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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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bob01 hello
  • replies: 3

im not very good at this. howevere im at a point in my life that where I have to learn to do things for myself. I was diagnosed with mild depression coming to the end of the Covid lockdown last year. I was taking medication and seeing a GP, then afte... View more

im not very good at this. howevere im at a point in my life that where I have to learn to do things for myself. I was diagnosed with mild depression coming to the end of the Covid lockdown last year. I was taking medication and seeing a GP, then after a while I felt that I didnt need any of there help. As in stopping the medication I was on and stopping seeing my GP. however over the past year I continually find that I uncontrolably start talking to myself about things that are going on around me which initally made me upset but would then feel fine after contuning playing it out in my head. Moreover In the recent days I feel foggy and I dont understand how I come up with these onesided conversations of self harm in public which inturn makes me feel excited as im for the most part emotionally flat. looking for suggestions on a course of action thanks

Jeff57 I battle depression
  • replies: 2

Hi, my 2nd post here, it's been 3 years. I don't know what to say. I live alone, after a divorce 3 years ago; it had to happen, and I'm glad it did. It's just sad is all; so much wasted time, and wasted work. Anyway, I'm under the supervision of a do... View more

Hi, my 2nd post here, it's been 3 years. I don't know what to say. I live alone, after a divorce 3 years ago; it had to happen, and I'm glad it did. It's just sad is all; so much wasted time, and wasted work. Anyway, I'm under the supervision of a doctor, psychiatrist and psychologist; and on medication. Today, I'm down, way down and have been that way for a week now. Even being depressed is depressing, if you know what I mean. I have no family. I have 3 pets, a cat and 2 dogs. And I'm so clad I have them as they are so sensitive to my emotional state. A few years ago now, I was befriended by a couple and they have become my only family. Thank God for them. They have helped me through so much, been there when I really have been in need. So thankful. I guess my post, this post, is a 'message in a bottle'... just y way of saying, hello and your not alone, even though you feel alone. Anyway, throwing this message in the 'water'. Keep calm, and battle on without giving up. Jeff.

lochness46 Feeling anxiety & not worthy of a relationship
  • replies: 5

I was browsing FB & I came across my ex partner, sons father's FB profile. I saw that it said that he was in a relationship now. I saw her, the new girlfriend. comment that they had been together for about 20months. I dont know how to feel about this... View more

I was browsing FB & I came across my ex partner, sons father's FB profile. I saw that it said that he was in a relationship now. I saw her, the new girlfriend. comment that they had been together for about 20months. I dont know how to feel about this, Im flipping back & forth from feeling sorry for her, & that shes an complete & utter fool for being wit him, because hes a complete & utter narcissist. To then feel envious, of that fact that he has a relationship & I dont. Im definetly not wanting him back, Im more so envious of that fact that he has someone now & that Im am to scared to even open myself up to the possibility of a relationship after a decade of being single. He created so much trauma & post trauamtic stress, that im still even dreaming about him, which I did last night. It then prompted me to search to seard for his profile to then discover that he was in a relationship I dont have any contact with him & I havent had any contact with him for many years, as also our son, & he pays $35 a months for Child Support, Except I was just recently contacted through Child Protective Services & he made a claim of neglect of my son, which is utter rubbish, he just reported me out of vindictiveness & has done this in the past. I REALLY feel like Im damaged goods, & he just moves on to the next person with no consequences of his pass actions with his relationships. How would you deal with & feel about this if this was you?? I dont feel worthy fullstop

LouLou92 Down in the dumps
  • replies: 4

Hi there everyone, First time ever reaching out or actually trying to get a sense of myself again. I was in an 8 year long relationship with my ex partner, living together and he was selling me all my hopes and dreams till the day he broke up with hi... View more

