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Depression

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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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DiamondDreamz Depression and Anxiety
  • replies: 2

When i was younger, i was that kid that was always either smiling or laughing and talking a mile a second but during high school i began feeling like people were judging the way I looked and it got to the point where I was avoiding windows, mirrors a... View more

When i was younger, i was that kid that was always either smiling or laughing and talking a mile a second but during high school i began feeling like people were judging the way I looked and it got to the point where I was avoiding windows, mirrors and basically any reflective surface because i was convinced i was ugly. During COVID when we had to wear masks all the time, they became like a safe barrier for me that when we had to take them off i felt exposed and the self criticising got even worse. I became unable to hold eye contact with people during conversations and started obsessing over the conversations after they happened. Then when i started working, the people i worked with were already long time friends so it felt like i couldn't slip into the group and that made me feel isolated especially since during high school my parents never let me hang out with my friends outside of school ever. I became unable to smile at random people like i used to and would always think negative of everything. I would always cry at night but put a smile on my face for my family because in our culture it's not common at all to talk about deep feelings like depression and anxiety because they view them as "modern problems". But after a while i realised i couldn't smile at all to anybody both my friends and family like it would always feel so fake. I've tried training myself how to smile again but it feels so weird and almost painful to hold it and i even tried learning how to be happy but I can't seem to break through it. Does anyone have any advice on how i could find joy again and genuinely smile again?

Staffylover67 56 years of struggle, soul mate died, way too lonely today. Not sustainable.
  • replies: 3

Hi. My first time here.First time actually reaching out in 17 years.my soul mate died 6th Feb. I'm lonely angry and sad, yet picked such a fight with my housemate that I am going to be isolated, alone completely and the situation and my mood is hopel... View more

Hi. My first time here.First time actually reaching out in 17 years.my soul mate died 6th Feb. I'm lonely angry and sad, yet picked such a fight with my housemate that I am going to be isolated, alone completely and the situation and my mood is hopeless.I can't look after myself.nearly burnt the house down last night forgot about the fry plan. still can't breathe normally.soon I'm going to be paying a 100% lmortgage, rates, bills and food. and I've smoked since I was 14 only quitting when life was ok. I've got NDIS but it's proven to be an exposure to scamners and nothing more.I've got one estranged ish almost 30yr son and one 36, who I've raised successfully independent. No other family, I have no friends close by, didn't assimilate into the community. It's isolated, I'm fairly physically disabled, I'm BPD and add. I'm no fun to be around. No one cares. what's the point? I know nothing is going to change because some idiot thought that the last 30 years.I don't know why suffer anymore?

Jake_5 Resignation
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone I want to leave my job the stress and pressure of it all is now impacting my mental health severely and also my home life I literally throwing up from anxiety before I get to work can anyone please fill me in on the process I have a lette... View more

Hi everyone I want to leave my job the stress and pressure of it all is now impacting my mental health severely and also my home life I literally throwing up from anxiety before I get to work can anyone please fill me in on the process I have a letter from my doctor

Claire_4 How do I figure out why I’m sad?
  • replies: 5

Is there a way to figure out what’s making me sad. I have this ache in my chest that hurts so much it feels like someone close to me has just died but nothing has happened. Why do I feel so this intense sadness? How do I figure out why?

Is there a way to figure out what’s making me sad. I have this ache in my chest that hurts so much it feels like someone close to me has just died but nothing has happened. Why do I feel so this intense sadness? How do I figure out why?

try-to-smile2 Short term Depression
  • replies: 3

For the last 2 years I seem to be suffering from very short term bouts of depression but I’ve read this is uncommon. Does anyone else experience this?

For the last 2 years I seem to be suffering from very short term bouts of depression but I’ve read this is uncommon. Does anyone else experience this?

HelloGail Daughter cutting me out of her life update
  • replies: 2

Hello. Nothing hasn't changed except I feel better today, more accepting of how my daughter feels about me. I haven't reacted and annoy her, I wouldn't even consider that; it's just I am turning 63 next week and just tired; part of old age. I stayed ... View more

Hello. Nothing hasn't changed except I feel better today, more accepting of how my daughter feels about me. I haven't reacted and annoy her, I wouldn't even consider that; it's just I am turning 63 next week and just tired; part of old age. I stayed up last night doing research into family history it made me forget about it. I am still here if she needs to contact me. I just want to let Beyond Blue know I am over the initial shock of it and will just get on with my life. I have applied for a transfer to live closer to my siblings as I am isolated here got no one at all to talk to except a few neighbours. So I posted off my application today. I don't expect a miracle but as Hollywood recently said "don't give up on your dreams", 2023 Oscars.

