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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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firecracker94 Feeling so lost and empty..
  • replies: 3

I'm struggling with my depression and being waitlisted to speak to someone doesn't help. I feel like crying most days. I don't know who I am anymore. Talking to my friends is okay but I don't think they get where I'm coming from..

I'm struggling with my depression and being waitlisted to speak to someone doesn't help. I feel like crying most days. I don't know who I am anymore. Talking to my friends is okay but I don't think they get where I'm coming from..

DG57 Need Help
  • replies: 2

Hi, Im 57 been married for 25 years, for the past 10 years our sex life has gone from being active to nothing and for the past 5 years whenever i try i get rejected, I feel she is cheating or the relationship is dead. We have discussed the issue nume... View more

Hi, Im 57 been married for 25 years, for the past 10 years our sex life has gone from being active to nothing and for the past 5 years whenever i try i get rejected, I feel she is cheating or the relationship is dead. We have discussed the issue numerous times but still i get rejected, its like we are no longer in a relationship. I feel like im being used to just pay the bills, she works part time but keeps the money mostly to herself. I am depressed and lost, i have nobody else just her. I dont know what to do anymore. Today I accused her of cheating because she must be getting it from somewhere over the 5-10 years, either that or she hates that much that our relationship is rock bottom and finished.I have no family or friends to talk to, she was my only real friend for last 25 yrs, she talks to her mother a lot for advice. We have 1 boy 23 living away from home and 1 girl 14 still at home. Im shattered, Thanks

DJ5 Never got the chance to be a child. All I was surrounded by was death and heart ache
  • replies: 3

I have never spoken aloud about my problems as I’ve always put other people ahead of me so please be kind.I’ve always been to scared to speak about about how I feel as there’s others out there who need more help then me.From a very young age I feel l... View more

I have never spoken aloud about my problems as I’ve always put other people ahead of me so please be kind.I’ve always been to scared to speak about about how I feel as there’s others out there who need more help then me.From a very young age I feel like all I’ve ever known is death heart ache and trying to be the rock who holds everything and everyone together.I was 2years of age when I lost my uncle to suicide.After that when I was around 10 I lost a family friend I called uncle to depression he didn’t commit suicide but knowing the dangers he got really drunk and rode his motorbike and passed away when he had an accident. After that I lost all contact with my father due to his substance abuse as well as abusive tendencies.I’m not sure how far anything went with his abuse as mum says he was never physical and she’s waiting for the right moment to show us her diary about her life experiences.Iwas young I don’t remember much.During high school when I was in year 9 I moved school as I started self harming. I left all my friends behind and never spoke to them again as I was to embarrassed about how I was feeling.I hated myself and my family I was very rebellious got into drugs partying and not caring about who I hurt.Leaving a path of destruction behind me I’m full of regret hurt anger and will never forgive myself for my actions.My family and friends never knew about my self harm or that I even had depression.I made suicide notes but couldn’t follow through as I couldn’t put my mum or family through that pain again.During the years of substance abuse and trying to acclimatise to a new school we lost 4 people in my year level 3 to suicide and one to a very rare ovary cancer which effects very little people let alone under the age of 50.It was a very horrible year to watch so many friends leave this earth. Let alone the devastation they left behind. After that was my uncle on dads side suicide where dad and his friend found him. This actually made me want to know who my father was again I’m not sure if it helped as I was watching dad go through the pain and never fully recover it killed me a little more inside. More recently a couple days before my birthday my auntie committed suicide due to substance abuse depression multiple personality disorder. Due to many deaths illness and issues among my family I don’t know where or how to turn for help. I know you will recommend me to a professional but I have tried to no avail.

llamalover23 Nothing ever works
  • replies: 5

I’ve been treating my depression for 3 years now. Nothing I have done has improved my mood whatsoever. I eat well, exercise, socialise, get out of the house, Get 8 hours of sleep a night, do ‘pleasurable’ activities (nothing I do actually gives me jo... View more

