Need help coping between Psychiatrist sessions

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, my name's Tayla and I'm 20. Relatively new to these forums. I would really appreciate if someone can please help me and give me some suggestions/advice.

I have a Psychiatrist that I'm very thankful for, he's wonderful and everything I want in a therapist. He helps me and it makes me feel a bit better and sometimes a little happier and reassured while I see him. I do this through Telehealth because I'm in Regional Victoria and he's a 6 hour drive away in Sydney, so I've never met him face to face although it's pretty much the same thing. I would like to try and meet him in person some day though, but we'll see.

However, sometimes it can be a while in between sessions because I understand his busy schedule, he also has other commitments other than his Psychiatry work. But in saying that he does his job well and does what he says. So I find it really hard to cope until I see him again.

I see my GP also but I don't find her that helpful, personally. She's nice yes but not like my Psychiatrist.

I do come on websites like this, Lifeline, etc. to do web chats, and that's why I joined these forums.

I walk daily. I colour in and play a free colour by numbers app on my iPad called Happy Colour. Sometimes I'll read or write, or watch TV or movies, depending on if I'm in the mood. Other than that I don't have much to do.

Yes I have supportive parents and it's just them, my dog and I, I have no siblings, friends or other family members. I've tried so hard to join groups, get jobs, study, anything, and I'm always discriminated against (I don't know why), even by the local triage and local Headspace Centre. So I'm out of options and quite hurt. So basically I can't get any of those.

Please help and please reply. I really wish I could contact my Psychiatrist in between sessions but I'm not sure if that's allowed and how I can.

Thanks,

Tayla.

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla,thanks for your really kind words and you are helping me to by just talking to me and caring.For me being a parent i thought would it never happen and i didnt have a girl friend until i was 30 and i married her now divorced and had my first child when i was allmost 35.I think you would make a wonderful parent as i can see you would have so much love to give a child.You are a very loving caring person.

I think with the Pschiatrist just ask him if he wants to continue with helping you and i am sure he will.I know it is really worrying you.I am sure all will be good.

Big hugs,

Your friend,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Thanks Mark.

Sorry to hear that you got divorced, at least you still have your kids though.

I also meant to say my Psychiatrist said "I want to give you therapy myself rather than just prescribing you medication", so he wants to do both. I hope he still wants to see me, it's going to be uncomfortable and awkward for me, I hope it isn't for him either. I guess I'll just keep thinking about it so I remember to ask him, but don't pressure him. I'll ask in a nice way, I always talk to him nicely and he talks to me nicely, always explains things such as meds, etc. Always asks if things make sense and he doesn't rush me, he asks me if I have any other questions or anything else to discuss, sometimes I forget things but oh well.

My parents think I should try and ask him if I can see him more often because it's a long wait? (I understand his busy schedule and private life), do you think that could be worth a shot? My parents said that all he can say is no (about seeing him more often). They think he'll still see me too. Plus he has to help with my meds right? So he can't just drop me?

Also did I tell you that he's also the Group Executive of Healthcare & Strategy at Medibank? He used to be the General Manager or something too. He's great.

Big love and hugs back,

Tayla x

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla thats good your psychiatrist wants to give you therapy a well as the medication side of things.A lot of psychiatrist dont do therapy and only concertrate on the medication and they refer you to a psychologist.That is what mine did.It would make it easier for you him doing the therapy as well.Definately ask him if you can see him more often and about the therapy.He sounds like a really good psychiatrist.The only one i like was the young male one at the hospital when i was last admitted.I did like my psychologist i saw but am to far from her to see her now.

I am sure your psychiatrist wont find it awkward at all and will be use to all thoughts of things and questions and will be very professional.

Big hugs,

Your friend,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Hey again Mark.

I agree, it is nice, and I'm glad and thankful. I suppose if he said that it would mean he wants to keep working with me? And I'm sure he'd know how depressed and helpless I'd be if he stopped seeing me? They can't do that anyway can they? Sorry to keep asking.

He is a good Psychiatrist. I hope you have a good therapist and GP you can work with also, or you find one if you haven't already got one. It's hard to find though.

Yeah I hope he doesn't find it awkward, and yeah I suppose he's used to things like that. He's probably dealt with worse things and people (without being harsh to those people), who knows?

Big hugs and love back,

Tayla

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla i dont have a psychologist at the moment since i moved at here.Realy should do another mental health care plan.I was going to but then my gp went on leave so i havent as yet.My doctor comes back next month.I am a bit nervous about seeing a new one and finding time to see her as well.Both my kids have that many appointments and find it hard fitting my own in.I rather talk to a female physchologist ss i feel more comfortable talking to woman to man probably goes back when i was in school and was bullied by boys and was usally girls that were nice to me.

