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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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lodo 29 and still living with parents and depressed.
  • replies: 9

I am a 29 years old male, single, turning 30 this year and I still live with my parents. I have a full time job. Been working at that job for 4+ years (I’m an office clerk), but I don’t make enough to be able to afford rent. I’ve recently completed a... View more

I am a 29 years old male, single, turning 30 this year and I still live with my parents. I have a full time job. Been working at that job for 4+ years (I’m an office clerk), but I don’t make enough to be able to afford rent. I’ve recently completed a Certificate III in IT from TAFE, and I’m in the process of trying to find a better job in IT. I’ve been trying to find a new job in IT for the last 6 months but haven’t had any success, due to a lack of experience in the IT field. Seriously, it’s infuriating and embarrassing for me. My parents keep telling me that its OK for me to stay at home with them, and as far as I know they don’t seem very interested in helping me become more self-sufficient, so I’ve been taking steps to achieve my goal of being self-sufficient by myself (by learning to cook my own meals, manage my own finances etc.) but my mother keeps cooking food for me even though I tell her that I would like to try and learn to cook by myself. Don’t get me wrong I love my parents and I’m not blaming them for my predicament, but they seem to have a “helicopter parents” vibe to them. I almost feel like running away to a Homeless Shelter or something just to leave my parents’ house. What’s your advice?

AirJordanFan93 Feeling Really Depressed Again
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone this is my first post on here in a long time. Im really struggling with my depression at the moment. I have been dealing with it on/off for years now but I am currently having my worst bout since the start of 2016. I think it might be eve... View more

Hi everyone this is my first post on here in a long time. Im really struggling with my depression at the moment. I have been dealing with it on/off for years now but I am currently having my worst bout since the start of 2016. I think it might be everything that is going on in the world at the moment just hitting me all at once as well as my personal issues. I am very much in a position where I am just really struggling with day to day life and see no purpose in it anymore. I broke down in the toilets at work today its the first time its happened in the near 6 years I have been at my current job but even that I can't deal with anymore. Honestly all I want to do is sleep since its basically the only thing that gives me any sort of joy at the moment and everything else is just a huge chore. Even after I got home from work this evening I went into my room and cried my eyes out again 2nd time that has happened in the space of a week. I should note I have had a change in duties recently and I am really struggling to deal with it and really don't know how to address it at work but I think its a massive reason that kick started my depression this past week. I find it really hard to open up to people in person but find it much easier to open up on forums and threads like this. Sorry if this got a little too personal I just needed somewhere to vent since I even struggle to open up to my parents with whom I still live with and if I do I would probably just break down in tears again.

Yelah90 Am I being selfish??
  • replies: 6

I'm almost 30. Don't get me wrong i love my grandparents dearly. But every week I help my mum out shopping with them. I get mad because my parents guilt trip me into helping. Because I have nothing better to do. I would rather be out ibushwalking ins... View more

I'm almost 30. Don't get me wrong i love my grandparents dearly. But every week I help my mum out shopping with them. I get mad because my parents guilt trip me into helping. Because I have nothing better to do. I would rather be out ibushwalking instead and enjoying my life, before I get goo. I'm just mad. That I'm kinda force into it. Then afterwards my mum goes and has a rest while I'm sitting home bored.

Missberri Depression from isolation
  • replies: 3

Hi, I have been feeling really really down lately and I'm not sure who to talk to. This whole year has been really tough on everyone and at the moment I'm having a hard time going back to how i was feeling before lockdowns and everything going out of... View more

