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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_Fox Don't know what is happening anymore
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone. I don't know how to explain it but I will do the best I can. So this all started about 3 years ago and everything was going fine until the day when I got cheated on and in the space of 3 days was with someone new and crushed me for 6 ... View more

Hello everyone. I don't know how to explain it but I will do the best I can. So this all started about 3 years ago and everything was going fine until the day when I got cheated on and in the space of 3 days was with someone new and crushed me for 6 months till i finally started standing on my feet again . However since this time I noticed that I am every now and then fighting my own head (sometimes on a daily basis) but I have also been struggling to sleep, have fun and struggling to hold onto friendships. This I have been battling with for 2 years and never been able to get help because I can't have any records on file about this but running out of options..... Sorry if this doesn't make sense but I have no idea what to say or do.

nootnoot Constant overthinking and I don't know how to help myself
  • replies: 8

I am not sure if my depression is coming back but I feel anxious all the time and am constantly overthinking. I don't know what to do. I [29] have been with my boyfriend [32] for 3.5 years. During this time we have lived with his parents. I have expr... View more

I am not sure if my depression is coming back but I feel anxious all the time and am constantly overthinking. I don't know what to do. I [29] have been with my boyfriend [32] for 3.5 years. During this time we have lived with his parents. I have expressed to my boyfriend on and off for over a year that I want us to move out together. He said that we would once I am finished uni and working. I have been out of uni since October and working since then. I tend to avoid bringing up serious topics e.g. moving out, getting married, kids, travel etc because he becomes offensive and mean. He will either talk to me rudely or ignore me completely so we don't end up talking about it. To this day I am not even sure what he wants because he is so vague or brushes it off. I bought up wanting to move out again a little over 2 weeks ago. I sent it as a message because I was scared to raise it in person. He ignored my message so I raised the issue again when he was home. He spoke with his usual "you're an idiot" tone of voice I call it, giving me his usual excuses like renting is dead money, interest rates are too high, I could lose my job etc. I said that if he doesn't want to move out I'd like to move out on my own. He said he didn't want that and told me to keep staying with him so we can keep saving. But I don't know how long we will be saving for!! The whole time I have been living here has been tough but ever since I started in my dream job I feel more accomplished and should be living in my own place like an adult does. It has gotten to the point where I dread coming home. I am irritated and moody whenever I am here. I feel as if I am starting to resent my boyfriend. Everything he does now annoys me and I don't feel like having sex. All I can think about is my own space. We have never had our privacy, his mum is loud, nosy, sometimes she makes snide comments to me but insists she is joking. If I am in my room too long, she makes comments. If I sleep too long she makes comments. I work shift work so I need sleep at different times. I just don't know what to do. I really want my own place to live but I'm worried my boyfriend will break up with me and about all the things his mum will say. I also keep thinking about running away and living and working overseas. He has made it clear he doesn't want to. I've tried talking to my sisters about it but basically since they both have kids, my issues aren't as big as theirs. Just wanting someone to listen.

Sejal New and looking for help
  • replies: 6

Hi I am new to this forum, ( I am a mother of two and currently pregnant with my third), I have a loving and supportive family. As they say better to be late than sorry. I have decided that I need help with my anxiety, self worth issues, never been f... View more

Hi I am new to this forum, ( I am a mother of two and currently pregnant with my third), I have a loving and supportive family. As they say better to be late than sorry. I have decided that I need help with my anxiety, self worth issues, never been formally diagnosed, ( I have booked an appointment with our GP and shall be following his advise ) But meanwhile I am trying to connect with people who can help me walk through this phase of my life. unemployment is my major concern (only been unemployed for past 3 years due to family circumstances ) but it has impacted me more than I thought it would, hubby has been kind enough to give me some spare money every month but I miss my financial freedom, it has put my self worth at stake, I sometimes feel tired of being worthless ( don’t get me wrong I love my family, but on personal level I feel unaccomplished ) I do have friends but I have problem opening up to them as I fear being judged. I have had emotional breakdown a few times which does upset my family, making me all the more guilty of my actions, but the fact is I have never shared my concerns with anyone, not even to my husband. I hope a good counsellor can help me address my issues and I just want to have a normal and happy life with no inhibitions about myself.