Mon_Rose Confused
  • replies: 2

Hi, I’m sad, I’m not sure why. I feel like have like this weight on my shoulders, pushing me down and I just don’t know when I can get back up or if I’ll go back up. I feel stuck feel selfish because I can’t think of Australia anything that’s wrong w... View more

Hi, I’m sad, I’m not sure why. I feel like have like this weight on my shoulders, pushing me down and I just don’t know when I can get back up or if I’ll go back up. I feel stuck feel selfish because I can’t think of Australia anything that’s wrong with my life and that’s a trigger in itself, I know I come from a place of privilege being a white woman in society who is never had to worry because my family is always had a roof over their head, but I’m just sad. I have such low energy support worker for people disabilities and I’m working part time currently I’m studying every Monday and I’ve lost hours at work because I was taking too many days off because I felt like I couldn’t even get out of bed and make up excuses and work keep telling me how much they they love the work that I do as a support worker and they would hate to lose me and I want to check in with me and make sure that I’m okay and I’ve offered support in. Anyway they can my partner of six years him just lost his pop I knew him guess it brings up the feelings of the loss ofmy Nan a bit, I lost her when I was younger and I know I feel often like I lost her before I could even get to know her so I guess there is an element of pain there.I’m so so confused about my sexuality as well I have no shame in it, but I’m just confused , I feel like a lot of people at 22 would have a label for understanding of who they are, but I have no idea and I’m always the one that’s like I don’t need no labels. Idk why but right now my emotions just feel like the biggest mystery in my own life.

ogtbird Living In Australia Help
  • replies: 15

Hi, This is a difficult post. I moved to Australia about 12 years ago from the UK. I tried hard to make AUSTRALIA and Western Australia my home but I struggled so much being away from family and friends in the UK. I also found Western Australia very ... View more

Hi, This is a difficult post. I moved to Australia about 12 years ago from the UK. I tried hard to make AUSTRALIA and Western Australia my home but I struggled so much being away from family and friends in the UK. I also found Western Australia very insular and remote. I bought houses had kids got a permanent visa to try and mask the underlying feelings about living here. Fast forward over a decade my marriage has failed and I just exist seeing my son a few times a week working a job I despise. I havr hardly any friends due to my marriage breakdown. I have no idea where to turn to. My son is only 7 and he to will be affected by the apathetic and negative attitude towards the country I tried to call home. I feel trapped and just feel like ending it all. I just cannot be bothered with life anymore.

Joshalot Depression and anxiety
  • replies: 3

Depression and anxiety was something that I never thought would touch me, until I saw my father fall into a terrible state of depression and anxiety. I seem to have his genes as I suffered depression and anxiety with all my 4 children. It was luckily... View more

Depression and anxiety was something that I never thought would touch me, until I saw my father fall into a terrible state of depression and anxiety. I seem to have his genes as I suffered depression and anxiety with all my 4 children. It was luckily picked up by the doctors at the hospital and I was given medication to help . But I had to do a lot of work myself to feel “ normal “. Exercise helped although it was extremely difficult to get my body to “ move”My family found it hard to understand as it was something that had not touched their lives before. But I’m out from under the cloud with the help of a great psychiatrist and psychologist and am now living a pretty good life. I have 4 grown up children who are doing really well and am very happy that I was able to get away from the “ black dog “ as Sir Winston Churchill named it.

HelloGail Daughter cutting me out of her life
  • replies: 2

Hi. I am at the end. There is nothing in my life worth living for and am hoping this heart ache will end my sorrows. I can only be myself and my only child told me today that she no longers wants me in her life. In fact on Christmas Day past told me ... View more

Hi. I am at the end. There is nothing in my life worth living for and am hoping this heart ache will end my sorrows. I can only be myself and my only child told me today that she no longers wants me in her life. In fact on Christmas Day past told me over the phone after I reached out to her for a reconcile "if you were not my mother, I wouldn't have anything to do with you". And today she confirmed this. If you read my previous posts of December 2022-January 2023 you will see what I wrote. Yes I had eye surgery on 12/12/22 and she left me, blinded, as she wanted to go back to her partner in Albury. Left me blinded as I had 12 stitches still in my right eye. My eye has since recovered from the surgery but her total rejection when I needed her the most after the surgery showed to me for the first time that my daughter does not care or even likes me. I raised her alone, got her through to university thanks to Kip McGrath. I worked hard to get her a Scholarship and she was granted a thirty thousand dollar scholarship which paid for her university campus accommodation and now she is fully qualified looks down on me as I am on a disability pension living in community housing. I did the best as I could on the little money I had. What happened? I do not know. My friends had warned me that I was spoiling her and now I believe I did so, it turned her into a person who does not appreciate me anymore. Sorry, I am in shock and lost for words.