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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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Yellow Hope Managing Depression and Anxiety. What are your values?
  • replies: 10

I've lived with Anxiety and Depression all my life and have been on a constant journey to find ways to manage them. Self-help books, therapy, forums, family and friends... I've turned everywhere I can think of. One thing that's really stood out to me... View more

I've lived with Anxiety and Depression all my life and have been on a constant journey to find ways to manage them. Self-help books, therapy, forums, family and friends... I've turned everywhere I can think of. One thing that's really stood out to me has been assessing my core values. E.g. Love/Independence/Experience etc.. This is something I've read in self-help books and also have been speaking with my therapist about. The rationale behind this being so effective is that it gives you something lifelong to focus on, to live by and purpose to guide your actions in a meaningful way to you. Sometimes we set goals with no clear importance, ones that have a clear ending. In my own experience, what I've found by doing this is that I'm satisfied only for a short time. I reach my goal (or don't reach it) and then I'm left feeling underwhelmed.. "now what?" I'm back to the frame of mind I was in originally. I'm searching for something more and this goal that I set for the sake of having something to do meant nothing anymore. When looking at your values, they will probably be different to other people AND THAT'S OK! Be honest with yourself when determining which are important to you and set them for nobody but yourself - this was something that I struggled with. Separating what you 'think' you should value and what you actually value can be a challenge, especially when society gets in your head. If you have a mind like mine, you may find it hard to focus on specific values and may begin to overthink. I found that taking a step back and realising that one step was better than no step helped me move forward. Although many values may be important to you, focusing on a core few will be better than circling your thoughts in need for change. The best part? You can adjust them whenever you want to. So start somewhere and go from there. One may be a value to you simply because you find joy in it! Tips: - Google can be your friend. Feel free to look at lists of values to get your head around some ideas if you're stuck. But also remember that what you value doesn't need to make sense to anyone else. - Start by setting small, achievable goals. (One of my first goals was to drink an extra bottle of water every day - very small but achievable and good for me) - Focus on daily or weekly goals alongside your long term ones (our mind loves quick wins and it's very motivating) If you have anything to add or you've had your own experience with this exercise, please share!

shucks46 Broken and unsure: I have not been OK for weeks
  • replies: 21

G’day all I’m having a real crappy time at the moment, depression has stuck its head back up,the feeling loneliness and not having anyone around I’ve been in tears all day pretty much crying myself to sleep through out waking up and back in tears aga... View more

G’day all I’m having a real crappy time at the moment, depression has stuck its head back up,the feeling loneliness and not having anyone around I’ve been in tears all day pretty much crying myself to sleep through out waking up and back in tears again. I don’t know what brings it on, I can be good one minute/day the next I’m at rock bottom. I don’t have anyone around to talk to as for friends family or so on. I just wish this shit would all just go away.

MegsyMessy All came crashing back down
  • replies: 7

I've just spent 4 weeks at a recovery centre getting myself back to some kind of normal and feelings of worth........ Come home and the house has gone to shit...I mean really bad. UN kept, messy, bad messy and dirty. And I just lost it, went straight... View more

I've just spent 4 weeks at a recovery centre getting myself back to some kind of normal and feelings of worth........ Come home and the house has gone to shit...I mean really bad. UN kept, messy, bad messy and dirty. And I just lost it, went straight to the negatives saying that couldn't you guys think that maybe it would be nice for mum to come home to a clean and tidy home.... At least tidy? Why? I am not worth it, why would you? You don't care enough about me to even think about doing something nice for me. Why did I bother going through all this over 4 weeks away from my family.... What was the point.

Leigh1987 The futureless future
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I wanted to discuss the phenomena of the futureless future in specific reference to my own context. I have been working the same dead end job for 6-7 years I am unable to find alternate employment so my career is at a dead end. By the same to... View more

Hi all, I wanted to discuss the phenomena of the futureless future in specific reference to my own context. I have been working the same dead end job for 6-7 years I am unable to find alternate employment so my career is at a dead end. By the same token my dating life and potential for a relationship is at a roadblock as well because I don't feel any pleasure during intercourse. I feel claustrophobic, like I am surrounded by brick walls. I don't think I would be depressed if I had found some success in any of the different aspects of life. It seems like my life has nowhere to go and tomorrow will be another day of going through the motions. Anyway, thanks

Leigh1987 Shame and humiliation plus depression
  • replies: 1

Hey guys, First time poster here I was wondering if anyone had any tips for dealing with specific situations that cause shame and humiliation. I am currently at the tail end of a dui conviction. I have a breathalyzer and camera in my car. It causes m... View more

Hey guys, First time poster here I was wondering if anyone had any tips for dealing with specific situations that cause shame and humiliation. I am currently at the tail end of a dui conviction. I have a breathalyzer and camera in my car. It causes me shame and humiliation particularly when people have observed me using it and laughed at me. I have 40 days to go and it seems like a lifetime to me of continuing to deal with this situation. This is all occurring within a larger context of a 3 year long depression that is resistant to treatment and can't be alleviated. Thanks for your time

Apoko What to do...?
  • replies: 5

Hi All, I have only really talked to my gp about my mental health and am on medication. Have been for over a year now.My wife says she wants me talk to her about it all but I cant.. I have done in the past and it got thrown in my face. Today has been... View more

Hi All, I have only really talked to my gp about my mental health and am on medication. Have been for over a year now.My wife says she wants me talk to her about it all but I cant.. I have done in the past and it got thrown in my face. Today has been a real struggle, worst it's been for a while. I have been reading up on putting myself into a hospital and the cost side of it has put me off as we are struggling with money as it is. Not really sure where to go from here, hoping someone could point me in the right direction? Thanks

