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BeyondBlue Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started
  • replies: 0

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with Depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for ... View more

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with Depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for coming this far, we know it can be really hard to take these steps if depression is in your life - we see you and think this is a great step. To get the most out of this space we have a few tips: Get involved. The Forums work best for you when you get active and post where you can. Now, we know that can be really hard, especially when you are experiencing depression. So, if you can post something supportive to someone else here, that would be an incredible start. Speak from the heart. This community wants to know how YOU feel and what has worked for YOU. We trust that you have something unique to say and we can’t wait to hear it. Check in. Lots of the chats on this Forum having been going for years and they are some of the richest conversations we have. Keep checking in to get new ideas and offer your support. We know it can be tough to start, but when you are ready we want to hear your thoughts. If you need some time to get to know the community, that's okay! Have a look around and see where you want to get involved. Thank you for being here Beyond Blue

Jeriava How do I talk to my doctor?
  • replies: 9

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really ... View more

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really scared that they’ll judge me or won’t believe anything I say. I’m really anti social so I feel like I won’t be able to say what I wanna say or I’ll say the wrong thing causing them to just dismiss me and move me along without helping. I’m just tired of feeling alone, depressed and just worthless but I’m really scared to talk to them.

AGrace SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING DEPRESSION
  • replies: 132

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the ... View more

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the 5 senses Distress Tolerance – Accepting Emotions and Self Soothing Distraction – Put the thoughts/feelings aside and come back to them when you are ready to deal with them Positive Affirmations – Have some affirmations written down repeat them to yourself daily Sleep/Exercise/Diet – All 3 aspects of our lifestyle can impact the way we think/feel Increasing Pleasurable Activities – Engage in at least one pleasurable activity per day

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Fen Depressed partner leaving
  • replies: 12

I was in a six year relationship with my partner. We had what I thought was a loving, stable and solid relationship. When my partner became depressed the relationship also ended as they broke it off without much warning. My question is, do depressed ... View more

I was in a six year relationship with my partner. We had what I thought was a loving, stable and solid relationship. When my partner became depressed the relationship also ended as they broke it off without much warning. My question is, do depressed partners come back once they’ve recovered and they can access emotions such as love again? Do they disappear or come back for a friendship or to the relationship they once had?

randomxx Depression - life
  • replies: 80

Hi to all.Some will know l've had my ups and downs for sure but l wanted to start this as a new and separate thread bc the old one wound up all about gf ex.Just for the most that won't know though and happen to drop in, l got rid of of my place 6mths... View more

Hi to all.Some will know l've had my ups and downs for sure but l wanted to start this as a new and separate thread bc the old one wound up all about gf ex.Just for the most that won't know though and happen to drop in, l got rid of of my place 6mths back and went caravaning 51/2 mths, just couldn't deal with another place at the time and just felt like a bloody good break and rest first.Wasn't sure how l'd feel about it but it wasn't bad and at times really nice just being free for a bit but later 50s there were also the worries of what to do when l get back. Well back now is too my other place it's not really that l had two houses the second one is just a country block with a cabin in a tiny town that l just rent out, never lived there. Well the tenant moved out so that's where l've come back to, l need to fix it up and sell it toward my new place.This little town this whole thing , not doing me any good at all in this stage of life. l did have to get out of my other place don't regret it it had to be done but it's just been such a huge last 10yrs or so. Divorce and all thenlater on just broken up with later new gf now ex just last yr and now all this and here l am in this place- and then l'll be somewhere else to where l'm thinking of moving to, maybe even building . lf so it'll only be small and minimalist buttt, ldkJust feel like total bs it's all too much and it's like what in the hell am l even doing especially here right now and at this age but ldk how else l could've done things.l had to get out of my last place, l have to be here to fix up this one and it's somewhere at least to stay, it'll be a few mths.Been coming here 20yrs keeping this place up and all the same people are still here couples been together and still here all that time and still sitting in their homes watching tv and doing their lives together.The total opposite lives to mine and now l;m even single and here doing this and then wherever later restarting again andddd, it's all just sooooo, words l can't use here. rx

JayElle75 My life is falling apart and i'm so sad.
  • replies: 3

I am a couple of months off turning the big 5-0 and I was actually looking forward to it! But over the past few weeks, life has taken a turn to Craptown!In January, i was fired from my job after 10 years of loyal service. Its a rather long story, whi... View more

