How Do I Get Help?!
Replies
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*YOU'RE* not capable of composing a coherent sentence so how can you pretend to know anything?
The start of this alone proves I need not read on. This is simply not true. It can happen to some people, but it is NOT a standard symptom. The way *good* doctors start you on medication is to start with the ones that have the least negative side effects and work their way from there until you find something that works.Effexor sucks major butt and it kills your sex drive or libdo and turns you into a zombie and if you take to much you will hear voices that speak to you and hallucinationas and speaking of expensive those are very costly.
Which works will depend on the type and cause of your depression. Unfortunately this CANNOT be tested, which is why doctors rely on the method above. Sadly, the "bad" doctors will start you on lithium or zoloft because they get bigger "kick-backs" from the companies who produce these medications.
SSRIs and lithium are last resorts - Always.
A REALLY good doctor will recommend St Johns Wort or other natural mood tablets before the above for anyone suffering from mild/moderate depression. I have *severe* depression and it still works best for me.
Pure rubbish and your not a dr so how can you pretend to think like one?
I do not pretend any thing I say because unfortunately I have been there and done that at one point in my life and every thing you speak of is simply just not true. Believe what you will but you speak very ignorantly when it comes to these things and how Dr.s treat patients.0 -
Are you from Australia? Do you know ANYTHING about our medical system?
*YOU'RE* not capable of composing a coherent sentence so how can you pretend to know anything?
The start of this alone proves I need not read on. This is simply not true. It can happen to some people, but it is NOT a standard symptom. The way *good* doctors start you on medication is to start with the ones that have the least negative side effects and work their way from there until you find something that works.Effexor sucks major butt and it kills your sex drive or libdo and turns you into a zombie and if you take to much you will hear voices that speak to you and hallucinationas and speaking of expensive those are very costly.
Which works will depend on the type and cause of your depression. Unfortunately this CANNOT be tested, which is why doctors rely on the method above. Sadly, the "bad" doctors will start you on lithium or zoloft because they get bigger "kick-backs" from the companies who produce these medications.
SSRIs and lithium are last resorts - Always.
A REALLY good doctor will recommend St Johns Wort or other natural mood tablets before the above for anyone suffering from mild/moderate depression. I have *severe* depression and it still works best for me.
Pure rubbish and your not a dr so how can you pretend to think like one?
I have been there and done that at one point in my life and every thing you speak of is simply just not true. Believe what you will but you speak very ignorantly when it comes to these things and how Dr.s treat patients.
I've been there and done it all too. I have had MDD since I was 9 years old - 15 years. I know how it is treated, how it should be and how it REALLY SHOULDN'T.0 -
Are you from Australia? Do you know ANYTHING about our medical system?
*YOU'RE* not capable of composing a coherent sentence so how can you pretend to know anything?
The start of this alone proves I need not read on. This is simply not true. It can happen to some people, but it is NOT a standard symptom. The way *good* doctors start you on medication is to start with the ones that have the least negative side effects and work their way from there until you find something that works.Effexor sucks major butt and it kills your sex drive or libdo and turns you into a zombie and if you take to much you will hear voices that speak to you and hallucinationas and speaking of expensive those are very costly.
Which works will depend on the type and cause of your depression. Unfortunately this CANNOT be tested, which is why doctors rely on the method above. Sadly, the "bad" doctors will start you on lithium or zoloft because they get bigger "kick-backs" from the companies who produce these medications.
SSRIs and lithium are last resorts - Always.
A REALLY good doctor will recommend St Johns Wort or other natural mood tablets before the above for anyone suffering from mild/moderate depression. I have *severe* depression and it still works best for me.
Pure rubbish and your not a dr so how can you pretend to think like one?
I have been there and done that at one point in my life and every thing you speak of is simply just not true. Believe what you will but you speak very ignorantly when it comes to these things and how Dr.s treat patients.
I've been there and done it all too. I have had MDD since I was 9 years old - 15 years. I know how it is treated, how it should be and how it REALLY SHOULDN'T.
