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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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M-aggie Chronic Depression
  • replies: 3

My name is Maggie I am 22 and have had depression for years and I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like it's getting worse at the moment probably because I'm looking for a job after Uni and keep getting rejected. I feel like a weight on society ... View more

My name is Maggie I am 22 and have had depression for years and I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like it's getting worse at the moment probably because I'm looking for a job after Uni and keep getting rejected. I feel like a weight on society and don't have any skills or qualifications to contribute. There is no need for me in society.

Guest_16767327 Advice for dad with depression
  • replies: 1

Hello, my dad is from a generation that ignored all mental health disorders and there for doesn’t have any belief in therapy or medication. He has recently become very depressed and I think it is for two main factors. His wife (my mother) has her own... View more

Hello, my dad is from a generation that ignored all mental health disorders and there for doesn’t have any belief in therapy or medication. He has recently become very depressed and I think it is for two main factors. His wife (my mother) has her own mental illnesses and some health issues that cause her to take a very long time to get ready in mornings and sometimes can feel ill after getting ready, so she doesn’t leave the house or plans get changed. This means my father is often waiting around home for her to get ready before they go to their plans together or the plans get cancelled or changed due to mums illness. I think over the years of this continuous struggle has affected my dad because my mother doesn’t really do anything to help herself to get better and so he probably feels helpless and is just watching himself and his wife get older while not doing anything fun, engaging or adventurous in their lives. He is also witnessing his youngest daughter (my sister) go through a hard time of helpnesses while she recovers from a very traumatic relationship. My sister is getting professional help and is on medication so I know she will get better. But I don’t think my dad is coping very well with seeing two of his family members be in this situation. His mother is in an aged care facility with dementia and she’s slowly declining but good at the moment. This probably isn’t helping him either. I think his outlook on life is very poor at the moment, he has nothing to look forward to. i really want to help him feel better, he’s an amazing dad and has been through so much in life but i don’t know how to help without therapy and medication because when i ask him to go out and do things with me, he always declines. I’ll never stop asking him to go out and do things, just in case one day he says yes. But if anyone has any advice on what to do that would be appreciated.

sxnflower Not sure what's going on
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I'm new to these forums and to seeking help in general. Right now I'm just sort of confused. I have what I consider a pretty good life, stable education, a friend group and partner (who was the one to encourage me to get help), but latel... View more

Hi everyone, I'm new to these forums and to seeking help in general. Right now I'm just sort of confused. I have what I consider a pretty good life, stable education, a friend group and partner (who was the one to encourage me to get help), but lately I've been struggling with intrusive thoughts, low motivation and general low moods or a struggle to feel happy, even in things that are fun. These feelings come with frequent anxiety and dissociation, like I'd rather be anywhere but in my own body. I've just started uni and I'm worried that with the added stress it might make these feelings worse and I really just want to go back to feeling alive again. I've been avoiding telling the people closest to me because I feel guilty for this, like I don't have a 'good enough' reason to be feeling down? And I'm afraid of being a burden to my friends, who are all struggling with their own problems, I'm afraid that if I concern them with the stuff going on in my life, I'll just stress them out more. I just don't understand what's going on with me. I haven't had these ideations or urges to hurt myself for years, though I never actually dealt with them, they just somehow faded with time. Now, they're back again and I'm struggling to not give in. I don't like being alone anymore and I do take opportunities to meet with my friends, but when I don't, I feel empty. I'm not a danger to myself and I'm doing all the tasks I need to do - school and work, but other than that I seem to have no direction. I apologise for being so vague but it's a struggle to open up properly, it just seemed less confrontational to do in a forum rather than a one to one meeting. Why has this started affecting me again now? I hope someone has some advice or reassurance for me going forward because I'm tired of these thoughts and of feeling this way. Thank you for reading.

Flowermum Tired hopeless and not enough
  • replies: 3

Hello,I’ve always had this feelings that I’m not enough and they come and go. I have older brother and I felt like the dumb one growing up…Not doing enough, not smart enough, not organised enough not enjoying life enough, it’s like never ending guilt... View more

Hello,I’ve always had this feelings that I’m not enough and they come and go. I have older brother and I felt like the dumb one growing up…Not doing enough, not smart enough, not organised enough not enjoying life enough, it’s like never ending guilt that I can’t make right choices. Always doubting myself, I’m 37 now and I have two daughters and I have this big fear I will pass onto them my unhealthy patterns. I have this critical voice in my had with lot of negative thoughts very often. I was born outside of Australia and I am still trying to fit in.. so hard .. that I’m not sure who I am any more. And my husband is very opposite of me, strong and motivated, very skilled .. has a good job and I feel like nothing next to him. I get very jealous of others lately. I couldn't pursue much of a career with my kids and now I just don’t feel like enough.. I feel like I’m spinning in circles.. and it’s only getting worse.. but I do realise that I have not much to complain about, we have money, house , we are healthy.. but still.. my head is not happy.. what can help me?

