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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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Willo2020 Lost
  • replies: 9

I am lost. My depression is now at its worst. The GP's best efforts are not helping, and I've just sold the last guitar, the one I was keeping, and put all the money into an account for my daughter's. I have no joy in even looking at the wonderful pi... View more

I am lost. My depression is now at its worst. The GP's best efforts are not helping, and I've just sold the last guitar, the one I was keeping, and put all the money into an account for my daughter's. I have no joy in even looking at the wonderful piece of wood I've had since I started earning real money. Cant even listen to music anymore. I call and get no real help. I go to mental ward, get zero help there. The selling of the last guitar was a big moment.....I have her a pat when she left. Next thing is my grandfather's 1973 Fiat 132. I need it to go to my eldest daughter. I don't know, I don't owe anyone any money, but if I "accidentally" get eaten by a shark, then I want to make sure some bottom feeder doesn't get it Im at the end....there's no cross road......just end of line

wiilson13 Overwhelmed and Exhausted
  • replies: 3

I've been seeing a psychologist for about a year now. This has helped me with a lot of my anxiety issues as I was having panic attacks frequently as I had developed social anxiety. I often faint when I panic and was in constant fear of humiliating my... View more

I've been seeing a psychologist for about a year now. This has helped me with a lot of my anxiety issues as I was having panic attacks frequently as I had developed social anxiety. I often faint when I panic and was in constant fear of humiliating myself in public as it had happened a few times is social settings like being out for dinner. I still get anxiety but not as bad anymore. Lately I've just been feeling really down about myself. And some days (like today) I just feel so low and like every choice I have made is wrong. Recently I began a Master's Degree and had to quit my full time job so I could study. I hated my job and felt liberated when I left. But now I feel so down because I am having trouble finding a part time or casual job, and am very worried about not having any income. I have applied for centrelink, but that may take weeks to come into effect. I'm really struggling to stay motivated through online study, and cannot focus. I can read a passage of text and literally not retain a single thing. I feel stupid and like I am already falling behind my peers. I am concerned I have made the wrong decision in choosing to quit a job to complete further studies. I have reached out to some of my peers to start a study group in the hopes I can get some support, but I have an assignment deadline rapidly approaching and am concerned my work will be trash. I am exhausted all the time, even when I get 8-9 hours sleep and I really struggle to get out of bed in the morning. I am overweight and try to take light walks but find I am even more exhausted afterwards. I just don't know what to do or how to get motivated.

WithoutApaddle Apathetic
  • replies: 3

Hi all. Thank you for the opportunity to share my tale of woe and dispair. This thing is going to be whinier then a three year old banned from paw patrol so buckle up. I apologize in advance for spelling and grammar issues. The public education syste... View more

Hi all. Thank you for the opportunity to share my tale of woe and dispair. This thing is going to be whinier then a three year old banned from paw patrol so buckle up. I apologize in advance for spelling and grammar issues. The public education system has failed me. Chapter one: The man behind the tears. I'm a 30 y/o male carpenter, no kids. I currently have a partner of 3 years and live with her family. I've struggled with depression for most of my life. I haven't been to a therapist, I find speaking candidly with people face to face difficult. lately i am feeling extremely apathetic. I work 50 - 60 hour weeks and am exhausted most of the time. I rent with my inlaws and have no substance abuse issues (besides coffee). Still i am struggling financially. My partner has a chronic illness and is unable to work. Living with my inlaws the last 3 years has been a real struggle. However we are unable to move out due to our poor financial situation. i find myself increasingly at my limit and have full scale meltdowns over mild inconveniences. This has been a particularly bad week as i have had some tools stolen. Partners grandmother passed And partners phone has bricked itself. For those playing at home, Data recovery is around $250 / $500. Seeing my friends marrying, starting families and buying houses is very difficult for me. Im just treading water while they move to the next stages of their lives. My partner is my rock but my constant indifference and lack of intamacy towards her is taking its toll. I don't see things improving any time soon. I hope you guys are doing better then me at this life business.

calmseeker I feel like I have hit a brick wall.
  • replies: 17

I feel lost. I have been trying really really hard to manage my anxiety and stay positive and take all the right steps to help myself, and for a few months I felt a bit better and even felt a bit empowered to offer some assistance to others but as of... View more

I feel lost. I have been trying really really hard to manage my anxiety and stay positive and take all the right steps to help myself, and for a few months I felt a bit better and even felt a bit empowered to offer some assistance to others but as of the last few days I have had terrible panic attacks again with nasty symptoms resurfacing and now I just feel really depressed and very disappointed that my efforts to overcome this condition are all in vain. I have tried to eat well and do a bit of exercise, I have started online CBT therapy which have committed too and working really hard at but the debilitating symptoms have reared their ugly head again and now I just feel really sad and tired and quite hopeless really. I have a few challenging things going on in my life that I am trying to deal with but don't we all? I don't feel like I am getting much help from my GP and I am seeing a psychologist but the visits are nearly 2 months apart as she is busy, I feel hopeful on the actual day I see the psychologist but the feeling is gone by that evening so I don't feel I am getting much out of it. It takes a lot of energy and effort to live with anxiety and I just cant seem to muster up any more motivation or hope to fight this battle right now. Feeling very low.

