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Deckard Took a step and saw a GP. Waiting on bloods. What's next?
  • replies: 7

I've always had bouts of low level depression. This one is lasting a while and so I've seen a GP. Getting blood done first and go from there (my bloods have always been normal, so not expecting an easy fix like I'm low in Iron or Vitamin D). I'm not ... View more

I've always had bouts of low level depression. This one is lasting a while and so I've seen a GP. Getting blood done first and go from there (my bloods have always been normal, so not expecting an easy fix like I'm low in Iron or Vitamin D). I'm not someone dwelling on trauma. Covid hasn't really impacted my life. I don't have a stressful life. Home life is good. I've always had levels of social anxiety, but i don't get anxious about anything else. I'm not someone who worries about much. I'm flat, lack energy, lack motivation. Joyful things are a lot less joyful these days. Things seem kind of pointless. I'm tired. My big social hobby I just feel like quitting. Being around a bunch of people on the weekend was just exhausting. I'm irritable. I've looked at a few different online resources the GP suggested while waiting for results. Mood gym, Mind Spot etc. Nothing there has really helped so far or gelled for me. GP has suggested the possibility of a psychologist, which I'm not opposed to, but i certainly don't feel like I'm holding onto trauma or anything like that. I suppose I'm just kind of thinking is anything really going to work for me? I've never been an energetic, go-getting, extroverted sort of person and honestly, that's not what i aspire to be either. I just want some joy out of the life routine I'm going to have to live for at least a few decades still.

Luna_Fate New to BB, need guidance
  • replies: 4

Hello I have tried to apply for disability once and was denied. I wonder, I have generalised anxiety disorder, OCD, mild/moderate depression, thoughts of self harm, intrusive thoughts constantly, avoidance of almost anything but not agoraphobic, chil... View more

Hello I have tried to apply for disability once and was denied. I wonder, I have generalised anxiety disorder, OCD, mild/moderate depression, thoughts of self harm, intrusive thoughts constantly, avoidance of almost anything but not agoraphobic, childhood witness of sexual inappropriate behaviour, child of alcoholic, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, and a few more. Why do you feel they believe I can work? I tried working and now feel like I want to hide away in a home made fort like a kid with my cat. I do have a partner but he doesn't fully understand. As I write this I feel emotional. I feel sad and angry he doesn't get it but at the same he has only ever had one anxiety attack since I've known him and I helped him best I could. The Dr did also and he was ok. No residual anxiety. I just need to know, I'm on meds but have not seen a Psychiatrist, just continuing with what seems to work. I am in need of a Psychologist but not sure how to find out how many appointments are free? I think that was a Lot to post for first post. Sorry

Rishie Wondering if therapy is for me
  • replies: 2

Hello, My best friend has had therapy for over a year. She has a really good therapist and she has found it really helpful. I have depression and I am wondering if therapy is for me. One thing about me is that I find it far easier to write about how ... View more

Hello, My best friend has had therapy for over a year. She has a really good therapist and she has found it really helpful. I have depression and I am wondering if therapy is for me. One thing about me is that I find it far easier to write about how I feel, but talking about things does not come easily for me. I could write for an hour about what I think and feel and what's happening with me, but talking with someone for that time, even with them leading the conversation and asking questions, I think I'd find that really hard. When I'm really depressed, i would rather write a poem or write in my diary about what's going on with me, I'm able to express myself more clearly and go deeper by writing than by talking about it with someone, even someone I trust. I guess what I'm asking is, does anyone else have this kind of issue? If so, have you found therapy helpful? Any advice would be welcome. Thank you.

