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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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MakeTheWorldABetterPlace Guilt and shame: Repeated equivocation, indecisiveness about going back to work.
  • replies: 5

I have been off work now for almost a year. Work and burnout were certainly some of the catalysts for what continues to be a tumultuous and protracted mental health crisis. I go around in tortuous circles contemplating when or if I will ever go back ... View more

I have been off work now for almost a year. Work and burnout were certainly some of the catalysts for what continues to be a tumultuous and protracted mental health crisis. I go around in tortuous circles contemplating when or if I will ever go back to work. This is awful for me and I imagine for anyone I bring along with me on my roller-coaster (e.g. a friend or a supervisor). I am feeling awful about leading people to believe that I might be coming back to work in some form and then letting them down. I hate myself for getting others' hopes up and then letting them down almost as quickly. I have very ridged black and white thinking. At times, I thoroughly hate this weak part of me that is seemingly helpless and hopeless. At times, I want nothing more than to deny I have any issues and just carry on with life like other people do. This seems to be inevitably followed by a harsh reality that I'm not okay and that I'm plainly not up to it. My constant oscillating between going back to work and not going back to work is itself distressing and disheartening. It's not just the extremes between being a 'failure' and being a 'success', I am forever in two minds about going back to work at all. Black and white thinking is not that unusual. It's very very common. So the social pressures to return to 'normality' are strong and shame inducing. I feel doomed to forever feel guilt and shame for the way I am. Even some mental health professionals engage in this. The question gets asked, when am I going back to work? My answer... I don't know. For me, work is one of the reasons I'm in this mess. If I was suffering from cancer, it's unlikely the question would come up. Or the insinuation that you're plainly lazy, what do you do with your days? My answer... nothing much, sleeping, resting, maybe read the news. Does anyone else deal with this? How do people manage these unhelpful thought patterns and social pressures? How do people navigate the constant to and fro or ups and downs? I feel I need to guard against bringing people along with me on my roller-coaster to avoid the seemingly inevitable low points where I let people down.

Guest_9043 Hard times
  • replies: 1

Suffering from major depression and CPTSD symptoms. I'm on anti depressants and other medication if needed. I also do therapy. All I do is sleep and lay in bed all day when not sleeping. I do not go out everyday. When I do go out it's just to get gro... View more

Suffering from major depression and CPTSD symptoms. I'm on anti depressants and other medication if needed. I also do therapy. All I do is sleep and lay in bed all day when not sleeping. I do not go out everyday. When I do go out it's just to get groceries and go back home. Some days I don't even shower. I have had washing to fold and put away for five days now and all I do is stare at it. I have no friends and family is busy doing there own life. I spend my days completely alone and isolated. I find myself not wanting to be around negativity or negative people. It makes me feel irritable and like I want to run a mile. I'm also struggling to eat which is strange for me because I love food. II'm basically living in a state of fear of the outside world which is not rational. I'm scared people are going to hurt me. II'm having relationship issues on top of this. Recently my partner lied to me and I found out. It ripped me apart. I guess all the stress of the last four months has gotten to me now. I keep asking myself everyday how am I going to get out of this depression and I'm struggling for answers. I'm fully busy just trying to get myself through each day. Each day feels like ground hog day. I don't know how to tell anyone what I'm going through. I feel as if I'm a burden and I got to do it myself which makes me feel so sad as I've always been there to help others. II just feel beyond sad and hurt.

B_bear Anti depressants after seperation
  • replies: 2

Hi all. Going through a recent separation and it’s hit me hard. I’m at the point where I think I will be taking anti depressants to get me through, bring back some quality to my life hopefully. I was not depressed prior to the separation so the docto... View more

Hi all. Going through a recent separation and it’s hit me hard. I’m at the point where I think I will be taking anti depressants to get me through, bring back some quality to my life hopefully. I was not depressed prior to the separation so the doctor indicated this is circumstance based or similar. I’m interested to hear from people who were in a similar boat. Took them due to a big incident in their lives. Did they work for you? And how long did you need to take them before you came out the other side? I understand we are all unique and ultimately it’s going to my medical professionals that guide me but I’m still interested in hearing about people’s experiences.

MangoPie Physical Symptoms of Depression
  • replies: 2

Hey there! I'm new, and figured I'd reach out. TL;DR, i've been depressed for awhile and I've known I've been depressed for awhile. I got diagnosed last year, and it was a really exciting experience for me, I'm finally going to get help! Depression h... View more

