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Depression

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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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SallyLouise92 Unexpected Break Up - Advice
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I've been reading alot of the forums and they all seem similar to my case. I've been away for six weeks, my boyfriend with Depression and Anxiety was supportive because I had booked the trip before meeting him. We spoke everyday, texting... View more

Hi everyone, I've been reading alot of the forums and they all seem similar to my case. I've been away for six weeks, my boyfriend with Depression and Anxiety was supportive because I had booked the trip before meeting him. We spoke everyday, texting all day, phone calls through out the day. Telling me that he feels empty without me days before I arrived back home. Felt like nothing was wrong. Only difference was he had an episode a few weeks before, cancelling all psych appts and medical appts, not going to work, not studying, not going to the gym, he had no motivation. We planned to sort through all these things together, he told me he needed my help and couldnt wait until I was home. Two days after being home, with again no real cause of concern, he dumped me. Said he doesnt feel the same way about me, had been feeling it for weeks. He blamed the break up on my neediness and insecutiries, and suggested I try and find myself. He discounted our relationship by saying it wasnt that long, however days before telling me how happy I make him. The man who broke up with me, wasnt the man I got to know for the past six months. The break up has completely taken me surprise and I am devastated. Any advice on the situation would be greatly apprecaited.

Guest_294 Just need a chat
  • replies: 10

So I just needed to vent my thoughts a little. I don’t have depression so I don’t know if it’s fair to post in this part of the website but it didn’t seem appropriate for the anxiety part either (which I probably align with more). Anyway, I am 18 and... View more

So I just needed to vent my thoughts a little. I don’t have depression so I don’t know if it’s fair to post in this part of the website but it didn’t seem appropriate for the anxiety part either (which I probably align with more). Anyway, I am 18 and in uni - I work part time as a tutor through a company (which is amazing and I love) and as a mentor/tutor at my old school. The latter is the problem. I work 2 hours a week and every week since I started I have sat here for 2 hours doing absolutely nothing. This is the perfect chance for my brain to start telling me all sorts of things and now I am sitting here and trying not to cry. It feels like the other two girls that tutor are always helping out and consequently I feel both useless and like I shouldn’t be here - like they made a mistake in hiring me. I know I’m not as smart as they are but I just feel stupid sitting here watching them. It feels like I’m wasting everyone’s time and money being here and I don’t know what to do. I am literally just sitting here in a now empty library and have done nothing. Since the term started, I’ve helped 2 students - were in week 8. I know these thoughts aren’t founded but I needed to get it written down - helps me control my emotions a bit more and I don’t want to start crying in the middle of my old school library...I haven’t really asked a question yet. I suppose I want to know, does anyone else ever feel like they just want to break down and cry? Is it ever for something as ridiculous as sitting for 2 hours at work and doing nothing? I mean that certainly shouldn’t be making me as upset as I am. I suppose that’s my anxiety speaking isn’t it...? Telling me everyone is watching me fail at what I’ve been hired to do? I’m thinking I might just quit. Probably not worth all this stress.

Jonahs123 Will these feelings ever stop and go away?
  • replies: 3

Everyday I feel empty. I wake up feeling empty, I eat feeling empty, I fall asleep feeling empty. The emptiness doesn't seem to go away. On top of this I have a sense of guilt, but im not sure what I exactly feel guilty about. I'm more of a type to b... View more

Everyday I feel empty. I wake up feeling empty, I eat feeling empty, I fall asleep feeling empty. The emptiness doesn't seem to go away. On top of this I have a sense of guilt, but im not sure what I exactly feel guilty about. I'm more of a type to bottle up my feelings before releasing it all out at once, which i've noticed makes me feel even worse, but I can't really stop myself from blocking out my emotions until it gets too much. I dont know if anyone feels this or if its just me, but everytime I go out with friends or others I feel like i'm not mean't to be there,my mind tells me that they dont want me to be there, despite also knowing that they aren't showing any signs of rejection towards me. I just feel like i'm jeporadising their time of fun, I feel like i'm ruining it for them. But, I want to be there at the same time cause I don't want to miss out, I don't want to go back to school and have them talk about this event which I decided to skip. I don't want to be seperated and unrelatable. I'm really fed up of feeling like this. I can feel offended and sad about someones comment or something they did despite it being such a small matter. An example would be me getting upset and angry at my friend because after me continiously trying to spend time with him because he had something happen to him, but everytime he would find a way to tell me that he doesnt feel like going or that he can't go. I know deep down that he probably isn't feeling well and that he wants some time alone, but I can't stop myself from being annoyed at him. Will this ever stop? Why have I become so sensetive?

