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spooler93 ECT/TMS and private health insurance
  • replies: 2

Hi all I'm considering ECT or TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) therapy in order to treat severe depression. I talked to my psychiatrist today and he mentioned that both would be a lot cheaper with private health insurance. He said that without... View more

Hi all I'm considering ECT or TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) therapy in order to treat severe depression. I talked to my psychiatrist today and he mentioned that both would be a lot cheaper with private health insurance. He said that without private insurance, both services would probably cost around 3-5 thousand dollars. However, I'm concerned about what private health providers will actually cover, as well as how long the waiting period will be until I can access the services. I want to keep disruption of my life to a minimum, so I'd rather do as many of the treatments as an outpatient as possible. Does anyone have experience of getting these services provided under a private health provider?

Pedro75 Barriers to finding the right therapist.
  • replies: 8

Hi all, Pete here. Posting this here on the advice of another forum member. Living with anxiety and depression. Had some really sharp postnatal panic and depression post the birth of my first son. I'm a BB speaker and have had my story published in p... View more

Hi all, Pete here. Posting this here on the advice of another forum member. Living with anxiety and depression. Had some really sharp postnatal panic and depression post the birth of my first son. I'm a BB speaker and have had my story published in print and online in an effort to help other Dads who may of experienced postnatal mental illness. Sorry for the long intro but I wanted to be sure that everybody feels I am legit. Anyway, re therapy. It took me quite some time to find and develop a good relationship with my therapist. Has anyone else found that process to be harder than it should be? I am aware and respect the rules of this forum in "no recommendations' but I wanted to see if anyone else out there thinks that finding the right therapy/therapist can sometimes cost too much time and money? I'm not disputing what therapy costs, just the cost of sitting through sessions before finding the right fit? Cheers.

Brant A Discussion on How Mental Health Professionals Could be More Empathetic
  • replies: 13

Hey Everyone Before I start, I would like to address I am not name and shame. By sharing my story, I wish to start a conversation on how mental health professionals could be more empathetic. Everyone is welcome to share their similar experiences. PLE... View more

Hey Everyone Before I start, I would like to address I am not name and shame. By sharing my story, I wish to start a conversation on how mental health professionals could be more empathetic. Everyone is welcome to share their similar experiences. PLEASE still be respectful and DO NOT mention any information that could lead someone to be identified here. It starts with my relapse into depression in September. As a result, I missed some university work, so I was advised by my course coordinator to apply for special consideration. I have my psychologist, who was an excellent counselor at the clinic of my university and has been nothing but empathetic towards my situation. However, she was fully booked until mid-December. So, I decided to book for a quick triage session at the same clinic, to seek some general advice and counseling instead of sitting idly home. It has never been my intention to have to obtain a support letter through a new psychologist who only happens to work for triage that day. However, once I finished telling him what happened to me, it seemed that he immediately assumed that I was only there to 'force' him to give me a medical certificate. Under that assumption, he just behaved in such a way as if every question from me was an argument directed against him for not giving me the document. In the end, he only said something along the line of "I am sorry, but I have to be that guy. " Although I looked calm, my anxieties have been through the roof for a while now, and I have no one but mental health professionals to share my feeling with cause I live alone in a city far from my hometown. Throughout the session, he never even asked once, "how are you feeling now?". In the end, I wasn't even assisted by him to be booked in with my psychologist, which is precisely the purpose of the triage service. I understand time could be tight in a short session. Still, I would feel much better if he had taken 2 seconds to ask me about my feeling instead of giving me an apology that I never asked for. I wish more mental health professionals to be more aware that your assumptions on clients significantly impact how you interact with them. Your personal frustration would easily drive your clients away. In my case, I would definitely avoid this particular psychologist in the future.

Erin83 Staged Medication, Issue with Chemist
  • replies: 4

Hi I am wondering if anyone else has had an issue with a chemist over staged meds? I am on staged medications by choice in consultation with my GP, I only get a week supply at a time. The chemist I was using had been my regular chemist for a number o... View more

Hi I am wondering if anyone else has had an issue with a chemist over staged meds? I am on staged medications by choice in consultation with my GP, I only get a week supply at a time. The chemist I was using had been my regular chemist for a number of years but since the staged meds started I feel I have been treated so poorly. When I first took the script in the pharmacist on duty was great and supportive and set it all up for me and did the paperwork without a fuss. However since then the other 2 pharmacists one of which is the owner have repeatedly questioned me about why I needed to be staged and wanted to know the ins and outs of my 2 suicide attempts including dates, medications, amounts etc , and changed the original paperwork to state that I must pay a fee per medication. This was all done with a line of people behind me. The fee works out to cost more per month than the actual medication costs me. It has gotten to the point where I stopped taking it because the anxiety I was getting from have to go to this chemist felt as though it was worse than the depression I need the meds for. I finally got the courage to tell my GP that I had stopped taking it and why so he wrote a letter so that I could move the scripts to another chemist. I went in with the letter today and they were so rude to me, wanting to know why, and that I was inconveniencing them because they had already made the next batch. They told me I would have to keep going there for another month and then they would release the scripts which I refused. I was in tears, shaking so much I was on the verge of a full blown panic attack but that didn’t stop them. My poor daughter who is only 12 was trying to comfort me. They kept me waiting for about 10mins then gave me the scripts. I now have to find a new chemist which gives me anxiety all over again because I don’t want to go through that again. I understand that they may need some info regarding the reason for staged meds but I felt as though I was humiliated every time I went in there and surely telling my story once should be enough. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Do you have any advice on dealing with it please? I now have to fin

Guest556 Pharmaceuticals or go it alone
  • replies: 2

I wonder, if struggling with managing The over use of harmful substances , whether consulting a medical professional really helps? How likely is it that substance abuse is managed with pharmaceuticals (other substances)? Just wondering.

