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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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PartyAnimal Bipolar 1 with severe chronic pain and prescription drug problems
  • replies: 4

That felt like too long of a title so I really hope someone can help me out or give some advice. This is only my second post ever so excuse the display name I made when I was 18... The biggest challenge I am currently facing now is the horrible manif... View more

That felt like too long of a title so I really hope someone can help me out or give some advice. This is only my second post ever so excuse the display name I made when I was 18... The biggest challenge I am currently facing now is the horrible manifestations of my depressive stage. Being bipolar is somewhat of a blessing and a curse, the highs of hypomania and mania can be the greatest yet fleeting moments of my life. I have always been artistic with both music and drawing. And for a long time I have hoped to one day be a tattooist. Ive been married for over a year and a half now, and my partner and I have been trying to have our first child for a few months now with no luck so far. I have a relatively stable job with average pay, but my wife still earns more. I've lost a lot of money over the years buying multiple cars that all broke down beyond repair. Financially we are mostly stable, we save what we can but we both have debts and bills to pay so it's a slow saving. Now for the real issue. It roughly started around the time I had a motorbike accident in 2017. I shattered the cartilage behind my kneecap and it's something that will never heal. After many misdiagnoses I was diagnosed bipolar 1 only a few months after the accident. This finally explained the struggles I've been going through for years. I am currently well medicated and "mostly" stable. But I have also been on fluctuating amounts of opioid and antinflamattory medications for my constant pain. Theres a high chance I have fibromyalgia, as my mum developed it recently post-surgery. The pain medications only take away the real physical pain and not the complete body pain that's basically "all in my head". I've really been struggling the last month managing my pain. I take as much and as many meds as I can for both the pain and my mental state which is slowly deteriorating. I'm fairly certain that with the meds I take for my bipolar there isn't much I can take or do for fibromyalgia and that scares me. I'm scared of a life dependant on opioids, which the more of I take the higher chance I go into mania or psychosis. The opioids really do help and I don't think I could function without them. I also don't want to be on them forever especially as I'm trying to start a family. I take enough pills as it is and these are the ones I both love and need, yet don't want. The strain on my marriage is showing as I don't tell my wife the full extent of my struggle and fears is there anyone who can help?

Slaugh Why can't I find a career that I can tolerate?
  • replies: 5

Hey everybody, I finally competed my electrical apprenticeship after 5 years. It's great that I managed to finish however I am more depressed than ever. I have to say that doing an apprenticeship was probably one of my worst decisions I have ever mad... View more

Hey everybody, I finally competed my electrical apprenticeship after 5 years. It's great that I managed to finish however I am more depressed than ever. I have to say that doing an apprenticeship was probably one of my worst decisions I have ever made. I lost my job 3 times and worked the most tediously long hours (20 hour days were quite common) it destroyed me. My body is shot, I have next to no financial results, or gained any good contacts and networks to peruse this path further. If I see another cable or even a light switch it makes me shudder. I have literally tortured myself for 5 years with everyone around me encouraging me to finish it, and now that I have, I simply look back with regret. I hate the work, the people and the environment I was surrounded with everyday. I can't even do the job now without getting extremely angry and frustrated (not a good look for employers or clients). A simple cable run not going right will cause me to fume like nothing else. I have worked many jobs and gained skills prior, as a network architect and a telecommunicatuons technician. I am now 33 years old and once again I have persued a career which I eventually hated with every fibre of my being. My depression has become debilitating. I don't leave the house anymore unless really necessary. I have lost all my friends, and don't even do things with my wife and kids. My brother lives next door but never speak to him. I think he's given up on me too. I am unemployed and can't bring myself to look for work. The thought of being around people makes me want to die. Life seems so exhausting when people are involved and work is about people, either cooperating with or doing things for them. I really need to find a career I can tolerate. But there is nothing that pays for you to simply exist. And quite frankly existing is feeling lile work at the moment. I am slipping further down the rabbit hole everyday. I do realise the irony of complaining about people generally whilst attempting to reachout to people.

