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coach77 Wanting a new therapist but wary
  • replies: 1

I'm not doing great these days and feel like I need to talk to someone but I'm super wary after being jerked around by three therapists in the space of a year. After being bailed on and been greeted with a shrug after opening up I'm very concerned ab... View more

I'm not doing great these days and feel like I need to talk to someone but I'm super wary after being jerked around by three therapists in the space of a year. After being bailed on and been greeted with a shrug after opening up I'm very concerned about the number of unserious/unprofessional operators out there. I'm also frustrated by the all the time and money I've already wasted, and the fact the authorities found these therapists' behaviour utterly unremarkable. It gets hard sometimes and think I should find someone professional to talk to but then I remember what a crap shoot it is. Surely there's a better way?

LimeGreenTea How long does it take to get a first appointment with a psychiatrist?
  • replies: 15

I recently talked to my GP on the subject of my mental health, they gave me a referral to a specific psychiatrist and said to make a booking with them. I did as they said but the earliest possible booking is for November (for future reference it's cu... View more

I recently talked to my GP on the subject of my mental health, they gave me a referral to a specific psychiatrist and said to make a booking with them. I did as they said but the earliest possible booking is for November (for future reference it's currently June). Is this normal?

NeekieJ Withdrawing from meds & time off work
  • replies: 1

Hi all I’ve recently changed medications after the one I was on was no longer effective to managing my depression and anxiety. I’ve been off the old tablets for 3 days now (early days yet, I know) and am dealing with the brain fog, dreadful anxieties... View more

Hi all I’ve recently changed medications after the one I was on was no longer effective to managing my depression and anxiety. I’ve been off the old tablets for 3 days now (early days yet, I know) and am dealing with the brain fog, dreadful anxieties and all those wonderful things that comes with weaning off these types of medication. Because of this I haven’t felt up to driving which is a huge part of my job. (I got in my car to move it and it was like I had no idea what to do!) I told my boss a month in advance what was going on, when I would be looking at changing medications and that I may need time off. She was amazingly supportive. After trying to work and being sent home due to a severe panic attack, I took my doctors advice and took the week off. I saw my GP and psychologist again at the end of that week and as I’m still feeling the effects, was advised by both to take another week off. I approached the 2IC today (as awesome boss is off sick) who told me it was not doable for me to take that much time off, that I should have told them sooner and that she would “have to redo the roster now” (with a few other choice adjectives sprinkled throughout). She also said that if I’m not coping, then my hours will be cut back to 8 hours/ week, currently I do around 20 hours/ week due to other health issues. She then waved me out, said rest up and Ill see you in a week. Guess I’m just looking for advice here. Did I do the right thing? Should I have spoken up sooner? Has anyone else experienced this in the workplace? I’m feeling so confused and always try to do my best at my job. I feel like there is still so much stigma around mental health and the profound effects it has are still so misunderstood.

study_my_life_away How do I have this discussion about my other half
  • replies: 4

Thank you to the many readers... So I am in a unique position, I myself have diagnosed ADHD (mild) depression, anxiety and chronic pain all managed by various medications As an adult ADHD diagnosed person, and being on medication, which has helped ra... View more

Thank you to the many readers... So I am in a unique position, I myself have diagnosed ADHD (mild) depression, anxiety and chronic pain all managed by various medications As an adult ADHD diagnosed person, and being on medication, which has helped rather dramatically! I am starting to think my other half may have bipolar or even ADHD I have received information that it’s best if I go to my GP first without my other half to have the discussion I am nervous about having this discussion as I am unsure if I will be taken seriously or not when I had suspected I had ADHD the GP asked why I might think I have it I am unsure if this will be the case if I go and ask about it with my GP?! there are days/times when I think my husband has learnt from my undiagnosed ADHD in terms of daily chores and habits daily chores for myself... yeah right I’d be lucky if I remembered to actually clean the dishes and put them away I am aware that ADHD and bipolar do experience some similar symptoms my other half is on antidepressants but doesn’t take them consistently goes on and off them mind you if tried the same thing I would get a shocking “missed dose/withdrawals” I get moderate to severe ‘brain zaps’ any feedback about what I need to provide to the GP or relent information would be of help my other question I have is - in the chance that my other half is diagnosed as having bipolar, how does bipolar response to treatment?! as in would the symptoms go away completely or only partly?!

