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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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Ezegeeze A misunderstood persons hope in good
  • replies: 1

Actions do not accumulate effort through change. Change is only truly determined through the spontaneity and emotional reaction to communicate. Physical action has time to bide and counter or agree with the opposition's or affiliates defense. Change ... View more

Actions do not accumulate effort through change. Change is only truly determined through the spontaneity and emotional reaction to communicate. Physical action has time to bide and counter or agree with the opposition's or affiliates defense. Change or maintenance of opinion physically is abundant with the advantages of time and adverse thought. Selfish instinct is a modern survival technique that governs people today more than the valuable instinct to nourish ourselves to adequately survive. Spontaneous communication incites and induces pain. Pain is momentary but fear of failure is eternal

Speechless Help changing my perspective
  • replies: 1

I’m a 38 yr old female with a history of low self esteem due to battling severe social phobia and agoraphobia and sexual mental abuse in my teens and 20s. I’ve had a lot of challenges over the years that has made huge gaps in my past where milestones... View more

I’m a 38 yr old female with a history of low self esteem due to battling severe social phobia and agoraphobia and sexual mental abuse in my teens and 20s. I’ve had a lot of challenges over the years that has made huge gaps in my past where milestones should have been. My teens and 20s were emotionally and physically rough coping with mental illness that I didn’t get to grow like my peers did. Ive always been a decade or even more behind. Ive learnt that being busy meant I didn’t think about these things. At 34 I got my first job. Severe social phobia prevented that in my past. But everything changed for the better when that happened. I gained my best self and self taught myself the importance of self identity and self care and communication. I also learnt there were many people in similar or different boats to me - that I was okay and didn’t need to be so hard on myself. They were big lessons going from excluding myself from society to being social in a work environment and actually letting people get to know me. I even got a boyfriend out of it. But that was 5 years ago and since then everything went downhill again. I lost my job 2 years ago as they had to downturn. My partner has severe schizophrenia and so many problems with him that it has been very hard for me to cope. Over the last 4 years I went from my best to my worst with adrenal fatigue from this relationship. It’s not abusive it’s just having to cope with his delusions and ups/downs, drug issues, money issues not being able to plan issues, hygiene issues, depression , psychosis and issues not being able to realise these issues and their toll on others. Hes been a big love hate in my mind. Basically I’m his best friend really. But due to coved 19, he sleeps day and night now. It’s hard to get much interaction, but I do go for walks with him that really help.But unless someone is there to encourage him to do anything but sleep, he’ll just sleep or clean his room, not really anything else. He has issues with concentration even a movie or tv show. He is my 1 contact really. The last year I’d been volunteering and that helped my social phobia and depression at bay but now since coved 19 and relying more on him to talk to it’s been hard. His depression can wear onto me. At the same time I’m having grief thinking about my baby body clock and the dream of finding a man and having a child and think I’m too late. My cousin is expecting and it’s quite painful for me. I want to build my life again. My

Sophie_S BREAKING POINT
  • replies: 1

All I want to do is cry and cry and cry. I’m not happy with my life, don’t get me wrong I love my kids so much but I’m not seeing a point in being alive.. shouldn’t your kids give you hope and strength. I’m at the lowest point in my life and I feel s... View more

All I want to do is cry and cry and cry. I’m not happy with my life, don’t get me wrong I love my kids so much but I’m not seeing a point in being alive.. shouldn’t your kids give you hope and strength. I’m at the lowest point in my life and I feel so nonexistent. I feel like nothing is EVER going to get better. I’ve fought this as hard as I can but I’m tired.

Kirika_M First time taking antidepressants
  • replies: 8

Hello/ good afternoon, I don't know if I'm just paranoid or that its normal to feel like that and Im confused. Its my first time using antidepressants that i was prescribed to on Friday because he says I might have mild depression. My psychiatrist sa... View more

Hello/ good afternoon, I don't know if I'm just paranoid or that its normal to feel like that and Im confused. Its my first time using antidepressants that i was prescribed to on Friday because he says I might have mild depression. My psychiatrist says to start me off with a very low dosage and this is my 4th day of taking it but I read that effects will start within a few weeks. Nothing happened until last night when I was having a headache and my stomach suddenly felt so tense but I had nothing to be nervous for at that time but I couldn't calm down at all, overtime it subsided bit out of sudden it will just come back again. And again, it might have been paranoia but I don't know if I'm just overthinking things. I'm just really worried that no one will believe me for repeating the same thing if I keep saying that I feel too anxious to do easy tasks or I can't explain why I can't do anything.

jedlim When you live in a world of everything with nothing
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I want to make this thread to share how my experience with depression, and hopefully learn from other people's experiences too. I have very poor processing speed and working memory (bottom 15th percentile,... View more

Hey everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I want to make this thread to share how my experience with depression, and hopefully learn from other people's experiences too. I have very poor processing speed and working memory (bottom 15th percentile, bottom 40th percentile, respectively) . It takes significantly more time for me to figure things out and memorise things than other people. This has always affected my social life in school, and even now; a lot of the time back then, I was percieved as the 'disabled kid'. I literally made no friends, I had only a few acquaintances. Eventually though, I started to care less about what other people think of myself, and started to care more about self-improvement. The problem is, my cognative limitation is also affecting my ability to learn new skills, furthermore, me being able to work towards self-improvement. I always get mental burnouts, which stop me from learning, even when I want to keep pushing. I know this sound stupid, but I think it's a suitable analogy- I feel like my ability and rate of learning is proportional to how much time and how well an oven that is broken, can cook, that can only be turned on after 3 hours of resting, only to be used for 10 minutes. I live in time and place where I have endless 'opportunities for success' but I can't even reach any of them. It's frustrating, especially when you're in an environment where everyone else is normal and successful; even within my family memers, i'm the bad leftovers of the gene pool. All in all, i'm at the point in my life where I don't even care about my status, and/or other people. I don't believe it's too much to ask for, that I simply want to learn a new skill for myself, to be good atleast something (yes, i'm literally good at nothing. and I'd rather not argue that). What I'm trying to seek out - I would like to know the experiences of other's with poor cognative proficiencies. How were you able to learn a skill, or anything for that matter? I hope I haven't missed anything. I want to thank you all for reading till this point.

