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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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Garfield2020 Feeling emotionless and in a daze
  • replies: 15

Shit went down recently for me (lost someone. No one died). I was distraught for a couple of days. Crying a lot. Absolutely shattered. And then I started feeling emotionless even though I know I would and should be feeling emotions. I feel dazed and ... View more

Shit went down recently for me (lost someone. No one died). I was distraught for a couple of days. Crying a lot. Absolutely shattered. And then I started feeling emotionless even though I know I would and should be feeling emotions. I feel dazed and trance like. Like a haze. I stare at things but I'm not zoning out or actually staring. I don't feel anything. I don't feel love, despair, hope, sadness, no empathy. Sometimes I get closer to feeling things but I just can't. I'm edging on feeling emotions. When I do my evening walks, it's extra weird because I just walk like a zombie staring up ahead but not at anything and I just mindlessly walk. Completely emotionless. I've had experienced this a lot before. I'm only just talking about it know because me feeling nothing right now is really weird. I just want to feel something. And I want to care. But I can't make myself feel anything or care. (btw I don't self harm, never have.) The only thing that showed I still felt anything was my back pain and shoulder pain which is caused by things like anxiety or stress. But that's also gone. I used to be scared I was a psychopath or something because I never felt anything at all. No empathy, no care ect. I told a friend about this and they said that it sounded like disassociation but honestly I have no clue. But It could also be depression? Is it grief? I don't know. I just want to feel something so badly. I also worry that it means I don't care about what happened or the person I've lost.

lemontime HI need of help
  • replies: 5

Hi imma just come all out here since it's all confidential, I'm 21 just been through the run of my life.. The end of February I got told I was gonna be a dad & i didn't take it well at all, I said some shit that I shouldn't of said & my gf broke up w... View more

Hi imma just come all out here since it's all confidential, I'm 21 just been through the run of my life.. The end of February I got told I was gonna be a dad & i didn't take it well at all, I said some shit that I shouldn't of said & my gf broke up with me, we then we're going through the idea of being single parents that I didn't want, I kinda felt like I got used for sex & other stuff.. We kinda talked on and off after the break up, I was at work a few weeks ago & got a text saying she had a miscarriage, I didn't even find out much about what's happened & it kind of destroyed me as i ended up coming to terms with having a kid & then everything got taken away, we are still split up & I've been trying to battle this on my own.. Sorry if some parts don't make sense, any help would be greatly appreciated!

Daysinthesun I have been feeling strange
  • replies: 1

I had a really hard time last year. I moved to Australia to study and struggled a lot. There were days when I was so lifeless and didn't want to get out of bed. I had trouble falling asleep but once I did, I didn't used to wake up long hours. I used ... View more

I had a really hard time last year. I moved to Australia to study and struggled a lot. There were days when I was so lifeless and didn't want to get out of bed. I had trouble falling asleep but once I did, I didn't used to wake up long hours. I used to sleep till 18 hours. I didn't think there was a point to keep going. I also had moments where I was feeling so good that I felt everything was fine. I was crazy energised and I used to sleep really really less and didn't feel tired. I also spend a lot of money (a lot) and regretted that so much. I didn't think too much. I just thought I was feeling this way because of moving away. Anyways I went home and everything was super normal. The problem is that when I came back go Australia after a few months, this started happening again. The only difference is that now I am living with my friends. They said that I seem really strange and I should see someone as I might have the bipolar disorder after I told what had happened last year. I got really scared when I heard that. I looked up a lot of articles online and saw that usually when someone has the bipolar disorder the mania symptoms last usually for a few days. When I tried to think about mine, I couldn't remember anything clearly from last year. I have no idea about how long the highs lasted. The highs were super less compared to the lows. I only had one high episode after coming back (it's been a few weeks) where I was super happy but it only lasted a few hours. Could this be bipolar disorder? I want to add that the depressed time always lasts for at least a few days if not weeks.

Feelingcascade What to do
  • replies: 2

What do people do when it all becomes too much and outlets are not working or you can't do them? BP2 and being stuck at home and losing all my previous outlets to help manage my depression has me losing my mind. I can't go to gym and can't easily go ... View more

What do people do when it all becomes too much and outlets are not working or you can't do them? BP2 and being stuck at home and losing all my previous outlets to help manage my depression has me losing my mind. I can't go to gym and can't easily go outdoors and exercise cause i have 4 young kids. If I can manage it it only temporarily helps. I can't go see friends and try talk to them frequently but it's not the same. I can't do anything for my self care as everything is closed. I was managing well before now with routines and things to do and it's really affecting me. I'm feeling so worthless and have no motivation for anything and just cry randomly all the time with thoughts of self harm creeping back in. I'm also becoming so anxious and paranoid and jumpy and just can't shake the 'funk'. I've chatted to lifeline and it helped voicing how trapped I'm feeling but again it only helped temporarily. Visited the GP to touch base and he's added a medication to try of a night. But I need ideas or sources/resources of what I can do during the day to get passed this because i can feel the mini crisis slowly unravelling more

