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incrediblytired Separating mental and physical health issues and being taken seriously (potential chronic fatigue)
  • replies: 2

I'm currently working with a psychiatrist and my GP to figure out whether my mental health issues are limited to severe depression and anxiety, or whether there is something else at play (after a lot of research I'm pretty much certain I have bipolar... View more

I'm currently working with a psychiatrist and my GP to figure out whether my mental health issues are limited to severe depression and anxiety, or whether there is something else at play (after a lot of research I'm pretty much certain I have bipolar type 2, but my psychiatrist doesn't listen to me, which is another problem all together) but during this process something else has come up that I don't know how to address. For many many months I've been struggling with extreme exhaustion. I've always had a rough sleep schedule and often have bouts of insomnia, so I chalked it up to that (not to mention the, you know, depression), but the more time passes the worse it gets. I'm tired ALL the time, and no matter how much sleep I get I'm still miserable and tired afterwards. It's affecting my life to the point where I can't make myself wake up and get out of bed, I nap all the time, and I'm sore and cranky. This hasn't been helping my declining mental health at all. I took leave from work several weeks ago for mental health, and I'm so grateful for it because I have no idea how I'd manage employment in this condition. After googling, it looks like I tick a lot of boxes for chronic fatigue syndrome. The problem is, I'm too scared to talk to my doctors about it because I don't want to be seen as just making things up for attention or have it brushed off as just a part of my depression. What are other people’s experiences with this? How do you get people to take you seriously when you already have so much going on and you just KNOW they're sick of you? Does anybody else have similar stories to share? Advice?

kel32 brain zaps.
  • replies: 3

hi guys, just looking for some self help tips in regards to brain zaps when coming of snri's please. day 3 of zero tablets taken (tapered very slowly) and cant even move eyes or head without getting these zaps! i know theyr not dangerous but any self... View more

hi guys, just looking for some self help tips in regards to brain zaps when coming of snri's please. day 3 of zero tablets taken (tapered very slowly) and cant even move eyes or head without getting these zaps! i know theyr not dangerous but any self help would be great thank you

Sueetties Excessive worry about weight gain from an antidepressant :-(
  • replies: 5

Hello, So this marks the 6th month since I have started on an antidepressant to treat my depression. I have been overly feeling good about my mood. However, I am unable to put aside the excessive worry of gaining weight for the last 6 months as so mu... View more

Hello, So this marks the 6th month since I have started on an antidepressant to treat my depression. I have been overly feeling good about my mood. However, I am unable to put aside the excessive worry of gaining weight for the last 6 months as so much has been said about the unwanted side effects. I know I’ve been in a perfect weight range (47.5kgs) for years and I’m still the right size. However, presently, I unconsciously stand up on a scale from time to time (3 or 4 times a day) and weight myself up for fear that I will gain an extra unwanted 5 pounds. This has driven me insane. Excessive exercise is another thing that has plagued me as well. I know it’s good to do some exercises but seem that I have been overdone it, 4km run a day non-stop for 6 months. I feel gross and I don’t know how to stop. I am afraid one day I stop exercise, depression will come back. I feel that this is some sort of a psychological symptom which can be a concern. I do not know what to do now. i wonder if anyone has similar experiences and how to overcome the worry and fear? thank you.

16sundayz Psychodynamic therapy?
  • replies: 8

My psychologist and I are doing doing combinations of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy. Does anyone have any info for me please on Psychodynamic Therapy or link about it?

My psychologist and I are doing doing combinations of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy. Does anyone have any info for me please on Psychodynamic Therapy or link about it?

sensitiveswan I hide my mental state too well
  • replies: 7

I am struggling at the moment, with both anxiety and depression. I can't go a day without a full breakdown. I know I can't work at the moment, as I work with children and I can't be crying at work. The very thought of going to work gives me a mild pa... View more

I am struggling at the moment, with both anxiety and depression. I can't go a day without a full breakdown. I know I can't work at the moment, as I work with children and I can't be crying at work. The very thought of going to work gives me a mild panic attack! It takes a great deal of courage to leave the house, yet when I get to the GP or wherever I have to be I put on my 'public' face. I sometimes worry that I won't be taken seriously, but it is so difficult to let my guard down. I've applied for sickness benefit, but what if they say no because they deem me to be mentally well? I know I'm not, in fact the tears have just started again while I right this. Does anyone else have this problem?

Scottish-Parrot_Jaimie Feelings for Psychologist. Do I tell her?
  • replies: 19

I've been seeing my current psychologist fortnightly for a few months now, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't find her quite attractive from day one, but at that point, it was simply me noticing she was good looking and that was that. As we had more... View more

I've been seeing my current psychologist fortnightly for a few months now, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't find her quite attractive from day one, but at that point, it was simply me noticing she was good looking and that was that. As we had more sessions together though, I started actually crushing on her, but now, as I really think about it, these feelings aren't particularly romantic, or sexual. Its more platonic than that, like I wish she was my mother. The thought of actually being romantic with her weirds me out, yet I still have this crush like infatuation. I'm 25 (hardly qualified to be) and she's in her late 30's, if that means anything. I'm also a woman; a very gay one, so this situation is confusing. I have a letter that I've written her that addresses these feelings, but I'm unsure whether or not I should give it to her for our next session. I'm scarred she'll stop seeing me, or I'll make things super weird between us. I'm aware of what transference is, and it seems accurate to this situation, but I feel like I haven't been seeing my psychologist long enough to justify such a connection, and I'm not sure how transference is viewed in modern psychology given how many Freudian methods of treatment have been (rightfully) moved away from. Anyway, the letter is very honest, although admittedly downplaying how often I think about her just the tiniest bit. Is it worth giving it to her? I don't want to distract from our work or ruin what I have with her. Thank you.