Hi there everyone, First time ever reaching out or actually trying to get a sense of myself again. I was in an 8 year long relationship with my ex partner, living together and he was selling me all my hopes and dreams till the day he broke up with him. Leaving myself and our puppy behind because he realized he didn't want to sell what he was putting up for sale for me anymore. e.g. buying our first property, proposing at the end of 2020 etc. I suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a teen, due to a rough child hood of sexual abuse etc which carried on for way to long. Through out our relationship it was mostly smiles, love and lots of great times. There was a time where he cheated and begged I stayed and as much as I didn't want to, I did because he was everything to me. Years go by and everything was fine until one morning he just left. With my history of feeling abandoned, used and abused, I fell through the cracks. Started going crazy in my own mind, trying to figure out why, how, am I not good enough? Whilst we were packing our aparetment up I learnt I was pregnant and I told him. It didn't change anything and I had done the tests and given him what he needed. He still walked away. He stayed in contact with me to check on the baby but I did loose it. I was waiting for an angel ornament to arrive to give to him which arrived to late. He made me pee on a stick again which showed I was not. but he didn't know I had lost it and I was waiting to tell him when I had the ornament and I was READY to just let go. He blocked me on everything and all I could do was go to his family house and ring the door bell. He answered, I asked him in tears to believe me and to take the ornament and paper work of the miscarriage. He closed the door on my face, I couldn't breath. I didn't scream, I just cried my heart out. My friends came to collect me, hug me and support me. 1hr later the police came to check on me, where they had to hand an AVO, which was ridiculous. Now I'm finding myself hurt, hopeless and like I wasted my time loving a monster. I didn't deserve this but I am finding no way in myself to believe it, that I am worthy of the right love. I just don't know how someone could do this to me. 8 years I gave him everything and now I'm left siting here with him thinking I was lieing because he wouldn't give me the chance to tell him. I feel embarrassed that I had to go to his family house where he is living. I feel sick that it got to this.

Closettrans Feeling lost and constantly tired
  • replies: 5

First time reach out here, really been struggling the last few months with lockdown in Melbourne, and not being able to do any fun activities. Have a great partner and an awesome 6yo son whom i adore. But since March all ive had is going to work and ... View more

First time reach out here, really been struggling the last few months with lockdown in Melbourne, and not being able to do any fun activities. Have a great partner and an awesome 6yo son whom i adore. But since March all ive had is going to work and coming home. I work in Construction and it has been massively busy, which is strnage in itself. But in the last month or so i have been constantly tired, not sleeping soundly and constantly angry. Id never harm myself or my family, but my anger i think is more directed at the current situation i find myself in, with Melbournes restrictions. Im not sure but i think it is Depression. I say that because im also a partner to someone with crippling Anxiety which is medicated to allow her to live a largely normal life, but when im at work, she is at home and when she is at work im at home. We are having to do this to cover home schooling. But when she is at work the house becomes untidy, as she doesnt feel motivated to keep things tidy. Now it is a case of i come home and spend half a day cleaning up the house before being able to relax. To compound it all work is busy and not really being flexible to allow me to keep up, I feel like im failing as a partner, father, and employee. Im pondering whether my own demons are coming out too, i dont talk to my parents due to a large disagreement when my son was born. I only really talk to 1 brother and have a small circle of friends. I used to always be a happy person and nothing really got to me, i want to be back in that time, i want to be happy again. I hate this feeling I really feel underappreciated at work, and feel like i have to be there all the time as the staff under me are all largely casual labour. I struggle with managing conflict, and almost always want to run from it, my Manager always feels the need to Micro Manage me and i resent that. I just want to be happy and confident again

goldilocks NOT SURE WHAT DO TO ANYMORE
  • replies: 9

I am still having issues moving past someone I fancied. He apparently wants nothing to do with me anymore, and has said hurtful things to me, such as: 'you're not very clever,' 'whatever medication you're taking clearly isn't working,' 'you have more... View more

I am still having issues moving past someone I fancied. He apparently wants nothing to do with me anymore, and has said hurtful things to me, such as: 'you're not very clever,' 'whatever medication you're taking clearly isn't working,' 'you have more issues than previously thought,' 'retard,' and yet he had the audacity to tell me that he had 'always liked me but had kept it from me.' I have caught him on one occasion taking a photo of me and when I asked him about it a year later, he refuted my claims. I asked a third party if the man I fancied had taken a photo of me, and he told me that the man I fancied told him that "he had taken a photo of something interesting." What, at a bus/train interchange, is SO interesting? There is more that I want to share, but this is just the beginning. So, I am sorry if this all seems vague.

