Lived Experience Forum

[OrchidLover]

Hi,

I am pretty new to melbourne. I am alone in the country without any family. Have not had much emotional support throught out life due to family chaos. I am an adopted child who grew up in an abusive broken family. Suffered major depression for more than 10 year thruout teenage year till young adult years. Attempted suicide many times in that period. Didnt get much useful help with psychologist and anti-depressants only made me a robot. Went off the meds and self-recovered thru the love of my then bf and his family plus I found my calling. Fast forward few years, got married (but to a sociopath), had a child, started a massively successful company but only to be cheated and robbed off everything from my then husband (now ex-hub). My 3 year old is only with me half the time, the other half she is with him in another country and it is tormenting. Gave myself a chance in a new relationship here only to find out he cheated on me. Feeling betrayed by the people i trusted the most. Recently my father got an almost fatal heart attack and is still not out of the woods, I am highly stressed over his condition, my childs wellbeing, my housing issue and my next path in life as I just feel like i am not in any head space to take control. I am depressed, suicidal and constantly having anxiety attacks. PTSD and all past traumas all coming out at once. I dont know what to do. I cannot afford out-of-pocket long term couselling here however I do have a medicare card. What can I do? I am at wits end. Walls are caving in and it is getting darker.. I dont see any light at the end of the tunnel anymore. I am crying out for help before its too late. 

[Owlunar]

Hi @OrchidLover 

I am an adoptive mother and have known for years that an adopted child can have a hard time in life - and why anyone would adopt a child to abuse it seems counterproductive and cruel to me but I also know that adoptions don't always work out - and it must be very hard to cope with all of this and then you have a lot of other issues on top of it,

You can get help through Medicare though it's not much - you can get a plan through your GP for 10 sessions and I think the rebate is about $80.00 per session though a lot of therapists charge more than this - it depends what is reasonable for you to pay in your circumstances

Or if you ring Life Line in 13 11 14  (free call) and tell them you need a therapist they do have the resouces to give you directions to find someone cheaper 

I wish you the best - and when you are talking to Life Line they most likely will ask you if you are thinking about suicide - if this is the case answer truthfully - the people there are trained in Suicide Prevention and it can only help

There is also a Suicide Call Back Service - I don't know that phone number and I have never needed their help but someone else is sure to add the number for you

Keep trying until you get the help you need

Dec

[RicePuff]

Hi,

May not be the best circumstances but welcome to Melbourne.

As Dec said there is medicare but they only provide limited sessions.

If you can find a good psychiatrist or psychologist and talk to them they may be willing to wave the fee and bulk bill medicare or make the gap fee more affordable, this may seem daunting but there are a lot of them that do you just have to ask.

There are also social workers who specialise in trauma and charge a much nicer fee and even then they're willing to adjust the fee.

You can also speak to mental health nurses at medical clinics or counsillors, they can't do as much in treating mental health but sometime talking can help heaps and that can also lead to the possibility of finding more help.

[Serenity1]

@OrchidLover 💖 Hi - I am relating so much to how you are describing the headspace you are in at the moment- I am feeling exactly the same way & have been for about four months now & it's only escalating- you can talk to me anytime you like & I will try to help you just tag me @Serenity1 💖🌺😘