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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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Curl Bipolar depression
  • replies: 3

Hello, this is my first post to this site. I was sitting here again in the "AM" hours, feeling lost. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2, 18 years ago; since then I have lived a life full of highs and lows, but for the past 2 years I have lived with the s... View more

Hello, this is my first post to this site. I was sitting here again in the "AM" hours, feeling lost. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2, 18 years ago; since then I have lived a life full of highs and lows, but for the past 2 years I have lived with the symptoms of severe depression. I am on antidepressants, but I can't see any hope. I sleep most days and am awake half the night. Sleeping is my only escape from my feeling of emptiness. I don't feel like my life is of any benefit to anyone. I don't enjoy a sunny day, or a walk in fresh air...nothing brings me joy. In the past I might feel like this for a few weeks, but we are talking years now. I have a psychiatrist and psychologist, but I can't feel any improvement. I have thought of suicide, but I promised my 17 year old son, I would never leave him. My head tells me to read or go for a walk etc, but I can't move. I am stuck in a way I have never been stuck before. I don't want to see people. I hide away, hoping that one day I will wake up and the clouds would have moved. I have been on a dozen different antidepressants over the years. Has anyone ever had any success with ECT? The longer I am like this, the more unlikely I feel that my life will improve. I know many will tell me to exercise, go to sleep early...I just can't move. I go days without showering and just eat junk when I am awake. Not sure if my rambling makes any sense. I am just lost. Love yourself, I hear people say. I don't even know where to begin. Thanks for listening.

pinktulip Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • replies: 2

Hi there, Just wondering if there's anyone who had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a young person and then got depressed due to something else ie grief of a friend... Or had a form of Chronic Fatigue that wasn't like visible like felt tired outside schoo... View more

Hi there, Just wondering if there's anyone who had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a young person and then got depressed due to something else ie grief of a friend... Or had a form of Chronic Fatigue that wasn't like visible like felt tired outside school hours, affected homework... Or had to repeat a year level due to being unwell or do a three year senior...

Mazp Anxiety forever alone. Single girl depression
  • replies: 5

Feeling down and undesired,unattractive,unworthy ,useless and a failure. Age 32 never married no kids

Feeling down and undesired,unattractive,unworthy ,useless and a failure. Age 32 never married no kids

Ellesabu Newbie.
  • replies: 19

Hi to all, I am having trouble with the Black dog again. I have been trying to cope and get out of it but it is not happening. I have been isolated since beginning of March and I am not coping very well. I have lost all interest in everything. I am o... View more

Hi to all, I am having trouble with the Black dog again. I have been trying to cope and get out of it but it is not happening. I have been isolated since beginning of March and I am not coping very well. I have lost all interest in everything. I am on medication but it is not helping. I joined here to talk to people who understand, my Husband tries to help but he does not understand.

lynq Please tell me I’m not alone
  • replies: 2

I cant believe I’m writing this because I hate talking about myself but it’s gotten to the point where I don’t know what else to do. I have been feeling so down since 2016 like any small inconvenience makes me cry since my dad has put my self esteem ... View more

I cant believe I’m writing this because I hate talking about myself but it’s gotten to the point where I don’t know what else to do. I have been feeling so down since 2016 like any small inconvenience makes me cry since my dad has put my self esteem so damn low. Like he’s constantly putting me down and comparing me to others and calling me fat and naggy and whiney. That’s not even a quarter of all the derogatory terms he’s used. But I still love him so much. I cant stand when people say he’s rude or he’s got issues. Like that makes me want to punch them for calling my dad such things. I am so sad and unmotivated for everything. I cant even eat and I constantly get migraines. I’m surprised tears even flow these days because of how much I break down. I don’t have any close friends to talk about this with. I don’t have a mum who I can talk about it with. I just feel so alone and unwanted. I wish i was good at something, anything. I used to be a really bright student and I used to play so much sports but I suddenly gained so much weight from stressing about getting into uni and now I just lost all motivation to do anything that used to make me happy like reading and watching movies. I just want to lie in bed all day and not do anything. But I can’t. Every morning I’m woken up at 7:30 and on the weekends if I sleep after 9 I am made to think I did something so wrong. Please tell me I’m not alone in this. I cant be the only one whose own family puts down and made to feel so low and guilty for everything.

pinktulip Dealing with depression with reduced uni course load
  • replies: 2

Hi there, Is there anyone out there who feels a bit left out regarding Uni because they are doing reduced course loads because they can't have antidepressants (a case of antidepressant induced hypomania) and had semesters off and don't have a part ti... View more

Hi there, Is there anyone out there who feels a bit left out regarding Uni because they are doing reduced course loads because they can't have antidepressants (a case of antidepressant induced hypomania) and had semesters off and don't have a part time job because parents are supporting you. Like for instance, I'm doing a interdisciplinary major and someone asked about the major on Facebook and said that they were thinking about a club.... Anyway, two people were like maybe start a club.... then they looked into the paperwork and were like no.... And then they were like "I work part time"... I suggested informal meetups but less than 5 people turned up... Problem is there's a not particularly active slack channel for a group for honours, masters and PhD students re Australia in the field.... and slack channels for professionals in the field... The bad thing about the major there are only two specific courses and I've already done those.... I thought maybe I should pay someone to talk about stuff relating to this major but my mother was like you probably are smarter .... But you need to use it or lose it Also I did try to make connections this semester before covid-19 hit and the people only contacted me to ask about assessment items... So yeah wondering whether part time students with good mental health and a job have an external group of friends.. Or whether they lie about their courseload...

