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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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Guitar New here. Struggling
  • replies: 6

Hi Im not sure why I'm in here doing a post. Tough day today I saw my GP and he wants me to get some help with a psychiatrist for depression and anxiety. I'm already on a high dose of medication and have been for a long time. He was very nice but fir... View more

Hi Im not sure why I'm in here doing a post. Tough day today I saw my GP and he wants me to get some help with a psychiatrist for depression and anxiety. I'm already on a high dose of medication and have been for a long time. He was very nice but firm in his opinion that I'm very unwell and have been for some time. Last week he gave me another script ( I went in for my usual script renewal) for an additional tablet to try and lift my mood. He also sent me for bloods and scans. So today I went back for results hoping to be told my thyroid was off which would explain my mood. Thyroid was OK. I told him I hadn't started the additional medication because I didn't want to be dulled and was wanting to get off meds not add to an already high dose. He's now asked me to see another Dr in his practice for a second opinion on seeing a shrink and extra meds. I want to feel well. I'm so tired and sad. I don't work and haven't done for a long time (13yrs)apart from a six month stint which just ended as I wasnt strong enough. How do I tell my family I need to spend $$$ on a shrink. I feel so bloody guilty. I'm 50 mum of a pre-teen and partner of 25yrs to a hard working hubby. I'm feeling very unhealthy in every way.

gloria10 Feel like I've hit a wall
  • replies: 7

Well, it has been a while since writing. I thought I was managing okay, but I'm starting to see that I've been trying to control everything instead and putting more and more on myself. I think a lot of it started last year when I noticed I was really... View more

Well, it has been a while since writing. I thought I was managing okay, but I'm starting to see that I've been trying to control everything instead and putting more and more on myself. I think a lot of it started last year when I noticed I was really overweight and it shocked me. I've been trying to lose weight ever since, but I've been putting so much pressure on myself. I think it's because my dad passed away from heart complications and I'm worried I'll end up like him. I'm also finding it hard to find a suitable place to work as I cant seem to concentrate on anything. I also feel like I'm letting people down and worrying more about them. Recently when I tried to go to work, I felt like I hit a wall and I just couldn't go in. I think my depression has come back as I've been feeling exhausted, teary and overwhelmed. I am seeing a GP tomorrow for help as it has been a long time coming, but what are some positive ways to deal with this?

hairclip I'm Emotionally Numb + Stopped Therapy
  • replies: 19

Hi, I've posted a long time ago. I've made some changes to my life...big changes actually. Previously I was stuck in hospitality and I felt extremely trapped. I finally mustered up the courage to change because I was so tired of crying every night an... View more

Hi, I've posted a long time ago. I've made some changes to my life...big changes actually. Previously I was stuck in hospitality and I felt extremely trapped. I finally mustered up the courage to change because I was so tired of crying every night and waking up from panic attacks. So I ended up easing out of my job, went back to study, ended a long term relationship and found a new line of work. I even finally took up therapy. I finally was happy. I know you're not suppose to be happy all the time. But lately I stopped going to therapy, I don't find it helpful any more. I dread going to therapy...I'm just numb now...I'm not motivated, I use to care for my looks and now I don't even care about that. I just don't feel anything...my therapist wants me to continue with therapy but I don't. Its probably just the pandemic right? I feel trapped once again but unlike last time, I'm not struggling, I'm just emotionally unresponsive and tired...

Zanthus My actions and my desires are at odds.
  • replies: 3

I live in a busy house hold 4 adults and 4 children my sisters. I've been needing help of some sort for as long as I can remember At the moment I'm deep in negative momentum and am finding it impossible to try the things that worked in the past I don... View more

I live in a busy house hold 4 adults and 4 children my sisters. I've been needing help of some sort for as long as I can remember At the moment I'm deep in negative momentum and am finding it impossible to try the things that worked in the past I don't understand why I am avoiding things I like and make me feel better My actions and my desires seem far far away from each other

goldilocks My parents are addicts
  • replies: 8

I am not sure with what to do anymore. My father is an alcoholic who sometimes gambles and my mother is also an alcoholic who gambles. Their idea of spending family time together is by going to there pub to gamble and drink. This makes me (and my gra... View more

I am not sure with what to do anymore. My father is an alcoholic who sometimes gambles and my mother is also an alcoholic who gambles. Their idea of spending family time together is by going to there pub to gamble and drink. This makes me (and my grandmother who realistically isn't far off of dying) sad because we both want our family to spend quality family time together, and the aforementioned reason isn't a good enough reason to do as such. Apparently, I am the reason as to why my parents drink so much, according to them. I have had some issues with someone I was interested in romantically and they have used that as an excuse to make me feel like crap about myself by saying that they need to drink because of it all. I have spoken to an alcohol and gambling related helpline about this and the lady was very kind and helpful and suggested that I am depressed. There's more that I could write, but I just can't thin straight right now.

