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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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Goatieguy Feel like giving up
  • replies: 1

I am feeling so lonely and depressed. I have been living with a depressed partner for 5 years and have lost the will to fight any longer. She is so nasty and hurtful. Nothing I can do is good enough. She talks over me and I am shut down any time I tr... View more

I am feeling so lonely and depressed. I have been living with a depressed partner for 5 years and have lost the will to fight any longer. She is so nasty and hurtful. Nothing I can do is good enough. She talks over me and I am shut down any time I try and express my feelings or hurt. I wish I was dead.

petals03 feeling alone
  • replies: 4

Wasn't quite sure what to post but I'll just be honest. I am a socially awkward girl who has low self esteem and sleeps too much. I feel no motivation to do anything and when I do go out with friends I become anxious and depressed so I end up leaving... View more

Wasn't quite sure what to post but I'll just be honest. I am a socially awkward girl who has low self esteem and sleeps too much. I feel no motivation to do anything and when I do go out with friends I become anxious and depressed so I end up leaving early and as I drive myself home late at night I have an emotional breakdown in my car and start yelling at the top of my lungs until I calm myself down. Sometimes I wonder if my friends would even notice if I werenot there. I'd love to hear how others have stayed positive in tough times and what's a good way of feeling less alone?

Confusedpotato I feel like I’m dreaming
  • replies: 5

For a while now I’ve felt like I’ve been dosing off into another world? Like just thoughts over take my mind. Sometimes staring at objects makes them feel really far away when I’m like this. 3 times now I’ve felt like I’ve been dreaming and that noth... View more

For a while now I’ve felt like I’ve been dosing off into another world? Like just thoughts over take my mind. Sometimes staring at objects makes them feel really far away when I’m like this. 3 times now I’ve felt like I’ve been dreaming and that nothing was real. I don’t know what’s happening. I am diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety. Don’t know if that has anything to do with it but I’m just confused and worried. It’s an uncomfortable feeling. In the moment nothing feels real and people don’t seem real. It almost feels like a lie? Idk I’m just very overwhelmed. Would like someone’s opinion on it.

Changingfiles Struggling Mum
  • replies: 3

So here i am writing this trying to keep it all together. I suffered depression on and off since my teens. I am now 32. I have 2 young children, a husband and a father in law that lives with me. Ive noticed that my mental health is declining, i'm not... View more

So here i am writing this trying to keep it all together. I suffered depression on and off since my teens. I am now 32. I have 2 young children, a husband and a father in law that lives with me. Ive noticed that my mental health is declining, i'm not happy, i'm disinterested in doing anything, I just want to sleep at the time, i can't be bothered attitude has set in and im isolating myself. I keep the family going, i have a special needs child, my husband works shiftwork i work shiftwork, I do all the household jobs and cooking etc and the child rearing. We support my elderly father in law as well, meals, cleaning, company/social. I'm exhausted i feel like i just want to run away from all the responsibility on my shoulders I'm seen as a very strong person and i generally keep it all together but im struggling and im going down. I'm scared im really scared that black cloud it almost over my head. I don't want it coming back but im feeling it. Mother guilt is setting in, being the one the holds the family together pressure is so much. All it is it work and children cooking and cleaning. No life pleasure's or events or holidays. Same day in day out nothing to look forward to :-( Help! Maybe some advice on coping, what i can do, what i could change? Please note i have hardly any support and im not ready to open upto my husband.

asianaussie Sensitive and Unmotivated
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm a 22 year old female. I'm currently studying TAFE and working part-time as a Beauty/Massage Therapist. Both in a salon and Freelance. This year has been personally difficult. I've had to give up my Arts degree due to heavy debts. My former re... View more

Hi, I'm a 22 year old female. I'm currently studying TAFE and working part-time as a Beauty/Massage Therapist. Both in a salon and Freelance. This year has been personally difficult. I've had to give up my Arts degree due to heavy debts. My former retail job of 3 years closed down. I've lost 2 jobs within 6 months. I dealt with 6 months of bullying at a hair salon, which resulted in my abrupt resignation, and I'm still grieving from the loss of a friend of mine early this year. My family, already struggling financially, pressured me into doing this career because it's 'financially sustainable'. I've since then tried my best to work to keep in money, along with something that would suit me. While many people have said I'm good at Massage, and it's not a bad job, I've also been struggling in it. Due to pressure and inexperience, I often come across as 'socially awkward', and end up offending clients. With my current boss adding more shift days to my schedule, along with TAFE it's becoming harder to cope with. I've had to cancel Freelance and in turn drop some clients out, some responding harshly. I've already received several bad reviews, both about me and the salons I've worked at. One of them firing me as a result. It's ironic that I'm suffering at a 'wellbeing' job. I know I'm very lucky to be working in Beauty. Instead, I just can't help but feel utter resentment and depressed. Waking up to go to work can feel at times, dreading. Feeling isolated and lonely from the world, even alienated from my peers. Nearly every day I feel tired and drowsy, and it takes effort to fake a smile and 'act friendly'. I can't help but keep dwelling on the bad reviews, no matter how many people are satisfied with my work. At this point, I am simply looking for advice or support. Thanks.