Guest_30120465 High Functioning Depression
  • replies: 2

First time doing this because I’m kind of desperate. I don’t know for what.. connection, maybe? I had no idea what I was going through and now I feel even lonelier. I’m 24 and work two jobs that I love, I’m studying what I love to do, and I was (unti... View more

First time doing this because I’m kind of desperate. I don’t know for what.. connection, maybe? I had no idea what I was going through and now I feel even lonelier. I’m 24 and work two jobs that I love, I’m studying what I love to do, and I was (until recently) extremely happy and positive. I work 6 days a week and I am now struggling to wake up, no matter how much sleep I get. I’m not ready to go to sleep at night because I don’t want to commit to the next day, even though I know I will enjoy going to work. I wake up with so much dread that I often just cry before I even sit up in my bed. I have a horrible feeling that I am wasting my life away, and spent the last Sunday of summer (my one day off a week) literally wasting away in my bed. Even though all I could think about was going to the beach, until it became too late to do so. It causes me a lot of anxiety. I’ve spent the entire day crying and feeling disgusting.I used to love life, and I still have the desire to go and do things, but I feel trapped in my head. I do the things I need to do — go to work, make dinner, clean, do shopping, etc. but I am exhausted and have been having frequent breakdowns. I don’t know what to do and I am miserable, even though I have so much to be grateful for and desperately want to love my life again. I don’t understand what is happening to me or how to fix it.

Levelup Re: Older Male depression, Any ideas how to how not to handle it?
  • replies: 15

Hi I am thinking of going to a psychologist or counsellor for depression. They might ask 'what brings you here today'. This is my query. Is it better to talk of the issue, the real world face, the manifestation, what appears to be a trigger or the de... View more

Hi I am thinking of going to a psychologist or counsellor for depression. They might ask 'what brings you here today'. This is my query. Is it better to talk of the issue, the real world face, the manifestation, what appears to be a trigger or the depression?

Ezbom Unmotivated
  • replies: 2

Hi first time doing this sort of thing so here goes. I am 22 going to be 23 this year and well to put it lightly my life isn't all that great at that the moment since i left school in 2018 i think start of year 11 i have basically done absolutely not... View more

Hi first time doing this sort of thing so here goes. I am 22 going to be 23 this year and well to put it lightly my life isn't all that great at that the moment since i left school in 2018 i think start of year 11 i have basically done absolutely nothing with my life, i work with my dad occasionally for a bit of money but never really had an actual job everytime i think about it scares me i have so much social anxiety its not funny not, to the point i have literally zero friends. To pass time i really enjoy playing games and watching movies and tv shows but lately even that i'm started to feel so unmotivated to do i play something for half and hour and basically give up. On top of everything i'm slowly getting out of a medical thing that happened to me a about a month ago that seriously rattled me now in hind sight nothing was actually seriously wrong well as far as i know it is still going on a little but it just made me scared for my life so i started changing things like my sleep pattern which was terrible i used to wake up at 11am now i wake up at 7:30, My diet was also very bad i'm am beyond skinny like 55kg skinny i'm trying really hard to increase that but its like my body can't even though i am eating 3 full meals plus snacks a day it kinds sucks. As for the jobs part i started applying and by now i've applied to like 30 jobs and not one has gotten back to me which sucks to be honest but hey would its out of my hands. Now the thing thats kind of been bothering me lately is for some weird ass reason i've been wanting to actually do stuff i just don't know what, a few times i thought about going for a walk but decided against it been hot lately and all, i'm starting to feel like i don't know like i'm claustrophobic at home or something like i'm antsy or all the time, like i want to meet people and make friends i just have no actual idea how, hell i would probably even settle for someone to play to games, but its like i lost the ability to socialize and talk to people in the years in the years i haven't done anything. I honestly don't know what to do my parents are lovely people and they help a little but there is only so much they can do. Even though yes i want to get out of the house i still feel a little Unmotivated to do so, best way i can put it is its like someone physically needs to push me out the door.

tahlial Feeling lost and depressed
  • replies: 3

HI there everyone again I'm Feeling really Lost and depressed ATM my thoughts are everywhere and I don't know what to do and sometimes I feel like I don't want to be here and have no idea what to do everything hard

HI there everyone again I'm Feeling really Lost and depressed ATM my thoughts are everywhere and I don't know what to do and sometimes I feel like I don't want to be here and have no idea what to do everything hard

Scott1995 Feeling lost
  • replies: 2

i don’t know where to start, lately I haven’t been feeling myself. I look in the mirror and don’t even recognise myself. I haven’t been my happy self, I don’t know what I’m doing anymore I just feel lost. I don’t feel like I’m doing a good enough job... View more

i don’t know where to start, lately I haven’t been feeling myself. I look in the mirror and don’t even recognise myself. I haven’t been my happy self, I don’t know what I’m doing anymore I just feel lost. I don’t feel like I’m doing a good enough job, providing for my partner and I. I have looked into therapy but we are currently not in a position to afford it. I’m feel like I’m failing and I’m starting to get to the point I don’t know what to do anymore

GreenEgg Lying in bed awake, sad, when I should be feeling more positive
  • replies: 2

It’s been a little while. A lot has happened since I last visited here, I’ve been coasting along a bit. I think that’s what my life is mostly - like I’m cruising, not really there. Not happy, but often not totally miserable either. I blink and a few ... View more

It’s been a little while. A lot has happened since I last visited here, I’ve been coasting along a bit. I think that’s what my life is mostly - like I’m cruising, not really there. Not happy, but often not totally miserable either. I blink and a few months pass, but nothing really changes. And then it’s not ok, it’s really not. Sometimes it’s fleeting - a day spent crying, agonising. Filled with dread and sadness. Sometimes it’s much longer. It feels like nothing sticks. I want to feel genuinely connected to people, but I don’t really make effort. I want to be more involved with my family and check in more, but I don’t. I want to start doing more exercise, but I don’t. I want to pick up a hobby. I want to volunteer. I want to change jobs. I want to move. I want all of this stuff but none of it I follow through with - sometimes I’ll even get to the point of being sooo close. Other people often seem from the outside to have such energy, motivation. They just decide and do it… Anyway, I’m not sure there’s much of a point to this post. I feel bad, like this is another way I don’t have much consistency