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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: 0

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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42 lady Recovery not linear or predictable
  • replies: 4

Hi there, it's mental health day so why not seek support here. I have been off work since May due to depression, PTSD. I was in hospital for 7 weeks (had TMS). My employer not satisfied with my doctors responses to 'fitness for work' letter (had to d... View more

Hi there, it's mental health day so why not seek support here. I have been off work since May due to depression, PTSD. I was in hospital for 7 weeks (had TMS). My employer not satisfied with my doctors responses to 'fitness for work' letter (had to disclose my diagnosis) . I now have to go to an independent medical examination, to be evaluated by another psychiatrist (my Dr does not have a crystal ball to tell him when I can work again). I'm really dreading this. I want to resign but feel I need to see it through. Anyone been through this? I hope you are all being kind to yourselves today.

Mr K Overcoming apathy
  • replies: 4

So, the other day, out with some people for dinner and I'm sitting across the table from someone I know, but don't really know. So he comes out with what should be a great conversation starter "So, tell me what you like to do, what are you into?" and... View more

So, the other day, out with some people for dinner and I'm sitting across the table from someone I know, but don't really know. So he comes out with what should be a great conversation starter "So, tell me what you like to do, what are you into?" and BAM, I'm immediately utterly and horribly blank. I've realized that I have absolutely no idea what I like to do, I will tag along with others' plans but I just utterly lack the motivation to make any plans of my own. Things I used to enjoy seem too hard, or just not fun anymore. I can't think of things I would like to do, I can't even decide what I would like to watch on TV, and I literally can't watch TV without someone else watching with me otherwise I lose interest and start the whole "What am I going to do" stuff again. Desperately need some practical and achievable advice to get me out of this before I waste much more life. K.

Jetty75 Moving forward
  • replies: 2

G'day folks Well I've signed up to something and it's the first time I have actually expressed my feeling. Living the good life we were until my beautiful wife is diagnosed with cancer. Years pass , we beat it , it returns and takes her life in 2019 ... View more

G'day folks Well I've signed up to something and it's the first time I have actually expressed my feeling. Living the good life we were until my beautiful wife is diagnosed with cancer. Years pass , we beat it , it returns and takes her life in 2019 3 days after Xmas... from that morning my lights all turned off. Left with mortgage, etc and a beautiful then little 5 yr old daughter. I prayed a few times to be dug next to my wife. Life's hard right, it's just so hard . We had it all ... and it was taken , in the prime of our lives .. I mean how's a then 44 yr old bloke suppose to handle all this, let alone a little 5 yr old. Almost 3 yrs has past and I'm still stuck, I have a sole trader business that suits my life with school Drop off and pick up . But it isn't consistent so I started looking for work. But trying to find something to suit our life is impossible and that pays well so we can live ! Has anyone been through this ? I've just has the worse 2 weeks with zero income. Trying to build it up but my mind just goes blank and I almost give up. I use to have a saying ' I wouldn't wish this on anyone.'. But you know what I do wish it because I've had enough, why did it happen to us. Life was good we f-ing beat it once why would it come back . Why us !!! People keep saying I'm doing a great job with my child , but am I? I don't know if I am. I have no choice apparently but to wake each day and look after her. Why do I am times wish I wasn't here ?

BlueArt I have no idea what to do, I'm struggling
  • replies: 2

I'm 26 years old and really struggling. I've been dealing with depression and anxiety for a long time but lately, it feels like it is winning. I've had some rough things happen with my dad being diagnosed with cancer and losing someone close to the f... View more

I'm 26 years old and really struggling. I've been dealing with depression and anxiety for a long time but lately, it feels like it is winning. I've had some rough things happen with my dad being diagnosed with cancer and losing someone close to the family and I feel like I am falling apart. I'm really struggling at work with the level of work but the business is so small there is no one to ask for help or give tasks to. I feel like I just can't bring myself to do anything. I'm not doing the washing, I'm barely doing my job, I'm not cleaning, I'm not eating properly, and I'm just so exhausted and angry. I guess I just don't really know what to do. I'm very lonely and have been single for a long time. I have one close friend but she has severe social anxiety so we barely spend any time together. Does anyone have any advice? I feel like I am barely functioning anymore and no one to turn to.

