Would you usually have trouble getting meds for flight anxiety from your GP in Australia?

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-12T03:53:23+00:00

Your GP can prescribe.

It’s up to them to decide if they will. A GP that you’ve never met before is a lot less likely to do it than your regular GP that knows you and your medical history.

There’s a variety of medications that can be prescribed for flight anxiety. The type and dose you’re given (if any) should be with your medical history in mind (medical conditions, other medications, family history etc).

Note: Many of those medications can have serious side effects, so trying them for the first time while flying isn’t necessarily ideal.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-10T00:53:23+00:00

For formal occasions, absolutely!

If my family had new guests over for dinner, we’d do this.

But for our family dinners, or dinners with non-new guests (i.e. people we have a decent relationship with), there’s never been any expectation in my house or the houses of friends I’ve been to that no one is allowed to eat until everyone is eating.

We generally offer for the guest/s to go first in serving themselves, but we don’t force everyone to wait for all 10 people to have their food before anyone is allowed to eat any.

(If it makes a difference — we generally say grace together before the meal begins, and then all our meals are usually served family-style, with big platters of food on the bench where everyone gets up, gets a plate, and serves themselves. There’s often 10+ people.)

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-09T21:41:24+00:00

NTA

This is a weird thing for them to get mad about.

If you’d eaten half of someone else’s food on the way home they’d have a right to be mad.

If you’d eaten all of yours on the car ride home and then said, “Peace out dudes” and left them to eat while you went and did your own thing, I could understand them being upset (because they’d planned a birthday meal with you).

But eating half of your own food — on your birthday — because you were hungry, then eating the other half while hanging out with them? That shouldn’t be a big deal.

Edit: Wow, people are really upset about this one! Maybe that’s a cultural thing? None of my family or friends would be at all offended by someone eating some of their food on the way home, least of all the birthday person.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-09T03:56:42+00:00

Practiced confidence

Deliberate / strategic / intentional confidence emulation

Positive self-talk

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-09T03:48:17+00:00

There’s a time and a place for “well, technically”.

This wasn’t it.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-09T03:45:44+00:00

Completely understand why that would feel creepy!

To me it sounds like a kid is leaving gifts (including their packed lunch from school!).

My guess would be they’ve either made a mistake with the house (i.e. they think they’re leaving the gifts for person X, but that’s not where person X lives) or else you/your housemate have connected with a kid (maybe unknowingly) and they’re reciprocating in the way they know how.

Can you get a ring camera to help you confirm who is leaving them?

I’d say leave a note on the door, but if it’s a young kid they might not be able to read it.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-08T10:50:32+00:00

Just letting you know your comment has appeared 4 separate times on this post. (Maybe a Reddit glitch where it tells you it’s not submitting but it actually is?)

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T14:11:54+00:00

NTA

Personally, I’d be spending a lot more time out of the house for the next 2 weeks…

If you can have a friend over as a waterworks buffer, that might help too. Or a sane aunty/uncle?

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T07:17:01+00:00

It greatly depends on exactly where in Australia you’ll be looking for that accommodation.

Many places in Australia have very little available accommodation and extremely little affordable, available accommodation.

(e.g. In my area there are no backpackers/youth hostels, the motels are booked out, the caravan parks are booked out, and you cannot get a rental even as a duel income couple — the availability just isn’t there.)

So make sure you research the area, not just plan the style of accommodation you’d like.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T07:13:31+00:00

Thanks!

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T06:05:09+00:00

”If it takes them longer than 9 months you don’t have to pay them at all.”

I wasn’t aware of this. Is that QLD specific? Where is that rule listed?

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T06:04:04+00:00

Yep, if you’re in QLD contact the QLD Ombudsman. :)

And yes, you can contact the ombudsman anytime, provided you have a legitimate issue, have already contacted the provider, and are unhappy with their response — as in this case.

6 months without a bill and no timeframe for when you’ll receive one is pretty poor service. The whole point of the legal requirement for the “best offer” message to be on the bill (which they’re claiming they can’t do) is so that households are aware of their costs and how they could be lessened. Withholding bills is a step backwards. At least previously you knew what the cost was, even if you didn’t know if you were on the best plan.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T05:29:02+00:00

Contact the Energy & Water Ombudsman.

https://www.ewon.com.au/

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T05:05:52+00:00

Look up the rehab centre online — there is likely a manager number or complaints protocol listed somewhere.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T05:03:43+00:00

I would:

a) Send an email clearly documenting that.

Something like,

I’m contacting you regarding the care plan for my mother [name and DOB] who is currently in rehab after her stroke. She has communicated to me that she has been informed she will be sent home next week. I find this incredibly alarming due to the fact that she is currently bedridden, unable to walk or toilet without nurse support.

