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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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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 .........

peacock Suffering so much
  • replies: 6

I’m going through a terrible time at the moment. Depressed and sad for most of the day, crying a lot. Spoke to my psychiatrist yesterday who said to increase my meds which I have done. I guess it’s a waiting game for the higher dose to kick in. The t... View more

I’m going through a terrible time at the moment. Depressed and sad for most of the day, crying a lot. Spoke to my psychiatrist yesterday who said to increase my meds which I have done. I guess it’s a waiting game for the higher dose to kick in. The trigger for my depression was that I finally stopped contact with my dysfunctional siblings after years of emotional torment and abuse. Glad I made that decision but sometimes the pain of what went on is overwhelming. I’ve been here before and know I’ll get better but some times it is so hard to take. I’ve been ringing Lifeline and Beyond Blue several times a day and they have been so helpful. This is so so hard to take.

Lanie01 Stuck
  • replies: 3

I'm new to this but I seem to be struggling. I have suffered with depression and also chronic pain and illness. I can't seem to move at the moment. Its like I'm in quick sand and I cannot move my thoughts or anything. I see a psychologist but sometim... View more

I'm new to this but I seem to be struggling. I have suffered with depression and also chronic pain and illness. I can't seem to move at the moment. Its like I'm in quick sand and I cannot move my thoughts or anything. I see a psychologist but sometimes I feel like I have to start over at every appointment. Right now I have been really struggling to sleep, all things that have kept me moving stopped and now I'm at a loss. I don't have family that are around so I'm alone most of the time. Thoughts creep in and I go to a dark place, I'm still trying to work but its hard some days. I feel useless all the time, I feel worthless what else am I supposed to do? I can't see a way out right now

Doolhof Where to from here?
  • replies: 13

Hi Everyone, I'm sure lots of you have had those moments where you don't feel comfortable with where you are at, you want positive changes, but you don't always know how to accomplish the changes you desire. Me, I feel like I have been existing but n... View more

Hi Everyone, I'm sure lots of you have had those moments where you don't feel comfortable with where you are at, you want positive changes, but you don't always know how to accomplish the changes you desire. Me, I feel like I have been existing but not really living for a while now. Maybe, deep inside I was working on building strength and gaining more resilience. Maybe sometimes we need to just sit quietly, allow our minds and bodies time to chill out and recover before we can move on. I feel it is time for me to move on. I am not sure exactly what that looks like and maybe I don't need to know all the details. Having a plan as a guide certainly helps. Writing down what I would like to achieve each day might be a good first step. Acknowledging my road blocks to moving forward and finding ways around or over them is a good idea as well. Either way, I have a desire to make changes where I can and to accept the issues I have no control over so that is a good thing. Today I have the opportunity to make this day the best it can be. How are the rest of you travelling? Cheers from Dools

HilfMir New here but long time sufferer
  • replies: 3

Hi all. I’ve been in and out of depression for 23yrs. On and off meds in and out of Drs. The last 10yrs I have had a handle on the depression being able to pull myself out without meds. I’ve had anxiety for 4yrs now and that’s what’s getting to me th... View more

Hi all. I’ve been in and out of depression for 23yrs. On and off meds in and out of Drs. The last 10yrs I have had a handle on the depression being able to pull myself out without meds. I’ve had anxiety for 4yrs now and that’s what’s getting to me the most and making my depression worse. today was the day, I went to see my gp and had a full mental breakdown, I’ve never broken like that before, I’ve been prescribed meds again. I dont know if I’m here for advice, to talk, or just put my thoughts out into the void where I won’t be judged or told to “get over it”. im in the darkest place I have ever been, and with the heartache and trauma of my life since I was young that (to me) says so much and scares the living hell out of me. so here I am. Thanks for accepting me into the community. if I’m not talkative in threads, please forgive me. I’m falling apart like a piece of wet cake.

Thumbsup11 Gratitude
  • replies: 1

In some ways, I am grateful for my depression. It has taught me empathy. It has taught me resilience. It has taught me gratitude for the good times. It has taught me that no matter how bad something may seem, there is always a solution and things wil... View more

In some ways, I am grateful for my depression. It has taught me empathy. It has taught me resilience. It has taught me gratitude for the good times. It has taught me that no matter how bad something may seem, there is always a solution and things will improve if you keep pushing forward. It has taught me not to always trust my emotions. It has taught me to look out for those who may be experiencing something similar and that things aren’t always as they seem. I am also grateful for my depression in that I always know that it will end and that eventually I can be happy again. In 2018 I was diagnosed with bipolar two, meaning that as well as my depression, I was also experiencing hyper-manic episodes. These usually occur almost directly after a depressive episode and last for 2-3 days. With only 1 or 2 exceptions, my depression typically lasts 2-5 days. As bad as it can get, I always know that it will eventually get better. When my depression crept into my life 8yrs ago, I did not know what had hit me. It was scary and completely foreign. But the scariest part about my first experiences with depression was the fact that I had no idea when or if it was going to end. Slowly, over time, I would begin to see the pattern of my depression. It would last for 2-5 days, I’d feel shaky but relieved for a day or 2, feel fantastic for 2-3 and then eventually the depression would come knocking again. It took me many years to be able to see this pattern and take comfort in the fact that my depression only lasts 2-5 days. I am extremely lucky that this is the case, and know that my kind of depression, perhaps because of the bipolar, is quite rare. I know that there are a multitude of people out there suffering with depression or another form of mental illness where they don’t have the comfort of knowing that ‘it will all be over in 2-5 days’. I know that there are people out there who are in that state for months, even years and don’t have my ‘2-5 days’ to rely on. It has taken me all the courage I possess to battle this demon, but to those people I have just described, to me, you define the word courage. To continue to push on and fight, not knowing when or if the pain will end, is the epitome of courage and resilience. Keep fighting. You are not alone.

Joe911 When all is going right... but still feeling wrong
  • replies: 4

First ever post on here.. so here goes do you ever have that feeling that everything is going well? Family, kids, work, relationship and life is gd. but deep down its not? Feeling sad but trying so hard to keep a smile on your face so no one knows? I... View more

First ever post on here.. so here goes do you ever have that feeling that everything is going well? Family, kids, work, relationship and life is gd. but deep down its not? Feeling sad but trying so hard to keep a smile on your face so no one knows? I've had depression a few years back and managed it well but unfortunately its decided to make its way back into my thoughts...feeling upset but not knowing why?