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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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dopamine im so lost
  • replies: 2

hi, im so lost and confused, i have huge mood swings, from happy to just wanting to kill myself. i cry often in my bedroom and i have no one to reach out to. im also still "in the closet", my parents are huge homophobes. my dad said he'd support me, ... View more

hi, im so lost and confused, i have huge mood swings, from happy to just wanting to kill myself. i cry often in my bedroom and i have no one to reach out to. im also still "in the closet", my parents are huge homophobes. my dad said he'd support me, but i think he wont, he actively uses the 'n' slur and the 'f' slur. i really want to reach out to someone or talk to a therapist, but i ask my parents theyll start critisizing me or i dont even know. but it will definetly be negative. im also at an awkward age where i need to behave and think like an adult, but also act like a child? im suddenly too old for that, and too young for this. my mother is very strict as well. ive also been having body image issues currently, and my parents are forcing me to eat, and after i eat, i try to throw up, but i cant. i feel so pressured all the time. theres still one month before school begins, i dont think i can handle this anymore. i just want to be done with this. im going to lose my mind or kill myself, its one way or another. i cant reach out to my friends because im too scared. please help me, i just really want someone who can talk to me about this.

Couch_Dracula Walking Contradiction
  • replies: 7

I woke up on Monday morning after a weekend sitting on the couch all day and night worrying and procrastinating about the things going wrong with my life, and decided to take action and took myself to a doctor. I was actually shocked at the amount of... View more

I woke up on Monday morning after a weekend sitting on the couch all day and night worrying and procrastinating about the things going wrong with my life, and decided to take action and took myself to a doctor. I was actually shocked at the amount of problems or health concerns i've had in the past 6 months, hot and cold flushes resulting in severe rashes all over my body (nervous rash), cloudiness, lack of concentration and my "sensitive" side were all related to anxiety/depression. Ive been calling myself lazy, stupid and a failure never thinking that my overanalysing of everything could be the cause to these feelings. A situation at the beginning of the year left me with a fear of leaving my house, I had to push myself to attend my full time studies running out of my house. The lounge room became my safety zone to which my boyfriend dubbed me "Couch Dracula". Which was and is still amusing, in fact im sitting on it right now. This fear catapulted into self doubt, hate and a whole lot of guilt/ embarrassment for the way I was behaving (mostly uncontrollable tears and even irrational behaviour towards teachers and other students for making out that im stupid (which of course looking back they were just trying to help)) It would be really great to talk to people in a similar situation, what you do to get out the door or to get that home work or whatever your job is done. At the moment I've lost any vision of my future, and thats why I accessed help. I dont want to be constantly worrying and staying on the couch forever.. S.x

startingnew Seasonal Affective Disorder.. in summer?
  • replies: 16

hello everyone ive only ever heard of SAD being in the winter months but im wondering is it possible to have it in the summer months? im not sure if its part of my depression, the heat in general or other but id be interesting in finding out others e... View more

hello everyone ive only ever heard of SAD being in the winter months but im wondering is it possible to have it in the summer months? im not sure if its part of my depression, the heat in general or other but id be interesting in finding out others experiences... i find i have more trouble sleeping in summer, lack energy, and cravings for sweet things. i cant put in anxiety or depressive feelings becasue i have these already.. what are your thoughts?

kkajesal Stuck in a loop and I can’t get out
  • replies: 1

I have had mild depression for as long as I can remember and have never been to a doctor because I am afraid and ashamed to ask for help. My family don’t believe depression and anxiety are real and I have no support at home. I am in my late twenties ... View more

I have had mild depression for as long as I can remember and have never been to a doctor because I am afraid and ashamed to ask for help. My family don’t believe depression and anxiety are real and I have no support at home. I am in my late twenties and haven’t worked since I lost my last job due to covid in early 2020. My mental health has gone down hill during this time. I haven’t been able to get a job due to my mental state but also cannot afford to get help because I haven’t worked in so long. I am stuck in a loop of unemployment and depression and don’t know how to get out. My family do not understand and keep telling me that I need to get my life together and that i’m falling behind in life. I really have no one to talk to and i am struggling trying to just help myself. I am terrified to go to a doctor and ask for help. I don’t know where to go from here and where to start.

