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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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do71 Feeling likeI am not good enough
  • replies: 2

I always feel like I am not good enough at anything..my looks..my weight gain..I feel numb I dont want to do anything and this gets worse when I drink, I then get abusive becaused I have bottled it up..I have to fix me otherwise I am going to loose e... View more

I always feel like I am not good enough at anything..my looks..my weight gain..I feel numb I dont want to do anything and this gets worse when I drink, I then get abusive becaused I have bottled it up..I have to fix me otherwise I am going to loose everything...this is the start of recognising I am depressed

Notanurse Career burnout
  • replies: 6

Im a registered nurse and im beginning to hate it and regret ever going into it. I just feel so burnout, the work load is too much, theres never enough staff, management is the worst and putting more and more pressure on us each week. I hate it! Abso... View more

Im a registered nurse and im beginning to hate it and regret ever going into it. I just feel so burnout, the work load is too much, theres never enough staff, management is the worst and putting more and more pressure on us each week. I hate it! Absolutely hate it! I dont want to go back but i dont know what else id do for a job! I always thought being a nurse was where i want to be but since working where i am now theyve just killed all desire i once had. How do i find out what else id want to do for work? Right now i feel like theres nothing id be good at or will like and its sending me into another severe depression. I havent been able to east for 2 days now because im so stressed and anxious, i just feel too sick to eat. And i dont see my phychologist until the end of the month..

Lily78 Acceptance and how long it takes
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm new here. Hoping to find a safe place to talk about how I am feeling and what contributes to this. I'm not quite sure where to start. About fifteen years ago I lost my mum to cancer. At the time I coped as well as I could but as the years hav... View more

Hi, I'm new here. Hoping to find a safe place to talk about how I am feeling and what contributes to this. I'm not quite sure where to start. About fifteen years ago I lost my mum to cancer. At the time I coped as well as I could but as the years have passed I have struggled between anxiety and depression and my thoughts at times have taken me to some pretty scary places. In this time I have had a couple of relationships which have fallen into the not so healthy category or as a friend says, toxic. My family life has been pretty much non existent, which has really caused me pain. I don't feel like I belong anywhere, feel alone, unloved, to the point where now I should be putting myself out there but it's like I have given up. Two years ago, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I've had some financial stress and started to not cope so well and put on a lot of weight from bad choices in food and alcohol. I've also struggled with finding the right help amd been on and off anti depressants for years and became quite used to benzos for coping. A recent wake up call a few months back with a cut back in anti depressants lead to insomnia issues and a relapse into a big hole of depression. I have improved somewhat with regular doctor visits and a new approach of not prescribing benzos any longer. It's like I have just scratched the surface and I feel that I have wasted years of my life being in this depression. I feel like a failure, so alone, don't know how to trust or open up to people and spend a lot of time on my own. I've also come to terms with the fact that I have not been enjoying a social drink for years,but drowning my pain instead. It's like part of myself has just given up. I struggle to get up and go. And then feel guilty. I'm not sure if much of this makes sense. I am just struggling to move forward and it's like I don't know how to be happy anymore as it's been so long.

RamblingRose "This RamblingRose is Emotionally Fragile, Almost Broken yet Need to Keep Positve"
  • replies: 2

Hello Everyone on the Beyond Blue Forum & Staff. My Introduction to All. This is my First Post to Beyond Blue though I'm familiar with this Excellent Forum. I have returned to the BB forum for support because I found it helpful so I have decided star... View more

Hello Everyone on the Beyond Blue Forum & Staff. My Introduction to All. This is my First Post to Beyond Blue though I'm familiar with this Excellent Forum. I have returned to the BB forum for support because I found it helpful so I have decided start/join again. Everyone who posted in the past did a great job. So Thank you for having me back Beyond Blue. I haven't much to say due to severe anxiety/depression/post traumatic stress disorder. Am on medication, see health professionals regularly to keep things in check. Beyond Blue Thank you.

