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Depression

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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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Noone Depressed
  • replies: 2

How do you like with a depressed alcoholic husband 

How do you like with a depressed alcoholic husband 

Guest_29956636 Just feel so lost
  • replies: 1

I awake every morning feeling drained like I don't know what to do with my life feel so depressed over losing my kids and wife I was addicted to nearly every drugs and alcohol growing up grew up around domestic violence just wanna try get myself toge... View more

I awake every morning feeling drained like I don't know what to do with my life feel so depressed over losing my kids and wife I was addicted to nearly every drugs and alcohol growing up grew up around domestic violence just wanna try get myself together for my family

Guest_58645588 Older single mother
  • replies: 2

Hi I am an older single mother of three and have spent the majority of the last decade in bed. I see the kids as being a demand on me that I can’t manage and the house a demand on me that I can’t manage. I don’t have any emotions no highs or lows. I ... View more

Hi I am an older single mother of three and have spent the majority of the last decade in bed. I see the kids as being a demand on me that I can’t manage and the house a demand on me that I can’t manage. I don’t have any emotions no highs or lows. I get up to feed the kids, I do the laundry, I take the kids places. I don’t feel any love inside. My mum told me she didn’t feel love either. My whole family are estranged I have been on and off antidepressants for years. I isolate from all my friends. I feel like I can’t wait for the kids to grow up and leave home so I can go and live in a van and be transient.

Taiji Seeking a support partner
  • replies: 1

Hey so I posted this on the Young People space but figured it'd also be appropriate posting here as well. I'm a 22 year old guy living in Sydney whose been working through mental health stuff (depression, anxiety, potential ADHD) for the past year. I... View more

Hey so I posted this on the Young People space but figured it'd also be appropriate posting here as well. I'm a 22 year old guy living in Sydney whose been working through mental health stuff (depression, anxiety, potential ADHD) for the past year. I've recently wanted to start working on rebuilding my life by working on academic, fitness and general health goals. While I think there's a lot of merit in getting support through online spaces I think in person support will always be the gold standard. I don't think humans were made to deal with our problems alone so when I read on forums about people struggling to stay afloat I see it as partially a symptom of our modern way of living. So I've been looking for a support/accountability partner who also lives in Sydney where we can support each other with mental health, chatting about life stuff, holding each other accountable, gyming together etc. If anyone is also interested in finding a support partner and lives in Sydney feel free to reach out!

Goldee Getting things done
  • replies: 4

I have had depression since I was 13, am now in my 50's, and I really struggle to get things done. This hasn't always been the case but since I left full-time work due to physical injuries five years ago I can't seem to finish anything. Now I work ca... View more

I have had depression since I was 13, am now in my 50's, and I really struggle to get things done. This hasn't always been the case but since I left full-time work due to physical injuries five years ago I can't seem to finish anything. Now I work casually and even though I have more than enough time to complete things, not much gets finished. If something is urgent it gets done, however, the rest of the stuff I have partly done gets pushed aside and rarely completed. Now there are piles of uncompleted tasks lying around everywhere. Instead of finishing off something I watch tv, watch YouTube videos or play computer games. I take medication which may explain some slowness but the piles of uncompleted tasks continues to grow and it's just getting worse. Any suggestions on how to overcome not getting things completed would be helpful.

Anon2852 Is life supposed to be this hard?
  • replies: 6

Hello, I’m in my early 30’s work full-time as a chef and study full-time, so roughly 60-80 hours a week for study and work. Working as a chef is incredibly tiring and exhausting, my diet consists of mostly Red Bull, whisky, cigarettes and one meal a ... View more

Hello, I’m in my early 30’s work full-time as a chef and study full-time, so roughly 60-80 hours a week for study and work. Working as a chef is incredibly tiring and exhausting, my diet consists of mostly Red Bull, whisky, cigarettes and one meal a day. Sadly it’s not to my choosing, considering some days I work up to 14 hours straight (no break), if I had a choice I’d love to live a three meal day, work appropriate hours, with appropriate breaks. But sadly it’s not in the cards, due to ridiculously high rent and tafe payments. I live with my partner and cat, my partner works a 9-5 office job, and other than that she does very little. Maybe cooks once or twice a month, unfortunately all the domestic jobs fall on to me when I have time (cooking, cleaning, bills, budgeting, maintenance). The sad truth about being a chef is you learn to say yes to everything and if something upsets you, you never get to voice your opinion. It’s been my lifestyle for such a long time, I thought after all this pain and suffering something good would come of it. But the brutal life I’ve been living for the past 10 years is earning me just enough to pay the bills. Everyday is a struggle, and every night I’m terrified of what might/ will happen the next day.

