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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: 0

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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Ylime 35 next week & it isn’t any better
  • replies: 2

I have a place to live, a car to drive, a job, regular income. Isn’t that all the things I didn’t have before that was what I wanted to get my life back. Well I got all those things but I’m going through life just living. Doing what I have to to get ... View more

I have a place to live, a car to drive, a job, regular income. Isn’t that all the things I didn’t have before that was what I wanted to get my life back. Well I got all those things but I’m going through life just living. Doing what I have to to get through each day. I’ve stuck to what I was told to do and disassociated with old friends but I can feel my depression pulling me back under. I’m so lonely. I’m so alone. I’m lost in life still when I’m not at work. It’s all well and good to talk about meeting people, but it’s not that easy. This life isn’t the life I wanted. It isn’t fun living like this and feeling this way. I really do feel like I’ve tried my best. I’ve travelled, I’ve had a house, I’ve worked hard and got no where career wise. I’ve been in love and had my heart totally smashed to pieces. I’ve been a drug addict, a criminal, in rehab and in recovery. I can’t help but sometime feel like I’ve done a lot in my 35 years here and it wouldn’t be the worst thing if it ended here. I could stop having to go through every day just to go to bed only to get up again. Not loving it at all. If I could get a ticket out of here without anyone getting mad or upset, I would. I don’t know what the point of me living like this anymore it has been hard having depression for 7 years now I feel like I’ve achieved nothing in my life even though I have tried so hard to make things get better there is a point when being so lost and so alone isn’t possible to deal with anymore and I’m running out of strength to keep pretending that I’m all good like everyone thinks I am I hate this stupid illness & I wouldn’t wish it on anyone & I don’t think anyone can beat it because trust me I’ve tried

Mozzzzza Introducing myself
  • replies: 8

Hi there, just introducing myself my name is Morry and I’m 45. Have had depression and anxiety hanging around for as long as I can remember. I take a dive from time to time and the Low Low lasts for years. I’m managing my illness and working within m... View more

Hi there, just introducing myself my name is Morry and I’m 45. Have had depression and anxiety hanging around for as long as I can remember. I take a dive from time to time and the Low Low lasts for years. I’m managing my illness and working within my limits. I just wanted to join a place that may understand my queries and struggles. Hi again would love to hear from anyone . Cheers, Morry

illusionanddreams Don't know where to start
  • replies: 2

Hello everyone, I really need some counseling and guidance on what I should do. Any help is appreciated. Also, English is not my first language so please do not mind if things do not make sense at times. I came to Aus for my graduate studies. I have ... View more

Hello everyone, I really need some counseling and guidance on what I should do. Any help is appreciated. Also, English is not my first language so please do not mind if things do not make sense at times. I came to Aus for my graduate studies. I have had issues since I was a teenager. My first years in Australia were also very tough and put an emotional stress on me. I have a habit of keeping things inside me. No matter what I go through, I prefer not to share it. And I guess issues kept piling up and I feel the burden weighing me down. It took me 5 years to finish my 3 years course. I barely passed subjects. I skipped 95% of the class. Sleeping became my safe space. When I am asleep, I do not have to think about the real world. I can pass time so much easily. I do not have to deal with issues. So, I kept sleeping. I would call in sick at work to sleep. I was working full time but on my days off, I would cancel plans to sleep. And no matter how much I slept, I still yearned for sleep, I was just so tired all the time. I gained so much weight and I was working so much and not eating at all. A few months later, I was diagnosed with Hypothyriodism which I thought explained all my issues with sleep and depression. So I did not seek any medical advice about my depression thinking that my medications for thyriodism would cure everything. It has been a few years now and I am on medications for my thyroid issues and I do go for regular check ups but nowadays things have become unbearable. This whole week I called in sick at work and I slept until 2-3pm and did not eat until someone asked me to. I do not have thoughts of suicide and I really want to have a meaningful life but nothing interests me anymore.. nothing. I just wake up and watch tv all day to fill this void in my heart. I avoid talking to family/people, I avoid opportunities, Iavoid seeing people, I lie so often so that I can lay inside my room. And people may think I am lazy but laziness cannot be this severe. I do not know if I should see someone for this because I am an international student and have no medicare benefits and things might be expensive. I am thinking of quitting my job and do something that I am passionate about, but I really really need to address my issues. I thought I could control things like I always do but I don't think it will happen this time. I want to face my issues because I have stopped being the person that I am. Please help me on what you think I should do now. Thank you.