sadgirlhours i dont control my thoughts, my thoughts control me
  • replies: 3

i have depression. not very surprising. im pretty much used to it i guess. im used to being in an on and off (mostly on) depressive episode. im so SO tired but oh well, what can i do, right? a lot of my friends know about this and they always tell me... View more

i have depression. not very surprising. im pretty much used to it i guess. im used to being in an on and off (mostly on) depressive episode. im so SO tired but oh well, what can i do, right? a lot of my friends know about this and they always tell me theyre here for me. so i vent to them if i need to. the sad thing is, i think theyre getting sick of me, because theyre giving dry replies, such as "oh damnn" or "idk what to say sorry" or "yikes". and these replies just make me feel 10x worse, so i have decided to isolate myself and be alone with my thoughts. sometimes it becomes too much and i blurt out things i wasnt planning on saying. last week i suddenly said "when will i ever recover from depression??" out loud to my friend. and she said "you wont because youre not even trying." that hurt. so much. i am trying so hard to get better. everyday i wake up and go to school. i hold back my tears as much as i can. i try SO SO HARD not to think dark thoughts but its hard. i feel like my brain and i are separate people, and i cant control my thoughts. my thoughts control me. i really REALLY wish people would understand that. my friend thinks im not trying because i still say depressing things a lot of the time, but i cant help it. i genuinely cannot control my brain. my brain is a bully, and is in charge of all the bad thoughts. i, on the other hand, am trying to block the bad thoughts, but im miserably failing because im not strong enough, my brain is too loud. TOO LOUD. im trying as hard as i can. im just so tired of trying to be louder than the bad thoughts. the bad thoughts are screaming and i have to scream louder than them. im so tired of having to block the bad thoughts. i am so tired. im in highschool which doesnt help cuz the schoolwork is hella overwhelming and that adds to my tiredness. at this point i have given up on school and all my hobbies and idk where i can get my motivation back. (im getting off track lol) anyhoo i just really REALLY wish people would understand one thing: my brain and i are separate people. my brain generates all the bad thoughts, and even though i am supposed to control the bad thoughts, i am incapable of doing that. so they end up controlling me. i dont like it, and theres honestly nothing i can do. I REALLY AM TRYING PLEASE BELIEVE ME PLEASE DONT CALL ME LAZY BECAUSE IM TRYING IM JUST SO TIRED :(((( please help me

StaticRose51 what to do
  • replies: 10

My gran has really bad dementia and sits UP ALL night ,,,,,,any tips to help?

My gran has really bad dementia and sits UP ALL night ,,,,,,any tips to help?

Boodu Confusion
  • replies: 4

Hey, First time posting. Ok, so this is somewhat difficult to explain, I’ve never been to a doctor for mental help but it is on the horizon. I’ve recently opened up to my wife and parents about my mental problems that I’ve been having. I’m currently ... View more

Hey, First time posting. Ok, so this is somewhat difficult to explain, I’ve never been to a doctor for mental help but it is on the horizon. I’ve recently opened up to my wife and parents about my mental problems that I’ve been having. I’m currently having problems with my mind constantly creating scenarios and thinking of the worst possible situation that scenario could be and getting me worked up to the point that I get really angry with what has happened even though the situation isn’t real and possibly won’t become real. Constant negative thoughts. It’s really starting to affect me. It gets me depressed quite regularly and I really need to learn to think of positive situations. Does anyone have any tips on how to switch on a positive mindset? Meditation? Yoga? I do realise that this post quite possibly makes no sense but ask me any questions and I’ll answer as best I can to assist FYI - I’m not into seeing a doctor for medication. Nothing against people who take it, it’s just not something I’m willing to do. Cheers

Checkthebatteries Learning to be happy in a bad situation
  • replies: 1

I'm feeling really trapped and depressed at work. I have two degrees in fields that are related and am scheduled to finish my part-time postgrad studies next year in a more abstract but somewhat elated field. However, I can never get a job in the are... View more

I'm feeling really trapped and depressed at work. I have two degrees in fields that are related and am scheduled to finish my part-time postgrad studies next year in a more abstract but somewhat elated field. However, I can never get a job in the areas I want, no matter how many qualifications I get. So I take something else, hate it and change jobs. I have a CV containing six of these entry level jobs unrelated to each other or my qualifications. Plus degree assortment that is beoming more unrelated. I never like my jobs because they are in areas I don't find interesting. Now I’m in a part-time job I've had for 4 years and I hate it. I saw a career advisor last year for a small fortune. She reviewed my CV, told me what jobs I should apply for to build my career, how to explain my different jobs ect. So I started looking for work a year ago and I have not got one interview. I spend so much time on so many applications. I saw a second advisor for free at university. They had different ideas on CV writing. Asdid did the next career advisor. And so does every career forum. I applied for jobs that I am overqualified for related to my career interests but still got rejected. I ensured my CV ect. and LinkedIn are updated. Networking was useless plus I have social anxiety. I volunteer lots but that's a dead end. I am really depressed. I cry all the time. I told my therapist but it didn't help. I can't afford my income, I suck at my job, and it's stressful and unfulfilling. I don’t like the people, the work and it's boring, Career development is nil (I am so sick of entry level work that I won't move up in). I avoid my friends because I am sad and my job and the failure to find a new one after so long is embarrassing. What’s worse is any nice people are leaving for other jobs so I feel like a failure and lonely without even one interview. My friends have get better work recently with careers. 5-10 years ago I got interviews for at least 30% of jobs. Now I can’t get one for career starter jobs. I have no experience in the fields I like - just degrees from 5 years ago- and a disjointed career/study history of 14 years that can't be explained away. I'm just unemployable stuck in this depressing job forever. I get no sleep and work makes me ill. But I need the money. My studies suffer too as it feels like a waste to study when I won't be able to get a job. Any advice on how to learnt to be happy in a job you hate but will be doing for the rest of your life?