Bassaa I want to feel better
  • replies: 4

Hi, I’m new to this and have not been able to open up about the extent of my depression openly to anyone close to me. I have been seeing a psychiatrist and I feel fine for a little while but then I come crashing down again. It just feels like it’s ge... View more

Hi, I’m new to this and have not been able to open up about the extent of my depression openly to anyone close to me. I have been seeing a psychiatrist and I feel fine for a little while but then I come crashing down again. It just feels like it’s getting more frequent and every episode is getting worse. My husband is aware I’m having problems but I just lash out at him and nothing I say seems to make sense. I feel so guilty all the time and I hate myself so much for not being happy. I just don’t feel worthy of this life. I have spent so many years making sure everyone and everything around me was ok but it’s like I was just hiding behind this image so no one would see how broken I am. I can’t keep up the image anymore everything just feels too hard. I haven’t left my room for 3 days. I want to spend time with my children but don’t have the energy pull myself together. This feeling of guilt feels like it’s eating me up. I feel like an embarrassment to my husband and daughters. It’s like I am dragging them all down with me or by being with them. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t know how to feel better. I can’t remember the last time I laughed

Despirited My friend, Shadow
  • replies: 2

In the lateness of the night, I am startled by noise and din There -- just outside the window, Shadow is vying to get in. He sees me and I see him, I know my time is nigh, Shadow is a coming, there is no where to hide. I close the doors, and lock the... View more

In the lateness of the night, I am startled by noise and din There -- just outside the window, Shadow is vying to get in. He sees me and I see him, I know my time is nigh, Shadow is a coming, there is no where to hide. I close the doors, and lock the sash, and pray with all my might, but Shadow comes right through the glass, to punish me tonight. He fills my head with anguish, I shudder with despair. Tells me life is crap, and death would be more fair. All that remains is solitude; I shield my soulless, saddened eyes. I'm lacking love, respect and gratitude; in a world that's filled with lies. My children are still growing up, their lives have just begun. So I tell Shadow to go away, my race has not yet run. At times like this he torments me, and talks about the end, but in my heart I know he jests, for Shadow is my friend. Shadow may be appear evil, malignant and very bad however there are those times, when he allows me to be glad. Shadow lets me celebrate, with kids, on their birthdays and to make them happy at special times, like Easter and Christmas day. As long as I remember, it's for their happiness and not for mine Shadow won't punish me, and everything will be fine. Sometimes I wish Shadow gone, and hope he'd forget me, but then I would be truly alone.... I am lost.

Hidden On a endless merry-go-round with no foreseeable end?
  • replies: 6

Hi, It's been a while since I've posted anything. Years, in fact. Yet I feel like I've gone nowhere. I've been seeing a psychologist every week for the past 6 months. Today was my last session for a while and I feel like I've gotten nowhere. I'm star... View more

Hi, It's been a while since I've posted anything. Years, in fact. Yet I feel like I've gone nowhere. I've been seeing a psychologist every week for the past 6 months. Today was my last session for a while and I feel like I've gotten nowhere. I'm starting to think maybe I've done something wrong. Is this normal? I have a lot going on in my life at the moment so I understand that part of what I feel is caused by situational things. However, there's a large part that isn't. I don't know whether I haven't tried hard enough to get better? Or whether this is just a feeling that I'm going to have to accept for the foreseeable future? I suppose it's hard to accept that maybe happiness isn't for me... especially after so long of trying to achieve it. I suppose I'm writing here, to feel a little less alone in this. Have others come out the other side of endless psychologist and psychiatrist etc. appointments and felt like they're still where they started? What else can I possibly do? I'm feeling a little hopeless with it at the moment. I just keep turning up with questions that seem to have no answers. When does this merry go round stop?

Flossy76 Feel so low
  • replies: 2

For many years I’ve been up and down can’t get out of bed, destroyed relationships, abused drugs and alcohol, have no friends and have reached rock bottom. I feel like my life means nothing. I feel very isolated. Even though I’m not. I have an incred... View more

For many years I’ve been up and down can’t get out of bed, destroyed relationships, abused drugs and alcohol, have no friends and have reached rock bottom. I feel like my life means nothing. I feel very isolated. Even though I’m not. I have an incredibly understanding partner but when I have these episodes he can’t do anything to pull me out. I have never been diognosed with depression but I know this is what’s happening to me. How do I stop these days where I feel like I want to just disappear? days when I can’t get out of bed?

