Forum Discussion
How to find a good psychologist
So after being diagnosed with bc in June, having my mastectomy, then returning to surgery 2 weeks later for a full auxiliary clearance now facing monthly ovarian injections and AI pills for goodness knows how long...Im suffering from depression and also anxiety. Im that ignorant person who never understood depression or anxiety...until now.
I have never ever in my life felt so down sometimes. Its a hole I can feel myself falling into, I stay at the bottom of the pit for sometimes the good part of the day, then I claw my way out of the hole...only to fall back down. I try to train my mind to "think positive" about the road ahead, that all the possible side effects may not even happen...I know I'm dancing with cancer and HT will hopefully keep a recurrence at bay, but the long road ahead seems very daunting, not to mention the road already travelled.
I feel I really dont have much to be depressed about, in fact Im embarrassed to admit my feelings. I didnt do chemo or radiation..all I have to do is get injections and pop pills right? Then sit back and hold on tight for the ride and hopefully the medications will be kind to me.
At least I have been brave enough and honest enough to identify the fact that I need help of some sort to get on with living, so I marched into my GP and asked for help. I have been referred to a psychologist and had my first session. 50 minutes. She told me I am a "challenging case". I was then given a handout on the definition of depression and anxiety (which I could have googled) I was then charged $150 of which I got a refund from Medicare for around $70...then I was asked to make another appointment in 4 weeks time. I have walked out with absolutely no tools to help my mind.
Do I go back to the next session? Maybe I should have gone through a psychologist who deals with cancer patients. Im a bit lost and this is an expensive exercise. Maybe anti depressant pills "happy pills" might have been a better option for me.
Thanks for listening to me ladies.
I have never ever in my life felt so down sometimes. Its a hole I can feel myself falling into, I stay at the bottom of the pit for sometimes the good part of the day, then I claw my way out of the hole...only to fall back down. I try to train my mind to "think positive" about the road ahead, that all the possible side effects may not even happen...I know I'm dancing with cancer and HT will hopefully keep a recurrence at bay, but the long road ahead seems very daunting, not to mention the road already travelled.
I feel I really dont have much to be depressed about, in fact Im embarrassed to admit my feelings. I didnt do chemo or radiation..all I have to do is get injections and pop pills right? Then sit back and hold on tight for the ride and hopefully the medications will be kind to me.
At least I have been brave enough and honest enough to identify the fact that I need help of some sort to get on with living, so I marched into my GP and asked for help. I have been referred to a psychologist and had my first session. 50 minutes. She told me I am a "challenging case". I was then given a handout on the definition of depression and anxiety (which I could have googled) I was then charged $150 of which I got a refund from Medicare for around $70...then I was asked to make another appointment in 4 weeks time. I have walked out with absolutely no tools to help my mind.
Do I go back to the next session? Maybe I should have gone through a psychologist who deals with cancer patients. Im a bit lost and this is an expensive exercise. Maybe anti depressant pills "happy pills" might have been a better option for me.
Thanks for listening to me ladies.
11 Replies
- @LisaO , My husband actually also spoke to a different counsellor at the cancer care i go to and he found it very helpful aswell. If you have a breast care nurse where you go maybe try asking her if theres anyone she would suggest?
- Hi @LisaO , i spoke to the counsellor at my cancer care that i go to, free service and she was wonderful. Gave me plenty of tips to help me when i was in depression and when i feel myself getting down again i use the tools i learnt. If your not happy with the person you spoke to in my opinion i would not go back. Good luck with it all
- @au0rei
I noticed this on the BCNA website- you mentioned Yarra Valley so maybe you are in Victoria:
https://www.bcna.org.au/events/2017/achieving-wellness-through-behaviour-change-melbourne-information-session/
Oh hun I hear you. Big virtual hugs to you. Know that you are not the only one.LisaO said:So after being diagnosed with bc in June, having my mastectomy, then returning to surgery 2 weeks later for a full auxiliary clearance now facing monthly ovarian injections and AI pills for goodness knows how long...Im suffering from depression and also anxiety. Im that ignorant person who never understood depression or anxiety...until now.
I have never ever in my life felt so down sometimes. Its a hole I can feel myself falling into, I stay at the bottom of the pit for sometimes the good part of the day, then I claw my way out of the hole...only to fall back down. I try to train my mind to "think positive" about the road ahead, that all the possible side effects may not even happen...I know I'm dancing with cancer and HT will hopefully keep a recurrence at bay, but the long road ahead seems very daunting, not to mention the road already travelled.
I feel I really dont have much to be depressed about, in fact Im embarrassed to admit my feelings. I didnt do chemo or radiation..all I have to do is get injections and pop pills right? Then sit back and hold on tight for the ride and hopefully the medications will be kind to me.
