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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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Man with no name Major Depression, nothing helps
  • replies: 3

Hi all, What do you do when nothing seems to help? I've suffered depression for many years, since my teens (now in 40's). I first went to my doctor in 2001, was put on AD's. Struggled with work, divorced and slid deep into a hole. I have a psychiatri... View more

Hi all, What do you do when nothing seems to help? I've suffered depression for many years, since my teens (now in 40's). I first went to my doctor in 2001, was put on AD's. Struggled with work, divorced and slid deep into a hole. I have a psychiatrist, my second, who helps a bit but mainly gives me prescriptions. Currently taking four different medications. They help but still get bad periods. I have tried CBT and a phycologist which didn't really help. I have a good life, good job that pays me well, good wife and 2 children under 10, no debt apart from mortgage. I work part time and do the school runs etc as my wife works full-time including 2 of 4 weekend a month. For a while our son (7) has been a huge handful and nothing i've tried has worked with him. He'll flip out over the smallest thing and kick and hit and throw things. I've read lots of info to try and educate myself with possible solutions but nothing's worked. I've reacted badly a few times which leads to more depression. I'm smoking again which my wife hates so that is causing friction. Feel like walking off into the sun set but never would because of our kids. Years ago when I was at a bad point I told my family about it but it got swept under the rug. I then admitted myself to hospital for fear of suiciding. I recently again told my mum and she hasn't even asked me if i'm okay since then. I have no one that I can talk to to get it off my chest, which I miss being able to do. I dream of moving back to the country and simplifying things. Get away from the 'must have all these new things' type of life most seem to live. Unfortunately it won't happen. What can you do when the depression never completely goes away? At times i'll go months feeling good but then something sets it off and 'bang' i'm depressed again.

naralle Depression
  • replies: 8

I had a good morning this morning but come lunch time my mood had changed and now my depression is hanging around like a bad smell. It also doesn't help that the weather is crap and it's been raining too. I'm just struggling with it this afternoon View more

I had a good morning this morning but come lunch time my mood had changed and now my depression is hanging around like a bad smell. It also doesn't help that the weather is crap and it's been raining too. I'm just struggling with it this afternoon

Dana90 Rebelling against life
  • replies: 8

4 hours agoI am really struggling again . It was a very bad year last year where I seriously thought of taking my life . There is so much shame for me to not be ok . It’s like another failure . I have had depression my whole life off and on . I can b... View more

4 hours agoI am really struggling again . It was a very bad year last year where I seriously thought of taking my life . There is so much shame for me to not be ok . It’s like another failure . I have had depression my whole life off and on . I can be doing great and then suddenly fall into a very dark whole . It only lasts a couple of days but feels like a lot longer . So I am ok and then I am intensely not ok. It’s within that space that it is really scary.I am very tired of this pattern year after year .I am 53 and have been holding on a long time . I have been to psychologists , meditations and psychiatrists but this darkness always returns . It feels like I have no control when I comes back . I have to say I am very depressed by the world I live in . Especially by the widespread cruelty to other animals. It’s too much to bear knowing what I know about this subject let alone everything else that is going on . I really don’t know how most people can be ok ? I guess I am too sensitive for this world . I wish I was ignorant.

Stacie85 Feeling sad and lonely
  • replies: 4

Hi, my name is stacie.I'm 37 yrs old and have always felt out of place.For the year and abit ive lived by myself.Which I've never done before because I have always lived with my parents.I've always had helping me with daily tasks or having family doi... View more

Hi, my name is stacie.I'm 37 yrs old and have always felt out of place.For the year and abit ive lived by myself.Which I've never done before because I have always lived with my parents.I've always had helping me with daily tasks or having family doing things for me as I am always worried or scared I will mess up or make a fool of myself or failing at something. Its has always stopped me from growing and exploring anything.Living on my own was fun at first but then my car decided to poop its self. After that I begun to not want to do anything or want to look after myself or change my habits.I think im addicted to junkfood to comfort myself or entertain myself.Its taken a toll on my mental and physical health.

Dazza73 Loneliness
  • replies: 5

How do people deal with loneliness? I had a long distance relationship that went sour in February. Even though I’m passed the grief, the feeling of having some company is growing stronger. I’m not afraid to talk to people. I’ve started reaching out t... View more

How do people deal with loneliness? I had a long distance relationship that went sour in February. Even though I’m passed the grief, the feeling of having some company is growing stronger. I’m not afraid to talk to people. I’ve started reaching out to women on internet dating and they don’t respond. Do I look boring?Are women just afraid to chat online?Like I say in messages “Even if there isn’t a spark, you could still find yourself a good friend “But then they complain there are no good men when it comes to online dating. I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever meet Miss Right. And that is starting to depress me. I reckon if I sent out 100 messages, I’d be lucky to get one response. At the risk of sounding like an overreaction, it’s starting to make me think I’m unworthy.

