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Depression

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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: 1

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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Winnie333 Friend may have depression (maybe?)
  • replies: 0

Hey everyone! I am new to this forum and thankyou Beyond Blue for creating a space like this I want to get some insight to how others deal with depression and see if you have any suggestions for me to help as a friend. A bit of context My friend is a... View more

Hey everyone! I am new to this forum and thankyou Beyond Blue for creating a space like this I want to get some insight to how others deal with depression and see if you have any suggestions for me to help as a friend. A bit of context My friend is a typical middled age man with 2 adult kids and has expressed to me lately being tell me his feels suicidual (thinking about it/minor self-harm) and has no interest in anything. He also calls this no interest a "volid" in which he tries to fill it up with hobbies, volunteer, working 2 jobs etc. He says he has everything stable in his life, but his just sad and feels the only way to deal with this 'volid' is to die. Its crazy because his also very smart and learns alot about many different things (e.g. holds 4 degrees, can play 2 instructments, speaking 3 languages etc). Also this 'volid' feeling for him has being going on for years, according to him (I would assume since maybe his 20s). He gets moody from time to time and its sometimes hard to talk about his feelings as his not very expressive and negative (e.g. "I don't want to talk about" or "I just want to hurt myself" etc). Funny enough in person his fun, energtic and got a wick sense of humour and the 'depressed' side is not what he shows to everyone. Also in real life his still works 2 jobs and in his spare time, at the moment, learning to code (very impressive!). His recenlty also started taking up drinking 2 bottles of beer each night, which is very unusual for him as well. Its good that he talks about this issue, but he did say I am the only person he mentioned it to. I have also given him phone numbers to helplines and counselling services (which I am not surprised.... he does not take action). I have asked other friends about how they handled a situation similar to this. They emphasised a lot on keeping the communication open, which I have being doing. I hope it does make him feel better in some way. Questions 1. What is this volid? He doesn't really describe this feeling of emptiness very well and I have asked a few times. 2. How do others deal with 'no interest'? 3. What has being helpful things your friends/family have done? 4. And how do you encourage a person to go on a recovery jounrey 5. What ways can I encourage him to seek professional help Please share your stories I would love to know and understand Thankyou kindly everyone

Guest_8472 I just don’t know myself..
  • replies: 10

Hi all, so I’ve lurked on these forums a long time, trying to understand myself and what I’m feeling but I just can’t explain what it is. I know in my heart I’m broken. Im 26 years old and Male. Ever since I was in my tweens and early teens my life h... View more

Hi all, so I’ve lurked on these forums a long time, trying to understand myself and what I’m feeling but I just can’t explain what it is. I know in my heart I’m broken. Im 26 years old and Male. Ever since I was in my tweens and early teens my life has been one big mess to the next. My home life was upturned when my parents divorced at 11, ever since then I have t felt right. I missed so much school in those times just because I didn’t cope as much as I lied to myself and I think that partly why I’m such a loser now. My Mum suffered a nervous breakdown after the divorce and since then has had multiple health issues including cancers, she’s never recovered cognitively, and has had constant treatment. and I took on a lot of responsibility for the running of the household and just a lot of her pain. That’s why I’ve shut out what I’ve been feeling for so long because I don’t want her to have her son be such a failure and I need to be strong for her. I dropped out of school at Year 11, because truthfully I was naive, being avoidant and just had these grand ideas of going to TAFE, and somehow getting a job. That never worked out because I just never had any motivation and was constantly fretting over Mum..and spent a few years unemployed. A family member helped me snag a menial job in 2015 just doing some record keeping. I felt for while I had my life together..but under the surface I was still no where near content. One day in 2017 I just suffered a massive panic attack out of the blue…and I just stormed out of the workplace never to return. and That’s where I’ve been. Floundering since 2017 trying to keep up this facade of being ok, trying to find a job and looking after Mum still. I’m on Jobseeker and not coping with the requirements I need to meet. I’ve been trying to work up the courage to see my GP about it all but I honestly don’t know if it’s worth it. Somedays I’m fine, it doesn’t feel like anything’s bothering me but then I’ll hit a wall or have something push me too far and I’ll just shut down. I won’t leave my room, I constantly worry. My brain just doesn’t stop But even then i Just feel an emptiness most days even when I feel ok. I just don’t feel like myself…I can’t explain it. It actually drives me mad. I’ve never wanted to commit suicide, I’ve had fleeting thoughts but thinking of my family brings me back down. i just need a break. Sorry for such a long post, I’ve left out a lot.. I honestly just wanted to vent. Thanks for reading.

