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Emmy. EMDR
  • replies: 2

Hi, I’m reaching out to try and ask others about their experience with EMDR. Yesterday my (new) psychologist started some EMDR with me. My previous psychologist made me do a disassociation test and determined I shouldn’t do EMDR and my psychiatrist a... View more

Hi, I’m reaching out to try and ask others about their experience with EMDR. Yesterday my (new) psychologist started some EMDR with me. My previous psychologist made me do a disassociation test and determined I shouldn’t do EMDR and my psychiatrist agreed with her. So never started. Cut to a couple years later and my psychiatrist recommended I start seeing a new psychologist that offers DBT but rather than start on that he’s been more focused on EMDR. He didn’t get me to do a quiz or anything. Anyway yesterday when he started he asked me to recall a memory and then follow his hand. Sometimes I wasn’t back in the memory but simply looking at his hand. I didn’t tell him that as I didn’t want to upset or offend him or do the wrong thing. Should I have told him? Is it normal that this happens (just watching his hand not recalling the event)? Sometimes I could recall the event maybe 40% memory 60% just watching his hand. Is what I’m saying making sense. Anyway would love to know others experiences and how you’d feel the day after. Today I feel so depressed and can’t stop crying. Thanks for reading this far and any help / advice / comments welcome. Emmy.

Soberlicious96 Finally Free! ..... well, at least for now!
  • replies: 2

Hi all. I have some news I want to share with you, and I gotta say that for me, this news, it is truly amazing! So I went to see my Doctor on Monday for a quick check up and to discuss my current medical condition - that being I'm in pretty darn good... View more

Hi all. I have some news I want to share with you, and I gotta say that for me, this news, it is truly amazing! So I went to see my Doctor on Monday for a quick check up and to discuss my current medical condition - that being I'm in pretty darn good health! I was asking her if I could go on a lower dose of my asthma preventer puffer, given that I rarely need it at all these days, and have hardly used it in the last six months or more. Even rarer these days is it for me to use my reliever puffer. So anyway, there I am sitting there telling my doctor all of this, and she said "Why don't you just stop taking it altogether then?" And I was all like "What? Are you serious? Could I ACTUALLY live medication free?!" And she said "Sure! If you're using it that little, then there's no point in taking medication that you don't actually need any longer." And I was like "Wow! That would be amazing!" So here I am, almost a week of being completely free from ALL asthma medications, for the first time in my life, EVER! Can you believe it?! I spent my entire life, like literally pretty much from birth to now, on medications for asthma and allergies, and now I'm on nothing at all!!!! Of course, if I get any sort of viral infection (like a head cold or whatever) then I have to go back onto it, or if I find that I am using my reliever more than 3 times a week, then that also warrants me going back on it. But for now, I am ASTHMA FREE!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!! So very happy about this, that I just couldn't resist sharing! Life is AWESOME right now! ...... and now that I think about it, it all makes sense. I have known for a little while now that the side effects from some of my meds can cause depression (let alone what I went through as a kid), and since I've been able to slowly reduce my asthma meds, I've been getting mentally and emotionally better and better. It's taken me almost 50 years to get this good! So happy right now! Sorry, but I just had to have a brag about it! some days, you just gotta share the good news!

teresa_h No resources for active support groups
  • replies: 2

I have been searching and searching endlessly for support groups that may be out there for people with depressive illnesses, ptsd and anxiety disorders. All depression pages link you to is little paragraphs that say "support groups may help in your p... View more

I have been searching and searching endlessly for support groups that may be out there for people with depressive illnesses, ptsd and anxiety disorders. All depression pages link you to is little paragraphs that say "support groups may help in your process" or some bull but no actual content on where to find these groups or the different groups out there north and south. I'm not sure if I am the only one that thinks this but after visiting multiple support sites, I have come to the conclusion that they must be run be people who have never had any disorders in their life. They have absolutely no idea what information people with depression need or want. What we don't need is some unskilled person on the end of the phone line to say really nicely that "your life is important and people care about you so don't kill yourself".

daisy8 Seeing a new psychiatrist
  • replies: 6

Hi all, just looking for some advice for when i see my new psychiatrist in 2 weeks time please. I have struggled with depression for over 40 years, had some realy terrible times but have always been able to claw myself back to ragged functionality . ... View more

Hi all, just looking for some advice for when i see my new psychiatrist in 2 weeks time please. I have struggled with depression for over 40 years, had some realy terrible times but have always been able to claw myself back to ragged functionality . The last 3 years i haven't been able to do this,i started seeing a psychiatrist 2 years ago, since then i have tried several medications, had 3 admissions to hospital, numerous group courses, 2 seperate rounds of tms, psychologist, nothing has worked or helped to get me functioning again. 7 months ago my psychiatrist left the hospital without warning, i have been waiting desperately through some hospitalization with severe physical health issues, for my appointment with a new psychiatrist which is now coming up in 2 weeks. I am in such a mess because of waiting and hospitalization and illness that i am feeling really overwhelmed and nervous about my appointment with the new psychiatrist. I am afraid that i won't be able to discuss how bad I've been as i tend to clam up when nervous, and i don't realy know where to start. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.

