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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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Alannah57 How do you keep your brain balanced
  • replies: 4

On the bipolar spectrum, and feeling like the methods I’m using to rebalance my brain about the world are really working. Just curious how other people rebalance their brains or kept themselves mentally happy and healthy

On the bipolar spectrum, and feeling like the methods I’m using to rebalance my brain about the world are really working. Just curious how other people rebalance their brains or kept themselves mentally happy and healthy

AmeliaParis Selfworth
  • replies: 3

Hi, I guess this is a bit of a question, or just a thought. How do you make yourself feel worthy? Of anything and everything? Doesn't matter how much better I think I feel, I can get dropped down from my pedestal of happiness pretty easily and my tho... View more

Hi, I guess this is a bit of a question, or just a thought. How do you make yourself feel worthy? Of anything and everything? Doesn't matter how much better I think I feel, I can get dropped down from my pedestal of happiness pretty easily and my thoughts seem to always attack me with 'of course' like whatever it is was to be expected, because I don't matter anyways. And I go down this spiral of 'I m nobody', 'I can't do anything right' ... And I still can't snap out of it .. What I find worse is that I don't wish to talk about my feelings woth my friends anymore. I feel like I'm a burden if I talk about it and I feel like they shouldn't have to deal with it. I also don't want anybody to talk behind my back about me (not that they do, it's just whst I'm afraid of happening), even worringly ... Did anything ever help you?

Ted721 How can I find and welcome close relationships?
  • replies: 3

For the last few years i’ve felt like I was drowning, and nothing is there to catch me- no seabed, nothing, and i’m scared to find out how deep my depression can go. I feel like i’m boring and I can’t remember the last time i’ve had an irl conversati... View more

For the last few years i’ve felt like I was drowning, and nothing is there to catch me- no seabed, nothing, and i’m scared to find out how deep my depression can go. I feel like i’m boring and I can’t remember the last time i’ve had an irl conversation that felt like I was received happily or with the want of my company. I’ve never genuinely had anyone to talk too about my problems, but I feel like that would be the best thing for me. For that reason, I really want to move schools, because I don’t think i’d be able to meet someone any other way, because I never really leave the house. Even then, I struggle to imagine myself fitting a friend or partner next to my own self, because i’m so self absorbed I feel like I know everything about my mind and I don’t how I could possibly indulge in someone else's constantly.

Xie Struggling to attend work
  • replies: 3

Hi, I’m a casual worker at a fast food place while I attend university and lately my depression has worsened and I’m struggling to get out of bed. I’ve already missed shifts and I don’t know how to explain to my employer why. I slept through my last ... View more

Hi, I’m a casual worker at a fast food place while I attend university and lately my depression has worsened and I’m struggling to get out of bed. I’ve already missed shifts and I don’t know how to explain to my employer why. I slept through my last day time shift and I’m incredibly low on money but I don’t know what to do. does anyone have any advice?

Joey84 No friends, wife doesnt care, lonely
  • replies: 5

Been dealing with this for a long time and want to meet new people but cant because of wife not letting me, plus my anxiety doesnt help meeting new people but im lonely and wish i had friends or people that would put in the same amount of effort i pu... View more

Been dealing with this for a long time and want to meet new people but cant because of wife not letting me, plus my anxiety doesnt help meeting new people but im lonely and wish i had friends or people that would put in the same amount of effort i put in. Instead of me being the only person making effort or constantly being judged. Not sure why im posting here but anything worth a try.

Coco18-8 Feel like I can’t talk to anyone.
  • replies: 5

I have been in a dark spot for the past two weeks. I am all over the place, crying constantly, having breakdowns before school and the thought of going to hangout with someone feels like a chore. I was going to discuss this with my therapist yesterda... View more

I have been in a dark spot for the past two weeks. I am all over the place, crying constantly, having breakdowns before school and the thought of going to hangout with someone feels like a chore. I was going to discuss this with my therapist yesterday but due to weather conditions, she cancelled. I just want to talk to someone, everyday is beginning to feel more overwhelming and hard. I can’t speak to my therapist until our next appointment which is in two months (her earliest I could get) I’m scared, I can’t talk to my parents , we’ve had our battles and there’s a massive Barrier between us and I just can’t be vulnerable in front of them , it’s to scary. And we’ll my friends, I don’t feel like they really care, I feel like there like yeah ok your going through something aren’t we all. Overall I just needed to talk to someone and this was the closest I could get. So thank you

catlvr my depression doesn't feel real?
  • replies: 5

Hi, I'm a first year uni student. i just moved to a new state where i know nobody and i've been feeling so lonely. i feel like i ave "depression" but idk if its just a phase like "everyone goes thru this" usually this is what ppl tell me when i try t... View more

Hi, I'm a first year uni student. i just moved to a new state where i know nobody and i've been feeling so lonely. i feel like i ave "depression" but idk if its just a phase like "everyone goes thru this" usually this is what ppl tell me when i try to to talk to someone they tell me that everyone is sad but just hide it better which makes my feelings feel invalid and that im just an attention seeker because i can't hide my "depression". im using quotations on the word depression because i am not medically diagnosed. i would say ive been "depressed" since i was 16 and hve had bad thoughts and self-harmed. i want to seek medical help but its hard because therapy isn't very normalised in my family its considered an embarrassment or flaw and i will be looked down upon or even be called an attention seeker. i want to be able to feel again. i feel like i am dissociated from life right now. like im not living my life but someone else. a stimulation i could say. my cat is helping me stay alive. i also am not financially stable to get medical help. what do i do. i barely have friends and when i try talk to someone its not much help?

