suit my circumstances. In short, I have anxiety and PTSD from being verbally and physically assaulted by a supervisor at work over an extended period of ... View more

Hi everyone I am looking to join/participate in a support group. I don't know how to find one to suit my circumstances. In short, I have anxiety and PTSD from being verbally and physically assaulted by a supervisor at work over an extended period of time. In my googling, all the support groups don't seem to apply to me. It wasn't sexual abuse or domestic violence. I don't have physical or cognitive disabilities. I am over 25 years old but still young. I wasn't abused as a child. I don't have children myself. I haven't been in jail. I don't have a refugee or culturally diverse background. I don't need assistance with housing daily living support. (I mention all these as they seem to be a common theme for support groups). I am mostly a functioning person, I work full time. I engage with a psychiatrist on and off (I'm off at the moment). I just want to see if a support group will assist with feeling less alone. It's a strange set of circumstances. Does anyone have any ideas where to look? I live in Queensland but also happy to participate in online groups. Also able to pay for the service if required

GFraham3196 searching
  • replies: 4

I am looking for a discussion about chronic fatigue syndrome I searched google and was directed to this forum. How do I find a thread that discusses this subject?

I am looking for a discussion about chronic fatigue syndrome I searched google and was directed to this forum. How do I find a thread that discusses this subject?

SL depression as a result of iron deficient anaemia
  • replies: 7

am i crazy or can this truly be real my health for the past few months has been disastrous, i had a blood test which showed that i was actually severely iron deficient and anaemic. i was prescribed iron and folic acid tablets to bring my numbers up, ... View more

am i crazy or can this truly be real my health for the past few months has been disastrous, i had a blood test which showed that i was actually severely iron deficient and anaemic. i was prescribed iron and folic acid tablets to bring my numbers up, but because of how severe my levels were i had to take them for longer than usual. its only recently that ive found im feeling like a different person, the tablets are supposed to help bring my energy levels up but i still feel lethargic and my mood has completely changed. im irritated, lethargic,overly emotional for no real reason, my thoughts are getting the better of me, ive withdrawn myself from my friends and im generally unhappy. its been going on for a month now, these constant feelings, i read that depression may be a side effect of iron deficiency anaemia but i dont understand how and i was wondering if anyone else out there might have this?

TMW987 Adjustment disorder?
  • replies: 2

I have been researching for so long the several episodes i have had over the past 4 years but nothing i can find describes it exactly, and it always happens when i have a few stressful situations at once, usually work social or training type things w... View more

I have been researching for so long the several episodes i have had over the past 4 years but nothing i can find describes it exactly, and it always happens when i have a few stressful situations at once, usually work social or training type things which i dread. So when i try to talk to my doctor she says its just stress and brushes me off. But each episode scares the absolute crap out of me, its awful. But im normal as soon as the stressful event is over. And today i read an article about Adjustment Disorder and its what happens to me down to a tee. I know now i need to see a professional to get help.. just wondering if anyone has any stories about this?