I am a couple of months off turning the big 5-0 and I was actually looking forward to it! But over the past few weeks, life has taken a turn to Craptown!In January, i was fired from my job after 10 years of loyal service. Its a rather long story, which i won't get into, but basically, I was bullied for a long period of time (more than 5 years) by team leaders. This caused extreme depression and anxiety which affected my ability to do the job to the standards expected. Every person in power ignored my pleas for help. I guess I became too much to handle, so they fired me. I have applied for so many jobs since January. I either get no responses, or i am told "we've decided to go with someone more experienced"... These are customer service roles which i have done for 30 years! How much experience do you need?!! I did have a 2nd interview with a company that was very promising, but it was a group interview. I suffer severe social anxiety, so did not interact in the group as much as they liked, so i missed out on the job. I am now in the position where I have no income and cannot pay rent, or bills or even food! My housemate come home today and told me she will be moving out this week. SO, my only option is to move back home to mum. Moving is also a worry. Without an income, I am unable to move my furniture out of here. Nor do i have anywhere to store a whole house of furniture.On top of that, my parents are both fighting illness, family members are struggling with mental health issues of their own and I am trying to be there to help them all. I do not have any friends - they all got married and had kids and we lost contact. I have never felt lonely. I enjoy being on my own. i have family who are there when I need someone. But now, I feel alone. I feel like life is just getting harder. I am embarrassed at having to crawl home at my age... I am sad. i am disappointed in my housemate for dropping the bomb on me today. Although, i don't blame her. She's a single mum and needs to do what's right for her child. I want to cry. I want to scream. My feelings are everywhere and i don't know what to do. I am so tired. Emotionally and mentally.I am trying to remain positive, but the more "thanks but no thanks" job rejections i get, the more anxious and depressed i get. I thought 2025 and turning 50 would be the best year of my life. How wrong was I?!IT will get better, right? Sorry for such a long post!

Guest_10164 Feeling lost
  • replies: 6

This isn't the first, second or third time in my life I've felt like this. I feel like my friends don't understand and even when they say they do I don't want to be around them, I'm so sad all the time, last week I spent most of the days in bed and d... View more

This isn't the first, second or third time in my life I've felt like this. I feel like my friends don't understand and even when they say they do I don't want to be around them, I'm so sad all the time, last week I spent most of the days in bed and didn't tell anyone and when I did finally disclose how horrible the feelings were making me I felt supported for one whole day. I get everyone has their own stuff going on but I feel so alone. When they do say they want to come see me, I find myself making excuses not to hang out with them, I feel myself screaming inside my head, I want to be around them but I don't know if it's my pride or my depression that takes over and doesn't let me be with them. I feel so trapped in my life, but I don't know what to do to shift my mindset. Lately the self harming thoughts have slowly been creeping in, so much so I have to physically force myself to stay in bed so I don't do anything bad. I need help but it's such an effort and I kinda feel like why am I bothering, in a year everyone will forget I was even alive if I ever did anything. I don't see the point anymore. I need an escape but would that even really help or is that just a band-aid until the feelings wash back into my head. What do I do??

NoWhereWoman Confused and struggling with mood swings
  • replies: 4

Hi, I (20F) have been struggling for a few years now but I don't know exactly what's going on. I've been experiencing depressive symptoms since I was little but my hypomanic symptoms only began 2 years ago. I fit so much of the criteria for bp2 but t... View more

Hi, I (20F) have been struggling for a few years now but I don't know exactly what's going on. I've been experiencing depressive symptoms since I was little but my hypomanic symptoms only began 2 years ago. I fit so much of the criteria for bp2 but the timing doesn't seem to really match up with what I've heard about bipolar, well at least the hypomanic part of it. My depressive episodes will last for weeks to months at a time. No questioning that but what confuses me is that then all of a sudden seemingly without a trigger I experience something that ticks a lot of the boxes for hypomania. Like the elevated mood, hypersexuality, excessive spending, risk taking behaviours, more talkative, increased self esteem, racing thoughts. Like on paper it sounds like hypomania but then it only lasts sometimes half a day to 2-3 days but I've heard for it to be bipolar it needs to be longer than that. And to make it confusing in that "hypomanic state" I can also have a really bad low all of a sudden and then 5 minutes later be back to my really amazing high and continue on with the "hypomanic" episode. So now I'm so confused what's going on with me and because of the timing of everything my psychologist is unsure whether I have bp2 or not. I'm struggling so bad with these mood swings and I feel so out of control and unpredictable. I'd really appreciate if anyone shared their thoughts about this. I just want to know if anyone else has experienced this or heard of something like this.

Johnnnnn Feel so bad about having no girlfriend
  • replies: 4

I am already 24 this year and still got no girlfriend, meanwhile, many of my friends have their girlfriends and even some of them are gonna get married soon. Not only I feel I am left far behind by them but I also feel myself is much worse than other... View more

I am already 24 this year and still got no girlfriend, meanwhile, many of my friends have their girlfriends and even some of them are gonna get married soon. Not only I feel I am left far behind by them but I also feel myself is much worse than others since I couldn’t have a girlfriend.i feel like I am a loser, no girls ever liked me, no one wants to have relationship with me, feel bloody depressed

OllieA_TransKid I feel as if I can't go on anymore!...
  • replies: 2

I try and put on a happy face, hiding that I might have severe depression, but it's never enough for people! My mother claims I only care about myself, but I actually put people before my own needs! If my friends are sad, I'll cheer them up before ev... View more

I try and put on a happy face, hiding that I might have severe depression, but it's never enough for people! My mother claims I only care about myself, but I actually put people before my own needs! If my friends are sad, I'll cheer them up before even THINKING about myself! I hate when my friends joke about mental illness, knowing I'm not really doing well right now, the only people who actually care is my bf and my 2 bsf. I can't look at myself the same way I used to. I can't look at my parents without knowing they will yell at me for every little thing I do.

