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Strugglingbuttrying Psychological therapy vs medication- advice please
  • replies: 3

Hi this is my first post. I have been feeling anxious for about 2 years and depressed for about 6 months. The last month or so things have gotten particularly bad and I’ve fleetingly thought of suicide and my personal relationships, health and work a... View more

Hi this is my first post. I have been feeling anxious for about 2 years and depressed for about 6 months. The last month or so things have gotten particularly bad and I’ve fleetingly thought of suicide and my personal relationships, health and work are being affected. Today I finally took a big step and went to see a GO. I scored 35 on a K10 test and have been referred to a psychologist. He also touched on the topic of medication which I am not really keen on. He has said to come back after 2-3 sessions to discuss medication again as he didn’t want to push the idea today. I am not keen but I want to tackle this head on and feel like I should trust him and try. I am afraid of becoming dependant on medication and one day feeling ok then not being able to cope without them. I am also afraid of side effects. GP and reading reputable sites say that both work well hand in hand- therapy and medication. Does anyone have any experience with this? Wishing you all strength on your journeys.

DesperateForChange Effective treatment for clinical perfectionism & obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)?
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Has anyone here been treated for Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder and/or clinical perfectionism? And can you please share what modalities/interventions were effective for you? I appear to need a great amount of order and do not toler... View more

Hi all, Has anyone here been treated for Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder and/or clinical perfectionism? And can you please share what modalities/interventions were effective for you? I appear to need a great amount of order and do not tolerate uncertainty well. This is most pronounced when it comes to making decisions, large or small. I engage in copious amounts of research (hours or days on end), deliberate for ages and eventually avoid choosing. If possible, I try to get someone else to choose for me. I appear to be very fearful of making the wrong choice/not "getting it right". Unfortunately, this is having a massive impact on my day-to-day living, but more generally, it is inhibiting me from living a more adventurous and experience-rich life. If there's anyone out there who has suffered from the same problem, can you please share: 1. What modalities worked for you? I have tried Cognitive Therapy with limited results. Whilst i can come up with cognitive challenges, they don't seem sufficient enough to overcome the dread/fear that I feel when faced with a decision. 2. Do you know of a psychologist who specializes in OCPD and perfectionism? I am in the process of looking for a psychologist but have found the process to be extremely difficult. Thanks in advance (constructive answers appreciated).

Guest_0932 Has your therapist ever broken confidentiality?
  • replies: 7

Hi, Has anyone had a therapist break confidentiality and if they did, did they tell you first or just do it? Or does anyone know if you disclose past issues of someone maybe doing wrong to you while you were a child or adolescent but you an adult now... View more

Hi, Has anyone had a therapist break confidentiality and if they did, did they tell you first or just do it? Or does anyone know if you disclose past issues of someone maybe doing wrong to you while you were a child or adolescent but you an adult now, but still in contact with the person and currently at no risk of harm do they have to break confidentiality and report that still because it was wrong at the time and you still see the person? Obviously I know if you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else they have to tell...but what if someone harmed you and it was years ago but the person is still in your life but hasnt done anything for a long time? Surely they dont have to report/record that cause of statue of limitations?

Montana Medications and Animal Testing
  • replies: 5

Hey there, how are you all? I was just wondering if anybody here knew what level of animal testing goes on with medications? I'm open to trialling medications but am anxious regarding supporting an industry that is involved in animal cruelty... Kind ... View more

Hey there, how are you all? I was just wondering if anybody here knew what level of animal testing goes on with medications? I'm open to trialling medications but am anxious regarding supporting an industry that is involved in animal cruelty... Kind regards, Montana....

YellowPoppy Medication experiences (for anxiety)
  • replies: 4

Hi, I'd like to know people's experience with medication, how it's helped, side effects, howany you've had to try before you found the right fit and your experience on them and how that's helped or not helped with your anxiety. Right now I dont want ... View more

Hi, I'd like to know people's experience with medication, how it's helped, side effects, howany you've had to try before you found the right fit and your experience on them and how that's helped or not helped with your anxiety. Right now I dont want to go on medication because my previous experience was very terrible, but if things don't improve I think I might need to and I want to be better informed before I do. I will also discuss this with my doctor when and if the time comes. YellowPoppy

WokingOnIt Tips or Strategies For Getting the Most Out of Therapy
  • replies: 3

Hello. I am currently seeing a psychologist for fortnightly therapy sessions. I have had about six sessions so far. I like this psychologist, and feel he will be helpful to me. Previously I have not felt that any professional I have seen was able to ... View more