I wonder, if struggling with managing The over use of harmful substances , whether consulting a medical professional really helps? How likely is it that substance abuse is managed with pharmaceuticals (other substances)? Just wondering.

b_l_u_e_b_e_l_l_ Adjustment Disorder?
  • replies: 11

I've just come back from my long term gp... who has written a new mental health plan and referral for me. Along with depression.... it has Adjustment Disorder written on it!! I feel really quite angry... As far as I know adjustment disorder refers to... View more

I've just come back from my long term gp... who has written a new mental health plan and referral for me. Along with depression.... it has Adjustment Disorder written on it!! I feel really quite angry... As far as I know adjustment disorder refers to a symptoms which are virtually an "over the top" or "unreasonable" reaction to life circumstances. My gp who has known me half my life and witnessed severe grief and tragedy with a potential crisis currently unfolding has written this.... I feel totally betrayed and so upset. Like he has just invalidated everything I've been and continue to go through. My history is long.. and traumatic... I just don't get it...

biobliterator How to access my medical records?
  • replies: 2

I'm still looking to apply to DSP... I've been putting off seeing the psychiatrist due to anxieties from past bad experiences, and other things. Doctors have regularly withheld information from me, due to my psychosis and being under 18. I've seen lo... View more

I'm still looking to apply to DSP... I've been putting off seeing the psychiatrist due to anxieties from past bad experiences, and other things. Doctors have regularly withheld information from me, due to my psychosis and being under 18. I've seen lots of different psychologists at different places, and I want to compile all my information for the new one. For my sake, for his sake, and for Centrelink down the line, I think it would be useful to have these. Im unsure how to go about it, I talked to my GP who had called around (I'm fuzzy on the details, it's been about a month) and asked for me. Apparently it can cost around $130 to get my medical records. Is that even legal? Is there something I'm missing? I'm so sick of not knowing what is going on. I turned 18 and I want to be in control!

ArtLover1997 DSP (Disability support pension) help?
  • replies: 5

hey uh, first post here not sure what to ask or how to phrase myself ill soon be trying to apply for DSP because for almost my whole life ive been depressed and on and off suicidal. my social anxiety isnt as bad as it could be but its up there too. i... View more

hey uh, first post here not sure what to ask or how to phrase myself ill soon be trying to apply for DSP because for almost my whole life ive been depressed and on and off suicidal. my social anxiety isnt as bad as it could be but its up there too. i cant hold a job since both times ive tried to keep myself going ive had melt downs, panic attacks and ultimately hid away in a "depression session" as i call it (basically an intense period of time in a depression slump) in an idiots guide to getting help way, what does centerlink need/want me to bring them? i believe ive hit the marks for their checklist of "is she sad enough to help" but im not quite sure how to go about it medical evidence? who do i talk to my doctor or centerlink? im so out of my depth here ive been trying to work mself up to apply all year and its a real struggle. any help around DSP and depression stuff would be wonderful if anyones willing to drop some wisdom? thanks for even reading.

DylanR MY TRUTH
  • replies: 1

Hey guys, I’m new here so I’ll start by sharing my story. Back in 2017 I had what I think was a panic attack at the time I thought it was a heart attack (only 27 by the way) and I ended up in hospital, the doctors told me I had a heart condition call... View more

Hey guys, I’m new here so I’ll start by sharing my story. Back in 2017 I had what I think was a panic attack at the time I thought it was a heart attack (only 27 by the way) and I ended up in hospital, the doctors told me I had a heart condition called Wolff Parkinson white syndrome (extra electrical pathway in heart) had a bunch of tests done and was told not to worry about it and have a good life. but of course nothing is that simple and every day since finding out I have had health anxiety that has been bad enough to put me in hospital a few times, even though I was told not to worry I spend everyday consumed of thoughts of am I going to die today or do I have cancer almost convince my self it’s true. I have been put on meds that have made life a little less stressful I also combine the meds with natural oils which has been working a treat for me. I would like to hear others story’s of health anxiety and natural treatments. keep on fighting anxiety warriors I truly hope things get better for all of you.

Island11 Not coping with current treatment
  • replies: 1

i Have always had anxiety however it recently became a problem for me after getting caught in the nsw bush fires back in November. I started taking medication 10 days ago. I saw a psychologist in December and again this week but she is heavily booked... View more

i Have always had anxiety however it recently became a problem for me after getting caught in the nsw bush fires back in November. I started taking medication 10 days ago. I saw a psychologist in December and again this week but she is heavily booked and despite her wanting to see me next week I can’t get an appointment till mid feb. My gp has told me to check in with him in a month. so for the next month I am feeling on my own and completely drowning. My partner isn’t working at the moment so he is taking care of our three kids (5yrs, 3.5yrs, and 6mnths). I am jumping in when and where I can but I feel emotionally fragile. not too sure where to from here. Just waiting? I feel like I need to be hospitalised