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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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Lunexy Feeling really overwhelmed with things
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone Dont need to go into a long history about my mental health. Its obvious why I'm here. And honestly I'm sick of being kicked while im already down for the past 3 years. Glandular fever and chronic fatigue in 2018. Still glandular fever eff... View more

Hi everyone Dont need to go into a long history about my mental health. Its obvious why I'm here. And honestly I'm sick of being kicked while im already down for the past 3 years. Glandular fever and chronic fatigue in 2018. Still glandular fever effects as well as chronic tonsilitis in 2019. Now 2020, severe anxiety disorder and depression resurgence from when I was a teenager, and a global pandemic happened. I have also been struggling since March with chronic bum fissures and constant irritation in my private parts. I'm a 21 year old lady and all these particularly intimate issues are getting me down the most... both issues are trying to be worked on but with no luck so far with treatments. I am just so so sad so often. Anxiety used to be my primary problem but with everything going on with my health ive been more depressed than ever. I also am struggling with chronic fatigue again, with no obvious cause apart from possible mental fatigue. The fatigue makes it really hard to just live and function and to cope with my other health issues. I just want to give up alot of the time. I feel like i should be grateful that i dont have a life threatening illness but what i do have has made me lose so much confidence in myself as well as getting me so down. Is there a way out? Will things get better?

itaintmyfault I'm lost
  • replies: 3

I'm so lost on what I'm doing. My phone has been taken away because I have been doing a lot of stupid things to try to get over my ex-boyfriend. I have lost my trust with my parents and I have been feeling unsafe in my house for many months now. My m... View more

I'm so lost on what I'm doing. My phone has been taken away because I have been doing a lot of stupid things to try to get over my ex-boyfriend. I have lost my trust with my parents and I have been feeling unsafe in my house for many months now. My mum doesn't understand mental health and she even have drinking problems which doesn't help me cope either. I haven't seen my psychologist since January which is when I was at what I thought was my lowest point but I'm now at my lowest and I feel trapped. I have only talked to my grandmother and uncle about how I feel because they understand me more than anyone in the world. I want to feel safe somewhere and I don't want to feel like rubbish anymore. I'm numb and I just don't know if I can stand it anymore. I'm not honestly sure what to do. My own sisters don't even care about my feelings.

destiny Withdrawing from medication.. help?
  • replies: 4

I have rapid cycling bipolar and have been medicated for the past 5 years. A couple months ago I had gastric sleeve surgery as a result of the weight increase from all the medication and their wonderful weight increasing side effects. My psychiatrist... View more

I have rapid cycling bipolar and have been medicated for the past 5 years. A couple months ago I had gastric sleeve surgery as a result of the weight increase from all the medication and their wonderful weight increasing side effects. My psychiatrist was aware of this, but however due to covid we haven't had an in person consult since feb. I've lost over 20kg very quickly and this caused me to have a manic episode, I assume because the medication didn't get altered in time, when he was told I was manic by my mother he lowered my medication. So a week later I had to go to the ER as I had a lot of uncontrolled movements in my face, arm and leg. ER dr thought I had developed tardive dyskinesia from my antipsychotics. I got an injection and sent on my way home. My psych and gp believes however I had developed Dystonia and came to the decision to stop all medication at once to stop the symptoms. I went the through the worst week of withdrawals, I don't even remember it. I'm at the end of week 2, the dystonia symptoms have totally stopped and I'm so miserable. I can't go back on anything just yet. I'm having such a hard time controlling my bipolar. I just need some tips, I have one more week to go before we try new medication. All I want to do is sleep, but I haven't slept properly since this began. I don't want to be around people because the moment I start socialising I start winding up and getting over excited and talking gibberish or I'm incredibly rude. I'm paranoid because I feel like everyone thinks I'm manic and are looking as me as if I'm crazy. I do know a lot of this is still side effects from stopping cold turkey.

mocha delight Day to day
  • replies: 20

Ok so I’m going to start a post where I’ll just going to check in when I feel like I want to with how I’m doing day to day. So Wednesday & yesterday mum was nitpicking at some symptoms/signs of depression I’ve been having again despite being on antid... View more

