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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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Darls Bipolar Depression
  • replies: 6

Hi, I am new here I have bipolar and at the present, I am suffering from depression and anxiety really badly for now 6-weeks. My anxiety and depression have eased and it seems to be lingering on. I am just wondering if anyone feels the same? I feel v... View more

Hi, I am new here I have bipolar and at the present, I am suffering from depression and anxiety really badly for now 6-weeks. My anxiety and depression have eased and it seems to be lingering on. I am just wondering if anyone feels the same? I feel very much alone in that some of my siblings and friends do not understand what entails in depression bipolar and that I should get over it by being positive in life. My dad has been staying with me has been wonderful. He understands my condition, he is getting older and somehow I need to learn to look out for my triggers and to prevent me from getting worst. The one thing I have learned this time around that my anxiety is a trigger for psychosis. At the 2nd week, I had an increase in my mood stabilizer and another increase in my mood stabilizer on Saturday 5th week. My housework hasn't been done. My dad has been with me the whole time as I have been suicidal. even a shower is effort. Mental Health Unit doesn't want me to go into hospital and they want me to stay out of the hospital to recover. It is so hard on my dad, God love him. I did have a breakthrough on Saturday (14/11/20) and I thought I was better and then Sunday I woke depressed again. I had an increase in my mood stabiliser on Saturday which I been thinking that maybe the contribution to the downfall? It will take up from 2-weeks to 6-weeks to feel the effects of the med increase. My dad understands which is great and I have support from my case manager. Some of my siblings and friends think if I walk and keep busy it will go away but anyone with depression who have bipolar knows that far fetch. It all comes down to medication and for the neurotransmitter imbalance to balance out in the brain. I recently lost a friend because she felt I was bringing her down, it's sad that that friends and family will turn their back on me because of this sickness. I just wish to be well again. Does anyone else have problems with family and friends understanding bipolar? If I thought walking will take away my bipolar I be out there every day. I know its important to exercise for bipolar but when you are so unwell with depression and anxiety it is the last thing you want to do. Medication is crucial for mental wellbeing for bipolar. I don't understand the lingering of depression it's overwhelming and out of my control.

CurlyBob Feeling beaten.
  • replies: 5

I had a good life as a skipper driving all sorts of vessels until I got cancer. They cut it out though left me in pain and in continent so I couldn’t work anymore and am on a pension and 1/2 own my house. In recent months I have been in pain and depr... View more

I had a good life as a skipper driving all sorts of vessels until I got cancer. They cut it out though left me in pain and in continent so I couldn’t work anymore and am on a pension and 1/2 own my house. In recent months I have been in pain and depressed using prescription pills to fix it as I have been advised. Have seen a psychologist though even she agrees that anyone would be depressed in my circumstances and just says go easy on your self. My car has broken down,as well as the lawnmower and washing machine not to mention technical difficulties on computers that I can’t solve the next issue now is I have no water. The next door neighbor has a tree on my boundary that has broken the water pipe. I have insurance though they’re not going to cover it. Got $27 in my bank account to sort this out. Goin for a walk to buy a wine box! I am just sitting here wondering what to do next. I am not suicidal as I would leave all the things I haven’t been able to do to someone else. Just feeling really shitty.

Jessaree I just feel lost
  • replies: 3

Hey I’m new here , hit a point where I thought I’d reach out somewhere I don’t want to feel like this anymore, nothing brings me joy I just wander around the house all day waiting for my fiancé to finish work doing nothing and feeling lost. I have no... View more

Hey I’m new here , hit a point where I thought I’d reach out somewhere I don’t want to feel like this anymore, nothing brings me joy I just wander around the house all day waiting for my fiancé to finish work doing nothing and feeling lost. I have no motivation to do anything anymore, I’m so sick of being an insecure hermit with no friends but idk how to change it . I’m just so depressed...

