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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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Steve_GP Need help getting out of this rut
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, my name is Steve and I’m 32 from Melbourne. I don’t really know where to start so I’ll just give you the key points: I have been suffering from undiagnosed anxiety for most of my life. I have not gone to the GP for a diagnosis because I ... View more

Hi everyone, my name is Steve and I’m 32 from Melbourne. I don’t really know where to start so I’ll just give you the key points: I have been suffering from undiagnosed anxiety for most of my life. I have not gone to the GP for a diagnosis because I find it hard opening up about it in person as I was brought up to believe that mental health problems are “all in your head” and aren’t real. Lost my job during Covid and have been unemployed ever since. I have worked a couple of jobs in the last 5 years and was made redundant from both. It has been 12 months since I was last employed and I feel like my confidence and self-worth is now at an all time low. I am living with my Girlfriend and her parents as we were trying to save for a home before Covid. Most days when I wake up and feel nothing but dread. I feel my life has no purpose. I am feeling more and more depressed every day. I feel like I am nothing but a burden to my Girlfriends parents as I am not earning an income at the moment. How can I get out of this horrible cycle? I know I need to get professional help but I have no idea how to approach it. Any advice?

Nora5253 I feel stuck in this mind game
  • replies: 2

Hi, I dont even know where to start. I have lost my motivation doing things since summer. Every summer I would somehow feel extra sad/ lonely. And usually it would stop when I fly back home to see my family and friends or until uni starts again. This... View more

Hi, I dont even know where to start. I have lost my motivation doing things since summer. Every summer I would somehow feel extra sad/ lonely. And usually it would stop when I fly back home to see my family and friends or until uni starts again. This year I graduated from uni and because of covid, I couldn't fly back. So I started my new job in the hospital earlier instead. I thought starting a new job would spice up my life and cheer myself up a little bit, but it remains the same and this year, I couldnt sleep in some of the days. The feeling of sadness would not go away. I tried to take some time off from work and went on a holiday because I thought I was just stressed about work but I couldnt enjoy anything or relax at all. But then I thought it might be because I felt I started working full time later than anyone else at my age so I started looking for something to help myself improving but no matter what I do, I still feel the same. Nothing works like it usually does. Whenever I talk about it with people, they would think that my life is perfect and there's nothing that I should be worrying or be upset about. I feel stuck in this box that is full of negative emotions and I cant get out or figure it out why I am there. And yet my job can be emotionally draining on top of what is going on in my mind. But also very interesting, sometimes I would take extra shifts to keep myself busy because I feel like going to work can help me from thinking about all these. In the past few months, I just have been pushing through and trying to live my normal life, it is a constant battle against my own emotions and I dont know what to do anymore.

Rod_NR93 Post Covid vaccination blues
  • replies: 1

Hi all. I had my first Covid vaccination on the weekend and, as expected, I feel a bit fluey. What I'm also feeling, which is not listed as a side effect, is lowered mood. It's not a major drop and I'm so glad I got the vaccination. My theory is it i... View more

Hi all. I had my first Covid vaccination on the weekend and, as expected, I feel a bit fluey. What I'm also feeling, which is not listed as a side effect, is lowered mood. It's not a major drop and I'm so glad I got the vaccination. My theory is it is my body's inflammation response (inflammation being linked to depression school of thought). Have any of you who have had the vaccine felt a mood slump too? On the other side of things I feel glad to have had my first jab. After more than 12 months of Covid stress I finally have the end in sight. One jab to go.

John_E_S New to this
  • replies: 7

Hi, This year has been really tough for me. I have pushed myself beyond my limit with work and have only just realised that I have no properly dealt with a series of serious family health issues. Comng to this realisation has been tough and I have st... View more

Hi, This year has been really tough for me. I have pushed myself beyond my limit with work and have only just realised that I have no properly dealt with a series of serious family health issues. Comng to this realisation has been tough and I have started medication and seeing a psychologist to help but I am finding I am stuck on constant forms of negative thought particularly surrounding my capacity at work. I have been reaching out to people and they are telling me that my worries are not founded but I find that my mind keeps winning. I now seriously considering whether I have a long term future in my field or whether I should take time off to recover any suggestions on different things I can do to feel better or help control these ruminating thoughts!

Jasmine_R Felling sad alone and depressed
  • replies: 8

I don’t know if this is the right place to pot this anyways it still a week a away but for the last week iv been crying my self a sleep cos it almost coming up soon we be the first year I lost my pet and I just can’t stop feeling so down and sad I ca... View more

I don’t know if this is the right place to pot this anyways it still a week a away but for the last week iv been crying my self a sleep cos it almost coming up soon we be the first year I lost my pet and I just can’t stop feeling so down and sad I can’t stop crying I miss him so much try so hard not to self harm my self felling so sad and I have know one that cares felling alone sad

Elot School
  • replies: 4

Bruh school like today cause it’s 1:30am and I don’t wanna go cause school make sad and school bad and stressful so will probably sleep at school

Bruh school like today cause it’s 1:30am and I don’t wanna go cause school make sad and school bad and stressful so will probably sleep at school

vex666 Meaning
  • replies: 6

Hello friend. This is my second post on this forum. I'm not sure how to start, so I'll just be direct. It feels like I've got the ball rolling; sorry about my use of banality. I feel there is a still a sense of purposelessness, are we in a chaotic un... View more

