Treatments, health professionals and therapies

Information on a range of different areas, including managing relationships with GPs and psychologists, and finding the right services for you.

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Darawanker OCD Treatment
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I am a long term OCD sufferer that has intrusive thoughts take over my life. I have been taking medication for many years now which have helped but lately I feel the OCD is beginning to win again. I have not seen a psychiatrist for many years... View more

Hi all, I am a long term OCD sufferer that has intrusive thoughts take over my life. I have been taking medication for many years now which have helped but lately I feel the OCD is beginning to win again. I have not seen a psychiatrist for many years but am considering revisting that. Does anyone know if there are any new therapies available as I am sick of just taking drugs and them not really working.

KellyPoint HPV - Other
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I just went for pap-smear yesterday and my doctor informed me that my last test (12 months ago) showed "HPV - Other". I had no idea and was never informed or was sent a letter. She told me that its not one of the "bad" kinds of HPV but upon r... View more

Hi all, I just went for pap-smear yesterday and my doctor informed me that my last test (12 months ago) showed "HPV - Other". I had no idea and was never informed or was sent a letter. She told me that its not one of the "bad" kinds of HPV but upon reading about HPV I am a bit anxious for the results. She is hoping to see that my body had fought the virus on it's own. I was just wondering if anyone has experienced the same things - am finding it hard to find anything online. I have been with my partner for almost 6 years and we have an 18 months old son together and now i am panicking that if it has been in my body for a long time that he has also contracted the virus. Thank-you in advance to anyone who has some advice.

JaneC76 Running out of options. What to do when you are struggling?
  • replies: 3

I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety for 12 years now. Tried different medications, therapists, hospital stays. Nothing ever changes. I get well for a period, then unwell, well, unwell. Im sick of being sick. I feel like I’ve lost some of the be... View more

I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety for 12 years now. Tried different medications, therapists, hospital stays. Nothing ever changes. I get well for a period, then unwell, well, unwell. Im sick of being sick. I feel like I’ve lost some of the best years of my life. Im married with 2 young kids. I feel like such a lousy wife & mother. For weeks now I’ve been unwell and nothing makes me feel better. Unable to eat or sleep or function. I currently see a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist. The psychotherapist is suggesting another inpatient hospital stay. But I’m loathe to do this to my family again, it really has a very negative impact on them. But ignoring that, I’m not even sure I want to be in hospital again, when ultimately it changes nothing. I just don’t know what else I can do.

Skywrath0135 My complex web of thoughts..
  • replies: 2

New to the forum, not overall new to the forums per-se and it's environment - greetings. Before I would bring up my questions, I would like to post my background and the usual web of thoughts an ideas that I try to sort out on a daily basis. July 201... View more

New to the forum, not overall new to the forums per-se and it's environment - greetings. Before I would bring up my questions, I would like to post my background and the usual web of thoughts an ideas that I try to sort out on a daily basis. July 2018 - one fine day I was at the park, and I experienced something I never have - a feeling of crushing sadness that nothing could alleviate. After consultation with a friend, he recommended I see a GP because it sounded like depression. Initial results pointed at a mild stage of it, so without further ado I went on the SSRI's. By then it was October 2018, when I noticed the anti-depressant stopped working and was making me have suicidal thoughts. So I went cold-turkey off it. Was fine for the next few months, and I thought the depression has passed. Cue the relapse 3 months later, this time more severe then the previous one. Got prescribed an NDRI, and to this day I maintain it had a partial effect. Then it started giving me panic attacks and increased suicidal thoughts, so without further ado, I went off that. So here is my web of thoughts - the pattern above is me being really unlucky or is this pointing at the fact that my body is resisting it? Seeing how I have tried an NDRI and an SSRI, which neurotransmitter is responsible for my depression? Do I want to go on a placebo pill where I get nothing but side-effects with a possible repeat of me developing what appears to be a resistance? My psychologist doesn't really help, as I feel I constantly preempt what he is going to say, and the only thing that genuinely works is 5-htp. But then I wonder whether the 5-htp is making the anxiety worse, while making the depression better. I am an astrophysics student on his last straw with university, which honestly this semester is looking to be, I'm set to fail. My parents don't acknowledge the diseases existence, let alone myself, and aside from a overly sympathetic landlord and a family friend I got no-one to talk to. I'm frankly terrified nothing will work, and I don't want to go on MAOI's, TCA's, ECT therapy or whatever the other treatments are, as they are too dangerous. I've spent weeks if not months researching every form of answer I could find, be it in neuroscience, genetics, drug interactions, psychology, supplements, lifestyle changes. It feels I am running out of options and time with my depression/anxiety getting worse. I don't know what to do, and so here I am.

Ely_ Rebuilding relationship with psychologist
  • replies: 4

Hi, I have Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, adjustment disorder and suffer with anxiety. Earlier this year I started to get a lot of flashbacks and memories to my trauma. I tried to open up to the pyschologist I've been seeing for about 6 years... View more

Hi, I have Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, adjustment disorder and suffer with anxiety. Earlier this year I started to get a lot of flashbacks and memories to my trauma. I tried to open up to the pyschologist I've been seeing for about 6 years. I've touched on it a bit with her before, but want to deal with it finally. I felt shut down and judged by her response to a question I asked. I since have come to realise she didn't have all the info at the time. I went elsewhere for trauma counselling and have had a couple of productive sessions. My problem is, I told my regular psychologist last week, and now I feel that I have to choose between them. The regular psych is concerned about splitting, and how it will look seeing 2 different therapists. The new counsellor is so easy to talk to. The old one knows me so well, and it is terrifying me, the change. I got up the courage to tell my psych why I sought other help, and felt terrible doing it. How do I rebuild that relationship asap so I can keep working with her. Should I attempt a session with the regular psych like I would with the new counsellor? So confused. Thx

Blue_skies Maintenance ECT as an outpatient
  • replies: 3

Hi, I haven’t posted on BB for quite a while but have been reading posts and finding them very helpful. I’m currently receiving ECT once a fortnight as maintenance therapy and as an outpatient. Recently, I had a stay in hospital for quite a severe ep... View more

Hi, I haven’t posted on BB for quite a while but have been reading posts and finding them very helpful. I’m currently receiving ECT once a fortnight as maintenance therapy and as an outpatient. Recently, I had a stay in hospital for quite a severe episode of depression and anxiety where I had ECT. It has been suggested about 18 months ago that I may be Bipolar type 2 and it all makes sense over the years. ECT works the best for me as I also had a course about 18 months ago while in hospital. The reason for continuing the maintenance ECT is to avoid as much as possible the need to go to hospital or just have a general ‘dip’ in mood. I don’t have any negative side effects of ECT, I just try to not overdo things that day. For me it’s been a lifesaver as I’ve gone from not being able to get out of bed in the morning to being to get out of bed and starting the day. I’m still recovering from my last episode and I’ve only been out of hospital for about 3 weeks. My question is...has anyone who has received ECT keep receiving it as an ongoing therapy as an outpatient? If so, have you noticed any side effects? My husband says he’s noticed memory issues in me, and I told him that it’s better than me wanting to die. And depression can affect memory too! Many thanks, Blue Skies

RahBear What do you think of this potential service?
  • replies: 8

My partner and I are looking at creating an holistic mental health service. As we both suffer from mental illnesses, we understand how difficult it can be to commit to attending services such as the gym, nutritionist, and counselling. That’s why our ... View more

My partner and I are looking at creating an holistic mental health service. As we both suffer from mental illnesses, we understand how difficult it can be to commit to attending services such as the gym, nutritionist, and counselling. That’s why our service would be a bit different: We would have qualified counsellors and personal trainers My anxiety makes it hard for me to commit to going to just one service, let alone multiple. I start to book appointments and either stop halfway through, make the appointment and don’t go, or go once or twice and then stop. Our providers would be able to help with counselling and custom exercise and nutrition plans as they would be licensed counsellors and certified personal trainers and would all work together at the same time. Providers would come to you Again, my anxiety makes it hard for me to be in certain social situations, so the gym can be really scary for me as I can see all of these people doing their workouts, looking amazing, and I feel inadequate. Also, sometimes my anxiety won’t even let me leave the house. This service would send the counsellors and trainers to you. You could have your workout session in your lounge, or your counselling session while walking around the block, whatever place makes you feel comfortable and safe to talk about your personal struggles and work out without pressure. Affordable prices Another reason I have trouble committing to these services is because they are so expensive. Yes, this would be our way of earning money, but it’s more to provide help for those who are struggling and so we would make it as affordable as we could, plus we’re looking into the counselling part being paid through Medicare. Anyway, this is just the beginning of an idea and we thought we would ask this community what they thought, whether it’s something that they’d use, or if they had any advice on this concept. After years of working in the Aboriginal community, disability, AOD, and even marketing, we are looking for ways to make a difference in the mental health field as we are both super passionate about effecting change and feel that even if we only end up helping one person, then we’ve succeeded.

