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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.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 1

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

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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sxnflower Not sure what's going on
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I'm new to these forums and to seeking help in general. Right now I'm just sort of confused. I have what I consider a pretty good life, stable education, a friend group and partner (who was the one to encourage me to get help), but latel... View more

Hi everyone, I'm new to these forums and to seeking help in general. Right now I'm just sort of confused. I have what I consider a pretty good life, stable education, a friend group and partner (who was the one to encourage me to get help), but lately I've been struggling with intrusive thoughts, low motivation and general low moods or a struggle to feel happy, even in things that are fun. These feelings come with frequent anxiety and dissociation, like I'd rather be anywhere but in my own body. I've just started uni and I'm worried that with the added stress it might make these feelings worse and I really just want to go back to feeling alive again. I've been avoiding telling the people closest to me because I feel guilty for this, like I don't have a 'good enough' reason to be feeling down? And I'm afraid of being a burden to my friends, who are all struggling with their own problems, I'm afraid that if I concern them with the stuff going on in my life, I'll just stress them out more. I just don't understand what's going on with me. I haven't had these ideations or urges to hurt myself for years, though I never actually dealt with them, they just somehow faded with time. Now, they're back again and I'm struggling to not give in. I don't like being alone anymore and I do take opportunities to meet with my friends, but when I don't, I feel empty. I'm not a danger to myself and I'm doing all the tasks I need to do - school and work, but other than that I seem to have no direction. I apologise for being so vague but it's a struggle to open up properly, it just seemed less confrontational to do in a forum rather than a one to one meeting. Why has this started affecting me again now? I hope someone has some advice or reassurance for me going forward because I'm tired of these thoughts and of feeling this way. Thank you for reading.

Jaibigrone907 My third last post too...
  • replies: 9

My parent's, I consider them so dumb. Their not realistic, they have given up on their kid's, they don't normalise us to have a future, or be active and live life. They cause argumentative issues for me, social countertransference's. My father is sel... View more

My parent's, I consider them so dumb. Their not realistic, they have given up on their kid's, they don't normalise us to have a future, or be active and live life. They cause argumentative issues for me, social countertransference's. My father is selfish, and his pathetic, but keeps to himself, behind the T.V.. His a useless tyrant parent. He contributed against my creativity, since 2009. I love my Mother absolutely, but my Dad's careless, and self centred. I have no work direction. I am 29 now, and I have no suitable work direction, or any great opportunities. I don't want entry job's, like retail, sales, factory, hospitality. I don't want to work a construction, do a apprenticeship, traineeship, any TAFE certificates either. I don't have any University careers I'm interested in. I am not a study person, and I don't have a Year 12 VCE and a ideal ATAR too.I never wanted to do construction, any apprenticeships, or traineeships, and I knew that, even when I was a 8 year old, it's not my breed of masculinity, and I don't like their tradie personality, values, and character. The government also only encourages the courses, that most don't want to do. If they offer any free ones, their only for the shitter qualifications, that no one wants. I never had my driving too, and we had just one vehicle at home, that only my mother was using, and that car was nearly too screwed to drive back then, and not worth spending money on it's frequent maintenance repairs, that my father was barely affording. My mother couldn't guarantee, if she could take me to any job's, the cost of petrol, and wither she needs to use the car, if my brother needed it too. I never had a resume written and solid help with that.

JacintaMarie Sorry
  • replies: 6

HiHow are you? Sorry for coming here again.I need to talk, I was going okay this morning.I should be happy, as I got a job & getting paid, but my job, the management doesn't really do anything. We've had no good changes, just staff movements.It's bec... View more

HiHow are you? Sorry for coming here again.I need to talk, I was going okay this morning.I should be happy, as I got a job & getting paid, but my job, the management doesn't really do anything. We've had no good changes, just staff movements.It's because of money, we don't have the money to do stuff. I don't know how other places do it.Getting angry, & have admitted it, which is good. And the type of people they are, they're not proactive people, so they're never going to do it.But my brain still doesn't get that & I get upset.I wish I was like the other staff there & who don't give a s*** & just want to be paid.I don't even have proof that our management is abit hopeless, just my gut feeling. It doesn't help, that they act nice, so it makes me feel worse, they're unproductive, but they're nice. Having a cry. Am looking for another job, hopefully somewhere where they give a s*** & actually want to work & do some progress & change & evolution

NoOneHere Venting
  • replies: 1

It's been a rough month. I normally just let it pass. But it's been difficult to do this recently. I've been suffering from depression and anxiety since i was 13. I was bullied at school for being different. I never cried - i didnt want to give them ... View more

It's been a rough month. I normally just let it pass. But it's been difficult to do this recently. I've been suffering from depression and anxiety since i was 13. I was bullied at school for being different. I never cried - i didnt want to give them the satisfaction. That was until a teacher joined in the bullying - he thought it was funny. This went on from the 3rd to 10th grade - until I moved schools. My home life was not so different. I recall one time, a pencil was left on the floor, my dad saw this and smashed it into the ground. He then pulled out a gun from his drawer and threatened to end things. I was maybe 9 or 10 at the time. There were other instances of this, if not a gun a rifle, if not a rifle a knife. If he lost his temper in the car, he would swerve the car around threatening to crash it. It wasnt all bad though, their behaviour would swing from kindness to intimidation depending on how their day was going. This made it hard to digest my feelings towards them. People are rarely simple. I knew this wasnt normal, but there was no one to talk to and nothing I could do. I'm an adult now. I rarely show emotion or act out of anger - as I saw how that looked and didnt want to be that. I would suppress what i felt - but i now know suppressing is just as bad. I've only started unpacking these things as that the space under the rug where crap gets swept under is at capacity. I'm not looking for advice or guidance, I'm just hoping that sharing will lighten the load enough to get past today - or at least help someone else to share / reach out for help.