LKXTE Is it depression?
  • replies: 4

Hey everyone, I'm not even sure that what i'm experiencing is actually depression. The thought that i might have depression pops up every now and then and has been for years. My wife has also flagged it a few times with me. The problem is that i don'... View more

Hey everyone, I'm not even sure that what i'm experiencing is actually depression. The thought that i might have depression pops up every now and then and has been for years. My wife has also flagged it a few times with me. The problem is that i don't neccesarily feel "depressed". I'm still able to get up and go about my day. I go to work, i exercise regularly, look after my kids contribute at home. The specific areas where i struggle are a general lack of interest in most things. I've always had very few interests apart from reading or watching content for example. The other area i really struggle in, and is of biggest concern for me, is when it comes to my 3 boys. The best way i can put it is that i love them all very much, but i can't stand being a parent (the day to day responsibilites). It also amazes me how quickly i can feel angry towards them or over react for trivial things their doing. The mess they make is a real struggle for me even though i know it's just a part of the process of kids playing.This has only been made harder by the current situation with Corona virus and the need to keep them at home, but it's certainly brought my struggles into focus. I feel mostly irritable towards them on most days and the main feeling i have regarding my boys is that i would rather not be around them. I know that sounds terrible but it's just what i have noticed how i feel. I have also observed within myself a pretty negative headspace. The question i have is whether or not this is depression? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Jess_M do i have depression?
  • replies: 3

so pretty much i'm diagnosed with general anxiety and social anxiety but i don't think i was with depression. although my mum and dad have mentioned a few times the fact that i have it, and so has my psychologist, and i guess i do have i suppose the ... View more

so pretty much i'm diagnosed with general anxiety and social anxiety but i don't think i was with depression. although my mum and dad have mentioned a few times the fact that i have it, and so has my psychologist, and i guess i do have i suppose the "symptoms" of it but i was never diagnosed with it so do i just assume it? or ask my psychologist about it? bc like i knew i had severe anxiety years before i was hospitalised and diagnosed with it. so i don't really know what to do

Allenthecat Postnatal depression
  • replies: 9

I'm new here. I feel like I am having a post natal depression. I have a 2 months old baby. Feeling shit all the time. Tried to book an appointment to my GP but cancelled it because i don't really want to talk about my feelings may be somehow i am ash... View more

I'm new here. I feel like I am having a post natal depression. I have a 2 months old baby. Feeling shit all the time. Tried to book an appointment to my GP but cancelled it because i don't really want to talk about my feelings may be somehow i am ashamed about how i feel. Feeling shit for no reason. Sometimes i feel like I just want to give up for no reason again. I don't know. Just feeling alone and lonely and need this thing out from my chest..

Anonymous03 Not moving from my bed, major depressive disorder
  • replies: 1

I woke up this morning and didn’t want to get up. I spent the whole day sleeping and starring at the wall wasting the day away. I feel this intense feeling of pain constantly that consumes me and I feel like I can’t move. I told myself it was going t... View more

I woke up this morning and didn’t want to get up. I spent the whole day sleeping and starring at the wall wasting the day away. I feel this intense feeling of pain constantly that consumes me and I feel like I can’t move. I told myself it was going to get up but I just didn’t, I dont know why. I have so many goals but am failing in all of them it’s not that I don’t have them it’s that they just seem unattainable (school success etc) I’m so behind in school I want to do so extremely well but I don’t have the energy or motivation to get stuff done. I hate how I haven’t left my bed all day yet I feel like it’s the only place I can be. I want to be left alone and no one to come, but at the same time I want people here with me to show that they care as much as I know they do because I don’t want to feel like this anymore. I don’t want to spend days lying in bed feeling like I’m not actually living. I tried getting in contact with a psychologist finally after getting a referral from my GP but she hasn’t responded, my GP, did a call as I couldn’t see her in person and it wasn’t a help at all which was a waste of money for my parents to pay for a 5min call of her telling me to take more breaks during school days at home and the fact I didn’t actually get anything to help. My parents don’t understand how I’m feeling, all I told them was I was unwell because really I didn’t know what to say and as much as they try to help they don’t. I just don’t know what to do at this point because I feel like it’s getting worse. It’s almost like I have to remind them I have depression and I don’t even like to say it. My friends are the best people ever but I have the fact I’m sad all the time now and that I have to tell them that I’m struggling because I feel like there is no one else to tell.

Black_Kat Impulse control
  • replies: 6

I am now having Impulse control or thought issues about spending money on kitchen gadgets that I'd use (or I tell myself that) Now I am just feeling depressed and crying a lot. Not sure what happened.

I am now having Impulse control or thought issues about spending money on kitchen gadgets that I'd use (or I tell myself that) Now I am just feeling depressed and crying a lot. Not sure what happened.