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Gettingthere98 Changing meds
  • replies: 1

I've had anxiety and depression for about 3 years now and been medicated for 2 years. A few months ago I swapped medications due to weight gain and it's kind of been downhill from there, about 3 months ago I started to feel my anxiety coming back but... View more

I've had anxiety and depression for about 3 years now and been medicated for 2 years. A few months ago I swapped medications due to weight gain and it's kind of been downhill from there, about 3 months ago I started to feel my anxiety coming back but I tried to manage it without changing meds. I finally changed my meds again on Tuesday but I feel stupid because it feels like I left it too late and I'm right back where I was 2 years ago. I have university exams at the moment and every time I sit down to study I feel this overwhelming sadness and anxiety. I just need these new meds to kick in soon

Anxious_1 Hypnotherapy for Anxiety
  • replies: 16

Hi Has anyone tried Hypnotherapy for anxiety or other mental health issues? If so did you get relief? I'm just looking for all/any alternative treatments, I have only started on meds 3 weeks ago and was going ok with them, but I feel like anxiety is ... View more

Hi Has anyone tried Hypnotherapy for anxiety or other mental health issues? If so did you get relief? I'm just looking for all/any alternative treatments, I have only started on meds 3 weeks ago and was going ok with them, but I feel like anxiety is starting to creep back in! Any info or advice would be appreciated! Cheers

Aunt Jobiska Cheapest Private Health Insurance with Best Psychology Cover
  • replies: 2

Hi - I'm looking for the cheapest health insurance that has the best psychology cover, and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts? Looking at Extras, now. I know Bupa Ultimate ($1000 limit) and hbf are good (hbf offers $1400limit, but only maximum ... View more

Hi - I'm looking for the cheapest health insurance that has the best psychology cover, and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts? Looking at Extras, now. I know Bupa Ultimate ($1000 limit) and hbf are good (hbf offers $1400limit, but only maximum of $70 per consultation) but was wondering what others used? Most other cover has limits of $500-600 for psychology. Thanks for your help.

HeartSparks Opioid withdrawal/ PAWS
  • replies: 6

Hi there, I have chronic pain due to multiple skeletal issues and fibromyalgia and have been on DSP for 5 years. I have just made it to 3 weeks clean of opioid pain medication - from high dose 'worst of the worst' which I detoxed from 18 months ago w... View more

Hi there, I have chronic pain due to multiple skeletal issues and fibromyalgia and have been on DSP for 5 years. I have just made it to 3 weeks clean of opioid pain medication - from high dose 'worst of the worst' which I detoxed from 18 months ago which were replaced by a well known synthetic opioid that I was assured was non addictive. ( Not true. ) I got to where I am now by reducing, then stopped completely, last dose on 30 June. I didn't have cravings to take the drug - just so over it - so just had to ride out the withdrawal. So here I am at 3 weeks and the physical withdrawal symptoms have passed but I'm experiencing the full gamut of psychological symptoms - depression, anxiety, insomnia, irritation, frustration, confusion, mood swings. And 'brain fog' - which is really scary. Plus my pain levels are sky high - I'm only using paracetamol for pain relief. I have diazepam as part of my normal medication which was prescribed to help wth muscle cramps through my spine, but have been using it cautiously to help with sleep and anxiety issues. I have been really alarmed by the psychological issues that have arisen. Dr Google (!) assures me that what I am going through is known as Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome and may last from months to years. Yikes. As I want to get my brain chemistry normalised and fully functional again I'm reluctant to use any anti-depressants. Just wanted to reach out here and see if anyone else has been through this and can share their experience. I have had moments of not wanting to wake up tomorrow, feelings of complete isolation ( I am a bit of a recluse - people find chronic pain so difficult to deal with I have found) and confusion that makes me wonder if my brain will ever get back to healthy functioning. As I have recently moved house to a rural area where I don't know anyone ( cant afford to live in the city any longer - savings have run out) I have an appointment this afternoon with a new Dr. So we will see how that goes. I ended up phoning a crisis hotline yesterday as I felt like I had hit rock bottom. Todays not so bad, but its an emotional roller coaster. Thanks for this space to express myself.

Truetomyself Psychotherapist
  • replies: 5

Could someone please explain to me what psychotherapy is and how it has helped them? Especially if it has helped with trauma from the past. How does it work and how does it help? Thank you.

Could someone please explain to me what psychotherapy is and how it has helped them? Especially if it has helped with trauma from the past. How does it work and how does it help? Thank you.