Levelup Re: Older Male depression, Any ideas how to how not to handle it?
  • replies: 15

Hi I am thinking of going to a psychologist or counsellor for depression. They might ask 'what brings you here today'. This is my query. Is it better to talk of the issue, the real world face, the manifestation, what appears to be a trigger or the de... View more

Hi I am thinking of going to a psychologist or counsellor for depression. They might ask 'what brings you here today'. This is my query. Is it better to talk of the issue, the real world face, the manifestation, what appears to be a trigger or the depression?

Guest_30120465 High Functioning Depression
  • replies: 1

First time doing this because I’m kind of desperate. I don’t know for what.. connection, maybe? I had no idea what I was going through and now I feel even lonelier. I’m 24 and work two jobs that I love, I’m studying what I love to do, and I was (unti... View more

First time doing this because I’m kind of desperate. I don’t know for what.. connection, maybe? I had no idea what I was going through and now I feel even lonelier. I’m 24 and work two jobs that I love, I’m studying what I love to do, and I was (until recently) extremely happy and positive. I work 6 days a week and I am now struggling to wake up, no matter how much sleep I get. I’m not ready to go to sleep at night because I don’t want to commit to the next day, even though I know I will enjoy going to work. I wake up with so much dread that I often just cry before I even sit up in my bed. I have a horrible feeling that I am wasting my life away, and spent the last Sunday of summer (my one day off a week) literally wasting away in my bed. Even though all I could think about was going to the beach, until it became too late to do so. It causes me a lot of anxiety. I’ve spent the entire day crying and feeling disgusting.I used to love life, and I still have the desire to go and do things, but I feel trapped in my head. I do the things I need to do — go to work, make dinner, clean, do shopping, etc. but I am exhausted and have been having frequent breakdowns. I don’t know what to do and I am miserable, even though I have so much to be grateful for and desperately want to love my life again. I don’t understand what is happening to me or how to fix it.

Ezbom Unmotivated
  • replies: 2

Hi first time doing this sort of thing so here goes. I am 22 going to be 23 this year and well to put it lightly my life isn't all that great at that the moment since i left school in 2018 i think start of year 11 i have basically done absolutely not... View more

Hi first time doing this sort of thing so here goes. I am 22 going to be 23 this year and well to put it lightly my life isn't all that great at that the moment since i left school in 2018 i think start of year 11 i have basically done absolutely nothing with my life, i work with my dad occasionally for a bit of money but never really had an actual job everytime i think about it scares me i have so much social anxiety its not funny not, to the point i have literally zero friends. To pass time i really enjoy playing games and watching movies and tv shows but lately even that i'm started to feel so unmotivated to do i play something for half and hour and basically give up. On top of everything i'm slowly getting out of a medical thing that happened to me a about a month ago that seriously rattled me now in hind sight nothing was actually seriously wrong well as far as i know it is still going on a little but it just made me scared for my life so i started changing things like my sleep pattern which was terrible i used to wake up at 11am now i wake up at 7:30, My diet was also very bad i'm am beyond skinny like 55kg skinny i'm trying really hard to increase that but its like my body can't even though i am eating 3 full meals plus snacks a day it kinds sucks. As for the jobs part i started applying and by now i've applied to like 30 jobs and not one has gotten back to me which sucks to be honest but hey would its out of my hands. Now the thing thats kind of been bothering me lately is for some weird ass reason i've been wanting to actually do stuff i just don't know what, a few times i thought about going for a walk but decided against it been hot lately and all, i'm starting to feel like i don't know like i'm claustrophobic at home or something like i'm antsy or all the time, like i want to meet people and make friends i just have no actual idea how, hell i would probably even settle for someone to play to games, but its like i lost the ability to socialize and talk to people in the years in the years i haven't done anything. I honestly don't know what to do my parents are lovely people and they help a little but there is only so much they can do. Even though yes i want to get out of the house i still feel a little Unmotivated to do so, best way i can put it is its like someone physically needs to push me out the door.

tahlial Feeling lost and depressed
  • replies: 3

HI there everyone again I'm Feeling really Lost and depressed ATM my thoughts are everywhere and I don't know what to do and sometimes I feel like I don't want to be here and have no idea what to do everything hard

HI there everyone again I'm Feeling really Lost and depressed ATM my thoughts are everywhere and I don't know what to do and sometimes I feel like I don't want to be here and have no idea what to do everything hard

indigo22 Following the breadcrumbs to improve mental health
  • replies: 73

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

Keeeks84 Natural antidepressants?
  • replies: 5

Hi Guys,Firstly, let me just say, I've been on and off this forum for years and even though I wish we all didn't have to be here...it's nice to know I'm not alone. Talking on here makes me feel like I can relate to people. I was telling a girl at wor... View more

Hi Guys,Firstly, let me just say, I've been on and off this forum for years and even though I wish we all didn't have to be here...it's nice to know I'm not alone. Talking on here makes me feel like I can relate to people. I was telling a girl at work about the forums and how it's not a 'you'll be fine, give it time' kind of thing. People actually help you.I've been struggling a lot over the last few months. I broke up with my boyfriend who I love and a week later, my Aunty passed away. I am seeing a hypnotherapist who has helped in some ways but I find I have days where I don't want to talk to anyone but at the same time, when I am alone, my brain does not shut up.I was thinking about antidepressants....but I'm hoping for something natural. I've tried St Johns Wort in the past but I don't think it helps me at all.Can anyone recommend anything?Thank you