Logan1 Feeling dead inside.
  • replies: 8

Hi all, First of all, thanks for having me. For as long as I can remember I've felt like I just don't fit in, this has left me feeling like an observer of life rather than a participant. I watch other people interact with each other and it seems very... View more

Hi all, First of all, thanks for having me. For as long as I can remember I've felt like I just don't fit in, this has left me feeling like an observer of life rather than a participant. I watch other people interact with each other and it seems very fluid, with me it feels clunky like having to think about every step you take whilst walking. When I was just a kid I was pretty much always alone, feeling as if no one liked me so I figured if I mimic the person I was with they would like me, unless they didn't like themselves. It kind of worked and became my coping mechanism. The problem is I never really developed my sense of "self" I didn't know who I was and I still struggle with that. I never developed a strong sense of self, feeling as if part of me is dead. This has left me a very closed down person, causing depression & anxiety. I find it hard to show emotionally how I'm feeling to others, even my own family. I know how I should feel but I find it hard to show. The closer the relationship the more anxious I feel. I feel like a bad person because of this. There's a part of me that must unconsciously tell myself I'm not allowed to be happy. Thanks for reading.

Zabi How did you first ask for help?
  • replies: 5

I guess I'm just wondering how others have gotten over the fear/ guilt/ shame of asking for help? I used to think I knew lots about mental health/ warning signs and that I would seek help if needed but it seems like that's not the case. I can't even ... View more

I guess I'm just wondering how others have gotten over the fear/ guilt/ shame of asking for help? I used to think I knew lots about mental health/ warning signs and that I would seek help if needed but it seems like that's not the case. I can't even work up the courage to call the Beyond Blue support number or use the 'chat online' feature, let alone book an appointment for a GP. For years I've had bouts where I have a lot of issues with things like self-loathing, feelings of inadequacy, sadness, apathy and thoughts of my own, family and friends mortality. I have a really good life and there's not really much for me to complain about so I become frustrated when I think on these things. I know that everyone experiences these thoughts at times and I shouldn't compare myself with others but I just feel that how can I be upset when my life is good? I have loving parents, a handful of friends that still stay by me even when I don't respond for a while, a job that I love, a house I own, I've travelled lots in my life and don't have money issues. I present as a cheery person to those that know me and when I'm not hating myself I'm a pretty optimistic person. I'm still able to function well and mask my issues in public. I've thought about suicide, but only as a curiosity - what would it be like if everything just disappeared? I know that if I did seek help my friends, family and workplace would all be supportive but I still can't bring myself to do anything, even as I sit in my bed crying on a Monday night and hating myself (again). So I just want to know, how did you first go about seeking help, especially if you didn't feel like you deserved it?

Alannah57 Trying to make sense of life
  • replies: 2

I’m trying to make sense of this thing called life, and I’ve been trying to do it since I was probably at least six years old. There are days where the silent despair of being alive just follow me around and I just want to get away from that feeling.... View more

I’m trying to make sense of this thing called life, and I’ve been trying to do it since I was probably at least six years old. There are days where the silent despair of being alive just follow me around and I just want to get away from that feeling. I think that life is so sad - for everyone. I feel like I don’t belong here. I feel like I can’t run away from the heavy meaninglessness of life, and I’ve been trying to my entire life and I’m exhausted.

AntiHero I don't know what to do, what I'm good for, or where to from here
  • replies: 10

Hi all, I hope everyone is ok. I can't get out of my head (please don't recommend meditation - I just can't do it, I've tried and it just doesn't help...) I have a long history of mental illness and managed to pull myself out of this. I have a corpor... View more

Hi all, I hope everyone is ok. I can't get out of my head (please don't recommend meditation - I just can't do it, I've tried and it just doesn't help...) I have a long history of mental illness and managed to pull myself out of this. I have a corporate career, my own home which I saved for in my 20s (I am 30), a loving partner, loving parents, a small group of friends, and my physical health. I've managed to keep my job during COVID-19 and have stayed safe. Relative to others' circumstances, I'm doing very well and am very lucky. I acknowledge that. BUT there is something in my head that says I am JUST lucky, and that I don't contribute anything meaningful in my life, that I haven't earned anything and I owe the world, that I am only as good as what I achieve and contribute. I'm not actually GOOD at anything. Volunteer work? I don't know how to help people, and I'm conscious of having a "savior" complex. Do something meaningful for humanity? I don't know how to do that. Get a career that actually makes the world a better place? I'm not sure I'm so talented. Do art? My creativity is nil. Help Mum out with lunch? No, she prefers my partner helping with that. (Just go watch TV...) Despite my luck and privilege, I'm not sure I'm actually good at anything. I'm struggling on projects at work, I believe I should be further into my professional and personal development by now, I haven't done anything "good" during COVID-19 like volunteer work... Long story short. I believe I'm incapable. I'm mediocre. After a childhood of being told I'm smart and going places, I've learned it's a lie; and now, I don't know what to do. If I'm good at nothing, am incapable of helping or doing good, then where do I go from here? Am I going to live the rest of my life distracting myself with trivialities while the people around me actually bring value to the world? (For instance, my partner is a healthcare worker, I have relatives who are chief executives, etc) Despite all my luck (a roof over my head, food in my belly, and love), I still feel a lump in my throat. I'm good for nothing... Where to from here?

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