Hello. I am currently seeing a psychologist for fortnightly therapy sessions. I have had about six sessions so far. I like this psychologist, and feel he will be helpful to me. Previously I have not felt that any professional I have seen was able to help, so this is a miraculous new thing to me and I want to make sure I make the most of the opportunity. I am autistic, and have depression and anxiety - specifically social anxiety. I have come to realise that this is in part due to being autistic, and struggling with communication - it is quite natural to be anxious when you literally don't understand what is going on or what is expected of you, and have often been criticised for the way you speak or your 'incorrect' facial expressions. My psychologist is very experienced with autism, which helps. There are two main questions, I suppose. One: What else can I do in between therapy sessions to further my own work and recovery? I have talked about this with my psychologist and asked for book recommendations - which I have ordered, and will read - and I have ongoing homework to record dreams, write three "positive" things each day, and write down any other thoughts I want to. I have been reading other books on my own too, based on recommendations/reviews either online or from friends. I have also started bush walking, most days - as everything I read about depression emphasises the importance of physical exercise. Two: What can I do in session to improve my ability to relax and communicate? I get extremely anxious, especially at the beginning, and this impairs my ability to speak. I also have trouble speaking verbally under stress or pressure (and my brain interprets questions as both of those things...). Even when I CAN speak verbally, I often revert to sarcasm and defensiveness when panicked, and then get disappointed with myself for "wasting" the session - because I'd really rather speak authentically and honestly - but this is very hard for me to do. I have spoken (or rather, written) to my psychologist about this, and the anxiety has improved over time, somewhat, with my various efforts... but I am very open to hearing new ideas or strategies. One thing I tried yesterday in session was writing "BREATHE" in green (my favourite colour) on the inside of my wrists, so that as I was fidgeting in front of my face (as I do every session, to manage anxiety) the reminder to breathe was right there in my face. It did help, and I will do this from now on.

Hummer Should I mention this to the doctor
  • replies: 4

Hi. So I’m seeing a doctor and pyhchologist about my mental health. I haven’t really mentioned my sleeping habbits. Which consist of coming to bed about 10 at nightwaking up at at 11 in the day. But by 2-3 im exhausted and in need of a nap. Which if ... View more

Hi. So I’m seeing a doctor and pyhchologist about my mental health. I haven’t really mentioned my sleeping habbits. Which consist of coming to bed about 10 at nightwaking up at at 11 in the day. But by 2-3 im exhausted and in need of a nap. Which if I do is about 3to 4 hours and then I’ll go to bed about 11 again??

Rod_NR93 Concerned about my medication
  • replies: 2

Hi all I'm feeling down. I have anxiety and depression. For months my psychiatrist and I had been trying to find the right antidepressant for me. I was despairing but in December we tried one that turned out to work well. I have been on that drug sin... View more

Hi all I'm feeling down. I have anxiety and depression. For months my psychiatrist and I had been trying to find the right antidepressant for me. I was despairing but in December we tried one that turned out to work well. I have been on that drug since then at the highest dose, in combination with another. I felt so happy I was finally getting relief from one and I have been improving bit by bit ever since. This past week though I have felt the old symptoms return and I'm almost terrified the drug I am on has stopped working after four months of steady improvement. I predicate this on the following though. Since February I have been sick on and off with a throat infection and last week it flared up again. I have also just finished a course of antibiotics. I have spent a lot of time this past week in bed and I still just don't have it in me to go out. This is almost certainly adding to my depression. My question though is this. If an antidepressant is working well for me, should I expect it to work all the time or are relapse periods while on the drug normal or not to be alarmed about? Thank you

Soloyo Unable to connect with psychologists
  • replies: 33

Hi there, I’ve had depression for a long time and seen a number of psychologists over the years. I’ve never had one that I really felt was hugely beneficial. This year has been a particularly bad year: The psychologist I was seeing initially ended up... View more

Hi there, I’ve had depression for a long time and seen a number of psychologists over the years. I’ve never had one that I really felt was hugely beneficial. This year has been a particularly bad year: The psychologist I was seeing initially ended up telling me that she didn’t think she was helping me (I had been seeing her for 12 months). The next psychologist took months to get in to, and when I saw her I didn’t think she was helping. During this time I experienced suicidal ideation for the first time in my life, and she didn’t really respond to this, so I stopped seeing her after 6 sessions. I’ve just started seeing another psychologist who I liked for the the first two sessions, but I feel as though in the third and fourth sessions he has said some extremely misogynist things - which has had me in tears for days! Im really mentally unwell, and don’t know what to do to get the support I need. I’m being propped up by my GP and my psychiatrist. But really need a good psychologist. Any suggestions on what I should do? Thank you

grt123 Doctors - giving bad news is part of the job!
  • replies: 1

My ex husband has nearly died from liver failure. In hospital doctors talked about his symptoms and tests but none of them articulated his diagnosis (Cirrhosis) or told him his drinking would lead to more hospitalisations, full time care and death. T... View more

My ex husband has nearly died from liver failure. In hospital doctors talked about his symptoms and tests but none of them articulated his diagnosis (Cirrhosis) or told him his drinking would lead to more hospitalisations, full time care and death. They told me - but not him. I accompanied him to his follow up GP visit and it was glossed over there as well - like it was a secret. In the end I had to have the talk with him, translate his discharge notes and track down a 'Cirrhosis and Your Liver' kit. This is not my job! It's also not very effective - my ex husband has made an artform out of ignoring me. I know it must be difficult for doctors to have these conversations with patients but it's part of the job. Just get on with it!