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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 discussions in this section of the Forums have 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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mcc Going to the hospital for mental health?
  • replies: 1

Hi,I am a sufferer of bipolar disorder and am currently in a deep depression. Probably the worst I have ever been and its all getting a bit too much. I am not sleeping at all and in the middle of the night recently I seriously consider going to the h... View more

Hi,I am a sufferer of bipolar disorder and am currently in a deep depression. Probably the worst I have ever been and its all getting a bit too much. I am not sleeping at all and in the middle of the night recently I seriously consider going to the hospital because I know I am not in a good space at all. I am just really scared to go because I have heard it is daunting. If anyone has any tips or do you recommend going? Any help would be appreciated.Thank you.

Violet1 Bipolar and Left temporal lobe epilepsy link
  • replies: 11

Hi everyone, I am 52 years old and have a diagnosis of bipolar 2 and left temporal lobe epilepsy. I have always thought there was a link between the two but haven't found any reasearch about it. I visited a new neurologist today and she has quite goo... View more

Hi everyone, I am 52 years old and have a diagnosis of bipolar 2 and left temporal lobe epilepsy. I have always thought there was a link between the two but haven't found any reasearch about it. I visited a new neurologist today and she has quite good credentials. I am happy to say the best part of the visit is that she stated that she believes there is a corelation between the two . I was very excited to hear this. I just thought i would mention it in case anyone else out there is the same as me and felt the same way but had never had any one substantiate their ideas. I would love to hear from any one else with bp1 or 2 and Left TLE. Cheers, have a good night every one . Xxx

A sad boy I was blocked by my friend and I feel no hope and struggled...
  • replies: 1

Several months ago I met a friend, we talked very friendly and we regard each other as good ones. However, from the end of last month, I found that he always ignored what I said in the message and he exited some social network channels from myself. I... View more

Several months ago I met a friend, we talked very friendly and we regard each other as good ones. However, from the end of last month, I found that he always ignored what I said in the message and he exited some social network channels from myself. I feel very sad and tried asking some reasons on other social network to him, but he still did not ask me, until some days ago he blocked my account. I feel very struggled that I can not believe that he can do this...I may make mistakes that I said too much to him in order to make me feel good, but I do not do bad things to him and what he said are all just good words or what he advice; I just wonder why he did so cruel behaviours -- because he said that we can keep contact during our only actual voice talk. I just do not understand that what he do now on earth because I do not know whether he is too busy to see my messages, or whether he do not like me suddenly, or whether he changed his heart. Whatever the reason is, I feel very sad and even desperate to face everything, because during more than one year with him, I paid too much attention to him but the result is very upset...I do not know if I can solve this relationship, I really want to save it! But I do not know what solutions I can use, and I do not know if I can solve it by myself, which is very hard because I can not dare to contact him anymore now! I have another people which is closed to that friend to help with it potentially, but I do not dare to talk with him either because I will receive scorn from him. I just feel very terrible with it.Now thinking with these things, I feel I am a totally fool and totally stupid! I should not have said so much words to satisfy myself, even if what I said is my advice and I feel very regretful! There is no one can understand myself, which makes me more terrible! I am so silly to make things messy, I make unforgivable things... I have experienced so much things but this time I feel that I am totally foolish... However at the same time I do not know why he is so sudden that I can not realise that he is like changing his characteristics to treat me like that! Maybe he and I both have mistakes...I just cry over and over again, day by day to face this, but I still want better solutions, or I do not know what I can do next...I am very sorry for saying this but thank you all for your help...This is my last destination to solve the solutions, or I really do not know what I can find and ask for!

francis122986 :)
  • replies: 2

I don’t know if there is something wrong with me,I get so sad for a couple days then go back to normal.

I don’t know if there is something wrong with me,I get so sad for a couple days then go back to normal.

Joy10 Depression ??
  • replies: 4

Do I have depression or am I just lonely? My life is bland. I get up have breakfast and either play solitaire or watch tv. I just don’t have the interest do do anything.

Do I have depression or am I just lonely? My life is bland. I get up have breakfast and either play solitaire or watch tv. I just don’t have the interest do do anything.

white knight Bipolar emotional freeze
  • replies: 5

I've had this since I was 12yo... 55 years. Under trauma or during an argument when you feel like you are being lectured perhaps I completely shut down. If I can get out any words it might be "cant talk now". Bipolar people read emotions whereas othe... View more

I've had this since I was 12yo... 55 years. Under trauma or during an argument when you feel like you are being lectured perhaps I completely shut down. If I can get out any words it might be "cant talk now". Bipolar people read emotions whereas others go by content of their words mostly. We read peoples emotional connection, facial features with the slightest movement. But the bipolar emotional freeze is something I just learned about a few days ago and was unaware it was from bipolar as I have a few other illnesses. What can a partner do when one goes into this state? Well that state is an extremely deep place to be, it is not dissimilar to grief... sometimes I've likened it to shock, frozen for about 20-40 minutes. So why is it an important topic? As I've had these maybe 6 times a year thats over 300 total, I believe it is not a safe condition to be in. Recently at the end of such a state I immediately walked into my clinic and sought help. That resulted in a new mental health plan and assistance. It's what we all should do- without fail, seek help. Conflict is more common between bipolar people due to this method of reading emotional reactions but we are also deeply sensitive, in fact everything we do is "deep". I havent met a shallow bipolar person yet. This means that people without bipolar operate their mind differently to bipolar and its the reason bipolars find conflict hard to avoid, resolve, make sense of and we feel alone developing a desire to become a hermit. In my thread "Want to be a hermit" it depicts several times I went up to the mountains with an unhealthy mind only to return when my mind was more rational. My thinking on the way up was high emotion, rejection, confusion and unhealthy, unsafe... on the way down 5 days later my mind was more rational, I could tolerate human contact and was eager to return to work and save money... total opposites. I'll leave the rest of the analogy to the experts. Hypomania/depression swings/freezing, lots to learn if you or a loved one has bipolar. The only advice I'd give is to remain calm with a bipolar in a "freeze", touch his arm to give him/her comfort and support and after 15 minutes tell them you will make a cuppa. Keep one eye on them if they leave the area... follow at a distance for a while then approach and hug. When in a freeze thats what I'd like. If it gets worse call lifeline on 131114 TonyWK