Ponder An Autistic Complex & Chronic 50+ Case Dealing with Vulnerability
  • replies: 41

SHEDDING THE LABELS AND DELUSION: School & employment are long gone for me and not something I ever really fitted into. In fact, every aspect of society and all it's competitive ideals have only ever disabled & rejected my family & I. [systemic] A pr... View more

SHEDDING THE LABELS AND DELUSION: School & employment are long gone for me and not something I ever really fitted into. In fact, every aspect of society and all it's competitive ideals have only ever disabled & rejected my family & I. [systemic] A prison within in a prison. That said, I give no acknowledgment to the charges or authority yet find myself bound by the many who give tribute to said controls. It is on this level that much exploitation & suffering feeds back into that convey belt system driven by an economic standard that saps the soul. Be thankful? Know they place? Yet more controls? Or just one's reality that can never be fathomed by those who've never navagatid your depth of pain. Yes, definitely the latter. So it is, that advice rarely leads one to water unless discovered for self. Lest all else just revert to instructions, to repeaters, the above atriuters, leading to a dependency on behaviour modification algorithms based on the previously mentioned economic standard; that saps the soul. From point A to point B living in a complex system that designs complex labels for simple beings who see such things. Yet I am not my labels despite being treated as a disease. Vulnerable; YES. LIVING WITH VULNERABILITY: Isolation & exploitation constantly feeling and attracting negative states and traumatic incidents; involving self and others. Becoming a soft target on all levels, all phases and within all aspects of said prison/existence/living. Automated responses from multiple mental health diagnosis/s & or prescription/s less of an issue when contrasted to societal conditioning driven by fear based ideology with said soul sapping economic narratives that dictate the tellings, repeaters and advisers. Once the cosmetic gloss losses it's appeal, you grow older, become less valuable, less desirable. You become more of a target for those who see all of the above, disgruntled in their failings to achieve what the behavioural mods instruct.

Ausdog Never again
  • replies: 3

I said never again I won't need this site. Well apparently i do. But I feel strong enough to do what's required.

I said never again I won't need this site. Well apparently i do. But I feel strong enough to do what's required.

HopeDream Going through a difficult time
  • replies: 20

Lately, I've been feeling like nothing really matters, like there is no point to keep going. It might sound cliché but it's the best way I can express it. I'm constantly irritable and numb, and everything feels like an effort. I have trouble falling ... View more

Lately, I've been feeling like nothing really matters, like there is no point to keep going. It might sound cliché but it's the best way I can express it. I'm constantly irritable and numb, and everything feels like an effort. I have trouble falling asleep at night even though I'm tired. My interactions with others feel empty and I don't feel like myself. And the worst part is that I don't know who I can talk to about this, because I don't know who will understand. I can't talk to my parents about this, because they'll just tell me to get over myself, that other people have it worse. I don't know if my mum even cares about how I feel, because we barely talk and she acts like I'm a burden whenever I show my emotions. I can't talk to my dad about it because I've tried before and it only ended up in me feeling worse about my situation. And I don't feel like I can seek professional help because I don't even know what I'd say. I just know that I feel frustrated and angry all the time and I don't know why. It's like I have everything I could ever need, but it feels like I have nothing. I miss feeling loved. I miss being able to laugh, like genuinely laugh. I miss feeling things. I miss doing things because I enjoy them, not because they distract me from my thoughts. I miss sleeping peacefully. I miss feeling like a good person to be around. I miss seeing the world in colour. I miss being able to smile, like actually smile. I miss not feeling like a burden on others. And I just wish that one day, I'll be able to actually live, not just survive.

