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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: 1

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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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

oatlife Feeling helpless, dumb, alone, anxious and overwhelmed by life.
  • replies: 2

I've always struggled with anxiety, and I believe this was due to being bullied in primary school by a group of girls. Fast forward 15 years, I have miraculously found myself in a great Government Job, a lovely and supportive boyfriend, a very small ... View more

I've always struggled with anxiety, and I believe this was due to being bullied in primary school by a group of girls. Fast forward 15 years, I have miraculously found myself in a great Government Job, a lovely and supportive boyfriend, a very small (but close) network of friends and colleagues and of course a roof over my head. The problem is, I'm still being followed by a dark fog that is my anxiety and depression. I feel empty most days. I struggle to keep up with everyday life as I'm overwhelmed by everything. I feel tight in my chest constantly and I feel like people can see through me. I've begun crying, often, which is concerning my boyfriend who has always been extroverted, confident and has a huge support system in his family and friends. My anxiety has gotten so bad that I've been told by my naturepath that this is affecting my gut, my skin (always breaking in acne), and my female hormones. So on top of my emotional/mental issues I'm also working through these physical problems. I'm so anxious now that it's affecting my speech. I've always considered myself to be articulate and well spoken, however in the past few months I've noticed myself stuttering on words and struggling to string coherent words together. I feel like I don't even want to speak to people now because I end up being embarrassed about how I sound like a child speaking. My self esteem is also incredibly low. I feel like the 'dumb' friend, also due to the latter. I feel like people find me boring because I hold back on being myself. In conversations, I always try and turn it back onto the other person to avoid me having to go into any particular topics in case I struggle to physically talk about it. I feel ashamed that this is even an issue in my life. Anyways....I don't even know what I'm doing here.

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.