scaevitas Failure
  • replies: 4

Hello, it’s Scaevitas. I am a medical student and I am halfway through my degree. Unfortunately I marginally failed a component of an assessment (by 0.03) which is needed to progress to the next year. I was struggling with depression and I also have ... View more

Hello, it’s Scaevitas. I am a medical student and I am halfway through my degree. Unfortunately I marginally failed a component of an assessment (by 0.03) which is needed to progress to the next year. I was struggling with depression and I also have around 9 other chronic illnesses. I did not seek help when I needed it most and have not taken responsibility for my own health and academic performance. I am currently repeating the year at medical school, and I have two months until a similar exam. I am an utter failure. I am still coming to terms with having to repeat a year of medical school. This is very stressful as I have to make new friends and do everything again. For the first few weeks of semester, I was struggling with active suicidal ideation and recently, I have had passive suicidal ideation. I often want to escape from reality and I have spent a lot my time indulging in TV and movie streaming services to distract myself from my situation. This however, is not sustainable. Some other context about my life: I come from an extremely academic medical family where failure like this is unheard of. Many times throughout my childhood, my parents have said, “how are you my child” in regards to my intelligence, or, “how did I give birth to such a stupid person.” I have also never been in a situation like this and I have also lost friends because I am repeating the year. The university has also been very condescending, apathetic and unsupportive during this time. I am not sure how I can go on.

Guest_1282 Life is relentless is just hard to get anywhere
  • replies: 6

Yeah just feel like I keep pushing but after all the effort- no one even gets off my back. I dont care for people noticing the effort, thats fine got thick skin enough to deal with that. But the fact people keep making it worse and think they can "ca... View more

Yeah just feel like I keep pushing but after all the effort- no one even gets off my back. I dont care for people noticing the effort, thats fine got thick skin enough to deal with that. But the fact people keep making it worse and think they can "care" by doing that is just an absolute joke. Is just doing my head in and causing me stress everyday. With everything, down to like every thought I have anyway this is half depression. Half difficult emotions sort of discussion but thought Id put it in here anyway

Violet_falls I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel
  • replies: 2

I'm acknowledging that I'm not actually ok and I feel very low and I'm so sad inside. I keep telling everybody I'm fine, I dont want loved ones to worry about me. But pretending I'm fine is not the same as actually being fine I've realised. It's been... View more

I'm acknowledging that I'm not actually ok and I feel very low and I'm so sad inside. I keep telling everybody I'm fine, I dont want loved ones to worry about me. But pretending I'm fine is not the same as actually being fine I've realised. It's been almost 12 months since separation with my husband and I thought I would be feeling better by now as some time has passed and I have tried to get on with things. Life is very difficult now on my own with the kids and I'm still carrying a heavy heart from the end of a marriage, disappointment, grief, stress, worry, sadness, dv trauma from the marriage and some financial hardships now. So I find it difficult alot of the time to want to or be able to do small tasks around the home. I'm not sleeping or eating. I avoid crowds and social settings now. I just want to be alone alot. I also feel like I don't have time to fall apart or sink any lower because I have young children that depend on me and I have to go to work and I have to keep moving and functioning. But I just don't feel ok and im struggling internally. Anxiety has severely heightened for me this week due to an incident involving myself that has caused me mortification and I feel like I'm at absolute rock bottom inside at this point.

PurpleOcean Defining self-worth
  • replies: 8

I can't seem to figure out how to define my self-worth outside of other people or other things. By myself, I keep feeling like I don't have any inherent worth. I constantly feel I need to achieve things, get things done, or be productive or helpful t... View more

I can't seem to figure out how to define my self-worth outside of other people or other things. By myself, I keep feeling like I don't have any inherent worth. I constantly feel I need to achieve things, get things done, or be productive or helpful to other people to be deserving of love or even of life. Objectively, I know this is unhealthy because it makes me lose self-esteem and faith in myself pretty quickly whenever I inevitably trip up or don't excel at something. But for as long as I can remember, this has been how I define myself and understand my worth as a human being. I have never been taught to think about myself in any different way, and I have no idea where to start. I am always terrified of failure because of this, and each time I make a mistake I am extremely hard on myself, even while acknowledging this is unfair and not helpful. In a way, this makes it worse, because now I am hard on myself because I am hard on myself. It's a never-ending cycle that makes me exhausted. I hope someone out there can understand this and let me know I'm not going crazy.

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