Treatments, health professionals and therapies

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AnotherOne12 question regarding antidepressants/anxiety meds
  • replies: 2

How long does it take to work? I started on some AD meds for anxiety 4 weeks ago. Some days I feel ok and some days I feel terrible, panicky and I can't work out if its the meds making me feel so hit and miss from day to day. I'm only on a low dose a... View more

How long does it take to work? I started on some AD meds for anxiety 4 weeks ago. Some days I feel ok and some days I feel terrible, panicky and I can't work out if its the meds making me feel so hit and miss from day to day. I'm only on a low dose and I'm finding no consistency. For example one day I wake up positive and have a great day, the next day I wake up positive and feel panick stricken and on edge. How long should it take to start working consistently?

Porkncheese Prescription drugs used to treat depression and anxiety.
  • replies: 2

I find that doctors are too keen on prescribing medication for depression and anxiety. My GP prescribed a drug, its a SSRI which blocks serotonin. Interestingly its the same way LSD works. After taking it for 2 months I didn't notice any difference a... View more

I find that doctors are too keen on prescribing medication for depression and anxiety. My GP prescribed a drug, its a SSRI which blocks serotonin. Interestingly its the same way LSD works. After taking it for 2 months I didn't notice any difference and wanted to stop taking them but my GP forced me to keep taking them. I was sent to prison for 2 weeks for driving unlicensed several times. It was mentally challenging as I went through huge moments of trauma, shock, stress, depression, anxiety and helplessness. They didn't supply the medication and so I didn't take it for those 2 weeks. The first night of my release, as I was trying to fall asleep I kept getting woken up by a very loud noise, a bang, a scream, a whistle, someone calling my name, a smash. I later found that this is known as exploding head syndrome. The next night I went to go to the toilet in the early morning, as I woke and got out of bed I was confronted by an old man standing beside my bed, right in front of me. I freaked out and ran out of my room screaming. I was so freaked, I know it wasn't a dream, I was awake. I recognized the old man as my cell mate in prison. The following night as I was falling asleep I saw a blue string of light dancing and floating in my room. Again I was completely scared, I panicked and ran out of my bedroom screaming again. I slept that nigh on the sofa in my living room. Seeing something that isn't there is quite frightening. I thought I was going insane until I found a scientific explanation. They are called sleep hallucinations and occur when your waking up or falling asleep. But why had this happened? I'm sure the psychological effects of being incarcerated played a part. But then I had a closer look at the side effects of my medication and was shocked at what found. Along with hallucinations and delusions there was a huge range of side effects, the worse ones being; manic episodes, trouble breathing, seizures, convulsions, coma, loss of consciousness, changes in blood pressure and heart rate, dizziness, suicidal thoughts and attempts, acting on dangerous impulses, panic attacks, new or worse depression and/or anxiety. These side effects also occur during withdrawal. I went to my GP and told her about my hallucinations to see what she would say. Her reaction was to label me a schizophrenic, double the dosage and send me to a mental home. I told her no way, its the alteration of my serotonin levels that has bought this on and asked her to take me off the medication. There was no need to medicate me in the first place. Everyone feels depressed or anxious at some point in there lives, they're just normal emotions. So in order to make someone feel better doctors are willing to take huge risks with medications that are not very well understood to alter the chemical composition of our brains which is also not very well understood.

Julesss I don't know how to find a professional to help
  • replies: 2

I have had had the same psychiatrist since I was 16 (now 21) and I haven't seen her in probably a year or two. I recently called up to book an appointment but she is away on holidays for another two months. I have been severely struggling with panic ... View more

I have had had the same psychiatrist since I was 16 (now 21) and I haven't seen her in probably a year or two. I recently called up to book an appointment but she is away on holidays for another two months. I have been severely struggling with panic attacks and horrific anxiety which left me without a job for 4 months now and i am in desperate need of some help but I have no idea who is good or where I should even start. It gives me so much anxiety seeing somebody I don't know as a young child I bounced around to a lot of shitty psychologists/psychiatrists. How can I find a good professional?

Guest5643 Why i don't donate blood
  • replies: 6

Ive got no idea what section to write this in. About 20yrs ago i donated blood for the first time and was feeling mentaly well that day until that night i was having suicidal thoughts out of the blue. I lived at home at the time. My mum and myself di... View more

Ive got no idea what section to write this in. About 20yrs ago i donated blood for the first time and was feeling mentaly well that day until that night i was having suicidal thoughts out of the blue. I lived at home at the time. My mum and myself didnt think it was somehow related to donating until my next and last donation which again i was mentaly well that day until that night i became psychotic completely out of the blue. I was back to normal in the morning. My mum said that donating blood clearly affects me. Just out of pure fascination has anyone ever experienced this or ever heard of this. Cheers lynne