Alien1927 First time Seeing a psychiatrist
  • replies: 16

I recently saw a GP today and I am getting referred to a psychiatrist for my depression and anxiety. I'm really nervous and scared, never been to a psychiatrist. What is it like to see a psychiatrist and what should I expect and does it really help? View more

I recently saw a GP today and I am getting referred to a psychiatrist for my depression and anxiety. I'm really nervous and scared, never been to a psychiatrist. What is it like to see a psychiatrist and what should I expect and does it really help?

Kateybear When is medication the right option
  • replies: 3

Hi all, im new to this forum but have been struggling with anxiety for several years. In the last 12 months I have also been feeling depressed. I had a bad experience with a doctor when I first tried to address my mental health which left me feeling ... View more

Hi all, im new to this forum but have been struggling with anxiety for several years. In the last 12 months I have also been feeling depressed. I had a bad experience with a doctor when I first tried to address my mental health which left me feeling absolutely pathetic, due to this I have been unable to bring myself to go back. Things have gotten worse lately and I keep making appointments with a Gp and cancelling them, I just can’t seem to bring myself to go and convince myself that I don’t need to. is there any way for me to recover on my own? How do I bring myself to make the right step? Thanks for your help!

MH41 Advice for seeing a Psychiatrist
  • replies: 7

Hi people, hope you are doing well, After a while battling, I've decided I need to see a psychiatrist and was wondering if anyone could advise me on a good one in the Tullamarine / Essendon area in Melbourne, VIC. Any advice would be great. Thanks, M... View more

Hi people, hope you are doing well, After a while battling, I've decided I need to see a psychiatrist and was wondering if anyone could advise me on a good one in the Tullamarine / Essendon area in Melbourne, VIC. Any advice would be great. Thanks, Matt

Laynelove Atypical Depression
  • replies: 7

Hi, I'm 25 year old female, I've never been diagnosed but i suspect I have atypical depression. I'm getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of information out there on this. I don't want Wikipedia type info, I know the textbook definition of what... View more

Hi, I'm 25 year old female, I've never been diagnosed but i suspect I have atypical depression. I'm getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of information out there on this. I don't want Wikipedia type info, I know the textbook definition of what it is. im just curious to know why there are no forums, personal stories, success stories, evidence of recovery out there on the internet. Is this because people just get labelled as depressed without a subtype or is it because no one knows anything about atypical depression. Has nobody ever recovered from this? Is this a life sentence for me? I'm fighting so so hard just to get by...but I'm not actually living and I haven't been for a long time. i am also getting really frustrated at the fact that I can't get a clear diagnosis. I have seen several therapists who don't want to put labels on me, when I finally saw a psychiatrist with my concerns I still walked out without being diagnosed. It's really important to me that I get a label so I can focus on the correct issue. The therapists I've seen keep talking about my past, but no one has ever given me cbt which is the best known method to help me with what I think I have...but then they turn around and say I'm 'treatment resistant'. I don't feel like I've ever been treated at all. just wondering if anyone has any experience with atypical depression? I'd rather positive stories but if they don't exist then just the truth is fine. Thanks!

waters1999 Are psychologists able to refer you to a psychiatrist?
  • replies: 3

Recently i have had my schedule open up more (despite my boss' efforts to prevent this). I feel i may be ready to seek help but i know a psychologist is not going to cut it as i have had experience with this in the past and i gained very little over ... View more

Recently i have had my schedule open up more (despite my boss' efforts to prevent this). I feel i may be ready to seek help but i know a psychologist is not going to cut it as i have had experience with this in the past and i gained very little over an extensive amount of time. With that being said i would much rather talk to a psychologist about what i am feeling rather than a GP.

SomewhatDamaged Worst experience with a mental health professional
  • replies: 5

I had my first ever appt with a psychiatrist today after 30yrs of hit n miss with ADs. I was already anxious but it ended with me in complete distress n i feel absolutely devastated with what was decided for me based on 20mins of miscommunication. I ... View more

I had my first ever appt with a psychiatrist today after 30yrs of hit n miss with ADs. I was already anxious but it ended with me in complete distress n i feel absolutely devastated with what was decided for me based on 20mins of miscommunication. I am so disillusioned with the mental health system right now...no wonder ppl give up