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Depression

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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.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 0

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

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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Leo28 Irritability after Quiting SSRIs
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I have a question about quitting SSRI's and irritability. I slowly tapered off SSRIs about two months ago, after being on them 15 years. I had brain zaps and other symptoms for a month, and these have dissipated. Good news is I'm not feeling ... View more

Hi all, I have a question about quitting SSRI's and irritability. I slowly tapered off SSRIs about two months ago, after being on them 15 years. I had brain zaps and other symptoms for a month, and these have dissipated. Good news is I'm not feeling depressed. Bad news is I'm really irritable and have lost patience and tolerance. I'm feeling what I would call stress, rather than anxiety. This is kind of hard for me because I'm in a job that requires some patience and tolerance so I don't feel like I'm doing as well at my job, and also I'm not as tolerant at home. I'm controlling it as best as I can on both fronts but feel like I'm holding on against a tidal wave all the time. I've been on SSRIs so long that I'm having difficulty understanding if this is from SSRI discontinuation, or if it's really me not on SSRIs! I don't want to go making lifestyle changes, like quitting my job and doing something else, if it's a symptom of SSRI discontinuation, which I know it is in the short term, but it's now been two months so I'm questioning if it's related to discontinuation now, or if it's just me. Has anyone else experienced symptoms from quitting SSRIs that go this long? Thanks for any help! Jason

Paullus It's Back
  • replies: 3

I've been doing really well the past year or two but the swirling black dog has returned with a vengeance, the worst it's been. Lost Mum a few weeks back after caring full time for her for the past 7 years. She was 97, but there is a big hole but tha... View more

I've been doing really well the past year or two but the swirling black dog has returned with a vengeance, the worst it's been. Lost Mum a few weeks back after caring full time for her for the past 7 years. She was 97, but there is a big hole but that's not the reason for the plunge downward. Not sure what the reason, does there have to be one? Bit scared of the dark thoughts I'm having, I've lost purpose all of a sudden, bugger it.

Busymum Reasons or not related to depression
  • replies: 1

Hi, I haven't been on for a while - I'm just not motivated. I'm nearly 40 and still trying to figure out my "reason" to be depressed and anxious. Does anyone else feel like this? I'm struggling with money and am a busy mum but is this reason enough? ... View more

Hi, I haven't been on for a while - I'm just not motivated. I'm nearly 40 and still trying to figure out my "reason" to be depressed and anxious. Does anyone else feel like this? I'm struggling with money and am a busy mum but is this reason enough? Or is there no reason? I'm just lost....does everyone have a reason or are there others out there who just don't know why they feel like this? - feeling lost....

rosemotion Need to rant, and get advice
  • replies: 4

During every day, at every second, I feel dead. I am always tired, I dread doing anything, I hate doing the things I used to love. It seems that I have become a completely different person. I cry for no reason, or over the most insignificant things. ... View more

During every day, at every second, I feel dead. I am always tired, I dread doing anything, I hate doing the things I used to love. It seems that I have become a completely different person. I cry for no reason, or over the most insignificant things. A few of my friends know about this, as I have told them when I'm in my darkest times for some help. Most of them are kind and understanding, but I feel as if they don't really believe me. They will offer their advice and try to relate it to themselves to make me feel like I am not alone, but it never works. Of course, I am more than grateful that they try their best to help me, but I just feel like a joke to them. Sometimes, I also dissociate. Now this, I haven't told anyone. It's happened quite a few times, but there are only 2 instances I can think of where it's really impacted me. One of them lasted for over 3 days. I don't really know where I'm going with this thread, I just felt like I needed to get this out even if it doesn't make sense. I just want to have a day where I am genuinely happy and feel loved. I don't want to be stuck like this forever, and even though I'm only 15, it feels like this is never going to change. I think I'll just have to keep pushing all my mental struggles to the side, because I'm nearly an adult and apparently that is more important to focus on then my feelings now. I don't know who I am or why I am even here, because the sadness and intrusive thoughts fog my mind and I can't bring myself to focus on anything else. I don't know what to do, I just want it to stop. I want to feel normal. I want to look back on these years and feel like I have actually had a childhood, not just wish I had one. Everything seems pointless when I just have these overwhelming feelings that won't let me focus on anything else.