Hello friend. This is my second post on this forum. I'm not sure how to start, so I'll just be direct. It feels like I've got the ball rolling; sorry about my use of banality. I feel there is a still a sense of purposelessness, are we in a chaotic universe where we just exist and die or a cosmic universe where everything happens by some sense of meaning? But yet, I can't see a grey in this answer. I've spent so much time playing video games and it feels like I have been deprived from experience. I have no social skills and for some absurd reason, I never had my education as high priority. I'd rather sit and play video games and hope the world forgets me. Love, feelings, thought, physical, conscious, experience, history; nothing matters. For years, I've tried to come to terms with this, Albert Camus had a philosophic book and view that the world is absurd and finding meaning will only drag you down. No matter how much I try, is any effort actually worth it? I'm not here to say I want to hurt myself, in fact, the opposite. I want to thrive in this world. I'm just so anxious about this place where we live and it feels people force meaning into things when in reality it does not matter. Everywhere I look, they are either this or that, left or right, rich or poor, soccer or football. I am not unique, I'm a simpleton, I follow my favorite team, I say soccer and not football. I am my worst enemy and I cannot find peace. I want to thrive but all I do is think, anxious thoughts turn into depression and depression turns into anxious thoughts.

Amandahill89 Not feeling myself
  • replies: 2

Hi there this last year has been the toughest I’ve faced our rental went up for sale and now it’s sold we have to move out it’s so hard to find a new rental I hate my job I also found out I was 7 weeks pregnant I was over the moon because I was about... View more

Hi there this last year has been the toughest I’ve faced our rental went up for sale and now it’s sold we have to move out it’s so hard to find a new rental I hate my job I also found out I was 7 weeks pregnant I was over the moon because I was about to start my own family with my fiancé but will oar it because it’s a blighted ovum I really don’t feel myself anymore my grandpa is also dying from bone cancer I have my wedding coming up in October but I can’t be exticted for it any advice would be great I hope Everyone else is doing ok to

josh174 Where to start?
  • replies: 2

All through highschool I felt that being depressed was just teen angst, and to a point there's probably some truth in that but lately after finishing highschool and seeing my few friends go off to uni while I look for work I've become almost constant... View more

All through highschool I felt that being depressed was just teen angst, and to a point there's probably some truth in that but lately after finishing highschool and seeing my few friends go off to uni while I look for work I've become almost constantly depressed. My parent thinks it's because I can't find work but they don't understand that I lack the motivation to do so and sometimes even getting out of bed is a struggle. They get pissed off when I can't get up early because I was crying myself to sleep at 1am. They themselves have depression, as do the rest of my family in some form and have never reached out to ask if I'm actually ok or if something is going on in the background. They just assume that I'm just lazy and that me spending time in my room is the reason I'm always blue. Everytime I think about self harm I keep thinking I'm overreacting, just seeking attention, but I still keep thinking about it. I definitely don't feel comfortable talking to them about it and I don't know if the few friends I have have the time as they're in uni or year 12. I don't feel comfortable talking to my GP and I don't know who to turn to. I just want to be able to get on with life. In the past it was a question of what's happening next month, but now I just wonder if I'll get through the day without silently having a breakdown.

AndrewXyz my thoughts on the cause of mood disorders vs psychology. It's from abuse, not hormones?
  • replies: 2

Men get mood disorders too. No shrink ever told me is was because of my hormones! In the 15 years psychology has a crack at my issues, they couldn't figure it out. I had to work out the cause of my PTSD myself, and that was also the cause of my mood ... View more

Men get mood disorders too. No shrink ever told me is was because of my hormones! In the 15 years psychology has a crack at my issues, they couldn't figure it out. I had to work out the cause of my PTSD myself, and that was also the cause of my mood disorders too - my family! I've gone through life feeling like i was worthless, i was always bullied, or abused in relationships, and would wonder why me? Why do people even my family always look down on me. I always thought it was something I did, until I finally asked the question, when did my family start treating me differently. I thought it was going to be a daunting task digging up old memories, except the memories i needed were instantly there, because they were all those incidents throughout childhood, teenage, adults years that i could never shake off, they were triggered too easily, and this time around I realised they were showing me that my family had always treated me differently from a very young age, well before I could ever be held responsible for my actions. I was never allowed to stand up for myself, the punishments would get harsher leading up to solitary confinement. (Abusive people do not want to give up control, and will fight, kids cant fight adults). My PTSD started with a memory of being abandoned by my family, which led to depression and behavioral issues, which lowered my families opinion of me even further. Goodwill never applied to me, it never mattered what effort i put in, one false move was enough to be severely punished, or denied ever single major birthday my brother had. I tried talking to family about this for years, and was told it's all in my head, i'm playing the victim, get my head out of the past and move on. But i was never able to move on form the past because the answer were there. I realised I wasn't the weak one, my family were the weak ones for taking their issues out on the easiest target, the high functioning autistic kid who would struggle to form sentences, and they still are to this day, because they can never admit they have a problem, and will never fix it. The cycle of violence runs in my family, and I developed a mood disorder purely because of their treatment. I also realised that my family and a lot of society treats me the same way women have been treated for thousands of years. I think saying the problem is caused by hormones undermines women, by making them think they are the cause of their own problem, not society/families.

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