Hey there! I'm new, and figured I'd reach out. TL;DR, i've been depressed for awhile and I've known I've been depressed for awhile. I got diagnosed last year, and it was a really exciting experience for me, I'm finally going to get help! Depression has always been an up and down for me and I'm thankful for those experiences I had with counselling and trying medication for the first time. Fast-forward to now. I'm no longer on medication (it wasn't really working for me anymore, plus I'm in a better space mentally so I figured there wasn't much need for it. came off of these with the help of my doctor). I wouldn't consider myself a very emotionally depressed person, I don't think I feel sad often, but I do feel drained and tired pretty much all the time. I've kind of been getting frustrated with my situation as of late-- I want to do things but no matter how much I sleep or try, it's an effort, and it feels like I have to sit around and wait until this tired spell passes. Not too long ago I was stuck in a really bad one for over a month. I had conversed with my doctor and figured it 'might' have been an iron deficiency. I took supplements for a month and it changed nothing. Then, about a week ago, I finally came out of it and it was great! I could keep a sleep schedule, I wanted to go and exercise and do things, I just felt like me again, but now I feel myself falling back into the tired spell again. I've been told numerous times to try and keep a good sleep schedule and try to exercise and etc, but the problem at the moment is that the way I see it now, those things are a result of being in a good headspace and physical condition. I can't do that right now, exercise doesn't help, keeping a good sleep schedule is impossible. I feel like I'm at my wits end and I don't know what to do. I just want to be awake again.

stressyspaghetti Sad and in need of advice
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I've posted on here once before and once again life is kicking me around like a football and I need help. My family (mum, sister, and I) adopted a beautiful puppy about 6 months ago. He has had health issues all his life but we have pushed th... View more

Hi all, I've posted on here once before and once again life is kicking me around like a football and I need help. My family (mum, sister, and I) adopted a beautiful puppy about 6 months ago. He has had health issues all his life but we have pushed through and sought treatment. SO far, his treatment has cost about 6K and we are a lower middle class family and cant afford this, but we love him so mum has picked up extra shifts ect. Recently his condition has gotten worse and the vet told us "euthanasia wouldnt be unkind". We either pay 7K (which is money we dont have) for a temporary fix or put him down. I love this dog more than anything, I dont have friends due to some people i was once friends with hating me and spreading bad lies and so forth. This year i spent my birthday alone with him (the puppy), and he is genuinely the best dog in the world. However, since he is in pain all the time i understand what we need to do. I'm not sure im ready to let him go though, and since my mother told me i have been heartbroken. I don't know how to get on with life. I dont want to kill myself, i just want to stop existing for a little while. It sounds stupid and it's not all about the puppy but it just feels like everything is going from bad to worse. I just wish i could fix all these problems. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated!

Guest_6408 Ppd:(
  • replies: 6

So this us my first post and I'm really unsure what to write, I'm a mum to 2 beautiful children, but the past 2 weeks I've began to resent my life as a mum. I hear my baby crying and it makes me mad. I don't know how to feel love again. I would never... View more

So this us my first post and I'm really unsure what to write, I'm a mum to 2 beautiful children, but the past 2 weeks I've began to resent my life as a mum. I hear my baby crying and it makes me mad. I don't know how to feel love again. I would never in a million years harm my children. I feel so alone although my partner is very helpful after work but during the day I feel like I just can't do it anymore. I wake up and realize it's the same old thing just a different day. I show no emotion to anyone because being realistic no one even cares. We as humans are selfish and as long as things are 'ok' then why do we need to bother to see what's really going on. I feel stupid for feeling like this. Life really isn't that bad so what's my problem. I'm sick of looking at the same walls I'm sick of wearing the same bum clothes because what's the point in even getting dressed nicely when I feel like I look fat and horrible. How do I break this feeling? I force myself to shower, force myself to clean my house, for my self to fake a smile so that I can pretend for 5 minutes that I'm ok. I'm so scared of going on medication as I've seen what it has done to other people in the same situation. I wish it was as easy as going for a walk or taking time for myself, because it's not. I don't want to do anything. It's like the saying you can't help someone who doesn't want to help themselves . How do I want to help myself again?? From the outside you'd never know I was feeling this way because I'm so ashamed. I've gotten to the point of resentment I am convinced my husband is cheating on me, I can't help but go through his phone or constantly question his everyday actions or get mad when he doesn't answer my calls. I know on my heart has done nothing wrong so why am i doing this?? I hope that this was a safe enough place to put this, I'm just too embarrassed to discuss this anywhere or with any one else

neverbeenready Never been happy and cant escape the monotony
  • replies: 2

Constantly looking for work and never getting interviews, cant seem to land any long term work and ive spent most of my time on the dole being broke since finishing highschool. I've been seeing a psychologist but doesn't seem to understand me, its ve... View more

Constantly looking for work and never getting interviews, cant seem to land any long term work and ive spent most of my time on the dole being broke since finishing highschool. I've been seeing a psychologist but doesn't seem to understand me, its very hard. Maybe my depression is affecting how i look for work?