Pr1964 Feeling alone
  • replies: 9

Hi there, I’ve been struggling for a while with feeling like I have no one to that’s truly there for me that I can open up to. I work casually in hospitality so my hours are super sporadic, making it hard to organise things with people working 9-5. O... View more

Hi there, I’ve been struggling for a while with feeling like I have no one to that’s truly there for me that I can open up to. I work casually in hospitality so my hours are super sporadic, making it hard to organise things with people working 9-5. Over time, I’ve lost connections with my close friends, and my only time with people is often having drinks after work with coworkers. This is good to a degree, however I lack a true connection to anyone in my life, longing for someone that genuinely cares about me and I can be my true self around. How can I get out of this rut?

Dooka It's getting on top of me
  • replies: 4

hi, I've had severe depression for 15 years now. I'm 73 (female), retired and my depression is getting worse and I don't know how to pull myself out of this sliding situation.

hi, I've had severe depression for 15 years now. I'm 73 (female), retired and my depression is getting worse and I don't know how to pull myself out of this sliding situation.

Jaibigrone907 I hope things can turn around for me. ( likely doomed ) Part 1
  • replies: 12

I'm now, not only 29 without any payed work history. I've had nine months of volunteer in something I hated doing. My resume is basically pathetic and it's otherwise blank with just overselling my sociability and that I'm eager to work miserable entr... View more

I'm now, not only 29 without any payed work history. I've had nine months of volunteer in something I hated doing. My resume is basically pathetic and it's otherwise blank with just overselling my sociability and that I'm eager to work miserable entry jobs. I don't want those industries, I'm not suitable, adaptable or wanting retail, factory crap or anything like hospitality washing dishes or being a barista. I never wanted to do construction, apprenticeships and manual labour. The entry jobs don't provide the ideal employment security and remote commutes that I would want. The wages and salaries are just the bare minimum, if your not earning $60,000 and about $30 wages you can't be happy financially or really survive individually in modern Australia, in my opinion you need around $50 wages and at least $80,000 to be happy in current Australia. I graduated high school with only a Foundation VCAL, not a generic VCE and with a strong ATAR and I feel I failed in numerous aspects. Since I was bullied and hated everyone in high school that mistreated me during those six years. I had started with video game addictions that lasted over a dozen years since I was 12. I was immature with how I was behaving at home when I was 14 - 17, I just was not considerate. I also had no interest in basis school studies that didn't provide me a strong specific reasonable interest. I was conceiving University as a social norm since 15, only for people that want academic titled careers, I always wanted to be creative or musical, but only as a recluse hobbie, I've come to terms that likely won't happen, because I can't be the confidence or nature to really be the way I'd wish to be. I had low self esteem because I knew arsewholes since 2008 untill 2017 and I was bullied in many ways, taken for granted and they thought their better than me.

Sammy_347 Feeling Invalidated and Exhausted - Struggling to Cope
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I’m reaching out because I feel incredibly isolated and just can’t seem to deal with things alone anymore. I don’t talk to my parents about my feelings because whenever I try, it ends in a fight, and I just feel even worse. They often sa... View more

Hi everyone, I’m reaching out because I feel incredibly isolated and just can’t seem to deal with things alone anymore. I don’t talk to my parents about my feelings because whenever I try, it ends in a fight, and I just feel even worse. They often say I have an “easy life”—that I’m lucky to have grown up in a nice house, in a family with money, and in a good school. And while I can acknowledge that on the surface, they don’t know half of what I’m going through. I wish they understood, but I don’t think they ever will. They know I have ocd, but instead of being supportive, they seem to think it makes me a “freak.” My ocd has completely taken over my life—I’m constantly worrying about germs, can’t sleep, and can’t drive because I’m terrified of causing harm. I’m depressed every day, and these feelings have damaged my relationships. I hate myself for it and feel so alone. I've even self-harmed, but they have no idea, and I feel like I can’t talk about it with them without being shut down. What they also don’t know is that a couple of years ago, I was raped by someone I trusted. I’ve buried it for so long, but I’m finally beginning to talk about it in therapy. It’s been extremely difficult, and between sessions, I feel overwhelmed by intense emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations that seem to bubble up, especially at night. I’m mentally and physically exhausted, and sleep is a struggle. I wish my parents could understand how much I hate feeling this way and that I’d give anything not to feel this way. Recently, I tried opening up to my mum about comments I get from people about my eating habits at work—they make me feel self-conscious and judged. But when I tried talking to her about it, she just brushed it off as “small talk” and said that I “have a great life” and should be grateful. It felt like another reminder that I’m not allowed to feel upset or express how hard things are for me. After that, I just stormed off, and now I feel both angry and defeated. I’ve been wanting to move out for years, but I’m still a uni student, so it’s not financially possible yet. I just wish I could find a way to stop feeling so alone and ashamed, and I’m hoping maybe someone here might understand or have advice on how to cope with these feelings. Thanks