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Oz_M Questions about how to get an emotional support dog.
  • replies: 2

I'm a 15 year old boy and I have been dealing with depression, anxiety and anger management issues for a long time. I have reached a point where I hate leaving the house and even just getting out of bed is difficult. The only thing that can help me d... View more

I'm a 15 year old boy and I have been dealing with depression, anxiety and anger management issues for a long time. I have reached a point where I hate leaving the house and even just getting out of bed is difficult. The only thing that can help me do this is my families dog. When I do go outside, I have breakdowns and get severely overwhelmed by people and it is affecting me at school to the point where my attendance is around 60%. I used to see a psychologist however I cannot express how I feel or open up so I told my parents that I am better so they would stop wasting money sending me there since I wasn't gaining anything from it and they insisted on me going despite me saying it wasn't helping (my parents also won't let me be medicated). I feel like a support dog would help me greatly as my family dog has such a big influence on me in the morning. The thing is I'm not sure if I am able to get one or where to get one. I also don't know how to tell my parents since they will tell me to go to a psychologist again which I dread. I've heard you require specific reccomendations from a GP and psychiatrist to get one and since I have stopped treatments I'm not sure I am eligible. If you have any information or advice that might help, whether it's for getting a support dog or even just telling my parents how I feel, I would appreciate you taking some time to share it with me. Thanks.

AliSa05 Withdrawal and brain shivering increased anxiety
  • replies: 11

I have recently 7 weeks ago come off my antidepressant medication cold turkey basically and at that time also started a new one. I am still experiencing what I would best describe as brain shivers along with body shivers at the same time. I also feel... View more

I have recently 7 weeks ago come off my antidepressant medication cold turkey basically and at that time also started a new one. I am still experiencing what I would best describe as brain shivers along with body shivers at the same time. I also feel like I have a tightness in the chest most of the time like the onset of panic attack, the most severe I have ever felt. I’m starting to feel down at the fact I’m still experiencing these symptoms as they are really effecting my life, also the lack of acknowledgement from my psychiatrist and gp who tell me this shouldn’t be happening after this time frame of 7 weeks off. Basically I wonder what the hell is happening to me have I sustained some form of perm. Brain damage?

Julia_needhelp Need help
  • replies: 17

Being to the public hospital, being calling the local mental health service. Being told no more support under the public system. Still feeling scared, can't find meaning in life. Having problem with NDIS. Having private insurance but still need serve... View more

Being to the public hospital, being calling the local mental health service. Being told no more support under the public system. Still feeling scared, can't find meaning in life. Having problem with NDIS. Having private insurance but still need serve 2 months waiting period. Looking for supported accommodation. Anyone got any advice?

brendaa151 The Patch Birth Control
  • replies: 1

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone on here has tried The Patch Birth Control, and whether or not they know if it's available in Australia. I have an existing experience with The Pill, where tried a couple and my anxiety skyyyy rocketed (panic attacks... View more

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone on here has tried The Patch Birth Control, and whether or not they know if it's available in Australia. I have an existing experience with The Pill, where tried a couple and my anxiety skyyyy rocketed (panic attacks) taking over my life literally, I look back now as I'm much better years on and I literally don't even recognize myself. So as you can imagine I am very hesitant and frightened at even the though of Birth Control. I still tend to get anxious now and then with symptoms but no where near as bad. However, I need to consider that at the same time I started birth control, I was going through A LOT. I was in an abusive first time relationship that I needed to end, I had a loss in the family (first time ever) and a bunch of other stuff (health anxiety related.) I'm much better now, but a lot of those issues are now gone and I'm considering trying the pill again, well in this case the patch, to see whether it was my environmental factors creating my panic or the pill? Just reaching out to see if anyone's tried it, and if so how was your anxiety / depression / mental state? Thanks! Brenda xx

tpman When we can we go into see our Pshyciatrists?
  • replies: 2

Hi, I haven't been keeping up much with the news - does anyone know when we can start going into our psychs for face to face appointments? I need to see mine but don't want to do Skype session.

Hi, I haven't been keeping up much with the news - does anyone know when we can start going into our psychs for face to face appointments? I need to see mine but don't want to do Skype session.

