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Turtle_eyes Finding work with Depression
  • replies: 5

I have left a career that spanned 14 years. Now I am unemployed and unable to get benefits due to my partner earning too much. I spend many of my days in bed with depression...unable to get motivated. I fear for my future, and feel isolated, sad and ... View more

I have left a career that spanned 14 years. Now I am unemployed and unable to get benefits due to my partner earning too much. I spend many of my days in bed with depression...unable to get motivated. I fear for my future, and feel isolated, sad and alone. My Psychiatrist tells me to get a simple job, like filling shelves in Supermarkets....I would actually like that, but no application seems to get me the job, just rejection.

imogen56 How do I know if my psychologist is right for me?
  • replies: 10

Hi all, I have previously seen a psychologist before but have decided to change to a different one. I felt like I wasn't getting anything out of the sessions and she only diagnosed me with depression/anxiety several months after seeing me. I had an i... View more

Hi all, I have previously seen a psychologist before but have decided to change to a different one. I felt like I wasn't getting anything out of the sessions and she only diagnosed me with depression/anxiety several months after seeing me. I had an idea that I might've been experiencing it for a while, but I don't think she even realised what I was going through and just assumed I was a moody teen. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has any tips as to how I can recognise whether this new psychologist is right for me when I go for my first appointment next week? (I don't want to waste time like last time). For some reason, I get lost when I go into a session and can't remember what's wrong with me and then sort of forget what we talked about in the session once it's over. So what signs can I look for to make sure she's right for me so I actually get something out the sessions. Thanks, Imogen

just_let_go Medication - Discontinuation Symtoms
  • replies: 4

Hi All, Before I start, I am aware of the rule when it comes to discussing medication. I will not reveal the name of dosage of my medication, so hopefully this is okay. So, let's get started. I have been on medication for about 4 years. I recently de... View more

Hi All, Before I start, I am aware of the rule when it comes to discussing medication. I will not reveal the name of dosage of my medication, so hopefully this is okay. So, let's get started. I have been on medication for about 4 years. I recently decided to taper off my medication, but a psychologist I was seeing convinced me to take a new type of medication which she believed would be extremely beneficial to me. I began this new medication about a month ago (let's call it Fruchocs) and, long story short, it simply did not agree with me whatsoever. IBS and digestion issues have always been problematic for me, but Fruchocs multiplied these issues tenfold. Under advisement, I continued with Fruchocs for about a month to see whether these side effects would taper off, but had no such luck. I was finally instructed by my psychologist to discontinue Fruchocs immediately. That was a week ago today. I now have a daily fight with nausea, headaches, vertigo, fatigue and can't seem to concentrate on anything. I was wondering if anyone else could share their experiences with stopping or changing medication and whether you had similar struggles. Any advise or insight would be greatly appreciated. I have read that discontinuation symptoms usually only last around 2 weeks, but is there anything I can do for the next week to alleviate this horrible nausea? I've been eating extremely healthy, taking all kinds of good vitamins and supplements but nothing seems to help. Many thanks in advance!

peace25 share your experience with integrative/holistic medicine approach
  • replies: 2

Hi, this is my first post I have been suffering from anxiety and depression since 2014, I have tried around 10 AD( includes SSri, Snri, tricyclic). They all gave me side effects or simply didn't work. I thought of trying Rtms but its effectiveness is... View more

Hi, this is my first post I have been suffering from anxiety and depression since 2014, I have tried around 10 AD( includes SSri, Snri, tricyclic). They all gave me side effects or simply didn't work. I thought of trying Rtms but its effectiveness is also limited from what i have read. I am not a manic depressive, from outside people say m ok. My behaviour is not aggressive/irritable/very sad etc. I am just tired all the time with anxiety, just dont have enough motivation to get things done. have no goals,no ambitions everything is a drag. I also have medication for sleeping mostly. All of my regular tests are normal. Can anyone suggest any Integrative medicine practitioner, are they worth going to.

ggbug Need help for exposure therapy
  • replies: 2

I have a severe butter phobia and need to find a good therapist that will help me with exposure therapy and flooding as CBT never worked for me. Does anyone know of any good ones in the South East region of Melbourne, please? Thank you

I have a severe butter phobia and need to find a good therapist that will help me with exposure therapy and flooding as CBT never worked for me. Does anyone know of any good ones in the South East region of Melbourne, please? Thank you

Kelcrow Exposure therapy
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, just a little background on myself first, I'm a 25 year old female living in Melbourne with clinical depression and general anxiety disorder, I have battled with both for the last 10 years. My main problem the last couple of years is "he... View more

