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manchala Feeling worse after visit with a counselor?
  • replies: 22

I just saw a counselor for the first time, and in all honesty, I hated it. I guess I expected to leave there in a better mood but I think I felt worse walking out than I felt walking in. I was wondering if it's common for people to feel this way at t... View more

I just saw a counselor for the first time, and in all honesty, I hated it. I guess I expected to leave there in a better mood but I think I felt worse walking out than I felt walking in. I was wondering if it's common for people to feel this way at the start? I've never opened up to anyone before- not my friends, family or a professional. So I felt very vulnerable and embarrassed, and I cried throughout the session. Every question he asked me felt invasive and was hard for me to answer. I know he's doing his job and that everything paints a bigger picture, but it was just a little intimidating for me. He drew on so many different aspects of my life which has now got me overthinking everything I've ever done in the past- I've given myself a headache and I haven't stopped crying since. I was very in the midst of my emotions so I could barely get anything out of my mouth. I'm worried that maybe he doesn't understand the extent of what I feel because I can't put my emotions into words well. At times I got frustrated at him for not understanding what I was trying to tell him. Whenever he smiled at me I got worried that he was laughing at something I said and I took it as a condescending thing. I have another session scheduled in a few days and I'm dreading it. I'm regretting going in the first place, I feel like I've 'exploited' myself, if that makes sense. Did anyone else feel the same way when they first started seeing a professional?

Poster221 New charges imposed on Medical Certificates for Driver's Licences
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am in my 50s and suffer from Parkinson's Disease and depression. I have a slow form of PD which is controlled well with medication. I am still able to drive and every year have a medical check up to test my fitness to drive. This year when I bo... View more

Hi, I am in my 50s and suffer from Parkinson's Disease and depression. I have a slow form of PD which is controlled well with medication. I am still able to drive and every year have a medical check up to test my fitness to drive. This year when I booked my annual appointment, I was told by the staff that the Government recently introduced a charge of over $100 for the service! I must say I was so shocked I almost dropped the phone. The Medical Centre told me I will receive about $70 back through Medicare, but this means I have to pay them over $100 up-front for my Medical Certificate each year. This has added an unwanted additional burden on my budget. It was also totally unexpected. I had received no notification about this at all. The first I heard about it was when the receptionist at the medical centre told me. It has added considerably to the cost of my car license. My Medical Certificate falls due in December so this also creates additional financial uncertainty close to Christmas. I am also shocked to learn that part of the test now involves a urine sample! This to my mind is offensive and degrading, because it presumes that people on disabilities are likely to be drug addicts. This really crosses a line. I have never taken an illicit drug in my life. I only take prescription medication and it does not show up on drug tests as an illegal substance. This represents an invasion of my personal rights and dignity in my opinion. So I now not only have to pay for a medical certificate so I can continue to drive, I now also have to be treated like a drug addict! It is like they are determined to paint me as a criminal and a second class citizen. It makes me very sad indeed to think this kind of thing is happening in Australia in 2018. When will these sinister kinds of bureaucratic abuses against disability pensioners cease? I am actually uncertain if the Medical Centre is the one who is exploiting me for charges that they should not actually be imposing on me? Or are they at the mercy of Medicare and its funding policies? I always presumed that a disability pensioner with a health care card should be exempt, but lately I have noticed charges are being imposed for all kinds of things that were once free. I recently had to pay the Medical Centre $50 for a skin check for example, and also, just recently, I managed to get a splinter in my finger and they charged me $50 to remove it. The costs are getting beyond the ability of my pension to cover.