CMTK Scared to admit I might have postpartum depression
  • replies: 4

One month ago I gave birth to our first child. Instantly I fell in love with her and despite a challenging post birth recovery my first week wasn’t too bad. However, as the weeks have gone on it’s gotten harder. Being a first time mum the sleep depri... View more

One month ago I gave birth to our first child. Instantly I fell in love with her and despite a challenging post birth recovery my first week wasn’t too bad. However, as the weeks have gone on it’s gotten harder. Being a first time mum the sleep deprivation, breastfeeding challenges and navigating being a parent has been difficult to say the least. I constantly feel like an imposter and the anxiety is exhausting. My biggest issue is not wanting to admit I might have postpartum depression. My wife expressed her concern about me getting it during pregnancy. And sure enough I think she was right, but I don’t want to admit it. I’m crying secretly to myself all day, I feel constant anxiety and I’m starting to feel disconnected from our baby. Her concern came from my history of anxiety and depression. First time mums constantly talk about not feeling themselves but for me it’s worse. It’s that all too familiar feeling of anxiety and depression that scares me into feeling like this is what it’s always going to be like for me. And that I won’t get what I hoped for in this new journey with our child.

idk_sorry I don’t want help.
  • replies: 9

idk if something is wrong or not with me. i feel so low and tired everyday. i have no interest in anything and have had no hobbies at all for ages. all i have the energy for is uni and one shift a week for work but even that’s fizzing away but it doe... View more

idk if something is wrong or not with me. i feel so low and tired everyday. i have no interest in anything and have had no hobbies at all for ages. all i have the energy for is uni and one shift a week for work but even that’s fizzing away but it doesn’t matter because i’ll push myself to do the work anyway because i don’t want to fail and be even more worthless than i already am. i cry so often and my body hurts with ache a lot of the time but i have to keep doing things or i’ll be a failure. im so afraid of making connections anymore and when i do make a friend i usually have break downs about it later. i just want to isolate as now i see socialising as too taxing on top of uni and work. i just want to be alone. i live alone and just started my first year of uni. i’m constantly stressed out of my mind that i’m losing sleep and overeating. i keep hurting myself almost daily and on the only day i have free in my week, the night before it i binge drink until i pass out. i cant tell if this is a problem or not but either way i don’t think i could ever get help because i don’t want people to worry about me. it would hurt too much to burden others so i don’t think i can ever do that no matter how much people say i wouldn’t be a burden. i’m too horrible to deserve support anyway i need to pay for existing right? i don’t know how to fix myself. i’ve tried working on myself before but it just ends up being a distraction or leans into other self destructive behaviours (such a restricting food and over exercising) anyway do you think i can keep living like this and it’ll just get better by itself? i’m worried that i’ll get worse but the thing is if i do get worse i still am unable to reach out. i just don’t know what to do. maybe it’s all fine and i’m overreacting about normal things. sorry if i am. anyway yeah i’m really sorry i just wanted to get my thoughts out i don’t even really know what i’m asking at this point. i’m so sorry.

indigo22 Following the breadcrumbs to improve mental health
  • replies: 100

Hi everyone, The last few months have been somewhat confusing as I have discovered more about my mental / physical health and how it has all been connected. I had not put the pieces together, I am not sure why, it seems so obvious now. I have dealt w... View more

Hi everyone, The last few months have been somewhat confusing as I have discovered more about my mental / physical health and how it has all been connected. I had not put the pieces together, I am not sure why, it seems so obvious now. I have dealt with Dysthymia since about 12 and Major Depression since about 14 but was not diagnosed until my 40s and had no idea that had been the problem all along. I knew I wasn't like everyone else but thought I was just born that way. Back then mental health was not a subject that was openly discussed and the signs mostly went unrecognised and untreated. I had about 10 years of talk therapy with a social worker that helped immensely. I have had a sensitive digestive system for a good portion of my life, not so much that I sought treatment, just things like indigestion with certain foods, bloating and the like. I suppose I thought everyone had those types of issues. I have also had nervous system reactions over the past 15 years, like involuntary shaking in certain situations, that I had put down to getting older and being less resilient having been through a lot of difficult challenges. I have been seeing a psychotherapist who also does somatic work (turns out you were right mmmekitty, I did need some more help). The first session of somatic work, in this case EFT (tapping), brought up a deep and long standing belief that I did not deserve to be helped. The emotions were buried so deep that I was not even aware of them. After that session things went haywire physically for a few days and took some weeks to start to settle. Being the type of person who needs to have an understanding of what is happening and why, I have been reading many books on the symptoms I have had. That is when I began to join the dots about how interconnected by mental and physical health actually were. It has required a lot of processing on my part, and an acknowledgement of what I have been consciously unaware of, but it has been necessary to finding a way forward. This will be an ongoing journey as new symptoms show up that need to be looked at. I know now that there is a lot of unreleased trauma in my body that is a contributing factor in not healing mentally or physically and I know now what needs to be done to improve. There is only so much that the medical profession can do, I believe the rest of the responsibility lies with us in digging deeper to find the causes and the answers. In many ways, that in itself becomes empowering. Take care all.indigo