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Depression

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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.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 1

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

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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user981 Girl pushing me away
  • replies: 4

I was having a long distance relationship and 3 months in she started being different and ended up blocking me out of the blue for no reason. She told me later that she has had depression for several months and she got scared I might play her like al... View more

I was having a long distance relationship and 3 months in she started being different and ended up blocking me out of the blue for no reason. She told me later that she has had depression for several months and she got scared I might play her like all the other guys do. Since then she has just been different. There are times where she would push me away and not want to talk and tells me "don't talk to me" as if she is being a little aggressive/ upset. Sometimes she lies about things and the last month she has been lying about having a boyfriend. Recently she seemed more comfortable talking to me and opening up a little more so I decided to question her about this boyfriend she mentions occasionally. I knew it might not go well to tell her that the person doesn't exist. I don't know if she actually believes her own lie or not but she wouldn't admit anything instead she was saying goodnight trying to leave the conversation. Since that conversation she has been very different and has not wanted to talk to me and has been telling me that she needs some space and that she doesn't need anymore pressure on her. She used to be so close to me and seemed really happy to talk to me. She tells me now that she is not comfortable talking to me and to leave her alone. Is there something I can say to her to make her feel comfortable again? I guess for questioning her lies she pushes me away... I just want to be able to talk to her again.

Imagine When life doesn’t really get better...
  • replies: 25

Hi folks, Well, I’ve been MIA a while now. After my world fell completely apart, and every therapy offered to me through the system failed, I gave up seeking answers and threw myself into trying to build a new life. I’ve bought myself a house, learne... View more

Hi folks, Well, I’ve been MIA a while now. After my world fell completely apart, and every therapy offered to me through the system failed, I gave up seeking answers and threw myself into trying to build a new life. I’ve bought myself a house, learned skills I never thought I could learn, reached out socially, created a fb group for a personal interest that’s grown to hundreds of members and benefits charities and have continued to work all the while. But my chronic illness has remained unchanged, I am still in constant pain and exhausted, medically unfit to drive, stuck in a low paid job because I’m not physically capable of more challenging work, and I’m not one tiny bit closer to the dreams I lost. My house does not feel like a home even after 3 years and lots of work trying to make it my own, because I live alone with my pets. I feel like the life I have now is wrong for me, it’s not a bad life, I don’t mean to complain that I don’t have “enough”, I’m not ungrateful. But it feels like it doesn’t fit me and it chafes and makes me hurt deeply all of the time. Yes there are moments of pleasure in little things, but that’s just a band aid and offers no healing. I hide the depression because I’m either not wanting to burden the people I love any more than they have suffered already, or I’ve been told I should be over it by now (by people who have everything I’ve ever wished for). My question is, what do I do now? I’ve run out of things I can think of to try. My younger self’s dreams were to have a career and travel the world with the love of my life. I can’t think of any new dreams that even come close to those shattered ones. The career is impossible, travel financially out of reach even without COVID and well, love, love isn’t for me. I also lost the home that I had put my heart and soul into when my health failed before my marriage failed too. Would welcome advice please and thank you. There must be a way to learn to live with this quiet desperation, even if I cannot escape it. Thank you

tallulahgoesrawr Need some support anxiety/depression & feeling guilty
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone this is my first post, I have suffered from anxiety and depression for probably 10 years now, last year I decided to seek help and I started on medication - it has been a huge help and made things feel more achievable and definitely taken... View more

Hi everyone this is my first post, I have suffered from anxiety and depression for probably 10 years now, last year I decided to seek help and I started on medication - it has been a huge help and made things feel more achievable and definitely taken the edge off of my anxiety and has made it more manageable. however some days are worst than others and I find I still get burnt out rather easily - I work full time in retail and working during stage 4 restrictions is definitely taking a toll with the craziness and extra work we are doing every day. i have many down days and I feel as though lately my down days have been more often as I am isolated from a lot of friends and family I tried to talk to my mum about it but she doesn’t quite understand depression and that I just can’t help but feel sad/lonely/anxious etc she sees it as a sort of ungratefulness I often feel guilty that I’m sad or feeling down because I have a good life and I’m lucky and I don’t want to be ungrateful for all of the good things I do have but I still have the down days and I still have the anxiety and loneliness I do a lot of things to try to keep ontop of my mental health ie) eating well, routine, good sleep schedule, getting 10k steps a day, etc does anyone else feel this way?? Or maybe have some recommendations of things I could try to help?? thank you in advance tallulah

Antelope9 Kind of scary
  • replies: 7

So after many years of struggling with depression, I have found some sort of respite in a mental health team that over 2 years have given me some sort of explanation for the strange highs and lows of my life. I’m glad they took the time for me. As a ... View more

So after many years of struggling with depression, I have found some sort of respite in a mental health team that over 2 years have given me some sort of explanation for the strange highs and lows of my life. I’m glad they took the time for me. As a Psychology graduate, I insisted on a thought out diagnosis from at least 2 sources. Bipolar type 2 (no surprise) Borderline Personality Disorder. Amongst my peers and family dynamics, who have always described me as ‘resilient’, It has come to a point recently that I could not deny that I cannot cope. I could not front up and keep being the person who has generally, helped everybody else. So when I needed help, the resources where exhausted. I have joined this forum, as suggested by a patient team of said professionals, in the hope that I can find some people who understand what it means to be exhausted. How it feels to feel so absolutely alone, and sometimes really afraid. That sometimes you can have a veneer of strength and yet be on the verge of suicide. And when you tell someone, it does not make sense.

