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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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JakeL74 Don't even know where to start
  • replies: 4

I've gone from a married, baby-on-the-way, white picket fence yuppie type. Everything was on the rise, and then all it took for that to be taken away was a slippery road, a 73 year old driver and the love of my life choosing cocaine and company of ot... View more

I've gone from a married, baby-on-the-way, white picket fence yuppie type. Everything was on the rise, and then all it took for that to be taken away was a slippery road, a 73 year old driver and the love of my life choosing cocaine and company of other men to cope instead of me. She became violent and left me with external scars, but the real scars are the ones that lay strong in my head. 2 years and two suicide attempts later, I feel like I'm fighting a war I never asked to be a part of; sifting through a void where my only escape is three bottles of merlot + each night. I was good for a while. I'm 6 foot 3 and was gaunt, 85 kilos. I hit the gym and HARD to let out the hate I felt for myself, never leaving until I was in agony. Ate and ate, got up to a good looking 105. Now, the bottles are back, Im down to 97kgs, not eating, maybe going to the gym once a week, insecure about my relationship to a woman who is utter perfection, more than I could ever feel worth of having. I was lucky to get a new job since COVID. I have everything that I could need to support me... and all I want is for the book to come to a close. I feel ungrateful for the opportunity/second chance life has given me, like I'm pissing on the embers that keep the light on.

Guitarboy I'm down to 2 symptoms, almost there..
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, so my concoction of medications mixed with recent TMS treatment left me with the following symptoms. It's just hard when everyone at the treating team thinks I'm doing well, when I tell them of my symptoms. My current symptoms are as fol... View more

Hi everyone, so my concoction of medications mixed with recent TMS treatment left me with the following symptoms. It's just hard when everyone at the treating team thinks I'm doing well, when I tell them of my symptoms. My current symptoms are as follows. * I can't feel any emotions, just blunt, flat, numb, dull, no emotions at all. * Social isolation because I don't enjoy going out and everything feels like an effort. I don't even know why I'm writing this right now, just wanted to share my progress with the rest of the world.

Carlos_C Help
  • replies: 5

I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily depressed what I would say Is I’m 21 years old and since the age of 12 I’ve had terrible health. When I was 12 I had Lyme disease until I was 18 as I went from doctor to doctor and no one could tell me why I was so sick... View more

I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily depressed what I would say Is I’m 21 years old and since the age of 12 I’ve had terrible health. When I was 12 I had Lyme disease until I was 18 as I went from doctor to doctor and no one could tell me why I was so sick until luckily I was able to one day and get the help I needed. Then when I was 20 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, even though it has a high survival rate now I have to spend the rest of my life worrying about it’s return which I have worried about everyday for the past year and a half since my surgery. Now I also have been diagnosed with chronic inflammatory response syndrome. Which is caused by mold/ Lyme and your body isn’t able to clear the toxins due to a certain gene. I feel like I will never feel better at this point. I’ve been sick for the past 10 years and haven’t had a day I can remember when I felt ok. The only positive is I’m alive which I’m very very great full for. I just am very scared as I’m always sick or they are finding new things wrong with me.

dean_TSO Nothing
  • replies: 2

Depression and desperation it’s like looking into into a bottomless pit that drawing you in and you wondering if you just let it take you the pain will finally be gone and maybe your come out the other end into another world we’re there is no more pa... View more

Depression and desperation it’s like looking into into a bottomless pit that drawing you in and you wondering if you just let it take you the pain will finally be gone and maybe your come out the other end into another world we’re there is no more pain so do you let it take you or turn your back and face your demons ?

doonzy Wish I could switch my emotions on
  • replies: 1

Hi all Having a bit of a tough Trott Atm. Struggling to do anything really. How do you tell doctors and physcologits how you feel when even you don't know. I have gotten to the point where I have stopped going because it feels like I'm just broken an... View more