I’ve been treating my depression for 3 years now. Nothing I have done has improved my mood whatsoever. I eat well, exercise, socialise, get out of the house, Get 8 hours of sleep a night, do ‘pleasurable’ activities (nothing I do actually gives me joy, but I do things other people find fun), volunteer, do self care, look after oets etc etc. every self help tip under the sun I’ve done. I made a series of lifestyle changes including cutting off toxic relationships and reducing stress. I’m now on my 4th medication, it hasn’t helped at all but I’m gonna give it a few weeks just in case. I had 10 sessions of therapy this year where I achieved practically nothing and was given no solid advice about how to cope or get better. I’ve done mountains of CBT programs too. I’ve tried and continue to do all of these things that are supposed to work but they don’t. If anything over the past 2.5 years I’ve gone backwards. I’ve got no idea how I’m supposed to cope through the rest of the year. My gp has ruled out physical causes. Everytime I ask for help people dismiss me, or tell me to keep doing what I’m doing. Clearly what I’m doing is not helpful because I haven’t made the slightest improvement in 3 years of treatment. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’m just tired of people lying to me and saying things will get better, without telling me how to get there. Anyway I just need advice really. As well as honesty.

BEP19 Having a hard time
  • replies: 6

I dont know how to put this and i hope it makes sense. Im just down and out. Im feeling like everyone hates me and i am putting my self down every day. I feel alone as it feels my friends do not want anything to do with me. I hang around people and i... View more

I dont know how to put this and i hope it makes sense. Im just down and out. Im feeling like everyone hates me and i am putting my self down every day. I feel alone as it feels my friends do not want anything to do with me. I hang around people and i am constantly thinking whether or not they hate me or have an issue with me, trying to please them and ensure they are happy. I have nothing to be depressed about.. i have a loving family, a roof over my head and a job. So feeling this way makes me feel like a drama queen. I feel like im not winning and just ruining everyone's day. I have lost who i am. I just want to run away and hide and never come out. Its just hard waking up and dealing with what the day brings me. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Kristel In need of some help.. Any men that could spare a minute to share would be so gratefully appreciated
  • replies: 2

Well, first time poster. Not really sure how this works. Been on a few different sites and nothing has really given me what I need. My partner, is really depressed. He has suffered depression majority of his life but has been somewhat manageable. Alt... View more

Well, first time poster. Not really sure how this works. Been on a few different sites and nothing has really given me what I need. My partner, is really depressed. He has suffered depression majority of his life but has been somewhat manageable. Although he has tried to taken his life before just before we met 3 years ago and thankfully he survived. But recently, he has begun to sink into the same dark hole and I am trying everything I can to pull him out.. But never being to the point myself to take my own life I really can’t say I know how he is feeling or even know how to help him. We have a beautiful 17month little boy together and selfishly I want our family to stay together. Any men out there in particular that experience mental health dark days and have anything that helps them or that your partner does to support you, please share.. I AM DESPERATE TO SUPPORT THE LOVE OF MY LIFE... -Kristel.

SleepDrifter Some nonsense
  • replies: 5

Living life on the edge Oblivion below To back myself take one step back When cold winds start to blow

Living life on the edge Oblivion below To back myself take one step back When cold winds start to blow

feelingblue97 depressed 23 year old
  • replies: 6

Hi Im a 23 years old guy, feeling depressed and alone. every morning as soon as i wake up my heart pumps faster and i start sweating and the overwhelming feeling of burden and hopelessness creeps on me. I dont look forward to the day at all. I have n... View more