Anahia Feeling less than human
  • replies: 1

Hi I am 29 yo student in Australia. I've been feeling horrible lately and I don't know what to do. I lost my job, I have a couple of months worth of savings to pay rent and food, and then I don't know what will happen. I can't go back to my home coun... View more

Hi I am 29 yo student in Australia. I've been feeling horrible lately and I don't know what to do. I lost my job, I have a couple of months worth of savings to pay rent and food, and then I don't know what will happen. I can't go back to my home country. Logistically, I can't, there are no flights and all possible countries to do layover along the way have close their borders. But I also can't because there is nothing to go back to. I have fought for the last 4years to build a life here, Australia was my bet for a future without fear and after 4 years I was finally feeling save, hopeful even. I had friends, a goddaughter that I adore, a life that I was happy living. And in 1 month it crumbled. I'm waking up every day crying, and I have trouble getting anything done during the day. I'm terrified. Every time I try to think of something else the thought of going back pops into my head and I start panicking. I can't concentrate on reading or even watching TV. All I can think is what am I going to do? how do I pay the bills? what if I have to go back? I feel less than human. Like all it matters about me is the paper that says I don't belong here. It feels like the world is saying that my life doesn't matter as much, that I am not a life worth saving, that if I go back and died it's not important. And I'm having a really tough time trying to convince myself that that's not true. That I am not a waste of space.

Peacefuldove Feeling depressed and quite alone
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I'm 24 years old and I was just wondering if anyone had ever felt the same way as me... Every since I was little, I was always an introverted person even up to high school. I did have a lot of people who wanted to be my friend, but it wa... View more

Hi everyone, I'm 24 years old and I was just wondering if anyone had ever felt the same way as me... Every since I was little, I was always an introverted person even up to high school. I did have a lot of people who wanted to be my friend, but it was weird because I was always quite content on my own. In highschool I did have quite a few friends, but they weren't very nice people at all, and I did cut a lot of them off later on. It was only until year 11-12 that I started talking a lot more, connecting more with people, going to parties etc.. It wasn't until after school that I started making a lot more friends, and it had felt like I had become almost facebook famous at one stage, but when I was 19 was when I started to get really bad depression, and started to fall in and out of it. I ended up making two really good friends who ended up betraying me later, and I know most people would say your still young etc, but because I have been either been used a lot and taken advantage a lot, been friends with narcasstic people who either put me down, it almost feels like I'm not bothered anymore. I deleted my Facebook about 3 years ago, because I felt like no one would bothered with me, comparing myself to other people, negative energy etc.. A few people have often told me that I'm either too nice, which I knew that for a while, so cutting people off who I knew weren't treating me good almost became easy, and I had always felt like my kindness had been taken for granted or abused. Even before then, I started feeling more isolated then ever, almost always falling back into loneliness or isolation. I have two aquaintences/friends who I am grateful for, who I talk to from time to time, but I just feel withdrawn and I don't connect with them. And I almost feel like it's my fault or guilty, because I never really bothered that much in my younger years. I know I'm still young but I almost feel like I can't make effort anymore, like my emotions are almost numb because I have been in pain for a lot of my life. It's just whenever I seem to extrovert myself, it seems to backfire later on. I'm trying to love myself for who I am, even I have gotten involved with men who have either ended up saying the right things/ghosting me, so I naturally have a lot of trust issues. I Was just wondering is it okay to not have any friends at this age, and still try to live your life to the fullest? Was wondering if anyone else felt the same way at all? I feel always alone within myself.

Crss newbie here - any help would be helpful
  • replies: 5

Hi I am a 34 teacher who is currently feeling very lonely. This loneliness started before COVID when I was a teenager whose friends kept moving on. Being part of a youth group felt like a cover where it's like I had many friends but in reality I had ... View more