Tegan_Rose Depresssion: I can't move
  • replies: 3

I'm experiencing an episode but it's so much worse then what I've previously experienced. I am so depressed that I can't move. I have no will power, no energy. I can't even cry. I just have nothing to give. I have school, but I don't even know if I c... View more

I'm experiencing an episode but it's so much worse then what I've previously experienced. I am so depressed that I can't move. I have no will power, no energy. I can't even cry. I just have nothing to give. I have school, but I don't even know if I can get out of bed. I've just lost all sense of worth and hope. If anyone knows anything about this, or can help me, please I beg of you to respond. I'm scared, and that's just using what ever emotion I have left. I am emotionally, and physically drained. And it hurts.

Aeroboi Getting back into work with depression.
  • replies: 5

So this is possibly the first time making a thread, I’m looking for some advice on something. some background information, I have had depression for along time now and for the past 4 years I have been slowly recovering from a series of negative life ... View more

So this is possibly the first time making a thread, I’m looking for some advice on something. some background information, I have had depression for along time now and for the past 4 years I have been slowly recovering from a series of negative life events. i am on medication and see a psychologist quarterly, as such I won’t see her anytime soon to ask her the questions I have. i haven’t had a proper job in the past 4 year and I expect to experience some issues in returning to work, I recently had a 3 day assignment of hard laborious work. By midday I was ready to give up and go home, however I stuck out the full day. the following two days I called in sick because of my depression, I think that I pushed myself to much and didn’t have the energy levels remaining to overcome my depression. My question is more about understanding the connection between my depression and the hard work preformed, assuming they are indeed related.

Merkus Help/Tips needed
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm 17 and I'm pretty sure I have really bad depression. My HSC exams start in a little over 2 weeks, and I'm struggling to get in the mood to study, as some mornings, and during the day, I just feel sad. It's sort of like an emptiness? I'll just... View more

Hi, I'm 17 and I'm pretty sure I have really bad depression. My HSC exams start in a little over 2 weeks, and I'm struggling to get in the mood to study, as some mornings, and during the day, I just feel sad. It's sort of like an emptiness? I'll just sit on the floor of my room feeling like throwing or punching something, if I get annoyed, and then cry. It was like that today. My mum came into my room and just pointed at my study timetable that's hanging on my wall, and didn't leave until I moved to get up off my bed. As soon as she left, I had the sudden urge to peg something at a wall or hit something, and when I got to my desk and turned on my laptop to start studying, I burst into tears. The weird thing is, that it'll just stop, and then start later on. I feel hopeless, it's as though I can never get out of this never-ending circle of sleep, eat, study, sleep, eat, study, and I'm sick of it. I've talked to my doctor a little about it, and she wants to wait until I finish the HSC, to see if it'll continue, or if it's just a phase because of the huge amount of stress. It's really hard to concentrate right now because I feel like I'm about to burst into tears at any given moment. My mum knows about my depression-like behaviour and says that I should do more things that I enjoy, but I feel as though I don't have the time anymore, and never did or will. I really enjoy listening to music, colouring in and writing my own stories, but if I listen to music I'll get easily distracted, and the other 2 just take up time that I feel I need for study. It's the same with my friends, as I haven't really been able to talk to them much throughout the year, as I've moved schools, and I just feel really lonely and secluded. I don't know what to do.

Anna1234 Slipping back into depression
  • replies: 4

Hi there, I have suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. I finally got to a point where I needed to start antidepressants. After some initial side effects, I started feeling great. It's now been 8 weeks and I'm finding myself more depres... View more

Hi there, I have suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. I finally got to a point where I needed to start antidepressants. After some initial side effects, I started feeling great. It's now been 8 weeks and I'm finding myself more depressed than before. It all seems to have changed within a week and I feel low most of the time. I don't understand how it changed so quickly. Any advice or experience from someone who has been through this would be great. thanks!