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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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Thunderkatnip Kids, separation and depression- I need a reality check to stop feeling sorry for myself
  • replies: 1

I’m stuck in this space of feeling sorry for myself. It’s stopped me from really moving forward with things that will help me get better. I was diagnosed with postnatal depression when my son was 8 months old. He is now 2.5 years old. I’m still cycli... View more

I’m stuck in this space of feeling sorry for myself. It’s stopped me from really moving forward with things that will help me get better. I was diagnosed with postnatal depression when my son was 8 months old. He is now 2.5 years old. I’m still cycling in and out of what is now depression. I was also diagnosed with complex ptsd a decade ago from an abusive marriage. I thought I was well beyond the grip of ptsd. I worked with my psychologist for 5 years! But it’s back with a vengeance. I’m usually such an independent I’ll do it myself person. Even when I left my abusive relationship the only way forward for me was making it happen for myself. But now after having a baby and living with my partner I found myself clinging to my partner and relationship for dear life. I had depression issues almost immediately after having my son but it took a long time to realise what was happening and what I needed. During that my mental health took a massive toll on us, my son and his two girls. My partner recently asked to separate. He removed his two girls and had them live with their mum full time and is still sharing a space with me and my son. But he is planning on moving out for a month and then I don’t know what will happen. We see a couples therapist who said it is a good decision even though I don’t want to separate. I was crying and breaking down in front of my partners girls when triggered. It was traumatic for them. I felt like such a horrible person for hurting everyone around me. But I couldn’t stop and get better. I hadn’t known my partner long before I found out I was pregnant. I’m from overseas I no family and only a handful of friends who can support. I’ve found myself begging my partner to change his mind. He says he isn’t leaving but needing a break. But in anger says he is done. I have reached out to everyone I know to tell them what is happening. I’m so lost this morning I curled into a ball at my partners feet and begged him not to go to work. I told him I don’t want to be a mother anymore and that I just can’t cope feeling like this anymore. I’ve just had my first psychiatrist appointment and she changed my antidepressant. I see a psychologist fortnightly and a couples counsel or fortnightly with my partner. I don’t think there is anything more I can do but stop feeling sorry for myself but I just can’t get there.

Roseysand Feeling lost and alone
  • replies: 8

For the last couple days I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed with starting university again and the demands of work. I feel like I’m soo far left behind academically and it’s too late to ask my tutors for help and other students already made their l... View more

For the last couple days I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed with starting university again and the demands of work. I feel like I’m soo far left behind academically and it’s too late to ask my tutors for help and other students already made their little group of friends. I don’t want to disappoint my family for wanting to take a break this semester... I can’t speak to my family members cause I’m scared of disappointing them and the last time I opened up to a friend ended our relationship (I haven’t spoken to her in weeks when I told her about my ‘eating habits’.

JJ03 Incorrect bipolar diagnosis?
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I was recently diagnosed with bipolar II, but am slightly confused about the diagnosis for a couple of reasons. First - the hypomanic element. I have read that hypomania falls generally into two different kinds - euphoric hypomania and i... View more

Hi everyone, I was recently diagnosed with bipolar II, but am slightly confused about the diagnosis for a couple of reasons. First - the hypomanic element. I have read that hypomania falls generally into two different kinds - euphoric hypomania and irritable hypomania. I experience both (not at the same time - on separate occasions). When I am euphoric, I dominate conversation in social circles, have increased self-esteem, am intensely focused on particular activities, have lots of ideas etc. More commonly though, it manifests itself as extreme irritability; I pace a lot, get frustrated when people cannot keep up with my ideas, am angered easily, quite paranoid etc. Is that possible to experience the two kinds of hypomania? Another concern of mine is that I do not have sleepless nights. I definitely have a lot of difficulty going to sleep/winding down at night (staying awake until 2 or 3), and often have restless nights and wake up feeling fine. But I have never done something like stay awake for 2 days. Does it still count as hypomania if my sleep is as I have described? Second, when I am depressed, I only am completely debilitated for less than a week (as in, can't get out of bed, feel suicidal etc.). For the rest of my depressive episodes, I find it difficult to muster up the energy to socialise, utterly hate myself, am not motivated, cry for no reason, feel worthless etc. but am still able to do things like go to uni, do an assignment, or see a friend if I need to. Do my depressive episodes still count as depression? I am concerned that I in fact do not have bipolar and am rather just a really volatile person trying to justify my erratic behaviour when it is just who I am.

Cicero New here, looking for advice.
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I have been struggling with depression since I was 14, it has always really been a part of me, a bedrock 'emotion' that is just normal for me to feel. My self confidence has always been 0, especially in regards to relationships, and I thoug... View more

Hi there, I have been struggling with depression since I was 14, it has always really been a part of me, a bedrock 'emotion' that is just normal for me to feel. My self confidence has always been 0, especially in regards to relationships, and I thought and accepted for a long time I would be alone for the rest of my life. I had contemplated suicide through my teens, wanted to do it, but ended up chickening out on many occasions because the idea of death frightened me. I'm 20 now, and recently by some miracle got my first girlfriend. I thought the depression would just go, however it has been quite the contrary. I still don't feel it likely or very possible she likes me very much, but I'm rolling with it, living in an ignorant bliss for now. We are planning on meeting again (long distance relationship), and I can't be in this state when we do. I just don't know what to do, other than obviously speaking to a therapist, but it feels more comfortable asking for help online. Thanks, Cicero

