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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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white knight Bipolar 2, coping with it
  • replies: 0

Everyone is an individual, but here is the challenges that I undertook post correct diagnosis. Here below is references to help you cope with bipolar 2. (Topics in bold you can put in the search bar to read- just read the first posts) Acceptance- som... View more

Everyone is an individual, but here is the challenges that I undertook post correct diagnosis. Here below is references to help you cope with bipolar 2. (Topics in bold you can put in the search bar to read- just read the first posts) Acceptance- some of us get all emotional when it dawns on us that we will take meds for the rest of our lives. It’s not that bad. Acceptance- is this our biggest challenge? Part of YOU- bipolar is a part of you as are your limbs and your character. Motivation- it plays a big part because others will over criticise you. Feeding your brain Guilt- You won’t ever get rid of it but like everything with bipolar, reducing it helps. Guilt the tormentor Relaxation- Another way of caring for yourself. Meditation- words of wisdom- he helped me for 25 years Sensitivity- You won’t get rid of this either but you can improve it. Also don’t feel guilty about it. Again it’s part of YOU. Words are stick and stones Expectations- We crave support. It’s normal to want it. However giving it to an invisible illness challenges our loved ones. This forum fills a void.. “Normal” people will not understand Non professional interference. Seems everyone around us is an expert. Yet it takes one to be a GP then many extra years of study to be a psychiatrist. You’ll need to counter these people. Defend yourself! Wit/ the only answer for torment and Fortress of survival (plus part 2) and Vulnerable- be ready to defend Support. You can get it here on this forum, support groups and reading/research This bipolar life Suicidal thoughts. They might come around. Remember, tomorrow they may not be there. They arrive like an unwanted visitor. Avoiding suicidal thoughts or intent and Suicidal thought and choices and Saving yourself from doom Rejection- you’ll lose friends, even family. You’ll close ranks and turmoil is something you’ll have to cope with. Disowned by family members- how to survive it Anger. You might find you can be explosive. Introducing ways to quell it is beneficial. Anger- can you own it? I hope these guidelines on coping with bipolar help you. Please feel free to discuss them or add to them TonyWK

Jarred28 Major Depression
  • replies: 3

Have been diagnosed with major depression for quite some time now and just feel like giving up. Will this ever get any better My family all call me a sook and that there’s nothing for me to be depressed about and I need to get over myself. I have no ... View more

Have been diagnosed with major depression for quite some time now and just feel like giving up. Will this ever get any better My family all call me a sook and that there’s nothing for me to be depressed about and I need to get over myself. I have no friends to talk to this stuff about as they bully me about my mental health and just generally don’t seem to care. Just so confused in life have no idea what to do, just want to move away and hide forever.

Lilly18 Hate
  • replies: 16

I hate my dogs I hate being a parent I hate being a widow I hate mess I hate my brain I hate my feelings I hate my false glimmer of hope I hate being me

I hate my dogs I hate being a parent I hate being a widow I hate mess I hate my brain I hate my feelings I hate my false glimmer of hope I hate being me

sunnysky I hate myself
  • replies: 6

Hello, this will be my first time doing something like this so please bare with me. I don't really know how to label this feeling, whether I'm actually depressed or if I'm just being over dramatic. I've just felt so pressured. My parents don't love e... View more

Hello, this will be my first time doing something like this so please bare with me. I don't really know how to label this feeling, whether I'm actually depressed or if I'm just being over dramatic. I've just felt so pressured. My parents don't love each other. They were going to divorce when I was just born but my mum has a factory work job and begged my dad to stay for me and my brother. So he did, but my dad hates my mum and brother and only loves me. I know it's selfish of me to say that his love is burdening, but every time I talk with him it's like I'm walking around glass. He gets angry easily, he's always shouting, and I have to calm him down. And whenever I say something that he doesn't like, he'll start threatening me. "I'm only here because of you, if you don't like me then I'll just leave." It's suffocating, having to fake how I act around him, even the simplest of things upset him to the point of ignoring me for weeks, each day of silence scaring me that he will leave. And my parents have always pressured me about school. But my grades have gotten worse, and they are disappointed in me. I understand why, since I'm such a disappointment. They would shout at me when I was a kid for bad grades. I never got to hang out with my friends or play. What was the point of all the tears I shed if I was going to end up with terrible grades anyways? One day a few months ago I had what I think was a panic attack at home in front of my parents. They were shouting at me again, and I couldn't stand the shouting it made me feel so afraid and weak and suddenly I was screaming and crying. It felt like I was dying. And I thought that my parents would care, they'd feel sorry for me, they'd comfort me. But they only screamed louder. They asked me why I was screaming and I said I was stressed from school but they called me a liar. "Everyone is stressed you're not special". "you're just weak" And I guess I was. When I think about everything I'm the reason for my own sadness. If I were smarter, if i could deal with stress my parents wouldn't be angry. If I was a better daughter, a better person I wouldn't feel this useless. Whenever I feel sad which seems to be all the time lately, I can't help but blame myself. I hate myself so much. For everything I've done. For being useless and weak for being pathetic, for crying, for being stupid, for being too dramatic. I wish this feeling would go away but it's been here for weeks and i feel like I'll never get out

