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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 chats on this Forum having 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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Throwaway Afraid to reachout or talk to someone
  • replies: 3

For a while maybe a year or 2 I'm not sure because i haven't kept count but i have been feeling quite down and empty and alone, near the start of the year i got into a relationship but in recent months i feel like we're drifting apart and the lonely,... View more

For a while maybe a year or 2 I'm not sure because i haven't kept count but i have been feeling quite down and empty and alone, near the start of the year i got into a relationship but in recent months i feel like we're drifting apart and the lonely, sad and empty feelings are coming back, whenever i comfront her about anything she spins it around to find a way to make herself the victim and I'm just done with her, but the main thing for me is these feelings I've been feeling, i don't know how to express them properly or talk to someone about this, lot's of people here say to see a professional, but being a minor and all it's hard to go to a professional alone with the case of my parent's having my medicare details, I'm most afraid of coming out to my parents about this because i don't know how they will react or if they'll even believe me. I have reached out to a friend and he recommended me to reach out using a hotline so i found this site and decided to share here and i thought i might as well share, i just don't know what to do with these feelings and how to manage it without making obvious changes in my life that people will notice, I'm highly scared about how others will react to me feeling these things, especially the change in how people act towards me once they know I'm struggling like this, so it just feels right taking a leap of faith and getting advice from others here anonymously.

Spence1111 DSP stopped due to moving overseas
  • replies: 1

Hello... My brother suffers from Schizophrenia and has been on a DSP since returning to Australia in 2011 and on the UK version whilst residing in the UK for the 15 years prior to this. He is mid 50's now and still lives with my parents who moved to ... View more

Hello... My brother suffers from Schizophrenia and has been on a DSP since returning to Australia in 2011 and on the UK version whilst residing in the UK for the 15 years prior to this. He is mid 50's now and still lives with my parents who moved to Ireland 12 months ago. My mum contacted Centrelink to ask about the portability of both their aged pensions and his DSP and was told that they would be able to continue. What she wasn't told was he should have had a review before leaving in order to 'secure' his DSP and after four weeks of leaving his pension has been stopped. He has had nothing for the past year. He has never worked and has never lived alone and in order to reinstate his pension Centrelink have told him he needs to be re-assessed by a Dr in Ireland. His new Dr advised my mum (who acts on his behlaf) that there is no way he could provide the level of detail required to complete the documentation. We appealed the centrelink decision which was unsuccessful based upon the 4 week rule and I now have an Administrative Appeal Tribunal hearing on Tuesday to challenge the decision again. If this is unsuccessful which I fully expect it to be as they are only focusing on the 4 week rule I'm wondering if I just have him fly back to Australia.....re-apply which I would think would be accepted and then once it's reinstated have him return to Ireland and his home with my parents. It's brutal how they can cut someone off on a technicality and provide no support around how to resolve a situation which is clearly based on poor information and a minor oversight. No support provided and I'm so angry. Just venting really and would be interested in anyone who has had to reapply or had issue when moving overseas or with the AAT. Thanks all.

ThrowAway1916 Worthless and Alone forever?
  • replies: 3

This is a throw away account, as I'm embarrassed.I'm 32 years old, and I don't have any friends, ambitions, and never had a relationship. As a kid, I always felt like the black sheep of the family. Always feeling like I'm in the shadows of my sibling... View more

This is a throw away account, as I'm embarrassed.I'm 32 years old, and I don't have any friends, ambitions, and never had a relationship. As a kid, I always felt like the black sheep of the family. Always feeling like I'm in the shadows of my siblings. I had a very abusive mother during my teen years, where I wasn't allowed out the house except for going to school, wasn't allowed to have friends over, and never got to experience dating. Everyday, I was told I was worthless, how nobody will ever want to be near me, and my grandmother even wishing I committed suicide. When I was finally old enough to get away, I felt I was thrown into a world that I had no experience for. When I tried to meet people, I was always targeted and felt unwelcomed. I was also constantly bullied at my job. I attempted to do 2 activities I was very passionate about, but eventually I was bullied out of those, with one of those involving death threats and harassment. It was this harassment, that the few friends I did make while at these places, no longer wanted anything to do with me.Because of my very troubled upbringing, I am terrified with meeting new people, especially women, as I don't want to be hurt again. I've always been told that I wasn't good enough, that even if I did manage to gain confidence, I still believe those words. My anxiety gets so bad at times, that once another person gets aggressive with me, I shut down. Very rarely in life have I felt I belonged. I always tried to remember that old saying "treat others how you want to be treated" but I don't get the same treatment that I share.There are more examples, but long story short, I'm at that point where I don't know where I'm headed. I want friends and a loving partner, but I'm afraid of people and find it hard to trust people. I want to do those activities I loved before, but scared about seeing those people again. When my anxiety and depression happens, I really do feel like the words from my mother about being alone forever and how worthless I am are actually true.

Jude_ A bit low
  • replies: 3

Hi I have just started feeling very low lately I don’t know why I have no financial problems, some illness in family but have dealt with this for a while. I feel just bland if that possible. I feel jittery as well.

Hi I have just started feeling very low lately I don’t know why I have no financial problems, some illness in family but have dealt with this for a while. I feel just bland if that possible. I feel jittery as well.