M_lozone Loneliness
  • replies: 3

Hello, As of 2.5 years ago, I’ve started to feel really down and lonely. I used to work in hospitality and as you can imagine, I’ll be working long hours and mostly on weekends and public holidays too. I never really had the chance to catch up with m... View more

Hello, As of 2.5 years ago, I’ve started to feel really down and lonely. I used to work in hospitality and as you can imagine, I’ll be working long hours and mostly on weekends and public holidays too. I never really had the chance to catch up with my friends outside of work as they all work Monday to Friday 9-5 jobs and they would only ever be available on days that I’m working, however it didn’t bother me as much because I enjoyed working with the colleagues. I ended up leaving my hospitality career and pursued a whole different career in a corporate environment. I found it extremely hard to adapt and make new friends but over time, I got used it. Things have quietened down a lot and the busy lifestyle I had was no longer busy. I was excited at the same time because now it meant that I could see and catch up with all my friends. Over time, I saw my friends less and less and I can appreciate that everyone is probably busy but I always feel lonely. I always find myself asking and reaching out to friends to catch up but at the same time I wish they could make an effort to organise something for once. I feel like if I don’t initiate catch ups, we probably won’t see each other for a good couple of months. On Instagram, I always see stories of them going out with their other friends or their “group” and then I start to question if I mean anything to them at all. I’ve reached out to them and brought it up on several occasions but they all believe I have high expectations of what good/close friends should be. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my alone time and some times I’d much rather stay at home and watch a movie but I cant help but envy people who have a tight group of friends or friends to hang out with in general. I’d start questioning why I can’t have a group of my own etc. I’m certain I’m not alone but how have you dealt with situations or feelings like these? How can you over come feeling so lonely?...

bludge Exhausted is an extreme understatement
  • replies: 1

Hi I am a major introvert and have been feeling depressed for the past 2 years, but I thought it was normal. But I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety towards the end of July 2019. I was prescribed with antidepressants and did get some support ... View more

Hi I am a major introvert and have been feeling depressed for the past 2 years, but I thought it was normal. But I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety towards the end of July 2019. I was prescribed with antidepressants and did get some support from my family, but that was just temporary. I had to put more effort into pretending that I was happy and okay, in order for my mum to stop stressing and worrying about me. My dad is another story, he blames me for overthinking, but is it my fault? For a while after being on meds, I thought, maybe I was getting better, I haven’t felt down in a while. I was never the type to let myself dwell over things, especially things that made me sad, so when something traumatic happened, I never let myself focus the sadness and my emotions. I never gave myself time to come to terms with my problems. I’ve always pushed everything to the back of my mind. I did everything I could to escape reality. I binge read books, I binged watched series, I stopped caring so much about school. A month and a half later, I feel like the medication isn’t working. Am I supposed to be feeling so down? Even before my diagnosis, I don’t remember feeling so emotionally drained. This led to me being too ‘tired’ to do anything, and I don’t think my family fully understands what I’m going through. I think it’s impacting on my relationship with my parents and my siblings. I’m just so done. Everything’s falling apart. I’ve been told by my GP to only take half a pill before bedtime, but there’s been quite a few days where I want to take one whole, just to be able to feel relaxed again. This is what had happened. The first night I got the antidepressants, I accidentally took one tablet instead of half like I was supposed to. I remember feeling drowsy almost immediately and being able to relax for what felt like the first time in forever. I want to feel that again. I’m tired of being so tensed all the time, so anxious about everything when I know I shouldn’t be.