Steve3_87 RE: Bulk Billing Psychiatrist
  • replies: 2

Hi all Im trying to find a bulk billing psychiatrist. I need to see one for some medication for my ADHD. Can anyone recommend any ones that bulk bill even if i have to do one via video chat doesnt bother me. I just cant afford to pay the expense and ... View more

Hi all Im trying to find a bulk billing psychiatrist. I need to see one for some medication for my ADHD. Can anyone recommend any ones that bulk bill even if i have to do one via video chat doesnt bother me. I just cant afford to pay the expense and need this medication asap. TIA

Rupes79 How long to persevere with therapy
  • replies: 9

Hi Everyone I’ve been working with a psychologist for 6 months now and I don’t feel I am showing any improvement. If anything, I feel more despondent than when I started. Has anyone had a similar experience? How long do you persevere? The psychologis... View more

Hi Everyone I’ve been working with a psychologist for 6 months now and I don’t feel I am showing any improvement. If anything, I feel more despondent than when I started. Has anyone had a similar experience? How long do you persevere? The psychologist came highly recommended and I can tell she’s very experienced so starting to think it’s me and not her and that starting again with someone else is going to see myself in the same position 6 months down the track. Is there any advice that can be offered? thank you

Blueberry Cheese Medication dependance
  • replies: 1

Hello. Just a quick background - I’ve been taking antidepressants for years now with different sedatives along the way. I am being treated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My question is, will I be able to get off the medications without therapy a... View more

Hello. Just a quick background - I’ve been taking antidepressants for years now with different sedatives along the way. I am being treated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My question is, will I be able to get off the medications without therapy and go on with my life? Like a normal one. I just wanted to know if there is a possibility.

24yearoldgirl Side effects
  • replies: 2

Does anyone else get side-effects from medications? I've been diagnosed with a psychosis, and schizophreniform disorder, the medication I was previously on gave me a lot of fatigue and agitation. Also couldn't sleep. I've started to hear voices now o... View more

Does anyone else get side-effects from medications? I've been diagnosed with a psychosis, and schizophreniform disorder, the medication I was previously on gave me a lot of fatigue and agitation. Also couldn't sleep. I've started to hear voices now or people talking about me, and my doctor wants me on a new med, which can apparently cause weight-gain, agitation, low energy, nausea and permanent tremors.

Andy_12 Diagnosed ADHD 61yo and distrust of clinicians after misdiagnoses
  • replies: 3

I was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year, and it came like a bolt of lightning. Totally unexpected, but very grateful to finally at this stage of my life understand a major influencer of my life. It should not have been unexpected, as both my sons... View more

I was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year, and it came like a bolt of lightning. Totally unexpected, but very grateful to finally at this stage of my life understand a major influencer of my life. It should not have been unexpected, as both my sons to different mothers have been diagnosed. The condition is 80% inherited. There are lots of online resources about ADHD. Researching I discovered I am typical ADHD. Why did it take to this time of my life to be diagnosed? It has impacted all aspects of my life including social, emotional, cognitive and behavioural functioning. 15 years ago I saw a clinical psychiatrist, for depression and anxiety. He analysed me for two years and diagnosed me with a cluster B personality disorder. ADHD was not on his radar, nor my GP of over 20years. I was prescribed SSRI's, but they did not help. I then discovered stimulants and went on to self medicate. In my early 20's I learnt mindfulness and practiced yoga with a mantra, which I still practice. I travelled independently to every corner of the word for up to 4 months a year, from my early 20's to present. I had my own successful business in the adventure tour market, which enabled me to afford it. I also scuba dived to multiple locations around the world and within Australia logging over 1000 dives. Online, I have discovered clinicians need to take care diagnosing as several Personality Disorders share similar looking symptoms with ADHD, and can be easily confused. ADHD'ers have advised these personality and mood disorders melt away when properly treated with Psychostimulant medication, the first line of treatment. My personal experience has shown ADHD and its treatment is highly stigmatized and misunderstood by many clinicians. Be careful who you consult with. A good resource for ADHD'ers is the Comorbidity Guidelines from NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use at Sydney University. It provides a discussion of current best practice and evidence in Australia regarding the management and treatment of the more common comorbid mental health disorders. It is intended for clinicians but easily understood "ADHD and AOD use frequently co-occur, and there is evidence to suggest that the presence of ADHD is a primary risk factor for the development of AOD use disorders" I have been sober for 2 years now and going strong, with a loving and supportive wife.

