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Browngirl16 Psychology does not seem to be helping.
  • replies: 5

Hi, I have recently started seeing a psychologist, but I don't think it is helping me. I have had anxiety for about 4 years now, but only acknowledged that it was anxiety for the past year. I had panic attacks, but my family just thought I had breath... View more

Hi, I have recently started seeing a psychologist, but I don't think it is helping me. I have had anxiety for about 4 years now, but only acknowledged that it was anxiety for the past year. I had panic attacks, but my family just thought I had breathing issues until I had a major panic attack and they took me to see our family GP. My GP instantly recognised that I have anxiety and depression and wrote me up a mental health care plan. She also referred me to a psychologist, however even with the medicare rebate, her fees were quite high. My dad found a free psychology service through his workplace and I will have my fifth session tomorrow, but I haven't felt any different or better since visiting. Would my sessions with her be based off of the health care plan if I did not have a referral from my GP for that psychology service? Also, am I able to visit any psychologist with my health care plan regardless of the referral from my GP? I also wanted to ask how I should approach my GP about starting medication as another option, could someone please provide some tips as to how to start this conversation? Thank you

Burdy Psychologist / counselor questions and fears
  • replies: 11

Hi everyone, I have been hanging around the forum for a week or so now and am finding it very useful and generally feel a lot better after venting in a thread, thank you all. During this time it is has occurred to me (and been mentioned by my hubby a... View more

Hi everyone, I have been hanging around the forum for a week or so now and am finding it very useful and generally feel a lot better after venting in a thread, thank you all. During this time it is has occurred to me (and been mentioned by my hubby a few times) that I may need to see a psychologist or counselor, I feel like I have so much stuff inside that I need to get out. My issue here is I have a bit of fear around this due to past experience. My mother was always derogatory about people with mental illness, "stress, depression, anxiety etc is a man made disease" and "he/she just needs to toughen up and get on with it" type attitude and I recall these things being said ALOT. There was also a time once when she gas lighted me, tried to have my ex convinced I was nuts and told me I could not have my son unless I went to counseling (my husband and I had separated, I asked her to look after my son for the night while he and I sorted a few things so as not in front of my toddler son, next day went to pick him up at the arranged time and she refused to hand him over and gave me the counseling ultimatum) so I went but of course it was a counselor she chose and after only 2 sessions I found out the counselor had reported to my mother everything I had said in the sessions and I was in big trouble. So now I am a bit hesitant to see someone but I know I probably need to speak with someone trained to deal with my issues, absolutely no offence to anyone here you have all been wonderful but I think I also need a professional, maybe. Also what is the cost usually? Affordability is also a concern (or excuse maybe) Thank you again Burdy

nm1017 Health Insurance
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I'm currently looking into getting health insurance for myself as I will soon no longer be under the cover of my family's insurance. I have quite complex and severe mental health conditions that need regular medication not under the PBS... View more

Hey everyone, I'm currently looking into getting health insurance for myself as I will soon no longer be under the cover of my family's insurance. I have quite complex and severe mental health conditions that need regular medication not under the PBS, psychiatry, psychology, dietetics, physiotherapy and would need access to private day programs, inpatient treatment and emergency psychiatric treatment. I'd love to hear from others regarding good/bad experiences with health insurance and any potential advice on what policies I may be able to get that would cover me for these things. I don't need anything specific of course, just some general ideas so I know where to start looking. Thanks!

Warney1967 Mental health versus profits
  • replies: 4

I sent an email to the mental health complaints commissioner last week when I was having a rough patch , that day I was supposed to see my psychologist and really needed his advice and guidance to not fall back into the hell hole ive been in for year... View more

I sent an email to the mental health complaints commissioner last week when I was having a rough patch , that day I was supposed to see my psychologist and really needed his advice and guidance to not fall back into the hell hole ive been in for years . My issue was I’d used up my (10) visits via mental health plan and I can’t afford to pay to see him because I’m not working which is a major part of this whole saga , he said to me basically it’s pay or I’ll see you in January when you get another 10 , this isn’t helpful in the slightest when the problem is now ! Now it took me a while to find this guy who I click with therefore I don’t want to just go to some free clinic and spill my guts all over again when he knows the full story already . Back to my email , the response via a phone call was most underwhelming and disappointing yet not surprising , they said more or less there’s nothing can be done and you’re own your own to sort it out . Now this response is to me like years ago dealing with the stigma of mental heath you just hide or give up and deal with your personal hell alone because no one cares , the people who are supposed to be there for you “psychologists “ etc are really no better than the government putting profit and money ahead of mental health when help is desperately needed . It’s a vicious circle when you can’t work , need to work to make money to see help , need help to be able to work , but I feel like I’ve just been discarded because moneys more important than me and how I’m feeling . I’m sure I’m not alone in this circumstance and would like to hear others thoughts on this , regards greg

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.

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