It's obvious that you are just trying help and I'm sure you have given her a lot of great information. But in regards to your above statement I think that you are generalizing, you know how it should be treated for YOU, not how it should be treated for everyone.. Other people are just trying to give their advice, which is useful too.0 -
Um, if you're holding things back, do the people you're talking to really know what your situation is? I wonder if that might be part of the problem.I am ALWAYS holding back many, many other things that are wrong in my life. Even in front of shrinks I try to put on a brave face while still balling my eyes out. I have a LOT of problems, & considering my situation it shouldn't be surprising.
I've had to do it, and so I know it's tough to tell some stranger, even a nice friendly psychiatrist-stranger, about the really awful painful horrid secret things that are tearing you up inside. But they do really need to know what's behind all the depression and other things you're feeling. It's as if they can't stop the bleeding until they know how you've been wounded.
To put it another way: if, say, you went into a hospital with appendicitis, would you put on a brave face and be too stoic to admit that you felt any pain or nausea? Probably not.
And if you did, the staff might not do anything until you started showing unmistakable physical symptoms. (They might not even *be able* to: treating someone for appedicitis when they denied having the symptoms might be medically unjustifiable.) And by then they'd be lucky to get to your appendix before it burst.
Please do whatever you can to persuade some medical professional to get to this before it "bursts." Grasp that nettle like your life depends on it (because it just might) and tell a professional that you can trust exactly what's going on. Go to Sydney if necessary. Or Melbourne. Or Perth.
(If at all possible, stick the family member who's been the most dismissive of your alleged "pity parties" with the bills for your travel.)
It will be horrible, I know, and I'm sorry for that. But if you're brave enough to hide that pain, you can be brave enough to tell one trustworthy professional what's behind it.
I really hope this helps you, even a little. Please feel free to PM me if I might be able to help that way.
- Evelyn0 -
Well op thats my advice for you to go get diagnosed and go from there and good luck.0
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I have no idea how to get in contact with professionals in Sydney ect. I am deathly afraid of calling people. I cannot even call close family & friends and find it hard to simply answer the phone. I have tried beyond blue ect but I couldn't find any options for online help & my emails have so far been unanswered (only been 2 days though).0
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As someone else posted, call lifeline. Google health professionals in your area. You cannot say you need help but not be willing to help yourself.0
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Do you have at least one trusted friend or someone you could ask to help you with the phone calls? Or just be in the room with you while you make them?0
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I just said that I was very very afraid of calling people. I have also been to all the counsellors ect in my area. I will google places in Sydney that will let me organize things via email.0
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I am from a rural town in Australia, and I have sought medical help for anxiety. The process for treating anxiety is roughly the same as depression.
I was unhappy with how the first doctor I saw spoke to me, so I sought a different doctor.
The first thing that your doctor should do is to ask you to fill out roughly 10 questions and rank how you feel regarding them. Based on your result, your doctor can prescribe you with some form of anti-depressant. Ask them about st. john's wort (DO NOT TAKE IT WITH THE PILL), ask them what the different anti-depressants do, and ask them to explain how it works. Also, ask to see a psychologist. If you have previously seen all the psychologists in your town, explain this and ask to see one in a neighbouring town. If you have already seen all the doctors in your town, organise to see a doctor in a neighbouring town.
I refuse to see the psychologist or dentist in my home town, and certain doctors, but thankfully there are two doctors who are good, and thankfully the next town is a half-hour drive.
My doctor prescribed me with a low dose of zoloft (it can be used both for depression and anxiety). If it makes you feel too sick, you can return to the doctor and change the medication. If you choose not to use a medication on the first appointment, you can continue to see a doctor for assessment anyway.
Not every psychologist will work for you, so if the first one was unhelpful don't be afraid to find a new one. My first psychologist was not really very helpful, but my second one has been an amazing help.
Ask your doctor to put you on a mental health plan. This allows you to get back the majority of what you pay a psychologist. I pay $120, but medicare pays most of that. Only about $30 comes out of my pocket, roughly once every two weeks.
