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Sam05 Need advice for treatment - depression and anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, This past 10 months I have been battling with depression. My symptoms include suicidal thoughts (occasionally), feeling tired and lethargic, social awkwardness/anxiety, inability to have or express any of my own opinions, no motivation, ... View more

Hi everyone, This past 10 months I have been battling with depression. My symptoms include suicidal thoughts (occasionally), feeling tired and lethargic, social awkwardness/anxiety, inability to have or express any of my own opinions, no motivation, loss of interest in things that I really wish I had the passion for, shutting off from friends and family and a general lowered mood. Despite listing all these symptoms, I do have my days where I thrive and feel as though I handle myself very well in any given situation. One day I'll be laughing and joking around at work, getting on the frontfoot to make plans with my friends and overall having a lot more confidence in myself; the next I won't talk to anyone at work for an entire shift and have to cancel attending the plans that I previously just made with my friends as my mood and confidence just takes a massive hit out of nowhere. There doesn't appear to be any trigger that causes this and I just want to know what kind of treatment options are recommended for my condition. I was previously on an antidepressant for 6-7 months, which caused my low mood phases to be exacerbated, with my symptoms being much more excruciating (feeling suicidal for a full week). Whilst on this antidepressant I was suicidal for a week, and the next week my mood was greatly elevated; with this cycle repeating for the 6-7 months I was on it. Since coming off of this medication my symptoms are still enough to interfere with my everyday life but they aren't as terrible, but I am in a low mood around 80% of the time. I also tried speaking to a psychologist but that was unhelpful as when I was in a low phase, I would have nothing to talk about as I really struggled with interacting, meaning nothing substantial ever came away from it, and the psych concluded it was due to a chemical imbalance. Currently I am on a naturopathic approach, taking magnesium, SAMe, B vitamins etc. But I am doubtful this has done much to help me. Any responses as to what treatment options I should consider would be extremely helpful and appreciated as my only priority is to live a happy and fulfilling life! Thank you

Jinja Medication Side Effects
  • replies: 2

Hi I posted a few weeks back and went through some real dark moments. Since then I have been seeing a counselor and psychiatrist. The psyciatist has presprecibed me medication. I haven't taken it yet as counselling has been helping. I went through a ... View more

Hi I posted a few weeks back and went through some real dark moments. Since then I have been seeing a counselor and psychiatrist. The psyciatist has presprecibed me medication. I haven't taken it yet as counselling has been helping. I went through a real high last week and last night out of no where I hit a real low. I sait to my partner "I'm good for nothing" and that just came out of the blue. I have anxiety hanging over from work issues. I have monday off, but anxious about just heading into work. I feeling sexual issues come on and I feel low today. I'm thinking of getting the medication...but hear it can have sexual side effects. Is this serious and what are the benefits of taking medication? Thoughts about medication...much appreciated

Dragmedown No time, should i consider becoming an inpatient?
  • replies: 1

I work 6 days a week and on my day off its chores chores chores. I have no one to talk to and my partner doesnt seem to care. i seem to be falling in deeper and deeper and its getting darker. Im finding it harder to keep going. And i want to give up ... View more

I work 6 days a week and on my day off its chores chores chores. I have no one to talk to and my partner doesnt seem to care. i seem to be falling in deeper and deeper and its getting darker. Im finding it harder to keep going. And i want to give up but i dont want to either. I dont want to break anyones heart. I dont get a single chance to see a psychologist like i used to. I was wondering whether becoming an inpatient for sometime might be a good idea. I just dont know what to do anymore...

Pad DSP assessment what to expect
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone. I am just inquiring if anyone can tell me please what to expect in the assessment phase of applying for the DSP which i have coming up in a few wks time. I have been medically diagnosed by my psychiatrist in agreement with my pyshcologis... View more

Hi everyone. I am just inquiring if anyone can tell me please what to expect in the assessment phase of applying for the DSP which i have coming up in a few wks time. I have been medically diagnosed by my psychiatrist in agreement with my pyshcologist of Bipolar with Dissociative State Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder and Panic Disorder (what a combo!). I have suffered from mental illness in varying degrees of severity since i was teenager and also evidence of having mental health issues in primary school where i was often needed to see a school counselor twice a week back then as i was quite disruptive. I drifted through life not really getting it seen too but it wasn't until i was in my early 30s that the process started where i was initially diagnosed as Bipolar for the first time i was put on meds however i stopped seeking treatment and medication again through my 30s and early forties until 4 years ago where it was apparent not only to me but friends, family and partner that medical intervention was needed. In that 4 years the illness has progressively worsened but also in those years im lucky to have found the right medical supports in my GP, Psychologist, Psychiatrist who have helped me with the necessary medical supports including medications, counselling. I have had 4 voluntary admissions to an inpatient unit which quite frankly didn't really help my circumstances. Im doing all the right things to help manage my illness i do not drink, smoke or take drugs and try to keep fit by going to the gym regularly, compliant with my meds, doctors appointments and quiet a few medication changes to help try and manage my illness. However despite this my mental illness has still not improved. My doctors have indicated that they thought my mental illness would not improve and were now looking at just managing it on a daily basis as best as we all could. I then applied for the DSP with supporting letters and documentation from my GP, PSychologist and Psychiatrist all indicating their support for my application for the DSP plus documentation that Centalink has on my records indicating my mental illness has stopped me for being fit enough to look for work in the past 4 years and now i have the assessment coming up which i am quite anxious about. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you for allowing to post this message Hope it's not to much info regarding my circumstances. Regards Pad

Camembert Nightmares as side effect of medication
  • replies: 5

Hello, I started medication a few months ago, and every singe night I have been getting terrible nightmares. I mean really bad ones that affect me the rest of the day I'm not on a particularly high dose and I take it every morning. I read that this i... View more

Hello, I started medication a few months ago, and every singe night I have been getting terrible nightmares. I mean really bad ones that affect me the rest of the day I'm not on a particularly high dose and I take it every morning. I read that this is a normal side effect, but it's getting really bad. What could I do to stop this? I really don't want to switch the mediation, because it seems to be otherwise working. I tried writing a dream diary, but it's not helping. Any advice is appreciated! Camembert.