Hi all Having a bit of a tough Trott Atm. Struggling to do anything really. How do you tell doctors and physcologits how you feel when even you don't know. I have gotten to the point where I have stopped going because it feels like I'm just broken and no-one can fix this. How can I motivate myself to keep going when I don't feel that I'm ever going to find out how to manage this. They are looking into alexithymia still but I' just don't know. Maybe I have just never been happy in life and this is just me. Does anyone ever get this weird clicking sound that's inside your head that only yourself can hear and it's like an explosion and goes off at weird times sometimes multiple times in an hour then not for a day or so. Anyways sorry I'm just trying to write what's on my mind Keep up the fight Doonzy

Scooter321 Getting a handle on my depression
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone A few months ago I was having a really hard time. Had no self drive or motivation like I used to. Also had low mood, trouble sleeping and drinking. It all came to a head in August that broke me. Have made some progress but feel that I nee... View more

Hi everyone A few months ago I was having a really hard time. Had no self drive or motivation like I used to. Also had low mood, trouble sleeping and drinking. It all came to a head in August that broke me. Have made some progress but feel that I need to get some more help. Am seeing a GP and utilising some online resources. GP has written a mental health plan and has been really supportive. Family not so. my biggest concern is when I come across a trigger, and being able to cope when that happens. Would love to put in place positive habits now that will last. . Am on my own in this, so finding support would be good. Just my thoughts today ...... thanks

Slippers I feel hollow inside
  • replies: 3

I feel hollow inside, things that I used to enjoy such as some tv programs no longer give me joy , I feel like I am at the end of my tether. I spent my time inside the house when I am not working separating myself from the world The reason I feel thi... View more

I feel hollow inside, things that I used to enjoy such as some tv programs no longer give me joy , I feel like I am at the end of my tether. I spent my time inside the house when I am not working separating myself from the world The reason I feel this way, my Mother who is 91 recently went into a respite centre, initially it looked like it was going to be a temporary 4 week stay but now she is there permanently. She is and after some thought I agree with my family that she is in the right place. She has fallen over a couple of time in the past year and there is evidence that she wasn’t showering herself or changing her clothes daily. As the move to the respite centre seems permanent there is talk to sell the family home (in which I still live in) to have enough money to pay for Mums stay at respite. This is selfish but I am not thinking of my Mum but of myself. I do have some money but at 48 I only have about 15k saved in the entire world. I don’t know where I will finish up. I have sent form to the DVA to ask about myself becoming a protected person who can stay in the house, Mum is on a DVA pension. I sent the forms yesterday by express post and I sent the same forms by fax today. I hope the response will yes from the DVA but there is a chance it will be no (I’m scared to be honest) I have 3 sisters but I feel I cannot talk to them about everything simply because I do not trust their intentions. I cannot tell Mum either, she has short term memory loss so any conversations with her would upset her and make me no wiser. I feel I have no one I can talk to. One of my sisters treated me like an idiot last night when I told her that the DVA had no email address to send the forms through to them, I told her that I had express post them. She didn’t think I had done the wrong thing and I spent half an hour on Facebook yesterday after telling my sisters time and time again that I had sent through the forms, I got the impression that I hadn’t done the right thing, and it made me feel useless. My sister spoke to me tonight and suggested that I go and see the doctor and get some anti-depressants. I am trying to put distance between myself and my sisters as sometimes their attitude is venomous and toxic. I wasn’t even going to send this message through initially because it would seem like I am having a whinge. I have been verbally fighting with my sisters over a number of years and I am at the end of my tether. Apart from my work I add no value as far as I can see.

