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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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ogtbird Depression Destroying Everything
  • replies: 4

Hi I moved to Western Australia about 11 years ago. Long story short I never fully accepted leaving family and friends behind in the UK. This is no disrespect to WA and AUSTRALIA which are great places to live. It’s just me. Fast forward a decade and... View more

Hi I moved to Western Australia about 11 years ago. Long story short I never fully accepted leaving family and friends behind in the UK. This is no disrespect to WA and AUSTRALIA which are great places to live. It’s just me. Fast forward a decade and my marriage collapsed about a year and a half ago. This is after years of problems. I blame myself mostly as my ex wife loves it here and she took the chance to leave my negativity behind. It had become too much for her. It’s something that I’ve tried to address through medication, counselling but I just have a dark view on life and living in Perth. Incredibly I’ve managed to get myself in a good place physically I got a rental, have a good relationship with my ex and son I even have been seeing a girl for the last 6 months we go to gigs etc. But mentally I just cannot get myself in a positive place about living here. I have a duty to my son but I am like a zombie going through the motions. My girlfriend now has noticed it. The anxiety is huge. I visualise the worst so now I’m down on future on things like buying a house which in turn ruins day to day living. It’s one thing after the next. I’m just wasting life with such a pessimistic negative view on everything. Many people would jump at the chance I have but I feel like I’ve wasted life. For example my current girlfriend lives day to day as her husband passed away 9 years ago. I admire her mentality about life but I cannot translate it into my negative mindset. Any points welcome.

Bellatrix_17 Constantly feeling like a failure/burden
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I’m new here. I haven’t been diagnosed properly yet (only once by a GP). I always feel anxious and constantly feel like a failure/burden. I feel like I can’t do anything right. I’ve been actively looking for a stable job for months. I ha... View more

Hi everyone, I’m new here. I haven’t been diagnosed properly yet (only once by a GP). I always feel anxious and constantly feel like a failure/burden. I feel like I can’t do anything right. I’ve been actively looking for a stable job for months. I have qualifications and work experience from internships and field placements. My supervisors, tutors or trainers always told me that I was very competent too. I’m using a resume format with content that was reviewed by an expert from my uni. I just update the content as necessary. I wouldn’t say I lack communication skills either. However, I have only got contacted for interviews so far. My friends from uni already got a job. I might be the only one who haven’t got a job (got my master’s degree in 2019 and diploma last December). I’m 29 years old and not eligible for Centrelink services. Therefore, I have to shamelessly ask for money from my parents who are currently struggling financially as well. I feel useless. I have a partner who also have anxiety and depression disorders. I’m very open minded, but I rarely express my opinions to other people, apart from my partner who shares the same views. However, most of the times whenever I express my opinions to him, particularly about social injustice, he always gets triggered. He would seem uncomfortable. Even when I just want to talk casually. I feel like I can’t say anything right. I feel like a failure. I feel like a burden to every person that I love.

AnotherRandomUser Losing Faith in Humanity...
  • replies: 4

I know good people exist, I talk to them all the time. Sometimes will run in to someone kind every now and then and go "wow they were nice!" But despite this sometimes this dark doubtful feeling says "other people are evil, cruel and cannot be truste... View more

I know good people exist, I talk to them all the time. Sometimes will run in to someone kind every now and then and go "wow they were nice!" But despite this sometimes this dark doubtful feeling says "other people are evil, cruel and cannot be trusted, you're better off without them." I grew up in terrible abuse. My parents tried to kill me and abused me every day. I was also abused by my siblings. I was bullied in school because I was different. I was bullied by my relatives because my parents had them convinced I was a troublemaker. I got chronically ill and then had to deal with the constant stigma of being disabled and poor my whole life. Lets just say, my overall experience with other people hasn't been a good one. Often I try to be hopeful and positive, remind myself of all the kind people I've met. But other times I see just the bad stuff. The uncaring attitude of the general public of those struggling, the lack of help from governments, how rude people have become after Covid, increased online bullying and extremism, and more.And I feel myself feeling bitter, upset and angry. I know there are always going to be good and bad people, but lately I guess I've been feeling overwhelmed by the bad. It feels suffocating, like the world has become this big scary place I want nothing to do with. I admit I have always had trouble feeling trust and connections with other people though, which doesn't help. I've often felt like an alien among humans, even as a young kid. I had trouble making friends growing up, and now I don't really try that much. I've also been housebound on-and-off for 10 years due to illness, so lack much contact to begin with. But even if I could go outside... I don't know if I want to. I feel bitter about talking to people and hearing their hateful words. I feel like I just don't get along with most people because they seem really self-centered and judgmental... and yes Im aware of the irony there. But still. Im grateful for kind people, but the idea of meeting many unkind people in hopes one isn't, bothers me.To be honest, my biggest fear has always been other people.