I am think you will be find with your physchiatrist and he will still want to work with you.Your probably getting really anxious now as the closer it gets.I hope you can see him more often.It probably help you a lot.I use to see my psychologist sometimes once a week to onec every couple of months depending on how i was going and would see me more often if i needed to.

Big hugs and love to you,

Your friend,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Hey again Mark.

Fair enough, I'm sorry that you don't currently have a Psychologist and a MHCP (Mental Health Care Plan). I hope you can find an appointment time for yourself with your GP, hopefully they're good and helpful to you, and your kids.

Yeah I'm getting anxious but perhaps on the day I'll be fine, because whenever I talk to him I feel better. I suppose that's the first thing he'll say, well it'll go like this:

"Hey Tayla, can you see and hear me OK?" (Yes).

Then he'll probably ask me about the letter from my GP, ask how the meds are going and how I've been, and so forth.

And yeah I guess it depends on their availability plus their personal lives too. I guess my psychiatrist has to do work for Medibank too, like I told you. Interesting and small world, huh? I chose him myself and I'm glad I did.

Big hugs and love back, I hope things get better and you feel better soon. I'm always here as you know.

Forever your friend also,

Tayla x

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla,i wanted to have break from seeing a psychologist to when i moved here but i think i had to much of a break and probably need to see one again.I am nervous about seeing a new one.Talk about being a small world my last psychologist i saw in Brisbane grew up 10 minutes down the road from here and went to the same High School as my daughter does.

Your psychiatrist is probably but wont hurt to ask.I hope you wont feel to hurt that he couldnt see your more often.When i wanted to see my psychologist more she would stay back late and see me if she didnt have any available appointments which was really wonderful for her to do.

Friends forever,

Hugs and love to you,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Hey again Mark. Understandable that you needed a break, we all get that way sometimes.

Wow that is ironic and it is a small world about your Psychologist, that's cool.

Maybe i could just say that my parents and i were discussing me trying to see him more often, I'm not sure how to ask without being pushy and a burden. I understand though, I'm thankful to see him at all anyway.

I know how you feel about seeing someone new, especially a Psychologist. My advice would be do your research as much as you can - read their qualifications, what they specialise in, if they're nearby etc. Or you can do what I do, on Skype with them. I do it through a company called GP2U, they're based in Tassie, they have Psychologists and Psychiatrists. I'd never heard of it until my GP referred me there the first time I saw her, I chose my psychiatrist and he saw me a week after I was referred back in September which I was surprised about but thankful for. So that's one thing my GP did right.

Its all on the Mental Health Care Plan so you don't need to pay, except for GPs on there which ranges Fromm $60-$90 (not sure how you'd pay them). Feel free to check it out and ask your GP if need be, I'm not sure if you can use them without a referral but maybe you could try and say your GP is on maternity leave? They're nice on the phone and understandable, or you can do a live chat with them but for most things you have to call (I don't like talking on the phone either). Then if you see someone through there they'll explain how to use it and everything else to you. I just do it on the app on my iPad but you can use a computer/laptop also.

Yep friends forever for sure, thanks for that as usual. Love and hugs back of course.

Tayla x

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla I think that would be a great way to ask your psychiatrist if you could see him more.See what he says dosnt hurt to ask.

I might look it up about the GP2U.It would be about 1 hour drive to see a psychologist or the bigger town on the otherside is closer but hate going in there.My GP gets back in 4 weeks and is always hard to get into see.The other female doctor goes on maternity leave when she gets back.Her husband is a doctor in the practise there to and is suppose to be good to but try not to see them as they are my ex wifes doctors.I have taken the kids to see them.Their are a few male doctors there but i dont like them much and dont think they are real good with mental health.when i lived in Brisbane their was so many to chose from and the first one i was going to see was overseas for 3 months on holidays so i had to find another one and she turned out to be really good.

Big hugs and love back,

Your friend forever,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Hey Mark.

Yeah GP2U is good, they're based in Tassie so you can just call them and ask or do the live chat on their website week days. I'm not sure if they're open on weekends.

It could be worth a shot because they have GPs, Psychiatrists and Psychologists. Medicare pays for it all apart from the GPs (not sure how you'd pay for them like I said). After sessions they send you a DB4 form so Medicare can pay and the professional gets paid, that's via email, and you just click digitally sign and that's all.

I hope you can see your GP or someone else who you trust.

Friends forever ad big hugs and love back like usual. I'll keep you updated about the Psychiatrist.

Tayla x