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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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Valentina Smiling Depression
  • replies: 15

I don't know if I actually have depression but I am showing all the symptoms of smiling depression. Looking at myself from a third person lens, I can not tell or even imagine me being sad. I am perfectly healthy and fit individual, but deep down when... View more

I don't know if I actually have depression but I am showing all the symptoms of smiling depression. Looking at myself from a third person lens, I can not tell or even imagine me being sad. I am perfectly healthy and fit individual, but deep down when I sit with my own thoughts alone, I have been feeling hollow and empty. I have been feeling nothing, and that nothingness is filled with some sort of sadness that I can not really expain. I do not like to be the negative person in the room, I am known to be a very moody person and I do not like that image of me generally speaking so only thing I really know is to isolate myself and process my thoughts and emotions till I feel better. I used to do journalling but I have been caught up in an irrational fear that my new boyfriend is going to read my journal and will know how I feel deep down and he is going to leave me because I am an emotional mess and difficult to deal with. Always known to be a troublemaker for having a voice or an opinion and hence I have transformed myself to be someone who is nice, gentle, sweet and easy to approach. I have not been very sucessful in doing that but that has been my intention, which looks like is not me but someone I want to be percieved. And hence my original feelings are so highly masked that I do not really know how I actually feel deep down. One day when I was high on pot, I suddenly realised that my showing behaviour is so different to my behaviour when I am alone. I am generally clean, healthy eating, fit person who knows what to do and is very clear in head, but when I am left unsupervised I am chaos. I would not brush nor take shower till I can procastinate, miss lunch or dinner meals and survive off smoking ciggertes and salty/sweet snacks, not do anything out of my to-do list and procastinate till a point I can no longer push it. I thought I am just lazy, but I feel its more than lazy and has deeper meaning to it. It takes me a lot more effort to do simple tasks on day to day basis till I can no longer push it back and do it very last minute. This bothered me a little, but what bothers me the most is that nobody atually really cares about me. My mum and dad don't often check on me and care about my wellbeing, while I do care about them deeply. I feel I have lost my family and I have grieved about them in the episodes I have had before. I do not want to live the life I am living.

Dorri No get up and go
  • replies: 1

I have been in a rut for over 3 years now.Cant seem to get out and do anything.Im retired now for 2 years and seem to do nothing with m days

I have been in a rut for over 3 years now.Cant seem to get out and do anything.Im retired now for 2 years and seem to do nothing with m days

Peaches Depressed after work
  • replies: 4

Hey everyone I know this is probably random but does anyone feel depressed after work? I just finished 5 night shifts in a row and every night I was depressed even down to the last night. Another thing that's bothering me is that I can't hangout with... View more

Hey everyone I know this is probably random but does anyone feel depressed after work? I just finished 5 night shifts in a row and every night I was depressed even down to the last night. Another thing that's bothering me is that I can't hangout with my best friend as often because she's always saying she's not feeling well and she's looking after her nana. I feel bad for being depressed about it but it's how I'm feeling and I don't know what to do. Any advice?

Captain T Not coping
  • replies: 1

I’m feeling isolated. It’s my own doing though. I have withdrawn from everyone and everything. All I have is my 2 dogs. I feel like it’s hard to go on. It’s hard to face the next day. I’m just living moment by moment. It’s not much of a life. It’s li... View more

I’m feeling isolated. It’s my own doing though. I have withdrawn from everyone and everything. All I have is my 2 dogs. I feel like it’s hard to go on. It’s hard to face the next day. I’m just living moment by moment. It’s not much of a life. It’s like I’m just existing. I really don’t want to be here any longer. I’ve been very compliant with my meds but it doesn’t seem to be helping.