NurseMinxy Stopping or changing Psychiatrist
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I started seeing a Psychiatrist about 15+ years ago after a Bipolar diagnosis - I feel this was a misdiagnosis and would now be considered PMDD as my symptoms match PMDD much better than Bipolar, which was not in the DSM all those years ... View more

Hi everyone, I started seeing a Psychiatrist about 15+ years ago after a Bipolar diagnosis - I feel this was a misdiagnosis and would now be considered PMDD as my symptoms match PMDD much better than Bipolar, which was not in the DSM all those years ago. I'm a registered nurse and my psychiatrist of 10 years, regularly threatens that I need to stay stable or I'll have to deal with AHPRA - the regulatory body for health professionals - I'm just a little tired of these threats and would really like to stop seeing him, but I'm worried that he will report me if I don't go. He assumes that anything new I do is a manic episode, eg cleaning my partners house, or planning to buy a car, or go on a holiday. I'm unmedicated and have been since 2014, and feel I'm more stable off than I was on - my friends all agree. I've had no manic/hypomanic/depressive episodes since I left an abusive relationship 15 years ago. Now that my partner and I are planning to have a baby, he wants to see me every month, 'because it's stressful' and 'I'm more susceptible to postpartum depression and psychosis'. I'm just seeing that it's a lot more money in his bank account. So I need some help in stopping seeing him, without him thinking that I'm unstable in anyway and reporting me. I'm more than happy to see a psychologist if I feel I'm struggling. Please offer some suggestions...

CheeseDingo Mental health in the toilet after 5 years of avoiding health services, Now jumping back into treatment. How to I initiate a ASD test/diagnosis?
  • replies: 4

Hello, First post on these forums. 30 Male, never self harmed/no suicidal ideation. Never violent/aggressive with people Early 20's diagnosed with ADHD and Depression. I have Stopped medications when I went on university exchange for 1 year in 2015. ... View more

Hello, First post on these forums. 30 Male, never self harmed/no suicidal ideation. Never violent/aggressive with people Early 20's diagnosed with ADHD and Depression. I have Stopped medications when I went on university exchange for 1 year in 2015. In 2016 I came back to Australia after failing to hand in any of my university exchange assignments and dropped out of a Engineering/International studies degree 4.5/5.5 years into the degree. Over the last 5 years I have worked hard at entry level jobs for 5-6 months of the year, save lots of money, then quit the job to feed a heavy addiction to 1 video game (~15k hours), casino poker (~2k hours), general computer addiction and Cannabis habit. Intense hobbies of cooking/baking, listening to music, herb gardening, listening to podcasts and walking outside for 1-2 hours a day does ground me, but It's not enough for me to move forward with my life. Since this time I have cut off 95% of interaction with friends and avoid regular interaction with my family. I have been lucky and had some really great girlfriends in the past but have not pursued any female interaction over the last 4 years. --9 days ago I had my first interaction with mental health services in ~5 years in the form of a NewAccess coach. They wanted me to write a day to day diary/log of problems/emotions/feelings as I had difficulty fully expressing myself in the interview (I also vaped Marijuana 3 hours before interview which didn't help). --4 days ago I uninstalled the video game that I would play ~50hours a week as it was directly tempting me and sabotaging my recovery efforts. Currently my longest break in 5 years. --3 days ago Anxiety was through the roof all day. I funneled my attention from the game to the internet and wasted my whole day on social media/internet (600+ pages in my web history that day on PC alone). --Yesterday early in the morning I installed software across PC/Mobile devices to block access to all websites I would waste time on (excluding YouTube). I booked, attended a doctors appointment, completed a mental health plan and have a psychologist appointment 2 weeks from now . --Today, cannabis consumption down ~30% in frequency, ~50% in dosage size reduction in 9 days. I am coming here to ask how to best start my relationship with a new psychologist and how I would initiate a test for what I suspect to be an undiagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder. TY

TheBigBlue Question - Why did psychiatrist take photo of prescription?
  • replies: 8

I saw my psychiatrist yesterday. He increased my dose for one of my medications & wrote a new prescription. Then he took a photo of the prescription on his mobile before passing it to me. Naturally my anxiety prevented me from asking, so does anyone ... View more

I saw my psychiatrist yesterday. He increased my dose for one of my medications & wrote a new prescription. Then he took a photo of the prescription on his mobile before passing it to me. Naturally my anxiety prevented me from asking, so does anyone here know why he would do that? I’m guessing so there is some sort of record, but it kind of makes me feel like I’m not trusted........ Any one else had this happen or know the reason behind it????

