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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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Ktp1971 Depressed Hermit
  • replies: 1

I have been having huge anxiety as a symptoms of my depression and it seems to be getting worse. I am fifty five this year and the reality of this bipolar diagnosis has really upset me after having a major episodes in 2000 and then again at the begin... View more

I have been having huge anxiety as a symptoms of my depression and it seems to be getting worse. I am fifty five this year and the reality of this bipolar diagnosis has really upset me after having a major episodes in 2000 and then again at the beginning of the year after losing my very close long term friend to cancer. Basically since he's been gone my reality of the fact that I am alone has really been debilitating for me. I realise all these past mistakes I've made in life and having broken a persons heart from a wrong turn that I made in my life which only now when looking back I can see how big a mistake it was.

Fen Depressed partner leaving
  • replies: 20

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?

_Gigi_ Spiralling
  • replies: 2

My depression has been pretty much destroying my life. Combined with newly discovered AuDHD and an ongoing family situation, I've been flunking uni, ghosting friends, and have barely been able to work. I'm feeling very hopeless, stuck and embarrassed... View more

My depression has been pretty much destroying my life. Combined with newly discovered AuDHD and an ongoing family situation, I've been flunking uni, ghosting friends, and have barely been able to work. I'm feeling very hopeless, stuck and embarrassed- I know I shouldn't compare but all my friends have their lives together and are doing so well, and I am, by the very definition of the word, a loser. How can I muster the energy to suck things up and get through things so I don't keep falling behind? I've recently been too exhausted to even pretend to care, but at the same time no amount of break time helps. I'm at a loss of what to do.

Mario_Sonic I Feel Like I'm Being Ignored And Or Rejected On The Forums
  • replies: 11

Hey again guys. Liam here. So, let's see, what's been going on...well this is something I've wanted to really get off my chest, but...I feel like I'm being ignored and or rejected on the forums. I mean don't get me wrong, you guys have been incredibl... View more

Hey again guys. Liam here. So, let's see, what's been going on...well this is something I've wanted to really get off my chest, but...I feel like I'm being ignored and or rejected on the forums. I mean don't get me wrong, you guys have been incredible to me, but I just feel like I can't make a post without it being moved to one where I've literally posted numerous times...I want to talk about all kinds of things, mentally but the ones who run the forums seem to think I'm just talking about the same things over and over which, yes is true, but still...also I know what it is I'm looking for, after a long time of research, I finally found a word for what it is I'm looking for in a girl. I'm looking for a platonic partner. Now for those of you who don't know what a platonic oartner is, well here's the definition. A platonic partner is a person with whom you share a deep, committed life bond that functions like a long-term relationship, but without sexual or romantic involvement. So yeah, THAT'S what I'm looking for. Now the bad news? Well, I am still trying to find that person. My first partner, I broke up with her because she wasn't chatty and was rather quiet, and not to mention that she was so obsessed with me to the point where she wouldn't leave me alone. So I panicked. Then my second one, I didn't really have that much to do with her...she was way too obsessed with her own stuff and she was focusing way too much on herself...and finally my third one, while she is willing to hug me, she never answers my calls or texts...guys...I don't know waht more I can do...can you guys please comfort me right now because I'm crying from this... *Crying* -Liam

LC80 Withdrawal after a serious hospitalization
  • replies: 32

Midway through 2025 I was flown to Sydney to ne admitted to hospital with a rare and deadly serious bacterial infection of my windpipe. The short story is during early treatment I went into respiratory arrest, and near death transferred to ICU after ... View more

Midway through 2025 I was flown to Sydney to ne admitted to hospital with a rare and deadly serious bacterial infection of my windpipe. The short story is during early treatment I went into respiratory arrest, and near death transferred to ICU after intubation. I was sedated for a week and the tube was removed. Due to the rarity of my condition I was kept in isolation in the main during my three and a half month stay. My ongoing treatment as an outpatient will last a total of 12 months of antibiotic treatment, not including the IV treatment I was given in hospital. I have to return to Sydney from my county town every three months for follow up blood tests and a clinic visit for more medication. Since returning home full time I have become more withdrawn, to the point that I avoid going out if possible. Where I was very involved in community radio all I do now is one two hour shift on air a week. I wouldn't call myself depressed, although I have suffered bouts in the past. Life is different because of the after effects of the infection and the damage caused to my trachea after the stent that kept it open was removed. The possibility of tracheal collapse plays on my mind sometimes, if I am having a low energy day. That is a regular occurrence and an ongoing after effect. My friends and wife, although they mean well, don't understand what I went through mentally. They saw the physical side of my hospital stay and it was very difficult for them, particularly my stay in ICU. "That's in the past now" is what I have been told, however mentally it's not.

Eri-d Schizophrenia
  • replies: 8

Hi, my names Erika And the doctors think I have Schizophrenia and depression. I feel lost and alone. I hear voices and see things that are not really there. I don't have any friends and have no one to talk to. Last year things got bad and I tried to ... View more

Hi, my names Erika And the doctors think I have Schizophrenia and depression. I feel lost and alone. I hear voices and see things that are not really there. I don't have any friends and have no one to talk to. Last year things got bad and I tried to kill myself and got put in hospital. Any one feel to talk to me as I'd love to hear from you. Thanks. Erika.

