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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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Squid999 Loneliness in Anxiety and Paranoid thoughts.
  • replies: 3

As of recent, I’ve fallen into a rough place. I’ve been feeling lonely for a while now, but its starting to take a toll. All of my friends have either moved, or don’t really want to hang out. I struggle to make new friends, and I dont even trust new ... View more

As of recent, I’ve fallen into a rough place. I’ve been feeling lonely for a while now, but its starting to take a toll. All of my friends have either moved, or don’t really want to hang out. I struggle to make new friends, and I dont even trust new people, as I’ve been bullied my whole life pretty much, i always feel hostility from people. I’ve never really gotten over being bullied, but I’ve been able to manage how I felt about it until now for the most part. I’ve also fallen back into having panic attacks whenever I even leave my house. This is something i dealt with a few years ago, and I was mostly able to overcome it, but now it’s come back in full force. And out of no where, now I’m beginning to get paranoid over things that have come from nowhere, like my food/water being spiked or something. This has all come up in the last couple of months, and it’s been affecting my sleep. I sleep at most four hours a night now, and I’m tired constantly. I cant Sleep though because I’m always anxious, and I’ve been really under the weather about it.

Rupes79 Stopping medication unintentionally
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone, I started on new meds a couple of months ago and finally found an antidepressant that worked for me with minimal side effects. I’d been suffering depression and suicidal thoughts for over 12 months leading up to this. Nothing was working... View more

Hi Everyone, I started on new meds a couple of months ago and finally found an antidepressant that worked for me with minimal side effects. I’d been suffering depression and suicidal thoughts for over 12 months leading up to this. Nothing was working. Fast forward to last weekend when I went away and forgot to take them with me and missed 3 days. My mood dropped right back to where it was and the suicidal thoughts returned. I resumed taking them as soon as I returned but not feeling any positive effect as yet. Is this normal? Am I that reliant on this medication I need to take it to feel like it’s worth being alive?

ulu I am so disturbed
  • replies: 1

I have had depression in the past, I am a sensitive person who talks less. Currently I have changed my job industry quite a few times, also have some regrets and my family thinks I never cope well in a stressful situation. I used to be in creative in... View more

I have had depression in the past, I am a sensitive person who talks less. Currently I have changed my job industry quite a few times, also have some regrets and my family thinks I never cope well in a stressful situation. I used to be in creative industry which I miss a lot. So at the moment I am in hospitality same with my husband, it has been 7 years of our marriage but my husband was mostly unavailable due to his job type, it is very demanding and constant stressful due to employee turnovers and other factors. I feel stuck here. All the time we are stressed and thinking about work. Like either come home and still work or he cannot come home even after 12 hours. We work in the weekends too. I had an ectopic pregnancy, I am failing in my personal life, I am trying to cope doing everything I can. My husband moved on, but me still grieving. Which I can't explain in words it is hard. I wished to move out of the city but unable to find a job where we used to be is becoming hectic in our lives, this is not what I wished for. I had difficulties to get pregnant because of the stress, but it seems it is now getting serious. I do not know what to do? At times I just find its better to pretend rather making anyone understand, no one has time. Feels so so lonely here. My tears are my problem as I understand everyone has a more important job to do. I never share much with my parents as they get scared, (they are in a different country) my mom has mental health issue. I feel I am regretting everything, from relocating, changing jobs and the eptopic pregnancy. I sometime feel it is all my fault as I tried resolving these issues but somehow it always stayed back.

Fight_or_Flight Is this a depressive episode?
  • replies: 4

Hi, I live a very stressful life, job, home life and constantly feel like I'm in flight or fight response. I'm dealing with some health issues with a loved one and it's changed our lives as we know it. I have previously been diagnosed with Anxiety bu... View more

Hi, I live a very stressful life, job, home life and constantly feel like I'm in flight or fight response. I'm dealing with some health issues with a loved one and it's changed our lives as we know it. I have previously been diagnosed with Anxiety but of late I just feel so flat. I feel completely isolated with life, I eat, sleep, work and repeat. I feel like I have no excitement in life and when I do it gets cancelled due to health issues, this leaves me feeling really down and flat. I'm tired all the time, loose patience easily, can't be bothered or feel like I have the time to clean my house,look after myself and would love to just go to bed and not have to deal with the outside world. I constantly feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders and have moments the tears just fall and don't stop. I feel completely alone in my feelings and just smile on the outside. I already take medication for my anxiety but I just don't know how to get out of this funk. I feel broken!

