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20oney Having to change Psychologists..
  • replies: 5

Hey all, So I've recently moved to a new state and consequently have had to leave my former psych behind me. I've spent the last month or two really avoiding the idea of picking a new psych and starting sessions. But, I managed to find one and had my... View more

Hey all, So I've recently moved to a new state and consequently have had to leave my former psych behind me. I've spent the last month or two really avoiding the idea of picking a new psych and starting sessions. But, I managed to find one and had my first session last weekend. The session went fine, it was just the 'get to know you' kind of deal. So it wasn't too stressful. It's somewhat refreshing starting out with someone new after 2 years, but also daunting and annoying having to start over.. I guess I am regretting actually making the decision to find a psych and start again. I say this because I really struggle between sessions. The conversations had and the potential conversations to be, really just fester in my mind - over and over.. My new work schedule will allow fortnightly sessions which is not ideal. But asking for weekly sessions would also not be ideal as I don't want to gain a dependence on this process (though it seems I already have this...). I'm not normally great at being open and sharing the things that go through my mind. With my previous psych, we relied a great deal on email contact which was helpful but I don't think I want email contact with this psych as I would like to address issues without this 'aid'... I'm not sure how well this idea will go. I've been thinking about writing things down to take with me, but that is an incredibly uncomfortable thought for me. I'm not really sure what to do, or what my question here is. All I know, is that I am in quite a deep pit at the moment and I feel like it's going to take a few sessions before we really gain that rapport and I am able to start expressing myself.. For those who have had to start fresh with a new psychologist, do you have tips for me? Do you take it as it comes, or jump right in...? Cheers in advance, A

blondguy GP's and Anti-Depressants Important Info
  • replies: 242

Hi Everyone! New Posters are very welcome to share your experiences with a GP too! I had an appointment yesterday with my GP. He is aware of what I do on the Beyond Blue forums. I asked him about anti depressants and how he treats his patients with d... View more

Hi Everyone! New Posters are very welcome to share your experiences with a GP too! I had an appointment yesterday with my GP. He is aware of what I do on the Beyond Blue forums. I asked him about anti depressants and how he treats his patients with depression/ anxiety and why some GP's dont prescribe meds. This is what I learned yesterday from one doctor. He has always had an interest in depression and anxiety and prescribes AD's where the symptoms fit the criteria to do so He will refer to a psychiatrist if a patient shows symptoms of a more 'complex' mental illness and not prescribe meds himself Some GP's have little interest in 'getting involved' with depression and will refer to a psychiatrist with little if any discussion He isnt 'pro meds' or 'anti-meds' He treats depression as a serious illness with meds to improve his patients health & well being He mentioned that a pro-active GP can know more about AD's than some psychiatrists as GP's have more frequent patient contact It did surprise me that some GP's have little or no interest in treating depression. I hope these GP's are in the minority. I am interested to know any good or not so good experiences other people have had with a GP. I posted this thread originally so any people with untreated depression/anxiety have a better understanding of how experiences with a GP can be positive step towards recovery. All your thoughts are most welcome Thankyou for taking the time to read my thread Kind thoughts Paul

FringeDweller Is this an invasion of privacy?
  • replies: 5

I've been seeing a psychologist in conjunction with my mum to try and sort out some issues in our relationship mainly stemming from her not believing me when I told her about my cousins physically assaulting me.(this started when I was six, I'm now l... View more

I've been seeing a psychologist in conjunction with my mum to try and sort out some issues in our relationship mainly stemming from her not believing me when I told her about my cousins physically assaulting me.(this started when I was six, I'm now late 30's) At my last appointment with the psych, she informed me she had already asked my mother for my school reports to see if anything shows up in them. When she told me this I started to panic and cry, I was 6 or younger when the abuse started. I know she is looking for some evidence of a change in behaviour but what is likely to show up in my reports when it started so young? If nothing shows up, is she and my mum going to think I'm lying? Is this an invasion of my privacy? I feel like I should have been asked before my mother, these are my reports about me. I've tried looking around online to find any laws, policies or guidelines that would cover this and I can't seem to turn up anything that answers this. Psych told me she didn't tell my mum why she wanted the reports, but my mum isn't an idiot, she will look over them, she will make her own judgements, if nothing shows up it will give more credence to mums theory that I'm lying.

Iceberg 20 Years of Taking Antidepressants
  • replies: 13

I've been on antidepressant meds for 20 years now, is there anyone who has got off them after using for so long. I was told I would need to take them for the rest of my life.

