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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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MissJ94 How to manage work!
  • replies: 6

I have a history of bipolar, depression and anxiety. Lately with work issues and management not giving a crap about their employees ive been having heaps of stress related to work. This stress is now affecting my mental health where now ive had self-... View more

I have a history of bipolar, depression and anxiety. Lately with work issues and management not giving a crap about their employees ive been having heaps of stress related to work. This stress is now affecting my mental health where now ive had self-destructive thoughts on my way to work so i dont have to be here. Im so over working here and cant leave until i get another job because im not in a financial position to do so. Plus the landlords have put my rent up recently so its struggle street. Centrelink say i earn too much too to be on any payment so things are really tough. Its all majorly affecting me. Ill have times im binge eating due to stress but times i wont eat for days due to stress. Im having headaches daily and my blood pressure has been high too. The doctor says its becaus eim stressed and also need to try to lose weight. Loosing weight is almost impossible when you have other conditions preventing it combined with this stress and depression and physical and mental exhaustion. I just dont know what to do. I feel sick just thinking about everything thats going on. I also go back to placement in 3 weeks and not sure how im going to manage because of my mental health! Im crying daily because im not coping at all. I cant get in to see my psychologist until mid april now so it seems theres nothing i can do. I just dont know what to do anymore. Im just over everything.

Josasem Why is this happening
  • replies: 1

Hi I’m new to this forum, and would like to talk to people about what me and my family are going thru. A week ago my exwife was diagnosed with untreatable liver cancer. It shook me and my kids to the core. I have a support system, which are my family... View more

Hi I’m new to this forum, and would like to talk to people about what me and my family are going thru. A week ago my exwife was diagnosed with untreatable liver cancer. It shook me and my kids to the core. I have a support system, which are my family from overseas. My son is battling depression issues, he is 17 years old. When this news about his mother happened, he now doesn’t want to talk about anything to do with his mother and her condition. He will simply say “stop, I don’t wanna talk about it” I know it’s hard for him and his sister to see their mother like this, hell it’s hard for me. We only been separated for months. I’m still trying to cope myself day by day. I can’t eat properly, specially being alone myself, it’s all I think about, my exwife and why is this happening to us. But back to my son, this not talking about his mothers condition is a good way of dealing with it mentally. As a father, yes I’m extremely worried about his mental state of mind. And for my daughter, it’s the same way, but she seems stronger mentally. From what I see. She is now taking over her household, and helping her mother, for a 17 year old, this is an immense responsibility. This is my worry, the mental well being of my kids, seeing their mother like this. Specially when they don’t want to talk about it.

Cam_e I don't want to do it anymore
  • replies: 5

Life takes so much effort and for what? We work and work and work until we die?! As a lower class from the slums, you really have no chance until you are hit with immense burnout, lack of any motivation and I can't even be bothered finishing what I w... View more

Life takes so much effort and for what? We work and work and work until we die?! As a lower class from the slums, you really have no chance until you are hit with immense burnout, lack of any motivation and I can't even be bothered finishing what I want to say im that exhausted. Life is so hard. Im scared to not be here anymore, but I also cannot fathom existing like this any longer, just for it to all be for nothing anyways. Like, we can literally drop dead of a stroke or an aneurysm at any time... What is that bs?! I go to school for years, bust my ass working, just to potentially drop dead of something I have no control over?! What is the point?! Am I psycho or crazy in thinking how bullshit life is?! Like sure its great and all to live when things are going well, but when things are going shit... I just can't deal anymore. Sorry its just how I feel and honestly don't know what to do or what the point is anymore. Im a useless, worthless human being. Waste of literal air and space.

IceCreamBunny36 Can't get up
  • replies: 8

I can't get out of bed. I feel numb. Everything is a struggle. I'm not eating. Going to the toilet is hard. Even texting my boyfriend seems to be so much effort. During the day I just lay there, trying to get up but I can't. I stay awake for a few mi... View more

I can't get out of bed. I feel numb. Everything is a struggle. I'm not eating. Going to the toilet is hard. Even texting my boyfriend seems to be so much effort. During the day I just lay there, trying to get up but I can't. I stay awake for a few minutes then fall asleep for an hour or two. Is this normal?

User018263 Hopelessness and Lack of Meaning
  • replies: 9

Hi all if anyone has advice would appreciate hearing it. ive had depression for a few years now amongst other things. It’s been really bad and now it’s slowly getting better. Except that stopped. I’ve started coming off meds. I feel useless. I know I... View more

Hi all if anyone has advice would appreciate hearing it. ive had depression for a few years now amongst other things. It’s been really bad and now it’s slowly getting better. Except that stopped. I’ve started coming off meds. I feel useless. I know I’m capable but today I got 2hrs and 19mins worth of work done. I replicate that most days. It seems that no matter what I do - I could climb up Everest and back, I just end up feeling so fundamentally sad about existence, life and meaning to anything. because it feels like nothing changes, I just don’t know if I want it to change. Sometimes I don’t want it to get better because I’ve forgotten what that feels like. I just wake up late in the morning, ‘start’ work, exercise a bit and sleep. And nothing changes but a single rotation of the Earth. Each day I just end up in tears over again. I just don’t know what to do. Have any other people felt like this? I’ve been told time heals and I’ve waited for that time. Is there a solution to get more energy and purpose? Thanks for any help