Portia18 It seems never ending
  • replies: 7

Hello everyone, especially those who have replied to me before. I haven’t been on this forum since 2018 and so much has happened since then in my life, and of course, everyone else’s too. I’m a senior, with no family and the best support I get is fro... View more

Hello everyone, especially those who have replied to me before. I haven’t been on this forum since 2018 and so much has happened since then in my life, and of course, everyone else’s too. I’m a senior, with no family and the best support I get is from my doctor and a psychologist. There have been good stretches of time since 2018 but Covid brought on really bad depression and anxiety. I’ve managed to shake off the anxiety but still have depression. I think the isolation of covid has somehow brought forward so much pain and grief from my past that has been unresolved, not dealt with in any way. Things that caused me to feel hurt, insulted, unwanted, unloved, rejected, ignored, put-down, criticised - that I kept to myself, that I never shared my feelings about with anyone. I’ve talked so much with my doctor and psych but these thoughts have come up since I last saw either of them and now I don’t know how to deal with it, how to sort out this tangled mess I’m in. I’d be grateful for any feedback and thank you all in advance.

hasher22 Can't find a job, deflated, was on my A game now I have no motivation
  • replies: 5

Hey guys, Many people out there are doing it tough and I never thought I would land in the position I am now. I just want to say, we all go through very tough times and I hope we all make it out healthy, well, and soldiering on! I lost my job due to ... View more

Hey guys, Many people out there are doing it tough and I never thought I would land in the position I am now. I just want to say, we all go through very tough times and I hope we all make it out healthy, well, and soldiering on! I lost my job due to Covid in May. On jobseeker. I went from a nice 65k salary to jobseeker which is now roughly 20k (with the $250 supplement). Not to mention the supplement will go down further in Jan (if accepted!) My experience is niche, it's graphic design and there are like 150+ applicants to 1 job listing and it's very competitive. Pre-covid, every interview I have won the job, I loved my winning streak. Now, I've landed 3 interviews and I didn't get the job. Each rejection is putting me in a heavy state of depression. Most days I don't even have the will do being my old self back and constantly say to myself "whats the point?" Over the last 3 months, I've been spiraling down and getting worse. - I've stopped going to the gym because I can't afford it - I moved homes to pay cheaper rent - I stay in bed the majority of the day (roughly 15 hours in bed) - I rarely eat because I want to save the food for the next day - I don't want to see my friends because I know I will just bitch about the situation I am in, I am in misery and misery loves company (but I dont want to project misery) - I had to take off hospital cover from my health insurance - I don't listen to music anymore, it's weird I know, but I only listen to music when I am happy - I do most things in the dark because of electricity prices and try eat ready made stuff because of gas prices My life has flipped My best friends don't know the situation I am in. Both of them have jobs and both of them earn over 150k per year. I am quite stubborn in the sense that I can get through this myself but at the same time, I feel them just listening to me is not enough. I need to change and the only person that can do that is me. I have no family to go to except my mother who is quite elderly and every time I speak to her, I need to repeat myself like 5 times, and then she still doesn't get it. Every day, I look for jobs, I try to eat but all I keep thinking about is the money and how I am going down that hole no one wants to go into.

Em_Louise Getting help
  • replies: 5

Hello I have used this forum before a while ago, but I finally decided to get help. I went to my GP (a new one) and completed a K10 form thing, but my GP handed me a bulk-billed psychologist-clinic number - which is great. However, it is online, and ... View more

Hello I have used this forum before a while ago, but I finally decided to get help. I went to my GP (a new one) and completed a K10 form thing, but my GP handed me a bulk-billed psychologist-clinic number - which is great. However, it is online, and based on how little motivation I have right now I was sort of hoping for face to face type of help, but I sorta froze and shut down in my appointment so I didn’t get to really explain what I was looking for oops. I’m aware he did this so I could avoid out of pocket expenses, but I thought there was a 10 session free/ cheap with Medicare? Which is what a friend had told me, and what I was going in for. Next week my GP is planning to set up a mental health care plan so should I bring up that I don’t want to do the online clinic, and ask about the 10 or so sessions with the care plan. sorry if this doesn’t make a ton of sense, I’m just wondering what anyone else would do in this situation/ or has anyone else had experience with getting those 10 free/discounted sessions and could drop some advice Thank you in advance !! Xx

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