mara_d so deeply depressed
  • replies: 4

whoever reads this can sOMEONE PLS HELP:((( I'm drowning in so much sadness i don't even know what to do everything in my life is so bad my family troubles always become my own, I'm an only child so I'm so alone in everything that i have to go throug... View more

whoever reads this can sOMEONE PLS HELP:((( I'm drowning in so much sadness i don't even know what to do everything in my life is so bad my family troubles always become my own, I'm an only child so I'm so alone in everything that i have to go through, theres this uni course I've been trying to get into for 3 years and still unsuccessful, i hate my body and i have pcos as well so my hair is falling out i just wanna die, I'm so unmotivated for everything. what can i do to feel even remotely better

lujen Completely Exhausted
  • replies: 2

Hi all, Finally decided to post something after much apprehension. Oh well here we go I suppose. I am a university student who after an overall disappointing high school experience decided that university would be the point where everything would cha... View more

Hi all, Finally decided to post something after much apprehension. Oh well here we go I suppose. I am a university student who after an overall disappointing high school experience decided that university would be the point where everything would change for the better. I have spent the past year chasing perfection in my results in the hopes that I can transfer into my dream (and extremely competitive) degree next year. So that's worked out so far... at a cost. I have struggled with forming friendships in the past but deluded myself into thinking that it would work out in university. Turns out I was wrong. I feel like I have nothing in common with those around me or that I do not understand small talk as if it is some wavelength that I am not attuned with. For the first few months of university I tried my best to make friends but I felt like I was just an 'extra' who accompanied them and this made me feel like I was an idiot. So hence I decided to give up, and from then on I decided that all I needed to make me happy was top grades. And so I spent the next semester working every single day, chasing every single mark. By the end of the semester I was exhausted and struggling to keep it up, but regardless I pulled through. 2018 rolls around and I've changed accommodation (hoped to find new people). By now the isolation is making my journey more difficult and sudden health problems ruin my midsemester holiday, bringing me down further. My mantra of perfection is now a facade to me but I still know I have to work. I experienced frequent moodswings and felt my attention and memory were falling. Despite all of this, I still keep my grades up. And that brings us to now. I have one subject this semester (going for a year's worth as required for application). I feel physically weak and emotionally exhausted every day. I have to force myself to eat and some days I miss class and sleep until midday (I hate myself for doing this yet when I wake up in the morning the though does not cross my head). I despise the weather and my surroundings. I get no pleasure out of my hobbies as I can't focus. The worst feeling is the envy. I look at others my age around me and they appear to have friends and relationships. I feel like I am throwing my youth down the drain. My attention span is now abysmal. I study in tiny bursts at irregular intervals and hate how one last subject means so much. I've had enough of this year and everyone around me.

Infinity1199 The Impossible Task
  • replies: 2

Have you guys ever had one of those days where you feel stupid? like you forgot how to do the simplest things that you usually do every day? I don't know what's happened but I've felt like an idiot for weeks now. I'm a full time VCE student so my day... View more

Have you guys ever had one of those days where you feel stupid? like you forgot how to do the simplest things that you usually do every day? I don't know what's happened but I've felt like an idiot for weeks now. I'm a full time VCE student so my days are pretty stressful, but for weeks now I've just had trouble focusing in class. which is pretty scary considering I'm a massive nerd I also work part time and I'm honestly scared to go now because of all the mistakes I've made. I think my boss thinks I'm a total idiot because at the end of the shift she gave me this long lecture about how my head shouldn't be up in the clouds and that working for her should be my number one priority. honestly guys I'm a peaceful person but that would've been a FU lecture if I had the opportunity. Do you guys think you could help me out? maybe I'd feel better knowing I'm not the only one.

Bananie1234 i feel ISOLATED
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, I'm 23 and I'm new here. I first moved from NZ for Uni. Before then, i never had difficulties with social life or with myself. I was really enjoying Aus, i was making friends everywhere. But, I also experienced heartbreaks and fall outs wit... View more

Hey guys, I'm 23 and I'm new here. I first moved from NZ for Uni. Before then, i never had difficulties with social life or with myself. I was really enjoying Aus, i was making friends everywhere. But, I also experienced heartbreaks and fall outs with friends and that's when everything started going downhill . Although I've dated more guys since then, i felt like i was just a toy and till this day, i never felt like i was ever in a relationship, it definitely made me start to question myself. Over the past few years, my social circle shrunk but I was not bothered by it, as long as i still had my closest friends. It was when I started questioning the loyalty of my friends that made me depressed and lonely. For instance, I often feel like if i never spoke with my friends they'll never msg me. I've had my closest friends who just don't reply my messages. I admit i'm lousy at it as well, but not replying at all when i'm asking a question is plain rude to me. As a result, I feel overly sensitive which i hate. I became afraid to open up to people, worried that they'll think i'm being needy. i'm afraid to msg people because i'm afraid of rejection. I started cutting those who made me feel negative out of my life and realised i end up having very few friends. We are all full time workers now so it's hard for us to meet up especially when some of them have got partners. Being a full time worker, i think i'm losing more friends than i'm making so i feel ISOLATED. I'm seeking therapy but i have trouble opening up because i feel like what i'm going through isn't a big deal and there are people out there who are going through much worse so i should just get over my own troubles. I really want to regain my confidence and learn to love myself again but i'm struggling to do so and would really like to hear how some of you coped with this. sorry for such a long post

team_nobody Self esteem
  • replies: 2

I don't feel like there is anything special about me to give. I just don't know what to do anymore, nothing is working and I am driving people away with this even though there has been a recent surge of suicide rates in my area, and I take openly abo... View more

