Author
Jess
Mental Health Writer
Jess is a mental health writer for Psychiatrists Australia, dedicated to creating accessible, evidence-based content about mental health conditions, telehealth psychiatry, and navigating mental health care in Australia. With a focus on clarity and accuracy, Jess helps readers understand their experiences and available treatment options.
All articles provide practical information to support Australians in their mental health journey.
Articles by Jess
Does the NDIS Cover ADHD? Eligibility Explained
Does the NDIS cover ADHD? Why ADHD isn't automatically eligible, when it might qualify, and the Medicare and mental health supports available in the meantime.
Read articleIs ADHD a Disability in Australia?
Is ADHD legally a disability in Australia? How it's treated under the Disability Discrimination Act, at work and school, and whether the NDIS covers it.
Read articleWhat Is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and ADHD?
Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is intense emotional pain triggered by perceived rejection, often linked to ADHD. What it is, why it happens, and how to manage it.
Read articleWho Can Diagnose ADHD in Australia? GP, Psychiatrist or Psychologist
GPs, psychiatrists, paediatricians and psychologists all play a role in ADHD — but who can actually diagnose it and prescribe medication in Australia? A clear guide.
Read articleADHD and Neurodiversity: Is ADHD Neurodivergent?
Yes — ADHD is a form of neurodivergence. What the neurodiversity framework means, how it reframes ADHD as difference not deficit, and where support still matters.
Read articleADHD Burnout: Why It Happens and How to Recover
ADHD burnout is the deep exhaustion that follows months of overcompensating. What causes it, how it differs from ordinary burnout, and how to recover.
Read articleAdult ADHD Symptoms: Do I Have ADHD?
The core symptoms of adult ADHD — inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive — with a free self-check to help you decide whether to seek a formal assessment.
Read articleThe 3 Types of ADHD: Inattentive, Hyperactive-Impulsive and Combined
The three presentations of ADHD — predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined — explained, with how each shows up in adults.
Read articleCBT for ADHD: Non-Medication Strategies That Actually Help
How cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps adults with ADHD build skills medication can't — plus other evidence-based non-medication strategies.
Read articleExecutive Dysfunction and ADHD: Why Everyday Tasks Feel Impossible
Executive dysfunction is why ADHD makes starting, planning and finishing tasks so hard. What it is, how it shows up in adults, and practical ways to manage it.
Read articleMasking ADHD: The Hidden Effort of Looking 'Fine'
Masking is the exhausting effort of hiding ADHD traits to appear 'normal'. Why people mask, the toll it takes, and why it drives late diagnosis in women.
Read articleSigns of ADHD in Adults: A Practical Checklist
A practical checklist of adult ADHD signs across attention, organisation, impulsivity and emotion — including how it looks in women. Not a diagnosis.
Read articleAm I Autistic? How to Know and What to Do Next
Wondering 'am I autistic?' The traits that prompt many adults to ask, why self-recognition is valid, and how an adult autism assessment works in Australia.
Read articleAnxiety Medication in Australia: Types, Access and What to Expect
A plain-English guide to anxiety medication in Australia — the main types, how they're prescribed, Medicare and PBS, and how they fit alongside therapy.
Read articleAutism in Adults: Signs, Traits and Getting Assessed
Autism in adults often goes unrecognised for years. The common signs and traits, why late diagnosis is so common, and how to get assessed in Australia.
Read articleDo I Have OCD? Signs, Self-Check and Treatment in Australia
Wondering if you have OCD? The real signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder beyond the stereotypes, how it's diagnosed, and treatment options in Australia.
Read articleHigh-Functioning Autism in Adults: What It Really Means
'High-functioning autism' is a common but debated term. What people mean by it, why clinicians prefer support levels, and what it means for adults seeking a diagnosis.
Read articleDepression Symptoms: How to Recognise the Signs
The emotional, physical and cognitive symptoms of depression, how it differs from ordinary sadness, and when it's time to seek help in Australia.
Read articleDepression Treatment in Australia: Your Options Explained
A guide to depression treatment in Australia — therapy, medication and specialist psychiatric care — plus how Medicare, referrals and mental health plans work.
Read articleTreatment-Resistant Depression: When Antidepressants Aren't Working
When depression doesn't respond to antidepressants, a psychiatrist can help. What treatment-resistant depression means and the specialist options in Australia.