Hi Im a 23 years old guy, feeling depressed and alone. every morning as soon as i wake up my heart pumps faster and i start sweating and the overwhelming feeling of burden and hopelessness creeps on me. I dont look forward to the day at all. I have no friends and dont want to burden anyone w my sadness. I've learnt to mask my feelings and cover it up with jokes but i think my cover is being revealed. i used to be fun and happy with goals and ambitions, with a clear picture of where i wanted to be in the future, i had friends and had no problem making friends. but now i cant even bother and im like to myself what is the point. i used to be proud of myself and now i cant even go without a minute without thinking bad about myself i dont even know what i should do, i just need someone to talk with me, and understand me I feel sorry for myself and guilty at the same time for wasting time. I want to get better, ive been wanting to get better for a long time, but ive always wanted to get better on my own and it hasnt worked. there's a negative stigma of having a mental problem in my family. do u guys think its worth going to see my GP,

James54 depressed loss of love for gf
  • replies: 5

Hi guys, my name is james and i am a 17 year old yr 12 student. I have been with my girlfriend for almost 2 months now but we’ve known each other for much longer before we started dating. Just before the first month of dating when bye, I was in love ... View more

Hi guys, my name is james and i am a 17 year old yr 12 student. I have been with my girlfriend for almost 2 months now but we’ve known each other for much longer before we started dating. Just before the first month of dating when bye, I was in love and loved every minute of time i could spend with her. Then i started getting these feelings and thoughts of saying i don’t love her and i was feeling numb around her. I have struggled and been diagnosed with mild OCD for about 4 years now so i realised it was something to do with that so it eventually past but would come back every so often but i knew it was my mind playing tricks on me. Now i am feeling really depressed and feel like i have no feelings towards her, i don’t get the same feeling when i see her, i keep looking at other girls and i feel so guilty and bad for that because i know i love her but i just don’t feel it i don’t even know. i care so much about her and all i want is to feel the way i used to because she deserves the best, i don’t feel like doing my normal hobbies or getting out of the house either. i just wanted to reach out because i don’t want to lose my gf

imbadwithnames I'm tired
  • replies: 10

Hi! I grew up not being allowed to go to therapy or to the doctor, no matter how bad it got. My family never understood mental health illness, said I was being "emotional" and "hormonal" and to stop being rediculous. As you can imagine, I left my fam... View more

Hi! I grew up not being allowed to go to therapy or to the doctor, no matter how bad it got. My family never understood mental health illness, said I was being "emotional" and "hormonal" and to stop being rediculous. As you can imagine, I left my family when I was very young to go to university elsewhere. After I left them, I went a doctor and he gave me a mental health check, to which he looked me straight in the face and said "You are the most mentally ill person I have ever met" (thanks... doc) I went and saw one therapist for 2 sessions and she diagnosed me with anxiety and depression, but then I stopped seeing her as I ran out of time and exams were coming up and I just didn't care about myself enough anymore. I had a complete mental breakdown last year and went back into therapy (about... 2 years? after my last session). I went to a different therapist, and she additionally diagnosed me with depression, anxiety, but also PTSD from past abuse, a very severe eating disorder, potential autism and dyslexia, even possible Schizophrenia. She retired last last year and I cannot work up the courage to go and dig up all my past again with another therapist. Not yet. It should be noted, BOTH of these therapists told me to go to a doctor and get medication, but I never did. My depression told me I was useless and never going to be anything, so save the medication for someone who isn't going to be a useless lump of flesh. The thing that I needed the medication for prevented me from getting it. I have a very strong "You are a failure" complex that I cannot shake no matter how hard I work. Now, I have graduated and wasn't able to get a job before shutdown. I am living paycheck to paycheck in an extremely toxic evironment with people who hate me for being mentally ill and am terrified of myself and my own thoughts. I'm not sleeping properly, I'm not eating at all (as I write this, has been 24 hours), I need to get out but I cannot afford to. I can't even move back home with my parents (not that that would help, but it would get me out of here) as all of the borders around my state are closed and noone can get in or out due to Covid. I have my online friends (no IRL friends, clinical social anxiety) who love and care for me, I am not fighting for myself anymore, I'm fighting for them. I don't think I am going to do anything drastic but I'm just... so tired, you know? I'm sick of the cliche "It'll get better". I've been suffering for half my life... when?