Maree1993 How did you seek help?
  • replies: 3

I’ve been feeling low & unsettled & detached & all these things on and off for probably a couple of years or more now. So far I only managed to tell one friend about it a couple of months ago and I instantly regretted it. Not for anything my friend d... View more

I’ve been feeling low & unsettled & detached & all these things on and off for probably a couple of years or more now. So far I only managed to tell one friend about it a couple of months ago and I instantly regretted it. Not for anything my friend did - she was great. I can’t explain why I regretted it but I did. I’m even engaged and my fiancé has no idea. I want sit down and cry and tell someone everything but the idea of going to the GP and even broaching the topic is just horrifyingly uncomfortable. Even once you get in to talk to a counsellor? The whole thing seems so clinical and not real. I never know if I’m happy with certain aspects of my life, is fear is holding me back from getting what I really want. But then I also think how do I know what I want? I’m beyond conflicted on how I feel about life. And I’m uncomfortably, comfortable feeling this way..if that even makes sense. What options do I have? How did you all start? What made you take a leap?

AjaG So.... im new and well, pretty lost at mo.
  • replies: 2

Its a no brainer really. Have read all the stuff, taken the quizzs and well i feel like crap all the time. Lost all motivation for everything, home, work sport. just cant be bothered. I have zero tolerance for people... all people, im binge eating or... View more

Its a no brainer really. Have read all the stuff, taken the quizzs and well i feel like crap all the time. Lost all motivation for everything, home, work sport. just cant be bothered. I have zero tolerance for people... all people, im binge eating or fasting and no sleep or to much and recently just burst into tears, at least twice a day, no trigger, no event, bam tears.... any way blah blah blah...see no brainer. I cant deal with pros i go a bit silly, and i have a really hard time expressing how i feel. they care, i guess.... but to me all i see is fake and nongenuine. see straight through them. Number 35, your up, you have 30secs. right your done, $140 please...next. To me isolation , being alone is bliss, but unatainable and so it seems it is also feeding into this. Now im on a forum... but you dont know me and i can switch this off and go on my way, peeps none the wiser, so i guess its the security that is leading me this way to start with. I know that see a doc / phys will be the intial comments and thx. maybe share with my partner will be another, as you can see i know the answers, im stubborn hey. But i cant bring myself to go to that space. Maybe its my percieved role in my space as a pillar of strength to mt family (then how can i be strong if i dont seek help and stay broken... see i see all that stuff as well) Maybe over thinking, maybe looking for self assurance, who knows. i know i need help, im self destructing and it will end messed up. Im not suicidal. but it seems depression/anxiety maybe the culperate here. Maybe typing today will help realise that i need to move forward in this space. I dont want comfort, or pity, or direction or ..... actually i dont know what i really want. maybe to vent, maybe to share, maybe to see my brain on paper and say to myself, your a scientist, you understand this stuff but yet you ignore it.....you idiot. anyways, as you can see im new here, pretty messed up and on a tough road of discovery and awarness i spose.

emjblanchett Psych said i have EUPD??
  • replies: 3

At the end of my psychiatrist session yesterday he told me that I had emotionally unstable disorder (aka BPD) and that he and my therapist have been working on it for a while. I’ve been with my therapist nearly 2 years, why is he only telling me this... View more

At the end of my psychiatrist session yesterday he told me that I had emotionally unstable disorder (aka BPD) and that he and my therapist have been working on it for a while. I’ve been with my therapist nearly 2 years, why is he only telling me this diagnosis now? (Already knew about anxiety and depression)

jjac Rage
  • replies: 3

I'm so sick of my work My personal life. Everything and I'm just in a foul mood. People laugh and I immediately feel rage. Shut. Up. It's not funny. Go away. I hate you! I just want to scream in their face. No coping strategy handles that. View more

I'm so sick of my work My personal life. Everything and I'm just in a foul mood. People laugh and I immediately feel rage. Shut. Up. It's not funny. Go away. I hate you! I just want to scream in their face. No coping strategy handles that.

Alannah57 Past delusions and present anxiety
  • replies: 2

This is going to sound bizarre. As a teenager I had a really strange period of time, like something out of a dream, where I thought the following things: that I was famous, that I was being watched by objects that had the thoughts of the outside worl... View more

This is going to sound bizarre. As a teenager I had a really strange period of time, like something out of a dream, where I thought the following things: that I was famous, that I was being watched by objects that had the thoughts of the outside world in them, and this was combined with elated/dreamy/moody feelings. In short, my sense of reality felt very warped. I kept being dragged down by feelings of emptiness and despair at being alive (depression), but also had really bizarre beliefs and feelings and behaviours. Also, hid my delusions because they felt so out-there, and I had a shift where it got so bad that I had to stop my delusions because it was getting out of control. During this time, I had weird mental hallucination kind of things where I saw flies that weren’t there, or heard a weird voice in my head once. But, since then, depression had been a recurring, big part of my life, as well as impulsive behaviours. I want to get perspective, and am trying to figure out how normal it is to have weird, implausible delusions.