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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.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 0

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

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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T_D Dealing with depression in everyday circumstances and strong episodes
  • replies: 4

Hi, I have had anxiety for as long as I remember so I have become quite used to coping with it, but I was recently also diagnosed with depression too. I honestly have no idea how to cope with depression so when I get to a really bad place I just turn... View more

Hi, I have had anxiety for as long as I remember so I have become quite used to coping with it, but I was recently also diagnosed with depression too. I honestly have no idea how to cope with depression so when I get to a really bad place I just turn to the people around me to help me. I have found that no matter how well-intended they are, none of these people know what to say and so often respond with something along the lines of 'don't feel that way' or 'stop thinking like that' and I'm only comfortable talking to very few people because I don't want to scare people or be judged. I struggled a lot with the decision to post this because I often feel like I don't have a right to be depressed because I don't have any significant issues in my life at the moment to have triggered it. But, my mind is constantly filled with a cloud of pain that makes me upset, frustrated, isolated, etc. I can't seem to escape it and it's almost like a weight is constantly pressing down on me. I was just wondering if anybody has been through similar or has any tips on how to deal with depression with the constant everyday weight it puts on you as well as the individual episodes when it is particularly hard to cope with and emotions are heightened even more. I would really appreciate some help. Thanks, T

tashajay92 It’s finally time I get myself help
  • replies: 2

Hey I don’t know how to do this so I guess I will start by saying I have been suffering anxiety pretty much since I was a child buy it’s only been very bad in the last 2+ years. My family lost one of my brothers who, from what I was told from my moth... View more

Hey I don’t know how to do this so I guess I will start by saying I have been suffering anxiety pretty much since I was a child buy it’s only been very bad in the last 2+ years. My family lost one of my brothers who, from what I was told from my mother, I had a special bond with. He was 9 and I was only 10 months old when it happened. I still feel our missing piece till this day. A couple of years later my father walked out on us and moved state and he was never around or had never bothered. I had to see a therapist when I was a child cause of it. All throughout school I was the main target for bullying, I still don’t know why but I guess it was because I was quiet and never stood up for myself so I was an easy target, I never wanted to go to school and I can remember going to sleep some nights and hoping I didn’t wake up or I woke up somewhere different cause I didn’t want to go back to that school. The bullying stopped when I was 14 and finally cracked and started standing up for myself. When I was 16 mum packed us up and we moved 4 hours away to the city where I could start fresh, I was in a new school, made new friends and every was actually going well for a while then when I was 18 I got into my 1st serious relationship. It was all fine at the start then it quickly turned into his gaslighting me, emotionally abusing me and constantly cheating on me, the relationship lasted about three years, my anxiety got bad again and I developed depression. He ended the relationship without a reason and all I wanted to do was end my life cause I thought I was the reason it ended and my self esteem was so low and I just felt empty and alone. I almost did commit one night but didn’t go through with it. Not long after I decided I needed to help myself and I slowly got myself better and the depression slowly went away. A couple of months later I got into my 2nd serious relationship, unfortunately he was here on a visa and when it ended the relationship was long distance for a while. He moved back over after a while and we started the visa and everything was fine up until the last 6 months of our relationship he he got very weird on me but would never communicate but would complain when I didn’t communicate. A couple of months later I caught him out cheating on me. My anxiety got real bad after that. i will continue this story on the comments cause there isn’t enough room for my massive vent on here.

NellieJ Feeling dark all over again.
  • replies: 3

I haven’t been on this forum for while. I guess not wanting to admit to the fact that I’m feeling exactly the same as I did 5 years. Only now the dark side is scary and affecting everyday life. Happy and fulfilled days are getting less. I’m back to t... View more

I haven’t been on this forum for while. I guess not wanting to admit to the fact that I’m feeling exactly the same as I did 5 years. Only now the dark side is scary and affecting everyday life. Happy and fulfilled days are getting less. I’m back to tears, for what appears to be no reason, restlessness and concentration are extremely difficult. I’ve taken to scrapbooking to try to get my mind thinking about a particular activity and “achieve” something. I’ve gotten so good at making cards for every type of occasion and decorative boxes that you can put just about anything in, to the extent that now I don’t know what to do with it all. Sleep is basically impossible. I feel as if I’m in a constant state of nervous unrest. I worry to the enth degree about everything to the point that I feel sick to the stomach and heart going a thousand miles an hour. I have a brother-in-law that has severe depression problems and have mentioned the way I feel a couple of times to family, but just get “you’re just worrying over nothing” or “suck it up, there’s nothing wrong with you” it’s probably just menopause. It’s taken me ages to write this as I keep deleting it thinking I’m just having stupid feelings.