DeepBlue1771 Lockdown struggle
  • replies: 9

Citizen from Melbourne, home of the brave and the free. Hearing police sirens outside as I type. Just wondering whether anyone else is struggling with this lockdown, now extended possibly indefinitely. I live alone in an apartment, and the Groundhog ... View more

Citizen from Melbourne, home of the brave and the free. Hearing police sirens outside as I type. Just wondering whether anyone else is struggling with this lockdown, now extended possibly indefinitely. I live alone in an apartment, and the Groundhog Day existence of working from home all day with the only highlights being a walk/cycle and a trip to the grocery store is getting to me. I can't fathom living like this for another year. Anyone else feel the same?

JessMo This is my life
  • replies: 4

Weekdays, I get up and make myself just presentable enough to drive my daughter to school, then drive home and close the front door on the world. Unless I have to get groceries or petrol, I don’t go out. I don’t talk to anyone. I don’t have any frien... View more

Weekdays, I get up and make myself just presentable enough to drive my daughter to school, then drive home and close the front door on the world. Unless I have to get groceries or petrol, I don’t go out. I don’t talk to anyone. I don’t have any friends and barely talk to family members. If I am asked how I’m doing, I’ll deflect until that line of questioning goes away. My parents (who are the main cause of my issues) do ask how I am but I don’t trust them to let them in my head. They’ve mellowed a bit over the years but I don’t see them as emotionally healthy. I feel detached from everything, even from people on forums like this who have similar symptoms/experiences to me. So I ignore everything and live in a very small world. And I feel as much relief as discomfort in living like this. I’m 40 and I don’t work so am to an extent, having to rely on someone else to financially cover what I can’t. I hate this and they aren’t thrilled about it either. This is a family member who has similar emotional problems to me but is able to work. I feel shame and guilt at having to rely on someone like this. Im a good mum with a great relationship with my daughter, by being far more aware of her needs and emotions and wanting her to be happy. She is the only reason I’m still here. I want more out of life than this but I don’t know where to even begin. The numbness and isolation is what I’m used to, is my ‘safe’ place but I know it’s no way to live. So how do I even begin to move forward?

JamesS Economic Recession Inducing Psychological Depression
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I'm wondering if there are other members on here following the financial news of the coronavirus recession, and its implications for the economy. All the economic evidence points to a severe and prolonged downturn, with high unemployment rema... View more

Hi all, I'm wondering if there are other members on here following the financial news of the coronavirus recession, and its implications for the economy. All the economic evidence points to a severe and prolonged downturn, with high unemployment remaining for the foreseeable future (several years...). I'm really struggling to get motivated as I am now unemployed and living off savings, and I can't see any clear indication of the economy improving. I can't find much motivation to do anything economically productive, and am only coping by instigating a self-care regime that doesn't involved any 'work'. While this is working, it does not feel sustainable. How are people coping with this circumstance ? Thank you

Obey I think I have emotional numbness
  • replies: 3

Hi, i feel like all this year my emotions have disappeared and I am not my normal self. i am not sure if it is just COVID and not seeing my friends or anyone I love or if it is something that has been manifesting for a while. any help is appreciated

Hi, i feel like all this year my emotions have disappeared and I am not my normal self. i am not sure if it is just COVID and not seeing my friends or anyone I love or if it is something that has been manifesting for a while. any help is appreciated

debselicious What helped you through depression ?
  • replies: 1

Hi. Im a lifelong sufferer of depression, and to date have not found much outside of medication that has helped. I’m interested in activities and recreation that people find helpful for their depression. Any suggestions welcome :).

Hi. Im a lifelong sufferer of depression, and to date have not found much outside of medication that has helped. I’m interested in activities and recreation that people find helpful for their depression. Any suggestions welcome :).

WolvesHaveNoKings Realised tonight - there is no point in trying.
  • replies: 3

I don't really know what I'm even doing here. I don't think I have depression. Tonight a physical health issue has gotten worse after months of improving and it hit me that everything I have strived to improve over the past 10 years has gotten me abs... View more

I don't really know what I'm even doing here. I don't think I have depression. Tonight a physical health issue has gotten worse after months of improving and it hit me that everything I have strived to improve over the past 10 years has gotten me absolutely nowhere and has been completely pointless. I'm 30, I live alone in community housing, I clean schools at night, I have no kids or family. My mum died 7 years ago and my dad wants to spend all his time with his awful girlfriend. I'm poor with no good career prospects, I have a frustrating health issue and I see no point in trying to improve my life anymore. 10 years of failure is enough for me. What has hurt me so much tonight is that (Christian theme ahead) through all of these years I've tried to keep my spirits up by saying that at least I have God to love and talk to. Tonight I've realised I don't. I've been fooling myself, too afraid to admit I really do have nothing. God doesn't love me, he doesn't help, guide or encourage me. I don't feel his love or support. I doubt he even knows I exist. Maybe he doesn't exist himself. I've let go of the lie that was keeping me going. Now I see I have no real reason to live for any happiness. There is no point, there is no purpose, there is no reason. From now on I live only for the sake of the two cats beside me.