Mental_Illness_Innit Working with Bipolar/BPD
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, This is my first time posting here so I hope I'm doing this right haha. I recently got diagnosed with Bipolar (type 2) and have been diagnosed with BPD since 2020. For reference, I'm 22 years old. I really struggle with mood changes. The... View more

Hi everyone, This is my first time posting here so I hope I'm doing this right haha. I recently got diagnosed with Bipolar (type 2) and have been diagnosed with BPD since 2020. For reference, I'm 22 years old. I really struggle with mood changes. They can be quite jarring and my depressed self tends to suffer as a result of all the things my hypomanic self has committed to. I have struggled with maintaining a consistent work schedule since 2020. I think that covid really messed me around if I'm being honest. I mean I've always struggled but it's gotten to the point where I am constantly calling in sick. I lost a really great job in 2020 because I took on a full-time workload when I shouldn't have, and started calling in sick constantly. I think for my employers it's very confusing. Because when I'm in an 'up' period I'm a really great worker and often receive a lot of praise. But when I'm in a depressed period I all of a sudden lose all motivation to try. I went for a period without work, and then ran out of savings so got a job as a tutor (I am studying teaching at the moment). I only work about 6 hours a week. These hours are spread out over several days so I end up only having an hour a day most days. This does work well for me but lately, I have found myself really struggling to have the motivation to go in and I have been rescheduling a lot of my student's appointments. I feel really bad about myself because I'm struggling even to do this tiny workload. It's like there's this block in my head that's just like "you're going to be stuck there and you don't have the energy and it's gonna suck" ect ect. Even though when I get to the appointment it's never as bad as I think. Does anyone have any tips for how I can get through these low periods where work seems such an effort? I really want to be able to have a career as a teacher in the future. So if anyone has been working with bipolar/depression for years - I'd love your advice. I'm only 22 so I'm at the start of my mental illness journey. And I'm finding it really hard.

2023- Young and Riddled with Anxiety and Depression
  • replies: 9

Hi, new here. Not the type to express my feelings online but, in need of support as I am struggling deeply with anxiety and depression. 22 years old. Female. Was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder when I was 14 years old. Had it ever since and ha... View more

Hi, new here. Not the type to express my feelings online but, in need of support as I am struggling deeply with anxiety and depression. 22 years old. Female. Was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder when I was 14 years old. Had it ever since and have become depressed especially in the last 2 years. In a nutshell, I am feeling so deeply screwed up and stuck in a rut that's gotten worse each day, everything feels pointless to me. I'm severely touch starved and lacking everything I need to even feel that little bit better because I feel I don't deserve to take care of myself. I just can't control my mind. It's that bad I cannot describe it. I've always been alone even though I have a loving family but have not found my people and had a best friend since I was a young kid. My walls are so high and I've never known how to connect with anyone since I became a teen. Just can't handle the loneliness anymore....

TommyOliver Extended & frequent periods where I just feel very little
  • replies: 2

Hi all, this is my first post here so hope this can find the right people.I have never really been very open with my feelings so I felt explaining how I’m feeling through here would be a good first step. For the past year and a half (possibly longer ... View more

Hi all, this is my first post here so hope this can find the right people.I have never really been very open with my feelings so I felt explaining how I’m feeling through here would be a good first step. For the past year and a half (possibly longer but I struggle with dates these days) I have been getting long periods of time where I almost have no succinct feelings, like I just go through the motions but there’s nothing really happening in my mind.In these periods I feel little happiness or joy, don’t get nervous or anxious about anything anymore basically. Even when something bad happens I don’t feel disappointment or sadness, which bugs me even more.I don’t even remember the last time I felt truly and unequivocally happy about my life. There’s nothing really bad happening my life, in fact I’ve got a lot of things going for me at the moment but it doesn’t change how I feel. Another thing I’ve noticed is my drive to pursue relationships, even when I can tell a girl is interested, is basically gone. I could meet the most extraordinary person and have lots of fun, but they wouldn’t cross my mind again unless I forced it. I don’t think I’ve had any form of crush on anyone for a long time. One more thing that’s been plaguing me is just how tired I am all the fucking time, like tired all throughout the day even with a good sleep schedule, diet, and amount of exercise. I don’t know if this is part of whatever I have but it’s another concerning thing for sure. I really hope someone can point me in the right direction, I’m just so sick of feeling this way, I just wanna feel like I did 5 years ago when I was genuinely happy.

Shalom1995 How do I bring it up with my girlfriend?
  • replies: 2

Me and my girlfriend are both Christians. We were at Uni the other day and she pressed me on why I always barley study. I haven't spoken to her about depression but I mentioned that I have ADHD but I got cleared for it awhile ago so I could join the ... View more

Me and my girlfriend are both Christians. We were at Uni the other day and she pressed me on why I always barley study. I haven't spoken to her about depression but I mentioned that I have ADHD but I got cleared for it awhile ago so I could join the military. I think I may still have it cause I always struggle to concentrate, however I'm no doctor or anything. That was what I told her and her advice is to pray about it.Now I do pray, I pray a lot. But I've been praying for a long time, I mean a solid year of praying at every meal, every day. I pray every single night to help. But nothing's happened. I haven't gotten any better.Now I know the first step to helping myself is talking about it to my girlfriend, however she has lived a very sheltered life and I just don't think she understands at all where I am right now.How can I talk to her.I know this is just me been delusional but I'm always scared that if I talk to her and she sees my depression she won't love me anymore.It would be greatly appreciated if someone may have some advice for me.Thank you and kind regards.

Blue0023 Blue
  • replies: 8

I have a loving husband (I’m gay) great home and 2 awesome dogs which I love to death, but the last 6 months I have never felt so alone and isolated. He works late everyday and is always tired on weekends when I want to do things. My best friend of 6... View more

I have a loving husband (I’m gay) great home and 2 awesome dogs which I love to death, but the last 6 months I have never felt so alone and isolated. He works late everyday and is always tired on weekends when I want to do things. My best friend of 6 years no longer talks to me as his boyfriend is threatened by me and only talks if I start the conversation, like all my friends I guess. When did life get so complicated that we have to be the one who always calls or tries to organise catch-ups and events?Lately even the phone calls are left unanswered or brief that there is no one on one anymore. I have lost both my parents, my dad recently and nothing has been able to fill the void that has left. I feel the harder I try the thicker the trees get to the path out.

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