Read articleTypes of Depression: From Major Depression to Dysthymia
The main types of depression — major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, perinatal, seasonal and more — and how they differ and are treated.
Read articleAnxiety Symptoms: Physical, Emotional and Behavioural Signs
The physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms of anxiety, how to tell everyday worry from an anxiety disorder, and when to seek help in Australia.
Read articleBorderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Signs and Treatment
BPD involves intense emotions, unstable relationships and a fragile sense of self. Its signs, the stigma around it, and the therapies that genuinely help.
Read articleChronic Pain and Mental Health: The Two-Way Link
Chronic pain and mental health feed each other. Why depression and anxiety are common with persistent pain, and how psychiatric care fits into treatment.
Read articleComplex PTSD (C-PTSD): Signs, Causes and Treatment
Complex PTSD results from prolonged or repeated trauma. How it differs from PTSD, its core signs, and the trauma-focused treatments that genuinely help.
Read articleGeneralised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Signs and Treatment
GAD is persistent, excessive worry that's hard to control. Its signs, how it's diagnosed, and the therapy and medication options available in Australia.
Read articleHealth Anxiety: When Worry About Illness Takes Over
Health anxiety is persistent, distressing worry about being seriously ill. What it looks like, why reassurance doesn't help, and how it's treated.
Read articleInsomnia: Causes, Treatment and When to Get Help
Why insomnia happens, how it links to anxiety and depression, and the treatments that work — including CBT-i, the first-line approach — in Australia.
Read articleOCD Treatment: ERP, Therapy and Medication
OCD is highly treatable. How exposure and response prevention (ERP), other therapy and medication work — and how to access OCD treatment in Australia.
Read articlePanic Disorder and Panic Attacks: Signs and Treatment
Panic disorder involves recurrent panic attacks and fear of the next one. What panic attacks feel like, why they aren't dangerous, and how they're treated.
Read articlePMDD: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Explained
PMDD is a severe, cyclical mood condition tied to the menstrual cycle — far beyond PMS. Its symptoms, how it's diagnosed, and the treatments available.
Read articlePostnatal Depression: Signs, Support and Treatment
Postnatal depression is common, treatable, and not a failure as a parent. The signs to watch for in the perinatal period and how to get help in Australia.
Read articlePTSD Symptoms: The Four Types and How to Recognise Them
The four symptom clusters of PTSD — intrusion, avoidance, negative mood and hyperarousal — how they show up, and when trauma needs professional help.
Read articlePTSD Treatment in Australia: Therapies That Work
A guide to PTSD treatment in Australia — trauma-focused therapies like EMDR and TF-CBT, medication, and specialist psychiatric care, plus how to access it.
Read articlePure O and Intrusive Thoughts: The Hidden Side of OCD
'Pure O' OCD involves distressing intrusive thoughts with hidden mental compulsions. What it is, why the thoughts aren't the real you, and how it's treated.
Read articleSchizophrenia and Psychosis: Symptoms and Early Signs
The symptoms of schizophrenia and psychosis, the early warning signs, and why getting help early matters. When and how to seek support in Australia.
Read articleSigns of an Eating Disorder: What to Look For
Eating disorders aren't about vanity or willpower — they're serious, treatable illnesses. The warning signs across the main types, and how to get help.
Read articleSocial Anxiety Disorder: More Than Shyness
Social anxiety disorder is intense fear of judgement in social situations. How it differs from shyness, its signs, and the treatments that help in Australia.
Read articleTypes of Bipolar: Bipolar I, Bipolar II and Cyclothymia
The main types of bipolar disorder — bipolar I, bipolar II and cyclothymia — how they differ in mania and depression, and why the distinction matters.
Read articleADD vs ADHD: What's the Difference?
Is there a difference between ADD and ADHD? Why 'ADD' is an older term, how it maps to today's ADHD presentations, and what the labels really mean.
Read articleADHD and Relationships: Common Patterns and What Helps
How ADHD affects relationships — from forgetfulness and rejection sensitivity to the parent-child dynamic — and compassionate, practical ways to navigate it.
Read articleADHD and Sleep: Why Rest Is So Hard
ADHD and sleep problems go hand in hand — from a racing mind at night to a delayed body clock. Why it happens and what actually helps you rest.
Read articleADHD in Girls: Why It's So Often Missed
ADHD in girls looks different and is frequently missed, leaving many undiagnosed into adulthood. The signs, why it's overlooked, and what helps.