Azza12 No way to go
  • replies: 16

I don't know what I want in life I live In a small town with very little chance to meet people I constantly feel depressed and down and angry I'm extremely lonely I have very little friends just don't know what to do

I don't know what I want in life I live In a small town with very little chance to meet people I constantly feel depressed and down and angry I'm extremely lonely I have very little friends just don't know what to do

Pete66 No light at the end of the tunnel
  • replies: 9

I am not sure where to post, but here goes: 3 years ago i got an infection in my leg which needed imidiate surgery to fix. 5 months later finally able to walk and go vack to work Other infections (due to diabetties) resulted in me loosing one toe , t... View more

I am not sure where to post, but here goes: 3 years ago i got an infection in my leg which needed imidiate surgery to fix. 5 months later finally able to walk and go vack to work Other infections (due to diabetties) resulted in me loosing one toe , then another, then 3 more, then more of my foot , until the doctors felt it would be best to remove the foot below the knee Up until that decision i had deep depression, but once i made the decision i became happy , i could now move on with my life Leg came off xmas 2019 , some complications but healling has been slower than expected I cannot work, and i am self employed, 3 years of working for a few months then taking time off for surgeries has taken a toll on finances They have tried to fit a prosthetic but the fitting is not going well I cannot walk I cannot drive I have no money left I don't know if i will ever walk or if i will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life I have not slept properly in 6 months I have spoken to doctors, and psycologists and their only advice is to be patient Im not able to handle not being in control of my life

Leisa68 I am tired of not being understood.
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I have posted here before. However today I am writing because I am tired. I read posts from this forum from time to time, depression is tiring. I am asking for advice due to recent events. I have a good relationship with my partner, who I hav... View more

Hi all, I have posted here before. However today I am writing because I am tired. I read posts from this forum from time to time, depression is tiring. I am asking for advice due to recent events. I have a good relationship with my partner, who I have a son with. He is attentive, caring, and looks after me. Around six months ago I met someone who I feel very attracted to. I am older than this guy. We have become friends, he knows my true age, and has told me that I am too old for him. I understand this. He has given me his phone number, but I am only allowed to text him. I am very attracted to him. However, I am struggling with all sorts of things. Number one: I am betraying my partner. I have told him about this guy and he has told me I can text anyone who I want. I wish he would say no. I wish he would not say that. Number two: this guy tolerates all of my crap, and has given me his phone number. However, I am only allowed to text him. Number Three: I am very confused about this all. I was diagnosed with BiPolar two weeks ago. I am very confused. I would appreciate any advice on this matter. I am a mum in a unhappy relationship, but I really need to do the right thing. In particular, I need to do the right thing by my son. Thanks Leisa68

Potato_gnat I THINK I HAVE ADHD AND/OR DEPRESSION
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Wondering if you could shed some light on your experience with adhd. I’m 21, for most of my adolescence and adult years I’ve felt like my brain is unorganised and messy. I’m having trouble even paying enough attention writing this that I had ... View more

Hi all, Wondering if you could shed some light on your experience with adhd. I’m 21, for most of my adolescence and adult years I’ve felt like my brain is unorganised and messy. I’m having trouble even paying enough attention writing this that I had to put on music and take a few social media breaks. I watched a video on ADHD in adults and I was surprised that I could tick off a lot of the symptoms as the way I feel. I’ve researched so many mental disorders and never fully believed I had any of them, except anxiety and depression which I haven’t been diagnosed with, I convince myself I don’t need to see a doctor and just suffer more every year. I’ll list some of the things I experience I don’t want to write too in detail as that’s boring to read but here are what I attribute to maybe being ADHD (just took another break from writing this i can’t pay enough attention) *my room is always messy even though I hate mess and want everything to be organised and tidy. Making my bed feels like too much work and when I eventually clean my room maybe once a month it takes me ages because I get too distracted and don’t know where to start, it’s overwhelming. *I have no life direction and have a new idea each month but can’t commit to anything *i get bored with anything and everything in my life easily and then I don’t apply myself because I can’t bring myself to do something that isn’t stimulating. Started a course online and it was boring so I haven’t touched it in months. I only just got a fulltime job and I hate it. I feel like I need to be doing more but I never do *along with being messy I’m unorganised and put everything off until it call comes crashing down at one time. I blame it on being a procrastinator but I feel like it’s not normal. From exercise to appointments I just put them off or don’t do them at all. *i feel the need to constantly be working and keeping busy and on days off I feel anxiety because I know I’m putting things off. I can’t relax. (as I’m reading this back I skim over the words because I’m too impatient to read it properly which I do with all bodies of text ive thought it has always been depression as I had a rough childhood but I’m thinking maybe anxiety and depression are co-existing with ADHD? Have any of you experienced similar feelings. I feel so lost

helpingmyselfandothers First time poster, sharing my experience
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. My mental health challenges mainly started in 1-2 years ago and the worst of it lasted for at least half a year (Iam keeping the numbers vague to protect my own privacy). I had recently quit tafe, moved into a new house with my family at... View more