Automaton Mental Illness and Humanity
  • replies: 9

If a person is mentally ill, but they perceive what they see as realistic -- as is often the case with mental illness, such as depression -- and are convinced in their perceptions, and consider them "right", on moral grounds, what right does a doctor... View more

If a person is mentally ill, but they perceive what they see as realistic -- as is often the case with mental illness, such as depression -- and are convinced in their perceptions, and consider them "right", on moral grounds, what right does a doctor have to tell them that they are mentally ill and that their perceptions are ill/wrong? From a humanitarian perspective, I never understood this. What makes the patient wrong and the doctor right? What makes the doctor so confident that what the patient has is an illness, and not a healthy body reaction to a tough life lived? Mental illness is often so tied to who we know ourselves to be that it seems wrong to force/coerce us to be something else against our will. I don't know, I guess I'm confused about humanity...

Summer93 Borderline Personality Disorder
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and wanted to get some advice regarding my mental health. I've been seeing a psychologist for a month or so now and it's going great. I really feel as though she is helping me identify and overcome so many bad habits. How... View more

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and wanted to get some advice regarding my mental health. I've been seeing a psychologist for a month or so now and it's going great. I really feel as though she is helping me identify and overcome so many bad habits. However, in my first session, she said I may have BPD and told me she may need me to do some cognitive tests (quizzes etc). I overthink a lot. When she gave me a schema test to fill out last week, I started to overthink it once I got home and now I can't help but think I really may have BPD, since the test is associated with it. I've been reading into it and, to be honest, I know I most likely have it. I don't want to be diagnosed with it because of the stigma associated with it, but I also really want to know. Does anyone have any experience with being diagnosed with BPD or know what the schema test could indicate? I feel like my psychologist is leading up to telling me I have it but she wants to be sure before, which is probably what this test could help with doing. Thanks in advance.

AnxiousS Tips for getting help
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I've decided recently that I need to see someone about my mental health/anxiety. Since starting uni this year I've really struggled (I've posted about it before), and my mental health which has never been perfect has really taken a turn ... View more

Hi everyone, I've decided recently that I need to see someone about my mental health/anxiety. Since starting uni this year I've really struggled (I've posted about it before), and my mental health which has never been perfect has really taken a turn for the worse. I've found myself really struggling with everything and I know trying to finish the next few years is going to be very hard if I keep going this way. My problem is that I've never really been one to talk about my mental health. The mental health conversation in my family is currently non-existent (and it's not one I really want to have with them). Even in high school I only had one teacher who I could ever talk to (as I said my mental health has never been great) and even then I often held a lot back. Back then, I guess I was always stable enough that I could manage it for the most part on my own but I think I might be a bit past that point now. So basically my question is whether anyone has any tips or advice to make this easier because right now I'm stuck in a rough place of knowing I need help but not being able to ask Thanks in advance!

Donaughuerty Considering ECT for a condition that is not mdd, bpd or sczd
  • replies: 2

I need to take a session of ECT in order to fix my sleeping problem. It's the only solution I can think of. I have been referred to a sleep specialist, she says that a psychiatrist will be the one to recommend ECT. I'm afraid that they will just dism... View more

I need to take a session of ECT in order to fix my sleeping problem. It's the only solution I can think of. I have been referred to a sleep specialist, she says that a psychiatrist will be the one to recommend ECT. I'm afraid that they will just dismiss the request. It is well-known that ECT is only used as last resort aid for treatment-resistant depression, etc. My case is different, so I am really hoping they would understand; I mean, I have heard of patients being pulled out to try new treatments under pioneer studies. Well, I have been prescribed several medications; have tried chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, sleep restriction. None produced an effect. All in all, I'm curious to how ECT will affect me. My condition: I slept with a temporary thought and now had been stuck on it for 3 weeks, 24/7. One evening, I tried to incorporate this temporary thought into sleep; for awhile, I lost myself to doing just that. I then noticed myself resting, and realized my brain was now actively incorporating the temporary thought on its own. This awareness would take over my everyday brain activity, even sleep. I now only half-sleep, in 90-minute fragments. What I did and am experiencing now may be similar to daytime parahypnagogia. I currently don't know how to undo all of this. Just to add, this temporary thought alters perception, that's why I'm sure I'm under it, non-stop. I thought ECT because my case resembles that of a woman who had severe paradoxical insomnia no meds could fix until ECT, or the case of a woman uncomfortable with her altered self she got from a meditation retreat. After being on so many prescriptions, she had to undergo ECT. I don't really know how ECT works but I have a dulled default mode network that is now hijacked and altered by this persisting temporary thought, and somehow ECT can delete these alterations if it can.

Helpneeded97 Finding help
  • replies: 2

I'm not sure how to go about this but I'm looking for info on admitting myself I'm not sure even where if it's just a hospital and how much it would cost I need intensive help I went to online chat but noticed there is a time which I didn't realise I... View more

I'm not sure how to go about this but I'm looking for info on admitting myself I'm not sure even where if it's just a hospital and how much it would cost I need intensive help I went to online chat but noticed there is a time which I didn't realise I'm not sure what to do and I can't take much time off work especially if it's gonna cost alot I need help I'm not OK and I know that but I'm not sure what help I need so I feel like if I admitted myself maybe I can really focus on my mental health as I haven't done in many years mostly because it is expensive but I've reached the point where I need help or who knows

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