G12345 I think I have depression I’m scared
  • replies: 14

I’m freaking out because I’m been feeling low for 13 days almost 14 I think I might have or be developing depression I’m afraid that all my motivation I have now is going to go I need to feel happy again can anyone tell what depression is i don’t und... View more

I’m freaking out because I’m been feeling low for 13 days almost 14 I think I might have or be developing depression I’m afraid that all my motivation I have now is going to go I need to feel happy again can anyone tell what depression is i don’t understand it.

Sulaco_86 can’t explain to friends
  • replies: 5

hello... my first post - I’m looking for some help or advice... I can’t talk to my friends about my anxiety/depression because I feel that they can’t understand what I’m even talking about or going through, because on the outside I try to maintain ap... View more

hello... my first post - I’m looking for some help or advice... I can’t talk to my friends about my anxiety/depression because I feel that they can’t understand what I’m even talking about or going through, because on the outside I try to maintain appearing normal and “happy” so that they don’t ask me if something is wrong. but I’m not normal and happy at all - and whenever I “put myself down” in front of them they’ll shrug it off and tell me I’m being silly etc - because to them I always seem happy so they maybe think I’m joking? how do I tell my friends that they don’t know me at all? how do I tell them the old cliche “it’s not you it’s me”?

Striker-9 The battle is real
  • replies: 3

Hi. It took me about 15 minutes just to figure out what to write and where to start. To anybody looking from the outside into my life they would say it’s a great life. I have a beautiful healthy baby boy and an amazing wife. But the last 12 months ha... View more

Hi. It took me about 15 minutes just to figure out what to write and where to start. To anybody looking from the outside into my life they would say it’s a great life. I have a beautiful healthy baby boy and an amazing wife. But the last 12 months have been an exhaustive and character changing mental battle. I have found myself slip deeper into negativity and just tired of the daily routine. Things that I used to love to do just don’t bring me that satisfaction anymore. I carry a weight of sadness and frustration constantly. I love my wife and son with all my heart but I am constantly carrying a guilt that because of the way I feel and how it affects me that I’m not being the husband or father I should be. I do have a highly stressful and demanding job but at this point in my life it’s what I need to do to get me and my family ahead in life financially. I moved interstate a few years ago and left my life behind (friends, family) and as much as that move was what I needed at that time in my life and I was able to get married and start a family in my new home, I have struggled to make it my home. I grew up in a broken family, parents separated when I was an early teen and i never realised until now just how much of an affect those years had on my life. When I reflect on things I actually can never pin point a time my father said he was proud of me or loved me. In fact growing up I was always compared to family friends kids and highlighted that I was not where they were at in my life. I specifically remember a time when at age 13 my dad stopped coming to my soccer games because he would say that I wasn’t good enough. So self worth and confidence has always been a struggle for me. In my early adult life it wasn’t a problem because I would mask it with drugs, alcohol a fake macho persona and “having a good time”. But now that I am a father and a husband I am really starting to feel those wounds. I’m tired of this daily struggle and daily mental battle.

Jolene2012 Need assistance to generate a plan of action to mitigate my depression
  • replies: 3

Thanks for clicking and taking the time to read my story. I have been struggling with depression (on and off) for 12 years. I am 23 now and am sick of it! It started in school whilst my parents were fighting everyday and using me as an emotional punc... View more

Thanks for clicking and taking the time to read my story. I have been struggling with depression (on and off) for 12 years. I am 23 now and am sick of it! It started in school whilst my parents were fighting everyday and using me as an emotional punching bag. Despite this I did well in school and believed in myself. Then in highschool a "friend" bullied me for 3 years. It was intense, physical assult, daily emotional taunting, it left me dreading school. At this point my parents were separated and I was living with my sister and Dad, whilst not getting along with my Mum. My general attitude was, I'm strong enough to deal with this on my own. This was the general advice from my Dad. This resulted in me never reaching out to my best friend, school councillor, teachers, etc. This attitude followed me to when I was raped by a "loving" boyfriend. Again, I did not tell my best friend, parents, sister, etc. (5 years ago) Now I am in the position of having no friends, I am struggling to complete my university course (I love what I am studying, however this same attitude prevents me from reaching out for help when I need it). I turned this around this summer after a great work experience program where I got tonnes of support. Untin Coronavirus.... Coronavirus forced me to move back home for the past 3 months and I've never made such a big mistake! It was such a toxic environment, that I couldn't complete my studies online and I'm not certain if I'll be allowed to continue with my work experience program. I feel so lost and frustrated. I don't have anyone I can turn to for support and I need to plan how to procede. I will go back to the city and prepare for my studies next semester. My main concern is how I am dreading going back, as I have no support/friends there. I have taken steps to talk to potential friends in my city and it looks promising. However I still have the issue of my depression. It has effected every aspect of my life!!! Plan of action so far.... I need a support group in Perth with people who understand me! I need to speak to the councillors at uni and explain how it's effected my studies. I need a psychologist to acknowledge and address my past experiences so I can stop thinking about them as issues (the bullying, the rape, the fear I have of opening up to people). My goal from therapy is to build a support network for myself in Perth! Please someone provide some guidance! I would very much appreciate it!

