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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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Joshalot Depression and anxiety
  • replies: 3

Depression and anxiety was something that I never thought would touch me, until I saw my father fall into a terrible state of depression and anxiety. I seem to have his genes as I suffered depression and anxiety with all my 4 children. It was luckily... View more

Depression and anxiety was something that I never thought would touch me, until I saw my father fall into a terrible state of depression and anxiety. I seem to have his genes as I suffered depression and anxiety with all my 4 children. It was luckily picked up by the doctors at the hospital and I was given medication to help . But I had to do a lot of work myself to feel “ normal “. Exercise helped although it was extremely difficult to get my body to “ move”My family found it hard to understand as it was something that had not touched their lives before. But I’m out from under the cloud with the help of a great psychiatrist and psychologist and am now living a pretty good life. I have 4 grown up children who are doing really well and am very happy that I was able to get away from the “ black dog “ as Sir Winston Churchill named it.

HelloGail Daughter cutting me out of her life
  • replies: 2

Hi. I am at the end. There is nothing in my life worth living for and am hoping this heart ache will end my sorrows. I can only be myself and my only child told me today that she no longers wants me in her life. In fact on Christmas Day past told me ... View more

Hi. I am at the end. There is nothing in my life worth living for and am hoping this heart ache will end my sorrows. I can only be myself and my only child told me today that she no longers wants me in her life. In fact on Christmas Day past told me over the phone after I reached out to her for a reconcile "if you were not my mother, I wouldn't have anything to do with you". And today she confirmed this. If you read my previous posts of December 2022-January 2023 you will see what I wrote. Yes I had eye surgery on 12/12/22 and she left me, blinded, as she wanted to go back to her partner in Albury. Left me blinded as I had 12 stitches still in my right eye. My eye has since recovered from the surgery but her total rejection when I needed her the most after the surgery showed to me for the first time that my daughter does not care or even likes me. I raised her alone, got her through to university thanks to Kip McGrath. I worked hard to get her a Scholarship and she was granted a thirty thousand dollar scholarship which paid for her university campus accommodation and now she is fully qualified looks down on me as I am on a disability pension living in community housing. I did the best as I could on the little money I had. What happened? I do not know. My friends had warned me that I was spoiling her and now I believe I did so, it turned her into a person who does not appreciate me anymore. Sorry, I am in shock and lost for words.

south4th Feeling completely lost
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I came here today because I don’t know who to talk to. I’ve been seeing a psychologist for depression but the appointments are few and far between. This week I discovered my ex boyfriend is getting married (while I am still single, and h... View more

Hi everyone, I came here today because I don’t know who to talk to. I’ve been seeing a psychologist for depression but the appointments are few and far between. This week I discovered my ex boyfriend is getting married (while I am still single, and have been for what feels like forever). This set off, to my surprise, some real feelings of worthlessness and what I can only describe as grief, despite the fact I haven’t seen this man for years and he’s in the US anyway, but I guess I had never really gotten over him. On top of that, despite having been successful overseas, now that I’m home in Australia I can’t get a job. I feel lonely, useless, and worthless. All I want to do is sleep or cry. The only thing keeping me going is my dog. I can’t talk to my mum and sister about this as they just wouldn’t understand or at least wouldn’t know what to say to help. I would have talked to my dad but he passed away suddenly a few years ago which makes everything even worse. I just don’t know what to do - I’ve been trying to stay positive, I’ve been looking for jobs, I’ve been going to the psychologist and doing all the things you’re supposed to do, but nothing has really helped and I feel exhausted with the trying and like there’s nothing to look forward to and I’m afraid of the future. Any advice on trying to get through this??

