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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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emj1308 I'm scared that I'm relapsing.
  • replies: 2

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety 5 years ago, however have been managing it really well over the past 2 years. In jan of this year, my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer. This was obviously devastating news but I felt like I had been m... View more

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety 5 years ago, however have been managing it really well over the past 2 years. In jan of this year, my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer. This was obviously devastating news but I felt like I had been managing it well. Lately, I've been having issues with some of my friends and have been feeling really alone and isolated. I'm always stressed about money and work, so much so that the "stressed" feeling feels like numbness. Over the past two weeks I've been feeling down and haven't been able to pull myself out. I feel like I'm relapsing. I've been trying to do things that I know clear my head or make me feel good (self-care), but nothing seems to get me back on track. Uni is really busy at the moment and I have placement coming up soon - I'm scared to graduate next year but it's really important to me that I do because it might be the only milestone my mum will be here for... I used to love going to work but now its a place that just brings so many negative (the friends I've had issues with work with me too). I always feel so hurt and upset over small things. For eg. three of my friends (who i don't have issues with) went out together tonight and didn't invite me, and I feel so incredibly sad and left out and like these girls don't like me anymore - even though I know I'm probably overthinking it. I have the most amazing boyfriend, but I just find myself getting mad and short with him when he's done nothing but try to love and care for me. I feel like I'm lying to my parents by saying that I'm fine. I feel guilty because I feel like this unshifting feeling of sadness has nothing to do with my mum being sick, even though thats the biggest and most important thing to be sad about. I feel like big traumatic things that I've been through are slowly accumulating and I don't know how to cope with my feelings anymore. I don't know how to ask for help or if I even want it. I feel alone and like no one understands. I feel overwhelmed and exhausted. I'm just feeling really lost at the moment.

eebrik Losing hope
  • replies: 1

38 years on earth and I've achieved nothing and failed at everything no family no friends I'm living with my ex because I have nowhere else to go I don't own anything I'm broke I'm reckless I've got a long history of getting fired coz I chuck too man... View more

38 years on earth and I've achieved nothing and failed at everything no family no friends I'm living with my ex because I have nowhere else to go I don't own anything I'm broke I'm reckless I've got a long history of getting fired coz I chuck too many sickies and I want to change and be a better person and build a life but I have to go from the guy that screws everything up to a guy that gets everything right and seems too unrealistic. I've never had the drive or the motivation to succeed and being on my own success seems even more pointless. Not sure what else to type but that's just how I feel

youcantknow I feel sh**, anyone else?
  • replies: 3

So every few weeks or so i have s shit week or so. like i don't want to move or really do anything, i just feel sad down and crappy i don't want to smile or even laugh. i always struggle with energy and happiness but I'm usually really good at faking... View more

So every few weeks or so i have s shit week or so. like i don't want to move or really do anything, i just feel sad down and crappy i don't want to smile or even laugh. i always struggle with energy and happiness but I'm usually really good at faking it but drunk this time i cant fake it there is zero energy left to even try. i do everything to make my self feel better eg; walk my dog, run, paint, exercise, yoga, hang with those i love, journal, meditate. i have anxiety but never really thought that i might have depression until my dad said something about it i don't know tho? my head feels sick, it lost and hate myself more than ever, i cant really be bothered. with. life anymore!!

On_the_border Living and breathing with BPD
  • replies: 3

Hi all, This is my first post on any forum and regardless of the anonymity it is still daunting. i was diagnosed with BPD when I was 18, prior to that i was misdiagnosed as depression and nothing more. I went through self destructive teenage years wi... View more

Hi all, This is my first post on any forum and regardless of the anonymity it is still daunting. i was diagnosed with BPD when I was 18, prior to that i was misdiagnosed as depression and nothing more. I went through self destructive teenage years with no one to blame but myself. The example of traits of BPD, I recognised all of them. I exhibited traits such as promiscuity, drug abuse and the inability to form healthy relationships. I have a chronic fear of abandonment that has controlled my life in suffocating ways. I have progressed to the stage where I have a semi healthy relationship, we have been through hell. He has a child and an ex wife. It is extremely difficult to manage this with an abandonment trait. I am a trainee accountant I work full time, I attend uni, I am in a business partnership with my partner. But I sit here in my car in child’s pose incapable of getting out of the car because a slight argument turns into a breakup.. again. I have the pain in my head and the cry of someone grieving when realistically I love my life the day before and the next I want this to stop. I am not suicidal, I love my life. I am my own enemy. Today I can’t breathe, I feel impossible to manage. I feel incompetent of life and incapable of letting go of my insecurities which control my life. i guess I don’t feel I need advice, I’ve attended enough therapy to understand coping mechanisms. I guess relatability can be something that therapy can’t fix. I guess someone, anyone out there who can relate. I’d love to hear from you. Not because I’m glad you are in the same position. But to know im not as alone as I think I am. i hope everyone has a lovely night and realise the beauty within the struggle.

bxmrie empty
  • replies: 1

...I'm not sure exactly how to start or where to begin. I'm at a place in my life where I am completely lost and feeling worthless. Hi all, this is my first time posting and reaching out on an online forum. I'm 26 and currently my depression is becom... View more

