Anxiety

[Guitana]

Hi Dan
Sometimes just talking to someone helps you get all that shit that's burning you up inside and let it out! You can call Youthline they cater for everyone their counsellers are great and they have access to all the info that you need to get yourself on the right track! I've lost a couple of mates in tragic circumstances and sometimes a sympathetic ear is as good as pain killers.

Youthline 0800 376633 or free txt 234

Good luck big fella!

[Big Dan]

Does anyone know where i can find a good cheap or free counseller for PTSD and or Anxiety

[alanzs]

Does anyone know where i can find a good cheap or free counseller for PTSD and or Anxiety

I'm new to these parts, so I don't know much in the way of good doctors, but being aware of having a problem is the biggest step in your recovery. As many people have mentioned, there are many ways to get better. Between diet (no caffeine), plenty of exercise, proper medication (be it natural or pharmaceutical) and a good therapist, you can get a better life than you ever knew possible. I know. Hang in there and if you need to talk, feel free to pm me...

[BIHB@0610]

If it's PTSD - and I don't know the circumstances, so am not even sure if this is relevant - you might get ACC cover. That brings decent counsellors (who charge say $90 an hour) down to around $20 an hour. ACC have lists of approved counsellors - if they are on the list, they're fairly reputable.

Worth investigating .....

Oh, and have another hug

[Big Dan]

If it's PTSD - and I don't know the circumstances, so am not even sure if this is relevant - you might get ACC cover. That brings decent counsellors (who charge say $90 an hour) down to around $20 an hour. ACC have lists of approved counsellors - if they are on the list, they're fairly reputable.

Worth investigating .....

Oh, and have another hug

i had a close mate die almost 2 years ago never really dealth with it till now

thanks for the advice and hug

[Kittyhawk]

Anxiety comes with a combination of things, its almost anxiety/panic attacks are the physicial release of feelings the subconcious mind is dealing with. But it can be related to the past or some sort of a neurologicial imbalance.

If there is an underlying past issue which wasnt delt with then, it usually surfaces quite some time later. In some cases many years. Its just the mind took longer to process the event and is ready to deal with the next stage facing it dealing with it seeking that closure and moving on.

When it comes to expressing/therapy there are a number of ways to channel it. Example if you feel horrible opening up during therapy go for a walk after in the sun, cuddle a pet, or go to the gym. Do something to get those endorphins going and take control. Or write an e mail, save it in your drafts like a personal diary.

The assistance of mild medications may be a positive thing to help get through a challenging chapter of your life, but you wont need to take them forever. Its better to avoid medications where possible but if worse gets to worst then they are there.

Call Acc they will give you a list of registered specialists and direct you with further contacts to make enquiries. Your GP can put referrals through depending on case by case.

[sinfull]

i had a close mate die almost 2 years ago never really dealth with it till now

thanks for the advice and hug

Condolences for the loss of ya mate , never nice !
Call me a freak (wont bother me at all) but how have ya been this week/now ?

Do you have times where you go flat (like depression) then build again to a point where your stamping yr feet and unable to sleep ?

[BiK3RChiK]

Dan, Community Mental Health Services will assist you. I went years ago when I was going through particularly tough times... I can't remember if I had to pay or not though. Worth a call. Check the phone directory in the front of the white pages under Hospitals and Other Health Service Providers.

Mavis

[Nordy]

I learnt something new today that my socialphobia was an anxiety disorder (which makes perfect sense). Its alot better than it used to be thanks to help from friends and family. I got so bad the supermarket would freak me out, now its just huge crowds and only if I am by myself. (like a fire drill at work).

My parents have been great at getting me through it (even though they are far away they are always able to help in someway) but also talking to friends helped alot. Sleep is good to. If you cant sleep at night and feel youself getting bad see if you can take a day off work and just use it to catch up on sleep. Or even just take a weekend day to stay in bed and sleep (even just resting in bed with a book is better than nothing.

[kiwifruit]

Do not smoke dope!
Serious, I speak from experience. [Just in case you do already, I just put in my 2c]

+2
worked for me too

[Usarka]

Drink shitloads of piss.

...is not the answer!