wakewoke Resources for moving out of a bad home?
  • replies: 1

Hello, im not sure if this is the appropriate forum but Im looking into advice on how to get out of my home which is at minimum toxic? I'm poor and on a disability pension, what do i do?

Hello, im not sure if this is the appropriate forum but Im looking into advice on how to get out of my home which is at minimum toxic? I'm poor and on a disability pension, what do i do?

Maefire Feeling Disillusioned With Therapy
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone, I’m really in need of some advice and support. I’ve been attending counseling and therapy for years at this point but the last year I’ve had so many bad experiences that I feel on the verge of giving up on professional help. I’ve had ab... View more

Hey everyone, I’m really in need of some advice and support. I’ve been attending counseling and therapy for years at this point but the last year I’ve had so many bad experiences that I feel on the verge of giving up on professional help. I’ve had about 7 counselors or psychologists in the last year since the only program I have access to isn’t very consistent. I have been invalidated by some and am really struggling to cope. The others were great but I lost one due to him only being a student and another in a very traumatic event - an abusive exfriend if mine created a conflict of interest and while I was balling my eyes out at the therapist about my ptsd I was suddenly dropped because of this other persons actions. My current therapist is nice but I feel worse after each session. She doesn’t really understand my trauma or what I’m going through and it’s really wearing down on me. I feel so isolated right now and everything in my life is falling apart. I have only continued to go to therapy for other people - I know my boyfriend (who is my only real support through this atm) would be worried if I stopped going and I don’t want to hurt my therapists feelings. I want a long term therapist but I don’t know if that’s affordable. I want a therapist that doesn’t try and change how I feel about my trauma but rather supports me and offers advice and help like my former therapist did - I miss him a lot and I still get emotional over the therapists I’ve had to stop going to. I just feel so hopeless and after years of therapy and having multiple bad experiences I’ve never felt this miserable about therapy before. I’m sorry for rambling but I’m really stuck and I was wondering if there were types of therapists that are more long term or who you can contact outside of sessions for when things are really hard. Are there valid alternatives to therapy to deal with ptsd or grief? I’m at my breaking point and I feel so trapped and weak and I’m trying to help myself but I’m really lost and I honestly don’t know if there’s any other options for me. I would really appreciate any advice or anyone else who has gone through this - therapy is deeply hurt me in so many ways and I feel alone in this and pressured to keep going. Also I’m an indep adult with no family support I rely on myself my boyfriend and a few friends so please don’t suggest I consult my family they’re the biggest problem in my life sadly. Thanks

SilvaLady Letting go of regrets
  • replies: 4

Hello, I'm not sure if this fits in here, but I thought it might worth a try. Recently I was told that I should let go of my "regrets" from the past. I know that I had many regrets, but I can't remember most of them. There are only a few that I can r... View more

Hello, I'm not sure if this fits in here, but I thought it might worth a try. Recently I was told that I should let go of my "regrets" from the past. I know that I had many regrets, but I can't remember most of them. There are only a few that I can remember. I think that my anxiety/depression is part of this. I'm on the process of following that advice. The advice was to light a small tealight candle and stating what regret I wanted to release, to let it burn until it burned down or if it stopped by itself (if wax was still there to bury in soil). I only started that today. I was wondering if there was anybody else that could advise of different strategies of releasing any kind of regrets. I know that regret and self forgiveness work hand-in-hand. As I suffer from anxiety, I try to cover all my bases and am trying to help myself, in turn trying to help others by this. I have got a good support system, but I know that most of the hard work falls back unto myself. I'm still struggling to forgive myself, but I like to think that I'm getting there. So I was wondering if anyone else has some techniques or methods of dealing with letting go of regrets/forgiveness of self. SilvaLady