Hoeneka Vent (Let it out)
  • replies: 6

I vent all the time so I thought why not create a forum for me and others to vent. Heres mine today. My masked depression. I sometimes wonder, would I be better off without emotions? I get so sad and angry and I hurt, alot. I don't see much use for m... View more

I vent all the time so I thought why not create a forum for me and others to vent. Heres mine today. My masked depression. I sometimes wonder, would I be better off without emotions? I get so sad and angry and I hurt, alot. I don't see much use for my emotions really, I may aswell just have sadness because that seems to be the only thing I can feel. Sadness and anger, they can't really be controlled, can they? I try to supress my sadness but it flows out of me, I'm sure anybody can tell I'm sad. But, its not just sadness, I feel alot of different things, sometimes I think, maybe despair, the whole world if it took over, everyone would feel like me. But how do I describe my feelings, I mean to be fair I'm not even sure why I'm writing this, I guess I just wanted to vent. My life really hasn't been the greatest, primary school was horrible but my parents just put it down to "kids being kids" It kinda hurts, having your experiences doubted by parents who weren't even there to experinece it all. I don't really get an "escape" I'm stuck with this, this depression, sometimes I feel like I've made my depression into a whole new emotion, something different from what other people experience. I have alot of really low points, I'll just cry and cry, sometimes I'll put on a happy face but thats just a mask. A histerical mask, my depression, it feels like its driving me insane sometimes, I feel so numb but at the same time I'm feeling almost everything. I want to be taken away to a different world, where she cares, the girl I've tried so hard for, I just, I want to feel, I want feeling so badly. But at the same time, I never want to feel another thing, because its so goddamn painful, I mean I'm in constant pain, whether It be mental or physical, I mean sure people are nice to me but it just, I can't fully appreciate it. I feel like a broken record writing this, I feel as if every line is just repeating the same thing, with no difference, but depression isn't even the only thing weighing me down. She really thought I was getting better, because I was starting to look after myself a little more, but I guess I was just unintentionally masking it, can you even do that, put a mask on without even realizing it? I guess stress is also a big factor in all of this, highschool, oh boy, I mean sure in thr long run it sounds fun but it makes me feel even worse, the people here are much smarter than me. Theres alot more but character limit got me by 1600 words.

Hutch86 33 year old male deeply depressed
  • replies: 15

Hi I have been struggling with depression and a anxiety my whole life. I have a good job, a degree, 2 kids, a wife and a house etc but I am never happy and I have a constant sense of impending doom. I am basically an alcoholic, drug addict, and can n... View more

Hi I have been struggling with depression and a anxiety my whole life. I have a good job, a degree, 2 kids, a wife and a house etc but I am never happy and I have a constant sense of impending doom. I am basically an alcoholic, drug addict, and can not control my impulses on pretty much anything. I have gone into a downward spiral over the past 6 months and really hit the alcohol hard. I have recently gotten into trouble with the police over a drunken assault and my wife is at her wits end with me. I am basically her third child. I have really had a hard time transitioning from a partying 20 something into life as a Dad in my early 30’s. I am depressed all the time and have withdrawn from my friendship group as I am always anxious and don’t answer or return phone calls. I feel like I am just in a massive rut. I should be happy but I just can’t shake this depression and anxiety. I also have massive problems with anger. I have never assaulted my wife but I flip out over anything minor and break things etc like a child. My biggest challenge at this point is getting off alcohol. I have been going out drinking on my own to strip clubs and spending ridiculous sums of money which puts a massive strain on my marriage. Comes back to the impulse control I guess. If anyone has any decent tips on how to get off alcohol I am all ears. I suffer from ADHD and everything seems very difficult at the moment. I am a liability to my family and I know they are ashamed of me at the moment as I am also ashamed of myself and my lack of self control. I really hope I can get through this tough period and be a real man, Dad and Husband - it just seems like a monumental challenge..

OneGem Can your get Body depression?
  • replies: 3

My question is can your body get depressed Without you even knowing it? So the last few months I've seen some changes In my body, getting 4 hours sleep if I'm lucky And it's broken, not wanting to go out because I'm so tired, everytime I eat I feel s... View more

My question is can your body get depressed Without you even knowing it? So the last few months I've seen some changes In my body, getting 4 hours sleep if I'm lucky And it's broken, not wanting to go out because I'm so tired, everytime I eat I feel sick. But the thing is my mind feels okay and Yes I've had suffered from depression many Times before, also a few other things. I see My doctor on a regular basis, but of late it's Been hard finding the right time. It wasn't until A few days I thought my body might be depressed, I started thinking about the stuff that has been Going on with me for the last few months and I Remember that I had a major operation about 7 months ago and that's when it all started and Has gotten worse over time. The reason that I'm asking here is because I don't want to Worry family or friends and I find it hard to talk To them about this stuff because they don't Really understand it. So my question is can your Body get depressed without you knowing it??? Thank you to anyone who's taken the time to Read this, will answer any questions.