[Naki Rat]

Find a good naturopath before you start using herbal and other natural remedies randomly. Herbal remedies taken incorrectly can well aggravate the problem as much as 'white man's drugs' taken piecemeal.

A good homeopath is worth searching out as from my experience the deeper level that homeopathy works on covers physical, mental and emotional levels and can work on those levels individually as required while you progress to wellness. An experienced homeopath will also often have other natural therapy skills or be able to recommend complementary practicioners (e.g. osteopath, shiatsu, acupuncture, herbalist, etc.)

And take the plunge and try a few yoga sessions if you haven't already tried it. Yoga is great for improving fitness and flexibility on the physical side but more importantly it will enable you to gain self awareness, control your breathing and relax (zone out) both physically and mentally. Most offer beginners sessions so you aren't intimidated by the human pretzels and these beginner classes can be a great social opportunity too.

I know from experience that anxiety/stress can be a scarey place but given the right adjustments to your lifestyle, personal situation, diet and attitude it can quickly be turned around to an easily manageable level.

Hang in there and look after you.

Cheers

[Edbear]

I wouldn't know.... too busy and stressed out tossing all night worrying about all the pressure to notice.

But seriously. Work on understanding the cause or causes, then you can start on a strategy to work on a solution to it/them.

I'm sure you meant to write "tossing and turning"....

Some good advice here Dan, all the best!

[vifferman]

Find a good naturopath ... good homeopath ...osteopath

All these "paths".
You forgot to mention a good psychopath, or a level footpath...

What's wrong with established medicine? Do you think double-blind testing, established procedures, thorough testing, clinical trials, etc., are not up to hocus-pocus, plotting the phases of the moon, and pseudo science?

[I'm not having a go at you, NakiRat. Or maybe I am. But it's a matter of looking at everything that's available, lest you risk "throwing the baby out with the bathwater".]

Seriously though, while some benefit can be had from 'natural' solutions, whatever you choose, be careful and do some investigation of your own. Just because someone says that treatment X worked for them, doesn't mean it's any good. Just because something's 'natural', doesn't mean it's safe. Arsenic occurs naturally, as do deadly nightshade, marijuana, opium, many very deadly alkaloids, tobacco, cocaine, etc etc.
By the same (but slightly different token), be very wary of prescribed drugs - they're OK for life-threatening illnesses or short-term cures, but make sure you find out the long-term situation, any side-effects, contra-indications, results of trials, etc etc. While I really like my GP, and I believe he did his best when treating my 'clinical depression', I wish now I'd done some research of my own before agreeing to anything. The lack of info provided made me do a heap of research, and eventually quit all medications (even St Johns Wort). It took me over a year to get the drugs out of my system. I'm still brukt, and in some ways worse than I was, but at least sometimes I feel like me. (I kinda like that manic depressive / schitzo thing that happens sometimes too....)

...given the right adjustments to your lifestyle, personal situation, diet and attitude it can quickly be turned around to an easily manageable level.

Indeed.
My issue with our "quick fix" society is that too often we look for something to take or do that will easily fix the malady, when it may be something that is merely a symptom of a deeper or more complicated issue, or some basic faults with our lifestyle, attitudes, diet, etc.

There's also a distinction to be made between a malady that's mostly situational (like short-term anxiety or depression brought on by situation circumstances) and that can be treated by counselling and medication, one that's physiological (mostly meds), one that's chronic, one that's entirely psychological, etc etc. Each of these needs to be treated in a different way. I wonder sometimes if some (like mine) are just due to a lead deficiency...

Whatever. The key things are diet, exercise, healthy thought life, sleep, etc. Where these don't 'fix it', then get some professional help.
Or be like me, and ignore all of those. HTFU or summat...

[DarkLord]

Hey Dan

As hard as it may seem I think you really need to explore your anxiety, identify the causes/triggers, find out the depth of what you are really feeling. I used to get terrible anxiety (and still do at times) but if there is one thing I have learned is it is too draining to try and make the effort to live with it, it is something that really needs to be dealt with. The only way out of it from my experience, is through it.

There are often underlying things causing it subconsciously that we are not even aware of. Finding a good mental health counselor may do you some good as well.

I hope this is of some help to you, just PM me if you need any more info.

Cheers and good luck

JG84.