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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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StillToBloom I was told my depression is not 'real' depression
  • replies: 18

I have been suffering from depression and anxiety continuously for 7 years. I have seen many mental health professionals and tried 4 common antidepressants with no relief to my symptoms. I have finally found a psychologist who is kind and helpful but... View more

I have been suffering from depression and anxiety continuously for 7 years. I have seen many mental health professionals and tried 4 common antidepressants with no relief to my symptoms. I have finally found a psychologist who is kind and helpful but I still experience strong feelings of hopelessness, apathy, no motivation and just in general do not really enjoy anything about my life. So I went to see a psychiatrist for some specialist insight into medications to try to help me start climbing out of the black hole. It was the psychiatrist who told me my depression was not an illness because I was not suicidal. She told me that I had just got too comfortable in my living situation (living with my parents) and should have tried harder to get a job even when I have no confidence or self-worth. She said that my parents should have put pressure on me to 'do something with my life' and that they should not have been concerned about causing me distress if I was not suicidal. She said I should lose weight and take pride in my appearance so that I will be more confident. I cannot get the things she said out of mind. I believe what she said because she is an 'expert'. I am starting to believe that my condition is all my fault. I felt like I have taken on as much as I can while trying to recover, but now I feel like I must have just been lazy. It is a week until I can see my psychologist again and I don't know how to deal with the extra burden of those comments going around in my head. I'm not even sure that I am right to be upset. I'm not certain that her comments were inappropriate. I don't know how to tell my GP that this psychiatrist may not have properly understood what I am going through, because my GP will start using the psychiatrist's letter to set out my recovery plan.

Curleee Reflections on our current health crisis
  • replies: 15

Hello there, Just a comment..... but I've been asked so many times in the last few weeks , how I'm feeling about it all. I must also say that I am in no risky cohorts..... so maybe I have a luxury around that. But basically I wanted to talk about and... View more

Hello there, Just a comment..... but I've been asked so many times in the last few weeks , how I'm feeling about it all. I must also say that I am in no risky cohorts..... so maybe I have a luxury around that. But basically I wanted to talk about and see what others might be thinking, in terms of this whole thing. I, to be honest, have it at the very back of mind. Not that it's not important, but just that my Mental Health scenario always has to take precedence. (And in some ways, it would be nice to have the tiny luxury of focusing fully on this health crisis; rather than my mental health)….. so it would be good to see where are others are with all of this..... I am watching the wind (i.e. the virus) whoosh past me and watching it go by, but essentially, day-to-day, it is always about getting myself and keeping myself somewhere in the middle (emotionally)….. hmmm...... that's all from me, for now...… thanks for your thoughts

SteveB1978 New guy just struggling.. again
  • replies: 12

Hello, My first post here.. feels safe to open up a bit on here.. I’ve struggled with depression since 2005 (after some traumatic evens) I was put on medication but never really felt it helped much.. but I got through it eventually and enjoyed most d... View more

Hello, My first post here.. feels safe to open up a bit on here.. I’ve struggled with depression since 2005 (after some traumatic evens) I was put on medication but never really felt it helped much.. but I got through it eventually and enjoyed most days until about 2017. My marriage was falling apart for many reasons, however February 2018 we separated. I feel I was forced out, we owned a fitness business but she lost my trust from a previous affair and always having guys over from the gym.. the wheels where definitely falling off. Anyway since the separation and now divorce my whole life has fallen apart.. She set the situation up and I basically lost everything including our fitness business which she now runs.. I’ve been in and out of jobs but nothing has really worked out. I see our kids, 35% of the time but been hard to adjust not seeing them everyday.. this is just the very small story of all the mess I currently feel in.. but it’s a small start to opening up. Currently my depression and anxiety is very crippling. Just really want to not feel like this.. just don’t know if I can ever get through this. that’s it for now.. thanks for ready.. hope it makes a bit of sense.. and my head is in a spin from the mess I’m in right now.