Ok so I’m going to start a post where I’ll just going to check in when I feel like I want to with how I’m doing day to day. So Wednesday & yesterday mum was nitpicking at some symptoms/signs of depression I’ve been having again despite being on antidepressants. I’ve also been experiencing feeling like I’ve had way to much sugar/coffee which I don’t and just today I had this quite big spurt of energy which I have no idea where it even came from & nor have I ever experienced something like that before.

fred2018 Cognitive Issues of Depression/Stress
  • replies: 4

Today was a very difficult day for me as I had to do probably my first working from home induction for a new job. My mood has been getting progressively worse the second half of this year but the irritability/low frustration tolerance/ brain fog have... View more

Today was a very difficult day for me as I had to do probably my first working from home induction for a new job. My mood has been getting progressively worse the second half of this year but the irritability/low frustration tolerance/ brain fog have been tricky to handle and today learning some pretty frustrating technology over zoom was quite the experience. Can someone direct me to any other threads about dealing with the cognitive issues connected to depression or bad stress/ anxiety im not sure whats to say the cause is yet. I question if its bad stress but the way I'm waking up of late makes me think its depression but will see my psych next week. Anyways at least Covid in Melbourne is going in the right direction so that with help people' mental overall. Cheers

GloomyFlight I don't know how to deal with this.
  • replies: 1

Hello I recently turned 25 and have been having trouble with getting my life on track. I've been dealing with anxiety and depression for since i was 15. I was a drop out and semi shut-in after stuff with school and received consoling from 18-21. I ha... View more

Hello I recently turned 25 and have been having trouble with getting my life on track. I've been dealing with anxiety and depression for since i was 15. I was a drop out and semi shut-in after stuff with school and received consoling from 18-21. I haven't been able to get a job and don't know what to do. I don't hold a driving licence I live in a country town we don't have a proper driving school and have been struggling to find any unskilled work. I recently completed a course with jobseeker program but even though I have completed the course I have not received a certification for it due to them having been audited. Apparently their parent company what doing dodgy paperwork which has resulted in everyone in the course having to come back and redo paperwork. I have been back to them 6 times over the last year trying to get the certification and have been told time after time that everything is finally done only to not receive the certification. I don't know what to do at this point. Its started to make me depressed and giving me anxiety.

Lolue Feeling Low
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm stating to feel really low and negative about myself and my depression is starting to rear its ugly head. I keep questioning why am I here as I feel I don't have a purpose and keep thinking negatively about myself. I'm 26 currently living wit... View more

Hi, I'm stating to feel really low and negative about myself and my depression is starting to rear its ugly head. I keep questioning why am I here as I feel I don't have a purpose and keep thinking negatively about myself. I'm 26 currently living with my parents I've been saving for house which I've done really well but the housing market just always seems to hard to get into and I feel like singles and millennials are automatically set up to fail as the market at the moment seems like it's set up to benefit investors. It's always been my dream to own a home and would love to buy a old home and renovate it I love restoration projects. However it's really deflating seeing old properties overpriced online and you know some investor is just going to knock it down and build a new modern town house on top. My love life is also a bit of a mess I was friends with benefits with a guy for 9 months we recently had the big what are we talk. I wanted a relationship he's young and polyamourous so he didn't want a relationship as I'm not polyamourous and even though I said I would be fine with it he knew deep.down that I wouldn't and he didn't want to hurt me. We want to stay friends but it's very painful for me at the moment and it's hard cause he had become my best friend. It's also hard as I'm in Melbourne in lockdown. One of the things that sucked was that he said I'm so put together with my career and how I'm a good saver and tried to use the whole I deserve so One better argument. This hurt the most as I don't care about my career I would give it all up for the person I love and I don't feel like I have my life together. I feel like all I want in life is to be happy with someone I love in a house of my own where I feel safe and create amazing memories.

