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Anonymous217 I need more help but my psychologist is unavailable
  • replies: 8

I've been working with my psychologist for 7 years now and I am in love with her. Not romantically in any way; I love her like a mother. But now I find myself unable to function. I see her fortnightly and in-between that I am just waiting for my next... View more

I've been working with my psychologist for 7 years now and I am in love with her. Not romantically in any way; I love her like a mother. But now I find myself unable to function. I see her fortnightly and in-between that I am just waiting for my next appointment. I can't sleep, I barely eat, I work and see friends but it's all just to kill time. I enjoy nothing in my life. My psychologist is the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing I think of when I go to sleep. I am outright miserable, the world seems grey and boring and cold, and all I can do is wait her like a looser. We've talked about this yearning quite openly; I've explained to her how much it hurts that I miss her so deeply all the time but have no way of relieving that pain. We've discussed how desperately depressed I have been and she agrees that I require more support (actually she thinks I should be in hospital). However, she is unable to see me more than once every 2 weeks because she simply doesn't have the time. She is fully booked. I know she feels bad about that and would change it if she could, but this is the reality. I have an appointment to see a psychiatrist in 5 months but beyond that there is nothing. Hospitalisation is not an option (for so many reasons I won't go into) and even presenting to the Emergency Department or calling Lifeline are things I am unwilling to do if I were in a crisis. The only hope I had was my psychologist, but living my life in two-week intervals and constantly rotting, waiting for her.... I just can't keep living this way. It is agony. Does anyone have any other options to throw out there for me? Where I can get more help?

ajkne12 Parents blocking access to medication
  • replies: 1

Hey, new user here, sorry if this is in the wrong place So, after a massive decline with my mental health, my psychologist recommended that i take medication to recover a bit, after 2 years of CBT therapy and the like. I also discussed things with a ... View more

Hey, new user here, sorry if this is in the wrong place So, after a massive decline with my mental health, my psychologist recommended that i take medication to recover a bit, after 2 years of CBT therapy and the like. I also discussed things with a school counselor, who did a separate assessment and said that medication would be helpful as well paired with other therapy. When parents were told about this, they just cancelled my next psychologist appointment, and said that they were going to find a new one. They seem to refuse to discuss the possibility of medication to assist therapy at all. I just want to ask, what should I do now? I highly doubt that my parents would listen to me regarding medication, and based on their reaction when the psychologist suggested it, I don't think they're willing to listen to professional advice either regarding this. Should I be this terrified of medication as well? Should I just keep trying with other therapy?

16sundayz Exposure Therapy
  • replies: 2

I suggested to my psychologist that we try exposure therapy for my anxiety and dissociating and he replied back with inducing a scenario that will bring it. I'm not sure exactly what he means but was wondering if anyone here has tried exposure therap... View more

I suggested to my psychologist that we try exposure therapy for my anxiety and dissociating and he replied back with inducing a scenario that will bring it. I'm not sure exactly what he means but was wondering if anyone here has tried exposure therapy? If you have what's involved? What happened? How did you find it? Did you think it helped/worked?

Silver_linings finding help
  • replies: 1

Hey Everyone, I have been trying to find affordable therapy for a while now and just can't seem to find any available Im nervous to ask my GP as I like to do my own search first and email around to feel the vibe, if you know what I mean? Its hard to ... View more

Hey Everyone, I have been trying to find affordable therapy for a while now and just can't seem to find any available Im nervous to ask my GP as I like to do my own search first and email around to feel the vibe, if you know what I mean? Its hard to find someone that fits preference. my current therapist is on maternity leave and doesn't know when she will be back but I feel like I'm in need of some extra support in the meantime.

fred4761 Can I see two different psychiatrists?
  • replies: 7

In Jan my psychiatrist of 6 years abruptly stopped working due to a health concern. It was all very sudden and I spent the next few months working with my GP to find a new psych - not easy with Covid going on at the same time. Eventually we found one... View more

In Jan my psychiatrist of 6 years abruptly stopped working due to a health concern. It was all very sudden and I spent the next few months working with my GP to find a new psych - not easy with Covid going on at the same time. Eventually we found one who I clicked with - although he is an hour away. I started seeing the new psych and we quickly moved to weekly appointments as it felt like I needed more regular appointments to work through my issues. Last week I received an email from my old psych saying that his treatment has been successful and he is cleared to resume working again. I am very torn. I feel like I am making progress with this new psych, yet there is something about the comfortableness of the old psych that I am drawn to. At the moment I am wondering if it is possible to see both psychiatrists - I feel like I am getting different things from each of them. The old psych used CBT to address current symptoms. He managed my medication and was happy to complete ongoing insurance forms and be an advocate for me when they were demanding unreasonable requests. He did help me to get on top of things, although it felt like I was starting to plateau. Prior to him leaving we discussed trying a psychologist again to complement what I was doing with him. The new psych has a psychotherapy approach and has focussed on exploring how my childhood/adolescence/adulthood has impacted my life. Working through these issues has been hard and emotional, yet I feel as though I have been able to work through some of my problems. During my initial app he told me that he didn't want to do insurance forms and paperwork and will manage my meds if need be yet would prefer my GP to do that as he has taken more of a holistic approach to treatment the past few years and has moved away from the other stuff. I had tried seeing psychologists previously, yet never found one that worked well with my issues. It seemed as though they were all against the medication side of things. I feel like with this new psych I have someone who has had all the training and experience of psychiatry with additional studies in psychotherapies which is what I am benefitting from.