The hardest thing to realise is 'yes, i am depressed, and yes, i need help'...especially if other people are saying telling you to get over it and get on with it. You have realised that you could really use a hand...hopefully some of what has been said here will help you.0 -
Do you have at least one trusted friend or someone you could ask to help you with the phone calls? Or just be in the room with you while you make them?
This exactly. Take some type of action now before it gets out of control because if you wait to long and do some thing drastic you can end up in a psych ward.0 -
Well... use email for now if you must. But at some point you'll hopefully talk with someone face-to-face. I'm just wondering how you're going to get from point A to point B if you're too scared to pick up a phone. Do you plan on meeting online through Skype or something??
At some point, you'll have to make the choice to go forward with this. It won't be comfortable, but it's going to better than staying in the position you're in at the moment.0 -
I just said that I was very very afraid of calling people. I have also been to all the counsellors ect in my area. I will google places in Sydney that will let me organize things via email.
Beyond Blue have a very good website, spend hours on it and you will see. Why are you scared of calling an anonymous hotline whilst completely ok about posting online???? The doctors aren't allowed to do what you claim, it's called negligence, so I find it very hard to believe you. Get some help, you need it.0 -
Effexor and Cymbalta are great first ones to try. They are both SNRIs and don't have the same negative impacts you hear about from SSRIs. They're both very cheap, they do NOT just "dull" your moods by any means, they change the way your brain uses 3different hormones. These are most commonly prescribed for PND which is likely part of your issue.
Lithium is awful and your body can begin to rely on it very quickly, and it affects your liver in horrendous ways. It is only prescribed for bipolar in Australia.
Wellbutrin is usually only prescribed for quitting smoking and mild anxiety, mostly.
Effexor sucks major butt and it kills your sex drive or libdo and turns you into a zombie and if you take to much you will hear voices that speak to you and hallucinationas and speaking of expensive those are very very costly not to mention they make your EXTREMELY TIRED AS HELL all the time.
There are safe doses of Lithium and they take your blood work to make sure every thing is with in normal range. It has been used for decades and the only thing is you have to drink alot of water because its a salt so it can effect your kidneys.
Welbutrin work synergestic with Lithium and keep your moods stablized. Just have to keep it under 300mgs or you can run the risk of seizers.
You talk about cost alot are you in the US? We have a public health service here, you dont need to be private to have good mental health care here in Oz.0 -
Um, I'm not quite 50 and I have yet to "grow up and grow out" of my emotional issues. (I've had to fight my way, tooth and bloody claw, out of those few that I've been able to overcome.)ETA: Ah, I see your age now. Don't take it the wrong way, but usually this is something you will grow out of.... ... it took me probably 10 years to "grow up" and grow out of a lot of my emotional issues. 18/19/20 is the tough age when "life" hits you hard...
Also, at what age does "life" stop hitting you hard? I'm really looking forward to whenever that happens...
(I'm sorry to be snarky. But you don't know what or how bad the OP's problems are. And I'd be willing to bet that your troubles, they ain't like mine...)0 -
Unfortunately, you being afraid to call people is much less important then your mental state right now. Sort it out.I just said that I was very very afraid of calling people. I have also been to all the counsellors ect in my area. I will google places in Sydney that will let me organize things via email.0 -
You talk about cost alot are you in the US? We have a public health service here, you dont need to be private to have good mental health care here in Oz.
That nice to know. I guess where you live is a nice cheap place to get sick at. Public health care must be pretty darn good over there then.0 -
Um, I'm not quite 50 and I have yet to "grow up and grow out" of my emotional issues. (I've had to fight my way, tooth and bloody claw, out of those few that I've been able to overcome.)ETA: Ah, I see your age now. Don't take it the wrong way, but usually this is something you will grow out of.... ... it took me probably 10 years to "grow up" and grow out of a lot of my emotional issues. 18/19/20 is the tough age when "life" hits you hard...
Also, at what age does "life" stop hitting you hard? I'm really looking forward to whenever that happens...
(I'm sorry to be snarky. But you don't know what or how bad the OP's problems are. And I'd be willing to bet that your troubles, they ain't like mine...)