Jessa_ Losing hope
  • replies: 7

I don’t know how to keep going on. I’m barely keeping hold of my job, my relationships are falling apart and all I want to do is be by myself. But when I’m alone all I do is procrastinate and take no action to get better. I honestly don’t know if I’m... View more

I don’t know how to keep going on. I’m barely keeping hold of my job, my relationships are falling apart and all I want to do is be by myself. But when I’m alone all I do is procrastinate and take no action to get better. I honestly don’t know if I’m capable of happiness and getting better I’m starting to lose all hope in myself

softiejordy possible depression?
  • replies: 5

hello everybody. i suspect i may have depression, but i'm unsure on how to go about getting it checked. i've lived in a home (and in a school environment) where grew up not knowing much about depression until grade 7, where all of a sudden i was real... View more

hello everybody. i suspect i may have depression, but i'm unsure on how to go about getting it checked. i've lived in a home (and in a school environment) where grew up not knowing much about depression until grade 7, where all of a sudden i was really just. thrown into it by a friend who told me he had depression. i've done a lot more research since then, i've learned what depression really is, and i suspect that i may have it. the thing is i'm more worried about putting more on my parents plate than anything. both my little brother and my older brother have autism and both struggle in school (plus my little brother goes to an occupational therapist). im sure both pay a lot of money, and they're also quick to shout (my entire family is very sarcastic with eachother) i'm scared to go to them for anything because of this, but i fear i'm getting worse, so i think i have to. how should i go about telling them? i'm not very good at talking out loud, but i could write a letter or a text. i'd feel more comfortable telling my mother than anything, but i'm not quite sure how to go about writing the letter. thanks!

Hayden3105 Impulsive behaviour
  • replies: 5

Hello I'm 32 years old have struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life. I have C.A.H and take medication daily which cause emotional distress aswell. I have found over the last few years I have become more impulsive and rushing in my decis... View more

Hello I'm 32 years old have struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life. I have C.A.H and take medication daily which cause emotional distress aswell. I have found over the last few years I have become more impulsive and rushing in my decision making which can cause issues at work. I have lost confidence in myself and panic about causing an accident from not taking my time and picking up when something isn't safe. I feel as I'm getting older my social circle is shrinking and isolation is causing my ruminating to become a crutch. Due to my medical condition I don't respond to anti depressants and they tend to make my symptoms stronger. I'm a bit lost as to what direction to go in for help as even the medical staff are unsure what direction to take. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Unsure541 Need to move out but don’t know how
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am in a tricky situation and would love some opinions on what to do. A couple of years ago, I moved in with a friend/friend through family. It was my first time moving out of my family home (I was a late bloomer in that respect!) and she was in... View more

Hi, I am in a tricky situation and would love some opinions on what to do. A couple of years ago, I moved in with a friend/friend through family. It was my first time moving out of my family home (I was a late bloomer in that respect!) and she was in need of someone to live with her as it was expensive to live alone. Things seemed to work out well for both of us. The first year or so we got along well. But lately in the more recent years I feel like I constantly walk on eggshells around her, as she is always quite moody. Sometimes she’s very nice and we get along, but other times she can be quite mean and constantly making snide remarks to me. Lately I’ve begun to feel like this isn’t really my home. I tend to dread coming home after work because I always wonder what it will be like when I get there. I suffer from depression and I know I can be a bit “fragile” sometimes and take things to heart, but for a while now I have felt like I want to move out (and move back home to my parents house until I’m financially stable enough to live on my own). I am incredibly unhappy living here. However, both of us have fallen on some financial hardships. I lost my job and she cut down her hours at work in order to study. She actually got me a job at her place, which of course I am grateful for. But that is one of what makes this situation difficult (although we never have the same shift, because it is a small workplace. However it is a tight knit group of people). I have been trying to secure a different job but so far have been unsuccessful. She as well, is barely scraping by, and would never be able to cover the cost of rent and utilities on her own. I want to move out but not because she’s a bad person. I think we aren’t suited to living with each other. I know I would carry a lot of guilt and feel I had left her in an impossible situation if I left. The other issue with me moving out is I would continue to see her at every family gathering. I would of course want to remain friends with her but imagine that my moving out would cause a big rift between us. Apologies for this really long post. It has been weighing very heavily on me and made me feel quite depressed and anxious. I would love any opinions or advice anyone can offer. Thanks

Fuduu Getting help
  • replies: 2

I have been getting symptoms of depression a lot lately and feeling like I am worthless and constant stress and dread of things and I want to get a help but I keep thinking about what people would think of me if I told them about it, for example if I... View more

I have been getting symptoms of depression a lot lately and feeling like I am worthless and constant stress and dread of things and I want to get a help but I keep thinking about what people would think of me if I told them about it, for example if I told my parents they would think I am joking or trying to get attention or they would scoff and forget about me.