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sledz14 Coming off Anti-Depressants and It's Side Effects
  • replies: 4

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone is currently weaning off or has stopped taking anti-depressants and experiencing the awful side effects/withdrawals? A bit of background about me. I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder back in 2012 after a series of fai... View more

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone is currently weaning off or has stopped taking anti-depressants and experiencing the awful side effects/withdrawals? A bit of background about me. I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder back in 2012 after a series of fainting spells due to low blood pressure. Unfortunately, the fear of fainting and subsequent vomiting (in public!) caused constant panic attacks which then caused agoraphobia and depression. When I first saw a GP, they immediately put me on medication and referred me to a psych. Looking back I wished they never prescribed me anything since the psychologist was a godsend and I learnt how to successfully manage my anxiety and panic. I've been on anti-depressants now for 6 years and ready to come off. I have spoken with my GP (not the same as before) and we've discussed a plan to slowly come off, but no matter how slowly the withdrawal symptoms are horrific. Before I decided to stop, I knew the side effects would be crap, but now as I'm experiencing them, it's so easy to feel alone in this. I have an amazing support network, but they'll never know how it really feels. Is anyone else also coming off the meds? Side effects include nausea, lightheadedness, confusion, agitation, brain zaps, nightmares, dizziness and anxiety (yuck!) If you are, how are you coping? Any tips or suggestion to help get me through this? Thanks.

Chris_B Got a question related to mental health? ASK DR KIM
  • replies: 550

Hi everyone, This is a thread for asking questions of our resident GP and counsellor, Dr Kim, who pops into the forums regularly. PLEASE NOTE as per our community rules, Dr Kim won't be able to answer questions about medications, these are best discu... View more

Hi everyone, This is a thread for asking questions of our resident GP and counsellor, Dr Kim, who pops into the forums regularly. PLEASE NOTE as per our community rules, Dr Kim won't be able to answer questions about medications, these are best discussed offline directly with your mental health professional. UPDATE - 01/03/2018 BEFORE YOU ASK DR.KIM PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS: Dr Kim's time is limited! We cannot provide an ongoing dialogue with Dr Kim in this thread - one post/question per person please We'd recommend you have a look through the forums before posting here to see if your question has already been answered by Dr Kim, our other members, or if there's information about it already on the beyondblue website. If a question pops up that has already been answered previously, or if alternate resources are available, one of our moderators will reply and direct you to the link. When writing your question, imagine you are speaking to someone in person i.e. provide a clear and detailed post with enough information that outlines how Dr.Kim can help you. Background After 20 years of experience working as a GP, Dr Kim realised in 2003 the aspect of her work she enjoyed most was talking to people and understanding the way they think and behave – and so she underwent training in counselling and therapy, where she now solely works. Her experience includes working with a wide range of mental health issues including anxiety, depression and adolescent mental health. “Given my training I also see couples, siblings, parents with their children and entire family groups,” she says. “In this work I hope to give families the skills to understand one another and have the strategies to communicate and manage relationships that are distressing them. I believe strongly that best therapy is achieved when there is trust in the therapist's ability but also their genuine desire to understand and help.”

Ames82 Self sabotage and medication
  • replies: 6

Hi first time posting so feeling nervous. I have been on the medication journey for almost a year and I’m still struggling to take it consistently. I have had a few different types some of which is became addicted to but now I need support everyday f... View more

Hi first time posting so feeling nervous. I have been on the medication journey for almost a year and I’m still struggling to take it consistently. I have had a few different types some of which is became addicted to but now I need support everyday from a friend to almost stand over me as I take it. If they aren’t around I just don’t bother I feel like I’m not worth it and have this “ can’t be bothered” attitude but when I come off them the withdrawals are evident so then I get back on and the cycle starts again. I don’t know how to shift my thinking about taking meds to help me. One part of me knows I need it the other part of me just struggles with the self care . anyone got advice or been in a similar situation how do I overcome this ?

4x4 My experience with medication
  • replies: 2

So quick bit of background. So suffered from depression and anxiety for about 12 years now, problem is i didn't know much about it or that was my problem. Refused to believe anything was wrong for a very long time. I started to wake up to the fact th... View more

So quick bit of background. So suffered from depression and anxiety for about 12 years now, problem is i didn't know much about it or that was my problem. Refused to believe anything was wrong for a very long time. I started to wake up to the fact that there were issues, but i didn't want to confront them. Things and feelings i had never talked about were ruining my life and i was deteriorating fast. Affecting my family, friendships, work, ect. Took me ages to get the courage to see a doctor then psychologist, tried various therapy with small success. Eventually tried Anti-depressants, only been a short while on them, but wow i accully feel alive, feel like everything isn't to hard. I feel like i needed that helping hand up first step, now I'm on way to recovery. I was really against idea of medication, but after bit of reading and research thought I'll give it a go, if doesn't work at least i know if it would of helped or not. I won't say that everyone should just try them, one I'm not a expert and two everyone is different. the best example for me. Its like the car is bogged, you need someone to pull you out of the mud (medication) and then your the rest of the journey therapy and myself will get me to my destination.

