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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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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.

Plantey Telling employer?
  • replies: 2

I work for a large multinational company in Melbourne. Just got diagnosed with depression last week and started medication. The final straw for me seeing the doctor was some harsh words my manager said to me about my performance. I am on leave now fo... View more

I work for a large multinational company in Melbourne. Just got diagnosed with depression last week and started medication. The final straw for me seeing the doctor was some harsh words my manager said to me about my performance. I am on leave now for a few weeks. i feel like telling my boss might help her understand my poor performance last year and help my return to work. But I’m also worried about the stigma and if she reacts differently. what should I do ?

Porty Depression
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone my name is Rod I was first diagnosed with depression in 2012 after a series of traumatic events we have just sold our house and moved to regional Victoria to start a fresh life, but due to Covid and losing my job at the start of the year,... View more

Hi everyone my name is Rod I was first diagnosed with depression in 2012 after a series of traumatic events we have just sold our house and moved to regional Victoria to start a fresh life, but due to Covid and losing my job at the start of the year, the stress of selling and moving it’s come back hard I am on an antidepressant atm which has levelled me out to an extent but I really struggle to get out of bed in the mornings i really hate feeling like this and would appreciate any advice on how to get back on track

CBRITGuy I think I am suffering from depression
  • replies: 3

Hi all, First time poster, as have been looking through all of the resources on the site over the past 24 hours. I feel it is time to start to do something about my life and how I feel. I think I am suffering from depression. There are probably a lot... View more

Hi all, First time poster, as have been looking through all of the resources on the site over the past 24 hours. I feel it is time to start to do something about my life and how I feel. I think I am suffering from depression. There are probably a lot of reasons for it, things from the past that stick around in my mind and pop their head up from time to time. I have been to counselling (EAP) in the past to help with issues to do with accusing my partner of cheating (I have been cheated on in the past a few times and there was, and likely still is, lingering issues there). I likely, especially at this stage of how I am feeling, have an alcohol dependency. I have been drinking heavily for the past few weeks. I want to stop this dangerous cycle I am in. My partner is a Senior Manager at the same place I work, and early in the relationship she did not want anyone to know about it (which I could understand, it was a new relationship), however we got engaged and I thought that it might change as time went on. This has been a major sticking point, and trigger of the feelings of self-loathing, worthlessness I feel, even now. At 2 Christmas parties, whilst drunk, major arguments have happened, and at other times in the year. This has of course caused her to be upset, angry, and rightfully so. After the most recent one, I have now had to find somewhere else to live. This was because she wanted me to find somewhere to live. We actually started talking and trying to rebuild, but then an issue happened between my daughter and her son. My daughter does not want to live there anymore, and my partner feels upset that I actually found somewhere else to live, as we were trying to reconcile. However the incident with the kids made me think I needed to have a place where my daughter could feel safe. My daughter has gone to her mum's now for the second half of the holidays. I feel a little under pressure to go over there, as I have withdrawn into myself nearly completely with how I am feeling. That then upsets her and I feel even worse. I am looking at lots of different resources, online CBT, reading articles, and calling BeyondBlue, not to mention I feel I should see my GP and also will be using EAP again. It's just so damn hard sometimes. I don't really know what to do, but I know I need to get better.

EzT In need of help
  • replies: 6

Lately it feels like everything to getting too much, I’ve always been that type of person that’s always there for everyone around me but when I need help I push everyone around me away and completely shut down. I don’t want to be like that anymore bu... View more

Lately it feels like everything to getting too much, I’ve always been that type of person that’s always there for everyone around me but when I need help I push everyone around me away and completely shut down. I don’t want to be like that anymore but I don’t know how to fix it on my own. I just need someone to help me without feeling like a massive burden.