sadvet Was unhappy at previous job, now unemployed and depressed
  • replies: 3

Hello, So I have posted several months ago that I was not happy working at my previous job. I was crying in the middle of the night, and was just anxious all the time. I have been seeing a clinical psychologist since I started working, and more recen... View more

Hello, So I have posted several months ago that I was not happy working at my previous job. I was crying in the middle of the night, and was just anxious all the time. I have been seeing a clinical psychologist since I started working, and more recently saw a career counsellor as well. Everyone has been supportive of me to quit my job, and after 6 months I have finally resigned. It has been over a month since I resigned. I have applied to several other clinics but so far all of them have chosen other candidates. Naturally, I started becoming anxious and depressed again, as I am afraid that I have just ruined my chance of getting a job. On hindsight, I should have found a job first, then quit. But work was becoming unbearable for me, that I have decided to quit regardless of my status. One of the interviewers might have implied that I lack resilience, and this was a stab to my heart. It felt like everything I did was a mistake, like quitting my job in just 6 months, choosing that job in the first place, and even choosing that degree. I could not stop thinking about what I could have done. I just wanted to know for those who have been in a similar situation, what did you do to keep yourself positive and motivated? I really only opened up to my psychologist and partner about my situation. I didn't want to disappoint my parents, who have been so supportive of me so far.

kevin_ak Are anti depressents making a difference?
  • replies: 3

Hi I’m curious for comments on how effective anti-depressants are for different people. In 2006 I discovered the mood swings I’d had my whole life weren’t “normal” and I was diagnosed with depression. Being medicated for the last 13 years has made a ... View more

Hi I’m curious for comments on how effective anti-depressants are for different people. In 2006 I discovered the mood swings I’d had my whole life weren’t “normal” and I was diagnosed with depression. Being medicated for the last 13 years has made a difference. I no longer experience periods of unjustified rage like I use. (A good thing) but the medications I’ve tried over the years have never actually made me happy. I’m like everyone else on the planet and want the magic pill that will fix my woes but the medications I take just seem to take the edge off which is better than nothing but not enough. So basically I’m curious about how medications are working for people. If your mood is a 1 does your medication take you to 5 or just 2? I’m not after medication types or doses, I’m just disillusioned with anti-depressants and want a gauge of weather I’m expecting too much Thanks Kevin

goalstosmile Why do I feel I don't know myself anymore..?
  • replies: 8

Hi Community ! I thought I would come for some guidance as I am really stuck and I have been for quite some time now. A few things since this time last year have completely turned my life upside down, I can totally say exactly a year ago today I had ... View more

Hi Community ! I thought I would come for some guidance as I am really stuck and I have been for quite some time now. A few things since this time last year have completely turned my life upside down, I can totally say exactly a year ago today I had no idea what it was to feel depressed, anxious or anything like that but just a month later, I knew it all in one hit. There are a bunch of things that keep me awake til 3-4 am each night... what to do with my life (I don't know who I am or what I want to do and I have tried to experiment many things) why I have barely any friends, maybe one or two which I speak to every fortnight or so... and how can I find myself again. I am so scared every day that this might be me forever, because one entire year of my life has been spent trying to figure the hell out what is going on? I have a partner, who works a very demanding career and I rarely see or speak to him so it's tough. He does not quite understand this at all but he can be supportive. My family and I all have great relationships but we do not speak to personally about these issues, so I pretty much keep it all to myself and want to figure it out that way, they just know I am different as I spend majority of my days hidden in the walls of my bedroom. I keep wishing I can go back to over a year ago and be the person who was so damn happy, who woke up each day early to go to work and lived each day with purpose, the person who was rarely seen in their room, the person who was happy to socialise and just live! I want to do all of these things, but I just can't. I don't know if others will understand (I hope someone does) but I cannot get myself out of this without falling into anxiousness, depression / sadness or self doubt. Help help! Lots of love to all of you, been super supportive in this community. xx

Bgcg Personal health advice needed please.
  • replies: 10

Hello, i'm new to posting in the forums, though I have looked at them over the last year or so. I guess I will start with some background information, i'm 25, Male and currently studying my masters with 9 months to go. I have had anxiety for roughly ... View more