Taylah_P Opening up...about body image
  • replies: 4

I have major body image issues, when I was a child I was bullied for being over weight, and for things such as hairy legs etc. My own mother use to bully me into trying to loose weight by saying things like you’ll become the size of a house and my si... View more

I have major body image issues, when I was a child I was bullied for being over weight, and for things such as hairy legs etc. My own mother use to bully me into trying to loose weight by saying things like you’ll become the size of a house and my siblings would call me a pig or fat. I hate my body because of my past and I don’t know what to do, I don’t like talking to others about it because everyone has plenty of other issues that are way more important, but sometimes I feel like no one care about how I feel but I’m just a burden eater. If I bring it up it’s just ignored, I listen to everyone else’s problems but I struggle to open up about mine. I hate it and sometimes it’s hard to stay positive, I wish people didn’t have to go through stuff like this it’s just crap. I see my own mothers Facebook covered in photos of my siblings but there lacks plenty photos of me and I’m ashamed of who I am, i don’t feel like I worth finding love or being happy.

April30 How do you deal with/let the pain out?
  • replies: 12

Hi, I don't really know what to do.. Currently I'm just feeling so stressed out, depressed and completely heartbroken. I wish I could just not feel anymore. I don't know how to deal with all the emotional pain inside me, I feel like I'm drowning it i... View more

Hi, I don't really know what to do.. Currently I'm just feeling so stressed out, depressed and completely heartbroken. I wish I could just not feel anymore. I don't know how to deal with all the emotional pain inside me, I feel like I'm drowning it it cause its all just building up and getting worse and worse cause I don't know how to let it out/go..So I just try avoid thinking and all I do is try and distract myself constantly. But it's a rubbish way to live.. And I've heard like that avoiding emotions/pain just makes them worse and that you need to like just acknowledge and 'sit' with them and deal with them. But how do you physically actually do that cause I have no idea how or what the even means. Cause sitting there acknowledging how heartbroken I feel doesn't help me..... Please if someone has some advice how to do this tell me haha..

Mez79 Nothing to look forward to.
  • replies: 3

Don't know where to turn, I just need to vent maybe more than anything or someone to hear me out. I just feel like I've got nothing left to look forward to. The main reasoning to this feeling is that I'm a 40yr old single woman never got to date anyo... View more

Don't know where to turn, I just need to vent maybe more than anything or someone to hear me out. I just feel like I've got nothing left to look forward to. The main reasoning to this feeling is that I'm a 40yr old single woman never got to date anyone, never had kids & now there's a prospect that I'll lose my uterus as well. I never really wanted a great deal, just someone to settle with and start a family and I can't even achieve that! It's not like anyone would want me at this age and broken. From when I was 18 I tried to do like so many suggested, changed jobs, kept studying, try and find a hobby.....23 years later and still the same status quo only worse possibly can't even have a kid. A couple of years back started accepting I'd be single for good so I joined a gym. It started off great made new friends started doing things with them, I even ended up being a zumba instructor it finally looked like I had something to look forward to. Now these past 8 months everything just seems to be crashing around me. Last year I practically had a meltdown, which resulted in me arguing with a co worker. My workload and stress levels got so high that I had to relinquish some of my responsibilities, which helped when starting back at the start of the year but somehow I feel like a failure. And while this was all happening my aging parents started to become me dependent of me. It was fine I guess I still had zumba and the gym. Then covid hit!! During then covid hit!!! No gym buddies no zumba:-( which was ok cause it was lockdown. During this time I chose to isolate for the sake of my parents while the others still kept doing activities together. As restrictions eased I went back to the gym owner and said I was happy to start zumba instructing again. I've been told he's not going to put it on just yet (I don't think he will ever cause there's another class in its place that I can't see being dropped). So there goes another sense of failure. In the meantime all the friends I've made seemed to have lost touch with me and don't involve me anymore. I try to offer lunch or walking dates but they always seem to have something else on. It just feels like I've got nothing else fun to do anymore. Why is it that the fun stuff is always the first to go in any situation. Sorry I know this is long & don't expect anyone to read it let alone reply. Just needed somwhere to write down 8 months worth of feelings:-(.

Alannah57 Bipolar symptoms confusion
  • replies: 2

Hi, I’ve been experiencing dramatic mood swings and anxious/bizarre behaviour for years alongside severe depression, and I’m seeing a psychiatrist soon.l I’m just looking to ask if anyone here has bipolar 2 disorder? Do you know if changed sleep and ... View more

Hi, I’ve been experiencing dramatic mood swings and anxious/bizarre behaviour for years alongside severe depression, and I’m seeing a psychiatrist soon.l I’m just looking to ask if anyone here has bipolar 2 disorder? Do you know if changed sleep and increased activity are prerequisites for the disorder? I’ve had some sleep changes in the past, with struggling to fall asleep. But, I don’t have hugely increased energy, and definitely can’t stay up all night. I think that I match a lot of symptoms of bipolar hypomania: I definitely get extremely restless and move from activity to activity without trying to concentrate/talk to myself out loud excessively; I reach out to people/post more in social media; I jump from feelings of interest and excitement to deep depression over the space of a few hours. I had a delusional period when I was 14. I even once woke up really early in the morning (3am!) and picked up litter in the streets a while back over a week, while talking to myself incessantly. Like, you can see why I’d feel like I may match some of the symptoms of hypomania? I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts, and I’m also wishing you all a lovely day I also wanted to add that my depression is all over the place: I’ll have days and weeks of classic depression; then I’ll have weeks of my moods shifting over hours from extreme lows to being giddy and excited. I never seem to be able to just feel neutral: I’m always mildly depressed, or struggling to concentrate and feeling excited.