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 i just looked up Psychologist in the two big towns near me and their is a few of them.A bit overwelming who to chose.I look up the GP2U later.See whst options i have.

Take care,

Your friend forever,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Yeah I understand how you feel.

Good luck finding one either way. I guess with GP2U you'd need a referral from a GP. I've never heard of it until my GP referred me there & I chose my Psychiatrist (that's one good thing she did & I'm glad I found my Psychiatrist & chose him personally).

Maybe it could be worthwhile trying to see one nearby? Some people find it more comfortable seeing someone close to them and in a proper environment, but it's up to you. Best of luck either way.

Tayla

[Guest_1643]

hey Tayla, hope you are doing well today. Good luck for the 18th and for working eveyrthing out with your GP. The triage sounds a bit jarring, that all they do is admit people, so wrong. There are some better triages that offer a lot of other services, like they have figured out that admitting people is more expesnive for them and less affective longterm for the patient, so they have step-odwn services which are less intense and sometimes in the community and not actually in the hospital. But it seems its rare for a hospital to have such good services, and some are like the one you described and what they said openly "all we do is admit people." I know you've been waiting a while to see the psych so I hope it goes well!!

[Guest_4643]

Hi Sleepy21.

Thanks, I hope things go well with my Psychiatrist too. I hope I can see him more often too or soon enough again after this appointment. It's usually a while but that's because he's busy, I understand that. I'm too scared to ask but maybe I'll try to, idk.

I've been struggling but thanks, I hope you're well today also.

Yep I agree, the triage sounds ridiculous, my GP, parents and I decided I won't be going there, so I'll just explain that to my Psychiatrist and say it was a misunderstanding with him doing the referral there since we were discussing what they do not him making a referral but that's fine it was just miscommunication, he was just doing his job. That's one reason, aswell as the GP stuff, I've been feeling anxious and scared that he doesn't want to see me anymore, I hope that's not the case.

Everyone at the triage on the phone was rude too, which is also wrong. I mean surely people in positions like that should be polite to everyone? Geez.

Thanks again, hugs to you, and love.

Tayla

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone here, question for you all that I was just thinking about, well I should say overthinking.

Do you think my Psychiatrist may wish that he could see me sooner, or do you think that he may not care because I'm just one of his probably many patients? Or do you think he does his best to fit me in and see me with his busy schedule?

So what I'm asking is do you think he might sit back and think "I wonder how Tayla's going, I should try to see her more because of what she's told me about the negative stuff nearby (GP, etc)"?

I'll ask him on the 18th as awkward and as uncomfortable as it will be, I'm so scared and anxious yet also relieved at the same time.

But then it will probably be a month or so until I see him again. I try to cope the best I can but it's so hard. I try to come on here, talk to BB on webchats, Lifeline, etc. And my parents of course. But it's not the same, in a nice way.

My Psychiatrist is great and I hope he wants to still see me and doesn't hate me, and see me more. Sorry for asking stupid questions and overthinking everyone.

Thanks,

Tayla.

PS - big love and hugs to all of you, thank you to everyone who replied here, it means a lot to me and I appreciate it, aswell as people who have talked to me anywhere on the forums. I'm always here for everyone.

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla i think the only person who knows that answer is your Psychiatrist.I am sure as his patient he would be wondering about your progress,what treatment is best for you,how to best help you and if thinks seeing you more often will be beneficial to you he will consider it.He will treat you with professionalism as he would with any other patient and when he is talking to you,your are his only concern at the point.

Hugs and love to you,

Your friend forever,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Thanks Mark, i appreciate that.

i'm sorry for being anxious, constantly asking, all that stuff. I'll even be like this before, during and after talking to him. I guess I'll try to take it one day at a time and after the session, take it from there. I'll write down stuff tomorrow if need be and put it beside me when I speak to him.

Sorry again but thanks.

Lots of love and big hugs back, from your friend forever also.

Tayla x

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla never be sorry for asking questions or being anxious that what these forums are for.I think its great you can ask these questions.

Hugs and love to you,

Friend forever,

Mark.

[Guest_4643]

Thanks Mark.

I'll try my best with my Psychiatrist tomorrow. So many things on my mind and so many mixed emotions - anxiety, scared, relieved, I don't even know.

Love and hugs back, friends forever.

Tayla

[Birdy77]

Dear Tayla,

I think it's a really good idea to spend a bit of time jotting down some things that you would like to talk to him about tomorrow.

Or just have a little notebook and pen in your pocket or handy today so that while you're doing other things, you can pop things down on the paper if they come into your head.

You can then either use those notes to guide your discussion tomorrow, or, you can simply hand him the paper and let him look iver your queries and concerns.

This might be a way for you to ease some of your anxiety, because once you've written something down, you don't need to keep it in your head so much.

I know you would like to see him more frequently, so that might be one of your questions, but also you could ask him to give you some strategies to practice in between your sessions?

If you can explain to him how you have been feeling between the sessions, he may be able to give you some helpful strategies to deal with those feelings.

I hope tomorrow goes well.

Go gently with yourself.

🌻birdy