Rach94xx Partner died in an accident - not coping
  • replies: 4

Hello, my partner and I had been together for 5 years and he recently moved two hours away for work. I went and spent the weekend with him, we had a great time going hiking and making plans for me to move down and join him. Come Sunday I didn’t want ... View more

Hello, my partner and I had been together for 5 years and he recently moved two hours away for work. I went and spent the weekend with him, we had a great time going hiking and making plans for me to move down and join him. Come Sunday I didn’t want to leave and cried but the thought I would be seeing him again in two weeks was comforting. yesterday I was out when his dad came to the door and told my parents my partner had a motorbike accident and didn’t survive. I feel completely sick I can’t sleep or eat. I keep picturing blood and shattered teeth and getting a choking sensation. The pain is unbelievable I can’t sfop sobbing. I keep thinking about him if I hadve stayed maybe I could’ve stopped this from happening. I keep expecting to get a message and it be from him. Twenty minutes after the accident I sent him a ‘what are you up to today’ and got annoyed when I didn’t hear a response, 8 hours later I found out why. I feel completely guilty I want to feel him hug me again. i honestly feel like I will never be happy again I just want him back I would do anything

Dom1 Not sure how I feel.
  • replies: 1

Hi, I thought I would post something on here to see if I could get some support to how I am currently feeling. I am 42, no kids, no wife. Have not been able to hold on to a relationship for long enough. I bought a house under a seasonal flight path a... View more

Hi, I thought I would post something on here to see if I could get some support to how I am currently feeling. I am 42, no kids, no wife. Have not been able to hold on to a relationship for long enough. I bought a house under a seasonal flight path and can't forgive myself as I feel like I have failed. I want to move but the housing market is terrible. I have a stressful job that should be rewarding but feel I am not going anywhere. I feel trapped in my work and where I live. Being 42 I can't meet anyone on dating apps and all my friends are married with kids or with long term partners. I feel I am wasting my time and in a constant state of unhappiness.

Everything-Not-Zen Fading Away...
  • replies: 1

Hello one and all... This is my first post on here. I just typed out a lengthy explanation of my current situation and it exceeded the character limit by far. I wasn’t sure how to narrow it down effectively so I am just writing this super basic backg... View more

Hello one and all... This is my first post on here. I just typed out a lengthy explanation of my current situation and it exceeded the character limit by far. I wasn’t sure how to narrow it down effectively so I am just writing this super basic background for now. I am diagnosed Bipolar I (has nearly been changed to Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective several times now) and I am really struggling. I had my last psychotic episode in December last year and was hospitalised until February. They wanted to keep me in for at least another eight weeks but I managed to get out of it. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have been discharged when I was. I was somewhat manic until I completely crashed about two months ago now. I am living alone in the bush about fifteen minutes from the nearest small town. I lost my job and my relationship following my episode. And consequently my life. I have no reason whatsoever to get out of bed each day. I have no motivation to do absolutely anything and only leave the house when I absolutely have to. Usually to get tobacco. I am certainly not eating well. A lot of the time I eat nothing at all during a day. I can’t shower at my house at the moment due to water/plumbing issues that my real estate/landlord is yet to rectify. So my hygiene practice is pretty much null and void. I shower maybe twice a week at a “friends” house while he is at work. I say “friends” because he is a horribly toxic influence on my life (long story for another time) and I choose to keep him at bay. I am on no medication since leaving hospital and am smoking marijuana every day in an effort to cope. I am stopping the latter in a couple of days mind you. Only thing I can currently think of to do that might help me right now. I am completely isolated. No friends or family and certainly no support. I have thought of going back to hospital but know they will only drug me up mega and I will be back here where I started before too long. I am on the DSP now which is hard when paying rent. I barely have enough left over for food and petrol so I couldn’t even eat properly if I wanted to. The bills are starting to pile up and I am at a loss at what to do there either. So basically absolutely everything is a mess and I am quickly fading away... Thank you to those who took the time to read this and those who may respond.

