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Rae76 Can SNRIs affect menstruation?
  • replies: 5

Hi, Weird question. I am in the process of tapering off from an SNRI in preparation for changing medication. My period is due, but instead I have had a week of cramps on and off and sore breasts but no bleeding. I don’t know whether the withdrawal ca... View more

Hi, Weird question. I am in the process of tapering off from an SNRI in preparation for changing medication. My period is due, but instead I have had a week of cramps on and off and sore breasts but no bleeding. I don’t know whether the withdrawal can affect this at all or whether something else is going on. I have had every withdrawal symptom on the list but nothing like this was mentioned. I’m seeing the GP in three days anyway but I just wondered if I should be taking a pregnancy test in the meantime! We haven’t been using protection but, I had to use IVF for my two kids because i was supposed to be unable otherwise! Sorry I should probably just wait for the GP but I’m wigging out since we didn’t want a third child. thanks.

Lurkette How does Centrelink expect us to pay for two DSP evaluation on Newstart?
  • replies: 11

I'm on Newstart and I'm at least partially disabled due to mental health probs. I wanted to be evaluated to determine if I'm disabled enough to get the DSP. To get the DSP I need two evaluations from Clinical Psychologists. My GP is no help (knows al... View more

I'm on Newstart and I'm at least partially disabled due to mental health probs. I wanted to be evaluated to determine if I'm disabled enough to get the DSP. To get the DSP I need two evaluations from Clinical Psychologists. My GP is no help (knows almost nothing about mh probs). I called around on my own to find clinical psychologists. Each evaluation has the low-low price of 3-4 thousand dollars each. Medicare doesn't cover any of this. I called Centrelink and they said they don't have any programs to cover the cost and they don't have any suggestions. This is the first time I've run into a literally impossible situation (no one can pay 6-8 thousand dollars when all they have is Newstart) What am I supposed to do?

Bluebirdbrown Assessment tool- results for anxiety depression. How accurate is it ?
  • replies: 7

Hello, I am just curious how others feel about the reliability (or accuracy) of those online assessment tools for depression, anxiety and stress etc. How do we interpret the results? My GP tends to simply rely on the numbers scored and diagnose you. ... View more

Hello, I am just curious how others feel about the reliability (or accuracy) of those online assessment tools for depression, anxiety and stress etc. How do we interpret the results? My GP tends to simply rely on the numbers scored and diagnose you. And prescribe more pills etc. I partake in PHQ-9, K10 and SPIN and the overall results indicate that I have score high mark which representing severe symptoms or in a very high distressing range. This worries me as I don’t feel that the results reflect exactly how I feel and how bad I am. Indeed I am feeling I get better each day. Small steps but not going backwards. I know it sounds silly to ask this question but it’s annoying me and I tend not to distort my feeling to make the results looking nicer !

Ellen2811 Feel like giving up - no Dr seems to want to help
  • replies: 3

Hi. Sorry for the long post, but want to explain why I feel the way I do. I've always had terrible fatigue which stops me doing things I want to do. Have tried many anti-depressants with no effect. My mind is fine and wants to do everything, but my b... View more

Hi. Sorry for the long post, but want to explain why I feel the way I do. I've always had terrible fatigue which stops me doing things I want to do. Have tried many anti-depressants with no effect. My mind is fine and wants to do everything, but my body doesnt want to move and feels like lead - all day every day. GP wanted me on stimulants. Psych wanted a sleep study. Sleep physician said he can see I'm tired as I kept falling asleep during the day and they had to wake me, but it took me 10min to fall asleep each time and he can only help if I fell asleep under 6min. Another psych put me on a non-amphetamine stimulant which worked well, but 3 years later, I fall asleep 4 hours after taking it. If I increase the dose I cant sleep. Gp put me on a new non-benzo sleeping tablet with no effect. Went to another psych and was told to get off all the nasty drugs and go and live my life and then my brain will re-wire its thinking and I'll be cured. Left her appointment with depression, crying while driving down the highway for an hour. They all say it's not chronic fatigue, but fatigue from long-term anxiety. I had an adrenal gland test and it's normal. I dont take my kids anywhere or do anything with them. I dont cook them dinner as I'm too "drained". My friends can see I'm not the same as I used to be and that my house has deteriorated, which makes me feel worse. I know in my mind I want to do all these things and live my life, as the psych said, but my body wont move. So, I'm back to square 1. Noone seems to want to help or prescribe meds to help me. CBT and mindfulness dont work. My relationship ended due to me being "lazy".

incrediblytired Has anybody been approved for Sick Allowance?
  • replies: 2

On my mother's recommendation, we've decided that it might be best if I took a few months off work. My mental health is the worst it's been in a long time, and I'm seeing a psychiatrist and working towards getting a referal for a new therapist, but t... View more

On my mother's recommendation, we've decided that it might be best if I took a few months off work. My mental health is the worst it's been in a long time, and I'm seeing a psychiatrist and working towards getting a referal for a new therapist, but the overwhelming pressure of work is making it hard to see any light. Does anybody have any experinces claiming sickness allowance while suffering depression/mental health issues? What was it like? Was getting approved difficult? How long did it take? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm very in the dark on this.