Hi everyone, just a little background on myself first, I'm a 25 year old female living in Melbourne with clinical depression and general anxiety disorder, I have battled with both for the last 10 years. My main problem the last couple of years is "health anxiety" or in particular my phobia of vomit. It absolutely dominates my thoughts, fears and life. I avoid certain situations, freak out if someone's sick near me and convince it will happen to me. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with exposure therapy? To be honest I can't think of anything worse but I need this to stop. It's ruining my life. I can't live like this anymore, whilst I have great support around me I don't want it to dominate my life anymore. Thanks in advance Kelly

Babar Help / Advice for an Intervention.
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am seeking advice on how i might proceed and i would to know the options available. Drug addiction is taking its toll in a very destructive manner and this situation is proving to be a difficult one to resolve in a smooth manner. Paranoia, delu... View more

Hi, I am seeking advice on how i might proceed and i would to know the options available. Drug addiction is taking its toll in a very destructive manner and this situation is proving to be a difficult one to resolve in a smooth manner. Paranoia, delusions of persecution and fear of safety by way of invasion has reached the extreme degree. The most extreme degree. They are now a risk to themselves and other people. They believe that intruders are covertly living in their premises, stealing things, causing harm to pets and conspiring to torment 24/7. They believe this to the point that you can't imagine. They can no longer separate reality from delusion, and have lost all sense of rationality and reason. We cannot distinguish how much of what we are seeing is the condition of the substance, and what is the underlying mental condition of the individuals' state of mind minus the substance. They always seem to be on it, with little window of opportunity to ascertain the full nature of what we are faced with - drug addiction, or mental health issues - or both? They don't listen to us. They are scornful of advice and get defensive at any attempts to help. They are aggressive, evasive, in denial and afraid for their lives. It is a horrible situation. It is very difficult to get through to them. We ourselves are blamed as being the conspirators behind their torments. Those that seek to help are perceived as the guilty party. No amount of sensible reasoning can convince them to heed our advice to cooperate with us to find help. The need to remove the substance by force and strongly encourage rehabilitation is something that must now be urgently considered and actioned without delay. We just don't know how to go about it. We were told that nothing can be done by force, that the affected persons must want and agree to accept help. WHAT AN OUTRAGE. just sit there and do nothing? are we saving lives or what? Please we would very much like to organise a team of professionals to visit them, sit them down, and try to get through to them, by any means necessary. We thank you.

InTwoMindsAboutThis Lack of support when your psych is away on conferences/holidays
  • replies: 9

I've been seeing a psychologist weekly for the past ten months. Every so often she goes away on conferences so I have to miss a week. No problem. I understand that health professionals need to update their skills and gain new insight etc into this me... View more

I've been seeing a psychologist weekly for the past ten months. Every so often she goes away on conferences so I have to miss a week. No problem. I understand that health professionals need to update their skills and gain new insight etc into this mental health arena. A couple of times a year she'll take a week off (holidays). Once again, I understand. This is a high stress job they have. She also took a month off over Xmas. The issue that I have is that she just announces this with no back-up plan if things go to pieces for me during these periods. I thought she might take at least a couple of weeks of during the festive season but at the end of the session (in December) she just said ... ok I'll see you in four weeks! I don't actually have any way of contacting her during these times. Is this normal? Do other people have better arrangements with their health professional? This issue is starting to get under my skin. Thankyou for your time!

hannibambo Confidentiality of seeing a Psychologist or receiving a Mental Health Plan from your GP
  • replies: 3

Hi, So I am wanting to see a GP to ask for a Mental Health Plan to see a psychologist. Some people have told me that this can actually be a burden because it can affect things like life insurance, adoption, IVF and even getting a job. Can someone tel... View more

Hi, So I am wanting to see a GP to ask for a Mental Health Plan to see a psychologist. Some people have told me that this can actually be a burden because it can affect things like life insurance, adoption, IVF and even getting a job. Can someone tell me if this is true? I am wanting to go ahead with it, but if it is going to affect me negatively in the future I might not do this. Thanks

EllieC Gift for a therapist
  • replies: 4

I have read that therapists are perhaps not supposed to accept gifts from their clients for ethical reasons (although all the articles I could find did come from the US). Is this a general rule? I have my last appointment with the psychotherapist I'v... View more

I have read that therapists are perhaps not supposed to accept gifts from their clients for ethical reasons (although all the articles I could find did come from the US). Is this a general rule? I have my last appointment with the psychotherapist I've been seeing once a fortnight for 8 years now in a couple of weeks and I was planning to buy something small (like, under $25) to give at my last appointment with a nice card, I feel like it's the least I can do for somebody who has honestly changed my life for the better, but now I'm not sure? Anyone else know any more about whether this is acceptable, or has anybody given a gift to a psychologist/therapist when they were finishing treatment before?