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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.

1gilzanmato Diagnosis experience, a little concerning.
  • replies: 9

I am being treated by a mental health team, they have not diagnosed me with anything, although they do say I have a psychotic illness and major depression. But the psychiatrist also said directly to me “that there’s no consensus on a diagnosis”. The ... View more

I am being treated by a mental health team, they have not diagnosed me with anything, although they do say I have a psychotic illness and major depression. But the psychiatrist also said directly to me “that there’s no consensus on a diagnosis”. The case manager has OFF-HANDEDLY mentioned schizophrenia multiple times, directly to me, but never in front of the psychiatrist when we have meetings together it has been 3 years with the treating mental health team, and nothing has come of it. i have no idea how to proceed in this instance, as everyone I have talked to says stay with the team as they offer support that others cannot, but the whole thing has become extremely tedious... anyway, my question is, how long does a diagnosis typically take, say for schizophrenia/a psychotic illness?

Sezi Seeing a psychologist for first time and don’t know what to ask or expect
  • replies: 2

So I have taken the next step and have seen my gp in relation to my anxiety and depression. She has started me on medication (I’m fine with these, still in the adjustment phase so mentally a little bit over the place). She has also referred me to see... View more

So I have taken the next step and have seen my gp in relation to my anxiety and depression. She has started me on medication (I’m fine with these, still in the adjustment phase so mentally a little bit over the place). She has also referred me to see a psychologist. I am meeting her for first time next week and I don’t know what I should do prior in order to be prepared. Don’t know how I will be but very unsettled/nervous/anxious. I’m scared. I don’t know what to expect or to....I don’t know. Can you please give me some advise? Stressing out a bit over it

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