Flaxy First time reaching out
  • replies: 2

This is the first time I've reached out. I suffer from depression anxiety ptsd and finding it hard to cope as its the worst I have ever been. I'm on medication but it's not working. I'm sleeping a lot not eating properly and loosing a lot of weight. ... View more

This is the first time I've reached out. I suffer from depression anxiety ptsd and finding it hard to cope as its the worst I have ever been. I'm on medication but it's not working. I'm sleeping a lot not eating properly and loosing a lot of weight. The thing that is worrying me most is I'm finding excuses as I can't seem to be able to leave my house. Why is this as I bought a new car but to go to the supermarket I catch a taxi and rush home. Any ideas as I'm really struggling.. Love and light to all

Wonderlands First Visit Task
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I visited my therapist for the first time and after the session she told me she wants me to keep a diary and check in with it at least 3 times a day with how I'm feeling and how I think that feeling happened. It's going to honestly be ha... View more

Hi everyone, I visited my therapist for the first time and after the session she told me she wants me to keep a diary and check in with it at least 3 times a day with how I'm feeling and how I think that feeling happened. It's going to honestly be hard to get the motivation and not put off checking in. I also am unsure if I should check in around the same time a day with whatever I'm feeling at that point in time, or whether to record strong feelings and changes in emotion/feeling... Not sure what will be most effective. Does anyone else keep a diary for this reason? How does yours work and do you feel it's been beneficial so far for you? What's your experience so far? How do you keep yours?

Sadlady Do or die
  • replies: 20

Hi Everyone I'm new to this and I don't know exactly how to start but I'll give it a go. I'm struggling with depression, anxiety and ptsd. This year has been the toughest I've ever had and I've had a few. I was diagnosed with a terminal illness and t... View more

Hi Everyone I'm new to this and I don't know exactly how to start but I'll give it a go. I'm struggling with depression, anxiety and ptsd. This year has been the toughest I've ever had and I've had a few. I was diagnosed with a terminal illness and told that I have only months to live. That was 6mnths ago. Now I'm still here but fair from living. I can't do anything for myself and have had to move in with my son. I hate being a burden to my children and I hide my depression ect. As I have always Been a strong woman and brought my kids up on my own. While also working full-time. I guess I have to say I really need to deal with how I'm feeling and hopefully this is the start of that.

Jacket A few questions about starting with a psychologist
  • replies: 9

TLDR: Just jump to the questions at the end. Hi everyone. Thank you for maintaining such a positive forum. I'd like to ask some advice. I just started seeing a psychologist, as I've got anxiety and depression stemming from the fact that my lovely wif... View more

TLDR: Just jump to the questions at the end. Hi everyone. Thank you for maintaining such a positive forum. I'd like to ask some advice. I just started seeing a psychologist, as I've got anxiety and depression stemming from the fact that my lovely wife and I may not be able to have children. It's been wearing me down so heavily. I saw a psychologist who specialises in assisted reproductive therapy (e.g. IVF, which we're considering) for one session, and she was great, but before we had a chance for a second session, she cancelled all future sessions due to a family emergency. I was quite devastated but of course, it's important for her to look after that. So I tried to see another one, that a friend who hadn't liked CBT recommended, who operates from an "existentialist modality". I know those words but didn't know what it might mean for therapy. I went to one session but she asked questions that didn't seem to really help. e.g. "What is anger to you?" when I don't really have anger issues, mainly sadness and anxiety, and "What is a woman?" I could see this working for people in different circumstances like my friend, but it's not helpful for me at this stage, I think. And she asked some really confronting questions that the two friends I've told about say they are very dangerous (leading me down to new unwelcome dark thoughts) and I shouldn't spend any more time with her. But I don't know. I've only given her one chance, so maybe I should give her another. But I don't want to go too far down this path. I wish the first one was still available. The first psychologist did recommend some people, but they're about $200 for 50 minute sessions, and though I can possibly afford it and get the Medicare rebate, it seems really high end, higher than the other two. So, I guess I'd like to know some tips. I'll just number some questions to make it easier, but please don't feel obliged to answer all: 1. Should I try with this second lady some more? 2. If I try to get a new psychologist, should I try CBT or something else? 3. What's CBT all about? 4. Are there other types that might help me? 5. Does anyone know of any other ART therapists around Melbourne? I know you're not allowed to ask for specific recommendations, but is it okay to ask for someone with a specialty? Thank you so much in advance. I feel lost at the moment.