Escape_Crowd Bad thoughts looming, Getting irritated easily and doubting myself
  • replies: 6

Hi there, I am 26 and just started working two years ago. The story began in November 2021, when a project came in and our team were burnt to deliver the project by Christmas. I had been doing 2 hours ish of overtime every week to get the job done. A... View more

Hi there, I am 26 and just started working two years ago. The story began in November 2021, when a project came in and our team were burnt to deliver the project by Christmas. I had been doing 2 hours ish of overtime every week to get the job done. And there was one time I participated the company mini end of year event (like only 30 min) and left the workplace on time the same day. The next day I got called by my manager as he was unimpressed by me joining the mini event when everyone on the team was working hard to deliver the project. I explained to him that I had been doing overtime for the last few weeks and he later said then it was okay for me to participate. I was very disappointed that he spoke to me as if I was a salary thief and made me feel like I had contributed nothing to the team. I understand it’s his job as a manager to do these conversation but the fact that my feelings get hurt by his words of ignorance is not fake either. Since then, I always felt that he’s holding a magnifying glass and looking for my faults. But I cant justify if he is really picking on me or not, I could be overthinking. These overthinking got worsened when the deadline was approaching. I doubt my contribution unless I worked until 6pm or even 8pm or 9pm of the day. Sometimes when I left on time I need to worry if the manager would see me as a non-contributor again. Sometimes I would imagine what if my manager picks on me again, and how I should face the conversation. (I had all these unjustified bad thoughts on my manager) Unfortunately the project was delayed by a week. I was working over Christmas until the last day of 2021 to deliver the project. I took the first week of 2022 off as a present for my hard work. This morning I had a phone call with my mum and told her about the project (she knew the stories I had with my manager). I told her there’s still bits of project that need to be done but I had checked with the senior on the team and the senior said it’s okay for me to take the week off. My mum disagreed and said I should keep working to get those bits done and only then I should rest. I felt so irritated because I was already in worries and anxiety when taking the week off. I was trying hard to calm myself from the work burnouts and my mum just destroyed my hard-collected confidence that I should take a rest. I didn’t argue with her but her words had made me anxious again, and I am getting irritated by it. What happened to me and what should I do?

Rufc Loneliness
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, i am new to the forum and I’d like to hear from you guys. I am in my early twenties i used to have friends back at home but after coming here I could not make any close friends i did have those I could talk to but after a while the conversat... View more

Hi guys, i am new to the forum and I’d like to hear from you guys. I am in my early twenties i used to have friends back at home but after coming here I could not make any close friends i did have those I could talk to but after a while the conversations faded and now I feel like i am the problem. Normally when i hang out with people I don’t talk I feel like people would disregard me. I get attached to people easily and we lose contact and i end up giving myself reasons as to why they don’t deserve me like i am no fun. The other thing is i have a partner who usually comes around and i feel he could have chosen better. I have been so conscious to the point that I don’t let him talk to other girls of which was a mutual agreement but still i get mad over the slightest issues and mostly I’m the one doing it wrong. I often feel like I should just let him go maybe this jealousy thing would go. I aslo feel jealous when i see my friends going out for parties that they would invite me back then. I don’t know I’m confused and i just want to cry my heart out but really that won’t help much.

louise123 New and suffering from depression
  • replies: 8

Hi, I am currently going through depression. Slowly getting through it but getting out there is a bit of a struggle. When I go to town I can only stay for about an hour due to physical pain and weakness. I am asking to see if this is something others... View more

Hi, I am currently going through depression. Slowly getting through it but getting out there is a bit of a struggle. When I go to town I can only stay for about an hour due to physical pain and weakness. I am asking to see if this is something others suffer from when they have this illness. I also start to get a cough and it is not from the weather as we have the hottest temps where I am from. I am spending alot of time with family during the day so that is helping a little. I guess I'm here for extra support and information to see if what I am experiencing is all part of thr depression as this is the first time being like this. TIA

AndyL Where to from here?
  • replies: 7

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety around 6 years ago, which I have been managing with varying degrees of success and failure over the years; throw in the stress of a work environment that makes me feel worthless, and that I can’t get out of... View more

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety around 6 years ago, which I have been managing with varying degrees of success and failure over the years; throw in the stress of a work environment that makes me feel worthless, and that I can’t get out of at the moment, I’m spiralling again. I’m generally not embarrassed about talking about my illness, in fact some may think I overshare, but my mind is so foggy that even the simplest of thoughts is difficult to explain. It’s becoming unbearable. I’m a loving husband to a supportive and brilliant wife and dad to 2 beautiful children, but my confidence and self esteem which has never been high, is waning terribly.