Rockmelon Bipolar: Mania symptoms?
  • replies: 5

Hello, I was hoping to get some more information about how people experience manic episodes. I was diagnosed with bipolar at 16 years old, however being in my early 20s now I don't know how accurate that diagnosis was. While I did experience episodes... View more

Hello, I was hoping to get some more information about how people experience manic episodes. I was diagnosed with bipolar at 16 years old, however being in my early 20s now I don't know how accurate that diagnosis was. While I did experience episodes of the expected manic behaviour (e.g extremely excitable, fast speech etc) in my earlier teen years, nothing like that has happened in quite some time. Being off my medicine for over a year without any such behaviours I was wondering if perhaps the manic episodes manifest in different ways - or if I may not actually be bipolar. The only behaviours that I would really consider to be consistently occurring is unreasonable irritation, mild paranoia, obsessive thoughts as well as mild delusional thinking. Hoping someone could tell me if this fits into my diagnosis or if I should be looking into second opinions. Thank you any and all who reply.

Guest_8375 new antidepressant makes me worse
  • replies: 1

I'm trying a new antidepressant. it's meant to erase all feelings of sadness. for a few days it did. then I noticed it hadn't just erased sadness - it'd erased all my other feelings, too. so now, I'm either feeling sad, or numb. and in some way, feel... View more

I'm trying a new antidepressant. it's meant to erase all feelings of sadness. for a few days it did. then I noticed it hadn't just erased sadness - it'd erased all my other feelings, too. so now, I'm either feeling sad, or numb. and in some way, feeling numb is so much worse. I had a mental breakdown this morning before riding to school, and I don't know what to do. two days ago I was doing fine. I visited my psychiatrists and told them I was fine and the medication was working. and it was. but now – it's plummeting my mood and I've never been so scared.

Eyree Help! In love with my therapist!
  • replies: 3

So I’ve researched transference and understand the theories that the feelings aren’t actually love but it feels like love and regardless of what it’s called I find myself thinking about her more and more and wanting a relationship with her. I wonder ... View more

So I’ve researched transference and understand the theories that the feelings aren’t actually love but it feels like love and regardless of what it’s called I find myself thinking about her more and more and wanting a relationship with her. I wonder all the time whether she may have feelings for me as well. She is the ultimate professional and would never cross that line but in saying that she has stopped me talking about dating/relationships with other people and suggested that I might be interested in same sex relationships (we are both girls) when I’d only ever spoken my about ex boyfriends. I remember every hug and every time she has stroked my hand - this has only ever been at the end of the session and I don’t think I would find it erotic if I weren’t in love with her. Any therapists out there shed some light on this? Is this all ‘normal’ or could it be a sign of something more? We’ve only been in therapy a few months (had only a few sessions each month) if we ended therapy now could we start a relationship? We are both single but how would I even approach that? If I’d read it all wrong would she be offended? Are therapists grossed out when they find out patients have feelings for them? So many questions and no where to go with them. This all feels a little disrespectful yet a have so much respect for this person.

Gizz_36 Never come of Medication unless it's safe
  • replies: 6

Never again will I ever get off my meds unless it's safe. been miserable the last few weeks.i stop using my antidepressant tablets about 8 months ago and the last few weeks have been a nightmare.i was depressed moody,anxious,and I also cried a couple... View more

Never again will I ever get off my meds unless it's safe. been miserable the last few weeks.i stop using my antidepressant tablets about 8 months ago and the last few weeks have been a nightmare.i was depressed moody,anxious,and I also cried a couple of times life seemed so bad.but went to the doctor today and got prescription of my antidepressant and bought them straight away boy I learned a really bad lesson of what it's like to come off antidepressant .took a tablet this morning and went and saw a movie feeling a bit better but it's gonna take time.

WokingOnIt Can a psychologist bulk bill?
  • replies: 13

So.. the title is my questions. I know private psychologists don't usually bulk bill, but can they? Is it possible? On an ongoing basis, I mean. If my psychologist is not billing me out of pocket, is it *possible* (legal/allowed) that he is bulk bill... View more

So.. the title is my questions. I know private psychologists don't usually bulk bill, but can they? Is it possible? On an ongoing basis, I mean. If my psychologist is not billing me out of pocket, is it *possible* (legal/allowed) that he is bulk billing me so I don't have to pay out of pocket? And if so, he'd be accepting a reduced fee from Medicare, right? If I am not paying a gap? I know I could just ask him. But I won't. In the meantime it is stressing me out a bit as I don't really understand what's happening and how it's possible that he's not charging me personally. The only thing I can think of is bulk billing but I don't know if psychologists can do that.