Read articleADHD Medication: How It Works (Stimulant vs Non-Stimulant)
A plain-English, non-promotional guide to how ADHD medication works in Australia — stimulant and non-stimulant classes, and how it's prescribed and monitored.
Read articleADHD Paralysis: Why You Freeze — and How to Get Unstuck
ADHD paralysis is the frozen, can't-start-can't-choose state many adults with ADHD know well. Why it happens and practical ways to break out of it.
Read articleADHD, Time Blindness and Hyperfocus Explained
Two hallmark ADHD experiences: time blindness (losing your sense of time) and hyperfocus (getting locked in). Why they happen and how to work with them.
Read articleAuDHD: When You're Both Autistic and ADHD
AuDHD describes having both autism and ADHD — a common combination with traits that can clash and mask each other. What it's like and why assessment matters.
Read articleAutism in Women: Signs, Masking and Late Diagnosis
Autism in women is frequently missed because it presents differently and is often masked. The signs, why late diagnosis is common, and how assessment helps.
Read articleAutism Levels 1, 2 and 3: What They Mean
The DSM-5 describes autism in three levels based on support needs. What autism levels 1, 2 and 3 mean, and why this replaced 'high and low functioning'.
Read articleAutistic Burnout: Signs, Causes and Recovery
Autistic burnout is the deep exhaustion from sustained masking and sensory load. How it differs from ordinary burnout, and how to recover and prevent it.
Read articleThe Better Access Initiative: Medicare Mental Health Support
The Better Access initiative gives Medicare rebates for mental health care in Australia. Who's eligible, what it covers, and how to access subsidised sessions.
Read articleBrain Fog: Causes and How to Clear It
Brain fog — that fuzzy, can't-think-straight feeling — has many causes, from stress and sleep to depression and ADHD. What's behind it and how to lift it.
Read articleBurnout: Signs, Stages and How to Recover
Burnout is more than being tired — it's chronic depletion from prolonged stress. Its signs and stages, how it differs from depression, and how to recover.
Read articleComing Off Antidepressants Safely
Stopping antidepressants should be done gradually and with your doctor. Why tapering matters, what discontinuation effects are, and how to do it safely.
Read articleDissociation and Derealisation: Feeling Unreal
Dissociation — feeling detached from yourself or that the world isn't real — can be frightening. What it is, why it happens, and when to seek help.
Read articleDopamine Detox: Does It Actually Work?
The 'dopamine detox' trend promises to reset your motivation. What the science really says about dopamine, what the idea gets wrong, and what genuinely helps.
Read articleEmotional Dysregulation: When Feelings Feel Too Big
Emotional dysregulation is difficulty managing the intensity of emotions. What causes it, its link to ADHD, BPD and trauma, and how it can be helped.
Read articleThe Fawn Response: People-Pleasing as a Trauma Response
Beyond fight, flight and freeze, there's fawn — appeasing others to stay safe. What the fawn response is, how it develops, and how to move beyond it.
Read articleHow Antidepressants Work (and How Long They Take)
A plain-English guide to how antidepressants work, how long they take to help, the main types, and what to expect — general information, not advice.
Read articleHow to Find a Psychiatrist in Australia
How to find a psychiatrist in Australia — getting a GP referral, understanding wait times and costs, and how telehealth makes access faster and easier.
Read articleHow to Stop Overthinking: Practical Strategies
Overthinking, rumination and worry loops keep many of us stuck. Why the mind does it, when it's a sign of anxiety, and evidence-based ways to quiet it.
Read articleInattentive ADHD in Adults: The Quiet Presentation
Inattentive ADHD (once called ADD) is the quiet, easily-missed presentation. Its signs in adults, why it's so often overlooked, and how it's assessed.
Read articleNervous System Regulation: A Practical Guide
What 'regulating your nervous system' actually means, the science of fight-flight and rest, and evidence-based ways to calm a dysregulated system.
Read articlePDA Autism: Pathological Demand Avoidance Explained
PDA — pathological demand avoidance — is a profile within autism marked by an anxiety-driven need to resist demands. What it is, how it looks, and what helps.
Read articleSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Winter Depression
Seasonal affective disorder is depression that follows a seasonal pattern, usually worsening in the darker months. Its signs, why it happens, and treatments.
