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tmas Wondering about Autism
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm a little unsure as I write this. I'm at a point where I've begun to seriously consider I might be on the spectrum, but I'm not sure what to do with this. Throughout my teens I had a myriad of diagnoses, they all made sense for my symptoms, bu... View more

Hi, I'm a little unsure as I write this. I'm at a point where I've begun to seriously consider I might be on the spectrum, but I'm not sure what to do with this. Throughout my teens I had a myriad of diagnoses, they all made sense for my symptoms, but I'm a big believer that diagnoses are not definitive (they certainly never felt that way). It's easy to identify with a label, but I am now at a point where they are more of a diagnostic/treatment tool that doesn't always serve the patient. Thought I'd preface with that. About six months ago I was diagnosed with adult ADHD, I'm now 21 and the signs were always there, but they were largely blamed on anxiety. I know neurodivergent women are under diagnosed, and I had huge pushback from my family when I was considering ADHD assessment. In the end, I was diagnosed and respond very well to medication. The one thing that didn't really change, and perhaps even became more identifiable, were sensory issues that I had blamed on my OCD but realised had been there my whole life and had continued even as my anxiety became more manageable - I'm in a constant battle between under (novelty-seeking) and over stimulation (panic attacks, burn out, shut down). They were just a little quirk of my behaviour (I hated hugs as a kid, hated certain foods, was generally just that weird little kid that spoke fast, or not at all, and knew too much about certain things), but living with a partner I've realised a lot about myself - my communication style, my obsessiveness, my inflexibility with routine and love for the mundane. I'm rethinking stimming, and listening to the stories of late-diagnosed ASD women is frighteningly relatable. I did the autism quotient test and scored well into the range for ASD, but am struggling to understand the pros and cons of diagnosis. I've been considering it since I was 14, but only in the last year or so have I actually bothered to learn what autism really looks like (outside of gross 90's movies). Advice is appreciated.

buzzer32 It's just all BPD
  • replies: 3

Hello So recently after a victim of family violence incident I was diagnosed with BPD despite having no issues with anger, self identity or obvious implusive behaviours . During diagnose hospital team explain to me what I'm having is not family viole... View more

Hello So recently after a victim of family violence incident I was diagnosed with BPD despite having no issues with anger, self identity or obvious implusive behaviours . During diagnose hospital team explain to me what I'm having is not family violence and my reactions of fear and distress is not normal response to my family actions. This one of most confusing diagnose I have as would thought being physically assaulted by family would be family violence and fear and distress be very natural responses, but my diagnosed team ensured it's just BPD acting up. Further it was suggested that cause of BPD maybe unknowingly I pretend be gay just to upset my family.It was also suggested it's my duty to ensure relationship with family is stable and it can be done even when they are attacking me. This so strange be told after years abuse I getting actually all my own fault cause of BPD and i need fix instead of family changing abusive behaviors.

Auto-Pilot Learning to grieve
  • replies: 3

Hey guys. New here so bare with me. My story leading me here started 6 months ago. Dad was diagnosed with acute leukemia end of May, after 2 years of many health complications and never getting any answers. Fast forward 6 months and after much confro... View more

Hey guys. New here so bare with me. My story leading me here started 6 months ago. Dad was diagnosed with acute leukemia end of May, after 2 years of many health complications and never getting any answers. Fast forward 6 months and after much confronting scenarios with dad, marital issues that are so so foreign to me, and finishing studies….dad past away on December 1st. This happened to be the same day my daughter needed emergency surgery after a horrendous accident where she fell onto a rock while playing which sliced her wrist open. The day after was her birthday so naturally we wanted to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off for the day to celebrate for her. A week later was my birthday and my daughters rescheduled birthday party. 3 weeks on we have to celebrate Christmas and on Xmas eve my mum is rushed to emergency and has today undergone surgery. Huge kidney stones making her very unwell poor thing. Today it all caught up to me where I sat back and realised the place actually in mentally compared to where I thought I was. It occurred to me I’ve lost enjoyment in literally everything for a while. I don’t want to do anything ever anymore and when I do it’s such an effort. I explained to hubby…making my bed used to bring me such pride and joy…now it’ll only do it because I know I should and often not at all. My friends are rather absent and lately felt like a punching bag to everyone. People sometimes message me to claim they’re checking in to only dump on me their own scenarios going on in life (not that they shouldn’t or can’t share with me but it’s constantly happening where my words aren’t even heard…the old saying of “hearing without listening”. For the first time, someone today recognised I was struggling after watching me be so so strong this entire process of watching my dad dying, doing his eulogy, watching my daughter’s horrible accident, seeing my mum in emotional and now physical distress…and now I’m breaking and someone noticed. I didn’t know how much I’m struggling until today after reading into depression and couldn’t believe how relatable it all was.

Foodiejen ex jehovah shunned by family- need professional help. Recommendations?
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am helping a friend to ask if there are any recommended psychologist who would be good to manage the shunning from friends and family after leaving the Jehovahs Witness. Thank you for any responses.

Hi, I am helping a friend to ask if there are any recommended psychologist who would be good to manage the shunning from friends and family after leaving the Jehovahs Witness. Thank you for any responses.

