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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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Michael89 Why even bother?
  • replies: 4

After years of doing all known medications and so called talking therapies, nothing has helped. With all the suffering everywhere and meaningless, why even bother going on? Life seems to be one big practical joke.

After years of doing all known medications and so called talking therapies, nothing has helped. With all the suffering everywhere and meaningless, why even bother going on? Life seems to be one big practical joke.

Domaincircuit Don't know what to do
  • replies: 3

Hello, This is my first time posting on anything so im sorry if it is just me rambling, I don't really know how to type these sorts of things . For 3 years now I have been feeling just down no matter what I do, I don't know who to talk to hence why I... View more

Hello, This is my first time posting on anything so im sorry if it is just me rambling, I don't really know how to type these sorts of things . For 3 years now I have been feeling just down no matter what I do, I don't know who to talk to hence why I am posting here, Among family and friends I am seen as the "funny guy" but I feel that now that they just wont take me seriously anymore and I don't want to burden them with my issues as they already have there hands full. I was unemployed for 2 years after I finished school and honestly there were some time where I thought maybe death was the easier option, I know that never would be the solution as it would just hurt my family and friends. After I finally got a job I thought these feelings would go but if anything they feel the same. I just have no drive to do anything and honestly im surprised that I am writing here. Thank you for reading and sorry again for the ramblings.

Alannah57 Irritable and very low self esteem
  • replies: 1

Hi, I returned from staying with family, and had a great time; but within hours of getting home I felt irritable, had low self esteem and I couldn’t stop a strong amount of negativity from being said. I think it’s a result of feeling sad and talentle... View more

Hi, I returned from staying with family, and had a great time; but within hours of getting home I felt irritable, had low self esteem and I couldn’t stop a strong amount of negativity from being said. I think it’s a result of feeling sad and talentless, and talking to myself out loud is a way to prove that I’m not a pushover to other people. I don’t understand where this whole thing is coming from. Does anyone else relate, or have advice for those sad/grumpy feelings? I hope I can get to a more positive, constructive, focused and relaxed place in general life.

I_got_it_too_late I don’t think I’ll get another chance
  • replies: 2

Hi all first post here. after 8 years of being on a total roller coaster of behaviour which has lead to many arguments with my wife of 13 years I have finally been give a dose of antidepressants which seem to work and make me feel normal but the last... View more

Hi all first post here. after 8 years of being on a total roller coaster of behaviour which has lead to many arguments with my wife of 13 years I have finally been give a dose of antidepressants which seem to work and make me feel normal but the last 2 months behaviour I think will be too much to overturn. i have over the years blamed her for not making me happy despite being pretty much a perfect wife . I have said she does t show affection , is lazy at sex, does t put out enough , is nicer to other people than me , have said things about her sexual past and even worst of all shared some of them with her parents . i have know what I was doing was wrong but I physically couldn’t stop my cycle of behaviour . I would be good for two weeks , slide for a week then bad for a week . Then ask what was my wife’s problem for her not being nice to me as I’d moved on from what I had just done i have moved out 6 weeks ago and had a week on week off good bad behaviour which I was triggered by white lies that would totally set me off on an accusational rampage . the last straw was when I was t told about my kids Christmas carols at school which I unloaded on her mother in law at which point I knew I was at the end of what was acceptable and seriously considered ending it all . Only the thoughts of my 3 kids stopped me . i spent 4 days in a psych hospital at my own request for my safety . i am now level for the first time in 7-8 years and feel excited about things and energetic . I feel butterflies in my stomach about my wife as I can see and appreciate her again . It then there’s what I’ve done. Despite me now seeing the light it thinking’s too late any thoughts

Up_the_Villa Newbie and very confused.
  • replies: 1

Hi my name is Rob and i am 59 years old. My story is that over that last 4 years or so i have lost both my parents who were a good age (87 and 91) i have also lost my son in law tragically at the age of 30, and then after a very short illness my youn... View more

