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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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Kelizabeth Haven’t eaten in 3 weeks
  • replies: 17

My relationship of two years broke down horribly 3 weeks ago with the realisation of emotional abuse and I’ve been plunged into the most intense depression I’ve ever experienced. I haven’t eaten in 3 weeks and have lost over 7kg. I can feel myself fa... View more

My relationship of two years broke down horribly 3 weeks ago with the realisation of emotional abuse and I’ve been plunged into the most intense depression I’ve ever experienced. I haven’t eaten in 3 weeks and have lost over 7kg. I can feel myself fading away but have no motivation to change it,’y stomach doesn’t grumble anymore and I sleep most days. I’m already on antidepressants and my GP has given me sleeping tablets but I feel so lost and have no idea how to get better. I’m not even sure I want to

815 Supporting a depressed husband - seeking hope
  • replies: 6

I am married to an amazing man. We have been together 20 years, married for 15 and have 2 amazing daughters. We have always stood by each other, and he has always been loving and supportive. Towards the end of last year, my husband told me he was dep... View more

I am married to an amazing man. We have been together 20 years, married for 15 and have 2 amazing daughters. We have always stood by each other, and he has always been loving and supportive. Towards the end of last year, my husband told me he was depressed. At that time, I asked him to get help. He said he didn't want to and we left it at that and things got better for a few months. But for the most part of this year things have been very up and down,. A couple of weeks ago he admitted that he wanted to die. I know nothing about depression so every time we talk about it, I ask him to get help. However over the last few weeks he has stopped talking to me, and started sleeping in our spare room. He has told me that I can't help him, he wants to go it alone, I haven't been there for him, and may other hurtful things. I keep telling myself that it is the depression, but it causes me great pain and sadness. Last week one of his oldest friends contacted me to tell me that my husband had been to see him. He told him he's lost and disconnected, doesn't know where he is, and how or where I stand with him. But his friend told me that he loves me, and that I can't give up, even when/if my husband says he has. He hasn't given up. But I need to be patient and try to find a way to reconnect. I cry every time I think of this. I do believe there is still love there. But I can also appreciate that the depression probably leave very little room for him to feel/see anything else right now. I know the priority is to get him help. However as he keeps refusing, I feel there is little more that I can do. I know he needs professional help and as long as I still have the strength to, I will keep trying to convince him to get help. I am writing this post basically because I need hope. I need to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I need to know that loving him and simply being there for him (even though he says it's not enough) can get us through this. So if anyone has any experience, stories to share, tips and suggestions on how to reconnect, I would be very grateful. I know that it sounds highly idealistic, and we don't live in fairy tales. But I have to keep believing that we will get through this somehow.

TaylaP1199 Lacking motivation and depression
  • replies: 4

Hey my names Tayla I’m 25 years old and have suffered with anxiety and depression since the age of 14 which has been very up and down over the years. Over the past few months I have been lacking motivation for doing basically anything and feel physic... View more

Hey my names Tayla I’m 25 years old and have suffered with anxiety and depression since the age of 14 which has been very up and down over the years. Over the past few months I have been lacking motivation for doing basically anything and feel physically and emotionally exhausted all the time. I have been lacking motivation to work which has been very stressful (work in childcare) and recently started university which is done all alone so finding motivation is difficult. I have not been going to the gym as I just don’t have the energy to go..someone help?

risxbel i dontn feel real it’s getting bad again
  • replies: 4

hello i don’t know what to do i have been struggling for the past few weeks with constantly dissociating and feeling out of body i’ve been really manic andbi can’t take it anymore. i have bwen smoking weed which is not helping and i have been develop... View more

hello i don’t know what to do i have been struggling for the past few weeks with constantly dissociating and feeling out of body i’ve been really manic andbi can’t take it anymore. i have bwen smoking weed which is not helping and i have been developing auditory hallucinations. i am sorry if this does not make sense but i am reall y struggling and don’t know what to do i am unable to see my psychiatrist .

Aunt Jobiska Not sure if this is the right place
  • replies: 2

Hi - I'm not sure if this is the right place, it didn't seem to belong in the coping with coronavirus thread, and I do have bipolar disorder... I have a respiratory condition called gustatory rhinitis. All that means is that if I eat / drink, I can g... View more

Hi - I'm not sure if this is the right place, it didn't seem to belong in the coping with coronavirus thread, and I do have bipolar disorder... I have a respiratory condition called gustatory rhinitis. All that means is that if I eat / drink, I can get a runny nose. What that means, is that in coronaland, I am a leper. So many places ask 'do you have a cough, cold, runny nose...' etc - and if you have one, they tell you to not come in / leave. I also have medication-induced sedation. Fatigue. Medication side-effect. Like my gustatory rhinitis runny nose, I've had it for years. I went to my health insurance office this morning. Sign on the door: if you have cough, cold, or FATIGUE... don't come in. Another place that considers me a leper. A pariah. For having a medication side effect. Last time I went to my GPs office, I walked in the door and was handed a piece of paper by the receptionst. If you have a cough, cold etc go outside and ring reception from outside. I went outside, and had to wait in the cold and wind (it was late afternoon and raining) until the GP came outside and told me I could bring my occasionally-runny-nose inside. That's going to happen every time I go to the GP. Tafe SA says 'If you are unwell for ANY reason don't come to campus'. Any unwellness, stay home. So if you've got a migraine, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, a sprained ankle... stay home. No education for you. Last time I saw my psychiatrist, I got asked cough/cold questions... but they left out the runny nose! Hooray! They let me into the waiting room. Ironically, I see him at the psychiatry clinic of the local public hospital. I vented to him about my frustration about being treated like a pariah for my gustatory rhinitis and fatigue, and he said he didn't have a problem if I answered no to those questions. He said that only new-onset cold-and-flu symptoms were a virus concern, that chronic respiratory symptoms even were not a coronavirus risk. I'm not a risk. He's telling me lying is okay. That was the expert opinion of the clinical director of the inpatient psych unit at a teaching hospital. Corona is used as an excuse to discriminate against sick people. People with chronic illnesses, even mild virtually-non-existent-ones like mine are treated like lepers. Public health policy actively discriminates against chronically sick people for no good reason. Being discriminated against causes me anxiety and distress. I'm told to go away. For the forseeable future.