HenryC I would like to get more sessions but my GP told me to wait for a month for the care plan review
  • replies: 7

Hi all, I got my mental health care plan from my GP in early October this year. And now I already have 6 amazing sessions with my Psychologist. Today I went to see my GP, hoping to get my care plan reviewed and get my 7th-10th sessions under mental h... View more

Hi all, I got my mental health care plan from my GP in early October this year. And now I already have 6 amazing sessions with my Psychologist. Today I went to see my GP, hoping to get my care plan reviewed and get my 7th-10th sessions under mental health care plan. However, my GP told me based on the medicare guideline, the care plan review has to be at least 60 days after the first referral date, so I was told to come back in December. To me, this time restriction is very weird, did anyone encounter this situation before? Is there really such a rule? I really hope to see my psychologist soon. Thanks!

NetDog Frustrated with the lack of Mental Health Services in the bush!
  • replies: 2

So I have BPD! Anyone would think it was Covid, as a lot of psychologists and psychiatrists avoid BPD patients! My psychologist is advising me to go to a mental health clinic for time out as she is of no help to me outside of hours. But since I was i... View more

So I have BPD! Anyone would think it was Covid, as a lot of psychologists and psychiatrists avoid BPD patients! My psychologist is advising me to go to a mental health clinic for time out as she is of no help to me outside of hours. But since I was in there for 2 weeks back in 2011, there is no way I am going back there! I hated it then! My psychiatrist travels from Sydney each month, but typical of rural areas, the waiting time between follow up appointments is 3+ months, and for new patients it is 10+ months. My follow up appointment isn’t until April. So really I have only got my GP to depend on somewhat, and generally GP’s don’t want to adjust or change medication without approval or instructions from your treating psychiatrist. To add to my frustration and anger over the lack of help, to use a psychiatrist online you have to go to your GP to get a referral for a Telehealth appointment with a psychiatrist online. To get into your GP can be 5-10 days waiting! So I am left to battle on by myself, and am running out of patients, let alone time, for all this shit! Psychologists these days won’t offer after hour care, and most psychiatrists are diagnose and treat. No psychiatrists I know of do somatic mindfulness or do psychotherapy like my old psychiatrist from Sydney did. Once my therapy ceased with him in 2013, due to his retirement, I have had no suitable replacement that does what he does! Has Australia become that backward when it comes to Mental Health and providing much needed psychotherapy and somatic therapies for personality disorders? Yes it has! I am totally over it and totally over the multiple steps we need to take, and the time it takes, just to get help. Is there any easier way to get help?

Bonisnothappy A telehealth GP told me mental problems are Aussies(locals) exclusive
  • replies: 4

Posted this on the multicultural section but seems like I should post here... I was asking about my insomnia and sleeping pills cuz I had severe sleeping problems along with depression, anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD and a bunch of stuff.... He was li... View more

Posted this on the multicultural section but seems like I should post here... I was asking about my insomnia and sleeping pills cuz I had severe sleeping problems along with depression, anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD and a bunch of stuff.... He was like: you Chinese study soooo hard dont push yourself too much I was like 'excuse me I have stress from study but I didn't tell you that at all how could you just assume that ???? and I am not studying hard thank you for your stereotype now I feel like shit' in my mind but I didn't tell him and he started to tell a bunch of stuff like I should manage my stress by myself, dont be like Aussies they take so many pills so they are having sleeping problems, there are a bunch of online tutorials of sleeping tricks, people who have insomnia are not busy enough :))))))))) How do I cope with this? I can manage my depression myself? Good to know.