Idontevenknow Inpatient Care
  • replies: 4

Hi All, Does anyone have any insight on what its like to be in a specialised mental health inpatient unit. I might have a planned admission soon and not gonna lie I'm kind of scared as to whats going to happen. I've been admitted to hospital before b... View more

Hi All, Does anyone have any insight on what its like to be in a specialised mental health inpatient unit. I might have a planned admission soon and not gonna lie I'm kind of scared as to whats going to happen. I've been admitted to hospital before but never to a specialised mental health unit. Any tips, advice, personal experiences would be helpful. Thanks heaps

kiwikp Psychologist/Psychiatrist
  • replies: 3

I'm a support for somebody with depression. He has tried 3 different medications without success. He is reluctant to try a fourth as he says after 3 you have to move onto a psychologist or psychiatrist, is this true? He has been medication free for 2... View more

I'm a support for somebody with depression. He has tried 3 different medications without success. He is reluctant to try a fourth as he says after 3 you have to move onto a psychologist or psychiatrist, is this true? He has been medication free for 2 years and is suffering terribly.

Lana87 Weaning off meds after a decade
  • replies: 2

Hello There, I was just after some real life experience and advice! I have dropped the dosage in the last week, in a bid to get off my decade long use of antidepressants. I started when I was 21 and now feel I am in a good, stable place and would lik... View more

Hello There, I was just after some real life experience and advice! I have dropped the dosage in the last week, in a bid to get off my decade long use of antidepressants. I started when I was 21 and now feel I am in a good, stable place and would like to wean off slowly. After consulting with my GP I am decreasing in increments over the next few months. Hopefully off after that! I have yet to find anyone who has successfully gotten on this particular medication after such a long period of time. I am currently experiencing dizziness, loss of appetite, flu/like symptoms, fatigue, night sweats - alot of sweating, just feeling vague and out of body feelings. What have you experienced?

josh88 Timely and accessible medical support for mental health is not good enough
  • replies: 4

I'm sure that there is a lot of really great work out there that beyondblue and others do, which is great, however i feel like for many people (like me) who are experiencing mental health issues, serious enough to require medical intervention, but no... View more

I'm sure that there is a lot of really great work out there that beyondblue and others do, which is great, however i feel like for many people (like me) who are experiencing mental health issues, serious enough to require medical intervention, but not serious enough to warrant immediate intervention or support from crisis support services, that they do not receive the timely support that they need. This has been my journey to try and access the help that i need: Booked in to see GP (+1 week) GP and I agreed that i needed to see a psychiatrist to help manage medication and look at other options. Recieved a referral. Called to book in to see Psychiatrist. Clinic says that the Psychiatrist is on holidays until the end of the year and not taking new patients. Asked to be booked in to see someone else there. Clinic says that I need a new referral. Go back to GP and ask for new referral. GP sends a referral to the clinic, and suggests calling them in a week to arrange an appointment. Call the Clinic for appointment (+1 week). Am told that the earliest appointment to see any psychiatrist is in October... I can't wait until October for help, so now i need to go back to my GP, again, to get another referral to see a Psychiatrist, which could also have lengthy waiting lists. I know this may sound somewhat petty but i really feel like part of the problem with access to mental health support, particularly medical help, is that it is so bureaucratic and inaccessible for people who need support and intervention as soon as possible. I am interested to know if others have experienced this or similar things though.

Paw Prints Psychologist no longer contactable, what happens to my records?
  • replies: 4

Hi all, Because I moved a few years ago I had to start again with a new Psychologist. I had been seeing her monthly, she went overseas for 2 months last August & I felt at that time I would try & manage without seeing her when she got back. I became ... View more

Hi all, Because I moved a few years ago I had to start again with a new Psychologist. I had been seeing her monthly, she went overseas for 2 months last August & I felt at that time I would try & manage without seeing her when she got back. I became very unwell in January & it has taken me until last month to feel able to see her and get the help I need. I got an updated MCHP from my GP & rang my Psych. Telstra message advised her number was no longer connected & the building she had rooms in has been sold & now has new tenants. My GP has the same details for her & when I check the National Health Services Directory she is still listed with that number & address (site says updated last feb). I have googled her name, but all hits come up with what I already have. She was not part of a practice. I don't know if she has retired/died or just moved away. What happens to my notes/records. This is really worrying me that I have no idea who may now have access to them. Paws

16sundayz Dissociation
  • replies: 3

Does anyone mind if I ask this question? When you have dissociated can you hear people if they are talking to you? I’m asking because my psychologist said he was talking to me while I was dissociated and when I came back he asked me if I heard him an... View more

Does anyone mind if I ask this question? When you have dissociated can you hear people if they are talking to you? I’m asking because my psychologist said he was talking to me while I was dissociated and when I came back he asked me if I heard him and I said no. So I've suggested to him that when he's notices I've dissociated that he keeps talking to me as it might bring me back quicker even though I can't hear him. Does anyone have any other ideas I can ask him to do?