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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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Rjade Unsure of what to do
  • replies: 4

Hi there. I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I can recall that something just didn’t seem quite right about me. Lately though, due to stress at work, at home and with family, I’m feeling t... View more

Hi there. I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I can recall that something just didn’t seem quite right about me. Lately though, due to stress at work, at home and with family, I’m feeling the urge to run away or do something more serious. It’s not that I don’t want to be here, but I can’t handle the pressure anymore. It’s an unbearable weight on my shoulders and I constantly feel like I’m drowning. I take antidepressants but they haven’t made much of a difference, and when I try and talk to people they either dismiss me or don’t quite grasp how serious my situation is. Has anybody else felt this way? If so, did it get any better for you? I’m really stuck and I have no idea what to do.

AlLousie Depression, Anxiety and University
  • replies: 3

Hello all, After symptoms of depression for close to a year, I made the decision to go on anti-depressants. Because i was sick my University transcript is a mess and I'm staying at uni an extra year to finish my degree. Everytime i feel like im makin... View more

Hello all, After symptoms of depression for close to a year, I made the decision to go on anti-depressants. Because i was sick my University transcript is a mess and I'm staying at uni an extra year to finish my degree. Everytime i feel like im making progress i feel as though i just get smashed down again and im back at the start. I'm trying to improve on uni from semester to semester and i feel as though i am, but that doesnt really reflect well on the transcipt. I guess i feel like me being sick now is going to hugely effect my getting a job when i finish uni. I used to be so committed and focused on the future, i feel like a different person. I just want to get better.

Andy_and_Ray__3 What is wrong with me?
  • replies: 2

Is it normal to want to disappear? I don't want to die, I just want to restart my life and disappear. I have such a great life compared to some people I know, but we always want what we don't have. I have messed up everything in the past, and I want ... View more

Is it normal to want to disappear? I don't want to die, I just want to restart my life and disappear. I have such a great life compared to some people I know, but we always want what we don't have. I have messed up everything in the past, and I want to reset my life. I know a lot of people just go 'oh the past is the past you'll get over it.', but I care about every action I do, what people might think of me, what my friends might think of me, what my family might think of me. I'm very self conscience about what everyone thinks of me. I've tried getting help, but every "compliment", I believe is a lie. They say " you're such a great artist!", but compared to everyone else's, my art is bad. They say, "you look nice today", but I think the school told everyone to be nice to me because I was seeing the school counsellor about my depression and anxiety. I believe the school I go to wants me to have a label, so I can be explained for my weird behaviour and me sitting by myself all the time. I don't want a label, but I want the school to leave me alone.

Mel24 Would it be more beneficial for me to stay on medication, or stop taking it?
  • replies: 9

I am a 17 old, and 3/4 of the way through my year 12 exams. I have been on a specific medication for around 4 months (but I’ve been on medication for 2 years in total trying to see what works and what doesn’t). On medication, my mood is stable and I ... View more

I am a 17 old, and 3/4 of the way through my year 12 exams. I have been on a specific medication for around 4 months (but I’ve been on medication for 2 years in total trying to see what works and what doesn’t). On medication, my mood is stable and I feel happy most of the time, but I’m quiet and can’t act like myself in social situations. Recently, the doctor doesn’t know, but I stopped taking my medication (it’s been about 3 days since I’ve taken it), and I can express myself more and am more engaged in social activities than when I was on the medication, but I’m starting to get down again. Im just wondering, would it be more beneficial to stay off my medication do I can be more myself (but feel down), OR should I go back on my medication and be happier most of the time (but not able to engage in social activity or interact with people efficiently). im lost and I’m not sure what to do.

AimJJ I want to quit my job
  • replies: 3

I am overwhelmed with it all. My job, emotions and my life. A bit of background on me and where I am at. I have been dealing with with anxiety my whole life and depression for 6ish years. I was struggling to get to school most of the time in my early... View more

I am overwhelmed with it all. My job, emotions and my life. A bit of background on me and where I am at. I have been dealing with with anxiety my whole life and depression for 6ish years. I was struggling to get to school most of the time in my early teens so I finished early and am currently 17 and working casually. I dont know if I can keep doing what I am doing. I work 3 full days a week, out of the house another 2 and it is overwhelming me. Over the past 6 years I have sat at home most of the time and done nothing so I am finding this sudden 'life' too much. I am getting really depressed, having panic attacks and melting down when I am not at work. I feel like everything is moving too fast and I can't handle it. I can't catch my breath and relax because tomorrow I have work and its just a continuous stress that brings me down. My job isn't reliable either. It can be any 3 days at anytime of the week which means I can't get used to a routine or settle into a pattern. I am usually in bed by 9pm but I get shifts which are till 9:15 meaning I dont get into bed until 11 so I bet you can imagine how disruptive that is. I can't talk to anyone in my life about it all because I don't have any friends and my family are all biased. My family have seen me sit at home for years and want me out of the house all the time. I am constantly getting told to get out more and do more things but what they dont understand is that I can't cope with what I am doing now. My actual job is exhausting and stressful too. I work in fashion retail so I feel like everyone walks into the store and judges me. If I dont look 'fashionable' or 'pretty' enough than I am not worth their time. One day I went to work with less makeup on and got told by a bunch of people I looked tired, the only thing different I did that day is that I wore less concealer. This is a bit of a rant but I would also like to hear your opinions and insight on this because I can't think straight and there is no-one to talk to. Thankyou.

