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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.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 0

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

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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Noskillz Not coping with life atm. Venting I think.
  • replies: 6

Hi all. Not sure if this will help. Have so much going on in my life atm, like a lot of others. Am currently in bed, where I should be sleeping. Unfortunately, I am having anxiety, feeling depressed and mild dark thoughts. I keep telling myself that ... View more

Hi all. Not sure if this will help. Have so much going on in my life atm, like a lot of others. Am currently in bed, where I should be sleeping. Unfortunately, I am having anxiety, feeling depressed and mild dark thoughts. I keep telling myself that I am just being stupid and to just toughen up and move on. I am trying to move from regional Qld to Melbourne. Lockdowns, border closures etc are not making this an easy task. My family don’t want to discuss these problems with me and just say it stresses them out too. Have other family telling us not to go and putting pressure on us to stay. I have tried to make people understand. I can not stay here in this town much longer. I work in a dead end job with no respect from management or colleagues. I am the only male working in my store, so none of them experience the same level of sexism from the store and some customers. I feel moving to a bigger city gives me a chance to get away (Or maybe run away) from current life choices, failed friendships, failed career choices and start new. I am working two jobs to try to raise the money for the move, but every time I do, expenses appear and I am forced to begin again. I feel like I am losing at life and am losing hope. I am struggling. Just feel like I should give up in so many ways. Really not sure what to do any more. My heart is racing and I just feel like I want to crawl into a dark corner and cry my arse off. I am sorry for the long read. I thought maybe putting it into words might help with either clarity or venting. Thank you if you got to end of this.

Blaze290 Perinatal depression
  • replies: 5

potential triggers I usually struggle with major depressive symptoms and am usually on anti depressants. I only just taking them again a few weeks ago and a few days ago found out I was 6 weeks pregnant. This entire time I've been terrified from the ... View more

potential triggers I usually struggle with major depressive symptoms and am usually on anti depressants. I only just taking them again a few weeks ago and a few days ago found out I was 6 weeks pregnant. This entire time I've been terrified from the moment I found out. I go through periods of looking up things to try to learn what to do and then massive periods of sheer panic at everything you need to do and know when you become a parent. I'm generally not a confident person and I never have been so the idea of having to change/feed/bath and even hold a newborn just makes me want to burst into tears all over again. I have a wonderful supportive husband who definitely wants this baby (and has already arranged a GP to go talk) but I don't feel anything but terror especially at the thought of being on my own when he has to go back to work post baby arriving and sometimes hope I have a miscarriage so I don't have to feel this fear. Ive always not been a confident person and always avoid things because I don't want to be hurt or fail but I don't know if it's something else. I feel like if I didn't want this child I wouldn't be entertaining even trying to learn but I dont feel anything beside the crippling terror. Am I alone in feeling this way?

Meow31 Just tired of trying so hard
  • replies: 15

I’ve tried hard for my entire life. I’ve been honest, working hard, nice to everyone. It did not get me anywhere. I am still trying. Hard. For what? I do not know. I will live to keep my cats and dogs safe and happy. When they are gone, is it Ok if I... View more

I’ve tried hard for my entire life. I’ve been honest, working hard, nice to everyone. It did not get me anywhere. I am still trying. Hard. For what? I do not know. I will live to keep my cats and dogs safe and happy. When they are gone, is it Ok if I stop trying? I’m so tired.

Frederick8248 Leaving work due to mental illness
  • replies: 10

Hi all, Has anyone left their job due to mental health illness? My depression and anxiety it currently out of control, and is severely impacting my performance at work. I am scared to bring this up with my employer due to their inability to understan... View more

Hi all, Has anyone left their job due to mental health illness? My depression and anxiety it currently out of control, and is severely impacting my performance at work. I am scared to bring this up with my employer due to their inability to understand mental health illness and conditions. However, I am at the point the work is effecting my sleep and eating patterns, time with my children, I sleep all the time and I I am the unhealthiest I have ever been and I am constantly in bed with migraines. I work closely with a psychologist on a regular basis, however I am trying to find real life examples. If anyone has any experience or has left work due to mental health, it would be great to hear from you. Any help is appreciated. Thank you

Helpmeeeee Does anyone have any tips for managing depression and pain?
  • replies: 6

My most effective strategies for managing depression involved getting out of the house and exercise, but my pain levels have been really high since I've started exercising and I'm feeling more exhausted than ever. If anyone has any tips for coping wi... View more

My most effective strategies for managing depression involved getting out of the house and exercise, but my pain levels have been really high since I've started exercising and I'm feeling more exhausted than ever. If anyone has any tips for coping with pain and fatigue, or depression they would be greatly appreciated.