sugarglider new poster - feeling depressed - again - help get my head straight
  • replies: 8

Hi - I have spent the day feeling very sad and crying and eating ice cream to feel better. My housemate is moving out after 3+ years here - on great terms - just time for her get on with her life somewhere else. I will miss her and her arrival and pr... View more

Hi - I have spent the day feeling very sad and crying and eating ice cream to feel better. My housemate is moving out after 3+ years here - on great terms - just time for her get on with her life somewhere else. I will miss her and her arrival and presence has been very important for me. She moved in 3 months after my husband of 20 years surprisingly abandoned me (no warning, just "i'm off" and literally walked off not to be seen / heard from again/ refusing to talk). I was in the grieving cycle and she moved in. A lovely role model of working hard, fit and healthy, nicely groomed and dressed etc. Shared life stories, shared meals, shared our lives for 3 years. I described her as Mary Poppins. It is totally normal to feel sad about such a situation. Although it triggers all the life / family issues. I have had several bouts of clinical depression in my life, grew up with a mother with schizophrenia, my father has admitted that they didn't have the resources to look after me and they thought I was smart, so they left me to my own devices without any guidance. abusive, jealous older sister with whom I now do not have a relationship. She was the one who constantly criticised everything / degraded / minimised everything - told me I was wrong. Still does now. I have read ALL of the books. years of therapy. been on anti-depressants. I know about neurology, exercise, diet, meditation, psychology. and here I am again. 54. alone. the pandemic put my job at threat and cut my pay by 50%. after my divorce cost $ and left me with a mortgage. Can't afford retirement. I feel tired, tense, nothing is good enough, no matter what I try - no nice endings so why start, .... all those things so I came here - to try and help myself. I intellectually know that I am not being abandoned again. I'm not even sure what I am asking here? How do I help my neurology to stop freaking out with the old childhood beliefs and act like the world is coming to an end again? I so tired of living 50 years in this space.

Cavan Alone, lost and endless emptiness
  • replies: 2

Hello i haven’t posted before and don’t know if this is the right online forum to share these thoughts and feelings... so apologies in advance if I should be on another one! i was married for 11 years to a wonderful man and have two beautiful childre... View more

Hello i haven’t posted before and don’t know if this is the right online forum to share these thoughts and feelings... so apologies in advance if I should be on another one! i was married for 11 years to a wonderful man and have two beautiful children. We recently separated. It was my decision in the end but in reality I feel he stopped loving me long before that. I developed post natal depression after the birth of my first child. And depression has been my constant companion ever since. I take medication. Which sometimes works ie I don’t feel rock bottom and other times I wonder if I’m on a plesibo. I have lived alone now for 9 months and have shared cared of our children. I work in a highly stressful job which consumes at least 50 hours of actual work and same again in stress and mental gymnastics. I have complicated work relationships with my work colleagues - due mostly I think if I’m being honest to my constant mood swings. I take my loneliness, disappointment and anger out on them. Which I get angry with myself for. Had one such week last week and Friday was the worst where I left the office in tears. then a full melt down about all the things in my life that were wrong or missing. I don’t have many friends. Over the years they have all withdrawn and pulled away. Most recently two of the friendships I valued the most cut me off. When I don’t have the kids I can go from Friday to Monday not talking to another person. Locked in my head. And while my work is so intense that I crave rest and downtime when I get it it just feels like an endless gaping hole. I started seeing someone that I fell hard for during the breakup of my marriage. His marriage broke up too. Long story but it’s been complicated. We broke up 6 months after it started cause he just didn’t want a relationship (or one with me I don’t know...). Since then because we’ve been friends we’ve drifted into this friends and sex thing. It sounds superficial maybe but it’s not. There are real feelings. He says he “doesn’t want to raise my expectations” whenever I bring up a possible future. I see him once a fortnight and it’s all he wants. I tried online dating. But it ended in a situation I don’t really want to say but it left me feeling shame and self loathing. im so incredibly lonely and so empty. I don’t know how to get out of this hole. I’m going back to my doctor cause maybe i need medication reviewed. I don’t have a question. Wanted to know people are out there. And I’m not alone