Big_Red_Cat Relying on others for happiness
  • replies: 4

I recently confided in a friend that I feel very lonely and depressed because I have so little social contact with any of my friends anymore. I am now in my fourth year of uni and each year has been more difficult because friends don't have as much f... View more

I recently confided in a friend that I feel very lonely and depressed because I have so little social contact with any of my friends anymore. I am now in my fourth year of uni and each year has been more difficult because friends don't have as much free time. I spent a lot of Fridays and Saturdays working over the last three years and couldn't go out but no one is free to do anything anymore now that I'm more freed up. My social life is one-way texts (me texting friends and not getting anything back) and brief coffees every few months that I have to work hard to arrange. I also feel bad because the only time my friends usually reach out to me is when they need help with assessment. I know they aren't trying to hurt my feelings but it's very bad for your self-worth when people only contact you unexpectedly when they need to improve their grades. My birthday is also coming up in two weeks and I don't want to plan anything because I can't deal with being turned down by people anymore. With so many knockbacks when I try to have fun, I've resorted to doing heaps of things on my own. Some of these things have been good but I still feel really lonely and depressed. When I told my friend all of this, she said I shouldn't rely on other people for my happiness. It's not that she wasn't otherwise supportive, I just feel out of ideas since I need to be social to be happy. After months of going alone, I need more social time with my friends but that seems impossible. And given my struggles right now, that's all I need. Making new friends at 22 is confronting, terrifying and humiliating. Any advice is welcome. I am still friends with that friend but I was a bit taken aback by her advice not to rely on people when I was just saying I need more contact.

Olive96 Struggling with Depression from Lost Relationship
  • replies: 1

I have been through some bad relationships in my past. I've been through two very emotionally abusive relationships and I've dealt with men seeing me as something to "conquer" for the past few years. It's made me very untrusting of men. I recently op... View more

I have been through some bad relationships in my past. I've been through two very emotionally abusive relationships and I've dealt with men seeing me as something to "conquer" for the past few years. It's made me very untrusting of men. I recently opened myself up earlier this year to someone who I got along with very well. I've been quite closed off to the idea of being with anyone as I find I'm my most productive and my happiest self without the emotional weight of dating. This guy tried for quite a while though and eventually I allowed myself to enjoy being with someone. He made me feel really happy and appreciated, we spoke every day and given my experiences I thought I had a good read on him and could trust him. We slept together a few times, but then he began to change and wasn't the same kind, friendly person he'd been before. I became panicked at the thought that I'd let something like this happen to me again.When I voiced my feelings of upset to him, he didn't understand and tried to make me think that it had been in my head and I didn't have a right to be feeling manipulated the way I was. Whenever I try to express how I feel he tells me that I am being aggressive, having attitude or that I'm just starting an argument. He now treats me with no respect. This all happened in July and I thought I'd be feeling better by now but I feel worse. I've been through bouts of depression the past few years and am medicated for it. I usually manage to get over things quite fast as a result of the other things I've been through but for some reason this one is crippling me. I cry every night, sometimes I cry out of sadness and others its anger. He has no respect or feeling towards me and I feel like I didn't just lose a friend, but someone who I'd begun to open myself up to romantically for the first time in so long. I trusted him and he turned around and hurt me. Sometimes I feel like I don't want to do anything all day and the idea of getting out of my bed is even too hard. I regret ever speaking to him and I just feel broken. I rarely cry over a relationship or a boy but this one has hurt me so much worse than anything else. I just want to stop feeling how I feel towards him and feel like myself again. I usually know how to pull myself out of these low periods but it's been a few months now and I am really struggling.

emd2 Does talking about depression actually help?
  • replies: 1

I'm reaching out because I have been depressed for a long time and haven't been able to make changes to get out of it. My depression stems from financial pressures and the toll that is putting on my family. The financial situation is getting worse an... View more