The_Bro 'ACTUALLY I'M NOT COPING' - OLYMPIC MEDALLIST
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone I was stunned when reading yesterday that around 30% of Olympic athletes suffer depression or anxiety after the Games. Here they are, the best athletes in the world, who have the discipline and talent to succeed, falling into mental diffi... View more

Hi Everyone I was stunned when reading yesterday that around 30% of Olympic athletes suffer depression or anxiety after the Games. Here they are, the best athletes in the world, who have the discipline and talent to succeed, falling into mental difficulty after the Games. Australian athletes sacrifice so much to achieve - family, social contact, physical setbacks, relentless training hours. Plus financially - our athletes get paid a pittance in Australia for all that sacrifice and talent. Could this be the cause? Yet Michael Phelps, the American swimmer with more medals than any one, and a net worth of over $90million (yes that's right!), fell into deep depression after the Rio Olympics. Add Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and the list of wealthy champions with mental struggles goes on. What do you think? It seems that once selected and before the Games, athletes are surrounded by attention - coaches, mentors, physios, sports psychologists, nutritionists etc etc. Then straight after the games there is nothing. Oh maybe a victory parade. If the athlete is good enough and personable enough and had a good manager, there is a chance of endorsements and commercial fame - but does this help with depression? Lots of very famous people get depressed. Succeeding as a medallist seems to help a bit, according to the research. But those who may perform at their very best but don't get on the podium struggle with self worth. Then there's social media which can be a killer with all those uninformed keyboard trolls getting stuck into athletes for all sorts of reasons. POST GAMES PLAN Some of the athletes found that to work in personal plan to implement straight after the games helped a lot. The plan could be anything from study, renovating that room, fixing up that neglected garden, helping a charity and so on. Or a new training plan. It also appears that it is very important to keep up strong social contacts - with friends and colleagues who help you ease back into the real world. Anyway I thought it might be useful to comment on this. Sorry to rave on but I did find it interesting! Please let me know what you think. Any athletes out there who have found it hard to cope after a major competition? Bye for now - The Bro

Melancholy Yogini Don't assume someone is OK by how they look on the outside
  • replies: 7

Participating in such a forum like this is new to me but I felt it was necessary for so many given our crazy Covid world right now. I am a yoga teacher with depression. That sentence is quite hard for me to say because I don't always like to admit th... View more

Participating in such a forum like this is new to me but I felt it was necessary for so many given our crazy Covid world right now. I am a yoga teacher with depression. That sentence is quite hard for me to say because I don't always like to admit that to myself. Just because I practice and teach yoga does not mean that I am always happy: and that’s ok. I have suffered anxiety and depression for the longest time. On the outside I have a blessed life and I hide my sadness from almost everyone, but in the past I have at times fallen into despair and loneliness, had suicidal thoughts, attempted to hurt myself, curled up on the floor in isolation and struggled with terrible feelings of self-loathing. I am sharing this because I want you to know that you are not alone and it’s ok to feel what you feel. Our society tells us we should be happy and pleasant and social media is full of happy adventures and friends and family shots, which for someone who is not feeling great can be overwhelming. A yoga mat offers me a place to be authentic and honest. I don’t have to be perfect or happy and it’s ok to cry. It is a place to give myself permission to practice self-care, to move with my feelings rather than cover them up. So when I go to my mat I take my fatigue, my sadness, my disappointment, my fear, my anger, my anxiety and my depression. Life is not always shiny but after giving myself a little self-care I hope that a little more joy and happiness shines through me. Has yoga helped me personally with anxiety and depression- yes, it’s one of the reasons I am a teacher. I choose yoga instead of drinking wine and wallowing on the couch; yoga offers me a different form of self-care. Most yoga teachers don’t practice yoga because they are naturally happy; you will find most teachers also need the practice. Stay safe and take care. Thank you for reading my post.

