Discover how to get a free, bulk-billed Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) in Australia through Qoctor’s telehealth service. Accessing mental health support has never been simpler with Qoctor’s online Mental Health Care Plan service. If you’re experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, or other mental health issues, you might qualify for a Medicare-funded Mental Health Care Plan, enabling you to receive rebated psychology sessions with a registered provider. 

• Convenience – Get mental health support from home, no travel or waiting rooms. This is especially helpful for people who live remotely or who do not have easy access to a local GP.
• Affordability – An appointment to request a GP mental health plan is free with Qoctor, if you have a valid Medicare card. 
• Confidential and secure – We are committed to prioritising your privacy and the security of your health information.
• Fast turnaround – It is usually possible to get a same day Mental Health Care Plan with Qoctor, to help you towards starting therapy as quickly as possible. 
• If you don’t already have a psychologist in mind, we are happy to recommend some trusted telehealth psychology options.

Qoctor simplifies accessing the mental health support you need. If you’re battling with mental health issues, book a bulk-billed online GP appointment today, and discuss a Mental Health Care Plan with one of our doctors.

Muscle dysmorphia is a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), characterized by a preoccupation with perceived defects or flaws in one’s physical appearance that are not observable or appear minor to others.

Often referred to as bigorexia, muscle dysmorphia involves an obsession with the belief that one’s body is too small or insufficiently muscular, despite contrary feedback from others. This condition is more prevalent in men than women.

Individuals with muscle dysmorphia may engage in repetitive behaviours such as excessive mirror checking, rigid meal regimens, or spending prolonged hours at the gym. They also frequently compare their appearance to others, leading to feelings of shame or inadequacy.

Additional therapies

Depending on the affected areas of health, treatment might also involve consultation with a dietitian, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, or sex therapist.

Seeking help

Increased awareness of muscle dysmorphia is essential. If you suspect you may be experiencing it, consulting a doctor can help you find appropriate support and treatment.

Attachment theory has been studied and widely accepted in relation to children and their caregivers, but over recent years there is much more focus on attachment in adult interpersonal relationships. In fact, the type of attachment you had as a child likely affects how you will intimately attach in later life.

Avoidant attachment

If you are avoidant, generally you:

• May be described as cool, cold, and detached
• Seek independence, don’t like the ‘shackles’ of a relationship
• Often view emotions and connections as inferior to other things like jobs, travel, money, exercise, etc., hence you don’t prioritize relationships
• Skip from one relationship to the next, expecting ‘the one’ will finally understand you
• Romanticize an ex-partner because their unavailability means they’re unlikely to get close again, plus it sabotages your current relationship

You likely had caregivers that dismissed your wishes and needs, rejected them, or minimized them. This led to you stopping voicing your needs and made you turn inwards, shutting down, thinking no one can be trusted apart from the self. Around 25% of the population is this type.

Anxious-avoidant attachment

If you are anxious-avoidant, generally you:

• May be described as hot and cold
• Crave connection but also sabotage it
• Can find it hard to depend on others
• Find it hard to regulate your emotions and may be out of touch with them, making it hard to be open

You likely had caregivers that were hot and cold, sometimes lavishing love on you and other times being blustery and possibly violent. This could have caused you to be scared of the caregiver while also wanting their comfort. This type of attachment style seems to be the least common, at 5%.

Interplay of different attachment styles in relationships

Interestingly, anxious and avoidant couples are frequently drawn to one another which can make for dramatic and fiery relationships but both partners are triggered by one another’s attachment style.

When a secure partner enters a relationship with an anxious, avoidant, or anxiously-avoidant partner, they can stabilize them and the relationship can flourish. Avoidants rarely date other avoidants because there is no glue to keep them together.

Other influencing factors

There are many other factors that affect how you behave in relationships, such as underlying medical conditions, work stressors, drugs and alcohol, heartbreak, psychiatric conditions, and myriad other elements. This can sometimes make your attachment style hard to pick.

Working on your attachment style

Through counseling, reflection, and inner work, you can stabilize yourself from an anxious, avoidant, or anxiously-avoidant style into a secure one without the need for anyone else to do it for you. Remember, there is no ‘correct’ attachment style. The reason we fall into one of the four categories is because of the history of our lives and the resulting attachment style made you more likely to thrive in the environment you grew up in. However, if it’s leading to difficulties in your interpersonal life now, knowing attachment theory and how to deal with it can make you better connected and ultimately more content in your relationships.

Additional resources

• Attached The Book
• Healthline on Attachment Theory
• The Attachment Project
• Gottman Institute on Attachment Style

What is ADHD?

• ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
• People with ADHD display some or all of the following:
  • Hyperactivity (in kids – fidgety, energetic, sometimes agitated).
  • Poor concentration (in kids – bad grades, difficulty with teachers).
  • Impulsive behaviour (in kids – getting into trouble, making bad choices, being “naughty”).

How common is ADHD?