LJpd81 Does therapy do more harm than good?
  • replies: 5

Hi so I've been seeing a psychologist regularly since 2021 for depression and sh. And a psychiatrist for 5 sessions so far.I usually look forward to going and talking to both of them.There have been times, I've thought, how many more sessions do I ne... View more

Hi so I've been seeing a psychologist regularly since 2021 for depression and sh. And a psychiatrist for 5 sessions so far.I usually look forward to going and talking to both of them.There have been times, I've thought, how many more sessions do I need and does it do more harm than good?I'm on medication and in the past I have sh, even as long ago as a few weeks ago.I've had a lot going on. Sick husband and trying to mend my mental health.I've started to feel better and yesterday, I was on a high and happy , despite the fact I was going to see my psychiatrist that day.She is helping, but I left yesterday feeling depressed and teary and I've felt the same all day today.It's triggered me wanting to drink and thinking sh thoughts and just horrible, down thoughts on myself . I have a post from yesterday, that explains more.I'm just, is it normal to feel depressed, after sessions? I am sometimes sad after psychologist sessions too.

tank-89 Depression and anxiety and ptsd
  • replies: 2

Hi guys I’m at 34 year old bloke . When I was younger I copied it really hard form my mother she used to flog me around the back of the head and always yell at me for doing the littles thing wrong , and still too this day I’m still really scared of m... View more

Hi guys I’m at 34 year old bloke . When I was younger I copied it really hard form my mother she used to flog me around the back of the head and always yell at me for doing the littles thing wrong , and still too this day I’m still really scared of my mother . I don’t feel comfortable being around her I always make sure that there is another person there because I get intemperated form her I can’t stand being out with her in public.. it’s starting to get to the point where I want to runoff though the night an not tell anyone else about it. It feels like a big dark cloud is always following me around and I don’t have any friends an I don’t have any self confidence and I don’t have any self of steam and I don’t have any energy. I don’t like moving out of my comfort zones and I don’t like talking to my family members about things and still to this day I’m still scared of her, an still does yells at me if I do the Little’s thing wrong ..

J1992 Hey everyone
  • replies: 12

Hey this is my first post I’m a 30 year old male I’ve been really depressed for a few years and have anxiety about things I make bigger in my head I’m one of those people that loves to see everyone happy around me tbh I find it hard to even leave the... View more

Hey this is my first post I’m a 30 year old male I’ve been really depressed for a few years and have anxiety about things I make bigger in my head I’m one of those people that loves to see everyone happy around me tbh I find it hard to even leave the house some days my family are always there which has helped a lot I put on this happy face when I’m out there and pretend to be happy when inside I’m down which isn’t good my mates and friends have all disappeared over that time either have kids or are on drugs I don’t touch drugs or have kids yet which I feel makes me different some how and make me think more I sometimes feel like giving up on myself but I’m just hanging in I find sports makes me forget it and clears the mind even for abit I’m single and have bad thoughts some days about my life and where I am in it that little voice in my head can sometimes turn into a negative voice I’d love to hear from everyone thanks

Oizys I am in my early 30's and have no sense of direction.
  • replies: 1

Today one of the big parts of my life, a casual job doing what I love was abruptly taken away. I know it wasn't my doing, I suspected it was going to happen with the restructure, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. So now I lost the job I love, I a... View more

Today one of the big parts of my life, a casual job doing what I love was abruptly taken away. I know it wasn't my doing, I suspected it was going to happen with the restructure, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. So now I lost the job I love, I am doing a degree that is out of my depth for my mental health and I am stuck in a 'volunteering' vortex, that takes all my time and has sucked the passion for it away from me. I'm not happy where I am and I wanted more of my life in place by now.

aloneagainnaturally Friendship What Is That
  • replies: 3

Hi, I don't know how to make best friends or friends really, I know lots of people, I tend to have acquaintances not friends, I have a great wife and child. I am 63 and I have bever had a best friend since high school really, I do lots of things to m... View more