Displaynameme1 Depression, isolation, lost
  • replies: 1

Hello not sure where to start or what to say, I’ve had anxiety and depression for a long time, and take medication since my early teens (I’m in my 30s) I have experienced a few rough years, and now have isolated myself in a bubble, it gets overwhelmi... View more

Hello not sure where to start or what to say, I’ve had anxiety and depression for a long time, and take medication since my early teens (I’m in my 30s) I have experienced a few rough years, and now have isolated myself in a bubble, it gets overwhelming and I get anxious, but not over things that seem significant, my family have left or passed, i miss them a lot and feel rudderless with out my father I struggle to make any relationships with friends, meet new people, dating is a mind field. the few friends I do have don’t have time for me, I feel unwanted, I’m constantly exhausted, I live in a beautiful area but everything looks grey, the only thing happy to see me is my pet I don’t want to inconvenience the family I do have, and I don’t feel comfortable talking with my gp, i feel useless, lost and exhausted, sleep constantly and have no energy, no life I’m not sure where else to talk?

guineapigs Is it possible that I have depression and should I see a GP about this? (No history or known family history)
  • replies: 7

Hi, Im new to this. I don’t really know where to begin. I think if I speak up about it, people will think I’m faking it for attention because I always act happy, though lately I’ve been finding it more difficult and breaking down at random times, and... View more

Hi, Im new to this. I don’t really know where to begin. I think if I speak up about it, people will think I’m faking it for attention because I always act happy, though lately I’ve been finding it more difficult and breaking down at random times, and I am rather young (17, F) and I’ve heard lots of people say teenagers fake depression.I have searched up the symptoms of depression, and even though I know it’s different for everyone, I have been having lots of the symptoms for a while. Today I took the depression/anxiety test, and got high (40) which recommended me to see a GP ASAP. I don’t want to waste the GP’s time in case I’m fine, which I might be since I believe things easily and overreact to things. It could just be the sadness I’m feeling about some things that have been happening lately. I have always been paranoid, nervous and insecure. I have always felt anxious about things such as speaking in front of the class-or even just ordering food, I have always had a habit of kicking/swinging my legs, I’ve always hated my physical appearance, I have always felt like I’m not good enough, always felt worthless, but I’ve only become aware of how bad it’s been recently. I have always been paranoid about the most random things at the most random times, but lately I feel like everything I was afraid would happen is happening. I have been a bit shaky at random times which I haven’t noticed before.I've been having a hard time trying to feel really happy, or even just neutral. I’m always either feeling numb or mental/physical pain. Sometimes I feel like there’s literally a big dark cloud over my mind to prevent me from thinking about things apart from sadness.In the last few years I have been a good student with great grades, but lately I’ve been having a harder time paying attention in class. While my grades have been going down, everyone else’s grades seem to be going up, so I have been comparing myself to people more than ever. I want good grades, I want to be productive, but I’ve just been struggling with it.I have a hard time falling asleep and getting out of bed when I wake up. I stay in bed for as long as possible, I stress eat in bed, I have been watching more videos/playing more video games than doing homework, I don’t really exercise anymore, and sometimes I don’t have an appetite at all. Sometimes I randomly feel physical sharp chest pains and have a hard time breathing, not just in situations not make me nervous, even just when I’m relaxing.

DoubleA I’m lost
  • replies: 5

I’m a 30 year old male carpenter, I have my own business which, I struggle to get up to do work, I’m always behind on bills and paperwork, I’m tired, I find myself unable to get overly excited by things anymore. It gets me down even more when I think... View more

I’m a 30 year old male carpenter, I have my own business which, I struggle to get up to do work, I’m always behind on bills and paperwork, I’m tired, I find myself unable to get overly excited by things anymore. It gets me down even more when I think about how I was maybe 4-5years ago, when I was very active had all the energy in the world and loved working, how do I get back to feeling and thinking how I used to? I’ve tried anti depressants but did not like the side effects. Any advice would be appreciated