Jijifan If you were an alien...
  • replies: 5

Hypothetical question: if after of decades of trying to fit in, and to understand other people, you found out with proof and certainty you were not actually human (in that your body, mind, and spirit in too many ways work completely differently to ev... View more

Hypothetical question: if after of decades of trying to fit in, and to understand other people, you found out with proof and certainty you were not actually human (in that your body, mind, and spirit in too many ways work completely differently to everyone else's, and you completely lacked certain common and vitally/socially essential human traits), what would you do? And say you didn't have a family. How would you find purpose in living? What could you do in/for human society? What would you do with your life, how would you find your people, your place, your connection to the living? Any clues? (Any ideas, not matter how childish or wild are appreciated. Feel free to brainstorm. Thanks...)

IPlay Emotional well-being test and self calibration.
  • replies: 5

Just now I scored a 48% depression and 15% anxiety. Moderate and mild. This morning I dropped my partner off at work and on the way home I cried. Straight faced and silent, tears methodically welling up and one by one rolling down my face. I felt awa... View more

Just now I scored a 48% depression and 15% anxiety. Moderate and mild. This morning I dropped my partner off at work and on the way home I cried. Straight faced and silent, tears methodically welling up and one by one rolling down my face. I felt aware of my thoughts at the time as I was trying to figure out why but I could not pin-point any string of thoughts that may have caused it. Is this normal for others that have scored similar on their tests? Before my dog died I never cried for anything. Honestly, I even fought so hard to be strong for my wife when our lifeless dog was on the vet table; I didn't even cry then. I think the next 1000 times I was alone after that though I cried like I hadn't since I was a child. And after that day, I guess I just cry now. I went from never crying - to crying for no reason. I wasn't even thinking about him this morning. He died late last year. Am I still feeling the effects of this? I'm changed for ever now. It might sound silly to some but my partner and I were closer to that dog than we were to anyone else.

Casualfriday I can’t get out of bed
  • replies: 6

I spent a year of my life majorly depressed, sleeping all day, overeating and hating myself. I was unemployed, not studying and isolating myself from everyone I knew. Then I started getting better and was living a pretty normal life for the next 2 ye... View more

I spent a year of my life majorly depressed, sleeping all day, overeating and hating myself. I was unemployed, not studying and isolating myself from everyone I knew. Then I started getting better and was living a pretty normal life for the next 2 years. But the past few months on the days I don’t have uni or work I’ve been so unbelievably lethargic, just like when I was depressed. I stay in my room all day with no energy to do anything, beating myself up for not being productive whilst not actually doing anything about it. I don’t know how to get out of this rut. I just want the energy and motivation to get out of bed in the mornings but all I can do is sleep - and when I oversleep I become more tired... it’s a vicious cycle. It’s like the physical motions of daily life are so overwhelming but that seems so melodramatic. I’m just scared that this will snowball and affect the other domains of my life (like work/uni/friends) like last time. I can’t be the only one, surely. Please share if this is something you struggle with and let me know what you did to fight against it, even with no energy. I’m exhausted

Lubenica Sick of everything
  • replies: 7

Hi all, I am just writing because I woke up this morning at 3am Perth time and my first thought was “I cannot do this anymore” and have cried for about an hour. Long story short, I have just returned from a trip to the US & New Zealand and just had m... View more

Hi all, I am just writing because I woke up this morning at 3am Perth time and my first thought was “I cannot do this anymore” and have cried for about an hour. Long story short, I have just returned from a trip to the US & New Zealand and just had my 30th birthday yesterday.I have been over my job for a while and have applied for numerous other positions to no avail. I feel so down and out when I shouldn’t because I have everything. I am single with no kids which is what I want. I travel a lot and have never felt this way after any of my trips..EVER! Does anyone else feel like this or felt like this?

Jeff42 Work worsening depression or depression making work hard
  • replies: 5

Is there some way to identify whether a job is worsening depression or whether I’m finding work difficult because I don’t have the coping strategies. My job situation is good. Excellent income, flexibility, I can work from home and be with my childre... View more

Is there some way to identify whether a job is worsening depression or whether I’m finding work difficult because I don’t have the coping strategies. My job situation is good. Excellent income, flexibility, I can work from home and be with my children. The work isn’t hard but it isn’t what I ever planned to do. Multiple promotions brought me to a middle management role that’s very processed based. It’s a competitive environment but I feel that if I was well, I could just do the work and not worry too much about the politics. It would let me be happy that I could spend a lot of time with family as I can work from home. I’m scared of leaving and discovering Thi Gs weren’t too bad once I’m well again and I’ve given up a good job and the flexibility my family needs. At work I am hyper conscious of every email I send, everything I say and how it might come back. I double check everything I do in case there are any mistakes and meetings with my very lovely boss are a central cause of stress in case I’ve done something wrong. I took a large break of leave which my company was really good about and felt good when I returned but all slid downhill again I don’t know how to know where the line is between being sick and things being hard and something making me worse