EJT would like some help please!
  • replies: 3

I am seeking some tips on how to approach my mother to tell her how I feel and how I think I may possibly have depression? I am afraid that she will dismiss my feelings, and ultimately feel uncomfortable at the thought of telling her. I want to seek ... View more

I am seeking some tips on how to approach my mother to tell her how I feel and how I think I may possibly have depression? I am afraid that she will dismiss my feelings, and ultimately feel uncomfortable at the thought of telling her. I want to seek professional help to enable me to understand and cope with my feelings and to know whether what I am feeling is 'normal' (lack of a better word) or is due an underlying issue. My father has depression, which has worsened severely since my parents broke up (I am in grade 11, they split in grade 5). He does not know that I know that, and only told me he had depression several months ago. It is only recently that I have felt these symptoms worsen (app. past 3 months). I have been moving houses, and am still in the process of finding a new house to live in. The process is unbelievably frustrating and has made my overall mental health worsen severely. My productivity levels have stunted immensely over the past few months, and I feel so unmotivated. The best way I can describe how I feel is empty. I feel void of emotions a lot of the time, and will go through these periods several times a week (lasting 1-3 hours) where I feel extremely tired (even though I may have received adequate sleep that night) and like i'm just existing, like the world is operating around me but i'm frozen in time or in slow motion. In addition to this, I experience lots of anger and frustration, and the smallest things may set me off. I've lost enjoyment in lots of activities, and struggle to focus. I discussed them with my closest friends, one of which said she experienced the same feelings as well as point out that they are symptoms of depression. I have considered it momentarily before, but never seriously until now. I don't want to label it and self-diagnose or even suggest that I may have it as I feel like people will respond by thinking I am an attention seeker. This is also why I also struggle to voice my concerns to my parents, the last time I did so to my mother (about trouble concentrating in school and exhibiting ADHD symptoms) she dismissed my worries, and told me that it was because I spend "too much time on my computer" or other similar reasons.

James1993 Web of Lies
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Im kind of nervous about posting here since outside of my counsellor and my partner this is an issue I rarely speak about because of the shame and other not so pleasant feelings that it causes me and the person who matters most to me to exper... View more

Hi all, Im kind of nervous about posting here since outside of my counsellor and my partner this is an issue I rarely speak about because of the shame and other not so pleasant feelings that it causes me and the person who matters most to me to experience. A bit of backstory to set the scene. My parents separated from a young age. It wasn’t great to say the least but we all survived in our own way. Unfortunately a byproduct of that was during the times I got to hang out with my dad my mum would basically give me a script of things to say to him either to make him feel guilty or to somehow try and manipulate his emotions. I being a child at the time did it but soon wanted to stop as I could see how much it hurt him and so it began. I started just to lie and say I’d said those things and make up his reaction. The years went by and I continued this pattern to avoid hurting my dad and to just keep my mum off my back. Unfortunately the behaviour started to spread like a disease. It ranged from pretending I knew what I was talking about on various subjects, saying I’d heard a band or saw a movie when I didn’t. Seemingly innocuous stuff like that. It continued for a while at what I thought was a benign level, soon it shifted though. I started to realise I could avoid conflict/unpleasant situations by fabricating a lie. Due to growing up with a mother with a temper I have an aversion to conflict or situations that have negative feelings attached. I also lie to make myself seem more interesting or knowledgeable as in reality I find myself to be quite boring and of little interest to people. Part of me knows that this is not true but I find myself getting trapped in that thought process. So that brings us to tonight. After talking to a counsellor I was doing so well. Lie free and all me for a few months and it happened again. I screwed up. It was over such an insignificant thing. I took some money out of savings to see me through the weekend but it came up short so I took some more out and my partner questioned how I got some more money. Instead of saying I took more out I concocted a story about transferring spare money from accounts and using change. I stuck to it for a little bit (3-4 minutes) and eventually confessed to moving money from savings. I thought she would be mad about me not telling her (not true). So now I have hurt and upset her and I’ve washed all my progress down the drain. Thanks for reading. Sorry about the formatting I’m on mobile.

Kwee_Eng Desperate n struggling
  • replies: 13

Hi, I m new to this site. I have been on antidepressants since 20.1.20. I struggle everyday, intensity of symptoms varies. Does anyone out there can identify with how difficult it is mentally, emotionally n physically. At times, I just dont know how ... View more

Hi, I m new to this site. I have been on antidepressants since 20.1.20. I struggle everyday, intensity of symptoms varies. Does anyone out there can identify with how difficult it is mentally, emotionally n physically. At times, I just dont know how to manage the symptoms n look beyond to better days.

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