I've been on antidepressant meds for 20 years now, is there anyone who has got off them after using for so long. I was told I would need to take them for the rest of my life.

bassicallyfocused Best private health care cover for psychologists?
  • replies: 8

Hi all Wondered if there was a wisdom here about good PHI providers for clinical psychology visits? I intend to compare several, but it is a bit overwhelming. A few pointers on where to start would be much appreciated. Thanks! David

Hi all Wondered if there was a wisdom here about good PHI providers for clinical psychology visits? I intend to compare several, but it is a bit overwhelming. A few pointers on where to start would be much appreciated. Thanks! David

stroppytom Acupuncture for acute and standard GAD
  • replies: 2

Has anyone tried acupuncture as a treatment for anxiety? I'm keen to know if it helped you. A new acupuncture service has opened nearby and the practitioner is an elderly gent from China so I would imagine he knows his stuff. At this point I am willi... View more

Has anyone tried acupuncture as a treatment for anxiety? I'm keen to know if it helped you. A new acupuncture service has opened nearby and the practitioner is an elderly gent from China so I would imagine he knows his stuff. At this point I am willing to try anything.

Mark26289 Run out of subsidised sessions from my MHP. Any other options?
  • replies: 2

Hey, Sorry if this isn’t really the place for this post. Feel free to delete it if it’s not. So ive got a mental health plan from my GP which has totalled to 10 susidised sessions with my psychologist. I’ve been seeing my psychologist bi-weekly since... View more

Hey, Sorry if this isn’t really the place for this post. Feel free to delete it if it’s not. So ive got a mental health plan from my GP which has totalled to 10 susidised sessions with my psychologist. I’ve been seeing my psychologist bi-weekly since the beginning of the year and today he informed me that I’ve have now run out of subsidised sessions. I’ve been paying $37~ with my rebate, and next time I come in the cost will raise to $120.. Which is way too much for me to afford as I am really struggling financially at the moment (my anxiety and depression being the reason) Financial struggles have been a major issue for me. I’ve been really struggling to pay for rent and day to day expenses... added with this on top it’s got me really overwhelmed.. and without the support of a doctor I’m really worried I’ll just fall in a heap. Anyway, I was wondering if there’s any other options I can use outside my mental health care plan that will gain me more rebates? If not I will probably have to stop going and I really am worried about that. Thanks for your time.

Lilly18 Irritable & angry on meds
  • replies: 6

Hi Im new to this and hope I have posted this in the right place. Just feeling a bit desperate to hear if anyone has had an experience like mine. Not sure why I'm feeling like this. I have been on an ssri for nearly 13 weeks and for the first 8-9 wee... View more

Hi Im new to this and hope I have posted this in the right place. Just feeling a bit desperate to hear if anyone has had an experience like mine. Not sure why I'm feeling like this. I have been on an ssri for nearly 13 weeks and for the first 8-9 weeks it was ok but then I had a day where I couldnt stop thinking how messed up iam in the head. It was freaking me out and i couldnt get it out of my head. Almost felt like i should be in a mental ward. Since that day iv become extreemly irritable and angry getting worse each week. Around the same time i had that bad day, I also started getting diarrhea (sorry to much info!) And still have it weeks later. I keep in touch with my gp and have had my first psychologist appointment but I still feel confused and a bit lost. I dont feel its normal to be getting irritated and angry on medication, has anyone else? Can meds cause/trigger bipolar? Lots of people do have success on it but just not in my case.

mattf Mental Health Care Plan
  • replies: 8

Hello, I would like some advice on how I should approach my GP to ask for a mental health care plan. I feel so embarrassed to ask and even thinking about this is causing me anxiety. Thank you, Matt.

Hello, I would like some advice on how I should approach my GP to ask for a mental health care plan. I feel so embarrassed to ask and even thinking about this is causing me anxiety. Thank you, Matt.

Sophiee__ Too emotional to talk to my GP
  • replies: 2

Hi all, Just wanted to get some advice on how to talk to my gp about my mental health. I've been getting quite bad panic attacks and its reached a point that its controlling my life and i know i need to do something about it but i cant just seem to g... View more

Hi all, Just wanted to get some advice on how to talk to my gp about my mental health. I've been getting quite bad panic attacks and its reached a point that its controlling my life and i know i need to do something about it but i cant just seem to get the nerve to talk to my gp. I've been to a gp about mental health a few years back and just cried the whole time and i cringe just thinking back to that and im scared it will happen again because just now whenever i think about how bad my mental health has gotten i start to tear up. I dont want to embarrass myself and just sob in front of him and then have to walk through the foyer on my way out all red eyed and puff. i also have anxiety about the whole thing in general in that he wont take me seriously or he'll think its just university stress or just tell me to exercise. i also dont want anxiety to be on my record there as its a dr's clinic on my university and i have other health problems that i dont want him to think is just my anxiety or that he wont take me seriously if i come back in with problems in the future (e.g headaches, internal pains). im thinking of just going to a random gp clinic in my town where if i embarrass myself i wont ever have to go back again and sort of keep my mental health and my physical health separate. is this a crazy thing to do? any advice on any of this is greatly appreciated.