I don't feel like there is anything special about me to give. I just don't know what to do anymore, nothing is working and I am driving people away with this even though there has been a recent surge of suicide rates in my area, and I take openly about my problems. sometimes I feel like even though I am not dead; im just another living dead casualty. Nobody cares unless your offering them something and they can only fain for so long before they just want me to get lost or find a replacement. Woman are the worst, whatever I conjure that makes me feel better they take away, steal it copy it from boyfriends put me down they copy everything from my style to jokes, even though they put them down. Everyone is always trying to change me while telling me how special awesome I am, its all LIES. im so sick of the same kind of vultures in my life. I feel worthless, unsexy, replaceable. Nobody ever acknowledges me and some people completely forget me. I have a trail of bad exe's who will follow me to the grave trying to use me again, they're the only constant in my life. The point is happiness and self worth are novelties, they never last. The heights I reach often determine the lows I will inevitably experience there after but I can't just stay in the middle it makes me exhausted and scared to bother trying anymore. The moment I feel slightly better someone comes along and takes it off me, I never get to be in the moment long. I have tried to feel better so many ways. Even the other week. got my hair done and it just looks horrible, my boyfriend didn't even notice but I kind of needed him to. Lately I feel like he wants me to be something im not criticising the way I dress and telling me I should sex myself up. its not me, I don't feel sexy at all. I have looked at myself, listened to myself and the only reply I get in my head is confirming, im a nothing and my life is a waste. I have a relationship but it seems to be revolving around sex and again I am worried about being replaceable, im just a novelty to men and woman just abuse me for power. I just want to be at home, a child again not knowing any of this s. I just wish I didn't care like everyone else.

DownBlue Hoping that writing it down will help
  • replies: 2

Hi, first time poster. I run my own small business and have been told that I have a form of Bipolar called Cychlothymia (probably not spelt right). Ultimately it means I have highs and lows. The lows have become more frequent and last longer. I have ... View more

Hi, first time poster. I run my own small business and have been told that I have a form of Bipolar called Cychlothymia (probably not spelt right). Ultimately it means I have highs and lows. The lows have become more frequent and last longer. I have no energy and just want to sleep all the time, I can't remember things and have trouble conducting conversations. When I do sleep, I have very vivid anxiety driven dreams and wake up feeling like I have had no rest. A lot of mornings, the idea of getting out of bed and going to work makes me feel sick and makes my heart race. When I am at work I have trouble making decisions, all of which increases my anxiety and spirals me deeper as I feel like I am not achieving anything. I am on medication but it doesn't seem to do anything, but I have an appt with a psychiatrist next week to review the medication. I know that medication is not the only answer but I see a psychologist, which has been good but in my low lows I struggle to access the tools she has taught me. If anyone has any suggestions, I welcome them, I also thought that just writing it all down might help.

TommoNovak Depression and anxiety taking over my life
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I am a 20 year old male who has been struggling with social anxiety and very low confidence which began sometime between the age of 15 and 16. I believe that my condition is also linked to the fact that I have matured at a slower rate, which ... View more

Hi all, I am a 20 year old male who has been struggling with social anxiety and very low confidence which began sometime between the age of 15 and 16. I believe that my condition is also linked to the fact that I have matured at a slower rate, which has made me feel like I’m lagging behind what was expected at the particular time in educational and academic terms and socially, due to not displaying generic forms of behaviour matching the majority of people around me (not engaging in partying, drinking, smoking or visibly blending in to pop culture). The frustration of being caught in the clutches of this miserable condition is also not being able to pinpoint as to which extent is it due to my genetic makeup or social expectations that a person should behave in a certain way in order to be accepted. This condition has stopped me from progressing in to finding a direction as to which path I should follow career wise and has made me socially very isolated. The fact that the digital age has made it so readily available to observe the success and progress of others also doesn’t help. I find it very difficult to approach girls, as the fear of rejection and not knowing what to say or running out of things to say is stronger than need for human connection. I find myself always on the outside observing others having fun and having intimate relationships, which only amplifies and encourages my decline of confidence and sends me spiralling in to entrapment of this vicious circle. Another huge contributor to the position I find myself in at this time is the fact that I did not have a constant male role model in my life. I was unfortunately a kid who essentially grew up with an absent father and as years progressed, the connection with my dad became more fragmented due to highly complex set of events. It is very difficult to talk about details on here but I would really appreciate if anybody here could suggest a psychologist they have personally benefited from or have known other people who have found help and resolution to their problems. I know there are many options available however I would be grateful for a point of reference from someone who has had good success in finding their way out of darkness. Thanks.