I'm sorry you're having a tough time, yourself. However, the OP is young and a lot of people simply do grow out of these problems. Some don't.
I'd never compare my "troubles" with someone else... yes, life does continue to hit hard... but you tend to realize it's just "life" at some point, and not that the whole world is coming down on you. Your perspective shifts slightly, that's what I was getting at.
And I fully support the OP in getting professional help, especially considering the fact she WANTS it.0 -
Unfortunately, you being afraid to call people is much less important then your mental state right now. Sort it out.
Please don't say things like 'sort it out'. It really isn't helpful. Chances are extremely high that if she is coping with depression then anxiety is playing a huge role. 'Sort it out' is sometimes not an option, and is not a helpful thing to hear. Thank you.0 -
Honestly I have no real idea where my fear of speaking on the phone stems from. But I do know that the reason I feel comfortable talking in forums/emails is because I can choose my words. I tend to speak my mind face-to-face rather than thinking it through first.0
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Everyone that I know who has had depression has been treated successfully by their own doctor. I can't see why everyone would refuse you help!
I'll be honest with you Dexy.. I'm not sure I believe you. Doctors and counsellors don't do that. There may be a few "bad eggs" but not every one you've seen. Not in our country. The worst thing is, if you are "faking it" that means you have REALLY serious problems that need to be looked into, and counsellors know that. People who "fake" having emotional/psychological problems really have them more severe than anyone.I've asked my family, doctors & various counselors for help. That I need help. They always tell me I'm overreacting, I'm faking it, I should just get over it or that they can't help.
Yeah, mine was the exact same. Here are some tablets and a sheet to see a psychiatrist now move along.0 -
Honestly I have no real idea where my fear of speaking on the phone stems from. But I do know that the reason I feel comfortable talking in forums/emails is because I can choose my words. I tend to speak my mind face-to-face rather than thinking it through first.
Yes, very understandable. I hate talking on the phone too, btw. Ha... some things never change.
Well... please just know that things will probably stay the same for you until you give yourself the kick to put yourself out there. And basically, this is just the way it is with most things in life.... from cleaning the house to getting professional help.
Once, a favorite professor of mine gave me sage advice I wish I'd latched onto sooner: FART and get it over with.
Be willing to look silly, ridiculous, sad, hopeless... whatever it is you feel about yourself, be willing to show just a little bit of it in order to get what you need. You are worth it. Learn to do it now and you'll never regret it.0 -
I'll be honest with you Dexy.. I'm not sure I believe you. Doctors and counsellors don't do that.
In rural and regional towns they can and do. I once went in to get bloodwork done to try to find out why I was getting sick all the time (post 2 operations) and the doctor tried to convince me that I was depressed. He asked me how I would feel if there were a 'magic wand' that could fix everything. I had to very assertively tell him that I did not believe that the evidence suggested depression, and that he had not gathered enough information from me to even assess whether it might be depression. He did not attempt to assess me with the standard test, either. His behaviour was extremely unprofessional... and he was wrong.
I think finding a way to see a doctor in the next town is the best bet.0 -
How can I get help?
I have been struggling with depression for as long as I can remember. I have no idea how to get help. I tried going to the Doctor but he sent me to a psychologist that told me they couldn't help me.
Now I'm too scared to go to the Doctor again. Lately I've started to binge & force myself to throw up after. I know I'll never have the discipline for it to turn into bulimia, it's just a way for me to feel sick so I have an excuse not to deal with the world for at least a few minutes.
UGH! What can I do? Everyone keeps telling me to stop throwing pity parties and I am TRYING. But not talking about the problem is not helping.
Emotional issues/depression can sometimes have a physical illness behind them so get that ruled out first. You have made appointments to see professionals in the past so I am assuming that you can do so again.
Depression is an illness that can be eased with professional intervention. If you broke your leg you would see a doctor, whatever is going on with you is obviously effecting your quality of life and will in the future effect the quality of life of your children. Your right, not talking about the problem isn't helping. If your family and friends are not informed enough to understand that depression isnt a matter of toughing up then you need to find support elsewhere.