A-X-K Am I faking it?
  • replies: 5

I’ve been feeling completely isolated lately. I’ve been slowly building up this dam of emotions and secrets and things that I don’t want to bother others with. Ive gotten to an extreme low and I want to see someone about what is beginning to feel lik... View more

I’ve been feeling completely isolated lately. I’ve been slowly building up this dam of emotions and secrets and things that I don’t want to bother others with. Ive gotten to an extreme low and I want to see someone about what is beginning to feel like a growing monster in my head. But in the past I’ve been accused of making up the things that I’m dealing with. And my automatic answer is to say no I’m not making it up. But the growing monster in my head keeps telling me that maybe I have been and I’m just so used to making it up now that it feels real. what I’m worried about most of all is that even if someone was to believe me enough to take me to see someone, the doctor or who ever it is will just take one look at me and tell me that they were right and that I didn’t need to come. cause if that’s the case then I’m dealing with something so tiny and insignificant that it just shows how pathetic I am. And then I am stuck on my own trying to fix what should be the tiny and insignificant thing but feels like this huge mess. so I guess what I need help with understanding is if I should even try at this point?

StgCrw Ongoing issues. Where to even begin?
  • replies: 4

Hi, I’m not new to these forums but I haven’t posted in ages. I’ve been struggling with depression, some anxiety and near constant suicidal thoughts for a few years now. I tried to reach out to a GP and found the process humiliating and unproductive ... View more

Hi, I’m not new to these forums but I haven’t posted in ages. I’ve been struggling with depression, some anxiety and near constant suicidal thoughts for a few years now. I tried to reach out to a GP and found the process humiliating and unproductive - I left with little more than a pat on the back and vague suggestions to “make some life changes”. Since this bad experience I have resisted going back even though I know I really should. I recently settled on a method of dying that suits me and I have acquired everything I need, but I have no specific time or date set to go through with it. I guess I’m waiting to reach a threshold of desperation or agitation that will allow me to overcome any reservations. I don’t anticipate that this will happen anytime soon unless something happens that puts me in a bad place. I used to have some outlets I could use that would help me feel better, usually outdoor activities, but now I can’t get the motivation together to even really try. I have become very unfit which has fed negatively into already terrible self image. It also probably doesn’t help that I live on my own a fair way out of town, I don’t really get any visitors, and having to drive over an hour to work is an hour each way that I’m left with no distractions from my own thoughts. I have a full time job which I have a love/hate relationship with. There are aspects of it that bring me great satisfaction, but it is also the direct cause of a lot of the issues I now have to deal with, esp. anxiety. The live entertainment industry has a terrible track record for mental health outcomes, even before COVID ruined everything. I have lost several of my friends to suicide. In the build up to a large event it’s normal to have some pre gig nerves. These days though the pre gig jitters has morphed into something closer to a state of panic, although I am good at hiding it. It’s all I’ve known since high school however and I don’t think I have the courage to start from scratch doing something new. I also worry about being able to support myself, if I have to start again at the bottom. I already struggle financially. I guess the point to all this is that I don’t know what to do, where to go from here, how to get myself some help. To be honest if help was offered I’m not 100% sure I would follow it because I think I do actually want to die. And yet I’m writing this post in this space so who knows ? Thanks for listening anyway.

Squid1 Feeling like an infection
  • replies: 6

Feeling like a big ball of distortion, my body is screaming and punching while my shell is limp and lethargic, everything I tough turns grey and I can’t seem to strip any happiness from anything, I have people that care about me and say things to mot... View more

Feeling like a big ball of distortion, my body is screaming and punching while my shell is limp and lethargic, everything I tough turns grey and I can’t seem to strip any happiness from anything, I have people that care about me and say things to motivate me but I feel like my inner child is dead just fragmented memories of things I liked or used to like or be, but my soul feels empty I don’t even know who I am. I want to run away and go off the grid I’ve had a very rough upbringing and I feel safest when something traumatic happens I feel safe with my fight or flight, I feel like a lunatic. What is the best first step or any advise on why I might feel like this.

idkkk i dont really know im just feeling a bit tired of myself
  • replies: 4

I just kinda feel like I'm always the villain that ruins everything. No body texts me and I feel like I'm always the problem, or I'm just so annoying. I always make a big deal out of everything and I just feel like a really bad person. I hurt many ma... View more