florencefortyeight Feeling better doesn't really change anything, does it?
  • replies: 3

I saw a video the other day, talking about how to deal with a mental health crisis. She talked about the importance of distractions, and the cheesy stuff like Netflix and beauty products and stuff. She also mentioned mindfulness, like the STOP techni... View more

I saw a video the other day, talking about how to deal with a mental health crisis. She talked about the importance of distractions, and the cheesy stuff like Netflix and beauty products and stuff. She also mentioned mindfulness, like the STOP technique et cetera. It was really useful. HOWEVER. Do you think the plan changes when the stuff causing your feelings is really practical and tangible in nature? The feelings might pass, but that doesn't really fix anything. I am completely alone in life. I don't have friends. I loved living with my nephew, but he is moving out soon too. I have never been on a date before, so I am a long way from having a baby of my own. That's not just negative thoughts, it's very real. Do you think that advice can still help or does it need a different approach?

NetDog Borderline Personality Disorder
  • replies: 3

Hi, I am new to writing in forums about mental health. I have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and my psychologist told me to try reaching out on Beyond Blue when it was out of her business hours. At the moment I am having trouble ... View more

Hi, I am new to writing in forums about mental health. I have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and my psychologist told me to try reaching out on Beyond Blue when it was out of her business hours. At the moment I am having trouble with containing my feelings and am so frustrated and tired of struggling with BPD. To top it off, our financial situation is putting more pressure on me, and we are unable to get any help. So I have to find a second job as well as deal with my illness, family life and first job.

ToLate I need to leave society
  • replies: 12

Hi I'm new here, so I guess hello to everyone. I think it's time for me to live in the bush with a tent. I guess that it means becoming homeless I have given up on people totally. I'm a 40 year old male and all my life has been pain and suffering. I ... View more

Hi I'm new here, so I guess hello to everyone. I think it's time for me to live in the bush with a tent. I guess that it means becoming homeless I have given up on people totally. I'm a 40 year old male and all my life has been pain and suffering. I suffered from mental, physical and emotional abuse from my parents, sexual abuse from a teenage girl, extreme bullying in school. I'm not talking about what kids talk about now. I'm talking about having zero friends, constantly teased by peers and even teachers. Having my school work shown to the whole class while teachers made me stand in front of the class. I had issues at school with ADHD and Dyslexia. I've had relationships but have always ended up being cheated on or the other person turned out to be horrible. Plus only have a couple of friends I used to have a successful career, earning good money etc but the stress of the job and relationship at the time destroyed me. I haven't been working since 2010. I've had to stay living with family which I feel deeply embarrassed and shamed about. So in the last few years I've practically removed myself from society except for the fish keeping community. I met someone online about a couple of months ago. She is only in her mind 20's but we both seemed to connect very quickly and strongly (something that I seem to do easily). Until today where the whole age thing made her do the "let's be friends only" talk I'm tired of humans, I've lost any and all empathy. I feel deeply that I would enjoy seeing all humans suffer. Now I'm not about to hurt people but I sure as hell won't stop someone suffering even if I could. I'm tired of everything, and it's not something any mental health expert or medication will help. It's like my spirit is dead. I believe I need to live society, it's actually illegal to just live in the bush but I'm worried about being pushed any further. I think it's safer for everyone for me to do this. Sorry for the long story but I needed to get it off my chest

NetDog Need help
  • replies: 2

My BPD is pushing me to the brink! I have no after hours support from my psychologist, I don’t see my psychiatrist until April, it takes 5-10 days just to get into my GP, and there is no way I am going back to our local mental health facility! My psy... View more

My BPD is pushing me to the brink! I have no after hours support from my psychologist, I don’t see my psychiatrist until April, it takes 5-10 days just to get into my GP, and there is no way I am going back to our local mental health facility! My psychologist recommended using this forum, but really it is like using a bandaid on a deep cut that needs stitching. I do feel like I would be better off if I died in my sleep, but have no plans or deep feelings of suicide.