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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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Venkman Depression/anxiety and sex
  • replies: 6

Hi all, new member here! I'm a straight male in my early 40's. I'll got to the chase and say that I've had lifelong difficulties with "rising to the occasion" and this has lead to frequent periods of despair, worthlessness and self-recrimination. Aft... View more

Hi all, new member here! I'm a straight male in my early 40's. I'll got to the chase and say that I've had lifelong difficulties with "rising to the occasion" and this has lead to frequent periods of despair, worthlessness and self-recrimination. After a very nice date last night, which lead to a bit of fooling around, I was again unable to perform and my mood today is... not good. Some suicidal ideation there too and not for the first time. I actually howled like some sort of wounded animal when I got home. Just feeling like a failure and less of a man, I guess. I want female love and affection but I feel I can't provide for them in quite a basic area. I have got two children so things have - occasionally - worked down there, I just no longer know whether my anxiety has caused this issue, whether the issue has caused the anxiety... it's all just a mess. Any help anyone can spare or even some random thoughts would be brilliant. Cheers.

Ceege Struggling with many issues and facing eviction
  • replies: 6

I have been struggling for many years with a feeling of total fatigue. My doctor hasn't been helpful whilst I have been complaining about it for many years. I'm just dead inside. I can't change GP's as this is a rural area and the others are even wor... View more

I have been struggling for many years with a feeling of total fatigue. My doctor hasn't been helpful whilst I have been complaining about it for many years. I'm just dead inside. I can't change GP's as this is a rural area and the others are even worse - ah suck it up, get over yourself, you can't afford private health insurance do therefore you don't deserve medical care etc etc. There aren't a large number of GP's to choose from. I don't handle medication well. Since I have been living in public housing, I have been subjected to repeated violence, including sexual assault. The police refuse to record the incidents so I am called a liar every time I complain about things. We don't have any psychologists that bulk bill on a mental health plan. So I don't know where to turn. I know that if something isn't done about the violence I will probably be killed, my next door neighbor threatens me continuously. I got an AVO on him and he breached it several times, but could i get anything done about it? Not on your life. So now I get evicted and lose all my belongings and he keeps the roof over his head and laughs at me while he continues to threaten and I get called liar liar when I complain. I get told "you won't engage with services". You bet your life I won't when they are threatening to have my licence removed for medical ground with no medical evidence. I have been talking with my GP and he says there is no reason for me to have my licence removed plus this same service was trying to force me to agree to allow them to have me diagnosed as psychotic no consult required. If I find out who they were gonna get to do that, that person is gonna be struck off. I also have a number of physical problems

Paul Ongoing battle - checking in
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, Over the past 4 months I've been going through a change in meds to try and kick depression being worse in the morning. It's been a tough road and it feels like it's not going to get any easier. Along with almost continuous depression rol... View more

Hi everyone, Over the past 4 months I've been going through a change in meds to try and kick depression being worse in the morning. It's been a tough road and it feels like it's not going to get any easier. Along with almost continuous depression rollercoaster emotions and mornings still being bad, my anxiety is smacking me about as well. My moods aren't very good and I've been close to the bottom of the dark hole where I fear I will end up in hospital. My memory is bad, which is humiliating at work and concentration is up and down. I haven't told my employer too much except that I'm having a tough time and my memory is affected. Other than that I really don't know what to tell them I've got a psychiatrist and psychologist that I am seeing. I'm feeling exhausted from the constant battle and roller coaster, living from moment to moment trying to keep my head above water. I guess I needed to check in here to be reminded that I'm not alone. Paul

Notanurse Life is now on pause
  • replies: 1

Up until almost 3 weeks ago life for me was normal. I was going to work and doing my usual daily things despite whats going on with covid 19. I considered myself lucky and should be grateful i still have a job. Then i fell down stairs, broke my foot ... View more