AlexC1993 Feeling depressed
  • replies: 5

Hi I am new to Beyond blue. I am writing here today because for quite some time I have been feeling depressed and lonely. before I go on I would like to say that I have a profound intellectual disability called Aspergers Syndrome which is a form of a... View more

Hi I am new to Beyond blue. I am writing here today because for quite some time I have been feeling depressed and lonely. before I go on I would like to say that I have a profound intellectual disability called Aspergers Syndrome which is a form of autism. This affects my social skills as I struggle in social situations and with social skills. I am a very shy and introverted person and I like staying home. For quite some time I have been trying to meet a nice woman who I could have a girlfriend/boyfriend relationship with. I have spent a lot of money on Dating websites/Apps and had no success. Unfortunately I have experienced bullying as I have been discriminated against because of my disability. I am a volunteer at a Salvos store and I cannot do a “proper job” because I fear I will make too many mistakes. I really want to find a partner but I am feeling like I will be single for the rest of my life and that is not a nice feeling.And that no woman will ever want me or love me. I really struggle with social skills and in situations and I have been told off by women in the past because I made a mistake and I feel frightened that this might happen again. someone once said to me that “everyone needs someone” but when I try to talk to people and I tell them about my disability they have immediately stopped talking to me. This has really gotten me down and I feel sad that no one will even give me a chance. I feel worthless and that women believe that there will always be a better Man out there for them than me. I am new to posting on forums and I am not sure if this is the place to talk about this but I just wanted to talk to someone about it. I know that I am not ten years old anymore and I have to take responsibility but it can be hard as feelings can be overwhelming even if I don’t want them to be. Is anyone else in a similar situation to me? Thank you

Kaylaaaaaaaa Depression/anxiety. Feeling so lost.
  • replies: 2

Hi. I’ve been taking an antidepressant for two years to manage my anxiety and depression. I’ve recently stopped taking it as I want to change meds and I’m kinda suffering really bad. I’m currently taking another medication until my doctor prescribed ... View more

Hi. I’ve been taking an antidepressant for two years to manage my anxiety and depression. I’ve recently stopped taking it as I want to change meds and I’m kinda suffering really bad. I’m currently taking another medication until my doctor prescribed me another med to take. basically, just feeling really depressed at the moment and struggling with my anxiety. I can’t help but feel alone and helpless. I don’t know what to do. I’m stuck. I’m lost. I was going to call 000 for help as I didn’t know who to go to or where to go. I live with my husband and two dogs. Almost an hour away from my mum, dad and siblings. I feel isolated and alone. I can’t cope. I just needed to let it out. I’ve got other issues going on too at the moment. I’m just very overwhelmed and everything is too much. I can’t cope.

Leigh1987 Is the fog lifting?
  • replies: 13

I have a question I would like to pose to anyone who has successfully found their way out of a depressive episode. What changes did you first notice when a depressive episode was reaching it's conclusion? My follow up question would be how did you ma... View more

I have a question I would like to pose to anyone who has successfully found their way out of a depressive episode. What changes did you first notice when a depressive episode was reaching it's conclusion? My follow up question would be how did you make the most of the changes to continue on the path to mental health? I have been in the midst of a severe depressive episode for years now so for a long time the world has been a murky, foggy, isolated hell. Lately however I have noticed some changes in how I relate to the world. Formerly I was using my television to create noise to keep me company and distract me from my obsessive thoughts. It didn't matter what I watched, I mostly watched the same things over and over actually, the familiarity was a source of comfort. Over just the last week I have come to realise I am watching things out of a genuine interest again. And not only that but I can concentrate for lengths of time when the viewing material engages me. It may be a pleasurable activity for me again. This seems like a small victory but it appears to me to be like a light finally shining through that fog of disconnection and despair. Should I take this to be an early step in recovery? Or is it possibly just a freak lull in symptoms? Either way what can I do to take advantage of this slither of sunshine between barely parted clouds? I am incomprehensibly excited that I have finally enjoyed something again even if it is something as basic as watching tv. It has ignited a flicker of hope no matter how small.

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