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Ranga-1 My Son is Showing Signs of Depression. Should I Tell Family My Anxiety Is Triggered?
  • replies: 11

My 19yo son is showing signs of depression (lack of motivation, not showering as often). He is supposed to attend TAFE Mon and Tues, but he has to get a very early train because the campus is not in our town. Our town doesn't offer the course of stud... View more

My 19yo son is showing signs of depression (lack of motivation, not showering as often). He is supposed to attend TAFE Mon and Tues, but he has to get a very early train because the campus is not in our town. Our town doesn't offer the course of study he's doing. He enjoys the course. Our routine is I get him up and he gets ready, and I take him to the train station. This morning he said he didn't feel well and preferred to maybe catch later train (which would get thim there in time for afternoon classes). When it was time to get up for that train, he was still feeling not great. He does look a bit lethargic and off-colour today, admittedly. I suggested he set himself a goal to have a shower and brush his teeth, which might make him feel a bit better. He's not working at the moment, so it's important he continue with TAFE for 'occupation'. I'm being as supportive as i can be and pointed out if he wants to talk to anybody, the college has a counselling service if he's worried about anything. Now, here's my question: I'm thinking of having a family meetign tonight and telling everyone how this is making ME feel. I have anxiety and catastrophise. I am exhausted. I have to work and am studying. In about 8 weeks, I have to do a three-week prac in a nearby town (I'm doing a teaching degree) and it will be exhausting for me. I need support and reassurance that my son is going to attend his classes. His dad has health issues and is unable to work. I don't think my son has a memory of his dad in long term employment at all, and I wonder if this has affected him. SHOULD I TELL THEM HOW I FEEL OR WILL I LIKELY MAKE IT WORSE FOR THEM? Thank you, everyone.

Rowlane6 Overcoming fears and traumas
  • replies: 1

What steps can one take to effectively overcome childhood fears and traumas, ensuring they don't continue to hold sway over their present and future?

What steps can one take to effectively overcome childhood fears and traumas, ensuring they don't continue to hold sway over their present and future?

HellyAh ADHD and meds.
  • replies: 7

Hi All, Like many, I've been diagnosed with ADD as an adult. It makes a lot of sense of to me, and I'm glad I finally have an explanation for a lot of my experiences. I've recently started ADHD medication and have just increased it, I'm just wonderin... View more

Hi All, Like many, I've been diagnosed with ADD as an adult. It makes a lot of sense of to me, and I'm glad I finally have an explanation for a lot of my experiences. I've recently started ADHD medication and have just increased it, I'm just wondering what I should be expecting from the medication? So far, I've noticed 3 distinct "phases". about an hour after I take the medication, begin to feel a general sense of "calm". The best way I can describe this is, I feel content. I'm not looking to move on from each task rapidly, and I'm far less distracted by outside "noise". I find my job less annoying, and people in general less annoying. I can read a book if I want to, something I haven't been able to do for years unless I become "obsessed" with the book. I don't want to say I feel euphoric, because it's more subtle than that, but I'm definitely in a better mood than "normal". After about 4 hrs, the calmness and contentness wears off. My mood more or less returns to normal. However, I definitely still am able to concentrate much better than normal during this period, and make far less careless mistakes if I'm at work. Six or seven hours after taking the dose, It becomes obvious the medication is "wearing off". I start to become more distracted by "noise" again. I start to have a song playing in my head on loop. I start to make careless mistakes a work, and generally feel more "scattered". So my question really is, am I aiming for phase 1, on terms of treatment? Or is phase 2 more like the aim? Would increasing the dose further prolong phase 1 and 2? Or just make them more pronounced? At the moment, I'm taking the dose later and later in the day, in order to have "phase 1" active during important times. My doctor has mentioned adding a short acting medication to cover me for the afternoon. Does a shorter acting med feel different? Sorry for all the questions, but this is all very new to me. Many thanks to all who respond.

purple241 Miscarriage and anger with GPs who did not detect infection
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone,I am new to this forum and just joined a few minutes ago (although, have been reading some of the posts here as it has gotten me through the past few days and nights, so very grateful to you all).I know miscarriages do not scientifically ... View more

