Depression

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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 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

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 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.

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 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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Post natal depression and anxiety

replies: 4

I have 2 beautiful children. Girls - 8 months/2 years.they are the light in my life and I do and will do everything and anything for them.I have felt like I have experienced post natal depression and anxiety since I had my 8 month old. I was hoping for a vbac to realise she was in distress and did a poo inside me, me and dad both had Covid. I had to get another emergency C-section. Dad went home and I did it all alone and with no support. I don’t know what words to say but since then I have felt really depressed and felt anxiety and just low. I love my daughter but cannot connect to her how I did with my first daughter. I feel like a horrible mum and I feel very low

Sad

replies: 3

I’m feeling really sad, like I’m just a burden and everyone would be better off without me. It’s my birthday and I just want to disappear.

Too sad

replies: 2

Today is really bad. Overwhelming. Not coping well

Healing support/meetup groups

replies: 4

Hello everyone, I was just wondering whether anyone knows of any support groups where people going through depression or healing from something can meet up on a regular basis to just share company and provide support to each other? Posting on forums ... View more

Sleep Anxiety lead to depression. How do I fix it?

replies: 2

For my whole life I have struggled with sleep and it's not until the last year or so where I haven't slept at all. I would sleep for maybe 4 hours ever couple of days for a week and then I would not sleep for 7 to 8 weeks straight, it would then repeat for the whole year. It is not a choice, it's anxiety. I don't know what to do and im terrified that i wont be able to sleep again. The fear engrosses me. I feel like this is what's caused my depression. I never want to do anything, yet I feel so lonely, i feel it in my stomach. Another factor that's possible caused my depression is alienation from my family and friends...to anyone who has been through a similar experience, i understand, you are not alone and it is important that we help each other through hard times.

Don’t see my daughter

replies: 2

I haven’t seen my oldest daughter for 4 years

Struggling for many years

replies: 3

Looking to share and discuss my depression. Overload of expectations (probably not real, just in my head) and being isolated working from home causes me to struggle and progressively shutdown. The problem is I need the income and security. The challenge is to get out of bed, motivate myself and regain confidence because of a crippling and irrational fear of failure. Have taken anti-depressants and mood stabilisers for 10 years, do they work. Definitely, just expect too much from them. I am hoping to chat and read other people’s challenges it will bring me back to reality

Denial

replies: 2

Hi,I've got a chronically ill child. The situation has sent me spiralling down into a place I could have never imagined.Now, almost 3 weeks into medication, I can feel something is shifting, and it scares me. Part of me wants to stay under water, where the feelings are muffled and I don't have to face it.NOT referring to suic here. Just merely wondering how to improve, if I kinda mentally refuse to....

Anxiety spiralling out of control

replies: 4

I had my youngest child 10 and a half months ago, suffered a bit of baby blues and anxiety with him. Just as I felt like I was on the cusp of coming out of it then BAM.. pregnant again, 8 months post partum. I instantly knew I would not be able to handle another baby as I already have 4 children so I had a surgical termination and had mirena inserted at the same time. During the time between me finding out about the pregnancy to having the procedure done, I beat myself up internally about it, negative self talk, guilt etc.. then after it was done, I felt.. NOTHING.. for about two weeks. I guess I tried to block all my emotions out to try and protect myself from the guilt I feel about the termination.Since then I’ve noticed my mental health deteriorate quite rapidly and dramatically. I started noticing really low moods, not wanting to do anything, anxiety over just about everything, don’t wanna leave the house, feeling overwhelmed over the smallest of tasks, my hair is falling out, found out my eldest was being bullied and was paralysed with fear for him! I’m simply just functioning to keep my kids alive and nothing else really.. everything else is too hard.So I saw my GP today, and let it all out to her but I felt like I wasn’t being heard. The response I got was “yeah you have anxiety and depression but being a mum comes with stress, so see a psychologist, learn better ways to cope with stress and pick up a hobbie” (long story short). She completely ruled out medication for me as well.I feel like I’m spiralling down a deep dark hole of anxiety and depression. I have good moments of course, but I’m a shell of the person I once was and I’m struggling.I can’t afford the psychologist fees even with the Medicare rebate after doing some research this afternoon on drs orders, and I’m more anxious than I was before.I don’t know what to do and I guess I’m reaching out to you guys for other options?

No motivation to do anything

replies: 4

Hi all, I saw my GP today finally, I'm addressing that I am depressed. I mean, I can go to work ok, and I'm thankful to have work, and I do talk to my work friends, albeit I'm sometimes anxious, I can't make conversation first, I mull over what to say and I quite often think I must sound boring. I'm depressed with my life, I keep pulling out of my Uni degree because I don't feel 'good' or 'smart' enough. I have completed 1 year of uni, but I now feel stuck, and feel like I'm useless and can't do it, and so then I pull out, to only then berate myself that 'why can't I just do it like other people, what is wrong with me'? I feel stupid and worthless and dumb. My life has been hectic. We (my husband and I) have been bankrupt twice, we now live with my mum, I have a job that I can no longer progress in, because I can't move forward with my study. At the moment, I feel so unmotivated to do anything other than go to work, I can't get motivated to go to the gym (I have a membership that I don't use enough) and then I berate myself for being lazy and scared that I'll get fat I'm scared to take medication but possibly I need it to help me. Why can't I just be happy with my life?? I'm so hard on myself that I should be more, I should be doing more with my life and then I just call myself dumb that I'm incapable of succeeding. Any words of wisdom to help me get over this hurdle and just enjoy my life and be grateful for where I' am in my life, I may never finish my degree, but I don't know if I'll EVER BE HAPPY WITH THIS.

Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started replies: 0

How do I talk to my doctor? replies: 9

SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING DEPRESSION replies: 132

Post natal depression and anxiety replies: 4

Sad replies: 3

Too sad replies: 2

Healing support/meetup groups replies: 4

Sleep Anxiety lead to depression. How do I fix it? replies: 2

Don’t see my daughter replies: 2

Struggling for many years replies: 3

Denial replies: 2

Anxiety spiralling out of control replies: 4

No motivation to do anything replies: 4