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onlyme74 How to get help when the thought of visiting a GP gives me terrible anxiety
  • replies: 3

I think I am at the point of needing to go back on medication after weaning myself off in July. My anxiety and panic is so bad at the moment that I am filled with the worst kind of dread about making a doctors appointment to discuss this and ask for ... View more

I think I am at the point of needing to go back on medication after weaning myself off in July. My anxiety and panic is so bad at the moment that I am filled with the worst kind of dread about making a doctors appointment to discuss this and ask for help. What other options are available to me?

Guest_523 How long does it usually take to get diagnosed by a Psychologist?
  • replies: 24

Just had my first visit with a new Psychologist and it went well. I am curious as to what I have exactly. The psychologist said he had an idea of what my problem is but did not want to say because it would just feed into my stress. I was hoping that ... View more

Just had my first visit with a new Psychologist and it went well. I am curious as to what I have exactly. The psychologist said he had an idea of what my problem is but did not want to say because it would just feed into my stress. I was hoping that he meant that he did not want to say anything so soon. They can't not tell you correct? I mean a patient should know what he or she is diagnosed with right? See how I am? I am overthinking this and the session even went real well. Man I am a mess lol!

mars52 Help with finding a Psychiastrist that I can afford
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, This is my first time posting here and I was wondering if you can help me. I've been struggling with mental illnesses all my life and I used to go through therapy/treatment while I was 15 until almost 18 (I'm 21 now). It's a long story but I... View more

Hi guys, This is my first time posting here and I was wondering if you can help me. I've been struggling with mental illnesses all my life and I used to go through therapy/treatment while I was 15 until almost 18 (I'm 21 now). It's a long story but I had to stop seeing my psychologist and psychiatrist at that time because my family wasn't supportive of it and was giving me a hard time. I moved out from home to a different country (Brazil to here) and after almost a year I've finally found a place I can go to talk to someone and get help. I started counselling and I recently saw a GP to talk about my depression/PTSD that has been really bad. She gave me a referral to a Psychiatrist and prescribed me medication which I used to take in the past. I just really don't know which Psychiatrist to go to, how much it will cost, if they'll be understanding and really help me. I was diagnosed with depression, Borderline Personality Disorder and Anorexia before but I've been seeing my counselor to talk about my traumas/abuse. I feel like years ago I wasn't really aware of my mental state and didn't trust/were completely honest to my psychiatrist which might've affected the diagnosis. I'm hoping that this time I'll be more accepting of getting help and have someone I can trust would be great to help me get better. I'm currently on a student visa and soon will be applying for a Partner Visa with my husband. The plans will be to eventually become a Permanent Resident/Citizen. But until then my health insurance is only a Overseas Health Cover for students. At the moment I’m really broke and I don't know if my OHSC would cover psychiatrist appointments or anything, but if not, I'd be very thankful for any recommendations of places/professionals I can go to that I can afford.

Mikkiblu Help understanding work cover
  • replies: 10

Hi there, Please can someone help me understand how things work when you put in a work cover form at the doctor for reactive depression and anxiety. My husband has been being severely bullied and verbally abused by a staff member (he's a manager) for... View more

Hi there, Please can someone help me understand how things work when you put in a work cover form at the doctor for reactive depression and anxiety. My husband has been being severely bullied and verbally abused by a staff member (he's a manager) for about 5 months now. His company told him he wasnt allowed to do anything about this persons behaviour and must have done something to deserve it. The behaviour is in conjunction with extended fatigue from up to 18 hour days, inadequate days off or meal breaks and with no extra pay. The abusive and physically threatening behaviour got too much and he walked off and took off sick. He has now been to the doctor who put him off for 2 weeks and said he can then put him off for periods of up to a month at a tims after that. The doctor would like to see my husband out of that environment because it is very toxic and damaging. He is now on 2 antidepressants and sleeping all the time. We have been trying to find another job but he is very down, lost all self esteem and cant make decisions to try figure this out. How long can he be on work cover and will they make his life hell at the same time? I'm scared because we and our 3 small kids rely soley on his income and our house comes with the job so we are standing to lose everything we have very quickly. We have been together for 16 years now and he has always been the positive guy with confidence and kindness and drive to do his best. I'm suffering a bit with depression and anxiety too and we have no friends or family in this country or support network. I dont understand the system or know what to do :,(

Boof1 Private hospital
  • replies: 4

Hi looks like im heading into a private hospital for my depression and anxiety all to do with my workers comp and injury. I was wondering if there is any remifications or restrictions in life after you have been in a hospital ?

