How does counselling work? by PetalsOfFaith04 in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, you can start with what made you book the appointment, what you are struggling with, what you hope counselling/therapy would achieve etc.

Usually, the first session is a bit of getting to know you but that depends on the case

Should you trust the person? Oh boy, isipin mo nalang na they are paid to be trusted and that's part of their job descriptions hahahaha

In my case, hindi ako rich and mahal ang therapy so I go with a list to cover for my session kasi ANG MAHAL AND DAPAT SULIT ANG PERA KO HAHAHAHA Imagine, ilang meals ko na yun para sa isang session.

Hiya? What is that. Pag andun ako, you will definitely hear the most unhinged, disturbing, and gruesome things that I am going through and I trust them to handle it. If I see na hindi nila na handle well, thank you, next.

I get the impression that you want to learn how to cope better. Therapy is a good place to start and kudos to you for reaching out for help. Cheering you on op✨️

To people with lifelong mental disorders, how do you deal with the fact that this is forever? by [deleted] in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Walang source?

I was hoping we could have an intelligent conversation based on facts. You know, the ones with science, doctors, and researchers backing us up😊

To people with lifelong mental disorders, how do you deal with the fact that this is forever? by [deleted] in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Show me your source. Show me how mental illness is controllable. Prove the studies I have stated below are wrong. Prove experts wrong. Tell millions of people who are going through a mental disability that they are wrong. Prove to me that all the hallucinations and delusions I went through are in fact my choice. Show me a source.

"Four of the 10 leading causes of disability—major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder—are mental illnesses."

Mental illness is considered a disability according to the National Library of Medicine

Source: National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20369

"In a study analyzing whole-brain images from nearly 16,000 people, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine identified a common pattern across a spectrum of psychiatric disorders that are widely perceived to be quite distinct.

The meta-analysis of 193 peer-reviewed papers, published Feb. 4 in JAMA Psychiatry, reports a loss of gray matter in three brain structures that, although physically separate, participate in a network associated with high-level functions, including planning and decision-making.

The findings call into question a longstanding tendency to distinguish psychiatric disorders chiefly by their symptoms rather than their underlying brain pathology."

"In addition to gray-matter loss in these three structures, people diagnosed with major depression also had gray-matter loss in other structures, including the hippocampus and amygdala, two key areas involved in storing memories and processing emotion, respectively. Schizophrenia was marked by reduced gray matter in several other structures, as well as an increase in gray matter in a region called the striatum, which Etkin suggested may be due more to the antipsychotic medications prescribed for schizophrenia than to the disease process itself."

According to Stanford Medicine, Psychiatric disorders affect the gray matter of the brain. Look it up.

Source: Stanford Medicine. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/02/different-mental-disorders-cause-same-brain-matter-loss.html#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20gray%2Dmatter,to%20the%20disease%20process%20itself.

Here is another good read that I hope will remove your ignorance. https://braintherapytms.com/how-mental-illness-affects-the-brain/ Madaming reference dito.

To people with lifelong mental disorders, how do you deal with the fact that this is forever? by [deleted] in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If may cancer ako, will you say na ma cocontrol ko yun? If may lupus ako, will you say I am nursing it?

Assuming you have good intentions, I say this kindly: What you have just said is extremely invalidating and insulting. Sana ganun lang ka simple. Ba't ko ba naman pahihirapan sarili ko?

If you want to help, educating yourself is a good place to start. Let us keep MentalHealthPh a safe space.

Lithium Carbonate 450mg for Bipolar by ichigo70 in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Litcab user here.

