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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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via123 Alone
  • replies: 5

Not sure where to start i want to talk to someone but i dont want to burden anyone i feel like such a failure...... at work in life i dont really have much friends as i put work over them my family arent really the talking type about this info but i ... View more

Not sure where to start i want to talk to someone but i dont want to burden anyone i feel like such a failure...... at work in life i dont really have much friends as i put work over them my family arent really the talking type about this info but i do feel like ive been depressed so awhile just putting on a brave face ... but i also know theres people out there doing it even worse so then i suck it up & keep going but i feel today its very heavyyyyy .

Sandi_blue Heavy chest / Where to start? Real world problems or depression?
  • replies: 2

Hi world I am what some people call a high achiever and this is extremely difficult for me to accept. Im some one the community relies on heavily. It’s my job to help people solve social and financial problems. My entire family have severe mental hea... View more

Hi world I am what some people call a high achiever and this is extremely difficult for me to accept. Im some one the community relies on heavily. It’s my job to help people solve social and financial problems. My entire family have severe mental health history, I’m 32 years old and made it out of a crazy upbringing fueled by un managed mental health of my mother and my two siblings. I cut my entire family off many years ago and pretend none of that ever happened. My life is great, but I’m not sure I never knew what “being ok was” I don’t know how not to be ok. I’ve spent my life turning the heartbreak into motivation. I feel my mindset has been building over the years and in the past 3 years I’ve become more and more cynical. in the past 6 weeks, I’ve not been able to take control of being derailed like I usually can. I have cut all my friends off and feel a deep pain of heartbreak in my chest from the moment I wake up to the moment I go back home and get into bed to cope. I get through my home life by shutting the bedroom door to avoid the anger building when I can hear my kids play / I have minimal interactions with my partner as I am worried about blowing up at her and hurting her. I see old wise men change the subject when I say something bitter - like “they know” I genuinely can’t look any one in the eye and tell them how I feel. I think I need help, but I’m even too proud to say these things to the family doctor - I’m always the problem solver. For some one who hasn’t cried in 32 years. I’ve been finding myself holing back tears in the McDonald’s drive through ordering the daily coffee like it’s a new part of my day. I have a long list of problems I’m working through, for my clients & personally but is this depression or is this just a hart time. Will meds help or will they distract me from working on the real problems to get them off my desk.

LA_88 I don't feel like I should be unhappy
  • replies: 2

I grew up in a financially comfortable family never had to want for anything. Over the years I've been beaten, abused & come out the other side still in one piece I guess you could say. By 14 I was self-harming regularaly just to feel something and a... View more

I grew up in a financially comfortable family never had to want for anything. Over the years I've been beaten, abused & come out the other side still in one piece I guess you could say. By 14 I was self-harming regularaly just to feel something and at 16 self-harmed significantly, my mums distraught reaction to this was the only thing that made me hang on. That kept me going for a while.. by 23 I tried to end my life but a call from my dad snapped me out of it.. I got involved in recreational drugs for fun if not to feel something I graduated uni, I got married I have a good job.. I feel like each day it gets a little worse but I smile and go on with life because I know people need me. I lost my dad recently thought I'd be ok I mean hell when I was a teen he was just an abusive alcoholic but by my 20s as he got older I felt like what didn't kill me only made me stronger and all the bad he and everyone else did only made me the strong person I am today.. he got sick a few yrs ago and changed and we became close I guess I finally got to be the daddy's girl I wanted to be, but then that was taken away. My mum is so strong she has massive shoes I could never fill and my brother suffers from his own mental issues. I feel a constant pressure to be strong and never let anyone know the darkness I carry inside.. I just try to make everyone happy because that's my only reason to live.. My partner has his own issues and I know he'd never be able to handle what I hold inside so I go through life just carrying it around not wanting to burden anyone. There are so many people going through worse out there and I don't feel like I have the right to feel the way I do, I'm not sad like I'm going to cry all night I'm just numb, nothing truly excites me. I want to feel happy because I've gotten through all my bad stuff and am still standing but I don't.. I just feel like a shell of a human who can't leave because of others but also doesn't have reasons for myself to stay if that makes sense. I've built such a great facade over the years that everyone just sees me as the happy cheerful girl, but more recently I'm struggling to keep up appearances and each day I feel more ashamed to feel this way, I've lived my happy life for so long I think even I believe it and now I just feel empty and confused. I'm too logical now to try and kill myself again but I'm concerned of those moments where impulse takes over, I just don't want to let anyone down.