If you have found no decent support from the professionals you have contacted so far then keep looking as there are so many compassionate health professionals out there who chose their career because they are passionate about helping people in need.
Sometimes its a matter of getting the social support you need as a young mum with two littlies, that support is out there too.
There is a way out of depression. While it did have a hold on your past it doesn't have to define your future. You only ever have to be brave enough for the moment you are in, so pick a service like beyond blue or some of the others mentioned and find a sympathetic voice.
Most of all stop hiding the extent of the problem, most professionals have heard it all and aren't judgemental. They need to know what is really going on or they may not realise the serious nature of your distress. (Sounds like this has already happened. No Dr is a mind reader). Guess what if you go to the doctor and say nothing is wrong he will believe you. Thats not truelly seeking help.
On the other side of reaching out to find the help you need, is a more peaceful and happy future, for yourself and your family.
Good luck and kind regards,
JR0 -
Unfortunately, you being afraid to call people is much less important then your mental state right now. Sort it out.
Please don't say things like 'sort it out'. It really isn't helpful. Chances are extremely high that if she is coping with depression then anxiety is playing a huge role. 'Sort it out' is sometimes not an option, and is not a helpful thing to hear. Thank you.
I understand anxiety, and I understand depression. What I don't understand is how she expects to get help when she is not really trying anything. By 'sort it out' I mean, do something, she has to, for her mental health. Tough love.0 -
Unfortunately, you being afraid to call people is much less important then your mental state right now. Sort it out.
Please don't say things like 'sort it out'. It really isn't helpful. Chances are extremely high that if she is coping with depression then anxiety is playing a huge role. 'Sort it out' is sometimes not an option, and is not a helpful thing to hear. Thank you.
I understand anxiety, and I understand depression. What I don't understand is how she expects to get help when she is not really trying anything. By 'sort it out' I mean, do something, she has to, for her mental health. Tough love.
She says she has been to doctors and a psychiatrist - how is she NOT trying anything?! When you have depression or anxiety that can be one of the hardest things in the world, and I know that where I live in australia the health system is basically the same.0 -
Unfortunately, you being afraid to call people is much less important then your mental state right now. Sort it out.
Please don't say things like 'sort it out'. It really isn't helpful. Chances are extremely high that if she is coping with depression then anxiety is playing a huge role. 'Sort it out' is sometimes not an option, and is not a helpful thing to hear. Thank you.
I understand anxiety, and I understand depression. What I don't understand is how she expects to get help when she is not really trying anything. By 'sort it out' I mean, do something, she has to, for her mental health. Tough love.
She says she has been to doctors and a psychiatrist - how is she NOT trying anything?! When you have depression or anxiety that can be one of the hardest things in the world, and I know that where I live in australia the health system is basically the same.
I am also from Australia. Of course it's hard to go, but she has to. I dOn't know what other advise she can take? She needs professional help. And I doubt that MULTIPLE doctors and physiologists have told her she is exaggerating or lying. She may be taking what they are saying the wrong way.0 -
do you have the salvation army over there? i know they were very helpful for me (counselling) when i was in a very bad place in life a long while back??
also go to another doctor/nurse or revisit one, this time with a trusted friend (for moral support) so you come away with the help/medication you need...
sometimes people find it hard to believe that someone they see as happy and confident on the outside has real underlying issues...especially once you open up about it...which is a brave thing to do.
in the mean time, if you could find something you really enjoy to do so you dont fall deep into depression/bingeing etc...
please note these are only ideas...im no expert.
good luck0 -
Dexy, I would be happy to make the call for you if you would like that.0
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you have 2 children if one of them was feeling the way you are would you not do everything you can to help them, so as there caregiver you need to do the same for yourself, take a deep breathe and ring someone it is a one step at a time so take baby steps, you have been faced with some negativity from some health professionals so find another some community advice bureaus have counsellors that at least could listen to you and yes the salvos can offer the same support maybe just talking to some one to start with will give you the confidence to make the next step. but please make the first steps0
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