Hi everyone. My mental health challenges mainly started in 1-2 years ago and the worst of it lasted for at least half a year (Iam keeping the numbers vague to protect my own privacy). I had recently quit tafe, moved into a new house with my family at the time and this is when my issues started arising. I couldn't sleep in this new house, it was near the train line, however I believe there was other factors that caused the sleep problems. 1 week later i drove out to a bay and had a panic attack in my car, this was my first and only panic attack of my life. I was vegan at the time as I believed this was a healthy way to eat but I believe it may not be the way to go long-term. I was slowly losing my mind, I would constantly think about the train noise and how I cannot sleep, my brain fog, at times the brain fog would turn into feeling like my brain is being fried and imploding. I even acquired employment during this time but I was a complete and utter mess, I would break dishes etc, use the POS machine with inaccuracy and couldn't remember any new knowledge in this job. god damn it i was so messed up. I would look in the mirror and have thoughts that I look so tired. Things that helped me improved my mental health would be eating a balanced diet. I would caution vegan diets, feel free to continue however if you experience negative health effects while on a vegan diet please reconsider it, how is it ethical to not eat animals when you are damaging yourself in the process. Now I am not sure if I have self-esteem issues, this experience feels like it has damaged me psychologically in some way. I feel like I am less productive and less functional than other people who are able to maintain well paying jobs while the only job I have able to keep is a hospitality job. I am somewhat optimistic but pessimistic about my future at the same time. My girlfriend has moved in with me, I genuinely worry sometimes about the future, How will I able to work consistently and provide for her and potentially kids and even if she leaves me, how do I provide for myself if I constantly have a mindset that is avoidant to working and employment? I am trying to get back into working again after 3 months out. Iam grateful for what I have but sometimes I feel like I learn slower than most people, so Iam at a disadvantage. Some information may be missing so feel free to ask anything. I still respect the vegan point of view, I was one myself so don't take that too seriously.

kdoll87 Work related mental health incidents
  • replies: 3

Hello I am wanting to know if there are people who have had mental health incident/breakddown that were largely caused by work but never did anything about it with the employer (ie claimed workcover). If so, what were your reasons and do you regret y... View more

Hello I am wanting to know if there are people who have had mental health incident/breakddown that were largely caused by work but never did anything about it with the employer (ie claimed workcover). If so, what were your reasons and do you regret your decision? I'm 4 years post my incident where I was involuntarily admitted to the MHU which was mostly caused by my workplace however the seriousness of the condition/incident was sumwhat contributed to by pre-existing trauma from a previous workplace and having been succeptible to depression and anxiety in the past. I'm still at the workplace but we were taken over by another company and I have never moved on to a new job for a few reasons including still recovering from my incident, lack of confidence at the idea of transitioning to a new job and also I had a baby recently and have only recently returned to work part-time from maternity leave. Only recently I have been diagnosed with bi-polar and have ongoing psychiatric monitoring. Though I am currently stable I have only started to feel more like myself again in the last 6 months and I have returned to my uni studies to finally finish the last part of my degree. From a work perspective I still have lost alot of self-confidence even though my skills and experience are worth alot more then what I've accepted for myself in recent years. I sometimes feel angry at my current workplace for how they handled things and also the bullying and trauma I experienced at my previous workplace and how it got swept under the carpet. I don't know how to really move on except hopefully at some point I will have the confidence to find another job in a good company and get back into my desired career that I spent many years working towards, even if it was that job that gave me the most trauma.

ChuckD I'm a mess atm.
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm reaching out for help and some direction. As my title states I am a mess atm. I have never felt so low. Every waking moment I am in my own dark negative thoughts. And the negativity is all consuming. Furthermore, I am in tears multiple times ... View more

Hi, I'm reaching out for help and some direction. As my title states I am a mess atm. I have never felt so low. Every waking moment I am in my own dark negative thoughts. And the negativity is all consuming. Furthermore, I am in tears multiple times a day. For example, it's almost lunch time and I've counted 8 desperate times where I am overwhelmed. I did the depression test on this sight and I got 40 which it tells me is high. I don't know what to do....