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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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4n0Nn13 Feeling hopeless
  • replies: 3

I’m not sure on where to start as I struggle with expressing my thoughts and feelings. I feel like I’ve been struck in this unhappiness for a while, it’s hard for me to explain it my partner what I’ve been experiencing internally. I find it an effort... View more

I’m not sure on where to start as I struggle with expressing my thoughts and feelings. I feel like I’ve been struck in this unhappiness for a while, it’s hard for me to explain it my partner what I’ve been experiencing internally. I find it an effort to try explain when I don’t really understand why I’m feeling the way I do. I have no motivation to do daily tasks as I’m waking up to a sense of dread, I don’t really have a sense of purpose and worry I’m thinking too much about what it would be like to just move on and not really do this anymore. I want to feel connected but I struggle with being vulnerable or when I do try to reach out, it’s been misunderstood and I’m feeling alone again.

Fen Depressed partner leaving
  • replies: 19

I was in a six year relationship with my partner. We had what I thought was a loving, stable and solid relationship. When my partner became depressed the relationship also ended as they broke it off without much warning. My question is, do depressed ... View more

I was in a six year relationship with my partner. We had what I thought was a loving, stable and solid relationship. When my partner became depressed the relationship also ended as they broke it off without much warning. My question is, do depressed partners come back once they’ve recovered and they can access emotions such as love again? Do they disappear or come back for a friendship or to the relationship they once had?

Tizzy Depression & Hopelessness of having just a normal life
  • replies: 3

This is getting unbearable now. I am nearly 67 and have had Depressive Episodes ALL of my life. I never feel like I have enough energy to do anything. I can’t escape because I can’t hurt the people that I love like that, but waking up everyday to thi... View more

This is getting unbearable now. I am nearly 67 and have had Depressive Episodes ALL of my life. I never feel like I have enough energy to do anything. I can’t escape because I can’t hurt the people that I love like that, but waking up everyday to this constant overwhelm, irritation & anger and sadness is so draining. Battling my mental health seems pointless sometimes. I see how others live. They don’t all have these issues. I don’t mean to be selfish or pitiful, but why me? Being alive just doesn’t seem to make sense to me. I haven’t ever felt “normal” whatever that is...just waking up each morning with some kind of joy or anticipation would be a start. I have been married for 46 years but want to separate from my husband. Ive had enough of his gaslighting and selfesh ways but i cannot financially support myself. I am nearly at Pension Age but that's probably not enough for me to manage an independent life with a roof over my head. I live for my children and grandchildren but they all live in different cities. I have lived here for 31 years but even though i know quite a few people i do NOT have a friend. Nope not one...not here...I do have one but she does not live here, although we are in contact weekly. I have too many things wrong with me to fix. IVe tried all kinds of therapy and medications and although they have helped a little at the time nothing has worked. I read about this new treatment coming available soon and I maybe can try that BUT I live in the Country NSW - so you think there will be a trained person to oversee this here...NOPE again I will miss out. I"ve had enough...I am exhausted and sick and tired of my life and my husband and my future.

meatloaf Work cover 30% impairment assessment
  • replies: 21

Hi I am about to undergo an assessment for whole person impairment as part of my work cover compensation case. I ve been told I need to be classified as 30% impaired and that this is difficult. My injury is psychiatric and I'm in Victoria. Has anyone... View more

Hi I am about to undergo an assessment for whole person impairment as part of my work cover compensation case. I ve been told I need to be classified as 30% impaired and that this is difficult. My injury is psychiatric and I'm in Victoria. Has anyone been through this?

Guest_22241677 Not sure what to do
  • replies: 1

I'm in my 20's and yet cannot figure out what I will do with my life. I'm not diagnosed with depression or anxiety (never went to the doctor's for it) but ever since I was a 10 I've been very sad and anxious with everyone and everything around me. I ... View more