Kirk Please help - I'm at the end of my rope
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I really need to reach out and talk about the issues swirling around in my head. I have had depression for two decades now. I am on anti-depressents which cause me to not feel much emotion at all. I just feel numb. I also have OCD, specifical... View more

Hi all, I really need to reach out and talk about the issues swirling around in my head. I have had depression for two decades now. I am on anti-depressents which cause me to not feel much emotion at all. I just feel numb. I also have OCD, specifically contamination OCD. My brother peed on his hands once and used our fridge and, after 10 years since it happened I have been so scared to touch it with my bare hands that I always wear gloves in my own kitchen. I have pure OCD where thoughts can come in and I don't necessarily have to do a compulsion to try and get rid of them. My thoughts involve incest which disgusts me but I can't get rid of them and it scares me. I am very worried about my future. I still live at home because of my mental health and want to move out, but rent is so expensive I would have to live with someone who I don't know. Plus I am incontinent. This I'm sure has been caused by my depression but who's to say. The urologists I've seen haven't been able to help. I'm in a job I do well but I don't like. I don't know how to move into a different role or what I would even do. I just feel stuck. I am unhappy in my social life. I have barely any friends. I have never had a real loving relationship. I am afraid I am unlovable in my current condition, or if I am even able to love someone else with my depression and lack of feeling emotion. I need some guidance. I don't know how I can change my life. It feels like too many issues on top of each other which I have battled for decades that hasn't gotten any better. I have seen psychologists before with very limited success. I find it very hard to see things through with them and I don't know why. Do I not want to get better? Am I just so used to suffering? I'm so confused. Thanks for listening.

Guest_24404528 Still battling
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone,I have had mental health issues (anxiety, then OCD, then depression) since 2021. I have been on anti-depressants since Oct 2023. I was getting better but am having a couple of lows. Why is it taking so long to feel better? Why is this st... View more

Hey everyone,I have had mental health issues (anxiety, then OCD, then depression) since 2021. I have been on anti-depressants since Oct 2023. I was getting better but am having a couple of lows. Why is it taking so long to feel better? Why is this still happening to me? (sidenote- I also know sleeps really important, excerside and eating well but I just don't want to you know?)Idk if anyone can relate but Im really struggling,Thanks

ames so many feelings at the one time
  • replies: 1

Lately, I have been feeling so many feelings at once, i can't keep up anymore. from being depressed, to being anxious, to feeling so lonely that I can't even handle it anymore. and now the guilt that I have now relapsed. I cry every day, struggle to ... View more

Lately, I have been feeling so many feelings at once, i can't keep up anymore. from being depressed, to being anxious, to feeling so lonely that I can't even handle it anymore. and now the guilt that I have now relapsed. I cry every day, struggle to get out of bed in the morning, i need to talk to people but I have no one to talk to. So as a result of everything, i'm just sufficating in my own life, my own body. and I feel there is nothing i can do too help myself.This is not my first rodeo, but for some reason it just never gets easier. no one understands me, or cares or takes the time to really know how I am feeling, so I just give up, I don't even care anymore.I am the friend that is always happy, laughing, cheerful and I am always there for everyone, i really care for those I love, and I alway make sure my friends are okay. but then I sit back and think, who makes sure I am okay? who is caring about me? because only 2 people know that I am not the happy and cheerful person that I put on display.

Guest_05646742 Seasonal Depression
  • replies: 1

I keep a sort of digital journal on my phone to keep track of how I feel over the years, and recently i’ve been going through the entries. It seems like every year around this time (winter), I get more depressed than usual. I think it might be season... View more

I keep a sort of digital journal on my phone to keep track of how I feel over the years, and recently i’ve been going through the entries. It seems like every year around this time (winter), I get more depressed than usual. I think it might be seasonal depression, but I don’t know whether to bring this up to my mum yet before I know more about it. Are there any good learning resources about seasonal depression I could look into (or any other people that can relate)?

D2922 ALONE AND IN THAT DARK PLACE
  • replies: 2

Hi, first time every reaching out on BB. I have struggled with depression for as long as I can remember that is more the 40 years. The last 4 years have been hectic. Death of my mum, uncle, and grandmother all in 12 months. And nothing simple all ver... View more

Hi, first time every reaching out on BB. I have struggled with depression for as long as I can remember that is more the 40 years. The last 4 years have been hectic. Death of my mum, uncle, and grandmother all in 12 months. And nothing simple all very complicated. Work has changed and is making me crazier than ever. And then on the weekend something dark came out of me after a few drinks, I attacked a person. I fully snapped! This I have no excuse for but I cant understand how I could do this to another person. Its now started the spiral of dark thoughts. I have a loving family and all the good stuff in life, why is this becoming so ugly now? I don't understand and I don't know how my friends and family can ever forgive me on attacking another woman. Has anyone out there snapped like this, I am a grown women who attacked another women in a bar.

glowby Feel like I was let down by my psychologist
  • replies: 3

I'm not sure why I'm here and posting this now, it's almost 4 years later... I feel like I was let down by my psychologist, because I really spiralled under her care. I had seen my psychologist for some time back in 2018 as I was suffering chronic fa... View more

I'm not sure why I'm here and posting this now, it's almost 4 years later... I feel like I was let down by my psychologist, because I really spiralled under her care. I had seen my psychologist for some time back in 2018 as I was suffering chronic fatigue and she helped me work through the depression and stress and anxiety I dealt with in association with the illness I was suffering, work stress and financial stress from going part time. I got myself back to a good place through CBT and her care. But I later got pregnant and then right after the birth of my child I felt my emotions and mental health were extra fragile with all that was going on for me, so I made sure to get my mental health care plan up to date and was seeing my psychologist regularly. Thing is, I actually sank into pretty awful post natal depression, but my psychologist didn't pick it up, my GP did. I still remember the shock on her face the following sessions... She had no idea. I ended up going on antidepressants on advice of my GP, and I can't really explain the dark dark place I sank into, but I am much better now. I just still carry this disappointment that I had been seeing my psychologist as I knew I was more vulnerable, and she still missed it. Not sure if anyone will read this but thanks for listening if so. I think the problem is that she has shaken my trust in psychologists and now and then I find myself slipping a bit and want to see someone but I can't trust anyone. Does that make sense?