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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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Hermione I feel like a waste of space
  • replies: 7

I haven't spoken to anyone about this. I'm not sure where to start. So my college finals are in a month & I can't get myself to study. I've been staying at home for the past 20 days but I hardly study. I either do stuff that lets me ignore my real li... View more

I haven't spoken to anyone about this. I'm not sure where to start. So my college finals are in a month & I can't get myself to study. I've been staying at home for the past 20 days but I hardly study. I either do stuff that lets me ignore my real life like movies, YouTube & music or do nothing (literally I can sit on my bed for 4 hours and stare at the wall). I keep telling myself to go study but that just can't even move and open the book. All of a sudden I breakdown and start sobbing. I start thinking about everything wrong with my life and that can go wrong if i continue to be like this. But I can't motivate myself (may be I'm not trying hard I don't know). I sleep at 3 am and get up at 10 am. I've been lying to my parents that I'm studying all night when I just lay in bed all night doing nothing or crying. In the first year of college I wasted a lot of time and ended up getting through a minimal percentage. Since then I've been like this. I was one of the top students in class till 12th grade. I don't know what happened when I entered college. Now I feel like I'm not as smart as I once was. I used to love studying alone. But nowadays I can't think straight when I' m alone. So I study with my friends sometimes. Only then I can be productive. I feel so guilty that I'm wasting my parents money. Sometimes when I'm driving I wish something would come and hit me so I don't have to deal with this anymore. All of a sudden I get happy and positive out of nowhere and I'll start studying... then 15 min into it negative thoughts set in. And I just leave everything (I don't even bother to close the book) and sit or sleep on my bed and listen to music or browse the internet or sleep or cry. Then I get physically incapable of moving out of my bed, I just stare at the books making mental study plans which I never accomplish (I don't even get close and change the plan the following day). I'm so angry at myself and everyone that I get angry at my parents for no good reason. If they ask me, I say I'm ok. I feel really guilty. I'm the worst daughter ever and don't deserve anything they do for me. They are such nice people. They probably would be better off without me. I'm a disappointment and shame to my parents. I'm a loser. I'm not the kind of person who would physically hurt myself. If I am, may be I probably would have done something of that sort by now. Deep inside I still have hope that 'everything will be ok". I want to be normal and happy I' m so lostbeyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

Mockturtle Tired, nervous and highly sensitive
  • replies: 2

Hi there, This is the first time i've done this, so i'm a little new to this! I think i've always been this way; melancholy, quiet, easily distracted, vague but cheerful. I'm happy when i'm making things. But i distinctly remember these feelings, my ... View more

Hi there, This is the first time i've done this, so i'm a little new to this! I think i've always been this way; melancholy, quiet, easily distracted, vague but cheerful. I'm happy when i'm making things. But i distinctly remember these feelings, my extreme sensitivity and shyness, coming out when i hit puberty. My tears come with no warning, and have been for years, and can be quite inconsolable. My lack of drive to speak to my friends and my family coupled with a strange tiredness is exhausting. The worst part is that i'm scared this is going to be the rest of my life, just like holding my breath. At the age of 23, I'm wasting what should be happy, careless and fulfilling years. Thanks for reading

Yassie That alone feeling
  • replies: 2

This is my story... My ex partner decided to end the relationship a week before Xmas without any explanation. We were meant to be getting married & starting a family this year. My dreams were taken away from me.. I have no family in the city I’m curr... View more

This is my story... My ex partner decided to end the relationship a week before Xmas without any explanation. We were meant to be getting married & starting a family this year. My dreams were taken away from me.. I have no family in the city I’m currently living in which makes me feel even more alone. I don’t sleep or eat well. I have started seeing a therapist but I just struggle to open up. How to move on ??

supasquid lonely
  • replies: 4

Im so over being lonely.. my wife left me 5.5 yrs ago..I am 48yrs old... Ive tried therapy.. Ive tried medication.. I joined a gym 1.5yrs ago.. nothing seems to fill the hole in my heart

Im so over being lonely.. my wife left me 5.5 yrs ago..I am 48yrs old... Ive tried therapy.. Ive tried medication.. I joined a gym 1.5yrs ago.. nothing seems to fill the hole in my heart

Ionicbond Debilitating weight gain
  • replies: 2

Hi, I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder (bipolar/depression) and am currently suffering from a depressive episode. I don’t want to admit it to anyone but I think it’s really due to a 25kg weight gain in just over a year. I use to be s... View more

Hi, I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder (bipolar/depression) and am currently suffering from a depressive episode. I don’t want to admit it to anyone but I think it’s really due to a 25kg weight gain in just over a year. I use to be such an athletic girl and have started to gain so much weight because of my medication, well that’s at least what I believe. I don’t know what to do. Only my GP believes it’s due to the medication where my psychiatrist doesn’t. If I was taking the medication as a tablet there is no doubt I would have stopped it by now but I actually have it as a monthly injection. I’m thinking about stopping it and telling my family I am still doing it which I know is bad but this weight gain is becoming debilitating. How should I approach asking to change medications, and convincing my family it’s actually because of the medication and not other factors like exercise and food habits? I am so upset I am questioning my diagnosis so I can convince myself to stop the medication which has helped me so much, I feel so lost.