Vanda Lost, lonely scared and relationship in crisis
  • replies: 1

I’m so alone and just don't know what to do. After a life of ups and downs that I’ve prided myself on my resilience to get through but over the past years I have had a horrible bullying experience at work that has absolutely broken me. I used to be i... View more

I’m so alone and just don't know what to do. After a life of ups and downs that I’ve prided myself on my resilience to get through but over the past years I have had a horrible bullying experience at work that has absolutely broken me. I used to be intelligent and strong but now I just want to hide from life, I cry every day and feel so alone. I’m trying for another job, but that's not proving a successful search, just another thing to keep knocking me down. I cry in silence, I’m trying to be brave and hide how broken I am from my family, but I don’t know how long I can keep this up. I don’t know how to escape or break this horrible cycle I’m in. The worst thing is the effect this is having on my family. My husband just wants to avoid all conflict/emotions/reality and says everything is ok. He always has struggled with his own feelings and emotion due to his shit childhood. I know he is like this but at the moment he goes for days without talking to me or just leaves me crying my self to sleep and goes to another room. I understand he doesn’t know what to do and how to handle me but I really need him to be there for me now. I’ve tried to tell him but he either doesn’t listen, doesn’t care or just doesn’t get it. I can’t handle him ignoring me anymore. It’s like he just wants to take from me but won't give back. What is the use of being in a relationship when you are not there for each other when you need it the most? I’ve been going to counselling for months. I asked him to see a counsellor to deal with his own feelings - he had one appointment. I can’t make him love me or care. I know he just wants me to “fix” everything and “tell him” what to do. I need him to want me broken or not. I need him to want to listen, try to understand and be there because he wants too. I know I’m hard to live with right now; I’m trying not to be. I just don’t know I can keep putting up with my husband when he is not in this for better or worse. And I don’t know how to deal with everything else, these people from work are in my nightmares every night I don’t want to sleep, I can’t sleep. Every day is such a struggle and I just don’t know how much more I can take and I don’t know how to get out of this. I’m scared I’m lonely I can’t be strong anymore.

Callie_F Do i have depression?
  • replies: 1

I’ve been really curious about both my mental and emotional health lately. I don’t know whether i have depression or anxiety. I have completed the checklist and i’ve gotten high as the result but i’m not sure what to do. This has been going on since ... View more

I’ve been really curious about both my mental and emotional health lately. I don’t know whether i have depression or anxiety. I have completed the checklist and i’ve gotten high as the result but i’m not sure what to do. This has been going on since mid end last year till today. I’ve had complications with relationships, friendships and family. I have tried finding multiple things that would make me happy for the specific issue but i dont think that has been the solution. I’ve also been distancing from both myself and people. I feel sad and depressed majority of the time. I often cry myself to sleep, overthink about both past and present issues. Physically, I’ve been having troubles sleeping, i don’t enjoy the things i usually enjoy/ lack of energy and I’ve stopped taking care of myself which have caused me both internal and external problems. Regarding school, i’ve been losing confience with that too. I’ve been skipping and i don’t know whether i will achieve what i want. I stress about getting things done. My grades have dropped a ton. I don’t know who i can talk to, i’ve been losing self confidence. I have lost a lot of friends meaning i can not talk to anyone from school nor trust anyone to talk to. I want to tell my Mum what i’ve been going through and how we can perhaps solve the issue but i have two thoughts going on in my mind if i tell her. 1 being if i told her it would cause her more stress since she has severe depression. On the other hand, if i told her i keep thinking she wouldn’t be understanding and she might think im exaggerating because she’s always known me as that bright happy person i used to be. I don’t know whether this is depression or not since I’ve never experienced it. However if it is, what can i do?

ziggdtd I hate my bipolar for making me useless
  • replies: 4

I need to vent a little. I have bipolar and lets just say it’s absolutely horribe. I cant hold a job, i rely on centerlink, i rely on my mum and i feel like a stupid adult child. At the age of 19 i should be studying or working but im too useless to ... View more

I need to vent a little. I have bipolar and lets just say it’s absolutely horribe. I cant hold a job, i rely on centerlink, i rely on my mum and i feel like a stupid adult child. At the age of 19 i should be studying or working but im too useless to even do that. My 17 year old brother thrives at life. He has a great paying job, has just bought his first (very nice) car and has great friends and a great girlfriend. I cant even go outside without having a full blow panic attack. Im so useless at living. All i do is sit around all day and do nothing. Not because im lazy but because my brain is so fried from the multiple anti depressants/ anti psychotics/ mood stablisers ive been put on. My memory is horrible, i have very poor social skills, i cant concentrate on anything and heck i cant even drive anymore. Everyone else around me is constantly doing better and making sure i know theyre doing better than me. I shouldnt feel like im trapped in this never ending cycle of stupid crazy mania and crippling depression. All i want is a normal life like everyone else my age but instead im stuck feeling like a dumb child who constantly needs their nappy changed. Why does this illness have to take so much from me? All of my teenage years were spent extremely depressed and anxious and now im coming up to my 20s and i feel like its going to be the same old cycle. Im such a burden on everyone around me and ill probably be the only sibling still stuck at home living with their mum even though im the oldest. I hate being bipolar and as much as i try to accept it, it just takes so much away from my life. I cant do the things i want to do because im dirt poor and i dont ask my mum or brother for money because once again ill just look like that stupid adult child who cant get their life together. Im so tired of being looked down at for being lazy and useless. I dream about having a normal job and a normal life but its likely never going to happen and ill be that one kid who never left town after school and turned into deadbeat scum while everyone else moved and fulfilled their hopes and dreams. I hate what bipolar has done to me.