Hi everyone,I am new to this forum and just joined a few minutes ago (although, have been reading some of the posts here as it has gotten me through the past few days and nights, so very grateful to you all).I know miscarriages do not scientifically have any reason and that it is hard to pinpoint one, and am told it is a chromosominal rejection that is completely natural. But in my case, the two weeks leading up to my early miscarriage (7-8weeks pregnant) I suffered severe gastro, prolonged, and presented to several GPs with pelvic pain. Did the ultrasounds and the fact there was no heartbeat was not an issue. Both the private and public GPs said it was viral so I just had to 'wait it out', no antibiotics needed. As I was finally improving I saw that I had a referral sitting on my table from another online GP I had consulted two weeks ago which I had ignored as I managed to get face to face appointments asap and started seeing my GPs. Something told me I should submit the tests anyway from the online GP, and to my usual and second GPs surprise, the results showed I did have another infection which was an UTI. So my GP called me up immediately last Saturday morning to say she will give me an antibiotics that was completely pregnancy safe, to start going on those. So I did. Last Tuesday, we found out my hormones were dropping and just the day before was when I could confirm I had my miscarriage. I am being told 'at least I can have a baby' or 'it was not a big thing because there never was a heartbeat', which is true I guess, but I am quite angry that the first face to face GP was so sure it was viral and rejected my idea of being given antibiotics just in case (or at least should have asked me to do a UTI test). The second face to face GP was also quite insensitive and treating me like a science experiment (and also took two samples from me that day by the way, but I guess did not think to test either for UTI?), but I feel stuck with both because it is just so hard to switch GPs, especially the second one who is a private GP whose practice I have been going to since since 2009. Right now, I am terrified that if I am this shaken by grief for such an early loss, how am I going to deal with the prospect of an even bigger one if I start trying again this year? Am I even ready to have children any more? Is it worth putting myself through all these emotions and grief? I do not know who I am anymore and feel completely lost on all aspects of my life.

Deanchor Voices are out to get me
  • replies: 1

I’m posting here cause I feel as though this is a safe place to start to start this conversation. I have been dealing with voices for a few months now and I’ve been putting myself in to panic attacks because the voices are so strong and I feel like I... View more

I’m posting here cause I feel as though this is a safe place to start to start this conversation. I have been dealing with voices for a few months now and I’ve been putting myself in to panic attacks because the voices are so strong and I feel like I’m being watched 24/7 and they are out to get me and judge me for everything I do, I am wanting to know if anyone has had anything similar and hoping for some tips and reassurance.

Deanchor Voices
  • replies: 3

Voices go from being strong and powerful to nothing it just depends on what I’m doing and what my environment is, I’m just coming to realise that they are the “voices” that have been in my head the whole time but they are just more abrupt and convinc... View more

Voices go from being strong and powerful to nothing it just depends on what I’m doing and what my environment is, I’m just coming to realise that they are the “voices” that have been in my head the whole time but they are just more abrupt and convincing to what I’ve had in my head in the past. I’ve always been one to put myself down and think what other people are thinking about what I’m doing, I lack in self confidence due to the bullying I have experienced. What are the voices saying you may ask? Well let me enlighten you they judge me on everything I do or doing, and make me feel as though I’m am walking into a set up to get bashed or kidnapped which is a part of my PTSD. I have come to realise this at the early stages of my attacks but not fully understand until this moment of time right now. Let me explain it in a simple way it’s like smoking cigarettes and not wanting to quit. You know they’re bad for you but they are addictive for you so you keep smoking and as time goes on your lungs and body start to degrade and age. I am now on the journey of trying to find reassurance and peace if I can to what I’m dealing with if any body reading this has any advice I am open to trying anything.I am also currently waiting to be assessed to go in to a trauma clinic for 4 weeks as an inpatient and 2 weeks as an outpatient.

Faith- Changing psychiatrist
  • replies: 9

Hi, I need some help with information re changing psychiatrists. I’ve been assessed already and diagnosed with ADHD inattentive. Will the new psychiatrist want to do their own ADHD assessment again? What rights do i have as a client in asking my curr... View more

Hi, I need some help with information re changing psychiatrists. I’ve been assessed already and diagnosed with ADHD inattentive. Will the new psychiatrist want to do their own ADHD assessment again? What rights do i have as a client in asking my current psychiatrist to send my diagnosis & other notes to the new one? I’m keen to hear if others have had similar experiences and what the process was like to change. I’ve had an awful experience with my current psychiatrist & staff, so I’m nervous in looking for another one and want to save money if I can by skipping the assessment part. Thanks in advance.