Hi my name is Rob and i am 59 years old. My story is that over that last 4 years or so i have lost both my parents who were a good age (87 and 91) i have also lost my son in law tragically at the age of 30, and then after a very short illness my youngest sister who was 68. Shortly after she passed away last June i remember waking up one night with a horrible sinking feeling that scared me so much that i woke my wife to tell her about it. Around a week later i had the same feeling but this time after i got home from work. Around this time i started suffering with insomnia along with this feeling happening more often. I saw my GP and started me on talk therapy for my sleep issues. Things over the next couple of months didn't improve much and i started feeling in a low mood. Went to see my GP and he suggested i take an SSRI which i dually did, and can honestly say it was the worst two weeks of my life. I was waking up extremely depressed in the morning, i was waking in the night with anxiety and panic attacks, i would have no energy at all until around 4pm, then it was almost as though someone had flicked a switch and my energy came back. Anyway after 15 doses i had a chat to my GP and decided to stop them. That was 4 weeks ago now and i feel worse than before i went on them. I am really confused about what to do, my sleep has improved markedly over the last 6 or 7 weeks, i have also joined a gym. But i get these horrible sinking feelings mostly 2 or 3 times a day that last around 3or4 minutes, and also feel tired most of the time. Still most of these feelings dissipate towards evening time. I am unsure whether I'm depressed, suffering with anxiety because of some sort of fatigue syndrome. I am thinking about going to see another GP for a second opinion. Sorry for the rambling story but looking maybe for a little advice as life isn't as fun as it was 6 months or so ago.

Youre1 H.A.L.T. Depression
  • replies: 1

An acronym for helping combat depression that my mum used to say is H.A.L.T, so don't be Hungry, Angry, Lonely Tired. If you tick those boxes, your depression might be more manageable. This has helped me cope with extremely severe depression which I'... View more

An acronym for helping combat depression that my mum used to say is H.A.L.T, so don't be Hungry, Angry, Lonely Tired. If you tick those boxes, your depression might be more manageable. This has helped me cope with extremely severe depression which I've had for 12 years.

Youre1 Inspirational song
  • replies: 2

I have come across a song which is calming and so very true of life, have a listen when you're having a bad time. Its called Desiderata, there are several artists that sing it but my favourite is by Kamahl.

I have come across a song which is calming and so very true of life, have a listen when you're having a bad time. Its called Desiderata, there are several artists that sing it but my favourite is by Kamahl.

metallica80 PMS/PMDD
  • replies: 1

Does anyone experience pms? I've found that's when my symptoms are at my worst what do people do to help with it?

Does anyone experience pms? I've found that's when my symptoms are at my worst what do people do to help with it?

SilvaLady Depressed and sadness
  • replies: 40

Hello, This is the first time I'm posting a new thread. I have been depressed for a number of years now. The anxiety that comes with it, makes it even harder. Often I burst into tears for no apparent reason and my thought patterns are often negative.... View more

Hello, This is the first time I'm posting a new thread. I have been depressed for a number of years now. The anxiety that comes with it, makes it even harder. Often I burst into tears for no apparent reason and my thought patterns are often negative. I tend to be hard on myself, though knowing that it is not "my fault" that I feel like this. To top it off, I found out yesterday that the Nursing Home I work is closing. I'm in my early 50's and the prospect of having to look for work, is daunting. I don't know what to do at the moment. SilvaLady

Spam75 Cyclical Depression, anxiety and self loathing.
  • replies: 1

Turns out I have had an undiagnosed/misdiagnosed condition since my early teens. I am now in my mid 40's. This accumulated in a public breakdown at work about 6 month ago. What used to happen is whenever things got too much I would run away I would d... View more

Turns out I have had an undiagnosed/misdiagnosed condition since my early teens. I am now in my mid 40's. This accumulated in a public breakdown at work about 6 month ago. What used to happen is whenever things got too much I would run away I would do this by selling everything I owned that was not essential and move to a new area/town/state and start fresh. As I worked in hospitality this was not really a problem as the industry has an extremely high turnover rate and it has allowed me to travel and live All around Australia so a positive there in my book but does not address the deeper issue. So 8 years ago I met the worlds most understanding and greatest woman in the world and she even agreed to marry me. We bought a little farm in a beautiful area I got out of the toxic hospitality enviroment and got a job with stability and worked to make our farm everything we could want..and it is. So why do I feel the way I do? I know I am in a better position than a lot of other people I have no debt to speak of the mortgage is paid off I should be the most happy go lucky guy on the planet. So I have everything i could want i really do. Yet I still feel like this and it's awful So I feel guilty and ashamed feeling like this when I know there are people a lot worse of than me, which leads to self loathing because of my selfishness which runs back into guilt which makes me anxious about everything which leads to depression which leads back to guilt which leads back to self loathing. now i have read my post back it seems whiny and insignificant to other peoples problems and i feel guilty about posting