Therapy

[Ed1975]

How does anybody with severe mental illness stand a chance in Australia? 

I estimated what I would need to pay for both EMDR & CBT therapy per year with my CPTSD, on the presumption I'd need 4 appointments (2x CBT & 2x EMDR) per month. I was told I would need 2-5yrs of therapy. 

$11,000 per year appx.

It's staggering. Medicare rebates on a MHCP don't even put a dent in that. What's the answer?

I'm going to look into accessing my superannuation on compassionate grounds. 

[Till23]

I can empathise with you @Ed1975 

I've said exactly the same thing.

How is anyone with a complex MH condition going to do well when they are only allowed 10 partially subsidised psychology sessions per year.

To get the full 10 also requires 2 GP appointments, which much more often than not, particularly in regional and remote areas, are not bulked billed.

So if they are not already in financial stress from their MH condition, as soon as they access treatment they are! Increasing their total stress and likely their MH condition

Hope you have good outcome with your Super access plan

[Ed1975]

@Till23 

It's almost like it's set up to fail. Unaffordable therapy for most people means long term dependence on pharmaceutical pills that just masks your issues. I can probably manage 6-12 months therapy financially but after that.... maybe in a headspace to resume working to pay for it if the therapy is successful. If it isn't, I just don't know what to do. I can't live another year with these trauma triggers dominating my life. Electroconvulsive Therapy is my last resort.

[Till23]

I know how you feel (or at least have some idea) @Ed1975. Even with medication, many people will still not be well enough to do the things many people in society find just an everyday activity. Even with medication, some people will not be able to work at all or at reduced hours, etc.

Then there's the problem of finding a psychologist etc that you feel comfortable with, which may take up a few MHCP sessions.

Have you been on medication 

Another possibility, if it's available in your area is, transcranial magnetic stimulation, which is not as high intensity as ECT, but again with MH treatment people seem to have different responses to treatments, so it's hard to know.

[Ed1975]

@Till23 I took antidepressants reluctantly for a couple of weeks. I came off them. It's therapy I need, not happy pills. I did have to take strong sleeping pills for the last 3 nights as I was only averaging 3.5hrs fragmented sleep each night out of 10hrs in bed due to PTSD. I was only sleeping about 45m before waking up wired. It's debilitating. 

[Till23]

@Ed1975 

I find antidepressants very helpful, especially when I'm quite unwell. They help me with anxiety and sleep and I think my response to nightmares and flashbacks as well as the depression.

It can take up to 6 weeks to settle on antidepressants. And it may take a trial of a few different ones to find one that suits you.

As I said before everyone has different responses to MH treatments and that includes medications.

[Ed1975]

@Till23 I agree. I've known people who can't function without them. I took them for sleep to begin with but I quickly realised they were making me feel worse. 

[MissCheeky]

I agree I saw a doctor the other day asking how to get help as feel I might have ADD and BP and said it's an expensive exercise so we can't help you.  Plus on medication so expensive but need for BP.

[Flowerflesh]

Keep us updated (if comfortable to) if you're able to access your super for your therapy. I've just completed my MHCP session number 6 so am seeing my GP next week for review for another 4, and I imagine I'll have exhausted those by July if I want to keep some momentum in my therapy journey.

[Till23]

Hi @Flowerflesh accessing Super for medical reasons is on a case-by-case basis and depends on your Super company. So maybe if you contact your company and ask for some advice, even if it's general advice you might get an idea