CoffeeSnob Let Down by My Psychologist
  • replies: 22

I was just hoping to get another perspective on this - I honestly don't know what to do about it. Up until January I was seeing a psychologist at a trauma service, for work-related PTSD and depression. For some time I had felt that I had become too d... View more

I was just hoping to get another perspective on this - I honestly don't know what to do about it. Up until January I was seeing a psychologist at a trauma service, for work-related PTSD and depression. For some time I had felt that I had become too dependent on her, which I raised with her more than once. I actually asked for a break from therapy, twice, but she talked me out of it each time and we continued on with weekly sessions. Anyway, the day of my last appointment, I found that I just wasn't up to it and that was it. I stopped sessions altogether. But I pretty well misjudged my own condition and as no discharge plan had been put in place, I suffered accordingly. I've had ongoing problems with depression and anxiety since then. I had no follow up, not even a "how are you going?" phone call, so I emailed my former psychologist in early May to express my disappointment. She couldn't have come across as less interested. She told me she would pass my feedback to her supervisor, but I've heard nothing since then. This was six weeks ago. I feel extremely let down. I was a client there for 12 months, but once I left it was like I no longer existed. This was not what I was expecting, at all. I put everything into therapy and trusted my psychologist completely. The complete lack of interest, care and concern shown by her in return has been devastating. I'm having a hard time, but the last thing I want to do now is engage with another psychologist. Is this how things normally work in the mental health system?

Elizabeth2 symptom managment?
  • replies: 3

since diagnosis and being placed on medication i have been getting bad chest pains usually when at rest. any one have any copeing stagegies for this? i have had all scans and screans done so it is all mentall and not physical.

since diagnosis and being placed on medication i have been getting bad chest pains usually when at rest. any one have any copeing stagegies for this? i have had all scans and screans done so it is all mentall and not physical.

Tukimum Voluntary hospital admissions - process and costs
  • replies: 2

Hi there, keen to know if anyone out there has had an experience (positive or negative) as an inpatient in a private hospital for depression? Why did you decide to seek treatment in a hospital, and what is the process for admission beyond a referral?... View more

Hi there, keen to know if anyone out there has had an experience (positive or negative) as an inpatient in a private hospital for depression? Why did you decide to seek treatment in a hospital, and what is the process for admission beyond a referral? Is there a waiting list? Do I have a choice of preferred hospital? If so, does anyone have recommendations? Also, any advice on out of pocket expenses? ....or questions I should ask my psychiatrist? many thanks

Jem42 Online Help
  • replies: 2

On one of my days of despair, I was searching for a Rehabilitation center and came across MindSpot. I did an assessment, and then spoke to one of their therapists and am now enrolled in a 8 week online course. Has anyone else gone through this course... View more

On one of my days of despair, I was searching for a Rehabilitation center and came across MindSpot. I did an assessment, and then spoke to one of their therapists and am now enrolled in a 8 week online course. Has anyone else gone through this course? If so did you find it useful? Has it helped you deal with your situation? Thanks Jem

pnd5 TMS Maintenance
  • replies: 3

I have been having TMS for 6 years and I am sick of going back into hospital every 4-6 weeks for more treatment. I have tried 5 different medications, therapy & ECT with no success. TMS is the only thing that helped but the maintenance is frustrating... View more

I have been having TMS for 6 years and I am sick of going back into hospital every 4-6 weeks for more treatment. I have tried 5 different medications, therapy & ECT with no success. TMS is the only thing that helped but the maintenance is frustrating.

TheDuke Need some encouragement
  • replies: 8

Hi all. I’m a newbie to the forum so apologies if I do anything wrong. A while back I had a bit of depression and was treated using medication. It didn’t seem to be an issue starting the meds back then and took it for a number of year with limited si... View more

Hi all. I’m a newbie to the forum so apologies if I do anything wrong. A while back I had a bit of depression and was treated using medication. It didn’t seem to be an issue starting the meds back then and took it for a number of year with limited side effects. i decided to ween off successfully last year. Little did I know that that after a health scare this year I would develop health anxiety. the doc has represcribed the meds but really struggling with the initial extra anxiety. The doc really wants me to persist. And I do feel small fleeting moments of improvement. But for the most part I cannot sit still and have restless nights. It has been pretty horrible at times. I trust my gp and my partner is also encouraging me to continue. any tips to push through would be appreciated.