Hi, I have been feeling really really down lately and I'm not sure who to talk to. This whole year has been really tough on everyone and at the moment I'm having a hard time going back to how i was feeling before lockdowns and everything going out of control. At the beginning of the year I was feeling pretty confident, I had so many plans for things I wanted to achieve this year like make new friends and spend more time with people in my life, find a new job in my field, possibly find a relationship. It's been very difficult to do any of these and I feel like I've completely lost my confidence and motivation to even try now and I just feel unhappy, lonely and not like my usual self at all. I never was a super confident person to begin with so now that all this has happened I feel like a complete mess and like I'm stuck in a black hole. Before covid I was seeing this guy and we were seeing eachother a bit when lockdowns first started. We were getting along so well but stopped because it was difficult with the restrictions. He started talking to me again recently and I was pretty excited to hear from him, but things felt so different like we werent talking as effortlessly and when I went to hang out with him it felt more awkward like I didn't even know what to say. He hasn't talked to me since we hung out now and I feel like it's because my social skills have gone so bad from the isolation that of course he wouldn't want to be around me. I wish I knew what to do to gain my confidence back I just feel so stuck and awful right now and I feel like I can't even see people because I'm so much of a mess that it will make me feel even worse. Someone please help

Elegance_and_euphoria Is there a way to be free from guilt?
  • replies: 2

A few years ago my mother attempted suicide. Since then I have been dealing with immense guilt. Everyday I walk around knowing I'm not enough to make her want to live and I know it's selfish to think like that but I can't help it. No matter what I do... View more

A few years ago my mother attempted suicide. Since then I have been dealing with immense guilt. Everyday I walk around knowing I'm not enough to make her want to live and I know it's selfish to think like that but I can't help it. No matter what I do now, it all feels pointless, I feel pointless. Nothing, including me, feels real or important anymore. I tried talking to a councillor at school about it but she didn't help. I can't talk to my mother about it as she already has enough on her plate. I can't tell my friends about it as I don't want to burden them with my baggage. I just need someone to talk to. Every time I see her face I feel guilty, I think about all the things I could possibly have done to make her want to stick around a bit longer. I've contemplated suicide myself but I could never do it to her or the rest of my family. I'm not mad at her for what she did, or rather, tried to do. I'm mad at myself for not doing anything, though I'm not sure I could have done anything at the age of 13. I don't feel real anymore...

Mickii Physical versus mental illness
  • replies: 6

Do other people feel physically ill when they are depressed?

Do other people feel physically ill when they are depressed?

LTee10 Feeling numb
  • replies: 5

I don’t exactly know if what I am feeling is classified as depression or if I am being over dramatic. For a long time now I have had negative thoughts about myself when I am sad/upset or having a bad day. I think that I am ugly, fat, useless, stupid ... View more

I don’t exactly know if what I am feeling is classified as depression or if I am being over dramatic. For a long time now I have had negative thoughts about myself when I am sad/upset or having a bad day. I think that I am ugly, fat, useless, stupid and I am a burden to everybody. Everything just hits me all at once. Most of the times I cry my eyes out to the point they are red and puffy, I listen to sad songs feeling so numb and broken my heart literally feels like it’s dropping. I have thoughts of suicide all the time when I am sad (but not actually attempt it as I am scared of the pain) I find myself writing goodbye notes to my family hoping it will help me/make me feel better. I feel so much hurt and sadness to the point I think everyone would be better off if I was gone or that I was not born. I so badly want to talk to someone about it but it’s hard trying to express myself, I feel like they may not understand or might even judge me. I can’t even talk to family about it as I am too embarrassed. I just need advice on what I should do because I hate these feelings and don’t want to feel them anymore.

Guest_9315 May have Bipolar 2
  • replies: 10

Greetings and Salutations, I haven't posted before, however I do find reading other threads helpful, thank you. It encourages me to speak out too. Please excuse my post if it's all over the place, as I'm not sure where to start. I'm not even sure wha... View more