I just kinda feel like I'm always the villain that ruins everything. No body texts me and I feel like I'm always the problem, or I'm just so annoying. I always make a big deal out of everything and I just feel like a really bad person. I hurt many many people and I feel very guilty for my actions. Its my fault that I decided to draw attention to something so little and I believe that I really shouldn't post this. I'm sure that when I'm feeling sad, I'm just pitying myself and its really not that bad and countless people have it so much worse than me. I used to have a friend but I always had fights with her and it was because I always escalated the situation and she does not talk to me anymore. I'm intolerable and get too angry too often and when I do, I lash out and do hurtful things to people that I care for. I've been feeling alone and I feel like everything bad that happens is always my fault. I want to stop feeling this way but I'm just too lazy to work on myself. I feel as though I'm never good enough and that people will hate me unconditionally. Most of the time I am ashamed of what I say or what I do. I feel ugly, worthless and stupid. I don't know.

Succulent Queen Fave Quotes or Poems. What are yours?
  • replies: 6

The Laughing Heart your life is your life don't let it be clubbed into dank submission be on the watch. there are ways out. there is a light somewhere. it may not be much light but it beats the darkness. be on the watch. the gods will offer you chanc... View more

The Laughing Heart your life is your life don't let it be clubbed into dank submission be on the watch. there are ways out. there is a light somewhere. it may not be much light but it beats the darkness. be on the watch. the gods will offer you chances. know them. take them. you can't beat death but you can beat death in life, sometimes and the more often you learn to do it, the more light there will be. your life is your life know it while you have it. you are marvelous the gods wait to delight in you ~ Charles Bukowski

Bw1990 The monotony of life
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I’ve found myself really struggling with the motivation to keep going because it just feels like there isn’t an end point. There is nothing particularly wrong in my life but I also can’t think of anything that would make it better. The monoto... View more

Hi all, I’ve found myself really struggling with the motivation to keep going because it just feels like there isn’t an end point. There is nothing particularly wrong in my life but I also can’t think of anything that would make it better. The monotony of waking up, getting ready for work, going to work and spending 8 hrs a day working, spending that money of things to live such as food and housing, you save money for a house deposit so you can get into even more debt to buy a house and keep working. You can save for months to go on an exciting holiday but as soon as I’m on the holiday (before Covid) I realise that it’ll be over soon and it’ll be straight back into the day to day monotony. Just doesn’t feel like it’s something I have the energy to do forever. I’m only 30 and the prospect of having to do this for another 35+ years is too much to think of. as I said, there is nothing wrong in my life but nothing that makes me particularly thrilled either. My job is ok, my family are fine, friends are good etc. I just can’t see why I’m doing this everyday. it starts from school, we are told to study hard at high school, so we can get into uni and get into debt and study even harder, then we get jobs that we slave away at simply to earn money to live longer, get a mortgage so we can work even harder. I just don’t get the point. To earn more money at work you need to rise through the ranks taking on more stress and responsibility. Would love to hear others experiences feeling like this and what is the trick to getting out of feeling like this. cheers

Flamingolady I need some love and support from like people
  • replies: 5

I am struggling a lot through this new lockdown. we have been stuck in our homes for what feels like over a year (it actually has been). It’s been real hard. My housemate is a massive support and I adore her. Ive been working the whole time as an ess... View more

I am struggling a lot through this new lockdown. we have been stuck in our homes for what feels like over a year (it actually has been). It’s been real hard. My housemate is a massive support and I adore her. Ive been working the whole time as an essential worker and it’s too much. I want to take time off but I want to get away from the house I’ve been stuck in, but unfortunately the government won’t let me. I need some words of encouragement from some likeminded people. I’m seeing a psychiatrist, on my fifth round of meds. I think they are doing ok but I believe it’s more situational. I’ve made appointments to see a psychologist. give me some love Please. I’m extremely depressed and self harming unfortunately. This community is lovely and I would appreciate some support.

linguini Depression due to long term anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi Everyone, I am new here and was wondering if anyone else has experienced this. For over 8 years I lived with extreme anxiety as a child. Now I can confidently say that anxiety is not a daily struggle for me anymore. But for the last year and a hal... View more

Hi Everyone, I am new here and was wondering if anyone else has experienced this. For over 8 years I lived with extreme anxiety as a child. Now I can confidently say that anxiety is not a daily struggle for me anymore. But for the last year and a half I have developed depression which has become extremely severe depression. As my life has gotten calmer my therapist and myself think it is knee jerk reaction to all those years living in fear and being completely exhausted by it. Now I am on medication for it and find it hard to feel positive emotions and block most negative emotions making me just go through the motions. I am still high functioning, studying, working, had a job interview yesterday, social life is ok - could be better. Anyone else relate?