Mayc My dad's depression
  • replies: 4

Needing advice. My dad who is 65 has had a long battle with back pain is on medication to help. He is unable to work due to ongoing pain. This has been going on for 20 + years. He has had 1/4 of his lung removed due to smoking for 40+ years and blame... View more

Needing advice. My dad who is 65 has had a long battle with back pain is on medication to help. He is unable to work due to ongoing pain. This has been going on for 20 + years. He has had 1/4 of his lung removed due to smoking for 40+ years and blames it on asbestos from working. He used to drink an enormous amounts of beer before he got sick now he has stopped. He was never around for us as kids and has always been so controlling of my mum. He has gotten to the stage now he refuses to take antidepressants that his doctor prescribed him he takes his medication wrong so he sleeps all day and is awake at night and sits and watches tv. He's not eating and doesn't talk to my mum, only time he does just not nice talk. My mum talks to me about it as she gets frustrated with him. I need to help both my parents as there depression is affecting everyone around. Please send me some advice

Hazzy Depression and anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hey I’m 19 year old I live with my mother her husband and little brother who is always in his room , I’m not allowed to see my friends and I feel like every time my mum speaks and complains about her life or what happened in her say I get so frustrat... View more

Hey I’m 19 year old I live with my mother her husband and little brother who is always in his room , I’m not allowed to see my friends and I feel like every time my mum speaks and complains about her life or what happened in her say I get so frustrated in my head , I hate her talking too much I feel like I’m about to explode . I haven’t been wanting to see anyone lately I’m getting too used to being alone and I feel like I’m falling into a hole . Of anxiety depression and anger . I don’t want to be like this , this isn’t me and I have also been having nausea constantly for years and it’s gone worse due to problems .

Leyland I can't handle the loneliness anymore
  • replies: 11

Hi everyone, For such a long time, I've had insufferable feelings of loneliness to the point where I feel depressed. I'm hesitant to use the word without a formal diagnosis, but my feelings and thoughts are very much in line with what a depressed ind... View more

Hi everyone, For such a long time, I've had insufferable feelings of loneliness to the point where I feel depressed. I'm hesitant to use the word without a formal diagnosis, but my feelings and thoughts are very much in line with what a depressed individual would have. The long, brutal lockdown we had in Victoria last year was of course damaging to the even the most stoic person, but it was actually exiting lockdown where these feelings got even worse. Everyone around me was catching up with friends and partners, and I have nothing of the kind. My main 'friends', such as they were, were people from high school, around whom I only stuck around because I really had no one else in truth. Even though I felt constantly left out and isolated amongst them, and was the subject of so much bullying they would call 'banter', I remained because otherwise I would be completely lonely and basically at home 24/7. Anyway, I've now ceased all contact with them, as I felt it was long overdue and for the best. On the flipside, it means I spend one weekend after another completely at home alone. My uni 'friends' all live too far away and are otherwise too busy to ever get close to them. We'll see each other once every few months, sure (after I inevitably initiate contact with them), but nothing that enables us to get any closer. And that's the other thing. I must initiate 100% of the convos in my life in order to get a chance to talk to people. Quite literally. If I don't, well, it's all loneliness at home again. I went through last year, with our two arduous lockdowns, without hearing a single thing from anyone - for instance, from uni people that I'd see every week prior to lockdown. Now, back at uni, I try to make new friends by talking to people outside of class, but it never amounts to anything. They never express any desire to continue the conversation, and everyone seems perfectly happy with their current friendship group without looking to add to it. The worst thing without a doubt is my situation with girls. Any attempts I get to know them ends in total failure. Either the conversation just fizzles away and they eventually stop replying to me, or I get the usual 'you're sweet and kind, but there wasn't enough chemistry'. This has gotten so distressing to the point where I feel jealousy just looking at other young couples in public, even though I know how toxic these feelings are. I've reached my character limit, so thank you for listening to my rant so far.

Lauz22 I am reaching out and NO ONE is helping
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I am really suffering with my mental health and NO ONE is wanting to help me. I have messaged my friends who have simply ignored me, I can't talk to my parents and even my psychologist won't reply to my messages when I try to arrange an appoi... View more

Hi all, I am really suffering with my mental health and NO ONE is wanting to help me. I have messaged my friends who have simply ignored me, I can't talk to my parents and even my psychologist won't reply to my messages when I try to arrange an appointment. I have also reached out to Blue Knot - a trauma support organisation and they haven't replied to my emails either. Everyone in my life has either hurt me, traumatised me or left me. I am at breaking point and keep questioning my existence... why am I here if no one cares?

Ausdog Can't cope ....its to hard
  • replies: 9

I can't see the light any more hell I can barely see the screen my eyes are so filled with tears. The tears are the only constant, everyone thinks I am doing great, but it takes so much to put a smile and a facade. I can't play nice any more....I jus... View more

I can't see the light any more hell I can barely see the screen my eyes are so filled with tears. The tears are the only constant, everyone thinks I am doing great, but it takes so much to put a smile and a facade. I can't play nice any more....I just can not do it any more. I don't want to feel this any more.