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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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Marema Read this! It’s helping me!
  • replies: 3

I highly recommend reading “why we sleep” by Matthew Walker. the importance of rest and sleep just can’t be overlooked. I have just recently started antidepressants, after trying to manage without them for most of the year. I’ve been reading, and try... View more

I highly recommend reading “why we sleep” by Matthew Walker. the importance of rest and sleep just can’t be overlooked. I have just recently started antidepressants, after trying to manage without them for most of the year. I’ve been reading, and trying to prioritise healthy eating and enough sleep. also important and fascinating, helpful books are “good to go” by Christie Aschwanden about the science of recovery (focusses on the physical but does not at all overlook the intertwined nature of mental and physical being) ”can you die of a broken heart” by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Nikki Stamp. also, how quickly can SNRI meds start to effect a person? Within days? Positively or side effects...

Litty Jobs and depression
  • replies: 2

My job is fast paced and there have been a lot of problems lately, I have tried to talk to my boss about them, he knows I have depression and he has not been very supportive. I don't know if my worries about work are anxiety or real. I keep breaking ... View more

My job is fast paced and there have been a lot of problems lately, I have tried to talk to my boss about them, he knows I have depression and he has not been very supportive. I don't know if my worries about work are anxiety or real. I keep breaking down in tears when talking to my boss and he has now fired me. I won't get a reference how do I get another job and stop this in future, help. Litty

Dougie A change for the worse?
  • replies: 3

Hey all, I'm new, and this will be my first time posting on any forum of any kind, so it does seem a bit strange. I'm a university student, just about to turn 21. I've had several injuries over the past year or so that have prevented me from exercisi... View more

Hey all, I'm new, and this will be my first time posting on any forum of any kind, so it does seem a bit strange. I'm a university student, just about to turn 21. I've had several injuries over the past year or so that have prevented me from exercising, and my girlfriend cheated on me as well. I don't really have any close friends; I've never really had any close friends. I saw a psychologist for the first time this week as my feelings of hopelessness and loneliness were beginning to be unbearable. I struggle constantly to display my emotions or to even feel anything. I don't feel comfortable talking to any of my friends about how I'm feeling or anything like that. I've obviously never been formally diagnosed with anything, as I've only just started seeing this psychologist, so even now I feel I'm being overdramatic. I thought going to the psychologist was going to make me feel better, but I feel far worse. I never talk about my fears or feelings to anyone and confronting them like that has made me feel even more hopeless and lonely over the past couple of days. What's happened to everyone else on the forum once they start asking for help. I feel more isolated than ever. Thanks for being out there whoever it is. Dougie

Gambit Is it my fault?
  • replies: 3

Haven’t posted here in a while. It’s not that I’ve gotten any better unfortunately, just forgot this account existed until I needed advice haha. For context, I met a guy online. We’ve been friends for a while now. In the beginning we were very close.... View more

Haven’t posted here in a while. It’s not that I’ve gotten any better unfortunately, just forgot this account existed until I needed advice haha. For context, I met a guy online. We’ve been friends for a while now. In the beginning we were very close. People would rarely see us apart, and if we were, they’d ask where the other person was. We would message almost constantly - he’d say good morning, I’d do the same, we’d talk on call for hours. Lately, it feels like things have changed. Recently he decided he wanted to start making videos. Having no knowledge of how to edit himself, I agreed to help. (I don’t know if that’s related to the issue, but context.) He made less of an effort to initiate conversation, and if we did talk over text, he’d be cold. And the only time he’d contact me was to ask about “our” work. He started to ignore me in game too, even if I tried to team up, it’d be met with dismissal. I didn’t address my issues at first, trying to avoid causing him trouble. I just let the thoughts intrusively fester in my own mind until, finally, I got fed up and confronted him. He reassured me things were the same, that I was one of his “best friends”. And for a little while I was at ease. He started to invite me occasionally, we would talk less about work and he’d initiate conversations. And then everything went back to how it had been. He’d ignore me, only text first to talk about work, reject me. I was back to feeling neglected and miserable. He’s so two faced, being cold over text, but charming on call. The back and forth is sending me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I think deep down I know, he’s just keeping me around for his videos, that this isn’t good for me. But, if it wasn’t already obvious, I’m smitten with him. (Stupid, crushing on someone online, I know.) And like all things we love, admitting they might be bad for us feels almost impossible. At least for me. It’s not just my feelings hindering my judgement, I felt like with this guy I had someone I could confide in, trust. A real friend. Now it just feels like I’m being used and I’m too desperate for him to just admit the truth. Why is he so cold over text, but acts so warm over call? Why does he go from being affectionate - praising and encouraging me - to just ignoring me? One second he makes me feel like I’m on top of the world, and like shit the next. I don’t know what to do anymore. Sorry this got so long and rambley, I guess I just needed a place to vent my thoughts.