Lyssaa Feeling unloveable
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, I've been struggling a bit lately with feeling like I'm undeserving of proper romantic love, or that there's something wrong with me that makes me unloveable. I'm eighteen now and my only relationship was when I was fourteen, and I was ... View more

Hey everyone, I've been struggling a bit lately with feeling like I'm undeserving of proper romantic love, or that there's something wrong with me that makes me unloveable. I'm eighteen now and my only relationship was when I was fourteen, and I was treated like shit. Since then, I've been borderline stalked and obsessed over by a guy I didn't like back, had a bit of a thing with a guy who said he liked me and I thought he genuinely cared about me but when I asked what we were he said we were just friends, had a couple of guys add me on snap only to tell me they think I'm pretty and not make an effort to get to know me, and I recently hooked up with a guy I met at the club I met a few times before he moved to the other side of the country. But none of it has been the true actual genuine care I want- someone getting to know me and liking me for the real me, not just thinking I'm pretty or liking me but not putting in any effort. It's really hard seeing some of my friends and a lot of the people around me getting into relationships, or having had multiple people want to get to know them and love them. What's even harder is that my friends are always telling me that I've got so many great qualities and achievements- I'm a good artist, I've always done well academically, and I've done some modelling work; and that I'm also kind and considerate and that I'm worthy of love and am a good person. This is always hard for me to hear because if all of that is so true, then why has no-one ever actually put in any effort for me romantically and truly cared about me and getting to know me? It makes me feel like there must then be something about me that just means I'm not meant for that kind of love. The rational part of me knows that it's just timing and that some people are lucky enough to meet multiple people who love them early in their life, but for some reason it's just easier for me to believe that I'm not loveable in that sense. It's hard to be told by those around you that you'll meet someone who truly cares about you and loves you because that's what you deserve when that's never really happened to you.

Ausdog Depression, anxiety, bipolar and schizophrenia
  • replies: 26

I have no interest in anything, I find no joy in life anymore. I am tired and am not sure this existence is what I want. I don't know who I am, who am I and who are the drugs trying to make me become. I despise more than I care, I feel nothing but an... View more

I have no interest in anything, I find no joy in life anymore. I am tired and am not sure this existence is what I want. I don't know who I am, who am I and who are the drugs trying to make me become. I despise more than I care, I feel nothing but anger and hate, at everyone and especially myself. I smile I'm public so I am left alone, no one knows the depth of my dark well I live in. Guess typing this helps.

Sunflower23 Grieving and changes
  • replies: 6

I’m feeling overwhelmed by the changes that have occurred in my life recently; going through a challenging breakup. Living in the house my partner and I shared doesn’t feel like home anymore. Feeling alone and frozen, unable to plan ahead or get my t... View more

I’m feeling overwhelmed by the changes that have occurred in my life recently; going through a challenging breakup. Living in the house my partner and I shared doesn’t feel like home anymore. Feeling alone and frozen, unable to plan ahead or get my thoughts in order.

Echtis Immense anhedonia
  • replies: 3

My depression has wavered in severity since 2014. Recently, the anhedonia has made it very hard to do anything at all. I cannot enjoy anything at all, and I am trapped inside because of what the outside world means to me. I finally self-harmed again ... View more

My depression has wavered in severity since 2014. Recently, the anhedonia has made it very hard to do anything at all. I cannot enjoy anything at all, and I am trapped inside because of what the outside world means to me. I finally self-harmed again after years just to feel something other than sadness and anxiety. Obviously I know it will get better eventually. This is just me saying it to the void because there is no one else to say it to in real life: I am not doing okay, and I do not deserve how people treat me.

kimmy_25 Alone
  • replies: 3

Hi my uncle passed away yest and I feel so lost 

Hi my uncle passed away yest and I feel so lost 

S_ Am I becoming an abuser?
  • replies: 3

I have recently ended my marriage ( 6 weeks ago). I was in an emotional abusive relationship for 5 years. Gaslighting, stonewalling to avoid accountability for his actions. He also cheated on me, sent sexts to other women and nudes. I am currently wo... View more

I have recently ended my marriage ( 6 weeks ago). I was in an emotional abusive relationship for 5 years. Gaslighting, stonewalling to avoid accountability for his actions. He also cheated on me, sent sexts to other women and nudes. I am currently working with a psychologist and have been medicated. I am slowly working on a trauma bond and co dependency issues as well. I’m afraid that I’m becoming the abuser and don’t know if how I’m reacting is normal. I will call him and go off at him for things that he has done/ said. It’s like an overwhelming urge that I can’t stop and try desperately not too. I don’t love this person anymore I hate them. I have major trouble with trying to stop myself from knowing about his life and if he is suffering. I want him to suffer. I want his life to go to crap. I don’t know how to stop from telling him he is a piece of crap and saying horrible things to him. I understand that anger is a normal emotion but i don’t feel bad when I say these things to him and I’m am terrified that I’m becoming the abuser. Am I?

kimmy_25 Alone
  • replies: 1

Hi my uncle passed away last night. I feel so alone and down I feel like the drs shrug U off

Hi my uncle passed away last night. I feel so alone and down I feel like the drs shrug U off