I'm in my 20's and yet cannot figure out what I will do with my life. I'm not diagnosed with depression or anxiety (never went to the doctor's for it) but ever since I was a 10 I've been very sad and anxious with everyone and everything around me. I guess I can say I was abused by my dad at a very young age and my mum hand no power to stop him so the abuse sorta continued until I reached highschool where I realized that I can report to my teachers if I'm being mistreated at home. But unfortunately I've never reported it. My parents don't physically abuse me but sometimes there's a few verbal abuse especially from my eldest sibling whom I don't know why always lashes onto me and guilt trips me. I am emotionally sensitive since I was young and I would feel like crying every time none says anything bad about me or hits me. I guess all that trauma that I've built up till now is making me doubt what I want to be in the future as there's a lot of negativity in my household. I also avoid men (mostly middle aged ones) due to many horrible encounters I have as a child just made be afraid of them. They say that if you're in your 20s you should explore with different career paths but I was shamed by most of everyone I know (even my friends) for wanting to do culinary at tafe so right now I'm in university, feeling miserable and burnt out, doing a degree I have zero passion on. I feel like if I dif have supportive parents and if I lived in a positive household I would really enjoy life to its fullest. Anyways I might make another post about my life and emotional problems since I cannot really vent out to anyone close to me.

Gracie_PY4 Help Please 🙏🏻
  • replies: 1

To anyone who is reading I really need your help. I’m Grace and I suffer from depression and anxiety. I have the thoughts of I have no purpose, what’s the point, constant boredom, but also because of the fact the I work casual retail at a pet store t... View more

To anyone who is reading I really need your help. I’m Grace and I suffer from depression and anxiety. I have the thoughts of I have no purpose, what’s the point, constant boredom, but also because of the fact the I work casual retail at a pet store that I just started at. I used to work full time at Just Jeans and it was awful. I think that’s why my depression got so bad, my managers were up and down with moods, it was the same day over and over and constant pressure. I don’t want that same experience. I’m now stuck feeling completely little motivation for anything I do, going to bed is one of the best things to do because I’m away from life. My favourite thing to do is actually watching movies because I can distract myself from my constant feeling of this depression. My parents are really supportive and I do love them, but they’re getting more and more irritating. I’ve found that the last 2 weeks or 3 weeks have been hard around them because they’re trying to tell me what to do or they’ll say something so small to advise or guide me and then I shut off completely in a salty way. I don’t know why, it’s just like I don’t want to talk about it, and then I don’t want to talk to them. I really don’t know what to do. And I think there’s something wrong with me. Today I really struggled because they told me that it’s like walking on eggshells with me, and I don’t want that. I feel like I’m being a brat and being really difficult with them but when they talk to me I just don’t want to talk about that particular subject because it freaks me out so much and then I shut off. I feel like there’s really something wrong with me and now I don’t have anyone to talk to. I don’t want to talk to my parents anymore because I feel this way and it always ends badly. And I don’t want them to think that I’m an a attention seeker that goes “I have depression fake it easy on me” or “I have mental struggles at the moment please don’t talk to me at the moment about that stuff”. Like I don’t want them to think I’m using it as an excuse, but like it’s hard because it’s to talk about those fears and I don’t want to talk about it and I don’t really want to be around my parents. And I really am struggling (which they do know) and I’m stuck and don’t know what to do half the time and I’m just trying to do the best but like I don’t earn a lot of money, and so I have a lot of financial stress and worries. I find it hard to go out and seek for a job, force myself to socialise or do things because I don’t have the motivation. Honestly I just don’t know what to do?

Fusion2k4 The weight of the world is on my shoulders
  • replies: 4

- In 2024, my wife lost her job - I have been the sole income earner for this time - I am near bankruptcy. We have been trying to sell our house for over 8 months. We have only months left. - I have constant suicidal thoughts, with only external peop... View more

- In 2024, my wife lost her job - I have been the sole income earner for this time - I am near bankruptcy. We have been trying to sell our house for over 8 months. We have only months left. - I have constant suicidal thoughts, with only external people or pets being the reason I dont - Whilst I run businesses, I constantly make mistakes. - Recently, a client who I made millions of dollars, was upset I work for a competitor so that I could keep us afloat. Whilse she has a $5m home. - Some nights, we share a single steak between my wife, myself and our child - I work at great volumes, but can never achieve my goals - My wife applies for jobs, and maybe does 2 hours a day of projects. If shes not minding the kid, she is playing games or puzzles or things I have just had the weight of the world on my shoulders for too long I pray to god everynight I can never seem to turn the chapter

Guest_13575645 Needing an outlet to talk to anyone who is willing to listen.
  • replies: 1

Hi. I don't really know if I'm going to get much of anyone to talk to here, but I don't want to burden the workers of BeyondBlue, nor am I financially able to see my therapist for the time being. I don't even know where to start with my problems, but... View more