...I'm not sure exactly how to start or where to begin. I'm at a place in my life where I am completely lost and feeling worthless. Hi all, this is my first time posting and reaching out on an online forum. I'm 26 and currently my depression is becoming hard to deal with. I feel empty. I've lost interest in all the things I use to love: reading, writing, cooking, music. I even find it difficult to sit and watch a tv series these days. I have already reached out to my GP who referred me to a psychologist, however, financially I just can't afford it anymore (I've only attended 2 sessions). I've reach out to my psychologist with this issue and she has offered to only charge me a concession fee, which is amazing, however I still just can't afford it (the rebate simply just takes too long to get back to me). I have next to no friends any more, my family are going through a hard time financially and emotionally. My father already suffers chronic depression (due to a broken back) and my mum is always stressed. I haven't told either of them about my issues or that I was even seeing a psychologist. I've lost contact with my best friend due to our changing lives. She just had a baby and our relationship has suffered greatly due to a number of issues that have occurred in the last year. My dog passed away a year ago, and things have just never been the same. And, I know a lot of people may not understand but losing my dog was harder than losing my best friend - because he was my best friend (I was definitely that weird girl that had next to no friends and preferred to hang out with her dog). My boyfriend recently bought a cafe and so has little time these days. He says he wants to help me but doesn't seem to be acting on those words. I think he really does want to help me but doesn't know how, and I don't know how to tell him what I need. I don't even know what I need. I start uni in a few weeks, a bachelor in events management. I was excited when I first applied and received my acceptance letter, however I've gone back to feeling nothing toward it. I feel alone and unimportant. I find it hard to think positively about what uni has to offer me (education, career opportunities, friendships, etc) and instead find myself thinking I am unlikable and too old for uni, and worry I will continue to have no friends or life goals. I apologize now for the long post but I really just needed to get this off my chest. Thanks.

tinamon unable to move on, exhausted everyday and faking it
  • replies: 1

Hey it's my first time posting on this kind of forum so please bear with me. For the past few years, i've been in a really crappy mental space because of a break up of a really meaningful relationship to me. I basically dropped my whole life after th... View more

Hey it's my first time posting on this kind of forum so please bear with me. For the past few years, i've been in a really crappy mental space because of a break up of a really meaningful relationship to me. I basically dropped my whole life after that, didnt go work barely went to uni at all because I was scared of facing him and couldn't bring up the energy to do anything after. Even though we had both agreed on being friends afterwards, it seemed like he found it really hard to talk to me as we used to, and I tried to stay optimistic because I felt like even if I had lost the relationship I really didn't want to lose that connection/friendship we had had. It was important to me because he got me through the first couple of years of being lonely at uni, and was a huge pillar of support, and it was also really hard to find someone at uni you could connect with that well. Right now, I know that what I feel isn't that I want to get back together, it's that we could still have an easy conversation as friends and talk about most things like before. I tried texting and asking questions after that constantly and even felt really ashamed that I was doing so when he clearly seemed like he didn't want to talk.i hated myself for being that type of person who'd have no self respect or control and just keep texting even though he'd ignore me most of the time, and asked myself why I was being so masochistic, but I just couldn't stop myself. I only got through the last few years because he would still occasionally answer and that gave me affirmation that I could still talk to him. I've spoken with my friend about this and we've both agreed that I should lessen how much I text because it's really affecting my mood and making me really down. Please let me know if anyone has gone through the same experience. I want to stop feeling so alone, hurt and exhausted every day, as it's also affecting my other relationships with people.

Christa1 Desperate to get off the hamster wheel
  • replies: 16

Hi, I am new here. I have lived with depression for decades and have been on medication for the past 15 years. I work in the health industry and have worked in the mental health sector in the past. I am reaching out because I feel I have run out of o... View more

Hi, I am new here. I have lived with depression for decades and have been on medication for the past 15 years. I work in the health industry and have worked in the mental health sector in the past. I am reaching out because I feel I have run out of options. Every single aspect of my life is problematic. My financial situation is stressful, my current work is monotonous, my teen child needs me to be strong as he has both physical & mental health issues, I have no interest in socialising, my partner doesn't understand and isn't really supportive; he also doesn't lift a finger around the house, I am constantly tired. I feel that I need everything to stop so I can just rest. I have had ad hoc time off work this year (and I only work part time) and if I keep it up I won't have a job to go back to. I feel chained to my desk and computer and I clock watch all day until I can get out of that office. To add insult to injury, the commute is over an hour each way. Work will be relocating very soon so that commute will increase to 2 hours each way. Boss is a true workaholic and does not take kindly to people having time off. I have had debt since splitting from my husband almost a decade ago and I need to work to pay it off. I have actually decided to sell my home in order to clear all my debt because I can no longer manage the stress of it. I have applied for a few jobs but have found that I am overlooked these days due to my age, despite the fact I am more than qualified. Truth is, I need time out from work. I have worked in the health sector for more than 30 years and I am completely & utterly worn out. I can't manage any of this anymore but can't afford time out. I don't know what to do. I have seen numerous psychologists in the past but nothing is actually helping me to cope day to day. I have lived with so much stress for so many years but I now feel like I am really buckling under the weight of it all.