Chloe2 Anxiety (Panic Disorder) Medication
  • replies: 14

Hi all, After having my daughter 7 years ago, I went untreated for a couple of years with severe post natal depression. I then suffered from intermittent mild anxiety for the next 3 years or so, which then became more often after witnessing a fatal a... View more

Hi all, After having my daughter 7 years ago, I went untreated for a couple of years with severe post natal depression. I then suffered from intermittent mild anxiety for the next 3 years or so, which then became more often after witnessing a fatal accident in 2013. (worse when I'm in the car) I was a witness in court for this accident about 3 months ago, and since then it has made my anxiety not only worse, but more often. About 3 weeks ago at work i felt a hot flush go through my head, my heart rate went through the roof, i got tunnel vision and felt sick and almost passed out. I felt off for 3 days afterwards. I've now had 3 more episodes of this, along with a feeling of extreme panic while it's happening, but also feeling anxious when it's not that it's going to happen again, and also a regular feeling of the world not being real, and feeling detached from it and just quick bursts here and there of feelings of dread and panic. After looking on Google, i do feel I may have panic disorder. My doctor is aware of my two almost fainting episodes, and wanted me to monitor my pulse if it happened again but he's not aware of the other feelings I'm getting. I need to make an appointment to see him (which alone sends me into a panic) but I'm sure he's going to recommend medication. After researching, I've seen mixed reviews of people taking medication for anxiety and panic disorders and I wanted to know first hand from someone on here what path they went on, and how it helped them? Having a mentally ill mother, the thought of any medication scares me (and addictive ones are a definite no no for me) But I'm so exhausted, and so sad of feeling like I'm going to feel like this forever that I just want to fix it.

kaceymad Is my mental health plan current?
  • replies: 5

Hi, I'm really confused about the mental health plan. I got one from my doctor at about this time last year and went to their recommended psychologist about 4 times. I now have an appointment for a different psychologist next week and have been asked... View more

Hi, I'm really confused about the mental health plan. I got one from my doctor at about this time last year and went to their recommended psychologist about 4 times. I now have an appointment for a different psychologist next week and have been asked if I have gotten a plan from my doctor. I went to my doctor to get a new one and she said she didn't need to do one because she already has.... (but she didn't seem 100% confident) How do I know that it is current and valid before I go to my first appointment, and how to I link the two? Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks so much!

Sarah_B Contradicting opinions of health professionals
  • replies: 4

Hi, I've been going to a GP for the last months for depression, anxiety and mood swings which I have had for years. Every time she has me fill in the K-10 as well as some other assessments. The results always indicate severe depression and some level... View more

Hi, I've been going to a GP for the last months for depression, anxiety and mood swings which I have had for years. Every time she has me fill in the K-10 as well as some other assessments. The results always indicate severe depression and some level of anxiety. She had me try two generic antidepressants but both did not seem to work for me. I have been referred to a counselor who also had me fill in some assessments. He asked the GP to refer me to a psychiatrist as he thought it would be better if I was diagnosed (he believed I had some sort of anxiety disorder) and would be prescribed more specific medication. Now I have seen the psychiatrist and he concluded that there is no diagnosis to be made as he believes I do not have depression or anxiety. He has informed my GP and counselor of this and says I should not take any medication as it will not help me (since I apparently do not have any mental disorder). I am really confused right now because all the assessments show depression and anxiety and I answer them honestly as to how I feel. Now I do not get any more medication and I feel really scared, lost, and confused about the outcome of all this. Why do I feel the way I do if there is nothing wrong with me?

Manalishi Not doing well with anxiety medication, should I switch?
  • replies: 2

I've been on antidepressants for a month now, and while they've mostly stopped my panic attacks, they've come with side effects including constipation, diarrhea, and reflux. In the last week I feel like it's gotten worse to the point where the side e... View more

I've been on antidepressants for a month now, and while they've mostly stopped my panic attacks, they've come with side effects including constipation, diarrhea, and reflux. In the last week I feel like it's gotten worse to the point where the side effects are nearly as debilitating as my original anxiety and panic attacks, all this while only being on a half dose. I'm seeing my GP tomorrow afternoon, in the meantime I was hoping others could chip in if they've had similar experiences to mine, and if the side effects persisted this long, or if they eventually went away.

