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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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Mikhaela Hello
  • replies: 1

I am back. I still am not better but I have done a real test and my therapist didn't believe that it was depression and just thought that it was just stress. I honestly just can't vent. I just started year 7 way tougher than my other school that enve... View more

I am back. I still am not better but I have done a real test and my therapist didn't believe that it was depression and just thought that it was just stress. I honestly just can't vent. I just started year 7 way tougher than my other school that enver pushed me. They didn't care much. Ignored me when i said that people were bullying me, would constantly just not make accomodations for me because I am actually mentally disabled. And on top of that, they just didn't listen to my parents when they said that my mental health was deteriorating and they still wouldn't talk to the family and they would just tell her to apologise. Oh and i kept the "formal" apology she'd written me. She wrote about how the time when she full on blamed me for my sister moving schools and said it was all my fault. Nobody stood up for me. the teachers moved on like everything was normal except for one kid she asked me if i was okay and then had to get off the bus. I still hate that girl who bullied me i won't ever forget her. OR the teachers that helped her.

Guest_76518182 Feeling loved
  • replies: 2

Hi, Im 15 years old and im going through depression I don’t have my family’s support but I have an amazing bf that I have been with for nearly three years now he has helped me so much but I feel like lately it’s been to much for me and him to handle ... View more

Hi, Im 15 years old and im going through depression I don’t have my family’s support but I have an amazing bf that I have been with for nearly three years now he has helped me so much but I feel like lately it’s been to much for me and him to handle I'm trying out this website to see if I can build up my mental health. any tips on how to control emotions better I just wanna be the best for him, I also have trust issues and fear he’s gonna get with another girl better then me can anyone relate or used to fear this but got over it…

Unsettled_Mind Distressed and Overwhelmed
  • replies: 2

Hello Everyone..This is probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do - and I write this from my office desk, whilst my mind is running off in a direction of its own.I am 34, living in Sydney, enjoy my job (has its moments), and is general... View more

Hello Everyone..This is probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do - and I write this from my office desk, whilst my mind is running off in a direction of its own.I am 34, living in Sydney, enjoy my job (has its moments), and is generally a Happy go lucky person.I'd say my mental health struggled the most when I moved back home for 10months in 2024, I thought it would be easy moving back home and spending time with my parents etc - this was not the case, and it threw me into a spiral of sorts where there were weeks I would only leave the house on Tues/Wed to travel from the Central Coast into Sydney (office days). I don't know if it was a generational gap or stubbornness on ones part but the same feeling and downward thoughts are happening again (and, I have relocated back to Sydney in Jan2025). I could possibly pinpoint the moments and interactions that just throw my mind out, but over the last few months it's as though there is a darkness that just overhangs, from face value I am always smiling - it's on the inside where I know and can feel that something isn't right - when I try and detach myself away from my family, it just gets worse. I am not going to lie, however there are days when I get back home I just want to black out and not wake up to do it all again.I am open to mindfullness tips, de-stress techniques etc, it just feels like I am carrying so much weight to the point that I can't go on and continue, I am tired of it all. Thank you in advance, for anyone that reaches out.

Fixx Been going to therapy for over a decade, and I think I am hopeless?
  • replies: 5

Been going to therapy and taking meds for years since I was 6 and nothing has worked for me and I genuinly think I am not going to get better nor do I deserve it, I stopped going to therapy and taking my meds since the start of the year am I better? ... View more

Been going to therapy and taking meds for years since I was 6 and nothing has worked for me and I genuinly think I am not going to get better nor do I deserve it, I stopped going to therapy and taking my meds since the start of the year am I better? no but I wasn't better with them either, am I doomed to just be a mess up? is this it cause if so this is not living this is just a drawn out punishment that I don't wanna deal with anymore. I don't really have any family and those that I do have I don't share much with them anyway so I'm posting here for whatever reason.

Earth Girl They treat me like I'm overweight and need to go on a diet
  • replies: 3

My parents act like they are so much better than me in every way including with food even though my Mum eats so much junk food and a lot more of it than me. When I eat vegetables or fruit which I do every day, they don't notice, but when I eat someth... View more

My parents act like they are so much better than me in every way including with food even though my Mum eats so much junk food and a lot more of it than me. When I eat vegetables or fruit which I do every day, they don't notice, but when I eat something unhealthy, even if it's small and right after eating something healthy, they definitely notice that, and they only focus on it. My Mum is overweight, and she says that I eat too much unhealthy stuff like pasta, and I asked her when the last time was, I ate pasta because I can't even remember the last time, I ate it, and she said, "I see you eat it a lot" and then I said like when? I didn't eat it yesterday, I didn't eat it the day before and I was going to keep going but then she stopped me to say "well, if you only haven't eating it for two days..." and then I said that I haven't eaten it in ages. It's been at least a month since I've had it and I only had it once or twice last month which isn't much or over doing it in anyway, but she just fixates on it. I'm never rude to her about all the junk food she eats. She keeps talking about her weight everyday which I really don't care about, and she says it's because of all the food that she eats that is making her big even though it's actually all the JUNK food that she eats so it's really annoying having her treat me like I eat too much unhealthy food when that's what she does! This morning, she told me that she bought lots of salad that I could have some of and I could tell that she was trying to say that I was being unhealthy without actually saying it so I told her that I JUST had some broccoli and she said "That's good" and I said that it felt like she was trying to say that I eat too much junk food and she said "well, I do worry about it" and then I said "But what have I been eating?" and then she said that I eat too much pasta which is when we had the pasta argument, and I got really upset and she said "and now I have to have this blow up. You asked me a question, and I answered," and then I said "But you're not talking to me about it, you're just trying to escape, and I never tell you that you eat too much junk food and you're a hypocrite! She would also say things like "You need to go to the gym" to my younger sister who is really fit (my Dad says things like that too). It's really annoying being treated by my parents like this when they aren't even healthy themselves, especially my Mum. I'm a healthy weight and I watch what I eat and exercise.