Wonderlands I don't have a mental Illness?
  • replies: 10

Third session with my Therapist. I asked them before I left, is there some sort of diagnosis or something ( because I work best with labels). They said no, it is only our third session and right now, I cannot say you have a mental illness. There is d... View more

Third session with my Therapist. I asked them before I left, is there some sort of diagnosis or something ( because I work best with labels). They said no, it is only our third session and right now, I cannot say you have a mental illness. There is distress (self esteem, confidence and putting other people first vs yourself) which causes you anxiety, depression and also unrelated phobia but nothing to say you're ill and we will work through this with what is best for you, rather than a label. So now I'm confused and conflicted? Why am I so sad all the time if I'm not "actually" depressed. What's the explanation? Is it just my personality that's really bad? I feel like I'm wasting resources of this is the case. I shouldn't have asked the question.

Moonstruck CBT for anxiety; Mindspot online course
  • replies: 11

Just a few weeks into a Mindspot online course..they're great people..and explained the correlation between thoughts, actions leading from those thoughts, how it makes us feel etc...how they all work together etc. Other clients' personal stories whic... View more

Just a few weeks into a Mindspot online course..they're great people..and explained the correlation between thoughts, actions leading from those thoughts, how it makes us feel etc...how they all work together etc. Other clients' personal stories which are helpful to read...but what do I DO now? I already knew most of the initial information and also how CBT is supposed to work....I am eager to get to the "next bit"..how do I put CBT into action so that it works for me? I have heard it is very effective...and willing to give it a try...but what comes next? Ok...I "challenge my thoughts"....yes, done that...what's next?? Or is that all I have to do to improve and handle my crippling anxiety and over-thinking? If I have an unhelpful thought....then challenge it...is it like a magic wand? Any input from others with experience of this therapy would be very appreciated.....wishing all a positive day...Moonstruck

LilyR I have developed feelings for my psychologist
  • replies: 50

I started seeing a psychologist for depression and anxiety in March 2016. I had seventeen sessions with him in total and my last session was in November last year. Approximately nine or ten sessions in I realised that I was starting to develop feelin... View more

I started seeing a psychologist for depression and anxiety in March 2016. I had seventeen sessions with him in total and my last session was in November last year. Approximately nine or ten sessions in I realised that I was starting to develop feelings for my psychologist. I realise that it is stupid and ridiculous but nevertheless the feelings are still there even though it has been five months since I saw him. Appearently it happens quite a bit and is called ‘transference’. No matter what I do I cannot seem to get him out of mind and it is affecting my mental health. I honestly wish I had not gone to see him in the first place as it has made everything worse. I am after some advice or suggestions on what I should do. Has this happened to anyone else? I obviously do not want to tell my psychologist about my feelings as that would be extremely embarrassing and awkward but I need to get some help with this. Should I talk to my doctor or another psychologist about it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated- thank you.

Jacket Should I give my new psychiatrist another chance?
  • replies: 9

Hi all, I posted on 17/1 the post "A few questions about starting with a psychologist". I really appreciated the replies, and am now 1½ weeks away from finally seeing my third psychologist, desperately hoping that I will have more luck. But now I hav... View more

Hi all, I posted on 17/1 the post "A few questions about starting with a psychologist". I really appreciated the replies, and am now 1½ weeks away from finally seeing my third psychologist, desperately hoping that I will have more luck. But now I have a different tricky situation, with the psychiatrist I saw. Important to note: I've never seen a psychiatrist for medication until now. I had a one-hour session (my psychologist appointments so far have been 2-2.5 hours, because my situation is so "complex", according to them), and tried to explain everything in brief, also showing my writing on my life. During that hour, I talked about how my and/or my wife's potential infertility and how that has led to me feeling a lack of control in my life. He called my writing "obsessive", which didn't feel like a helpful comment, and also was surprised at my list of 15-ish friends I've told about my troubles. My support network means a lot to me, and I felt he was challenging me or disapproving. He ended up saying I have "substantial depression" and prescribing me medication, saying I should start them straightaway so I could have them in mornings and so I'd be a little used to them by the time I started work four days later. I put my faith in him and took them immediately, then started to read the information about that drug on the tram. I felt so betrayed when I saw that it has an identified risk of adversely affecting fertility. (As well as this, I had dizziness, headache, stomachache and vomiting. This was my first time ever trying an antidepressant.) I called him, and he spoke through his receptionist, saying that if I have such concerns, I should stop taking them and go back in a week's time to get something new. Did he not know about the fertility side effect? Did he know and conceal it? Does he just want me to visit again soon so he can make more money off me seeing him? It's very expensive to see him. For now, I booked a new appointment for this Friday, but I don't know whether to cancel it, postpone to see how I go at work without drugs and how I go with the new psychologist, go to see him and decide later whether to take his new prescription or not (I will of course be reading everything thoroughly this time), or seek a new one? I'm feeling very fragile, and already had such bad luck with two psychologists, I don't want to go through this all again because of a bad psychiatrist too. What would you do? Thank you in advance for your advice.