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Jane90 Hi 👋🏼
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, struggling with start up side effects with anti-depressants and don’t know what I should do. On my 3rd week on SSRI medication and started an increased dosage two days ago. Have never felt worse. Feel worse than before I started taking t... View more

Hi everyone, struggling with start up side effects with anti-depressants and don’t know what I should do. On my 3rd week on SSRI medication and started an increased dosage two days ago. Have never felt worse. Feel worse than before I started taking them. I just want to cry all day and the negative thoughts are consuming my mind. Have lost interest in doing things and also have taken sick days from work. Trying to decide whether I need to come off them or push through. Can anyone give me any reassurance/advice based on their experiences? thanks, ally

sparrowhawk Getting over stigma about seeking help
  • replies: 13

This is probably something many can get or relate to... I have been seeing a psychologist for the past few months, she recommended I try some medication to help me with my sleep and mood, and yesterday my GP prescribed me an antidepressant. When medi... View more

This is probably something many can get or relate to... I have been seeing a psychologist for the past few months, she recommended I try some medication to help me with my sleep and mood, and yesterday my GP prescribed me an antidepressant. When medication was recommended to me I was surprised, as I hadn't really expected that, and felt a bit disappointed. As a teenager I had depression and was treated with psychiatry and antidepressants. My parents, especially my dad, were not happy about that and carried a lot of stigma about medication and about seeking help. I even remember at one stage my dad told me that mental health help would "go on my record", whatever that meant. A few similar things have been said to me throughout my life, along the lines of "you won't be accepted for X/Y/Z because you have had depression". This always made me very afraid to acknowledge I was going through a rough time because I thought I'd be rejected. I guess I carry that with me. I'm ready to try anything but I can't shake the feeling of being a failure, of letting people down, and of not being accepted because I have a mental illness. My mother is against me taking any antidepressants, as is a good friend of mine. It all actually makes me feel more depressed. I am just wondering how you guys get through that stigma. I know the stigma and stereotyping is a real problem which can lead to tragic circumstances and I really want to be able to move from that critical judgement of myself. I really want to get help and I don't know if the medication will work until I try it, so I want to go for it. I just want to fight for myself instead of always doing what others say I should do.

Sylvester101 SSRI ups and downs
  • replies: 8

Hi All, I've had severe anxiety a few times before and always struggled a bit when starting out on meds but they generally come good (except one). So I started one 4 weeks ago and increased after 2 weeks and I really began feeling so much better and ... View more

Hi All, I've had severe anxiety a few times before and always struggled a bit when starting out on meds but they generally come good (except one). So I started one 4 weeks ago and increased after 2 weeks and I really began feeling so much better and felt vaguely normal again, it was great. However, the last 4 days I have felt extreme anxiety again, so I'm wondering why everything was going so well and now I feel back to awful again. Can this happen? and why? It's so debilitating and I feel so defeated. Thanks.

Auralay Tired of it all...
  • replies: 6

I'm a little surprised to find myself writing here. But I am just so tired, physically, mentally emotionally. I was on an SSRI for the past 5-6 years which thankfully I had tolerated well and though I never got to the point where I was fully enjoying... View more

I'm a little surprised to find myself writing here. But I am just so tired, physically, mentally emotionally. I was on an SSRI for the past 5-6 years which thankfully I had tolerated well and though I never got to the point where I was fully enjoying life, I was able to cope better. I did see a psychologist for a while, but honestly my brain was still pretty mushy at that point. I'm married and have 2 young kids, one now at school. The end of last year the SSRI "pooped out" and the GP changed me to an SNRI. After a couple different doses of that changed to another and increased the doses in that one as well. I feel like i do ok for a week or two and then crash again. The past few days I have just been so exhausted and don't want to do anything. I'm so tired and tired of depression. I don't want to have to live the rest of my life like this. I feel like I just get dragged along by life (or worse, run over by it), which is only being made worse by having a child at school and I have more things I need to stay on top of. I'm skeptical that another medication change will make a difference and worried that being truly well will never be possible for me. Even if other things can help eg diet, exercise, counselling etc, it's not like life is going to stop for me to allow me time to get better...

Garfunkel_Keeps_Me_Hopefu First time seeking professional help
  • replies: 15

Hi everyone, I finally plucked up the courage to see my GP about my anxiety and feelings of depression a couple of months ago and she asked if i'd like to start medication or give seeing a psychologist a go first. I asked to see the psychologist as I... View more

Hi everyone, I finally plucked up the courage to see my GP about my anxiety and feelings of depression a couple of months ago and she asked if i'd like to start medication or give seeing a psychologist a go first. I asked to see the psychologist as I still feel quite wary about going onto medication. She referred me and I made an appointment but an hour beforehand called and cancelled, pretending I had been called in to work. I've made another appointment for this Tuesday but I just feel so anxious about it. And I feel ridiculous for being too anxious to go and see someone for help with my anxiety. I don't know how to get the courage to go, I'm so uncomfortable talking about my feelings, even with my fiancee but I really need help, because it's exhausting feeling this way every day. I was hoping for some advice about what to expect for a first appointment and maybe if possible advice about how to be brave enough to get over this first hurdle? I'm awful for ditching things due to anxiety, usually at the last minute and then hating myself for it. Thanks