Mr K Losing my grasp on perspective.
  • replies: 2

Some days are better than others but at the moment I feel like my life is slowly slipping out of my control and I'm just feeling utterly overwhelmed and isolated from support. I feel like all my close friends are out of contact, my remaining family m... View more

Some days are better than others but at the moment I feel like my life is slowly slipping out of my control and I'm just feeling utterly overwhelmed and isolated from support. I feel like all my close friends are out of contact, my remaining family my elderly father lives on the other side of the world, my last relationship ended last year and I'm afraid to speak to anyone at work in case the facade falls and they see me as a wreck. As a single dad, i struggle at the best of times to find time for myself let alone time to speak to anyone about this. I feel like my work is starting to really suffer because of my state and I feel overwhelmed trying to put it right and restore confidence. I don't want to end my life and I can't afford to not work but I wish I could just reset things somehow and start again. I don't know how much longer I can last in this constant state of survival. I feel like I'm running out of options and I don't know what else I can do.

Algernon Ciao!
  • replies: 3

I love this word. It means both hello and goodbye I've realised that although I'm well liked I'm not a big priority in anyone's life. When I was younger I was run over a couple of times. The curious thing was no-one helped me. The second time was par... View more

I love this word. It means both hello and goodbye I've realised that although I'm well liked I'm not a big priority in anyone's life. When I was younger I was run over a couple of times. The curious thing was no-one helped me. The second time was particularly bad. The car ran a red light light and just left me for dead. I was knocked out but regained consciousness and crawled back to the footpath. I realised then my life was not worth much. I'm ok with that now. I guess I rub along ok but there's a deep seated flaw in me that means I fundamentally suck. My goal now is to add some value while I'm here and I will do this! I like the anonymity of sharing in this space. No one who reads this knows who I am and will not miss me when I'm gone. There's a comfort in this. Please don't reply with empty words. I just needed to type my dark thoughts somewhere. If you do read this please remember I am not you. My journey is not yours. If you feel sad, feel it! If want to punch a bag, do so! Release your grief or anger knowing that it was ok to feel it in the first place! Take care gentle reader

Magda_5 Struggling mentally
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone. I’m 31 years old and over the past 12 months I’ve been dealing with some really frustrating health issues and can’t seem to get any answers from doctors. All my tests come back clear but I know something is not right in my body. It’s ... View more

Hello everyone. I’m 31 years old and over the past 12 months I’ve been dealing with some really frustrating health issues and can’t seem to get any answers from doctors. All my tests come back clear but I know something is not right in my body. It’s taken a real knock on my confidence and I just feel so ugly and unhealthy. I look in the mirror and don’t recognise myself anymore. I have stopped doing all the things I used to enjoy and rarely leave the house now. I’m anxious and depressed everyday and I’m struggling to see a light. I feel so empty and alone and I’m really scared. I’ve had moments of sadness and depression in the past but nothing like this. I’ve had some really awful thoughts about ending it all because I just spend my days crying and wishing it would get better but it never does. I feel like I’m stuck in a deep black hole and can’t see a way out. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance.

Tired_Mum Adult son with depression
  • replies: 5

I feel like I'm at my wits end. My son is 20 and has been battling depression since Covid lockdown when he was 16. We saw the doctor and tried pschologists, which werent very helpful. It really spiked around his 18th birthday when he became suicidal.... View more