Guest_946 Has anyone used a work fitness for duty assessment (no longer fit for duty) as evidence for Centrelink DSP
  • replies: 5

Hello all A few months ago I had a breakdown at work and was sent to a work appointed psychiatrist to see if I was still fit for duty, the psychiatrist determined I was no longer fit for the duties I was qualified for nor could I be retrained. I have... View more

Hello all A few months ago I had a breakdown at work and was sent to a work appointed psychiatrist to see if I was still fit for duty, the psychiatrist determined I was no longer fit for the duties I was qualified for nor could I be retrained. I have subsequently been retired on invalidity. I have applied for DSP and have provided the psychiatrist report as part of the evidence. Has anyone else used something like this as evidence? thank you for reading, hopefully someone knows the type of report I mean. cheers

FFrancis2 prescription problem
  • replies: 3

Hi i have been taking prescription painkillers for about 5 months now and am having the biggest problem in going cold turkey. I have spoken to a few GPs and the common answer seems to be they are really not interested in helping to much. Getting of t... View more

Hi i have been taking prescription painkillers for about 5 months now and am having the biggest problem in going cold turkey. I have spoken to a few GPs and the common answer seems to be they are really not interested in helping to much. Getting of this stuff is so difficult i am really at a lose on what to do or say to a GP to help me move forward. It would be great if somebody could help me on this best way forward and the way in which i should approach a GP. When i try to stop i have the worst thoughts. It all started with a shoulder injury. Any tips to help the withdrawal. Please help thanks.

Guest_1643 Staying in a mental health facility
  • replies: 10

Hi.... I recently attending a public mental health facility......It helped me and I'm glad I did it. The people in the facility (the other participants) were pretty lovely and supportive, and it felt great to not have to explain a million times what ... View more

Hi.... I recently attending a public mental health facility......It helped me and I'm glad I did it. The people in the facility (the other participants) were pretty lovely and supportive, and it felt great to not have to explain a million times what I was going through. People didn't probe too much, just accepted that if you were in the facility, you were struggling in some way, and it was enough for them. I realised how frustrating it is to have to explain mental health conditions to people who just don't get it. Here, everyone got it. Has anyone else stayed in public or private mental health facilitys? Either in wards, recovery facilities, short or long term? Would you recommend it to others who needed help? I've heard some horror stories, and I believe them. But I think it's good to mention that some of these services are also excellent. It's a mixed bag. Curious to here anyone else's experiences

Lilly18 Medicating
  • replies: 4

Hi, I have a very close friend who started taking some medication without a prescription. He thinks he possibly has adhd, and very well may be. We are close friends and he has told me he feels great when taking the medication. This worries me a littl... View more

Hi, I have a very close friend who started taking some medication without a prescription. He thinks he possibly has adhd, and very well may be. We are close friends and he has told me he feels great when taking the medication. This worries me a little bit, he's not diagnosed with anything yet but he's medicating himself. I think he will be seeing a psychiatrist via skype in the next few weeks, I can tell he's worried about the appointment. Has anyone had experience with someone taking meds they probably shouldn't be taking? Experience with psych on Skype? Thankyou

DedicatedToHealth Speaking Up or Staying Quiet
  • replies: 1

I thought I was a pretty strong character who has dealt with enormous adversity. Sure my vulnerability has shown up and limited me many times, sometimes I needed help too but what worries me the most is when I ask for help and or specify my needs - m... View more

I thought I was a pretty strong character who has dealt with enormous adversity. Sure my vulnerability has shown up and limited me many times, sometimes I needed help too but what worries me the most is when I ask for help and or specify my needs - medical ppl ignore, dismiss it. Saying this as I recently asked for counselling from a wonderful org but they ignored my specific vulnerability, so I couldn't attend. My mental health deteriorated. I dug deep, got some meds and then as I found a small amount of strength I was hit with medical probs and my usual lovely gp found the need to use the words: cancer, we are looking for cancer which has spread thru your body, we want tests, tests, more tests. The problem is I didn't want to be told like this, nor purse tests until I could get a counsellor to help me deal with some flashbacks. So, i am left determined that if i speak up i get worse treatment, if i stay silent i allow more trauma on trauma. I have tried a therapist a couple of years ago but realised maybe i am very odd, ppl don't seem to know how to deal within a trauma informed context. Hence I am weighing up, is it safer for me to be harmed and deal with it or speak up and risk, based on recent experience, suffer additional harm on top of the process, procedure? I wish medical ppl would see my strengths and hear my voice.