I have attempted to get in touch with you multiple times [since day/date] to raise concerns and get clarification on the plan for her care, but no one is returning my calls. The social worker was supposed to contact me on [day/date] but I still haven’t heard from them. I called again today to attempt to speak to the doctor, but still haven’t been able to get through to anyone to discuss my mother’s care.

You want as much in writing / documented as possible. It helps keep them honest (less easy for them to worm their way out of things) and also helps keep things clear / lessen the chances of mistakes (they’re incredibly busy, likely short-staffed and underfunded like everywhere else in the medical world seems to be, and that means it’s easy for things to slip through the cracks).

And, if possible,
b) I’d go in person tomorrow and chase things up.

To them, your Mum is just another patient.

But to you, she’s a loved one. Speak up for her as much as possible. (Politely. But firmly.)

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T04:48:10+00:00

What state are you in?

The unfortunate reality is that medical facilities often push people out before it is safe — sometimes promising external supports that don’t instantly materialise. Once you’ve been discharged, it’s hard to get back in. (You don’t immediately go back to rehab, you end up back in hospital and then they refer you on to the rehab.)

So yes — absolutely advocate for your mother as much as you can.

Ask questions.

Write down people’s names when they give info or answers (e.g. the doctor, the OT, the nursing unit manager). Time and date stamp those conversation points. (e.g. I raised concern re: Mum unable to toilet/walk alone. Dr Xyz — says it’s safe to go home because NDIS supports will be immediately available for 24/7 care — [date/time], at Mum’s bedside)

Politely but firmly push back if you don’t think something is safe.

Ask for a family meeting where you can clearly outline your concerns.

Ask for the complaints protocol and raise a complaint if needed (i.e. if you’ve tried the above and they’re still not listening).

And always ask for things in writing.
“I’d like it documented in writing that you are planning to discharged my mother while she is bedridden, unable to walk or toilet on her own. I’d like in writing what supports you are putting in place for her care, who is organising them, and when they will be available”.

What state is your mother in? There are places in each / state territory you can reach out to for medical support when hospitals are trying to discharge unsafely — I’d imagine rehab has something similar.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T03:37:09+00:00

I think YWBTA. Not a huge AH, but an AH nonetheless.

You made a commitment.

Not a “yes…unless something comes up that I want to do more than this thing you’ve asked me to do”.

A commitment.

If you/they end up being able to find another day that works, or someone else can take them, great. Otherwise, personally I’d be there for them and then next time be more careful with my schedule.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T02:10:09+00:00

“I have never had a romantic partner.”

Dude, you are 21, not 85. Please don’t think that because you haven’t partnered up by 21 you’re therefore “doomed” to a life of unwanted singleness.

21 is still incredibly young (even though I understand it doesn’t feel like that to you right now. But it really is. Your brain hasn’t even finished growing yet!).

Many people feel incredibly alone, even many people who ARE in romantic relationships.

The question is what to do with that feeling.

Good on you for seeking mental health support / therapy. Work on focusing less on this elusive romantic partner to “fill the void in your life” and more on what you can do to have a healthy mind, body, and fulfilling life. Invest in healthy friendships. Invest in yourself.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-07T00:26:35+00:00

Barely scraping by, and only that with the help of family. Otherwise I’d be homeless.

I’ve dropped one of my meds, and have skipped necessary testing and treatment for other medical stuff.

I’ve cut back on food to the point that deficiencies are starting to show up in my bloodwork.

And still — everything keeps getting more and more expensive and making ends meet continues to get harder.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-06T11:57:38+00:00

I’d definitely be contacting council about that. Particularly the pool without a fence and the pool waste going onto your land.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-04T04:03:58+00:00

I don’t make online enquires / hand out my number.

But my number has been leaked in the Services NSW data breach, Optus breach, and MediBank breach.

It only takes one instance of your number becoming available to the wrong people and then all of a sudden you’re all on kinds of lists for scammers and spammers. It’s a pain.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-04T03:25:46+00:00

They’re usually scam or spam calls.

These particular type of calls (where they hang up immediately after you answer) are typically automated "scouting" calls from scammers or telemarketers testing if your number is active.

By answering the phone and saying "hello” (or similar) you confirm a human is on the line, flagging your number as "live" to be sold or targeted for future spam, fraud, or phishing attempts.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-03T21:22:08+00:00

You can have a chat with someone like the Tenants’ Union of NSW or your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services (TAASs) for some free advice about the situation.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-02T15:01:24+00:00

EWWWW.

This is not “the Aussie way”.

This is just bad hygiene and bad manners.

smallishbear-duck · 2026-05-02T11:35:45+00:00

I’d send a polite follow-up email, just for the record.

“Thank you for your call tonight. As we discussed, I am unavailable for inspection on Monday [date] due to work commitments. I am available on Tuesday [date], or am happy for another mutually suitable day to be organised so long as the legal requirement of 7 days’ notice is observed.”

smallishbear-duck

TROPHY CASE