Guitarboy Don't know
  • replies: 6

I feel like I have the worst personality ever. I feel like I piss everyone off with my personality. I feel weak. I feel tired. I feel exhausted. I feel like my energy is drained. I feel physically weakened. I'm too fat. I feel over weight. I feel obe... View more

I feel like I have the worst personality ever. I feel like I piss everyone off with my personality. I feel weak. I feel tired. I feel exhausted. I feel like my energy is drained. I feel physically weakened. I'm too fat. I feel over weight. I feel obese. I feel like I can't control my eating habits. Just nonstop take away food. Can't take control of my life. I feel like I'm out of control, in terms of, everything. I can't feel like I'm in control of my life. I feel weak, once again. I feel sorry to my mum. She's getting old, and I'm not helping at all. I wish I could give her the world. I wish I can buy a house with a dishwasher. I wish I can eat Lite n' Easy, so it doesn't create dirty dishes. I have no hope. Ain't nobody going to help me. They all say they will help me. But then, soon after, they all turn their backs on me. I need help. So I seek help. Ain't nobody answers me. At all.

Elsye How to get help
  • replies: 3

Hi, I need some help. I saw a psychologist for about ten years before she retired at the end of last year. At the time I was put on a waiting list with a psychologist who had an eight month waiting list. I finally saw him in June and we had eight ses... View more

Hi, I need some help. I saw a psychologist for about ten years before she retired at the end of last year. At the time I was put on a waiting list with a psychologist who had an eight month waiting list. I finally saw him in June and we had eight sessions before I decided he was not helping me in any way and I was actually feeling worse because with my previous one I felt hopeful and positive after leaving the sessions. With him I felt he didn’t get me, we never made any progress and I was feeling worse because I felt hopeless about my situation like things would never get better because my only hope (psychology) was not working, as opposed to having some hope for a better future like with my last psychologist. The clincher was when something bad happened to me a month ago and I called up in tears asking if he could see me sooner than my next scheduled appointment. He never bothered to even call to say he couldn’t see me but was I ok. I confronted him at my next appointment and he said he got the message but he was busy and “I didn’t specifically ask for a call back”. I could tell them he didn’t care about me, just my money and I did not return after that session. Anyway, that was a month ago and since then I have been calling every psychologist I can find that works remotely near me. They all say sorry I am not taking on new patients. How do I get help when no one will see me? I am in so much pain. I’m not suicidal or anything but I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning, I cry all throughout the day and feel hopeless and sad all the time. I am anxious all the time. I have a difficult work situation and I just feel trapped. I need some help but don’t understand why psychologists don’t care, I am sure they can hear the pain in my voice when I call because I am trying hard not to cry on the phone. my Gp hasn’t helped either. He just said that’s all the psychologists I know. Maybe I’m expecting too much to assume a gp would care and help me find someone, or that a psychologist would tell i was in need and make an exception, but regardless the situation is what it is and I just don’t know what else to do. does anyone have any advice?

Daphre Don't know where to start
  • replies: 2

I am really struggling emotionally . I have been trying to pull my life together but I don't know where to start. I am so lonely and I feel so hopeless I don't know how to change things. I can't go home alone anymore. I can't keep going and going. I ... View more

I am really struggling emotionally . I have been trying to pull my life together but I don't know where to start. I am so lonely and I feel so hopeless I don't know how to change things. I can't go home alone anymore. I can't keep going and going. I feel there is no future for me only the struggle I have now. Seek support, who from? I just cry over the smallest things. I just don't want to keep going like I am now and there is no solution

Schmoopy Dealing with SO
  • replies: 4

My husband and I have been together for 9 years. For the first 6 months he was great, although I did see little red flags here and there. This is his second marriage. One of her reasons for leaving was because she said he was emotionally abusive, he ... View more

