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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 chats on this Forum having 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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Catlola Pregnant and alone
  • replies: 7

Hi, I’m cat I’m 38 and going through an unplanned pregnancy. The father doesn’t want to know and has blocked me on all sites, I’ve had to move in with my dad because he thinks I need extra support. I’m 4 months pregnant and terrified. My bipolar depr... View more

Hi, I’m cat I’m 38 and going through an unplanned pregnancy. The father doesn’t want to know and has blocked me on all sites, I’ve had to move in with my dad because he thinks I need extra support. I’m 4 months pregnant and terrified. My bipolar depression has increased and is out of control. I am sick all the time and have no friends to talk to or to relate to as they have all had kids for 10 years and married. I feel so disconnected from everything. All I look forward to is going to sleep, even my psych thought it was a bad idea to stay pregnant but I thought I always wanted to be a mum but it’s so physically exhausting and isolating. Are there any single mums out there who have gone through similar troubles maybe if you had mental illness before also? I don’t feel like I can keep doing this much longer. Thank you

firstthensecond Hopelessness and Depression
  • replies: 6

Long story short, I've been dealing with depressive mood for years now. Every now and then, I have bouts of depression and moments when life seems all bright and unicorn-ish. I was initially diagnosed with depression, but my therapist isn't ruling bi... View more

Long story short, I've been dealing with depressive mood for years now. Every now and then, I have bouts of depression and moments when life seems all bright and unicorn-ish. I was initially diagnosed with depression, but my therapist isn't ruling bipolar out as a possibility. Anyway, some things happened to me recently and I can't seem to cope with them. These include sleep issues. I haven't been sleeping well and my concentration may have been impaired. I misinterpreted my exam timetable (missed a term exam and got an instant 0) and almost got hit by a car. I didn't expect to experience these in the same week. Somehow, my depressive episode returned. I'm tired of living with a mood disorder. Very very tired. And drained. And exhausted.

Crofts_Girl Pregnant and Depressed
  • replies: 5

I have so much going through my mind right now. My husband not being around, and thinking of taking a second job. I only see him 1/7 days a week, it hurts me and it upsets me. Feeling lonely. Having negative thoughts after my son being born, of not b... View more

I have so much going through my mind right now. My husband not being around, and thinking of taking a second job. I only see him 1/7 days a week, it hurts me and it upsets me. Feeling lonely. Having negative thoughts after my son being born, of not being a good mother/parent to my son. I know I speak not a lot of good words about my husband, but he does have good things about him - strength; very out-going; fearless; confident, stands up to others (no matter who they are), and speaks up for not just himself and what he believes in, but also speaks up on behalf of others with a heart of gold. These are qualities I want my son to have and learn from his father, (as well as from other strong figure in his life, like my older sister who has the same qualities as my husband, and my best mate who is stronger than both of them combined) things I can't give him or teach him. Keep asking myself, what can I offer my son, that my husband can't? It's these thoughts that are making me depressed. Lol, there was one stage, that I was going to terminate my pregnancy, and truth is I can't remember why!!!!! I've been through one termination, and I promised my husband I wouldn't put him through that again, and I made that promise to myself, because it was after that, things weren't the same between us after that. Does this baby deserve a mother/parent like me, compared to my husband who I feel provide him with so much more and teach him so more about life than I can?

Mishmo Coping mechanisms for Low and Empty feels?!
  • replies: 9

What do you do... ...When you feel empty inside? ...When nothing cheers you up? ...When all you want to do is sleep the day away? ...When you feel so emotionless that you don't know who you are? ...When you feel so low you can't move? Or all the abov... View more

What do you do... ...When you feel empty inside? ...When nothing cheers you up? ...When all you want to do is sleep the day away? ...When you feel so emotionless that you don't know who you are? ...When you feel so low you can't move? Or all the above?! What do you do to help you cope? To get you through to the next day? To help you find a glimpse of the happy you crave to feel? I personally have, over the last 15 plus years, struggled with my fair share of all the above. In the beginning it was hard to know how to deal with such times. I know have a few coping strategies to help pass the time till those feelings pass. I am currently in one of these low times and just riding the waves... and I thought I would reach out, start a chat, and maybe it may help someone who is yet to work out a coping skills for them in such times. I thought it would be nice to hear how you may cope with these times/feelings. Watching some old comedy sitcoms or old school funny cartoons. Sleeping the day away if and where possible. I find sleeping sometimes help reset the feelings (not always effective). But please note: it is okay to do so. Zoning out in a monotonous game while listening to a sound track of choice. Just a couple to start, how about you?