Hi looks like im heading into a private hospital for my depression and anxiety all to do with my workers comp and injury. I was wondering if there is any remifications or restrictions in life after you have been in a hospital ?

sjpersonal What happends if sectioned to hospital
  • replies: 9

Well with the emails to my supports I have sent I am guessing there is a good chance of getting sectioned as refuse to go volunteer due to the treatment I get by going my self. I really wish I could get the help I need by being volunteer but the hosp... View more

Well with the emails to my supports I have sent I am guessing there is a good chance of getting sectioned as refuse to go volunteer due to the treatment I get by going my self. I really wish I could get the help I need by being volunteer but the hospitals always refuse help and I have ptsd due to past experiences of police and not sure what will happen if I do get committed. As it is my supports have concerns over my safety hence been warned if I didn't get admitted on Friday (even though I went to the ED and them not wanting to help me I think things are getting to hard to handle mh wise

Kelee A few months ago I weaned my self off the meds against GP's advice
  • replies: 7

ive taken antidepressants on and off since my late teens I'm mid 50s now. A few months ago I weaned my self off the meds against GP's advice. Now I can't eat or sleep. I felt confident that I could manage this and even though this is the lowest I've ... View more

ive taken antidepressants on and off since my late teens I'm mid 50s now. A few months ago I weaned my self off the meds against GP's advice. Now I can't eat or sleep. I felt confident that I could manage this and even though this is the lowest I've ever been I'm unmotivated and too disorganised to cause any harm. The wight loss was initially good but now I'm just starving. I work nightshift so the insomnia is kind of working for me. Family members are voicing concerns about me. I'm feeling emotionally strong even though I'm on edge and distracted. It's the physical symptoms that are bothering me most, no eating no sleeping. I know I need to ask for help but I'm over the doctors and councillors.

Pseudomonas What is mental health plan? Can it be rewritten?
  • replies: 24

Hi friends, just a random question coz I didn't know anything abt this mental health plan when I saw my first and only counsellor. Counsellor did say a few sessions ago he'd forward/discuss the health plan to my referring gp, but he later also said I... View more

Hi friends, just a random question coz I didn't know anything abt this mental health plan when I saw my first and only counsellor. Counsellor did say a few sessions ago he'd forward/discuss the health plan to my referring gp, but he later also said I should perhaps find another gp in his suburb, he'd omit PTSD in report despite he knows I've got it, he'd write my issues more severe than they are to improve the chances of getting healthcare benefits, etc....in a nutshell, I am seeing my regular gp tmr but I don't know if counsellor has sent her a mental health plan, and how reliable the contents are. I don't want to go and pick up the plan from counsellor. What is in a mental health plan? What is it's function? If I don't want to claim Medicare for the six sessions I had with this counsellor, can my gp re-do a new mental health plan and refer me to a clinical psychologist? Thanks so much, Pauline

singleorigin Scared of medication
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I visited a psychiatrist last week for treatment for my severe anxiety primarily, along with depression. I have a family history of anxiety and lived with it from an early age. After a comprehensive review of my life, the psychiatrist re... View more

Hi everyone, I visited a psychiatrist last week for treatment for my severe anxiety primarily, along with depression. I have a family history of anxiety and lived with it from an early age. After a comprehensive review of my life, the psychiatrist recommended an antidepressant as she said I would need to gain some perspective away from anxiety so that I can begin thinking rationally. The problem is I have long avoided medication as I am petrified of the side-effects. I am emetephobic and am deathly afraid of anything that can potentially cause gastrointestinal upset as I have suffered from IBS for most of my life and it is already debilitating. I did tell this to the psychiatrist and she said I may need to come back for further therapy on this issue. I'd like to know if there is anyone else here who may have felt the same or similar. The fear is so strong that it could be compared to thinking that the medication was in some way poisonous and a deadly threat. The psychiatrist said this is a chicken-and-egg kind of problem. I wish there was a way through because right now I feel rather helpless. Thanks, look forward to hearing from you.

Guest_3712 The Strangest, funniest or embarrasing things that have happened in a therapy session
  • replies: 127

Hi All, After some persuasion by a fellow poster I thought it might be a good idea to share our stories of " When therapy sessions go Wrong" or are just downright funny and/ or awkward. Surely I cant be the only one that has had these encounters. Min... View more

Hi All, After some persuasion by a fellow poster I thought it might be a good idea to share our stories of " When therapy sessions go Wrong" or are just downright funny and/ or awkward. Surely I cant be the only one that has had these encounters. Mind you I have been in therapy for many years and only recently have found some of these episodes amusing. So if you have reached that place where you can have a bit of a laugh at yourself or maybe its the therapist who's done something strange please share , So I'll start with a couple of mine. Just a couple of small teasers to get the ball rolling Early in my therapy I was totally embarrassed to share anything , and could only talk if my psych turned his chair around. Now he was only a short fellow and the chair had a high back, so all was good and I started to unload. My psych was quiet and I thought listening intently until I heard the unmistakeable sounds of snoring! Yep my deepest darkest secrets had put my psych to sleep! UMM had a lot of explaining and grovelling to do. Another time I became so paranoid that my secrets were going to be discovered by people that worked in the medical offices -other docs, receptionists etc so during one session I grabbed his paper and pen and refused to let him write any notes of our session! Of course I didn't think till after I went that of course he would write after I left - probably best I don't know what he wrote after that session! So that's it , if you have some stories I'm sure others would love to hear the lighter side of therapy . Take Care Stressless