Dk2022 How to help Depressed loved one.
  • replies: 2

Hello all, can someone offer some advice on how to approach someone that dosent acknowledge they are depressed,I've tried to bring a doctor home and was refused entry, so a friends and family.She won't leave the house or attend any function.

Hello all, can someone offer some advice on how to approach someone that dosent acknowledge they are depressed,I've tried to bring a doctor home and was refused entry, so a friends and family.She won't leave the house or attend any function.

Misswren Tired and Depressed
  • replies: 4

I feel like I must have been born under a bad or star or been a terrible person in a past life, because so much of what I've experienced over the last 20 years has been abuse, rejection, feeling isolated all through situations where I've had no contr... View more

I feel like I must have been born under a bad or star or been a terrible person in a past life, because so much of what I've experienced over the last 20 years has been abuse, rejection, feeling isolated all through situations where I've had no control over what happened and mostly through the actions of the people around me. I constantly ask myself why does this keep happening when everyone around me has love, support and friendship. I'm not a very outgoing person, I do try to get along with others but they never respond the way I'd appreciate them to yet it seems so different with everybody else. I don't fit in, I never have but not for lack of trying. I'm tired of feeling like an outsider in life, stressed out because I feel so alone most of the time, but i don't know what to do about it.

Rachael666 Depression and anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi I have been suffering from really bad depression lately. It is getting worse. I feel like I can’t cope.

Hi I have been suffering from really bad depression lately. It is getting worse. I feel like I can’t cope.

white knight Homelessness and human empathy
  • replies: 2

A forum I'm a member of had a post that included a link. That link was of a location in a National Park, a campsite where it was home for a homeless man. The area, about the size of a medium garage was scattered with litter, an old broken down car, f... View more

A forum I'm a member of had a post that included a link. That link was of a location in a National Park, a campsite where it was home for a homeless man. The area, about the size of a medium garage was scattered with litter, an old broken down car, facies in a bucket and tied up tarps for shelter. A local member of the public complained to rangers and the latter attended to leave a notice for him to move and clean up the area (he wasnt present). So there was 9 replies to this members post on the forum. To be a member of this forum you would likely own a powerful tow car and caravan hence able to afford big fuel bills etc. Surprisingly and thankfully there was 3 replies that suggested the hermit might have mental health issues and needs help. Then 6 others had criticisms like- the man should bury his waste matterit's a National Park, he shouldn't be therehe should pay for removal of the trashwhy didnt he ask for help?Those 6 people 66% of the replies, showed little if any empathy or consider possibilities of how the hermit ended up in that living state. They hadnt met the man (as the rangers nor complainant hadnt either) so their information was based purely on an illegal campsite. Have humans dropped their standards of compassion to replace it with judgement with so little effort? Obviously my reply included that benefit of the doubt should be exercised in all cases as the man could need empathy, a arm around his shoulder etc as priority. Trash accumulated can always be removed by Rotary, Lions club and volunteers so that is not the main focus or shouldn't be. What is your take on society's shift to be less empathetic overall to people not only with mental health issues but towards homeless people of which is growing extraordinary in numbers. What can we do to change culture within a care less society? TonyWK

dwade3 How do I tell myself not to give up
  • replies: 6

Hey I'm a 19 year old guy. Today I really thought about ending it all. I've been going through some really long periods of feeling so worthless. occasionally there are some pockets of suprises that happen in my life , and for those brief moments I fe... View more