Read articleSensory Overload: When the World Is Too Much
Sensory overload — when sights, sounds or textures become overwhelming — is common in autism and ADHD. What it feels like, why it happens, and what helps.
Read articleSleep Hygiene: How to Actually Sleep Better
Sleep hygiene is the set of habits that help you fall and stay asleep. What actually works (and what doesn't), and when sleep problems need more help.
Read articleTypes of Autism: Understanding the Spectrum
Is autism one condition or many 'types'? How the spectrum works, what happened to Asperger's, and why autism is now described by levels of support need.
Read articleWhat Causes ADHD? Genetics, the Brain and the Myths
What actually causes ADHD — the strong genetic and neurological basis, what raises risk, and the myths (sugar, screens, parenting) that don't hold up.
Read articleWhat Causes Autism? Genetics, Myths and the Vaccine Question
What actually causes autism — the strong genetic basis, what we know and don't, and why the vaccine myth has been thoroughly and repeatedly disproven.
Read articleWhat Is a 291 Psychiatric Assessment? (Medicare Item 291)
Medicare item 291 covers a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and management plan. What a 291 assessment is, how it works, and how to access one.
Read articleWhat Is ADHD? A Plain-English Guide for Adults
What ADHD actually is — the brain differences behind it, how it affects adults, the three presentations, and how it's diagnosed and treated in Australia.
Read articleDo You Need a Referral to See a Psychiatrist?
A clear guide to whether you need a GP referral to see a psychiatrist in Australia — Medicare rebates, Mental Health Treatment Plans, and how telehealth works.
Read articleADHD and Anxiety: Understanding the Overlap
ADHD and anxiety frequently co-occur. Learn why they overlap, how to tell them apart, and how a comprehensive assessment can help you get the right support.
Read articlePanic Attack vs Anxiety Attack: What's the Difference?
Understand the difference between panic attacks and anxiety attacks — symptoms, triggers, duration, and when to seek professional help.
Read articleBipolar Symptoms: Recognising the Signs
Learn the signs of bipolar disorder — manic and depressive episodes, patterns to watch for, and when to seek assessment and support from a psychiatrist.
Read articleOCD Symptoms: What They Are and When to Seek Help
Understand the signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder — intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and when to seek professional help from a psychiatrist.
Read articleHigh-Functioning Anxiety: Signs, Causes & When to Get Help
High-functioning anxiety can hide behind achievement and composure. Learn the signs, what causes it, and when to seek support from a psychiatrist or GP.
Read articleADHD in Women: Why It's Missed and How to Get Assessed
ADHD in women is frequently missed. Learn why, the signs to look for, and how to access a comprehensive telehealth ADHD assessment in Australia.
Read articleHow to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in Australia
A clear guide to getting an ADHD diagnosis in Australia — the GP referral, the assessment process, what to expect, and how telehealth makes it accessible.
Read articleHigh-Functioning Depression: Signs You Might Be Missing
High-functioning depression can hide behind achievement and productivity. Learn the signs, why it's missed, and how to get support from a psychiatrist or GP.
Read articleHow to Get a Mental Health Care Plan in Australia
A clear guide to getting a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP — what it covers, Medicare rebates, and how it connects to seeing a psychiatrist by referral.
Read articleHow to Prepare for Your First Psychiatry Appointment
Practical tips on what to bring, what to expect and how to get the most out of your first psychiatric consultation — whether in person or via telehealth.
Read articleHow Telehealth Psychiatry Works
Everything you need to know about seeing a psychiatrist by video — the technology, privacy safeguards, what to expect and who telehealth psychiatry suits best.
Read articleHow Much Does It Cost to See a Psychiatrist in Australia?
Private psychiatry fees, Medicare rebates and the factors that affect the cost of seeing a psychiatrist in Australia — plus how telehealth can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Read articleHow to See a Psychiatrist in Australia (GP Referral & Medicare)
A step-by-step guide to seeing a psychiatrist in Australia — GP referrals, Mental Health Treatment Plans, Medicare rebates and the telehealth option.
Read articleWhat Does a Psychiatrist Do?
From diagnosis and medication management to therapy and care planning, learn what a psychiatrist does day to day and how they help patients manage mental health.
Read articlePsychologist vs Psychiatrist: What's the Difference?
Understand the key differences between a psychologist and a psychiatrist in Australia — training, prescribing rights, Medicare, and when to see each professional.
Read articleReady to take the first step?
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