I think I need medication, where to from here?

WOW @Razzle that is a long wat to go for counselling.

@utopia and @PeppiPatty @eth live in regional areas ... and

You can see a gp in another town. Eventually once they get to know you they can prescribe for longer periods or refer you on to a psychiatrist in another town.

I struggled with inadequate medication for a long time. It can help raise the quality of life when managed well.

Take Care

Hi @Razzle

I definitely know what it is like to have anxiety building up and to be stuck in Flight or fight mode. I think finding a new GP and outside of town would be great. Perhaps your councillor could give yopu a letter to bring saying you're suffering from anxiety to speed things along a little. I think it is essential when we have mental health issues to find a GP we feel comfortable with and can trust. In the mean time eating really well and avoiding stimulants can really help. I wish you peace and hope you can find some medical support soon.

kick_it

Hi @Razzle. I too love in a small town. But unlike you, I don't care who knows about my mental illness - it's nothing to be ashamed of.

I see my gp in town once a month. I see my psychologist every fortnight, also in town. I have to travel a few hours to Melbourne , to see my psychiatrist every month. If there was a psychiatrist closer, I would see one.

Why are you nervous about people knowing you have depression or anxiety? Telling your gp how you are feeling and asking them for a mental health care plan - you answering simple questions about your mood. Then your gp can prescribe an antidepressant or even better, refer you to a psychiatrist who will be able to give you a definite diagnosis.

Once the process starts, things should go a bit smoother for you. living in regional / rural areas, it's harder to find specialist care, but it's not impossible.

@Appleblossom Being in the rural area I’m from, it’s hard to get a GP in other towns that stick around longer than a couple of years. I’ve had this same GP in my home town for 20+years, he knows all my family, pretty much the entire town and I also know his staff very well. That’s where my problem lies, I don’t want people I know well to find out my problems - small town grapevine and it all gets back to my family - who I definitely don’t want finding out.

The travel to my councillor isnt my first choice, I can see him a bit closer to home but he’s usually booked out months ahead, but I can see him weekly in his own town.

As far as a psychiatrist goes, those services just don’t exist around here, unless it’s through Tele-conferencing, so I’d rather stick to my councillor face to face.

@Kick_it Thanks for your support, I think I’ll chat to my councillor and see what options I have out of my own town, this is all very new to me and it’s hard to access what I don’t really know exists.

Sorry @Razzle I dont have any ideas or knowledge of your area.

It is difficult. Keep asking. Good Luck

@utopia I didn’t mean to sound embarrassed about MI. My problem isn’t being ashamed of my anxiety, and wanting to hide it from my family and friends, it’s for that circumstances that have triggered the anxiety to begin with.

I don’t want anyone to know about my problems because NO ONE, besides my councillor, husband and 1 friend know about the sexual abuse.

If that got back to my family they would be out for blood and would be pushing for me to press charges and go to court. I CAN’T do that. I have multiple offenders, some still known to my family, and I could never stand up in court and face my abusers, the whole idea terrifies me.

Keeping my issues to myself without everyone knowing is about protecting myself - which does nothing to help the anxiety.

There is also a part of me that thinks I won’t be believed, I see all the historical sex abuse court cases on tv, social media, and so many people say it’s all about people getting their 15minutes of fame, or it’s about money. I couldn’t handle that.

Being from a small rural community makes everything so much harder to access help without the small town grapevine going into over drive.

I will speak with my councillor about what I can do, my next appointment is in 10days, just have to hang in until then.

@Razzle I think you are doing great. Trust your instincts and keep making decisions that are right for you. Noone else knows what you need and doing things at your own time and space isa important.

@Razzle Yes hang in til then. Your counsellor will help you.

Sorry, I didn't understand what the fear was about. Understandable why you would be worried other people hearing your trauma.i wish you well with the next steps in accessing the help you need.

@Kick_it

@utopia

Thankyou for your support. Anxiety was terrible this morning. Eased this afternoon, but only because it was replaced with feeling sick from the antibiotics and pain killers I’m on for shingles.

This is not a great week :nauseated_face::nauseated_face: