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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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Cookiebelle I Truly Feel My Life is Over
  • replies: 6

Hi AllI have posted recently regarding my son turning 18. I feel so responsible still. He is not very mature and is yet to get his licence. He has been hanging out with 'friends' who smoke weed. He does have a part time job which I secured for him. P... View more

Hi AllI have posted recently regarding my son turning 18. I feel so responsible still. He is not very mature and is yet to get his licence. He has been hanging out with 'friends' who smoke weed. He does have a part time job which I secured for him. Plus he is doing online Bachelor degree. I feel like a doormat. He is pulling and pushing me every which way. He wants to be responsible but then proves he can't be. He claims now he is 18 he can do what he likes! Not under my roof and at my expense!He has nothing much to do with my ex (his father) and again...I have had 18 years of constant responsibility with no help and I am in my late fifties..I really cannot cope with this much longer. My life revolves around making sure he is ready for work/uni..cleaning up his rubbish ....dealing with his 'mates' that come here and think they can party on.....?? I am so absolutely over it. I have given him EVERYTHING......my life ended when I left his father due to violence. The money I have spent...the different schools because he didn't like certain people...the private school and the course last year that cost me thousands. I must be so absolutely useless that my own son can use and abuse my generosity and love?I have next to no friends. I don't really care. I had so many dramas throughout his school years with so called friends and I pass. I have zero help from anyone. I always thought that I have to get him to 18 then if I die it doesn't matter as I have a large insurance policy in my name. I never thought I would make it as I had melanoma and other stuff and now we are here I am surprised. I am sorry this is a bit rambling. I guess I am trying to convey my sheer exhaustion and depression at the state of my life. As I gave everything up for him I have no idea who I am anymore. He is not violent but he does remind me of his dad. In that he gets his way everytime through stubborness and using my age and exhaustion against me. He has his 'mates' come here and I have told him over and over there is to be no alcohol or weed......next thing his mate rocks up with an esky of JD and then this guys Dad calls me to figure out where his JD went? I told him the truth and I reiterated that under my roof I am responsible!All I want is peace! This son of mine is killing me. I love him so much but I am sick of being his mother.

Box Why want my Psychiatrist listen to me?
  • replies: 2

I went to see my new psychiatrist yesterday to let her know I’m not doing well. I have Severe Depression/Anxiety. I have been on medication from 2005 to 2019. Ever since the Pandemic I have not had any care/worked for 4 years, just isolating in my ho... View more

I went to see my new psychiatrist yesterday to let her know I’m not doing well. I have Severe Depression/Anxiety. I have been on medication from 2005 to 2019. Ever since the Pandemic I have not had any care/worked for 4 years, just isolating in my home. It’s all messed up’ & was trying ti get back on track. I let her know that I’m not sleeping correctly which is making me mentally/physically sick. I’m so exhausted from sleep deprivation & lying in my bed just staring at the walls to find myself a solution. She prescribed medication for my anxiety/depression . Which is not working for me. No sleep at all’ which makes my anxiety worse. What does a person need to do to get the help I’m needed. I asked to be put back on my old regimens but she refused & didn’t listen to my concerns. At least with this I could function at my job’ sleep at least 6 hrs. & live a somewhat ok’ life.I’m so tired of not getting g the help I. Red. It’s just like a joke the way the DR. Just dangle your life with treatments that don’t work . I’m not sure what to do now

Lucy- Depressed son
  • replies: 8

My son is 19 and is depressed ( did the checklist and scored “very high”) but will not let me help him and doesn’t want to help himself. He works full time but as soon as he gets home he smokes weed, we have tried to get him to stop or cut down but h... View more

My son is 19 and is depressed ( did the checklist and scored “very high”) but will not let me help him and doesn’t want to help himself. He works full time but as soon as he gets home he smokes weed, we have tried to get him to stop or cut down but he won’t. He doesn’t eat all day until he is stoned and is underweight. he doesn’t have any friends but connects with people at work. He’s lost his confidence and I just do not know how to help him. I’ve tried to get him to see a doctor and have given him at John’s wort to try but doesn’t seem interested. We have tried getting him to exercise with no luck, I’m at my wits end.

tirawa jobseeking
  • replies: 1

I don't really know if this is the place to put this but I just wanted to vent a bit, I suppose, and see if there's any advice or anything out there. I've struggled with pretty bad mental illness basically my whole life and it really impeded me over ... View more

I don't really know if this is the place to put this but I just wanted to vent a bit, I suppose, and see if there's any advice or anything out there. I've struggled with pretty bad mental illness basically my whole life and it really impeded me over the years, I didn't graduate high school because I couldn't handle it and then I immediately went into trying to complete a bridging course and have been struggling with that ever since. I'm maybe finally about to finish a course that's meant to be 1 year but it's taken me nearly 4 years to complete. I can't really study full time with my mental illness, and the jobseeker pay isn't really enough for me to live on as someone who rents in a city and can't really just move. I got a job through APM disability last year and it's all been really optimistic since then but after July they found they can't afford to keep hiring me so I'm not really getting any shifts anymore unless they're completely understaffed. So I've been looking for work for about 4 weeks since I was informed of this change, and I came into it kind of optimistic, I have work experience now and I'm pretty capable so surely I can get an upgrade and find a better paying job and start really getting comfy. But I'm realising I seriously overestimated myself. I've been applying to mostly lower level government jobs, administration and the like, and haven't heard back from any of them. Then I started applying to retail jobs which I'm also not hearing back from. Not even an interview. Pretty much every day I get an email saying I didn't get another job; otherwise it's just radio silence. I'm studying part time and I just have nothing to do with most of my time now. I just sit there day in day out hoping one of these jobs will call me until 5pm kicks around and then I just wait out the time I need to be awake so I can go to sleep and start the wait again. I can't resort to hobbies really, since most of them cost money and I'm completely broke between bills and rent and food delivery (food preparation is obviously not easy at all when you're mentally ill). I feel stupid for even thinking anyone would want to hire me. I have one year of retail experience at 23 years old and absolutely 0 academic achievements, I can't even pick up the phone most of the time. It feels terrible and it's so frustrating. I hate feeling this useless and unwanted.

blondguy Is Depression/Anxiety Inherited?
  • replies: 26

Hi Everyone I have had severe anxiety for 25 years and and depression for 15 years. My anxiety has gone through calm and true acceptance but the depression is still with me and I now understand it may be with me for life. I have read some posts on th... View more

Hi Everyone I have had severe anxiety for 25 years and and depression for 15 years. My anxiety has gone through calm and true acceptance but the depression is still with me and I now understand it may be with me for life. I have read some posts on the BB Forums that it may be hereditary. Even though at this late stage of my illness I would like to hear people's thoughts on if they think that their depression/anxiety has come from their parents or grandparents. Please share your thoughts. Kind Thoughts Paul

JackFrost Feeling worthless, useless, & overwhelmed
  • replies: 19

For some reason it took a very long time to ome up with a title... I was trying to be clear while trying to ignore that voice that says to make it witty or intriguing because then people will want to read it... whose brain does that?! Like, this is a... View more

For some reason it took a very long time to ome up with a title... I was trying to be clear while trying to ignore that voice that says to make it witty or intriguing because then people will want to read it... whose brain does that?! Like, this is a thread about personal demons and I'm trying to be more engaging. Urgh! Anyway, I'm Jack. I am a neuroscientist with ADHD, depression, and anxiety. They say you study psychology (and similar fields) to find out what is wrong with yourself... I just didn't realise there were so many problems beneath the surface. I could go on many tangents here about different issues, but i'll just stick with hard line mental health... I cannot pick myself up after I get knocked down. On the outside looking in, I have an amazing resume`. But on the inside, I have done nothing of worth. I am not proud of myself. I do not feel joy when I think of what I have and can achieve, I just think of how much less I have done than others. How I'm going to just get through the day without disappointing myself. I have spent years just 'waiting for Friday' so then I can turn off for a short while. And I have wasted so many weeks thinking like that. Because then it's the end of the month, then year, and then I still haven't completed that work or improved my standing as an academic and so it all starts again in the new year. Despite having avenues of support, I cannot see passed my failures. No matter how small they are, in my eyes, they're massive. So here I am, on a Monday, thinking about my work week, and waiting for it to be 5pm, with this huge, crushing feeling on my chest and my shoulders.

z0z Some positivity for everyone!!!
  • replies: 2

Hi everybody!I have just some random advice and maybe it will in come in handy for someone who needs it!I've found that when my depression gets really horrible its because things feel too repetetive, to combat this I've been trying tons of new things... View more