naralle I'm sick of my Depression
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I put a post up here and so I've been really struggling with my depression lately and when my arthritis and sciatica play up my depression joins in and then I feel like crap . I have no motivation and feel low, a... View more

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I put a post up here and so I've been really struggling with my depression lately and when my arthritis and sciatica play up my depression joins in and then I feel like crap . I have no motivation and feel low, and I just like a statue. I have my husband but he has depression and anxiety too but he tries look after me the best way he can. All I wanted to say is that I have been struggling big time with my depression:(

Coconut Feeling down (btw new to these forums)
  • replies: 7

Hi! I’m a young teen and quite nervous to talk about how I feel but love how you can stay anonymous. For the past few years I have been dealing with my ocd, adhd, and severe anxiety. However, for the past year I have been feeling not like myself and ... View more

Hi! I’m a young teen and quite nervous to talk about how I feel but love how you can stay anonymous. For the past few years I have been dealing with my ocd, adhd, and severe anxiety. However, for the past year I have been feeling not like myself and very sad. Sometimes I’ll be sad with no reason I guess. I don’t like doing my hobbies and I would rather sit in bed all day and watch tv than go to one of my friends house. Lately, school has been tough. My school has very high educational standards. I would say I am quite smart, however my scores haven’t been reflecting that and I feel like I am letting myself down (which I am) but at the same time I have absolutely no motivation whatsoever to study. My adhd affects the way I study, for example after 10 minutes I will have to go for a walk to reset my mind, which can make studying sessions twice as long as they should be. I also am very hard on myself and I always have been but it’s getting worse. If I get a 60 percent on my test, I feel like the roof is going to cave in, and I won’t have any shot to get into uni. I’m in my last year of middle school and I know it won’t affect me but my anxiety is telling me it will. A lot of people say I am too young to understand emotions, which is silly because firstly, there’s no minimum age of understanding your emotions, and also I find that I am quite mature. Another thing I have noticed is I have been so paranoid at night, like someone is going to break in. I live in one of the safest neighbourhoods and it won’t happen, but I have these thoughts about it happening. My ocd makes me lock the doors 12 times every night and open and close the windows 8 times, which still happens, but it has been getting worse because of my paranoia. I have some amazing friends but I feel so lonely. I’m trapped in a bubble that is suffocating me with every step I take and word I say. I don’t know why I am feeling so sad. I cry myself to sleep and I can’t tell any of my friends or family because I don’t want to be that one person that always cries and is a burden. At school, no one would ever pick me to be struggling. I make everyone laugh, and always have a smile on my face. However, inside, I am crying. Sorry if this is a long paragraph. I’ve never done one of these forums and really hoping someone responds. Hopefully someone can understand! Thanks guys and I hope you are doing well!

Guest_13075688 Just looking for some advice
  • replies: 2

Hi all, Just curious as to what I should do. For a few years I believe I haven't felt properly energetic towards anything. Early years of highschool I was pretty emotional, self-harmed a few times and pretty pathetically attempted suicide, but then m... View more

Hi all, Just curious as to what I should do. For a few years I believe I haven't felt properly energetic towards anything. Early years of highschool I was pretty emotional, self-harmed a few times and pretty pathetically attempted suicide, but then moved on from that when I got a girlfriend as she supported me through whatever I was dealing with. For years now I believe I haven't felt proper emotional responses towards things, and time kinda just passes on. I still enjoy doing things and in the moment I feel, but it passes really quickly and my memory of everything diminishes. My girlfriend is really understanding but it can get pretty annoying when I am constantly forgetting things. The reason I am writing on this discussion board is because today my great grandad passed away after 100 years of life, and my family was upset and we all hugged, but I simply wasn't able to produce any sort of emotional response as everyone else was crying. It made me realise I should probably look into it further because I have known I struggle with empathy and emotional responses for years. After some light research I am curious as to whether suppressing my responses growing up has anything to do with why I feel so numb now. I know that when confronted with something I would always breakdown in highschool and at home. At home I forced myself to suppress everything and not breakdown so that the moment would pass quicker and my parents would send me off to bed. So my question is, is it possible to teach yourself to suppress emotions and not express anything? Will this lead to a lack of empathy for people? Even as I write this I feel like letting something out but I am telling myself not to because it's a waste of time. I believe I do not have time to waste on figuring this out, but I would also love some closure on why I lack emotion. If anyone has some good knowledge to share on this please do. Thankyou in advance.