Up until almost 3 weeks ago life for me was normal. I was going to work and doing my usual daily things despite whats going on with covid 19. I considered myself lucky and should be grateful i still have a job. Then i fell down stairs, broke my foot and tore 2 ligaments. I thought that after a week or 2 id be fine and back to work, easy as! But no! Im now sitting here in so much pain with a cam boot on and requiring crutches. I havent been able to work for the past 3 weeks and the dr said ill need at least another 2 weeks off. Ill start physio next week which im dreading due to the pain. The last couple days i feel like whats happened and what will happen is finally sinking in and really starting to stress me out. I cant work, i cant drive, my university degree may need to be put on hold if im not fit for placements, im lucky im also on austudy otherwise id be ruined financially right now, im scared that this injury will affect my career. Im so over it! The fact that work hasnt been too kind about it also makes it a whole lot worse. The coworkers i thought i was close with enough to call friends havent even checked in on me. Even my own friends have been a bit absent in checking in. All the people who were complaining about being in lockdown while i was thinking theyre lucky they get to stay home and be lazy while i was out there working as a registered nurse caring for the elderly. I now know their frustration of having to stay home! I now know how being home almost 24/7 makes your mental health decline, how the uncertainty of your circumstances can affect your mental health in such a short period of time. If i could, i would straight away make an appointment with my psychologist to talk and cry over everything that happened to me in the past few weeks but thats not possible for me right now not only due to my inability to get anywhere but also because it costs to much. So im putting my little rant here. I know things will find a way to work themselves out, i always try to see the positives on the worst circumstances. There was a reason i had this injury and the timing of it, im almost glad it happened when it did and not in the middle on a placement for my degree later in the year...

Kerryn_Elise Seeking greiving groups
  • replies: 2

Hello, I live in Sydney and am seeking if there is any support greiving groups ? i was advised I could find answers here. currently struggling and needing to talk and get advise

Hello, I live in Sydney and am seeking if there is any support greiving groups ? i was advised I could find answers here. currently struggling and needing to talk and get advise

Silver_lining_behind_the_ Periodic mild depression?
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone hope you are all coping alright in these difficult times. There are times that I feel absolutely normal and positive, which normally last 3-6 months then out of nowhere I would lose motivation to do anything, withdrawing from people, feel... View more

Hi everyone hope you are all coping alright in these difficult times. There are times that I feel absolutely normal and positive, which normally last 3-6 months then out of nowhere I would lose motivation to do anything, withdrawing from people, feeling down for no reason, for about weeks to a month. Then I would start to feel better and then it hit me again. I think it has been going on and off for about 2 years. Has anyone experienced something similar or am I just being emotional? I am so confused about myself. Thank you.

cherries04 So many things going wrong I don't even know what forum to post this thread to
  • replies: 1

Vent post whilst awaiting new mental health plan from GP. Forgive my how scattered and random it may be. Just diagnosed with Lupus After 5 years of dealing with pain and fatigue I found myself bedridden, unable to care for my 5 month baby or 9 yo sev... View more

Vent post whilst awaiting new mental health plan from GP. Forgive my how scattered and random it may be. Just diagnosed with Lupus After 5 years of dealing with pain and fatigue I found myself bedridden, unable to care for my 5 month baby or 9 yo severely autistic son. 5 years ago I had abnormal bloods and was advised to see a rheumatologist because of the joint pain but I put that on hold due to going through a divorce as well as my then 4 year old son being diagnosed with severe autism at the same time. I put my health on the back burner and now it is all catching up to me. On plaquenil and prednisolone but they aren't doing much. I have always been able to white-knuckle it through the pain and just get on with it but lately the fatigue has me in bed any chance I get. I am halfway through my Computer Science degree at uni and can't fathom going back in this state, I struggle enough to do basic self-care tasks and look after my children. I also have "lupus fog". My brain just doesn't work properly anymore. I don't know how I am going to write code at uni or type with how stiff and sore I am should I even find the energy to return. Homeschooling my autistic son This has been so hard. Love him with all my heart but at 9 years old I am still wiping his bum and he communicates at the level of a 4 year old. He was non verbal until 6. At the end of the day, at 1am when the baby has finally gone down for the night, I dread going to bed, because I can't believe the day is already over and it is almost time to wake up and to it all over again. I had been going so well... It has been 2-3 years since I last went to therapy for depression. I left my toxic marriage, got remarried, had a baby and the highs are high but the lows sure are low and part of me sometimes misses being a single mum. Thought I had the fairy tale ending and was happy in life, in my marriage, smashing it at uni getting HDs in most of my units. To discover major porn addiction and lies from my husband as well as other issues. I hate family dinners. Sit there with my mouth shut because I only want his family to ever see the best in him and I don't want to be the one to say something that would tarnish their view of him. He tells his mum our fights and it bothers me. She only knows one side to the story/will defend him anyways because he is her son. He can't understand why I now dislike family dinners when I feel like I am putting a fake smile on and sitting in the lions den...out of characters