• Estimates vary. It appears that approximately 1 to 2% of people have ADHD.
• It’s usually diagnosed during childhood.
• It can continue to affect some people for their whole lives.
• It always starts in childhood – it doesn’t start in adulthood (though it may still be diagnosed in later life).

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar affective disorder is a mental illness that usually affects people in the following ways:

• Swings between episodes of depression & episodes of abnormally elevated mood (either mania or hypomania – hypomania is like mania, only milder).
• Each cycle can last weeks, months or even years.
• There can be periods where there is a mix of both extremes of mood.
• The episodes of abnormally elevated mood can manifest as overactivity, irritability, reduced sleeping, confusion or even delusions and hallucinations.
• People with bipolar disorder tend to spend more time depressed than manic.
• As many as half of all people with bipolar affective disorder will experience rapid cycling, where several cycles of illness occur within a year.

What is a panic attack?

• A panic attack is an intense episode of fear and anxiety, when there is no danger present.
• A person going through a panic attack will often have a very real sense that they are about to die, and severe physical symptoms are usually triggered.
• Whether you suffer from panic attacks yourself, or witness someone else going through one, understanding what is happening can allow you to deal with the situation more effectively.

How long do panic attacks last?

Panic attacks generally last up to 10 minutes, though a person may have some ongoing symptoms for a little longer. It’s common to feel drained and exhausted afterwards.

What is panic disorder?

• This is when a person has repeated panic attacks.
• The ongoing fear of having a panic attack can trigger further panic attacks.
• A person may start to avoid certain situations and places, affecting their personal, social and work life.
• They may also tend to worry that there is some serious undiagnosed physical cause (for example, a heart problem), even if all check-ups and tests have been normal.

Are any tests needed for panic attacks?

If you have symptoms of panic attacks, your doctor will usually want to rule out physical causes. There are several medical conditions which can be quite similar to panic attacks, including:

• Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid)
• Superventricular Tachycardia (SVT) or other cardiac arrhythmias
• Anaemia (a low blood count)
• Asthma
• A side effect of medication, caffeine or recreational drugs

A history, examination and tests  may be recommended to rule out these conditions.

Are there any complications of panic attacks?

Whilst panic attacks themselves are not dangerous, they can have a major impact on a person’s quality of life. People with panic disorder are also at a higher risk of depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide- so it’s very important to seek medical attention and get appropriate treatment.

What is the treatment for panic attacks?

One of the most simple and effective approaches is to slow your breathing down- with deep slow breaths in and out. Many of the symptoms of a panic attack are cause by hyperventilation (breathing too quickly)- if you control your breathing, many of these physical symptoms will improve.

There are several types of treatment to prevent panic attacks- if you are having repeated symptoms, you should make an appointment to see your doctor and get more information about your options which include:

Psychotherapy

a psychologist or psychotherapist can help you to manage your symptoms in a variety of ways. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) has been shown to be very effective- research suggests that 70-90% of people with panic disorder will be free of attacks following 2 years of regular CBT, and many people will see results within just a few months of treatment. Breathing techniques, biofeedback therapy and other relaxation techniques may also help. Your doctor may be able to refer you for assessment and treatment.

Lifestyle changes

• Get enough sleep
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and recreational drugs.

Medication

• In the short term, your doctor may prescribe anxiolytics (benzodiazepines), as these can settle an attack. However, they do not prevent further attacks, and will not solve the underlying issues. They are not recommended for long term treatment as they have a lot of negative side effects, and can be very addictive.
• Antidepressant type medications may be prescribed to prevent attacks. These are not addictive. In some cases, they may be recommended in conjunction with CBT.

If you are concerned about panic attacks, be sure to speak to your GP, as getting the correct treatment can help you live and function normally once again.

What is depression?

Depression is a disease which causes you to become trapped in a state of painful sadness for most of the time. Doctors often say it becomes true depression if it’s lasted more than 2 weeks. If you’re reading this article and wondering if you’re suffering from depression, then you’re probably already feeling sad enough to need medical advice. You may be surprised to learn that getting the right kind of medical help can aid your recovery. 

Because happiness and sadness are so personal and subjective, it can be difficult to know whether you have the disease “depression” or not- some of the following information may help. 

Depression may be:

• Recurrent (and sometimes seasonal) – it comes and goes.
• Persistent – most of the time.
• Part of a bipolar disorder involving distinct episodes of unusual upswings in mood.

Depression may also be:

• “Reactive” – there’s a cause, for example the death of loved one or the breakdown of a relationship.
• “Endogenous” – there’s no obvious trigger. You just feel that way. If this is the case, it can be harmful to keep looking for a cause, as this will only delay your acceptance of your illness and cause you guilty feelings – “I shouldn’t feel like this.”

Both reactive and endogenous depression can be extremely serious illnesses.

• You’re not alone – about 3 million Australian adults have a mental illness. There are so many unhappy people, feeling paralysed by the thought of getting help. Half of all of us have a mental illness at some point. That means there’s a good chance that even your GP has had a mental illness.
• In the meantime, if you think you may be suffering from depression, talk it through with your GP or read more at the Beyond Blue website.