Hey I'm a 19 year old guy. Today I really thought about ending it all. I've been going through some really long periods of feeling so worthless. occasionally there are some pockets of suprises that happen in my life , and for those brief moments I feel like maybe just maybe it's still worth living. But I keep getting thrown back to this hole. One conversation one word or event is always enough to send me back. And sometimes I don't know how much more I can take feeling like this. Even though I got a new job started a new hobby with some people . Nothing quite seemed to fill the void. I'm so empty and it's as if no amount of goal, or moment of happiness ever lasts for me. And I've tried to maybe find something for myself to keep me going. But lately it just feels redundant. I hope someone can give me help to get through this

Poochlover So Alone
  • replies: 10

I am a single parent to an 18 year old son. I have had zero support from his father in the last 16 years since I left him (violent alcoholic) when my son was two years old. I sacrificed an 'easy' life and money to save my son. My son is now driving m... View more

I am a single parent to an 18 year old son. I have had zero support from his father in the last 16 years since I left him (violent alcoholic) when my son was two years old. I sacrificed an 'easy' life and money to save my son. My son is now driving me mad as he is lazy and unmotivated. He has been hanging out with losers and keeping me up at night worrying. I have set house rules and so far he is obliging however I know there will be another disaster soon. I suffer from major depression and anxiety. I am in my late fifties and my entire 'life' consists of running my son around and ensuring he has done what is the needful. I am going to be totally honest here and state that I have sought help for over 40 years and nothing is forthcoming. I am feeling I am wasting my time here already but I am desperate. Has anyone else had this situation? Years and years of being palmed off, given medications...given so called advice that is useless?All everyone asks is 'do you feel as if you might commit suicide'?! No I don't. But then you are back to square one. I just feel so alone and I hate life. I will not commit suicide! But it would be so good to actually get help from these so called assistance phone lines/groups. I fear it is all a sham. There is so much more but I am limited to space. Thankyou

white knight "snap out of it"? Living a less depressed life
  • replies: 10

It's the saying most used against us without ill intent but it is also the most naïve comment. I suppose the most ideal reply to this is "can you tell me how to do that... do you have an instruction manual because I'd be most interested in your sourc... View more

It's the saying most used against us without ill intent but it is also the most naïve comment. I suppose the most ideal reply to this is "can you tell me how to do that... do you have an instruction manual because I'd be most interested in your source of such valuable psychological intelligence". Yes, a little anger there but like all topics and information that flows through my mind I wonder if there is indeed any truth to the technique of "snapping out of depression". Well, sadly, there is no such thing as snapping out of it, however you can take all precautions and steps to overcome some symptoms and that is the way forward. Without doubt in my experience medication plays a most important role in maintaining a state of mind with far less depressive cycles that pre medication days. I was 53yo before I took medication for depression (and bipolar and dysthymia) so I had several decades enduring both clinical depression, depressive cycles from bipolar and constant low mood depression from Dysthymia. Last week I reduced my medication of anti depressants (approval from my GP) only to find myself in a poor state of mind and a big low period of a number of days until raising the medication restored my mood. So medication, if you are determined by medical staff that you need it, please remain steadfast with taking it. I look at it like democracy ... it is better than the alternative. Lifestyle- I had a friend that had depression. He worked in the Govt sector for 20+ years in the city. His lifestyle was the same 5 days a week- walk to station, catch train, work, return home, watch TV and sleep and repeat. Us depressed people are in control of our destiny and we are more at risk than non depressed people to poor mental health. My friend lasted another 5 years before he was retrenched, then he moved to a regional area and drove a school bus. His demeanour changed for the better. Sometimes we need to look outside the square for answers and a boring lifestyle can suppress us. Do you have ideas on how to lower your risk of depressing episodes? What works for you? A good relationship? People with empathy? Diet and exercise? Help others here consider them in their quest to live a less depressed life. TonyWK