DW2020 Crying Daughte
  • replies: 5

My daughter had a psychotic episode 2 years ago, which saw her in a mental health ward. The psychiatrist initially diagnosed bipolar & put her on antipsychotic medication, on release she was to see a psychologist for 12 months. She moved home as her ... View more

My daughter had a psychotic episode 2 years ago, which saw her in a mental health ward. The psychiatrist initially diagnosed bipolar & put her on antipsychotic medication, on release she was to see a psychologist for 12 months. She moved home as her relationship broke down & we could support her financially. She had 3 psychologist visit, she told us the psychologist said she was not bipolar, her episode was likely drug induced & did not need to continue. She went off medication & appeared okay after a year she got a great job driving haul trucks at a mine 6.5 hours away so drove back & forward after each round. She had a couple of mild episodes while at this mine but appeared to work through with family support. after 6 months she transferred to a closer mine & only travelled 3.5 hours to work. She bought a new car & was saving to buy her own home. During this time she began crying, she would not talk to us about what was wrong, we asked whether it was her job or if anyone had said or done anything to her she said she loved driving the trucks. However the crying increased & she began accusing us of repeating her words back to her as if we were listening in on her she said it was happening while driving the truck & all the family and other random people were doing it, we have tried to get her to seek help but she refuses and will not take medication. 2 months ago her job ended due to her employer losing their contract this happened the day before her 30th birthday. Since then she has gotten worse to the point where we can’t sleep as her crying keeps us awake, when we approach her she is abusive and aggressive towards us. One night she slapped her dad in the face and hit me with her weighty pillow across the head. We have tried everything we can think of to either help her or encourage her to seek help but she refuses. It is impacting on us to the point we are struggling to function properly. She believes that people are listening to her and purposely repeating things back that they could not know about and that relate to past trauma, when we deny this and suggest she is confused she yells we are lying. We ask for examples and suggest coincidence but she says it is happening too much to be coincidental. She doesn’t do anything but eat, sleep, cry, watch tv and play some game on her phone, she has shut herself off from family and friends as she believes they also are lying and contributing, We know she needs help but are unsure what steps to take to get that help

16sundayz FOI and getting a copy of my file
  • replies: 1

My psychologist is refusing to give me a copy of my file after I asked him for it. I was wondering if anyone in Victoria could please help me out on how to apply for it other than asking him? The medical clinic where I see him isn't listed on the Fre... View more

My psychologist is refusing to give me a copy of my file after I asked him for it. I was wondering if anyone in Victoria could please help me out on how to apply for it other than asking him? The medical clinic where I see him isn't listed on the Freedom Of Information Victoria online agency database so I don't know how else to apply for for it other than sending him a formal letter requesting it. Could somebody in Victoria please help me? Thank you

44Max44 Feeling like doctors aren't taking me seriously
  • replies: 3

Hi, So around a year or two ago I went through a pretty tough time with Health Anxiety. Almost every other day I'd be worrying about something new that I thought I had, and because of this I went into my local GP probably around 50 times in a few mon... View more

Hi, So around a year or two ago I went through a pretty tough time with Health Anxiety. Almost every other day I'd be worrying about something new that I thought I had, and because of this I went into my local GP probably around 50 times in a few months for various things, 99% of which ended up being nothing. One thing that I did suspect I had that did end up being true was Nasal Polyps, I had a CT scan done and it showed that I had extensive nasal polyps. Anyways, since then I've gotten a lot better, I've gone to the GP maybe 2 or 3 times this year, but all for things I 100% knew I had and needed to get treatment for, but I can't help but think that the doctors take one look at my medical history and see the huge shopping list of things I've come in for and just discount what I'm telling them as just being another small thing I'm making a big deal out of. The reason I mentioned my Nasal Polyps is because recently, I've had one giving me discomfort. I went into my GP yesterday, they took a look at it, and said it was a "Small nasal polyp" after around 15 seconds of looking at it. All in all, they gave me some over the counter nasal spray and had me on my way in under a minute. Today, it started bleeding, so of course I did what you should not do if you have Health Anxiety and I googled my symptoms, and of course one of the things Google says it could be is cancer. Great, now I'm very worried. So I go back into my GP today, I see a different doctor, and they look at it for around 15 seconds, say the same thing (that it's a small nasal polyp) and say that it 'doesn't look like anything nefarious', and prescribe me a ointment to treat infections which is supposedly what is causing the bleeding. The thing is, when it's something like this that could be cancer, I'd really like a doctor to take a proper look at it and tell me for sure that it isn't. If there's even a slight chance that it could be I would want to find out ASAP so I can get it treated ASAP. I know they are doctors and are medical professionals that know a LOT more than I do about this kind of stuff, but I can't help but have my doubts. I don't want to bother them any more than I already have, they've probably spent more money and time on treating me than some people who actually need treatment, but I can't help but want another opinion. I was thinking about going to a specialist, but they're expensive. Does anyone feel a similar way about their GPs? I don't know what to do.

AlexisC Help with finding a good mental care treatment centre
  • replies: 1

Hello, My brother who has bipolar and was taken off his medication far too quickly and attempted suicide and is in the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He is hating it, sadly some places are not so good. Can anyone help with recommendations for a treatment ... View more

Hello, My brother who has bipolar and was taken off his medication far too quickly and attempted suicide and is in the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He is hating it, sadly some places are not so good. Can anyone help with recommendations for a treatment centre in Melbourne which has a good reputation for caring? Thanks

Anzee Looking for online support groups
  • replies: 7

Does anyone know of, are a part of or have a connection to some online support groups for survivors of childhood sexual abuse? I really need to build up my support system at the moment and am in Victoria with restrictions so online is best for me at ... View more

Does anyone know of, are a part of or have a connection to some online support groups for survivors of childhood sexual abuse? I really need to build up my support system at the moment and am in Victoria with restrictions so online is best for me at the moment, I’ve also never been a part of a support group so it’s probably most comfortable with me to start with a virtual one anyways. Thanks in advance.