Hi everybody!I have just some random advice and maybe it will in come in handy for someone who needs it!I've found that when my depression gets really horrible its because things feel too repetetive, to combat this I've been trying tons of new things big and small! Obviously depression can make things seem really big and hard to do so don't feel overwhelmed by this list! Just see what might apply to you and your life Heres some ideas for anyone interested!Explore ~ exploring has been one of the things that is helping me most! wether it's walking one of my regular places but finding hidden gems, going to a completley new place, or even just letting myself get lost in order to find new places! Exploring is so good for your mental health and by seeing and experiencing new things I've found you feel a whole lot better!Create ~ creating is another thing i love! You could paint a picture, make a braclet or even a pair of earrings, buy a colouring book, make a poster wall, sew or embroider, make a collage, start a journal! The possibilities are endless! Not only by creating things are you developing skills, but it's a great way to keep your mind busy and hey, you might even find something you're really good at! If you're not sure where to start Pinterest is an amazing place to find some ideas!Learning/ Educating yourself~ Learning new things can be an amazing way to expand your mind and ideas and find new interests! Theres lots of amazing free and paid resources online for learning all types of different things! Duolingo is great if you want to learn a new language, skillshare has courses on various skills, and youtube has amazing resources with videos from tedtalks and vox! At the moment I've been really intrested in learning about AI art creation, and a very random niche one- videos about big waves??? Whatever floats your boat i suppose (pun intended) Also just going to the library and picking random books and things that interest you!Cooking a new recipe ~ So many people love cooking and baking and its clear to see why! There is something very comforting about following a recipe step by step and enjoying the process and having something you made from scratch!Plus its super rewarding and yummy!!

Amanda2000 depression - my coping tool
  • replies: 4

Just thought some of you may find this helpful to beat the Monday blues! I've recently noticed the pattern of my depression at various times of the day - worst in the morning and struggling to get out of bed, but then improves as the day progresses, ... View more

Just thought some of you may find this helpful to beat the Monday blues! I've recently noticed the pattern of my depression at various times of the day - worst in the morning and struggling to get out of bed, but then improves as the day progresses, low again in the evening when I need to attend to household-chores. What I've started practising is to look past the unpleasant moment and focus on the next good moment. For example, if I get out of bed, I get to eat my favourite breakfast-cereal. Basically try to focus on the next small thing that I can look forward to. Similarly, if you're feeling low today, try to focus on how great you'll feel on Friday as you step out of work into the weekend. The same can be applied to absolutely anything that you dread having to do. Whilst this does not cure my depression & anxiety, it certainly has been a big help for me to get through everyday.

z0z so so lonely :( any advice
  • replies: 5

i’ve never felt more alone in my life. i feel like i’ve become super distant from all my friends and family. I’m so scared of the idea of completely losing the ability to connect with people. I feel like i’ve spent so long trying to find “my people” ... View more

i’ve never felt more alone in my life. i feel like i’ve become super distant from all my friends and family. I’m so scared of the idea of completely losing the ability to connect with people. I feel like i’ve spent so long trying to find “my people” but i just haven’t found many yet. I’m a super social person and talking to people and connecting with people is one of my favourite things but now it is so hard to do. does it get better? have you guys found your people? or even some people? i know that most people don’t find “their people” in high school but it seems like everyone around me has friends and support and i’m so isolated and alone. Can anyone tell me it gets better? thanks to everyone i hope you’re all well

Kaelin Life is hard sometimes
  • replies: 3

My mental health is getting worse and my coping mechanisms aren't working much anymore.I struggle with anxiety, depression, self harm, trauma and some other things. I feel really guilty for how it's affecting my mother, especially since my recent inc... View more

My mental health is getting worse and my coping mechanisms aren't working much anymore.I struggle with anxiety, depression, self harm, trauma and some other things. I feel really guilty for how it's affecting my mother, especially since my recent incident. I really just want everything to be okay, but I haven't been okay in almost a decade now, and i dont think i ever will be okay. Every time i finally get comfortable with my mental health team they have to leave, or they get transferred or i have to leave, so I can't actually get anywhere in therapy. My trauma reactions started getting worse since my incident about a week ago, im having meltdowns and anxiety attacks basically daily and its really hard to regulate when i dont even know the triggers, especially because the people triggering me care about me so i feel guilty about getting mad at them, which just means i turn my anger onto myself. I guess i dont really have a point here besides venting that life is hard and coping is even harder.