ML134 Psychologist increased fee without telling me
  • replies: 1

I have been seeing my psychologist for about 2 years now. For my last session, I have paid my psychologist her fee and I have waiting a month now to get my rebate back. I texted her to ask for my rebate back and replied saying that her fees increase ... View more

I have been seeing my psychologist for about 2 years now. For my last session, I have paid my psychologist her fee and I have waiting a month now to get my rebate back. I texted her to ask for my rebate back and replied saying that her fees increase by $10 and that I will have to pay it to get back my rebate. I don't comfortable paying that increase of $10 since she did not tell me before our session. This is the second time she has done this. The first time, I just paid it.Is this normal??

Larndy My life is pointless
  • replies: 1

Diagnosed with Depression over 20yrs ago and been taking an anti depressant since then. There have been many times where I have felt overwhelmed but my kids are important and keep me going.

Diagnosed with Depression over 20yrs ago and been taking an anti depressant since then. There have been many times where I have felt overwhelmed but my kids are important and keep me going.

Guest_4502 Nothing helps body-related self esteem when it's true
  • replies: 6

I don't hate anyone. Not my abusers. Not anyone... except myself. I have exhausted multiple therapists with the net result being 'you're completely right, our only advice is to bottle it up and pretend it's not the problem it is'. I have been in ther... View more

I don't hate anyone. Not my abusers. Not anyone... except myself. I have exhausted multiple therapists with the net result being 'you're completely right, our only advice is to bottle it up and pretend it's not the problem it is'. I have been in therapy for years. I've beaten loss, grief, infidelity, divorce, depression, anxiety, identity issues, trauma, everything so many others can't. But this is different. Telling me to ignore what I hate, and focus on other things, is INSANE. It's like starving to death and saying your shoes look nice. You're still starving to death, they're different topics and don't in any way or form balance each other out. Or watching your uninsured house burn down, being happy your car is shiny. You have nowhere to live, and are financially devastated, but you can go cut hot laps of the city on Friday night. I'm fit, I'm healthy, I'm employed, other things are good about myself and my life and even my appearance. But none of it matters. It's like a glass of drinking water with a few drops of poison in it. What else is there doesn't matter, the overall picture is still coloured by the poison. I'm just exhausted. This will never change until the day I die. No amount of positive thinking, ignoring it, bottling it up, pretending it's fine, none of that will ever change it. That's all rubbish advice, I need a solution and there isn't one. I'm trapped. This is me and no amount of therapy will change how flawed my body is and how much it had affected or continues to affect my life, despite me soldiering on trying not to let it hold me back.

FeelinTired What are some questions that are important to ask before starting with a new therapist?
  • replies: 3

Hey all. I've spent the last few weeks short listing about 50-60 therapists to find someone for long-term treatment. In the past year I tried about 4-5 therapists and none really seemed qualified to help me. I learned that none of them have 'clinical... View more

Hey all. I've spent the last few weeks short listing about 50-60 therapists to find someone for long-term treatment. In the past year I tried about 4-5 therapists and none really seemed qualified to help me. I learned that none of them have 'clinical' qualifications and it's mostly been Gestalt or Jung theory, but more importantly I didn't have a conversation before booking, it was just 'are you available, what time should we book?'. I want to find someone I can click with, I'm going to call each potential therapist and ask them a list of questions (assuming they have availability) to see if they are a right fit. I have a rough idea of my 'problem', albeit it's difficult to discuss upfront. I don't know what 'kind' of therapy would help, I'm just looking for someone who makes me feel like there's hope and can give me some assurance that I'm not wasting my time. For people who have actually improved from their therapy, can you recommend me some vital questions to ask before committing to a session?

melhun79 PNES the diagnosis and how to sort it
  • replies: 2

My husband has just been told he has PNES which is short for psychogenic non epileptic seizures. Caused by his brain not coping with what he is going through. He gets this sudden dizziness then what he describes as an empty feeling inside then will e... View more

My husband has just been told he has PNES which is short for psychogenic non epileptic seizures. Caused by his brain not coping with what he is going through. He gets this sudden dizziness then what he describes as an empty feeling inside then will either just stop responding with eyes open or closed then starts with an fitting motion. no one has helped or told us how to guide him out of these. He saw a psychologist yesterday but she didn’t really give him any ideas. Is this something he will recover from and stop having? it seems to happen when he feels some sort of pain somewhere in his body, or anticipation of seeing a doctor. wondering if anyone else has gone through these and come out the other end and stopped them? Or clues on how to help him?

EllyJ EMDR - your experience and thoughts
  • replies: 2

Hi all, my psychiatrist has suggested me undergoing EMDR treatment for PTSD. My PTSD is from childhood sexual abuse, and it is aiming to desensitise me to those memories. I would like to know if others have received this type of treatment, and could ... View more

Hi all, my psychiatrist has suggested me undergoing EMDR treatment for PTSD. My PTSD is from childhood sexual abuse, and it is aiming to desensitise me to those memories. I would like to know if others have received this type of treatment, and could provide any words on your experience and words of advice. I'm kind of concerned about digging through all the traumas that I endured over approximately 12 years, but I'm looking for whatever treatment I can to relieve some of this. Many thanks in advance for your responses.