Hi, I don't know how to make best friends or friends really, I know lots of people, I tend to have acquaintances not friends, I have a great wife and child. I am 63 and I have bever had a best friend since high school really, I do lots of things to meet people, I was actively involved with my local football clubs, became vice president, coached teams for over 45 years, played in teams for over 50 years. I still referee in my local area, joined their committee, but left it after a couple of years, realising this wasn't helping get a friend. I volunteered at my daughter's schools on a regular basis, helped in class when needed, been involved in various commitees to organise fetes, open days, debating, sport, etc, but I have never been able to make a friend, let alone a best friend. I used to go watch my favourite football team on my own, was a club member but stopped that and used to go movies, moveis my wife and/or daughter didn't want to see, on my own, but stopped that over 15 years ago, as I realised I didn't like going by myself and everyone else I saw was with other people. Missed my team playing in a Grand Final when I really wanted to be their person, now I only watch on TV. I have never been invited for a coffee or a lunch, outside a work situation, or go see a football game or something else, i have never when walking past a coffee shop and seen people i know been asked to join them, I have seen that happen to other people. I often go to coffee shops and sit by myself and people watch, sometimes I'll see someone I know, occasionally they join me if I ask, most times they give an excuse they can't, meetinng someone else, never asked to join them. My wife and daughter have many friends and close friends, I just don't understand how they do it or how it works, or why people don't want to be a my friend. We have discussed it many times. I have never had a real birthday party, besides the odd family parties, 40th, 50th and 60th, which i did not want, because you need friends to invite. I refused my parents offer for a 21st because i thought it was lame just to have family there, when every other 21st i had been to, the person had lots of friends there. How do you get friends, I don't understand what is wrong with me.

Olanzer Rut in the city, rut in the city tonight
  • replies: 1

I've been a long time viewer of these forums, and have found some of the responses from the community insightful and helpful, thought I'd put in my own current situation to share and maybe seek others thoughts on it. After spending a number of years ... View more

I've been a long time viewer of these forums, and have found some of the responses from the community insightful and helpful, thought I'd put in my own current situation to share and maybe seek others thoughts on it. After spending a number of years trying to break into the media and broadcast industry and finding it too competitive for my tastes, I fell into call centre work as a means of earning a wage. Twenty five years later, it's basically my entire work experience portfolio. In 2019 I suffered a nervous breakdown and fell into major depression which was diagnosed by my psychiatrist from the old school of psychiatry of "give prescription first, ask questions later." I knew in 2017 something was definitely wrong with my mood but my pleas for help were feeble and mostly ignored with the usual "don't worry about it, you'll be fine" rhetoric people who don't understand depression give you. My job went from full-time to part-time to casual to the point I had to resign when my depression became so overwhelming the first five minutes of my start of the day was filled with absolute loathing and anger. The repetitive nature of call centre work only added to a sense of hopelessness. I spent about 9 months off work then acquired a work from home job. At first I thought it was the sort of change I needed. But it only took about 2 months for me to realise how much I hated this line of work, and me in it, and wondered why the hell I was still working in such a high turnover industry that I'd been stuck in since 1996. What the hell have I been doing with my life? I've been on financial hardship since June 2022 now. At the moment I am planning to sell my home. I am on medication which has been a life saver in keeping calm about things. However I seem to just be stuck. I have been involved with an online community I talk to every day about life, who have been supportive for the most part. But the depression part of me wishes these problems would just "go away". I have a huge job cleaning and preparing my house for sale, but all my identity wants now is for the world to leave me alone in my safe space, and it's really hard to find a way to crawl out of it. The problem is I don't really have a choice. I'll need to sell soon to ensure I recover debts. I'm thinking of reskilling into TAFE. I'm just stuck right now, and it's really tough.

SleepyPillow How to find my life purpose? Getting over a fear of death
  • replies: 1

Hi. I’m 19 years old and have been going through a bad “depression” sort of stage for about 1 week. I keep having reoccurring thoughts about everyone around me eventually dying one day, such as my family and friends eventually passing away.(I used to... View more

Hi. I’m 19 years old and have been going through a bad “depression” sort of stage for about 1 week. I keep having reoccurring thoughts about everyone around me eventually dying one day, such as my family and friends eventually passing away.(I used to be obsessed with these thoughts when I was a child) I’ve become really depressed and anxious by these thoughts and they won’t go away. I’ve even cancelled work shifts and skipped a day of uni classes. I’ve also become to feel that my life has no meaning to it if I’m just going to die eventually. (I am not suicidal, more so afraid of death). I haven’t been able to stop crying when I think about these thoughts. They used to go away when I was doing things I enjoy but now they won’t regardless of if I’m playing video games, hanging out with friends and family. Does anyone know how to get over this fear of death and how to enjoy life again without thinking about the end?

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