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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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loml050592 Sick of Bipolar
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, this is my first post. Just need to get some things off my chest, am feeling overwhelmed with my Bipolar. I have had mental health challenges for 30 years now, was diagnosed with Bipolar II 10 years ago. I work as a lived experience ment... View more

Hi everyone, this is my first post. Just need to get some things off my chest, am feeling overwhelmed with my Bipolar. I have had mental health challenges for 30 years now, was diagnosed with Bipolar II 10 years ago. I work as a lived experience mental health professional and enjoy having a career where I can have a positive impact for other consumers of mental health services. But, sometimes my own shit takes over and has a huge effect on me, which I am sure you can all understand. I have a lot of the very typical manic symptoms of frustration, rage, inner turmoil, racing thoughts quite often. Sometimes manic energy helps me with my work, but it always interferes with my private life. I have been going through a difficult period at work. I am a senior person in a team of about 20 lived experience workers. I have in recent months been negotiating a difficult HR issue with a member of my team and it is coming to a head at the moment. I try very hard not to have my mental illness interfere with work, but this situation has slowly worn me down to the point where I am now checking into a different clinic to have a rest myself. To make things even more complicated and difficult/disturbing for me, the person in HR that I have been working with in regard to this situation, is someone that I have now become quite fond of, and am now having intrusive thoughts about. This situation is such a mess. I feel like absolute shit about it all and really actually sick in my stomach. When I think of this person I get butterflies in my stomach. That would be okay if I didn't have a partner of almost 20 years. I just always feel so messed up. To everyone else I seem like I am doing okay, I have mastered the act of wearing a mask after 30 years experience at this. My head is so messed up though. I carry guilt with me all the time. As part of my mania I am hypersexual, and while I have maintained a monogamous relationship for almost 2 decades, I live an alternate fantasy in my head where I can act on my impulses. I now question if there is any sexual trauma in my past that I don't recall, a lot of my symptoms point to that, though it seems unlikely. I feel like I am babbling here but I just needed to unload this stuff, I am not sure that I even want anyone to read or comment or if this is just for me to get out. Would be happy to hear from others who may suffer similarly. How do you get through?

Scorchly My Version of Hell
  • replies: 4

Generally speaking, I feel down & lethargic through most of my day, my quality of sleep is poor & anxiety normally increases around bedtime. I can no longer answer the question, “what makes me happy/smile”, although there must be an answer, at any ti... View more

Generally speaking, I feel down & lethargic through most of my day, my quality of sleep is poor & anxiety normally increases around bedtime. I can no longer answer the question, “what makes me happy/smile”, although there must be an answer, at any time of day I cannot imagine it. During the worst times, what I refer to as Episodes, my world becomes dim & extremely bleak, I perceive it as a monotone existence. I have no idea of time; I cannot imagine when it started or when/if it will ever end. I feel very alone & isolated. I do not have any thoughts of life or events going on around me & the desperation I feel is extreme. I am rarely aware of the presence of other people, & even when I am, I do not know how to reach out for help. If there is a Hell, I believe I have already been there many times. My wife’s comment sometime ago was I appear to be reliving my worst nightmare 1000 times a day. This description is only my best guess as I rarely have total recollection of the event. Can anyone relate to this?

Marto_slash_Charlie_Mopps Motivation
  • replies: 3

I was a competitive Strongman. Competing helped to keep me motivated and driven. Unfortunately due to spinal concerns I had to give it up. When I gave it up I still had goals I was working towards and I know I will never reach them. Since giving up S... View more

I was a competitive Strongman. Competing helped to keep me motivated and driven. Unfortunately due to spinal concerns I had to give it up. When I gave it up I still had goals I was working towards and I know I will never reach them. Since giving up Strongman I have applied myself with the ambition of competing in Powerlifting (Bench only)... now that has become unrealistic. I am struggling to accept this and I currently have nothing to motivate me. I don't feel like I'm accomplishing anything. I don't feel like I contribute to anything. I just feel "here"

Tryingall First baby and wife has lost all motivation.
  • replies: 5

Hi, We recently found out that we are going to have a baby. I was thrilled about the news. My wife has suffered depression for a few years now and i it has increased dramatically now that she doesnt seem to care about anything anymore. She moved to t... View more

Hi, We recently found out that we are going to have a baby. I was thrilled about the news. My wife has suffered depression for a few years now and i it has increased dramatically now that she doesnt seem to care about anything anymore. She moved to this country for me, and nomatter how many people we meet, she never clicked with anyone, she doesnt like her job despite everyone at her work adoring her there. She has become increasingly negative and it in the past i suffered from depression and have been trying to help her. She went on antidepressants but hated them so stopped, tried a psychologist, hypno therapy, exercise, constantly trying new things and nomatter what she won't get better. More than anything she has wanted a baby since day 1 of marriage and i don't know what to do. Its too early to tell people about the bub, and i am so thrilled about it. But i am getting so caught up with worrying about my wife that i don't have time to think. She makes me feel guilty because we are renting, she earns more money than i do (but we are both on good money). I just need somethibg and i don't know what it is.