RachJane teenage friendship drama pls help me
  • replies: 2

So I'm 17 years old in my last year of high school and I honestly just want it to be over. Throughout my whole schooling life, I've always looked forward to this year, thinking it would be the best year of my life. Needless to say, I am very underwhe... View more

So I'm 17 years old in my last year of high school and I honestly just want it to be over. Throughout my whole schooling life, I've always looked forward to this year, thinking it would be the best year of my life. Needless to say, I am very underwhelmed with the experience. So last week I discovered that my best friends had made a group chat without me and were using it to talk badly about me behind my back. I had noticed that something was wrong because they had started acting distant, ignoring me, finding excuses to not be around me etc. I considered the idea that they maybe they had made the group chat but brushed it off, thinking that it was all in my head and I was just reading into it. But I was at a party one night and I saw the group chat on each of their phones, I saw one of my friends opening the chat and it was just the four of them in the chat, so I know it wasn't for another reason. They realised that I had found out about the group chat and didn't talk to me at all for the rest of the night, although they never really talked to me in the first place. The day after I message them about it, explaining that I was really upset and asking if they could at least tell me what I had done to hurt them. None of them could really give me a straight answer but it had something to do with them thinking I was mean. (for context, my friends and I had this thing where we all would jokingly insult each other, it was never ill-intend and was all out of love). I didn't really understand because we were all mean to each other it was kind of our thing. Since then, they have apologised for making the chat and we are kind of back on good terms. But recently they all went to someones party that I wasn't invited to (the guy doesn't like me, I thought we were friends but oh well). At school they keep talking about the party and pulling people aside so they can talk in private. It feels like they're going out of their way to leave me out and it's making me worry that maybe the group chat has started up again. I have major anxiety about what people think about me so this is kind of freaking me out. I'm not the most popular person and these are the only friends I have, so I don't have anyone to talk to about this. Hopefully this helps

Snowy1310 Hey I’m a newbie
  • replies: 2

Hey all , I’m new here , finally realising that my depression is really affecting those around me so it’s time I got some help and support , I’m a mum of 5 and I feel like I’m the worst parent in the world , my moods are horrendous and my 4 year old ... View more

Hey all , I’m new here , finally realising that my depression is really affecting those around me so it’s time I got some help and support , I’m a mum of 5 and I feel like I’m the worst parent in the world , my moods are horrendous and my 4 year old is always asking me why I’m so sad and why I’m crying , I want to be a great role model not this person I am now ....anyway I look forward to chatting with some of you and sharing my healing journey along the way xx

AngelBear I dont know what to do anymore..
  • replies: 2

Ever since..my father used his money to look after me (cause no one else wanted me..) I've always made him angry or disappointed in me. I started school and immediately to get bullied so I moved schools and the same thing happened..i was told I'm an ... View more

Ever since..my father used his money to look after me (cause no one else wanted me..) I've always made him angry or disappointed in me. I started school and immediately to get bullied so I moved schools and the same thing happened..i was told I'm an easy target which scared me a little since I knew what high school bullies did to someone like me. I got bullied psychically which made me not care what they did to me for a while, I tried telling my teachers which did not help (not surprised..) I'm really good at hiding emotions which mad me sadder then usual. I have an eating disorder and have got a little fat..since I had this disorder it made me steal food (which I hate..) and this made my father very mad..Ive tried so hard to eat healthy and exercise but its no use..I have 3 sisters (that I cant see anymore..) I miss them so much and every time I see or hear sisters I get a little sadder..my own mother didn't even care about me when she found out I had autism.. I honestly don't know what to do anymore..

44Max44 No motivation whatsoever (please help)
  • replies: 2

Hi, So, I've been suffering from depression and GAD for around half a decade now, and because of this, I've pretty much had no motivation to do anything other than sit at home on my computer to distract me from everything else. I'm in my 20s yet I ha... View more

Hi, So, I've been suffering from depression and GAD for around half a decade now, and because of this, I've pretty much had no motivation to do anything other than sit at home on my computer to distract me from everything else. I'm in my 20s yet I haven't learned to drive because I'm too anxious too, and I haven't pursued any careers or education because I have no idea where to even start and even if I did I probably wouldn't have the motivation to start. I've contemplated selling my computer so I have no choice but to do other stuff, but my fear is that I've come too dependent on it since I'm usually on it during 100% of my free time and will just get even more depressed. Basically, my question is what are some good ways to motivate yourself to actually get out into the world and be productive and not be a hermit? I really want to improve my life but I have no idea how to. I am completely and utterly lost and just need some guidance. Any and all help is highly appreciated. Thank you

Mark12138 I just need someone to give me advice
  • replies: 8

So I will get to the point. I'm currently in my second year of my bachelor science degree and recently I enrolled into a unit that proved to be way too much for me to handle. Now not only is my grade for other units suffering along with it, but I fee... View more

So I will get to the point. I'm currently in my second year of my bachelor science degree and recently I enrolled into a unit that proved to be way too much for me to handle. Now not only is my grade for other units suffering along with it, but I feel a lot of anxiety and depressed on a number of occasions. My solution for this is to withdraw from that unit, but since it has past census date, I will have a W (Withdraw) on my transcript from now on. But I'm also afraid of having the W because some people say it could affect future employment and make me look like a quitter. There is so much on my mind right now, I don't know what to think right now. I just really needed to get this off my shoulder. Any advice and constructive comment is welcome Thanks

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