How to find a therapist/psychiatrist?

hi, i am suffering from acute anxiety and stress from an ongoing high pressure work environment. The situation has gotten so bad that I really need to see a therapist/psychiatrist to seek advice and medication from.

How do I go about doing this? Do I just look them up in the phone book? Is there a website I can go to or a forum the speaks specifically of these issues? I am in Australia.

I can't go to my GP as he will only prescribe painkillers for my tension headaches but that isn't really solving the problem.

Please don't tell me to just quit my job and go away for the weekend as the problem is so bad that even if I did quit I would still need treatment as I have been exposed to this environment for over 4 years and I fear that I am in some way permanently damaged.

Thanks in advance.

A GP isn't always the only answer
Good luck,

you can join here they have forums, message boards,chat and help please take a look here,you will learn you are not alone in your FEELINGS many others have issues also.
You will get a lot of understanding from the ppl in the link below.......take care.. its 24 hrs there is usually always someone to talk to here

The darkness doesn't keep business hours and neither do we.
Leanne Pethick- depressioNet founder
http://www.depressionet.com.au/



you can find all the sites here to see if there is a suitable therapist in your area
http://www.psychology.org.au/community/t...

http://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsycho...
find a therapist through your suburb postcode,medicare covers 12 visits as far as I know
Good luck,

Hi you are in a country that I dont know about honey. I live in UK and here with have BACP that registers counsellors and abide by a code of conduct and ethics. I m not sure about Australia I also have a forum with trained counsellors on its not a substitute for counselling but you can ask anything you want there (you ned to register its free) You are wise to look around and see what the diff types of counselling there are you can find this info at www.bacp.co.uk it has a link on finding the best counsellor and what to look for. Can you consult your GP they usually have a list of reccomended counsellors (well in this country they do) also try find a counsellor in ...(and then put your area) in a search engine and check web sites out you can always ring them and ask questions take it from me they dont mind. Take care

See anxiety, and stress treatments, at http://www.ezy-build.net. (.net.nz/~shaneris) on pages 6, and 42. Check out the 1800-therapist website, and use the locator for Oz. Or, you can consult your doctor, and ask for a referral, which may be the less expensive option, through Medicare. Wherever you work, though, you will be exposed to stressors, so it is vital to learn coping methods, like the version of EFT for use in public (for which you can reasonably claim a headache, as you massage your temples: see page 2). Practise one of the relaxation techniques on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, and try the guided meditations on page 3, or order the CD's. Take Omega 3 fish oil supplements, Calcium, and Magnesium. Tai Chi, and yoga are options.

Realizing that you have a problem is a big step, so congratulations. Here are a few suggestions.
Explore the internet for stress reduction excercises. Stress/anxiety is very much about the connection between the body and mind. Meditation and yoga are excellent excercises for quieting the mind and becoming aware of stress in the body. An overactive mind (rapid, repetitive thoughts) will signal to your body, through the creation of chemicals, that you are in distress and put you into a fight or flight response. Something as simple as deep breathing will signal to your body that everything is all right.
As far as finding a therapist, first realize that their is a difference between a therapist and a psychatrist. A therapist will help you with your perception of the stressors and teach you effective excercises like those I mentioned above. I would suggest finding someone who specializes in anxiety disorders. They tend to use cognitive/behavorial modalities. A psychatrist will prescribe medication. Studies have shown that the best results are a combination of medication and therapy.
To find a therapist, first ask family and friends (if you feel comfortable) if they have had a good experince with a therapist. Also you can ask your Doctor for a referral. Look for a group practice where you have a choice of therapists can be helpful. Always interview your potential therapist over the phone or in person to make sure you are comfortable. Check out my website where I have a lot of useful information. Good Luck.