I feel like I'm at my wits end. My son is 20 and has been battling depression since Covid lockdown when he was 16. We saw the doctor and tried pschologists, which werent very helpful. It really spiked around his 18th birthday when he became suicidal. We saw the doctor, Headspace, acute mental health teams, got a psychiatrist and have tried so many things. He's tried talking therapy, a number of medications, transcranial alternating current therapy, and psychotherapy. I've tried so hard to be supportive, to offer guidance, to listen, to physically be there, to take him out, to make appointments. He seemed to fluctuate - sometimes he's alright and gets along "okay", but he inevitably crashes again. His answer to me is "I just don't want to live in this awful world". He says the only reason he doesn't kill himself is because of me. At the end of last year he quit his job at Coles, saying it was a key factor in wanting to die. The burden of responsibility and working for a multinational organisation (he believes capitalism is the crux of all that is toxic about humanity). He refuses to entertain the notion of working again and says it just isn't for him. We did have some success in future planning - he wants to be an author. But now all he does is sit around and play games, listening to YouTube videos (which he calls "learning") and occasionally writes. He says until he's a millionaire writer, I should support him financially because of his depression. The weight and burden of his depression has been crippling for me personally, but now I just feel burnt out. I'm so tired of his moods and attitude. I'm a single mum and work long hours and currently commute 2.5hrs a day to keep the roof over our head and try to save to buy a house. He contributes nothing, yet he asks for takeaway or junk food all the time. I feel like I have to walk on eggshells so I don't upset him. He's rude and disrespectful to me regularly. Any time I seem to mention something he doesn't like, he throws back something akin to "well, you don't want to die, do you". I'm beginning to hate my life and the responsibility of caring for my adult son, who has no scrap of independence or any on the horizon. How do you cope? Despite all my encouragement to make an appointment with his psych or tweak his meds or make changes, he does nothing and, of course, nothing changes. I feel awful, but I resent him. I don't know what to do or where to turn. I feel so unhappy.

Pink grapefruit Feeling lonely
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am f 50. After migrating to Australia, I have been spending a lot of time for work for a living and I did not do much to make friends. Because of this, I don’t have many local friends and feel quite lonely lately. If I feel this way now, I am a... View more

Hi, I am f 50. After migrating to Australia, I have been spending a lot of time for work for a living and I did not do much to make friends. Because of this, I don’t have many local friends and feel quite lonely lately. If I feel this way now, I am also afraid what would happen after my retirement. I know there are some clubs or activities but I have not had a courage to join them yet. Is it common?

Guest_85326741 My life is falling apart and i'm so sad.
  • replies: 2

I am a couple of months off turning the big 5-0 and I was actually looking forward to it! But over the past few weeks, life has taken a turn to Craptown!In January, i was fired from my job after 10 years of loyal service. Its a rather long story, whi... View more

I am a couple of months off turning the big 5-0 and I was actually looking forward to it! But over the past few weeks, life has taken a turn to Craptown!In January, i was fired from my job after 10 years of loyal service. Its a rather long story, which i won't get into, but basically, I was bullied for a long period of time (more than 5 years) by team leaders. This caused extreme depression and anxiety which affected my ability to do the job to the standards expected. Every person in power ignored my pleas for help. I guess I became too much to handle, so they fired me. I have applied for so many jobs since January. I either get no responses, or i am told "we've decided to go with someone more experienced"... These are customer service roles which i have done for 30 years! How much experience do you need?!! I did have a 2nd interview with a company that was very promising, but it was a group interview. I suffer severe social anxiety, so did not interact in the group as much as they liked, so i missed out on the job. I am now in the position where I have no income and cannot pay rent, or bills or even food! My housemate come home today and told me she will be moving out this week. SO, my only option is to move back home to mum. Moving is also a worry. Without an income, I am unable to move my furniture out of here. Nor do i have anywhere to store a whole house of furniture.On top of that, my parents are both fighting illness, family members are struggling with mental health issues of their own and I am trying to be there to help them all. I do not have any friends - they all got married and had kids and we lost contact. I have never felt lonely. I enjoy being on my own. i have family who are there when I need someone. But now, I feel alone. I feel like life is just getting harder. I am embarrassed at having to crawl home at my age... I am sad. i am disappointed in my housemate for dropping the bomb on me today. Although, i don't blame her. She's a single mum and needs to do what's right for her child. I want to cry. I want to scream. My feelings are everywhere and i don't know what to do. I am so tired. Emotionally and mentally.I am trying to remain positive, but the more "thanks but no thanks" job rejections i get, the more anxious and depressed i get. I thought 2025 and turning 50 would be the best year of my life. How wrong was I?!IT will get better, right? Sorry for such a long post!