At least I have been brave enough and honest enough to identify the fact that I need help of some sort to get on with living, so I marched into my GP and asked for help. I have been referred to a psychologist and had my first session. 50 minutes. She told me I am a "challenging case". I was then given a handout on the definition of depression and anxiety (which I could have googled) I was then charged $150 of which I got a refund from Medicare for around $70...then I was asked to make another appointment in 4 weeks time. I have walked out with absolutely no tools to help my mind.
Do I go back to the next session? Maybe I should have gone through a psychologist who deals with cancer patients. Im a bit lost and this is an expensive exercise. Maybe anti depressant pills "happy pills" might have been a better option for me.
Thanks for listening to me ladies.
Some days and some moments I can get overwhelmed just doing simple chores (I had surgery chemo radio and on immunotherapy now) though I am very very thankful that I recovered well from the horrid chemo!... I told hubby that the physical suffering is just one part of it...it's the mental...the inside...the battle in the mind that is truly hard as it's within and always with us!!! Some moments I need to go lie down and curl up under my doona and be nice to myself. Some moments I get out of the house and walk my dog, enjoy the fresh air and just breathe...some moments I just want to dig a hole and hide in it like an ostrich. Be kind to yourself and do something that makes you feel better.
I refused to see a psychologist or counsellor. I refuse to take pills because I feel that I would become enslaved by them which is a new set of problem! I am searching on some cancer retreat where they teach some meditation and provide some teaching and good diet so I can take a break away from the everyday life as a mum etc... Ian Gawler at Yarra Valley sounds good.
There are also lots of good books to read to empower myself with knowledge.
A good book I recommend is Joyce Meyer's Battlefield of the Mind and Caroline Leaf 'Switch On your Brain'... these give insight on how we can strengthen our mind power.
xxx- This sounds expensive but...the 1st session is always history taking which takes up to an hour. The work really doesn't start until after that time, regardless of who you see. So I would consider a second appointment to see for sure how you feel.
- Most Cancer centres have a Psychologist or Psychiatrist attached to their units for free, if not 10 sessions can be given with the mental health plan but I agree you need the right fit
As above. Give her the flick.
If you have a good relationship with your breast care nurse, ask her she knows someone that you may connect with. Your GP can write you up for a mental health care plan that will give you subsidized visits to either counselors or psychologists. There are a few who bulk bill, but it does depend where you are.
Always remember that all the health care people you see have to pass the 'sniff' test. if you wouldn't tolerate the same level of service from a butcher, baker or candlestick maker, take your money elsewhere.
I'm lucky enough to have a good relationship with my mental health professional, otherwise known as 'that poor woman.' I can take 'challenging' to truly elevated level having struggled to keep myself on some sort of even keel for most of my life, so she earns her money. Thing is, that relationship takes the weight of both my shoulders and that of those around me. I don't have any illusions about my mental health being 'fixed' but having a safety net is very reassuring. That requires a level of trust that only you can evaluate. Marg xxx
- My oncology nurse put me onto a counsellor who specialised in cancer patients - I wasn't depressed, but I was facing three long term side effects (like life long) and found myself a bit confused about who I was turning into!! The assistance was terrific, and I knew at the outset she was the right person, as she got the issue (not having cancer, but my expectations of what a "normal" life was) virtually immediately. Don't stay with someone who is either doing a standard line or doesn't connect with you relatively quickly. Admittedly my oncology nurse was a very smart cookie who worked me out pretty fast! The self review that resulted from the sessions was immensely helpful then, and is still helpful now, so some hundreds of dollars over about three months was money incredibly well spent. We would get specialized help to redo the kitchen, or lay carpet so why do we hesitate about help in coping with a life challenging shift in our circumstances and outlook? We all need grounding sometimes, a trained external person can be very good at doing it and I would certainly try that first, before recourse to medication.
- I have to agree with the ladies, it sounds like the Psychologist just didn't help at all or you felt no rapport with. I have a Psychologist who doesn't deal with Cancer Patients, but I'd seen her a few years before my diagnosis. She is amazing and it helped me in ways nobody else could. I particularly needed her when I was facing my Mastectomy as I really struggled with it. Though psychologically struggled badly through treatment I knew it was just a process. There are down days now nearly 2yrs on in recovery dealing with all the side effects. Your life is compromised in quality, so I think we try so hard to readjust to a different version of our lives and ourselves. Its damn hard!!!! physically and mentally. Ive learnt to not beat myself up anymore. I put me above everything and put less pressure on myself, just stepping back a bit has helped very much. So I'd try someone different to be honest.
Hugs Melinda xo - @LisaO
I agree with the sage advice from Mrs H If you've left that session feeling like it's just added to your feelings rather than coping mechanisms to get you through each day then I would agree find someone else. Where to find? What State are you in? Perhaps ring BCNA
https://www.bcna.org.au/media/2183/anxiety_depression_and_breast_cancer_fact_sheet.pdf
or Cancer Council on 13 11 20 https://cancerqld.org.au/get-support/cancer-emotional-support/cancer-counselling-service/
You feel how you do as it has been a huge trauma in your life and you need help to cope with it all.
Take care