Rod_NR93 Switching meds
  • replies: 6

I am writing this on a Sunday afternoon when my mood is at its usual lowest. Late last week I stopped taking my then antidepressant and started my new one, as discussed with my pdoc. The morning after my first dose I felt a big and sudden lift in my ... View more

I am writing this on a Sunday afternoon when my mood is at its usual lowest. Late last week I stopped taking my then antidepressant and started my new one, as discussed with my pdoc. The morning after my first dose I felt a big and sudden lift in my mood but by yesterday afternoon this had gone and my depression is now worse than usual. I have read antidepressants can make you feel worse before they make you feel better. Has anyone had this same experience? Thanks

TrailRunner ? Hallucination on SSRI
  • replies: 3

Hi, I've started my first SSRI 6 weeks ago. Amongst other normal side effects I've had two odd experiences too. Withn the first 3 or so weeks I closed my eyes in bed (still very awake) and I watched my face turn into a horse. It was very vivid. I ope... View more

Hi, I've started my first SSRI 6 weeks ago. Amongst other normal side effects I've had two odd experiences too. Withn the first 3 or so weeks I closed my eyes in bed (still very awake) and I watched my face turn into a horse. It was very vivid. I opened my eyes, it went away, closed my eyes and my face started morphing into the horse again. Then last week, again awake, eyes closed in bed and I was watching labradors running around a field. Has anyone else experienced similar? will these just wear off the longer i'm on the SSRI? Ta

Aware Is there really help out there
  • replies: 13

Two years ago I suffered a mental breakdown. I became quite ill, and reluctantly started taking medication 6 weeks later because I was told by a doctor that I would only get worse if I didn't. It wasn't a magical cure, and it didn't change everything... View more

Two years ago I suffered a mental breakdown. I became quite ill, and reluctantly started taking medication 6 weeks later because I was told by a doctor that I would only get worse if I didn't. It wasn't a magical cure, and it didn't change everything that I was going through, however I did begin to feel a bit better. There's no ignoring it, there is a stigma attached to mental heath issue's, and I have lost a lot of people in my life, to the point where I don't see or speak to many people at all. Anyway, I took myself off my medication after 6 months, but 13 weeks ago I hit rock bottom again. This time I made a call for help, I was scared with how I was feeling. I got a referral the very next day to start seeing a Physiologist, and started taking my medication again. I felt positive that I had done this, however, now it has been 13 weeks, and still I have had no appointment arranged. I received a letter confirming my referral 8 weeks ago, but other than that nothing. It was a very difficult decision for me to reach out for help, but now I wonder if it's even there. I have lost all confidence with getting anywhere, and think this will just remain to be something I get through on my own. I hope I make sense, Thanks for reading

Howl Finding a GP
  • replies: 2

I understand that specific recommendations are not allowed in this forum for a doctor or medication. Hoping someone can point me to any resources that may help with finding a decent GP that isn't too far from me. I've been through 5 or 6 local GPs to... View more

I understand that specific recommendations are not allowed in this forum for a doctor or medication. Hoping someone can point me to any resources that may help with finding a decent GP that isn't too far from me. I've been through 5 or 6 local GPs to try to get help, and I'm simply not getting what I need. They all seem to struggle with talking to me about depression and anxiety, and providing me with any kind of useful strategies. Frankly most GPs I've seen so far seem like they want to rush me out the door within the allotted 10 minute time slot for an appointment, and seem really uncomfortable talking about depression and anxiety. I'm living in an area where there's a low socio-economic demographic, and that may be the cause of some of the attitudes... I was seeing a counsellor, who referred me to see my GP to consider medication for what they described to be both severe depression and severe anxiety. I've tried three different medications. The one that seemed to work the best also woke me up early in the morning with extreme anxiety. Right now I'm unmedicated. Mostly because the GPs that I have spoken to seem to prescribe medications like spinning a roulette wheel to try the next one, and I can't afford the side affects anymore in my job. But I need to do something... And I do want the help. I just want someone to look at my situation and work with me to find the best solution for me, including any options that don't require medication Should I consider a psychiatrist instead?

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