Gwen_space Side effects Antidepressants
  • replies: 1

Hi my name is Gwen space and like many others during this rough time I experience anxiety and depression. Luckily recently I was able to go to physcitrist and been put on antidepressants. Have been on a low dose of antidepressants before that just ma... View more

Hi my name is Gwen space and like many others during this rough time I experience anxiety and depression. Luckily recently I was able to go to physcitrist and been put on antidepressants. Have been on a low dose of antidepressants before that just made my appetite a little less. However this time we’ve been increasing the doses each time I check in with them. I know about the other side effects and how the long time they affect you. At the start it was alright I did get the jitters when I took it and had to wait to calm plus it was effecting my sleep however that went away. And it was all good for while but then we increase about a week ago again my dosage and the side effect such as diarrhoea and low appetite came on. I went to a birthday party where I should’ve just stopped drinking, that was my bad. Which led me to breaking my all proud record of never spewing while drunk over my friends garden. Luckily I realised what was happening and ran out of the house to the nearest bush. I’m not a regular drinker and definitely have not had alcohol since. But after that for days I’ve been nausea, gagging to vomit that turns into a cough or burp. My appetite got even worse low with the thought of food makes me feel even more nasouse or even can’t physically putting food in my mouth. The last two days it has gotten better I can now stomach at most two light meals and trying to increase my water intake. I called my physiatrist up and agreed to adjust my antidepressants to a lower dose again for the past few days .My jitters and shakes come back except there their when I wake up. Causing my sleep to be disturbed and I need a family member to physically calm me down and my nasua or anxiety keeps me up late. So I’m not getting much sleep. I also getting headaches. I believe it’s been more then six weeks since I’ve been on antidepressants so I’m worried about about the side effects sticking around. I’ve been researching about side effects but it mostly comes up about information on what happens when switching or going off of them. I was just wondering if the anyone experience something similar when adjusting your meds to lower dose or how long did nasua effect you and if anyone woke up to similar jitters or shaking again how long did they effect you. I’m just beginning to worry these side effects will continue as long as I’m on my current antidepressants and crush because they didn’t effect me before.

Daily_Dose Doctor advised me to go back to work while I can't
  • replies: 3

Hi, this is my first time seeking for help on a forum. Any advices is appreciated or it's good writing out to reduce my stress. I had an accident doing farm work almost 6 months ago, that cut off half of my finger’s nail and a bit finger bone. I will... View more

Hi, this is my first time seeking for help on a forum. Any advices is appreciated or it's good writing out to reduce my stress. I had an accident doing farm work almost 6 months ago, that cut off half of my finger’s nail and a bit finger bone. I will skip a very stressful story with a lot of tears with the treatment process here. I had been paid by Workcover until a week ago my doctor advised me to return to work. The thing is somehow I have been recovering so slowly, it's still an open wound which I think takes 2 more months to be fully healed. I raised my concern to my doctor that I don't think I can work while the wound is still open and could bleed anytime, but he insisted that I can return to work. I am still living in the farm that I worked for before the accident. With lots of bad things happened recently, I am so vulnerable that I cannot leave my friends here to move anywhere else alone. But obviously, I cannot work there with this open wound, it’s a potato farm, everything I touch there's dirt. My supervisor doesn't think I can work with this situation, my employer thinks it's fine. But eventually it's my finger, not anyone else, I think I'd better to find other job. I got infected and took 4 rounds of antibiotics for 40 days with it, so I don't want to take any risk. Workcover stopped paying me, so I am looking for jobs in hospitality which I think could be better for my condition than farm work. I have several offers but they all ask to wait until my wound is fully recovered. In the meantime, I watch Youtube videos about the jobs that I think I am capable to do, but I don't think I can do it. The wound is still sore if I carelessly touch something. I really don't know what to do next. I am here with working holiday visa and cannot go home yet.

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