keyofreason bipolar type 2 - value of validity
  • replies: 4

so long story short after years of displaying bipolar-like symptoms I saw a doctor who brought up bipolar and who referred me to a psychiatrist who assessed me. at the time I had thought the psych focusing on my gender but later was accidentally give... View more

so long story short after years of displaying bipolar-like symptoms I saw a doctor who brought up bipolar and who referred me to a psychiatrist who assessed me. at the time I had thought the psych focusing on my gender but later was accidentally given a copy of his assessment and found that he had indeed been assessing me for bipolar and had found it very likely that I was ‘in the prodormal stages of a bipolar-like illness’. the symptoms have only increased over the year since then, with hypomanic episodes fairly uncommon at three-six proper ones a year seeming to be my standard, but that’s kind of irrelevant I think. I’m on medication for bipolar but due to an unhelpful accusatory doctor I don’t believe I’m at a therapeutic level yet. without going into too much detail, I was stuck with a very unsupportive shrink for some time who insisted I was an unreliable attention seeker, and now I find myself in the adult world wondering if I’m even supposed to try and have professional validity in the form of actual diagnosis anymore. I feel a crushing need to be able to ‘prove’ what’s wrong with me, and to have the validity to fall back on rather than my current spiral of “nothing is wrong and you’re just being an idiot”. It seems to me that there is overwhelming evidence including a psychiatric assessment pointing to a valid diagnosis being possible but now I’m so turned around by the bad shrink that I just don’t know what to do. I can’t even feel comfortable referring to my hypomanic episodes as such even though that’s exactly what they are, simply because I feel like I need professional validation. What are your takes on this? Is it even worth trying to get this confirmed? Most of the time I don’t even care cause I just feel like trash and expect nothing to matter, but other times I just burn with the need to be able to say “This is what’s causing these behaviours, and I can prove it,”.

Saladdressing Life just feels meaningless.. existential depression?
  • replies: 4

And it’s not like I haven’t tried to or don’t try to create meaning in my life. I’m about to finish my master’s degree, I have a job in my field even before graduating, I have friends and family that care about me but I just see no point to any of it... View more

And it’s not like I haven’t tried to or don’t try to create meaning in my life. I’m about to finish my master’s degree, I have a job in my field even before graduating, I have friends and family that care about me but I just see no point to any of it anymore? I’ve had cyclical bouts of depression all my life but this time around it seems to be the the worst. I got better and discontinued therapy but am finding myself going back to see a counsellor this week it feels neverending. I guess I’m just getting my feelings of my chest cos frankly I don’t think any of my friends understand or can relate. I genuinely think the world is going to shit. There are things that bring me immense joy and I try to submerge myself in them as much as I like for example, astronomy, live music and reading. But on a social level I just feel empty like I cannot connect with anyone and even if I do there are things I may judge them for because they feel like a product of what this world has become. Hookup culture for example, I’m nowhere ready for a serious relationship because I want to heal from past wounds and better manage my depression. But it just makes me sad how people have become disposable. You see how rampant the use of online dating sites is in my age group and it just makes me sad there’s nothing real or of substance anymore. It literally feels like shopping for people, like people are just objects to swipe right or left on, their value and worth based on their appearance. And you give up so easily on somebody because there’ll be 10 others you can find with the tap of your thumb. I guess I’m just rambling. I feel like I have no one to talk to who’ll understand and I don’t want to burden anyone but I need to focus on my assignments for uni so just thought I’d clear my head until it’s time to discuss this more with my counsellor in person. Thank you to anyone who’s read this so far.

Florin1 Where do you go when you’ve tried everything?
  • replies: 3

Here in middle age I realise that I’ve been depressed, on and off but always lingering somewhere in the background, for more than 30 years. I have been able to access psychologists, psychiatrists, councillors, CBT courses etc not just here in Austral... View more

Here in middle age I realise that I’ve been depressed, on and off but always lingering somewhere in the background, for more than 30 years. I have been able to access psychologists, psychiatrists, councillors, CBT courses etc not just here in Australia but also in big teaching hospitals in the US and Canada while I was working there, and also in Western Europe at various times. Whatever help has been available I’ve tried. I’ve been on various antidepressants for many of those years. Here I still am, unable to see how to make life bearable despite having an amazing job that allows me a huge amount of creative freedom, a very loving and supportive partner who would do anything to help me feel better, no money worries, a beautiful house etc I have grown to hate the adverts and campaigns to ask for help, because for me it just hasn’t helped, so when I see those I feel like I’m beyond hope. My GP is great but having sent me to 3 or 4 different specialists (psychs etc) I feel that I’m exhausting possibilities. I go to each one so hopeful, so ready to try damn well anything to feel better. I never do. I do know that depression runs in my family. And it’s a curse. And I feel that mine is getting worse as I get older. I just feel broken.