Truetomyself Support Groups in Australia for Mental Health
  • replies: 4

Hi I went with a friend of mine to their AA meeting as they asked me to come as a support person and I was very happy to. I found the meeting insightful and my friend is finding them helpful too. I am just wondering, I see a psychiatrist and counsell... View more

Hi I went with a friend of mine to their AA meeting as they asked me to come as a support person and I was very happy to. I found the meeting insightful and my friend is finding them helpful too. I am just wondering, I see a psychiatrist and counsellor for what I deal with regarding my mental health. When I was in hospital it was helpful to talk about my experiences and what my week or day was like. Or if we just needed to be understood by someone going through the same thing. I know there are help lines, and forums and thank goodness. I have tried researching if there are just groups you can go to where others share and are able to talk to each other. I am based in South Australia. I work but want to know if anything like this is available. I really think it would help to just go to a meeting if you are up to it and express what you are struggling with, what challenges you have or wins with people who get you. I know this would be useful for myself. I would of course continue to see my professional sources but they are not available and often appointments can not just be made by clicking your fingers. Is there something available that anyone can let me know about or what is as I have searched the internet and had no luck. If there is nothing, how and are you allowed to start something? Thanks in advance.

Pad Centrelink Disability Medical Assessment
  • replies: 3

Hi again everyone. After my DSP assessment at Centrelink on Monday, I've now been booked in for a Disability Medical Assessment, is this a good thing or bad thing?. The assessment is with the government-contracted Doctor (Sonic Health Plus) this time... View more

Hi again everyone. After my DSP assessment at Centrelink on Monday, I've now been booked in for a Disability Medical Assessment, is this a good thing or bad thing?. The assessment is with the government-contracted Doctor (Sonic Health Plus) this time being a clinical psychologist. I'm a bit stressing out again and worried as i was before the last assessment but hoping this assessment will go okay and be the last one i have to go through. If anyone has more advice or help what to expect at this next stage of the DSP application be much appreciated. Thank u in advance.

TD2 Looking for Dr who specialises in PTSD for my wife
  • replies: 1

I've been trying to get my wife an appointment with a psychiatrist but either all are not taking new patients or we have to wait 2 months. I'm getting a bit desperate as she needs more professional help than i can give her. Does anyone have any ideas... View more

I've been trying to get my wife an appointment with a psychiatrist but either all are not taking new patients or we have to wait 2 months. I'm getting a bit desperate as she needs more professional help than i can give her. Does anyone have any ideas? Randwick or Hornsby area. Thank you

Truetomyself Psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor
  • replies: 5

Hi I felt really comfortable being able to share on here a couple of days ago and have another question. I see a psychiatrist and am in the process of being referred to another. I need my medications monitored. I spend a lot of money on psychiatrists... View more

Hi I felt really comfortable being able to share on here a couple of days ago and have another question. I see a psychiatrist and am in the process of being referred to another. I need my medications monitored. I spend a lot of money on psychiatrists and I gey that is the go. I just feel sometimes I cannnot get the strategies to help me move forward with my issues. None of the ones I have seen have adressed my past trauma that I need help with and they have known this. Mainly monitored me and my medication. I have worked with psychologists and done CBT, DBT. But don't feel I really get anywhere with that either. The trratments I have practiced but it does not really had any impact. I am thinking and researching counsellors. I am not sure if anyone has had any good experiences with counsellors but it is kind of my last resort. I am open to other options too. But I need help with my past trauma, anxiety and depression. I feel that I really need someone to help me talk through and help me understand the trauma and how this has impacted me. I need someone who will help me unpack myself more. I have spent a lot of money and will continue to see a psychiatrist as I know I neef to. But would love to know what other people's experiences have been. Especially if you have seen a counsellor. Thanks in advance.

Perks247 Newly diagnosed adult ADHD
  • replies: 1

Hi all, just looking for some advice. I was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive) 3 months ago and was prescribed medication by a very well credentialed physc. The meds unfortunately do nothing, I’ve gone through all the dosages and have no noticeable re... View more

Hi all, just looking for some advice. I was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive) 3 months ago and was prescribed medication by a very well credentialed physc. The meds unfortunately do nothing, I’ve gone through all the dosages and have no noticeable reduction in symptoms ( no side effects either). He has just prescribed me a much larger dose and said this is a “last ditch effort “ and that I’m the only one he’s seen who hasn’t responded to this medication . Everything I’ve read suggests it’s rare that you find the right type of meds the first time and that it’s a marathon not a sprint. Very much at odds with what the physc. Is telling me. Not sure where to go from here, has anyone had the same situation? The diagnosis by the way fits like a glove and have been told the same by a GP, a physcologist (4 sessions) and now a Physciatrist. To be honest it’s starting to wear me down and all the baggage from my past (that all ADDers seem to have) is coming back to haunt me. Hoping to find someone with a similar story.