Meds and psychology wont help. Have to leave my job. No idea what to do.

ThisCarl · ‎19-01-2015

Hi all,

So despite the actions of my GP my depression is getting worse and worse and worse. No treatment is helping, pharmaceutical or psychological. I feel I can no longer support myself by working and will be finishing up my job soon.

So what can I do? I just dont know what to do or where to go.

Its so frustrating. If I had a broken bone or appendicitis or something I would just go to my doctor to get help and have a few days rest. But this doesnt seem possible with depression, even though its gotten so bad I can no longer work because of it.

CrashCoyote · ‎19-01-2015

Hi ThisCarl,

It is hard to know what your situation is from your post and you mentioned your GP, meds and therapy. Is it right to say you have had the meds prescribed by a psychologist? Is your therapy being one by a psychologist? It may require different meds or more frequent therapy. Do you have exercises or challenges set by your therapist and if you do, how do you go with them? I do not think ceasing treatment will help.

If you are unable to work with your depression, is it just at that type of work or do you not believe you could do any work? Do you believe you would be better off not working?

I hope you are able to write back with some more detail because there may be options available to you that you are unaware of. How old are you? Do you have family support? Are you married? Kids to support? In an area where alternate employment is available?

I may not have the best advice but maybe someone else will be able to help if they know more about your situation.

Kind regards, John.

Beltane · ‎20-01-2015

I too would like to know more information about who you've seen for help and what kind of things you've tried.

No-one can provide you with an easy answer on this- i'm not going to pretend i can either. Sometimes depression can be very difficult to treat, and seems to resist the treatments provided.

I got diagnosed with "depression/ anxiety" in 2011 (though i've had the symptoms since childhood), didn't find the right treatment until 2014. Countless antidepressants, anti-anxiety tablets, therapists, doctors....
Every time a treatment didn't work I got more and more despaired, thinking nothing would ever help. At many points i thought i was never going to get better, or achieve any of my goals and dreams. I lost jobs often, relationships were impossibly hard... I had some very dark thoughts...

In the end, in desperation, i switched to a new doctor, hoping a fresh perspective would help. Instead of the rushed 10 minutes, she arranged a long appointment to carefully go through my symptoms. I did the same with a psychiatrist- a 2 hour session, where they asked many many many questions. They suspected i was having hypomanic episodes (which had previously been explained as anxiety, which i have as well). This led to a diagnosis of Bipolar Type 2, and a bipolar medication (bipolar is not treated with antidepressants, hence why they'd never helped)

The bipolar medication changed my life within a week. My extreme mood swings disappeared, severe anxiety and depression completely gone. I had been told treatment would work fast, but boy... to have all those symptoms vanish like that; to wake up one morning and realise i was going to be better now.... Its been months and i still marvel at how good i feel, how stable and calm and content i feel. Now i'm studying for my dream job and getting awesome grades, in a happy healthy relationship, got awesome hobbies. My dreams are no longer dreams- they're probabilities. Now i can hold down work, and study, and relationships...

Point of this story- there is a treatment. It can just be super hard finding it. You can get a visit through medicare to a psychiatrist- just a one-off visit for medication review. Make sure you're 100% honest about your symptoms, explain everything exactly as it is. You never know, there could be a piece of the puzzle your previous docs haven't seen before that could lead to correct treatment. There could be a different medication they could try that could help you like mine does for me.

ThisCarl · ‎20-01-2015

Hi John,

In answer to your questions:

The meds are prescribed by several GPs, I cannot afford to see a psychiatrist.
I used to see psychologist but after my health plan sessions ran out I couldnt afford it.
The biggest problem with work is the overwhelming tiredness and complete inability to concentrate. My mind is a mess and everything is blurry.
I don't know if I would be better of not working. Part of me thinks its good to have routine, another part wants me to focus 100% on getting better. Either way I definitely need the income which is going to be a problem.
I am 29, not married, no kids, no family support.

Hope that helps, thanks!

Beltane · ‎21-01-2015

Great, thanks for the added info ThisCarl. That gives us a few ways to help. I'll answer in dot points as you did.

1. Get a regular GP- ask around if anyone knows anyone good, or look at beyondblue's list of practitioners. Seeing the same doctor regularly is really important so they can get a proper idea of your symptoms over time. There is a Medicare-funded way to see a psychiatrist for a one-off medication review- I know, because I got this- it was bulk billed (free). Ask your regular GP about it.

2. Your 10 Medicare visits reset every year on the anniversary of the date your care plan was made, eg mine is May. 10 sessions isnt enough for me, so i got Extras insurance. There are companies that compare insurances for you so you can find the best one. My policy only costs $10 a week but i get 550$ worth of psychology every year (as well as dental, optical, physio etc). Shop around for psychologists- in the outer suburbs of cities they're way cheaper than the inner suburbs. Means your insurance will go a lot further. My policy either had no waiting period or only a 2 month waiting period- can't remember. Well worth having it!!

3. Yep, that's a really common symptom of depression. Insomnia or over-sleeping, being tired during the day or awake at night.... With proper treatment this should improve.

4. You need to do the math on this one. When my depression and anxiety was unbearable and i was really ill, my doctor wrote me off work (i was really suffering). I went on to Centrelink benefits straightaway because i was ill. Its not a lot of money but i dont have rent or significant bills to pay. It was the best thing at the time as I was very ill and got to devote my time 100% to getting better, and since then have fully recovered and returned to study and looking for work (different work). There is also sickness benefits, which is when your doctor orders you to take a temporary leave from your job on Centrelink support, and you return when you get better. Just be careful- leaving your work without giving the proper notice period could make it harder to find work in the future. Is going part-time an option?

5. Not having family support is a tough one. Emotionally and financially it can be really hard living with an acute episode of mental illness with no family support. I can suggest reaching out in these forums, calling beyondblue, finding a real-life support group, getting extras insurance to pay for a therapist...

hope that helps