Sammy_347 My psychologist moving to Clinics, I am unsure how I can follow her to the new clinic.
  • replies: 1

Hey guys, sorry if this is all over the place, not really sure what to do. So I've been struggling with OCD for years and at the end of December, I finally got the courage to get help. I went to the GP and told her my symptoms, she got me started on ... View more

Hey guys, sorry if this is all over the place, not really sure what to do. So I've been struggling with OCD for years and at the end of December, I finally got the courage to get help. I went to the GP and told her my symptoms, she got me started on medication and suggested I research a psychologist who specialised in OCD from two clinics she recommended and she'd see me in 3 weeks so I could get a referral for the psychologist and discuss how the medication was going. After a lot of research and correspondence, I went with a psychologist from Clinic A. She's great and although I have a lot of trouble opening up with people, I think ive come a long way. I've been seeing her for about 2 months once a week. I feel like I'm making progress with Cognitive behaviour Therapy and Exposure Response Prevention, and we are just starting to get into the deep nitty-gritty.I found out last week that she is leaving Clinic A and my last appointment will be the one I just had today. Today she told me more in-depth - the name of the new clinic (I'll call it Clinic B) and said that she will discharge me from her care at Clinic A and I will most likely be contacted by reception from clinic A asking if I want to see another psychologist there. She told me she isn't allowed to 'poach' me and take me to her new clinic as that would be a breach in her contract but if she happened to run into me... in a few weeks that wouldn't be an issue. She also said she'd email my GP and say I'm looking for a new psychologist. I'm not due to see my GP for a repeat prescription for about 2 months; I'm just really confused on what to do as she can't explicitly tell me how to go with her to the other clinic. Maybe in about 2 weeks should I book an appointment with my GP and see if she can get a referral so I can see my psychologist at the other clinic? I also dont know if I should up my meds as there is only a slight different to before - I was planning on bringing this up when I would see her for the repeat prescription in 2 months. I also know that if u get a GP referral to see a psychologist you get a Medicare rebate so that would be helpful. Any advice would be greatly appreciated; I feel quite overwhelmed and don't want to lose all this headway I've been making, and I definitely don't want to start fresh with someone else. Thanks! - love from Sammy

Camembert What help is there for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?
  • replies: 20

Hello everyone. A dear family member has what's called "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity," which means he is very sensitive to things like smells and odours (eg, the smell of shampoo, perfume, tea, flowers, plastic, in fact most things.) These triggers ... View more

Hello everyone. A dear family member has what's called "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity," which means he is very sensitive to things like smells and odours (eg, the smell of shampoo, perfume, tea, flowers, plastic, in fact most things.) These triggers produce symptoms like coughing and sore airways, etc. It means he can't do a lot of things because he has to avoid many things and places. There is debate about whether MCS is a psychological problem or not. Some Drs think it could have a psychological element to it... so I want to try to get him some help from a psychologist or mental health professional. (He's already done all the things suggested by MCS support groups, like avoidance of triggers, natural supplements, air filters, etc.) I tried looking up the psychologist directory, but have no idea where to get help for this, as I don't know what category it fits into. I can't find any mental health professionals online that have this as an area of specialty or know how to deal with it. I have no idea where to go or what we can do! This problem is making his life so difficult. Any help would be appreciated!! Thank you!! Camembert.

Garry08 Anger destroying my relationship
  • replies: 7

Hi,I have allowed my anger to control me for a long time and it has always caused me so many issues. I’ve been in a relationship with my partner for 13 years. She has taken so much from me over the years but I guess she still had faith in me that I w... View more

Hi,I have allowed my anger to control me for a long time and it has always caused me so many issues. I’ve been in a relationship with my partner for 13 years. She has taken so much from me over the years but I guess she still had faith in me that I was better.I am generally a good person and I would never physically harm her but lately things just seem to be at an end in terms of her patience. She has three daughters, the eldest is in college the younger two are in high school. The eldest daughter and I are now very close but when she was a teenager it was very different. She hated that I was there and her father wasn’t but now she understands what I did for her and refers to me as her father. I previously had issues with alcohol and decided that it was better to quit than risk losing them forever. Now, over two years later, I don’t drink but still have these outbursts where I will yell, say hurtful things, slam doors and even break stuff. I have tried so hard to not do these things but it seems to happen anyway. I don’t want to be this person and I don’t want to lose my family.Can anyone help me with some advice please?