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.