Fromthegong New to the forum!
  • replies: 3

Good Morning, Just a quick note to introduce myself. I am new to this forum, in fact I am new to any online forum! Quick back story, I had a Panic Attack early this year, first one for nearly a decade. Left me shocked, bewildered, depressed and sever... View more

Good Morning, Just a quick note to introduce myself. I am new to this forum, in fact I am new to any online forum! Quick back story, I had a Panic Attack early this year, first one for nearly a decade. Left me shocked, bewildered, depressed and severely anxious. I have improved over the last few months, but still suffering from the aftershock which I means I am still battling with Anxiety and associated Depression. Looking forward to chatting.

Hailzey Extreme overwhelming feeling of pointlessness of reality
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I have been having 'episodes' of an adrenaline rush when I consider my own mortality. If I start thinking about death I get an overwhelming sadness. I sometimes feel like I am in a bubble of reality, like I can feel how small we all are in th... View more

Hi all, I have been having 'episodes' of an adrenaline rush when I consider my own mortality. If I start thinking about death I get an overwhelming sadness. I sometimes feel like I am in a bubble of reality, like I can feel how small we all are in the universe. I get scared. I get very sad. Lately I have had it alot. I keep wanting to scream. I keep crying. I am on medication. I used to be on a higher dose but it didn't stop these thoughts from happening and overwhelming me. What can I do? Has anyone ever felt like this? I am not religious and just cannot convince myself to believe in them.

A2D2 Mentally moving on
  • replies: 1

I and on my last unit of a Diploma but I can't possibly finish it this year and it is the second time I have tried it. I'm not really doing anything wrong, just have a lot of other stuff going on and trying to stay sane as well - you know how it is. ... View more

I and on my last unit of a Diploma but I can't possibly finish it this year and it is the second time I have tried it. I'm not really doing anything wrong, just have a lot of other stuff going on and trying to stay sane as well - you know how it is. I think I am being bloody minded and trying to finish because I should and I'm really upset I won't but by the same token, I want to move on with my life and have other things staring me in the face that need doing. I don't see a job from it any time soon if ever. I'm just not sure it is worth the mental energy to finish but I think I'm going to feel I let myself down by not getting there in the end.

Conni Totally lost
  • replies: 1

I have lost everything in the last week kids taken off me facing court to see kids facing criminal charges against me Centrelink payments cancelled

I have lost everything in the last week kids taken off me facing court to see kids facing criminal charges against me Centrelink payments cancelled

bootlegrascal Hallucinations for first time with bipolar II
  • replies: 6

Hi, I am 18 and was diagnosed with bipolar type II over a year ago for which I have been on medication for since, which as helped enormously. However I am worried because last night when I was driving home from work, I saw an entire house engulfed in... View more

Hi, I am 18 and was diagnosed with bipolar type II over a year ago for which I have been on medication for since, which as helped enormously. However I am worried because last night when I was driving home from work, I saw an entire house engulfed in flames on a hill in front of me, yet there has been no record of this happening on DFES, which there would be, and I drove past the same spot today and I couldn't see any sign of this being real . I have never hallucinated before and there have been no changes to anything in my life and I am worried that I won't be able to tell the difference between reality and fiction. I often feel sort of dissociated, like I'm watching myself or not fully present in life, but I have learnt to live with that. Overall I have been doing really well for the last 2 months, but this has me freaking out. I even called the fire department (it's in my call log so I know that is real) but because I didn't know exactly where it was as it was up on the hill, they couldn't do anything. Some advice on if this is normal and if I should be worried about progression of symptoms from other bipolar II people would be amazing!! I am quite shaken up and would love some feedback... cheers

BlackMetalDragon How To Convince Others...
  • replies: 2

Ok... I'm having all sorts of issues with how to describe to a very helpful, caring and supportive family member that when I'm going through an extremally depressive episode, I find it impossible to communicate with the outside world. Whether an epis... View more

Ok... I'm having all sorts of issues with how to describe to a very helpful, caring and supportive family member that when I'm going through an extremally depressive episode, I find it impossible to communicate with the outside world. Whether an episode is days or weeks, I just roll myself into a ball and sleep... I can't cope with anything. Yet my relative can't seem to comprehend why I "can't just send a text"... no matter which way I explain it, it just doesn't get through. What am I doing wrong?