I'm reaching out because I have been depressed for a long time and haven't been able to make changes to get out of it. My depression stems from financial pressures and the toll that is putting on my family. The financial situation is getting worse and I'm wanting to change my thinking to help change how I approach my work and make it more successful. I feel like by keeping focusing on the negative I can't see a way out. I have little so motivation do what's necessary even though I have things I could do to help. My thinking is very clouded with the stress of it so finding it very hard to make good decisions. My husband has lost his patience with the way I'm thinking and wants me to get help. I can't afford to go to a therapist right now. I tried earlier in the year but felt it was a waste of time. I guess I want to know if it's possible to fix depression and how long it takes, I don't have years. What are some good strategies to change to more positive thinking that people have tried when the problem they are facing seems beyond fixing?

bee2003 Isolation
  • replies: 2

Lately i've just felt this emptiness and sadness that won't go away. Even if I see people I always feel lonely? I used to have a problem with drugs and part of recovering was me cutting off the majority of the friends I had at the time. I'd known mos... View more

Lately i've just felt this emptiness and sadness that won't go away. Even if I see people I always feel lonely? I used to have a problem with drugs and part of recovering was me cutting off the majority of the friends I had at the time. I'd known most of them my whole life and even though cutting them off was the right thing for my recovery I still feel this pain of not having anyone who really knows me. It feels like most people my age have groups of friends they've known for years and thats what gives them confidence to meet new people and expand their circle. For me it feels like I'm starting from scratch all on my own and it's gotten to the point where my self esteem is so low and I'm so jealous of everyone around me. I don't know how to get out of this hole and I can't stop crying from the loneliness. Any advice on rebuilding friendships would be helpful.

Rainbow1234 Depressed Family Member
  • replies: 3

Hi all, i have a close family member who has depression (not diagnosed), she has had it for a long time and it’s continuing to get worse and I don’t know what to do anymore. She gets extremely jealous If positive things happen to others, she is insec... View more

Hi all, i have a close family member who has depression (not diagnosed), she has had it for a long time and it’s continuing to get worse and I don’t know what to do anymore. She gets extremely jealous If positive things happen to others, she is insecure about her looks & weight and hates going to crowded places, she’s always negative and becomes irritable easy and thinks she is a victim of the world basically. I have tried being patient and listen, being positive to boost her mood, I have snapped at her at times because I seem to be her outlet for all she is feeling which is makes me feel down after speaking with her and she just won’t get help. She doesn’t think she needs to talk to a professional or that it will do anything and her physical health is not the greatest (she won’t do anything about that either). So I just don’t know what to do anymore without getting dragged into her negative feelings. Her workplace have pulled her up on her negative attitude and approachability but even this isn’t a trigger for her to change. Any advice is appreciated!

MysticMark Centrelink Review
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I have to relocate interstate and terrified about a Centrelink review for my DSP. I will have new GP's, Clinical Psycologists etc. Not sure how they will understand me and support me with CL and the DSP. Is the CL review process for the DSP a... View more

Hi all, I have to relocate interstate and terrified about a Centrelink review for my DSP. I will have new GP's, Clinical Psycologists etc. Not sure how they will understand me and support me with CL and the DSP. Is the CL review process for the DSP as bad as applying for it in the first place? Thank you and you’re feedback will be greatly appreciated.

DarkSunshine Am i depressed?
  • replies: 15

Hi everyone, I've started a thread as I am not sure as to whether I am actually depressed or just very over-dramatic / moody. I have completed the beyond blue checklist and it came out with a high. I didn't want to self-diagnose anything and so i dec... View more

Hi everyone, I've started a thread as I am not sure as to whether I am actually depressed or just very over-dramatic / moody. I have completed the beyond blue checklist and it came out with a high. I didn't want to self-diagnose anything and so i decided to try out all the online checks i could find - of which all also said the same. Even after so many tests, I wasn't satisfied as I am in my teenage years anyways so it may just be me being over-dramatic and moody. I have come here to ask if anyone could help me figure out whether i may actually be depressed or if it's just a phase (age). I am willing to answer any questions (may be brief though). The reason I have been reluctant but to come here is because I can't go to my GP or anyone as I'm too scared for my parents to find out - I don't think they'd be very happy. Would mean a lot if someone could help me out because my behavior lately has been driving me and (pretty sure) everyone around me crazy. Thank you for your time and sorry for bothering everyone on here who have to go through so much more while i whine about my minor problems.