Zenuria It's really all just hopeless isn't it?
  • replies: 3

The universe is conspiring against me and there is nothing I can do to change things even though I've tried.

The universe is conspiring against me and there is nothing I can do to change things even though I've tried.

_findingthelostme_ I want and need to move
  • replies: 8

I want and need a big change. A new place to live and a new job and a new friends and new relationships. But....its all happening at the same time. I just HATE my life. It makes me sick and so depressed and anxious. There is only so much exercise, bo... View more

I want and need a big change. A new place to live and a new job and a new friends and new relationships. But....its all happening at the same time. I just HATE my life. It makes me sick and so depressed and anxious. There is only so much exercise, books, study, netflix and throwing myself into meaningless tasks I can do. The anxiety is always there. I'm wasting my life and feel abused and ignored. Seems everything is toxic in my life and there is problems with everything. Mindfulness helps calm me but there is only so much time out sitting still and conscious i can do. I found the same issue with medication, it just made me numb. How can i make the big move? I have 3 school aged kids and 3 casual jobs without them i have nothing. Back to square 1 with no money and no home and no way to support us. Feeling completely hopeless and life slipping by. 10 years now. What a waste.

41singleBNE When your spouse refuses to seek help
  • replies: 15

I'm a 41yo single father with two kids aged 9 and 7. My ex wife suffers severe clinical depression with psychosis (mania, delusions & paranoia). She is also a diabetic 1. She's been living with her mother whom until recently was growing tired of seei... View more

I'm a 41yo single father with two kids aged 9 and 7. My ex wife suffers severe clinical depression with psychosis (mania, delusions & paranoia). She is also a diabetic 1. She's been living with her mother whom until recently was growing tired of seeing her staring off into the abyss, and general lack of practical progress. I am assuming this happened on the back of a disagreement. Mother drops her at the local centrelink office and demands she sort out her affairs - but instead of going inside, my ex wife ran off in a panic. She was reported missing for 48 hours and sparked a major police search operation. Eventually located safe and well by members of the public. Since this ordeal ex wife has been detained (treatment order) in hospital in a secure mental health ward. Our relationship had been strained for years leading up to this incident, but this was the final straw. For years I've been trying to raise our children, as well as deal with her crippling anxiety and constant fear and paranoia. Constantly urging her to seek help and assistance, my pleas were met with flat out denial, push back and refusal to acknowledge her state. I never wanted the relationship to end in the fashion that it has - with her being completely unable to cope with daily aspects of adult life. I have sole care of the children, and absolutely no life beyond that. I go to work, come home, feed/bathe and dress them, then the cycle repeats. I'm simply not coping with the isolation, loneliness and the grief of a 13 year union coming to a very sad and sudden end. My GP has put me on 2 weeks stress leave because I'm no longer able to get myself to work, it's too much of a burden. My house is a bombsite with clothes and general mess everywhere. I spent the afternoons and evenings trying to hold back the black dog biting at my heels. I've stopped trying to fight it, and often sit in a chair or lie in bed crying. I'm trying to book in with a psychologist but everyone I approach has closed books or a massive waiting list. Help...