My husband and I have been together for 9 years. For the first 6 months he was great, although I did see little red flags here and there. This is his second marriage. One of her reasons for leaving was because she said he was emotionally abusive, he said if you ever feel I’m doing that to you please tell me because I had no idea I was doing it to her. I have told him he’s done it to me but he says I’m being stupid. He has been addicted to pain medication for 16 years after a terrible accident resulting in multiple knee surgeries that have left him in pain over the years. The problem is he really abuses this medication. If he has a bad day he’ll binge some to make himself feel better but then be light on for the rest of the week because then he won’t have enough. Then he goes into a withdrawal because he’s having way less than normal, it’s a vicious cycle. He has been to rehab once before but didn’t finish it. If I know he’s binged then I can expect what’s coming and prepare myself but sometimes I don’t know. Over the last 2 weeks he’s called me fat, boring and not willing to do anything, which is so odd for me because it’s actually the opposite. I’m always trying to get him out to do things and if it wasn’t for me we wouldn’t do anything. He has been diagnosed with depression but supposedly can’t take anything that won’t clash with his pain killers. His pain killers are legitimately from the dr by prescription. His knee is really messed up and they have no issue prescribing them. I feel there must be more to it like some kind of disorder, his moods are insane at times and he can be completely irrational - which I’ve brought up but he won’t discuss it with me. When he’s good it’s awesome but when he’s bad it’s so awful. He gets mean and really personal at times and often gaslights me and tells me I’m the one that started everything. He often has really excessive reactions to normal situations too. Between the 2 of us we have 4 children and don’t get me wrong for the most part we have an amazing relationship, I wouldn’t have stuck it out if it wasn’t. I guess I just wanted to vent. This weekend has been a bad one and I haven’t dealt with anything like this since March - which is a long time for us. I’ve been walking on eggshells all weekend, it’s hard.

Effected912 Hopeless
  • replies: 1

I've never posted before even though I've had some severe low points in my life but tonight something inside of me snapped and I figured it was worth a shot. I feel completely hopeless and trapped in a life I can't change without seriously hurting so... View more

I've never posted before even though I've had some severe low points in my life but tonight something inside of me snapped and I figured it was worth a shot. I feel completely hopeless and trapped in a life I can't change without seriously hurting someone and I don't think I can live with that. I still live at home with my family even though I'm old enough that I should be well on the way to a life and family of my own, however I know that will never happen for me. When I was a young teenager my parents took on my aunt's baby due to her mental health and inability to care for her, shortly after the birth one parent got very sick and the other spent a lot of time at hospital to help with care so I had the baby most of the time which led me to develop a chronic illness that I still struggle with. That child is now a delinquent teenager who is too much for my mother to handle alone as the stress could quite literally kill her. In addition to that situation my sister got pregnant young and had a child with multiple issues, he is now 9 and requires full-time attention by both me and my sister and is very intense and can be out of control at times. My sister is simply not capable of minding him on her own so I spend all my time helping her with her son and doing everything I can for my mother and I'm stuck. I have no degree, no career prospects, no partner, no friends, no money and nothing to call my own and I can't see a way to make my life any better no matter how many times I'm told 'if you don't like your life do something about it' so I figured maybe if I type this it might help me in some small way even if nothing comes of it. I truely have no idea how I'm supposed to live a happy life knowing I'm stuck with very little I can do about it and will probably never have a future where I'm not that pathetic woman with nothing to show for herself even though my life's 'not that bad' as I'm told repeatedly. If anyone has any advice they can like free please share, I'm so lost.

mimiblue Depression
  • replies: 17

I never knew or understood what depression was until I was 14. I had a really good and blessed childhood, I had a huge family and amazing childhood friends. When I left primary school and entered high school everything changed. I am now 20 and in uni... View more

I never knew or understood what depression was until I was 14. I had a really good and blessed childhood, I had a huge family and amazing childhood friends. When I left primary school and entered high school everything changed. I am now 20 and in university but it's still affecting me and getting worse. As a kid I was so social and talkative, I was so excited about the world and the endless possibilities, I was an optimist. When I entered high school, my personality changed, girls that I was trying to hang out with would constantly bring me down and I lost my innocence and my youth. As a child I thought everyone was nice and a good person and then I entered high school. I completely lost all of my confidence and happiness in high school but I used food (emotional eating) to make me happy and gained heaps of weight. I was a very fit person and now I'm overweight. When I entered university I started becoming myself again and feeling good but then that started to stop as well. A couple of weeks ago I got my old home videos (VHS tapes) converted and I was so excited to watch them but now I completely regret my decision. Ever since I watched those tapes a deep dark depression hit me as I realised how happy I was and how for the past 8 years I wasn't living just exisiting and surviving. Now after seeing my old tapes I feel as if I'll never be that happy confident kid again and now I can't fathom getting out of bed. So here I am lying down on my bed as I'm typing this out, I just feel so hopeless and that everything in life is pointless and meaningless. Since watching the tapes I've lost my appetite and haven't eaten in a week, I've only drank coffee and ice tea, I stopped going to the gym and feel fatigued all the time. If I knew those tapes would bring me all this sadness I would of never converted them .........