DetectivePanda How do you manage school and life in general when you're depressed?
  • replies: 2

I'm a 16-year-old male in year 11, and I've been feeling quite depressed recently, or more than usual, which has made it difficult for me to function as well as I should. I've started CBT and taking antidepressants, but I'm worried that if I keep goi... View more

I'm a 16-year-old male in year 11, and I've been feeling quite depressed recently, or more than usual, which has made it difficult for me to function as well as I should. I've started CBT and taking antidepressants, but I'm worried that if I keep going at this rate, things will only get worse and I'll fall further behind in school and life. I'm at a loss as to what to do. I've been attempting to complete some schoolwork, but it's difficult when you don't have any motivation, and I'm worried about falling further behind and missing classes, which is making me even more stressed, and my parents are frustrated and disappointed in me because they're receiving calls from my teachers and may soon receive some warning letters, which adds to the stress. On top of that, I don't even do much except lie down on my bed and just sleep or try to pass the time and distract myself from my thoughts and emotions by playing or watching something which is extremely unhealthy but I don't know what else to do.

Loligiggles I might have bipolar? Opinions please?
  • replies: 8

Hi! So, I know I have something more than GAD, ADHD & depression, I just think I realised there's another thing affecting me. Long story short, when I'm off my meds (an SSRI) I feel great and ontop of the world, I talk a lot, I act more impulsive whe... View more

Hi! So, I know I have something more than GAD, ADHD & depression, I just think I realised there's another thing affecting me. Long story short, when I'm off my meds (an SSRI) I feel great and ontop of the world, I talk a lot, I act more impulsive when there's nothing bad going on. However, when I'm feeling bad it feels like the end of the world in a way (Consciously I know it's not, it just feels like my body is doing everything in it's power to make it that way.) And I now know this is probably a stress response, which sucks because it means even when I'm having a good time, I'm not able to relax. I also have issues with spending a lot of money some times, particularly when stressed but I've always chalked this up to my ADHD and how I process and deal with stress. I sometimes give in and sometimes I'm able to say no. I'm not too well versed in bipolar so please forgive me if this is way wrong, but to me, it sounds like bipolar. Those who live with someone with bipolar, or have bipolar themselves, do you think this is a big sign? Or do you think it's something else entirely? Or a mixture of other things which make them present like this? Thank you.

Sentient pain limit
  • replies: 11

Hello! Just looking for any advice or success stories. I'm really at my limit with 10 years of depression. I just don't believe there's any coming back from this. It would take years for me to get anywhere near back to normal. Brief summary. 23yr old... View more

Hello! Just looking for any advice or success stories. I'm really at my limit with 10 years of depression. I just don't believe there's any coming back from this. It would take years for me to get anywhere near back to normal. Brief summary. 23yr old male, I have a panic disorder and depression. I had a full blown mental breakdown in 2017(19 years old) after years of depression/suicide from pornography problems/sexual dysfunction. As well as abusive parents and an anxiety disorder. Woke up 2017 one day at uni thought I was having a heart attack. kept happening everyday for months. Still get constant chest pain all day. Got told I have a panic disorder. Avoiding work, eating, showering because I thought it would trigger panic attack and kill me. 2019, managed to recover after months of exercise pushing through chest pain. Then I got a chest infection and had problems for 6 months. Chest pain came back, back to zero. Stuck inside 80% of the time since 2019 with headaches, chest pain. Muscle wasting, weight loss. Burned out on internet, tv, games. Insane. Had a suicide attempt, somehow survived. Done psychology, psychiatry, mental wards. I'm waiting for NDIS. Was homeless for a year. I've lost 10 years of my life effectively, massive depression separate of panic. 23 years old now. I can't see anyway out of this. I'm seeing a pscyhologist currently but I don't believe them, nothing works. My biggest mistake was not telling anyone 10 years ago. I know that might be a lot but any help would be appreciated Thanks