Greetings and Salutations, I haven't posted before, however I do find reading other threads helpful, thank you. It encourages me to speak out too. Please excuse my post if it's all over the place, as I'm not sure where to start. I'm not even sure what I'm looking for!!! I guess, I'm just taking a step to to seek support in more ways than one. I've recently returned to seeing my psychologist, who believes I may have Bipolar 2. I'm going to continue seeing her on a regular basis (thankfully, it is bulk-billed). I'm also being referred to a psychiatrist - to discuss this further, and may have to go on medication. That scares me --- I'm afraid the medication will make me physically sick. But after speaking to friends and extended family, I'm open to anything at the moment as I feel like I need something to kickstart me into healing properly. I haven't been eating well and have lost a lot of weight. I know all the things I need to do, but I struggle to do them. What is breaking my heart is that I feel like my husband and children have deserted me, because of my poor mental health. My husband has attempted to support me in his own way. I can imagine he is worried and I can understand he is doing the best he can. My communication is quite poor and I know I need improvement in this area. I find it hard to speak, so instead I wrote a long letter to my family apologising for my poor mental health, assuring them I am seeking help. The thing is, in the past, I have tried to do this on my own and convince myself I'm okay. Clearly, I'm not. I feel like they've given up on me. Which is also understandable, as I often give up... Before I 'lose my temper', I feel convinced it is justified. I have reason to get pissed off. I live quite an alternative lifestyle. My said hubby doesn't have a regular job, but rather does what he wants when he wants. I have a business from home that takes up a lot of my time. People around me aren't surprised I've lost my mind living with him. He himself is all over the place, but is convinced he's altogether. So much so, he has convinced our children (and me over and over and over again) that 'there's something not right with Mummy. she needs help'. I had a serious car accident when I was a toddler, which I have always lived with and presumed was okay with, but now am feeling this trauma has affected me and contributed to my 'mental damage'. Anyway, I just wanted to reach out. Thank you for taking the time, x

white knight Bipolar 2, coping with it
  • replies: 0

Everyone is an individual, but here is the challenges that I undertook post correct diagnosis. Here below is references to help you cope with bipolar 2. (Topics in bold you can put in the search bar to read- just read the first posts) Acceptance- som... View more

Everyone is an individual, but here is the challenges that I undertook post correct diagnosis. Here below is references to help you cope with bipolar 2. (Topics in bold you can put in the search bar to read- just read the first posts) Acceptance- some of us get all emotional when it dawns on us that we will take meds for the rest of our lives. It’s not that bad. Acceptance- is this our biggest challenge? Part of YOU- bipolar is a part of you as are your limbs and your character. Motivation- it plays a big part because others will over criticise you. Feeding your brain Guilt- You won’t ever get rid of it but like everything with bipolar, reducing it helps. Guilt the tormentor Relaxation- Another way of caring for yourself. Meditation- words of wisdom- he helped me for 25 years Sensitivity- You won’t get rid of this either but you can improve it. Also don’t feel guilty about it. Again it’s part of YOU. Words are stick and stones Expectations- We crave support. It’s normal to want it. However giving it to an invisible illness challenges our loved ones. This forum fills a void.. “Normal” people will not understand Non professional interference. Seems everyone around us is an expert. Yet it takes one to be a GP then many extra years of study to be a psychiatrist. You’ll need to counter these people. Defend yourself! Wit/ the only answer for torment and Fortress of survival (plus part 2) and Vulnerable- be ready to defend Support. You can get it here on this forum, support groups and reading/research This bipolar life Suicidal thoughts. They might come around. Remember, tomorrow they may not be there. They arrive like an unwanted visitor. Avoiding suicidal thoughts or intent and Suicidal thought and choices and Saving yourself from doom Rejection- you’ll lose friends, even family. You’ll close ranks and turmoil is something you’ll have to cope with. Disowned by family members- how to survive it Anger. You might find you can be explosive. Introducing ways to quell it is beneficial. Anger- can you own it? I hope these guidelines on coping with bipolar help you. Please feel free to discuss them or add to them TonyWK

Jarred28 Major Depression
  • replies: 3

Have been diagnosed with major depression for quite some time now and just feel like giving up. Will this ever get any better My family all call me a sook and that there’s nothing for me to be depressed about and I need to get over myself. I have no ... View more

Have been diagnosed with major depression for quite some time now and just feel like giving up. Will this ever get any better My family all call me a sook and that there’s nothing for me to be depressed about and I need to get over myself. I have no friends to talk to this stuff about as they bully me about my mental health and just generally don’t seem to care. Just so confused in life have no idea what to do, just want to move away and hide forever.

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