Clare23 I’m struggling with lock down and home schooling
  • replies: 3

I have had depression and anxiety on and off for most of my life. I speak with a psychologist weekly, take anti-depressants. Before Corona, I had been doing pretty well. I had a lot of things that I enjoyed or was looking forward to in life. Now I’m ... View more

I have had depression and anxiety on and off for most of my life. I speak with a psychologist weekly, take anti-depressants. Before Corona, I had been doing pretty well. I had a lot of things that I enjoyed or was looking forward to in life. Now I’m so depressed again. I’m not coping with home schooling or even just having the kids at home. I miss all the things I used to enjoy, like meeting up with friends, going out for dinner, going to the shops. My kids are given so much work and my son fights doing home school. I have no time or mental energy to do anything else in the house. My husband is helping as much as he can with the home school at the moment. A huge point of contention between us is that he wants us to continue lockdown until there is a vaccine or cure for covid 19. Things are meant to be opening back up a bit to see friends and family. He said we can see our parents only because we can trust they are careful outside. He doesn’t want me to meet with friends or let our kids see their friends. He doesn’t want the kids to go back to school while covid19 is still around. I just feel so hopeless. I just want some normalcy back.

Stressed Guy Just exhausted
  • replies: 4

Hey everyone, I've been doing a lot of thinking about everything lately. My life, this pandemic, my past, present and future and I just wanted to say I'm disappointed in myself. I'm exhausted with my depression, anxiety and ocd. Apart from clearing o... View more

Hey everyone, I've been doing a lot of thinking about everything lately. My life, this pandemic, my past, present and future and I just wanted to say I'm disappointed in myself. I'm exhausted with my depression, anxiety and ocd. Apart from clearing out stuff from the house (So my parents and I can sell our house and move) as well as studying a diploma of travel and tourism online I don't do much else. I want to read more, watch more movies, maybe play more video games but I can't be bothered too. I sometimes cry for a couple of hours at night about negative statements people have said to me in the past and my sleeping is all over the place. I just feel like I've wasted my 20s and some of my best years in general. I'm 26 and haven't gotten my act together and haven't enjoyed a lot of things in life. Damn, I feel old. Another thing is before this pandemic started is that I came up with a 5 year plan that I thought would be achievable. After all of this I'm not so sure about anything anymore. One of my goals is to publish some short stories and possibly become a screenwriter in the future (I'm studying a Bachelor of Arts next year) but I don't know how to go about making that happen. To be fair it's probably a 10-15 year plan for that one but it feels like a pipe dream that's never going to happen along with some of my 5 year goals like making friends, having a girlfriend or getting a job. Maybe I'm not meant to make friends, get a girlfriend or be happy. I just seem to piss a lot of people off and more importantly I piss myself off. I continually think " What is wrong with me?" and when people don't like me I blame myself constantly. I was also rejected at tafe by a girl last year who I was starting to trust along with a couple of other people too. Now I don't trust anyone and just assume if people are nice to me that they want help with something (That's a whole other story I'm not going to get into) It feels tiring to be me (Even before this pandemic started) I also want to add that maybe it's okay if I'm not happy. I have pretty low self esteem and am socially inept so it feels like I never quite fit in and whether that continues or not I just don't know. I have thought about suicide but to be honest I would never kill myself. Sometimes my brain and heart just hurt a lot I guess when I think about all of this. Thanks for reading, John

Joel76 Help
  • replies: 1

there is something wrong with me and no one will tell me what it is. If someone would just tell me then maybe I could fix it. I can change more I can fix me I just need to know what others see when they look at me..

there is something wrong with me and no one will tell me what it is. If someone would just tell me then maybe I could fix it. I can change more I can fix me I just need to know what others see when they look at me..