Hi I am a 34 teacher who is currently feeling very lonely. This loneliness started before COVID when I was a teenager whose friends kept moving on. Being part of a youth group felt like a cover where it's like I had many friends but in reality I had none. Being told that it is a natural part of life doesn't help as I feel its my fault. Now at 34 I struggle to keep the friends feeling that they will also move on. At the moment it's hard to get up. I find myself interacting with less people (even before COVID) I don't see the joy in the things that I used to love and it's hard to see the good the things I am currently doing. I've never had a boyfriend and the hope of being loved like that dwindles each day. I feel like I am surrounded by women (in my job and in life) and have no interactions with men except those in my family. I hate it when people comment 'when are you getting married?' because I have tried to interact with men in the past but they have never seen me that way. I am afraid that I will be alone in life, surrounded by family BUT still alone. My current job is stressful having taken a job that I thought would be fulfilling but is not.I feel like I have been pressured by my family to get a full time job as it is the normal thing to do. BUT felt like I left a perfectly good part time job that I loved to get this normal job which I (atm) hate. I feel like a fraud I have studied 2 degrees of education BUT I have not found this field fulfilling. At the moment I am living at home with parents, they still think of me as a child. I know it is coming from a place of love BUT I find if suffocating and at times frustrating. My dad also suffers from anxiety and depression which sometimes is difficult to deal with. Sometimes I just feel like living in my room and not coming out because I don't want to deal with them. My brother will be moving out soon I am worried that I will be getting more depressed when its just my parents and I. I am worried that I will get more of the focus since I will be the only 'child' living there. I wish they would give me a little more freedom. I want to move away from home but that last time they did that they made me feel guilty about leaving them and not taking care of them. Spend most of my time online or just in my room. It's the only place I feel at home. Feel like life is passing me by, that I am not living it but just staring at it afraid to move. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Lee1234 Alone
  • replies: 1

Hi my name is Lee. I have recently split up with my partner after a long term relationship right in the middle of this pandemic. I live alone and being in isolation and trying to deal with the break up is making my bipolar rear it's ugly head of depr... View more

Hi my name is Lee. I have recently split up with my partner after a long term relationship right in the middle of this pandemic. I live alone and being in isolation and trying to deal with the break up is making my bipolar rear it's ugly head of depression. Would love to chat to anyone. Thanks xxx

Murkywater Feeling worthless n alone
  • replies: 8

hey. ive been having a pretty rough time. I don’t really know what’s going on. My mind is always thinking about stuff. I’ve had a history of bad relationships. I feel like I am a good person. I am always doing what I can for everyone. But now I feel ... View more

hey. ive been having a pretty rough time. I don’t really know what’s going on. My mind is always thinking about stuff. I’ve had a history of bad relationships. I feel like I am a good person. I am always doing what I can for everyone. But now I feel like no one has ever really had my back. People have always taken me for granted. I feel like my generation sucks to be a nice guy. I just feel worthless a lot even though I try my best. I feel down. I can’t sleep. I’m often crying. I kind of miss my ex girlfriend. Even though she treated me wrong and was toxic and manipulative . It felt like someone cared a bit. my cat passed away last year. I miss her a lot. i just feel like I have no one. Voices in my head just keep asking me if anyone cares or if anyone notices kind of thing. I just wish someone out there could understand. I feel like I’m going crazy. This has been going on for a while. I’ve gotten help from a doctor recently. But tonight just feels really bad. I just don’t know what to do

TR485 everybody lies
  • replies: 1

Honest truth required. Who in their right mind can offer me some advice, I don't know who can help me. I have been living in a foreign country for the past 5 years. I have completed my 3 year studies from the local university while working part time ... View more

Honest truth required. Who in their right mind can offer me some advice, I don't know who can help me. I have been living in a foreign country for the past 5 years. I have completed my 3 year studies from the local university while working part time and only getting the tuition fees paid. Upon completion of studies, I got my first job in my field of study but after the probation period, I was made redundant. Depression hit me when I was back to working midnight to dawn shifts at the local service station. I kept applying for work but nobody accepted me. I then worked in a restaurant as a bartender, and left that job because the management was being horrible and I would only find solace in drinking and that was a problem. I was not finding any other work and then my lease ended. I found a place that would accept cash and rented it out but due to the pandemic, I lost my job at the cafe and I am being evicted because I do not have the money to pay for rent nor do I have a place to go. That is because my visa expires today and I have no clue what to do? Should I stay here and study a degree that is going to be beneficial in the long run or go back to a country where I have spent less time than here. if anybody tells you cultural norm is bs then they are wrong. I had no idea how to behave with my own parents because they did not see certain things in my way. OH and did I tell you that I just realised I have concentration problems, horrible addiction, loss of focus (ADHD). WHAT DO I DO? I FEEL HELPLESS. To anyone reading this here and feeling helpless, I GENUINELY SYMPATHISE WITH YOU. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Sorry, to many capital letters can be daunting. if you're a fan of B99 then you might've read it as Capt. Holt's voice. Thats funny. Anyways, look. I don't know who can help me, but im certain that there are others who have a more genuine concern. Look after one another and stay safe. Peace and love.