BabySteps My life became Increasingly worthless
  • replies: 1

Growing Up I resented my father since I was 8 year's old Than I went to high school and from 12 to 18 I was a painful poeser and a loner and bullied socially and physically for 6 year's Than I was bullied for an extra 5 year's, when I tried to re kin... View more

Growing Up I resented my father since I was 8 year's old Than I went to high school and from 12 to 18 I was a painful poeser and a loner and bullied socially and physically for 6 year's Than I was bullied for an extra 5 year's, when I tried to re kindle two of those broken friendship's with one more long hall with them I was alway's meek all the time. ALWAY's In too many way's I had a narcissistic father, He was selfish, arrogant, vicariously or plainly controlling, dyslexic, rude, Jealous and He was a dead beat absent bill paying father, He would also gas light my mis diagnosis and call me disabled, retarted, sick, or needing to be hospitalised or take medication. He would manipulate my centrelink disability pension as a allowance, rather than a government benefit, He was financial mild black mail. My father never could be corrected or regurgitate order only other people's be told fact's or fiction. He would also perceive or believe my value's, virtue's or political retrospective has to be with His agreement or Australia's Than my mother was vague, She was arrogant and vicariously liking Her own approaches to situation's, She would be emotionally abusive and say I am a child or Immature, and She wouldn't on every occassion hear my feeling's, or regard my wisdom Come later, I became mis diagnosed, when after high school I lost myself for a few year's and gave up and became destructively Infatuated with a online foriegn girl, It lead me to a mis diagnosis of schizoprehnia when I was In a suicidal fixated personality, the sad thing Is, It's lead me to cope pre diabetie's type-2 and have my gallbladder removed, I was bullied now at 26 to be enforced to voluntary admit myself In hospital for one month, It's affected my driving with occupational therapist assessment's and medical yearly review's x2 I was alway's a misfit, wanting meaning and purpose and Individuality, over Just the next tolerant or shit Job, I never was a dumb person to see the only value as money, even If money up hold's to the diversity of quality a life can be lead through I wanted to pursue creative Interest since as young as 14, and now at 26, I never could have the esteem, because I don't like living with my Dad, and I have a Immensity of Issue's, and I am behind by 10 year's with my life I never had my driving, I never had conventional direction, I never had net work, I had a clueless mother, and a selfish to Himself dead living father figure

Ramblify People who don’t seem to get better -Why?
  • replies: 24

Hi, I have lived experience with depression and anxiety. I consider myself lucky that I received good help from health professionals. I knew from a young age (16/17) that I didn’t want to be like my parents; and I wanted more from life. Recently, I’v... View more

Hi, I have lived experience with depression and anxiety. I consider myself lucky that I received good help from health professionals. I knew from a young age (16/17) that I didn’t want to be like my parents; and I wanted more from life. Recently, I’ve done a basic course in Individual Support (Disability); and have been working with people with disabilities and more recently, people with mental health disabilities. What I see a lot of is people who aren’t able, or just don’t want to, engage in their goals. Most have very bad living conditions - mostly dirt and hoarding. Basically they buy things and don’t clean, or have any organisation system. I also have lived experiences with these issues. The difference I think??? Is I was able to ask for help and if I didn’t get the right help or person I could look elsewhere. Im just rather perplexed at what happens to people to get in the states’ I’ve been witnessing? Have they given up on life? It seems like they don’t want to get better. Are they medication resistant? They don’t seem to like any doctors, Psychologists or Psychiatrists - they think they’re old dinosaurs and they find them pretty much useless. I have certainly had a few experiences like this myself, but I just found someone else. I guess I am lucky I have openess as a trait? mother people I have know who have had eg: a diagnosis of anti social personality disorder, and once they got the diagnosis they pretty much decided they were f&$@ed and nothing could be done; and stayed in their bedroom in their parents house for 20 years. I can’t totally relate to fear of failure (or success), low self esteem, low self worth, being and feeing overwhelmed and paralysed, procrastinating. But I guess I am (by nature??) somewhat resilient. I just wanted to get feedback about the notion of people who have mental illness who can’t be helped (usually because of their mental illness). How do people become stuck? Is it a lack of insight? And personality traits!? Are they just a lot sicker than anyone ever knew… I’m struggling to comprehend. thnaks