Doberman38 First depressive episode
  • replies: 7

After my pretty constant state of anxiety from last year on, I guess it was only a matter of time before a depressive episode materialised out of it. I used to be a very optimistic person. Now, everything in the world just seems to be getting worse, ... View more

After my pretty constant state of anxiety from last year on, I guess it was only a matter of time before a depressive episode materialised out of it. I used to be a very optimistic person. Now, everything in the world just seems to be getting worse, not better and I'm feeling increasingly despondent about the future. While my family and I are trying harder and harder to lift me out of this state, I just feel worse and worse. The problem is that this greatly frustrates them - my dad can't stand me avoiding the news and my mum gets emotional and says 'I can't deal with this anymore.' I feel incredibly guilty and frustrated by their reactions. I have to pretend I feel fine. If I actually expressed how I was feeling I think it would only agitate or upset them. I honestly don't know what to do.

tvenam I want a hug
  • replies: 12

Hi, My name is Tom and I'm 14. I'm new to this forum, but I feel so depressed and sad at school because of mean kids, and Ive always wanted a hug from a girl, I have a girl in mind, and I feel like a hug from her would feel so loving and warm. Could ... View more

Hi, My name is Tom and I'm 14. I'm new to this forum, but I feel so depressed and sad at school because of mean kids, and Ive always wanted a hug from a girl, I have a girl in mind, and I feel like a hug from her would feel so loving and warm. Could someone please comfort me or something? I cant really elaborate at the moment because I'm at school, but I will be happy to talk later in the replies.

Russian_Red_Foxx Am I going through a depressive episode?
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I've been feeling really down lately and I don't know if I am going through a depressive episode. It's happened before but this time it feels different. I've had no energy recently and haven't left the house for anything other than work ... View more

Hi everyone, I've been feeling really down lately and I don't know if I am going through a depressive episode. It's happened before but this time it feels different. I've had no energy recently and haven't left the house for anything other than work for about a week now, normally I leave at least once per day. I've been struggling to sleep and I've been feeling flat for no reason, mostly just spending the entire day sitting at home. I have a few projects going including art and homework that I haven't been motivated to finish, usually I try to get stuff done quickly. I wanted to attend a large social event tonight (a fur meet, don't judge) but couldn't because of work and now I'm feeling isolated since this is the once in a blue moon chance I get to meet my only friends in person. On the surface I have seemed fine. I've been interacting with my family and doing basic chores like nothing is out of the ordinary. On the inside however I feel broken, as if the fire that was keeping me going has suddenly died. I've been feeling severe anxiety about various things for about a week now and I occasionally think about self harm but I don't have the energy to do anything. I did talk to someone and I've been trying out various mental health apps, but they only seem to fix minor problems in the moment, I've also tried talking with my mother and she thinks that it's just a cycle of boredom, however this feels different. I don't know what I'm feeling and I don't have the energy to do anything about it.

Caramelo_koala Depression
  • replies: 2

I'm depressed. Like really sad. I can't stop feeling angry hurt and sad. I also broke up my boyfriend of 3 years as he is immature, an alcoholic who is angry when sober or when he does any housework and is real lovey dovey when drunk. The kicker for ... View more

I'm depressed. Like really sad. I can't stop feeling angry hurt and sad. I also broke up my boyfriend of 3 years as he is immature, an alcoholic who is angry when sober or when he does any housework and is real lovey dovey when drunk. The kicker for me was him not wanting to pay half a bill. I don't know if my depression is caused from the break up as we are still living together, or maybe we broke up feom my depression?. I felt like this at the same time last year. Coincidence? Or perhaps it's because I went off my antidepressant to try a smoking cessation drug 2 months ago, which is also meant to act as as an antidepressant. I have no one to talk to. I've tried and no one is interested or they are too busy. I can't stop ruminating and that has turned into going over things that's happened years ago but it's making me feel bitter now. My brain just won't stop! From wake up to sleep and it's waking me up at night with vomiting feelings in my gut, I have actually thrown up a few times over the last few days. I've even had to have days off work due to it all. I don't know what I'm asking if anything.. I just need to write it out, I just want someone to hear me. I just want to stop crying and stop thinking and go back to normal.

Desperate_Dan Autism traits & Depression
  • replies: 3

Hi, I wanted to reach out to this community for advice and suggestions. I'm a 40 something man, who was diagnosed with severe depression about 10 years ago. Lot of things triggered me spiraling and it took me a long time to recover, however a change ... View more

Hi, I wanted to reach out to this community for advice and suggestions. I'm a 40 something man, who was diagnosed with severe depression about 10 years ago. Lot of things triggered me spiraling and it took me a long time to recover, however a change in work and medication have seen me stable and "normal" up until recently. My home life is stable, however I find myself getting agitated and angry frequently and am finding no enjoyment in anything at all. Over the last few days I've caught myself just staring at the clock wishing the time would go quicker in the hope that something might happen, but of course it never does. My situation is compounded by the fact that I have some autism traits - with the main one being I find it hard to trust people and make friends and as a result, I currently only have my wife and maybe 1 other person I can speak to. Typing this out has also made me realise that part of the problem may be that I don't want to be married any more and one of the reasons I feel so alone. Is this normal? I don't recall feeling like this when I got my initial diagnosis

blue_quail slowly sinking
  • replies: 2

i feel like i wallow in my self pity and i’m slowly sinking into a bottomless pit and everyone tries to bring me back to the surface but they aren’t strong enough or dont get to me in time because i’m already too far down. and maybe i can’t help it, ... View more

i feel like i wallow in my self pity and i’m slowly sinking into a bottomless pit and everyone tries to bring me back to the surface but they aren’t strong enough or dont get to me in time because i’m already too far down. and maybe i can’t help it, or maybe some part of me wants to sink deeper and deeper.