Hi. I don't really know if I'm going to get much of anyone to talk to here, but I don't want to burden the workers of BeyondBlue, nor am I financially able to see my therapist for the time being. I don't even know where to start with my problems, but I know that I have them and bottling them up isn't the best. I think to put it simply, I'm feeling hopeless in my life, that I have little to feel towards myself. I guess I'll start by breaking things down; I'm struggling to find employment no matter my best efforts, same with trying to get into secondary education such as tafe or a traineeship, I'm struggling financially because I waste my money on needless/momentary things or for other people, I feel isolated by those I once deemed as friends and by my family, and lately, been swallowed whole by past experiences and trauma that makes me feel worse to my core. And it sucks that I don't really know who to turn to because I feel distant from my family unless I'm needed to do something, I don't have any friends to enjoy the comfort of their presence, I don't want to burden online friends because frankly I don't feel that close to any of them, and the more I feel worse about myself, the less I feel motivated to do anything. It's getting to a point where all I can blame is myself, because that's the one consistent factor on how/why things have gone bad for me that honestly it's a crossroad which I feel I have to choose between the path where I just keep going and hoping that whatever primordial being there is gives me a bone for all my best efforts, or I just eliminate the one core value that keeps holding me back.

DW_ I have a very limited grasp on what other people are thinking.
  • replies: 1

Someone once said that, "it's like he cannot concieve of another person's thoughts" and it hurt alot. And it's honestly true. I've always struggled to describe the people around me. Even my family or best friends. Its hard to describe anything about ... View more

Someone once said that, "it's like he cannot concieve of another person's thoughts" and it hurt alot. And it's honestly true. I've always struggled to describe the people around me. Even my family or best friends. Its hard to describe anything about them other than surface level traits. I struggle to understand people's motivations. Why do people do things? what would my friend do in this scenario? what would they say? I don't see anyone as less than me, if anything, I feel like the opposite is true sometimes, though I'm trying to get better at telling myself its not. And I've found that I don't dislike people either. I think that they're cool, I like when people have strong passions especially if its music and hearing how excited they get. I like seeing people in their element, and I like the things that people make. But I don't always trust even my closest friends. I suppose that, my logic always has been, "I dont know what they think of me, so I have to assume the worst in them so that when they leave me it wont hurt". I've hurt and pushed away the people around me because I thought that I couldn't trust them, that they were out to get me, and even when I did trust them, I just burdened them with my constant worry that they were going to abandon me or were trying to hurt me. And I'd lash out alot. I never understood the toll that my actions took on them and I just refuse to forgive myself for hurting them. I don't talk to many people at the moment. I try not to have any real conversations. I talk to my family but for the most part I spend my time in the library doing Uni work and I try not to spend much time at home. I'm looking into roles after uni that could be meaningful so that I could at least try and be useful to the world in some form if im still alive, but i worry I dont deserve a chance. Right now I have one friend who I talk to consistently and I enjoy it. I like playing Limbus with the guy. But i'm scared that if I keep hanging out with him I'll make his life worse. I always tell myself that even the most evil person in the world can do the right thing if they just choose to. It may not change who they are inside, but at least someone benefits right? But sometimes I think that I might be broken if I cannot comprehend what people are thinking. If understanding other people is a part of being a person, can I really even call myself human? I don't know. Right now I dont even feel like this body is mine. I dont feel human at all.

rh456 Depressed and anxious
  • replies: 2

Hey alli lost my job 6 months ago and since then have been applying for jobs. I have been trying different options/areas but not been successful. I have had a couple of interviews and have been close but they have gone with someone else. I have been ... View more

Hey alli lost my job 6 months ago and since then have been applying for jobs. I have been trying different options/areas but not been successful. I have had a couple of interviews and have been close but they have gone with someone else. I have been left disappointed each time and now feel im falling apart and am not good enough. Im anxious waiting on an interview i had last week..i hate the waiting and not knowing. I do my best, but either thats not good enough or im not the right fit. I do my research/preparation- that in itself is a little stressful. I am at that point where ive said to myself - do i want to put myself through that interview stress again thinking that ill be disappointed again? (i keep doing it as i need a job for the money and self confidence). Trying to keep myself occupied by watching dvds and playing games, but even doing something that usually makes me smile/laugh is not working. When i usually feel “down” i watch some funny videos, but even this is not helping. Feeling sick with worry. All i need right now is a job, someone to believe in me and support. People try and be helpful by saying “something will come up” but that’s not helping cant afford to go to a counsellor either, as my finances are low due to above situation stress.