Ramblify I ran into one of my primary school teachers and have mix feelings about it
  • replies: 5

Hi, I wasn't sure under what to post this thread - it could probably be under many? I'm in my 40's and ran into one of my primary school teachers. They mentioned that thwy thought I disnt live up to my 'full potential' and that I was an 'under achiev... View more

Hi, I wasn't sure under what to post this thread - it could probably be under many? I'm in my 40's and ran into one of my primary school teachers. They mentioned that thwy thought I disnt live up to my 'full potential' and that I was an 'under achiever'. I felt squirmish but kind of dead weighted (apathetic maybe), as they mentioned this. I didnt habe a good time in school, probably for a few reasons, but one of the main ones, is I think I was depressed even as a child. I have low self confidence still to this day, and Ive thought about why I have such low self-esteem and low self-worth too (maybe? ); And I think a large parth of that is from my schooling experiences. It was nice meeting the teacher again after so long, but I have feelings of bitterness and like the teaxhers at school (and other students), effected me in a very negitive way and stunted my growth.

Ramblify Why people feel so much shame about their own mental health?
  • replies: 9

Hi, I'd describe myself as currently, in remission, but have have major depressive disorder and GAD my whole life. I adressed my mental health and personal growth in the 90's. At the time I was in my late teens. I found the support I needed from diff... View more

Hi, I'd describe myself as currently, in remission, but have have major depressive disorder and GAD my whole life. I adressed my mental health and personal growth in the 90's. At the time I was in my late teens. I found the support I needed from different doctors, organisations and services in the community. I've had many ups and downs. I'm currently employed with supporting others in the community and some in their homes. I have noticed the level of shame some of these individuals apear to have is a huge barrier. I was wondering what mental health was like in the 70's and 80's? Maybe Ive been living in my own bubble and was able to instinctively weed out people in my life that weren't supportive to me. This has included somewhat recent estrangement with family members. They werent open or even really able to have a conversation about mental health - they just didnt have the capacity for it, and I stopped talking about anything that I was going through and decided not to ask for any help and just didn't talk about that stuff with them. Over time, my veiw of their family dynamics was that they were dysfunctional (but I keep that to myself, they certainly didn't see themselves as dysfunctional!). However, when Covid-19 hit, I found my family members to be very toxic and their own mental health was not good (but they had no idea of that). I decided it was best for me to cut ties (these were extended family members), and I felt very strongly that they were one-sided relationships. The reason Im mentioning the above experience, is because when I see the shame some people have about their mental health, I can only imagine they must be surrounded by people like my extended family members and have a toxic support network?? Do people move in groups where mental health is looked down upon? Or is it people's pride, of independence and 'strongness' - that they cant bare to ask for help or recieve help?

Niks85 Feeling really unwell health problems getting me down
  • replies: 3

Hi there last time I posted I had some relationship issues which I have managed to sort out thanks for listening . This time Im down because I have health issues still trying to be positive but I feel very unwell in my body. I was slim my whole life ... View more

Hi there last time I posted I had some relationship issues which I have managed to sort out thanks for listening . This time Im down because I have health issues still trying to be positive but I feel very unwell in my body. I was slim my whole life until I was put on medication for bipolar. I gained 20kgs in a year. I saw a psychiatrist a month ago to review my medication but he said he's not willing to change anything I just need to change my diet then he tried to diagnose me with ADD because I can't concentrate properly and I'm forgetting things. Then I ended up in hospital with pain in my heart and a wheezy chesty cough that I still have 8 weeks later its not covid tested negative twice. I've had chronic fatigue for weeks now then I found a large lump in my neck the ultrasound said it was a reactive lymph node I have to wait another two months to get another ultrasound of my neck. I had some blood tests said I was very low on vitamin D elevated liver and high cholesterol maybe that's why I feel so unwell and down. I wish the psychiatrist could put me on medication that will help my weight. I constantly crave carbs honestly it's so hard to live with bipolar I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. The medication helps my mental illness but now I have physical problems. My memory is going. My husband told me our friend is having a baby and a 3 days later I forgot. So upset I called my mum and told her but nobody is taking me seriously that my memory is going. I can't drink anymore not even a glass I get a rash all over my neck if I do. Anyone have advice Im so tired all the time even when I sleep nine hours Im so tired. Thanks for listening