Guest7765 Is it even worth living if you have a learning disorder?
  • replies: 4

I'm living proof its not. Never had a really full time job. Kicked out of school in year 9 because I was too dumb. Got physically and sexually assaulted as a kid by other kids. Get denied from every job because they secretly discriminate, though I do... View more

I'm living proof its not. Never had a really full time job. Kicked out of school in year 9 because I was too dumb. Got physically and sexually assaulted as a kid by other kids. Get denied from every job because they secretly discriminate, though I don't blame them why hire someone who has a disorder over someone who is normal? Everyone thinks you're retarded. Like honestly whats the point in living with a learning disorder? Even worse I heard dating sites such as tinder had in the past banned people with disabilities. Whats worse is you grow up thinking you can be whatever you want, only that was never a realistic thing. Had a girlfriend in highschool who dumped me because she thought I was too dopey though she said I was cool at the same time. Then you get to your 20's and the anxiety/depression starts but what I really worry about is the disorder itself. Its like a bad song playing in my head. Just obsess over it all day every day for the past 15+ years. No one cares about people with learning disorders and those that seem they do just pretend they do.

laurexon HOSPITAL ADMISSION HELP
  • replies: 2

I’ve been struggling for weeks and have been avoiding hospital at all costs but with my depression and bpd getting harder and harder to manage I need 24/7 monitored support. 2 years ago I had an admission that started in a PAPU Ward, now due to COVID... View more

I’ve been struggling for weeks and have been avoiding hospital at all costs but with my depression and bpd getting harder and harder to manage I need 24/7 monitored support. 2 years ago I had an admission that started in a PAPU Ward, now due to COVID-19 I’m feeling overwhelmed on how to start the process of a short stay. I have no family due to my mum being in Queensland and myself located in Melbourne, my best friend has been my ‘caretaker/support’ the past few weeks but we both believe I need to be in a more safe and secure environment getting treatment from professionals.

D Walsh Bouts of depression and having flashbacks
  • replies: 4

Hi, Whenever I find myself back in a funk of depression I seem to dream and constantly think back to other times when I have felt horrible - in particular uni exams. During exam block I used to get extremely anxious and depressed. I always came out o... View more

Hi, Whenever I find myself back in a funk of depression I seem to dream and constantly think back to other times when I have felt horrible - in particular uni exams. During exam block I used to get extremely anxious and depressed. I always came out of it once they were over but it happened every semester. I don’t generally know what causes my depression and anxiety but when it does it hits hard and I just seem to keep going through the same cycles. I have a specialist and taking meds but I don’t seem to be keeping the black dog at bay. I don’t really know why I am posting this but I guess I am wondering if anyone else gets these types of flashbacks?? thanks for your time

Diddle28 Postpartum Rage
  • replies: 2

Hello, I have postpartum depression and rage. I have been taking medication and am talking with my doctor about this but my partner knows all of this and he even has the rage too but when ever I have an angry episode he gets angry with me and tells m... View more

Hello, I have postpartum depression and rage. I have been taking medication and am talking with my doctor about this but my partner knows all of this and he even has the rage too but when ever I have an angry episode he gets angry with me and tells me to get over my mood. When he is mad I help him calm down. I dont know what to do, I feel so unsupported and alone. Does anyone have this rage? What do you? Thanks for any help!

Infinity1199 Missing my Support network
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, So I'm proud to this year I finally took my Psychologist's advice and tried dating/having fun with guys instead of stepping too far into the future, and man it felt good just to let go of all the expectations I had and just have fun with som... View more

Hi guys, So I'm proud to this year I finally took my Psychologist's advice and tried dating/having fun with guys instead of stepping too far into the future, and man it felt good just to let go of all the expectations I had and just have fun with someone. And after months of looking for someone to get to know and trust, I found someone really special with everything I'm looking for. He is my perfect guy, he's incredibly intelligent, funny, charming and flirty and he's actually open about his sexuality. But, with the COVID-19 Pandemic he's currently in NSW working at a ski-field in order to keep busy until he can come back to Victoria. But lately, he's been more and more occupied with his time and when we talk he's either too tired or heading out to another shift. I'm trying to be the really supportive partner who's happy to be there when he's ready but I've had a bit of a fall into that dark hole after a pretty long run. I'm worried he's pulling away from me because he's no longer interested, even though he tells me he loves me every single day. But, the worst thing I'm worried about is my own mental health. This year I decided I felt ready and confident to stop taking my antidepressants with my BF helping me engage in a new alternative health program but now I'm scared I'll have another severe episode. Do you have any tips to manage a long-term relationship or for new alternative techniques?