Chris_R How to obtain self worth with a learning disability
  • replies: 5

Hi there, I need some help please with how to find self worth when you have a learning disability. I am a 51 year old female who has struggled with leaning for most of my adult life. I didn't seem to have problems when I was in primary school, but fo... View more

Hi there, I need some help please with how to find self worth when you have a learning disability. I am a 51 year old female who has struggled with leaning for most of my adult life. I didn't seem to have problems when I was in primary school, but for whatever reason it became worse after years 11 and 12. So basically I find it hard to comprehend things, slow at learning and have a poor memory. This has always made it hard to obtain employment. I've had to resort to low skilled jobs that I don't enjoy. Hence I have never felt good about myself. Even at this age I have not learnt how to feel worthwhile. It's hard to enjoy life and be around others when you often don't understand what they are saying. It's extremely shameful. I know some people say concentrate on your strengths, but I seriously don't have any. I am not good at anything. If anyone can help me please with how does someone feel like their life is worth living when they have little to contribute. Thanks

watabasketcase 25 Female: Chronic Depression for over 10 years. Feel Invalidated and mistreated. Tried everything, virtually support systems.
  • replies: 5

I will try to cut to the chase. I have suffered from pretty bad anxiety and severe depression my whole life. Every year since I was 13 has been a real struggle. I can't actually pinpoint any time from 2010 to now and actually describe sustained feeli... View more

I will try to cut to the chase. I have suffered from pretty bad anxiety and severe depression my whole life. Every year since I was 13 has been a real struggle. I can't actually pinpoint any time from 2010 to now and actually describe sustained feelings of happiness. I was severely bullied in high school and after a long hard think about it, I actually think I have C-PTSD. I was given medication by one psychiatrist for PTSD but then another one said I only have depression, so that made me feel invalidated. I am at a loss for what to do and I have tried everything: Psychology (maybe 5-7 since I was 14) ((Seeing one now and she is the most helpful to keep me alive)) Psychiatry (Only outpatient, but public/private) - 15 medications tried, every class of anti-depressant, tried off label drugs too, my most recent psychiatrist basically insinuated he doesn't know what to do CBT Hypnotherapy Alternative medicines, naturopathy, vitamins, Chinese medicine Group therapy Meditation I have also tried everything practical to improve my situation: Exercise, joining volunteer groups, group therapy etc but it doesn't work or make me feel better. In the last youth group therapy I did, I was given 'wide eyes' for being a virgin, literally. Also balancing all these things to try and make myself 'better' while juggling life chores (work, money) at my age seems impossible while being totally alone with no joy outlet or anyone to really talk to about chronic depression and how it steals your life. (I have no close friends, never had a relationship, sexually inexperienced) I feel at a total loss because it seems no one has any answers to a depression that stays around for this long for someone my age without another condition/comorbidity present. I think part of my problem is I present as too normal but I'm a broken person inside; very detached. I feel I have fallen through the cracks and I just go through the motions of getting help. (At 24, basically, because I have a uni degree and I work full-time that must mean I'm 'not that bad' so no professional truly takes my issues onboard). I literally have nothing to lean on. I have no hobbies or goals. I can't use any support chats/or lines without being ''enraged'' because they just tell me to see a psychologist even though I have already explained what I did above. While I understand beyondblue is mainly a referral service, I just mean that's how stuck I feel when I'm low and already doing 'everything' to fix myself.

Guest_9122 History repeating itself...
  • replies: 3

Forum noob here, but not new to depression. Nearly 40 female, adult diagnosed aspie, outcast even among my own people. Unemployable but unable to get DSP or NDIS. Each fortnight I get to choose between eating well and having no fun in my life, or eat... View more

Forum noob here, but not new to depression. Nearly 40 female, adult diagnosed aspie, outcast even among my own people. Unemployable but unable to get DSP or NDIS. Each fortnight I get to choose between eating well and having no fun in my life, or eating cardboard and doing cool things. Nearly all my many past relationships ended because I got left behind or forgotten, to the point where I no longer have faith that I'm wanted by anyone. My confidence in my own worthlessness combined with near constant life stress means I have zero ability to tolerate stress or regulate my emotions. Frequently not being listened to led to a form of selective mutism, so even just typing this is a supreme act of will. Part time identity issues from a lifetime of camoflaging. Many previous attempts at psych have failed. Currently learning old life lessons all over again because apparently I let my guard down. I fell in love with an amazing man who gave me everything I wanted, we had two glorious months before it all went to hell. I became homeless at the same time as his housemate forced an emergency move on him. He ended up in the worst of shared rentals while I couch surfed. Covid happened, and we have pretty much been struggling to catch up for a year now. I managed to find a place with a well meaning but lazy housemate, where I'm pretty much the non willing caretaker figure. I happily volunteered to help partner hide some very expensive stuff from his alcoholic housemate, but after recent nearby floods I won't be doing so again. Long story short, his unreasonable demands would have left both me and my space damaged for no reason. I almost injured myself doing pointless tasks to reassure him, but nothing I or the experts said/did would ever be enough. Even after the floods are over, he still thinks that I put his life savings in danger. This isn't the first time communication failed, but we got help and I thought we were doing so well. He has agreed to see the counsellor again but thats ten days away. I love the bits out of him and hope we can get back what we lost. I have given him so much patience and support because of our circumstances, including the lack of sex life, despite it wreaking havoc on my headspace. My trust is in tatters again and the fortress walls are getting bigger. I can't talk to anyone I know.