Guest_37077753 I miss my bestfriend.
  • replies: 2

Recently me and my bestfriend decided not to be friends anymore and I got hit with a wave of depression. I feel useless. Like nobody wants me, likes me. My new friends seem to hate me some days and they aren't as fun as my old friends were. I find my... View more

Recently me and my bestfriend decided not to be friends anymore and I got hit with a wave of depression. I feel useless. Like nobody wants me, likes me. My new friends seem to hate me some days and they aren't as fun as my old friends were. I find myself stalking my ex-bestfriends social media. I really just want to be friends again but everything is so different. She hates me and has new friends. I wanted to know if this has happened to anyone else and what sort of problem I'm having? Is it just depression or grief or what is it?

FhGK12 Maybe Bipolar 2?
  • replies: 3

Hi, sorry if this is a long post and if it doesn’t make too much sense and I’m bouncing from topic to topic. age 16 I was put on antidepressants & antipsychotics due to major depression and psychotic symptoms. Over the 15 years (I’m 31 now, nearly 32... View more

Hi, sorry if this is a long post and if it doesn’t make too much sense and I’m bouncing from topic to topic. age 16 I was put on antidepressants & antipsychotics due to major depression and psychotic symptoms. Over the 15 years (I’m 31 now, nearly 32) I’ve been on many antidepressants which I felt just made me worse. Before starting them I never had an attempt on my own life, and not long after starting them I had my first attempt. It’s like my whole personality changed on them, I became this angry, impulsive, chronically suicidal girl for 15 years. Many hospital visits with so many different diagnosis’ from so many different doctors. I got schizoaffective disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, major depression, anxiety, bpd, cptsd, antisocial personality disorder (which I think is the biggest misdiagnosis of them all), bipolar a couple of times there, but nothing really 100% sticked, mainly it was schizoaffective or bpd. I’ve also been diagnosed with autism in 2016, got the offical diagnosis which cost a lot. In June last year I gave up completely and stopped antidepressants and antipsychotics, I was on them for 15 years. Obviously not the same med for 15 years but tried many.I stopped both medications suddenly, which I now understand wasn’t safe. I experienced some really difficult withdrawal effects for a few months, was in hospital for a severe depressive episode the first few weeks off them, couldn’t even eat and had to have a feeding tube. But after a few months off them it was like I was a different person, like my whole personality changed. My suicidal impulsiveness was gone, intense anger gone. No therapy or anything. I’m just different. It was definitely the antidepressants that made me feel worse mentally, very dull but all that came out was anger, antipsychotics made me quite physically unwell that’s why I stopped them. I’ve been off them a year now. I have deep depressive episodes, some last weeks, some last a couple of months or more. I don’t shower, look after myself, lay in bed, cancel all my community supports and appointments, I’m losing weight fast, don’t find enjoyment in the sport I play anymore when in an episode, and it’s the only thing I enjoy in life, also experience suicidal thoughts that become really difficult to manage, and often find myself feeling overwhelmed and withdrawn. But I’ve also been having what I call ‘high periods’. I come out of my deep depression and then I don’t sleep at all, am impulsive with spending, my poor bank card declines a lot now :(, I have a lot of energy, last week I decided to clean my bathroom randomly, then my kitchen, then my whole house, just went on a huge cleaning spree, I play loud outgoing music, I went online looking for jobs to apply for, I also applied for a tafe course. I’ve realised I’ve actually being doing this kind of stuff for years, eg a couple of years ago I spent over $4000 on after pay, which my brother paid off for me and I’m still paying him back. I’d get random hobbies/interests for them not to last, eg I’ve tried motocross, bmx (just bought a bike never did it) a $3000 electric drum kit (never used). I just have all these great ideas and lots of energy when I’m high, no need for sleep, apparently I annoy everyone because I talk fast and switch between subjects, and message my sister online in the middle of the night taking and sending so many messages on different subjects before she can even answer. The high can last from anywhere between 5 days to a week or even more, depressive episodes are 2 weeks or more, usually longer for me. Right now I’ve come out of my high that lasted about 11 days (I bought 4 lotto tickets for the same draw last week because I was 100% convinced I was going to win) I’m now not high nor majorly depressed just in the middle, I wonder what’s next deep depression for weeks or back to being high with no sleep or money? I was just wondering if this sounds like bipolar 2, as I knew antidepressants made me worse and they can make bipolar (diagnosed or undiagnosed) worse as I just found out. I’m seeing a medical dr next Tuesday, he’s never seen me before, he works at a community mental health clinic, I have to get an ecg from my gp before I see him because apparently they want to put me on antidepressants (they only know about my major depression episodes) that’s why I’m going there because people have flagged my deep depression and want me to get help for it. But I’m seeing other issues here. Could it be bipolar 2? And antidepressants for 15 years kind of made it worse and now it’s showing it’s true colours? sorry if this is too long, just looking for info/advice thanks!!!