Brother Castiel Is there something I've not yet tried?
  • replies: 1

Hey guys, I have spent the last two and a half years in the trenches with OCD/Anxiety/Depression and tried everything that was suggested by the healthcare professionals. The obvious CBT and medication were constant during this time but I also tried o... View more

Hey guys, I have spent the last two and a half years in the trenches with OCD/Anxiety/Depression and tried everything that was suggested by the healthcare professionals. The obvious CBT and medication were constant during this time but I also tried other things such as a healthier diet, active exercise, mindfulness and grounding techniques, socialising with friends and family, change of occupation, change of work load, hobbies, learning a new skill (welding) and a significant amount of reading content on the topics. Yet despite all this I made zero progress and am no closer to improvement then I was when I started. The medical professionals also seem at a loss as to where to go from here as they are repeating things I've already tried. So my question to you is this, is there something I have not yet tried or is the inevitable outcome groundhog day? Thanks in advance.

MorbidMuffin Employment Advice
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, Just curious how people have been finding employment while dealing with depression and anxiety. I am currently unemployed after focusing on my physical health after a health scare, problem is apart from the all-encompassing apathy I find... View more

Hi everyone, Just curious how people have been finding employment while dealing with depression and anxiety. I am currently unemployed after focusing on my physical health after a health scare, problem is apart from the all-encompassing apathy I find engaging with people highly stressful; i.e. it has taken me days to psyche myself to even post this. Does anyone have any tips for the process, soft lead-ins like volunteering, or agencies that they’ve used and found helpful? Any advice would be grately received

IT Depressed
  • replies: 1

Hi, I think i might be severely depressed. It would of happened 18 months ago when a person i was helping out for work for 2 years, backstabbed me. I always wanted to be friends with them but thought my anxiety and depreasion was the problem. So i to... View more

Hi, I think i might be severely depressed. It would of happened 18 months ago when a person i was helping out for work for 2 years, backstabbed me. I always wanted to be friends with them but thought my anxiety and depreasion was the problem. So i told them my mental disorders so they could see past the awkwardness of me. The person said that is why there are physciatriats. I felt lost and betrayed. How can i get over this? Thanks

demonblaster STRESS; techniques of coping with it
  • replies: 27

Hi Everyone all inputs very welcome. We all have stress in our lives at some stage unfortunately because it's so powerful. The good part is it can be used in our favor to help us. I haven't yet mastered managing it although have learnt including bein... View more

Hi Everyone all inputs very welcome. We all have stress in our lives at some stage unfortunately because it's so powerful. The good part is it can be used in our favor to help us. I haven't yet mastered managing it although have learnt including being here l some ways to manage it. Please feel free without judgement to talk about anything that you've found helpful no matter big or small breakthroughs potentially it could help many. I believe we're all capable of learning which means there's HOPE in turn giving us a reason to work towards a better happier future. new beginnings ⚘

PLEH____ PPD And Alcoholism
  • replies: 1

I’m new here. I’m 4 months PP! I went through PP psychosis the first month after having my daughter. I had extreme invasive thoughts of self harm and harming my baby and my family. I feel like a horrible mother I never pictured myself being. I woke o... View more

I’m new here. I’m 4 months PP! I went through PP psychosis the first month after having my daughter. I had extreme invasive thoughts of self harm and harming my baby and my family. I feel like a horrible mother I never pictured myself being. I woke one night and an incident happened which was my wake up call to go see my GP who put me on medications and upped my dosage. Soon after I began medications I began to feel a little better that I decided I’d have a couple drinks to myself while I spent time in my garden. I enjoy this, I enjoy the feeling of motivation I get from cracking a can at 10am while I do my house work. Fast forward a month or two I’m now drinking everyday. I only buy a 6 pack and it stretches over the entire day. Basically what happens is I feel like I have no drive to do anything in my home and it takes soooo....long to accomplish anything, everything in mum mind overlaps. I can’t just let things go because I have kids to worry about. So I get so miserable about it all and I’m like who cares, I’ll buy a 6 pack and just have one, then on turns my country music and I’m stuck somewhere in my garden or house fussing over everything with another can! I’m function again. Am I an alcoholic? I’m worried I’ll grow more and more dependent idk.

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