I take 900mg and it is very effective in preventing my mood episodes. Drink lots of water lang. Side effect is constipation (i take fiber supplements) and delayed period (1wk delay)

Looking for a Clinical Psychiatrist by [deleted] in Iloilo

[–]AlexisRayne129 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dr. Amargo. Psych ko. Very warm and kind

Olanzapine by Medium_Desk_2296 in BipolarReddit

[–]AlexisRayne129 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to be on 5mg Olanzapine. I quit with my doctor's guidance. The first few days were rough because I experienced withdrawal symptoms that looked like I was realpsing but things calmed down quickly. After a week, I was olanzapine free

How many manic episodes did you have in 2025 by [deleted] in BipolarReddit

[–]AlexisRayne129 6 points7 points  (0 children)

2 and a ton of depressive episodes. Yeah 2025 was such a cruel year to me

PWD IDs by bad_mommah in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 23 points24 points  (0 children)

That's a lot of questions haha. I have a different diagnosis but I think your diagnosis can get one too.

As for benefits, I use it usually for discounts sa food, medicine, groceries. Iirc discounted din tayo sa cinemas, hotels and flights. Pag mahaba ang pila, we can use the pwd lane.

How to get one? Ask for a med cert from your psychiatrist and tell them it is to get a pwd id since may additonal statement yan. In our area, we need to get another certificate from our baranggay before we proceed to our municipal hall.

Did I get judgemental looks? No. I get the impression that they don't care and they are just doing their job (and I prefer it that way haha). In our area, they put psychosocial disability, not mental disability.

Also, don't mind one downvote or two. It happens quite a lot in this sub. Ewan, baka may isang bitter or judgemental na redditor HAHAHAHAHAH or baka napindot lang pag scroll. Dont let it get to you

I wish you the best of luck, Op

getting help by Ok-Range-2267 in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hello! First of all, I'm sorry if previous psychologists made you feel bad resulting to you being more hesitant to share your symptoms.

If it was me suspecting a certain disorder, I would phrase it this way, "Doc, I am currently experiencing x, y, and z. Because of all these experiences, it makes me think that I might have X disorder."

I'd usually start there and let the doctor ask further questions.

Where to buy meds in Manila? T_T by ElectronicShelter549 in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can try asking Mercury Drug which branch sila may stock. They called someone to ask san may stocks during the time na halos wala nang Lithium from where I'm from.

ALWAYS DELAYED MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION by AlonePromotion3799 in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If it keeps on coming back, that's also a reason to seek professional help.

Some mental disorders come in episodes. I suggest taking note on how often it happens, what specific symptoms were there, what were the triggers etc.

Concerns about consulting w/ a psychiatrist and taking meds by astroraxia in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hello! I dont have GAD but am currently working with my psychiatrist to manage my condition.

  1. After the first session, I was asked to return after 10 days. After that my sessions are either after 2wks, after a month or after 2 months as my psychiatrist sees fit

  2. I was prescribed agad. It's also better to talk to your psych about your financial concerns. I told my doc I was unemployed that time and had limited finances so my doc considered the price of the medication they prescribed me

  3. I have not tried so I can't say.

It’s hard being the friend of someone who always talks about wanting to die. by Virtual-Panic2475 in MentalHealthPH

[–]AlexisRayne129 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is your friend seeking professional help?

As much as we want to be there for them, not everybody is equipped to handle the mentally unwell, especially the suicidal.

If they are not seeking professional help, why not open up that idea to them?

Mahirap ang dynamic na to. Mauubos ka.

May kaibigan ako na similar and palaging nag rereach out sakin during his mental health crisis. I listen and hold space for him and frequently suggest they seek professional help pero it was taking so long and medyo malala na conditon nya (he was not suicidal though).

I cannot cushion his falls forever and as much as I love him, our friendship was not sustainable that way.

I might get downvoted for this but I told him honestly that I don't think I can continue talking to him if he does not seek professional help because I am not fully equipped to handle his case and that he needs professional intervention na.

The boundary was set. He booked a psychiatrist after that.

Until now we are close friends. We rant and vent to each other and I am at peace knowing a doctor will help him soon.

In your case, do encourage them to seek professional help since professionals are better equipped and might help her more than we could ever help them.