#worriedsick Desperately worried
  • replies: 1

My husband quit drinking about 8weeks ago. He was hitting the alcohol really hard and I begged him to stop. He did. He suffered from regular bouts of depression after the birth of each of our children. But our last baby I thought we might of been in ... View more

My husband quit drinking about 8weeks ago. He was hitting the alcohol really hard and I begged him to stop. He did. He suffered from regular bouts of depression after the birth of each of our children. But our last baby I thought we might of been in the clear as we’ve been going good. But it seems this has come out of no where. He yelled at my son( his stepson last weekend and called him a name) I stepped in and then he said he will not live with him he wOuld rather die. And then we argued. The next day he slept all day and night. He’s this weekend slept all day and night and does not want to talk to me about it. I may be doing the wrong thing , I keep telling him how much he means to me and the children, how much I love him. And he says he does not want to love and that I will move on together we have 3 kids and 3 step kids. I asked him to get treatment as we need him and want him happy. He has outright refused to see a doctor, or get help. He says he just wants it all to end. What do I do . I’m lost this is consuming all of me I love this man with all my heart how can I help him? I can’t get him to get help I’m so scared that he will suicide im lost. I find myself getting angry ( I know I shouldn’t) as I can’t understand why we don’t make him happy? I’d appreciate any advice

Vivienneh Bipolar 1 plus separation
  • replies: 2

I have bipolar 1 with mixed states. Hospitalised for the first time and my husband announced whilst I was resident in a mental ward that he was leaving me. My brain got fried from extended mania so it took a month for it to dawn on me, the reality of... View more

I have bipolar 1 with mixed states. Hospitalised for the first time and my husband announced whilst I was resident in a mental ward that he was leaving me. My brain got fried from extended mania so it took a month for it to dawn on me, the reality of being seperated. I’m exercising and taking the meds, and doing everything I’m supposed to do. How do you adjust to a marriage break up safely with bipolar 1?

Circling_the_Drain So lost.. Always ruin things
  • replies: 4

Hi, I dont know where to start, except that I've ruined another long term relationship through the same pattern of behaviour that cost me my marriage, past employment, friends and family. And i dont know that i can fix it this time. Honestly if this ... View more

Hi, I dont know where to start, except that I've ruined another long term relationship through the same pattern of behaviour that cost me my marriage, past employment, friends and family. And i dont know that i can fix it this time. Honestly if this is how lifes going to be with BPD I don't want it...

ribbon123 I am very tired
  • replies: 6

I find little reason to live, apart from my family who lives across the globe. I was lying on my bed, trying to escape this. Forced myself to sleep, and woke up an hour later. I remember waking up feeling so sad, so lost, so empty. I dread tomorrow. ... View more

I find little reason to live, apart from my family who lives across the globe. I was lying on my bed, trying to escape this. Forced myself to sleep, and woke up an hour later. I remember waking up feeling so sad, so lost, so empty. I dread tomorrow. Some day I slept all the time, but day like this, I could not sleep, even afraid of having a good dream, being happy in my dream, but waking up with nothing. I am a PhD student, who used to love what I did so much. But the job I once love becomes dreadful. I call myself worthless in my head a few times a day. It got better, then it got worse, way worse, then repeat. Counselling does not help. Or it helps, but I ruin it. I am not sure anymore. What if it would be like this for the rest of my life.

Cranberry_Juice Just want to say thank you
  • replies: 3

I would like to say thank you as these forums help me with my depression,anxiety, BPD and bipoloar. Today I started thinking of sad things and then I started thinking of death and I started searching for coffins, when I start thinking like this I com... View more

I would like to say thank you as these forums help me with my depression,anxiety, BPD and bipoloar. Today I started thinking of sad things and then I started thinking of death and I started searching for coffins, when I start thinking like this I come to this forum and it takes my mind off these terrible thoughts by reading other peoples posts Im not very good at answering posts but this forum is a life saver to me Thanks,,