_Will_ I don't know what to do anymore
  • replies: 4

I’m posting here because I haven’t been doing well for the past couple of weeks, and I feel increasingly lost, overwhelmed, and unsure about what to do next. things have become harder to manage, so I’m hoping that sharing what has been happening migh... View more

I’m posting here because I haven’t been doing well for the past couple of weeks, and I feel increasingly lost, overwhelmed, and unsure about what to do next. things have become harder to manage, so I’m hoping that sharing what has been happening might help me find some support or advice.I’ve applied for about eight jobs over the past month, and it’s always the same outcome: “Your application won’t be moving forward,” or I never hear back from the hiring manager. So, I tried putting that energy into helping my community by volunteering. However, everywhere I look for places to volunteer, I find that they’ve stopped accepting volunteers because of a sudden increase in applications.So, I can’t find paid work, and I can’t even find a way to help others or contribute to my community through volunteering. It feels as though every path I try to take is blocked before I have the chance to move forward. I keep putting in the effort, filling out applications, searching for opportunities, and trying to stay hopeful, but nothing seems to change. Each rejection or unanswered application makes me feel more discouraged and more disconnected from the life I want to build. Without work or a place where I can be useful, my days feel empty and directionless. I start questioning whether I have anything meaningful to offer and whether my efforts matter at all. What’s the point? What’s the point of living when I feel stuck in the same place, unable to work, help others, or make any kind of progress? What’s the point of waking up every day and feeling as though I am doing nothing with my life, no matter how hard I try to change that?What’s worse is the way suicidal thoughts keep creeping in. I’ve had thoughts like this in the past, but I’ve never acted on them. Lately, though, they’ve been getting stronger and heavier, leaving me feeling frightened, overwhelmed, and completely lost. I keep thinking, “Things aren’t going to get better, so what’s the point of existing?” and I quickly tell myself to snap out of it. I just want to feel like myself again.

Isaac98 How to somehow function when I hate everything about Australian culture due to social alienation and not wanting to bow down at all?
  • replies: 8

Admittedly, there's so much for me to hate here and its even worse when I can't leave for a long time due to being so dependent on my parents.. I'm 22, but I'm not very functional and I very rarely work since I'm in a job with my step-dad who I don't... View more

Admittedly, there's so much for me to hate here and its even worse when I can't leave for a long time due to being so dependent on my parents.. I'm 22, but I'm not very functional and I very rarely work since I'm in a job with my step-dad who I don't get along with well at times (same with my mum). I'm also somewhat autistic ("highly" functioning) and that anxiety and depression (non-suicidal) affect me, but my main issue is that I want almost nothing to do with nearly anything Australian due to how much I hate this place and most of them for complying with a subjectively bad system. But yeah, what I hate about this country and its culture is its authoritarianism (gun laws; coronavirus regulation, beaucracies everywhere, signs warning fines punishment everywhere, so many victimless crimes etc), being treated like convicts, anti-intellectualism, tall-poppy syndrome, entitlement, and almost all Australians happily complying to their masters regardless.. Here's an example for authoritarianism, a Tasmanian was seriously arrested for camping out in the middle of nowhere for one night during national Coronavirus lockdowns.. This is how bossy our society is, that would not happen in libertarian parts of America I want to go to. Being treated like convicts, minorities including myself not being able to have any say in politics due to it being democratic (only cares about majorities) and that our police don't care for oppressed minorities such as gun owners; male domestic violence victims, drug users etc. They only care about helping the state strip their rights due to being legal. Anti-intellectualism, most of us think we should "just comply" with coronavirus regulations regardless of others' situations and that most Australians are so fearful of less gun control with SO MUCH arrogance. Tall-Poppy syndrome, being so arrogant about America everytime they talk about that country despite not knowing much about it and thinking we're the best country when we have so many flaws. Entitlement, most of us forcing others to be like us to have a "right" to safety. Compliance, a word you cannot disagree with without harsh criticism from our culture. If something's illegal, our society automatically thinks its taboo.. Even women wanting to defend themselves with tasers. However.. I don't know how to change my bitterness with Australia when my real self is taboo and that I don't feel very cared for by the system, I can't even find a single friend aside from a neighbour.

thinkingofu Feeling like a burden on my parents
  • replies: 2

It feels so selfish to post this when other people on here really have it tough. I don't really know how to explain this situation and if anyone can relate, but here goes. I feel like a burden on my family both financially and emotionally. I'm still ... View more

It feels so selfish to post this when other people on here really have it tough. I don't really know how to explain this situation and if anyone can relate, but here goes. I feel like a burden on my family both financially and emotionally. I'm still in high school and live with my parents. My dad always talks about how he never should have got with my mother, that they were never meant to be together. He always talks about how life is so boring. I have a feeling that he's depressed. But I feel like it's my duty all the time to make him happy and not miserable about his own life. I'm exhausted. Sometimes I'll be trying to do schoolwork and feel guilty that I'm not trying to make him happy, if that makes sense. My mum is oblivious to everything, she has no reaction. I can't tell if she's numb to all the behaviour or if she genuinely doesn't know about it. We also have financial issues. Every step in my household feels like money going down the drain. They constantly talk about how they're in debt. We can't even afford rent. I don't know how we pay for stuff. But then I feel bad for thinking like this, because I do get along well with my parents most of the time. I suppose they're trying their best. But sometimes I think that if I was never around in the first place, their lives would be better. I'm not suicidal but I feel a kind of numbness to everything. It's just an awful feeling. I think my parents are depressed which makes me feel like I owe it to them. Everywhere I go there's always this lingering thought that I'm burden on everyone. I look at my friends who get a new phone every Christmas and think – you've never had to attempt to use the minimum amount of lights on in your house to save a bit of money, have you?. That sounds naive. But I'm so exhausted with all of this. I don't know when my numbness, anger, confusion, depression will go away. Thanks to anyone who read this far. I've read through a lot of other posts on this forum and it's nice to know that I'm not alone, and that everyone, no matter their circumstance, supports each other here. Have a nice rest of the weekend.

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