Faithh Suggestions on how I can make my birthday week a happy one
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone!Been having a tricky week with my anxiety/depression slowly creeping in. It's my birthday week and I'm struggling to do basic things like clean my apartment or go to the post office etc! but I want to turn it around and so I've come here ... View more

Hi everyone!Been having a tricky week with my anxiety/depression slowly creeping in. It's my birthday week and I'm struggling to do basic things like clean my apartment or go to the post office etc! but I want to turn it around and so I've come here to ask for your opinion and suggestions - perhaps you have an idea of something I could do to lift my spirits? Eg: like a day out for myself - but I'm feeling like I dont know where to start! Would really appreciate your any suggestions to help me start to feel better.I know action creates motivation but I'm struggling to make the first step.Thank you!

Comatose Depression, loneliness, social anxiety, poor diet and sleep
  • replies: 6

Hi, I'm 19 years old and this is my first thread. I'd like to talk a bit about my life and a few issues I seem to face on a daily basis. I'm open to any opinions about my situation. I will try to keep this as short as it needs to be, and for warning,... View more

Hi, I'm 19 years old and this is my first thread. I'd like to talk a bit about my life and a few issues I seem to face on a daily basis. I'm open to any opinions about my situation. I will try to keep this as short as it needs to be, and for warning, I'm not so good at formulating my sentences. depression and loneliness.I experience depression, particularly at night. I feel a drastic change in my mood even when I was happy 2 hours ago, to the point I stay up late to delay tomorrow. I feel hollow, I listen to music and sometimes stay up until 2-3 am even when I have work that day. I can't really describe in depth why I stay up late in an act to avoid tomorrow but I would say it's a matter of not wanting to deal with the stress of tomorrow, and not having a purpose in my life. I feel like I've already lived enough, I've seen what life is like. I find myself hanging out with my friends, having a good time and just dying in a sense. I fall numb, stuck in my head, stuck with the thoughts of how lonely I really am and how pointless life is. Sure, life has all these amazing things but I just don't feel like I want it anymore. I mostly fake my happiness just to seem normal. Don't get it wrong, I'm not suicidal... at least anymore. I just wish that I could be in a coma most days. social anxiety? shyness?I don't know. I am actively socially avoidant. I hide away when my family has friends over, and I sit in my car and eat lunch while others are socialising at work. I have a fear of talking to new people and even people I don't know that well. I'd just rather not stress and be by myself. I keep to myself but if I really bring myself to it I can manage, but as said I'd rather not. Poor diet and sleep.Due to these things I have poor sleep because I get stuck in my mind trying to answer a million questions I don't have the answers to. I tend to stay up late and even when I try to go to bed early it's just impossible. I don't really have the answer to why I have such a poor diet. I just don't eat much, I don't have the appetite, and even when I'm hungry I just can't be bothered to have to eat. I usually skip breakfast and most days lunch as well. This has all been occurring for about 4 years, sorry if I didn't articulate it very well.

Fiatlux I can't stop crying
  • replies: 2

I can't stop crying at the moment. The depression has been awful over the winter months but now I feel even worse and cry about everything. I feel so overwhelmed. I am moving all my belongings from my escape apartment back to my old house, where I li... View more

I can't stop crying at the moment. The depression has been awful over the winter months but now I feel even worse and cry about everything. I feel so overwhelmed. I am moving all my belongings from my escape apartment back to my old house, where I live with a son and my pretty awful husband. I have spent the past 2 weekends packing up and moving boxes back to the house. It's exhausting. (my eldest son will move into my apartment so I will leave behind all the furniture and white goods) I moved to the apartment just over 3 years ago to escape an abusive husband and it's depressing that I am moving back to that again. Our marriage is just a marriage of convenience. I stayed and suffered for the 'sake of the children' who have all grown up with this illusion of a happy family. The 'husband' does not change. He controls his anger most of the time, but the 'marriage' is dead. I have absolutely no Love for him at all. The entire situation is sickening and pathetic. It makes me cry all the time. Thank you for listening.