Djk78 How do I help a partner suffering from depression?
  • replies: 3

hey all, new to these forums but I am desperate. My partner of 6 years has suffered with depression for around the last 4 or so years. I feel as though it started after our son was born. Things had been okay until he was under alot of pressure in his... View more

hey all, new to these forums but I am desperate. My partner of 6 years has suffered with depression for around the last 4 or so years. I feel as though it started after our son was born. Things had been okay until he was under alot of pressure in his mining job about 18 months ago and he quit. He then went to a job he was kind of enjoying until he was involved in a motorbike accident mid last year. He was off work for a while and decided to go back to mining despite my concerns for his mental health. He has now been back there about 5 months and his mental health has rapidly declined. He was seeing a psychologist while he was off work after his accident but stopped going to appointments. He has started to push everyone away and everyone has noticed the difference in him. Other than telling him that I'm here for him and to support him what else can I do.? I've read so many pages and articles about depression and supporting someone dealing with it but i don't think anything prepares you for the stress and emotional roller-coaster that comes with being a support person. We are in the middle of building a house and just brought a new car so at this present time him leaving his job would put us in an even more stressful situation. I think buying all the things was a coping mechanism for him but I think he realises now it hasnt helped. Please help... trying to keep my life in order for the sake of my kids and also trying to be there for him is slowly destroying me. I want nothing more than to help him through this but I'm just so unsure as to how I do that.1

IdkDash Help pls
  • replies: 4

at the moment in life its really hard to do things but im not sure why, one minute im fine the next i cant take it. Its just random sometime worse than other times, i feel tired and think whats the point to life or if im just a burden for others. Als... View more

at the moment in life its really hard to do things but im not sure why, one minute im fine the next i cant take it. Its just random sometime worse than other times, i feel tired and think whats the point to life or if im just a burden for others. Also little words have pushed me too far sometimes such as my dad saying try to act happier or just act like its fun and this is because i have a monotone voice and this hurts me a lot due to the fact that hes wanting me to be something else that im not and this can leave me in a dark place. I would love to tell someone about this but i just havent been able to for at least 3 years it just dosent seem right.

black_doggie i need a hug
  • replies: 2

hi all, i have appeared in "multicultural experiences" before, and i am going through depression and adhd at the same time. idk but my mind is always messy. i just feel so stressed and depressed. it's just a bunch of negative emotions clinging togeth... View more

hi all, i have appeared in "multicultural experiences" before, and i am going through depression and adhd at the same time. idk but my mind is always messy. i just feel so stressed and depressed. it's just a bunch of negative emotions clinging together in my mind. sometimes i just wanna detach myself from the world, but i know i can't, because i just wanna look normal to everyone around me. after i was being hurt by my friend, i only find it comfortable to talk with trustable people who has gone through mental illness. and i always feel stuck deep in myself. i always can't fully express my negativity. i can't to explode wherever i am, even when i'm at home. i just keep peeling off skin of my fingers in class, because i feel really anxious and stressed. and i am recently extremely depressed because i cant see my favourite teacher anymore... that teacher really means a lot to me, i am just nothing without her in aus. yeah. just simply a lot of negativity going on in my mind. thank you for reading till here.

Guest_4643 Has anyone ever read the book "Beating The Blues"?
  • replies: 4

Hi all. I purchased a book that my Psychiatrist suggested I read called Beating The Blues. I'm not a huge reading fan so I haven't read it yet but I will even if I read a chapter a day or something. I was just wondering if anyone has read it? If so w... View more

Hi all. I purchased a book that my Psychiatrist suggested I read called Beating The Blues. I'm not a huge reading fan so I haven't read it yet but I will even if I read a chapter a day or something. I was just wondering if anyone has read it? If so what were your thoughts - good and bad? Did it help, even a little? I did read the reviews on Google but they were mixed so I thought I'd come here and ask. I know everyone will have different interpretations of it and some will find it helpful and unhelpful though. Thanks, Tayla (20 years old)