Hello, i'm new to posting in the forums, though I have looked at them over the last year or so. I guess I will start with some background information, i'm 25, Male and currently studying my masters with 9 months to go. I have had anxiety for roughly 6-7 years (comes and goes). The last 2 years a lot of negative events have happened in my life, 3 close family deaths, 1 of which was unexpected and my partner of 4.5 years, after that persons passing developed serious depression and 4 months ago told me she wanted a 'break'. Now I know how all 'breaks' end, I guess what really has me at a loss is that we where a great couple, travelled a lot together, had talked a lot about the next steps in our life and then suddenly it was all over. Anyway that's a bit of a back story, my anxiety has well and truly come back with vengeance and I fear that depression is knocking as well. Im not sure on the next steps to take not only for myself but for my now ex, I have insisted that she goes and talks to a professional but it doesn't seem to be happening and she is after 'space'. For myself I have been exercising daily and eating well but if anyone has any other strategies I would love to hear them. While I am here the other thing that is making me feel down is that I feel 'old', now I hope I dont offend anyone saying that as i know 25 inst old by any means, I just cant seem to shake this thought. Apologise for the rant. I look forward to your replies.

Raffijane Bipolar 2 - Recent diagnosis
  • replies: 5

Hi all I have recently had a diagnosis of with Bipolar 2. It is as if everything in my life to date makes complete and perfect sense. I grew up in an extremely abusive household. That aside my memories of certain situations and things I have done are... View more

Hi all I have recently had a diagnosis of with Bipolar 2. It is as if everything in my life to date makes complete and perfect sense. I grew up in an extremely abusive household. That aside my memories of certain situations and things I have done are now making sense. I have been on and off anti-depressants for a very long time. They always worked fast and stop working after a few years. I have seen counselors and psychologists and finally gave up and went to see a psychiatrist. After a thorough and detailed history she said I think 'you have bipolar 2'. Her explanations and discussion explained me exactly. More depressed than happy. Go for days feeling pretty crappy functioning and feeling so low and then out of nowhere I am happy. When I am happy I am stupid happy-over confident, can do anything, joking, singing, multi task off the charts, mind racing, chatty, obsessed with sexual thoughts but risky sex, the best way to explain it is that I feel 'high and floaty'. As suddenly as it comes it goes and I'm back to mopey. sad and thinking that everyone hates me. This has gone on forever. And got worse as I have gotten older. So now I am taking new medication at night to assist in a stabilizing my mood and and anti-depressent for anxiety/depression during the day. I feel relieved and even more so the nutcase. I have always felt alone and on the outside of what others call 'life' - friends, parties, travel cars, excitement etc. I am intolerant of superficial things and I can go from pretty okay to angry, angry in a flash. I hate anything that I perceive as unfair. I feel like an emo fairy. I feel like I have no tribe. I hate it and everyday it feels like I have to rebuild myself and put myself back together again. How do I make and keep friends? How do I trust after a childhood of severe abandonment? Any comments or suggestions or stories or what ever helpful.

Kosmicchaos I don't know why I am doing the things I do currently.
  • replies: 4

Hiya, I am not sure where to post this, tonight I've experienced an event and I have no idea what to make of it, I'm currently 25 studying a computer science degree and tonight I just broke down, I took a pair of scissors and cut all of my shoulder l... View more

Hiya, I am not sure where to post this, tonight I've experienced an event and I have no idea what to make of it, I'm currently 25 studying a computer science degree and tonight I just broke down, I took a pair of scissors and cut all of my shoulder length hair off and snapped my favorite game console my Nintendo switch over my leg. I don't know what lead me to this, I'm kind of scared. I've been miserable recently, I've removed all of my photos from Facebook because I can no longer bear to look at myself, I feel so alone, I have no one I can talk to about this, I have been trying to discuss my problems with people in my life Iike my current partner but everyone brushes me off, I'm at my breaking point, I really don't know what to do...

Rob851 Sensory overload??
  • replies: 7

Hi I suffer from major depression and anxiety. When I’m at the bottom strange things happen. For example I live in a quiet suburb and on land so everything is calm an quiet or slow paced. Today I was driven to an appointment about 45 mins away in a b... View more

Hi I suffer from major depression and anxiety. When I’m at the bottom strange things happen. For example I live in a quiet suburb and on land so everything is calm an quiet or slow paced. Today I was driven to an appointment about 45 mins away in a built up city. When leaving it’s bearable but once you get further into the city everything sort of explodes! Like there is so much stimuli going on with cars and merging lanes, blinkers, traffic lights, signs, anxiety from the other cars if they are going to run into you or stop short. And I just couldn’t take it, couldn’t even speak to the person driving felt like I was about to shut down with all the craziness, so confused can’t concentrate on 1 thing. Has this happend to you? Am I the only 1?