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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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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.

ReachOut83 How do people do it?
  • replies: 8

I don’t understand. I’m 37, and completely failed in life. I live in a shared house, and work with a labor hire company doing various jobs. I don’t think that I am meant for this world. The majority of people my age have it all together. Steady job, ... View more

I don’t understand. I’m 37, and completely failed in life. I live in a shared house, and work with a labor hire company doing various jobs. I don’t think that I am meant for this world. The majority of people my age have it all together. Steady job, partner and young family, mortgage. I struggle to even find people to talk to in a local bar, because everyone is already with their group of friends. Is life really worth it? I starting to doubt it.

Em04 Borderline Personality Disorder & receiving Disability pension?
  • replies: 3

Does anyone have any advice or experience with applying for disability benefits for a diagnosis of BPD? I had a diagnosis of Bipolar II for ten years, my psychiatrist has since retired and the current psychs believe I have Borderline Personality Diso... View more

Does anyone have any advice or experience with applying for disability benefits for a diagnosis of BPD? I had a diagnosis of Bipolar II for ten years, my psychiatrist has since retired and the current psychs believe I have Borderline Personality Disorder & that I’ve never had Bipolar. Am super stressed about losing my dsp and confused

Rishie Tired and depressed
  • replies: 4

I haven't been sleeping well the last few weeks. I've been having a lot of bad dreams. I'm so, so tired and this is just making the depression worse. Nothing is actually wrong, I'm not worried about anything, I just can't seem to sleep and I'm grumpy... View more

I haven't been sleeping well the last few weeks. I've been having a lot of bad dreams. I'm so, so tired and this is just making the depression worse. Nothing is actually wrong, I'm not worried about anything, I just can't seem to sleep and I'm grumpy, weary, lethargic and depressed. Yesterday was a good day, but today I feel like I'm right back into the darkness again. I'm glad for the good day, I just wish that i could get some decent sleep. Yawn!

Liz22063 Stuff
  • replies: 4

I’m current at uni and I just feel like everyone is so much far ahead than me and I just don’t think I have a purpose anymore I’m always ghe joke and always tend to fall behind I don’t know how to make it stop. I just want to leave everything and be ... View more

I’m current at uni and I just feel like everyone is so much far ahead than me and I just don’t think I have a purpose anymore I’m always ghe joke and always tend to fall behind I don’t know how to make it stop. I just want to leave everything and be by myself nothing makes me happy anymore and coming home is like a chore

unknowinglymedian is it normal to have sudden burst of sadness?
  • replies: 1

hii everyone, Sometimes i feel that i am so hyper aware of my life and other times i feel so clueless and this is one of those times. I just randomly get sudden bursts of sadness, and it’s so weird and strange cause i could be happy or content and th... View more

hii everyone, Sometimes i feel that i am so hyper aware of my life and other times i feel so clueless and this is one of those times. I just randomly get sudden bursts of sadness, and it’s so weird and strange cause i could be happy or content and then a small thought appears in my head: am i really happy? this thought isn’t necessarily me doubting my happiness it’s just my body asking because i genuinely don’t know. i could have a smile on my face or i could be laughing but i can’t tell if i’m happy. so i guess i have two questions: what does being happy feel like and is it normal to just have sudden bursts of sadness? for example: today i was at uni with my best friend and i was focusing on studying and then that thought appeared and then i felt a twinge in my heart and then i was sad. and i didn’t know why, there is nothing in my life that would make me that sad but i was just sad. after i questioned myself for being sad i was able to get over it (it happens a lot lately, so i’m becoming a pro) but it just made me realise that i don’t want to have to do that. is it maybe because i’m too hyper aware? i also have a really busy lifestyle so it’s not like i even have time to think about why i’m sad. anyways, please let me know if you experience this and if you do what you do to not feel it. thank you

Cee123 Helpful resources for Depression
  • replies: 0

For anyone looking for help on Depression, there are some helpful resources on the website for the Clinical Centre for Interventions here in Perth, that focus on mainly CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). I was in the Social Anxiety group at one poi... View more

For anyone looking for help on Depression, there are some helpful resources on the website for the Clinical Centre for Interventions here in Perth, that focus on mainly CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). I was in the Social Anxiety group at one point. Although it did help me a lot, I'm not totally cured of this. It's self help stuff. Depression: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Depression Bipolar Disorder: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Bipolar Worry and Rumination: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Worry-and-Rumination

ChilledChaos Falling back down the hole
  • replies: 3

Hello.... I have been sitting here for the last 10 mins, staring at the screen, thinking how do I put what is in my head, into words on a forum with a bunch of strangers. I really should be at work today, but have taken a sick day (once again), as I ... View more

Hello.... I have been sitting here for the last 10 mins, staring at the screen, thinking how do I put what is in my head, into words on a forum with a bunch of strangers. I really should be at work today, but have taken a sick day (once again), as I just don't want to see anyone and put that fake polite facade on that every this good and I had a great weekend. Truth be told, for the last several months, I only go outside my front door for work or to take the garbage bin out. I have been actively avoiding going out, even to the shops - thank goodness for internet shopping. Pretty much my entire socialization is online only. Over a year ago, I came out of a severe bout of depression (not the first time), including taking antidepressant medication and therapy sessions. I hate taking the medication, even though it helps and gives me more positive confidence, I dislike what it does to my brain and memory. I have had two Therapists in the past that were lovely, but I feel they weren't able to assist, as I have had an unusual background, both did mention I must have learnt to have a lot resilience at a young age and should even write a book about my life. Yes, it has made me wiser and good at human nature, however, I feel like an outcast, a bit of a fake. Like many, I feel CoVID, gave me a reason to indulge in depressive behaviours and isolation (probably more like avoidance), it become a blanket of comfort, but the silence was deafening. As restrictions eased and we started going back to normal, I wasn't able to adjust, however once again, I pretended I was fine. My workload tripled, and I have suffered severe burnout, to the point it affected my health and my blood pressure hitting dangerous levels. I have decided to quit my job and remove myself from the casework industry. I feel trapped, confused and hopeless at times, I know I need to take some time to rest, but I'm not in a financial situation for that. The hardest thing is having limited support and not having anyone to lean on. I'm a self-saboteur, have a fear of success, lost motivation and joy. Ironically, I'm the person, people come for advice and support, that is happy, friendly and approachable, but man I'm a totally complex mess and just want to have some peace from it all. How do people find ways to become friends with the darkness and still function in society. Are we just faking it and going through the motions, one day at a time. Along with where do you find support when you're vulnerable.