Gumtree77 So disappointed and let down
  • replies: 2

Hi I had shoulder surgery on March 10. Prior to that all my family and friends kept saying "let us know if there is anything you need" etc. Surgery came and went and other than my sister not one person has done a damn thing for me. No one has come ov... View more

Hi I had shoulder surgery on March 10. Prior to that all my family and friends kept saying "let us know if there is anything you need" etc. Surgery came and went and other than my sister not one person has done a damn thing for me. No one has come over to visit or help out with the house and garden. The surgery was complex and I have been in constant pain since. I landed in Emergency two days after with severe chest pain and suspected embolism; luckily that wasn't the case. I can barely sleep for one hour at at time. All these people have texted me asking if I am ok etc but NOT ONCE made any effort to actually DO anything for me. I am in an extremely low state. Constant pain, sleep deprivation and now other parts of my body are paining me because I am all bent out of shape when I do actually get some sleep. I am also very worried and anxious about the pandemic. I really feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel...not just for me but for everyone. Back to the current situation; I am the one who goes over and above to help others. I have done so much for my family and friends over the years. It actually kills me to think that I am so insignificant to them. Any time there is trouble I get called. Anytime someone needs something I get called. And I do everything for these people! Sorry to be such a wet blanket but I am just so upset and disappointed. My brother lives in Melbourne; he didn't even bother to text me about the surgery. I spoke to him briefly online last night (he and my teenage son play online games) and he was drunk and being an idiot and didn't even care about me. I cut the conversation short as I was so angry. Even though my sister has been helping out minimally she makes little comments about 'running around after people' etc which make me feel like saying 'if you resent doing this then don't". After the Emergency Dpt she said to me 'you have to stop panicking about everything', I was in absolute agony and had no sleep for three nights....? I just don't understand! She and a friend we have in common have been catching up for dinner etc; they have not once invited me. I guess I must just be a pain in their backside or something. I don't know how to cope as I am now getting really angry at all of them and that will not end well! Thanks for reading my rant. Just typing this and putting it out there is slightly cathartic.

daughteroverseas How can I help my Dad in Scotland from here in Australia
  • replies: 1

My Dad is severely depressed and suicidal. I speak to him most days on the phone but it is difficult to help him from the other side of the world. He lives with my Mum who mentally abuses him every day. They are elderly and seperation is not an optio... View more

My Dad is severely depressed and suicidal. I speak to him most days on the phone but it is difficult to help him from the other side of the world. He lives with my Mum who mentally abuses him every day. They are elderly and seperation is not an option so endure each day and she is aware it. My mother's son to a previous relationship is also in the back ground scene causing more anxiety and mental stress. He talks fequently about ending his life and also how he can't handle anything. He has very little social interaction and gets up very late. I wondered if you could advise if there are any private support groups or organisation that may able to help him? I have my own family and commitments in australia and their relationship has affected my mental health in the past. Your advice is apprecaited.

jedlim physical pain from mental health?
  • replies: 4

Good evening, I'm not exactly sure why I'm here. But I guess I've acknowledged that stating how I feel and what I'm thinking might help in the matter. God, I hate myself so much! I'm such a loser. I have no friends. I'm an incel. I don't have achieve... View more

Good evening, I'm not exactly sure why I'm here. But I guess I've acknowledged that stating how I feel and what I'm thinking might help in the matter. God, I hate myself so much! I'm such a loser. I have no friends. I'm an incel. I don't have achievements. I can't even get simple things done correctly and/or efficiently. I'm not smart; quite the opposite. I'm ugly. And, worst of all: I've have no direction or purpose in life. I'm not even saying these things out of seeking sympathy, I just wanted to mention them just to give my current situation, furthermore, to justify why I'm very depressed. Is it even normal to feel physical pain because of your mental health? besides feeling tired all the time, and aching facial muscles from crying too much. Seriously, what the heck!? I sleep on average 2-3 hours a night just because of this!