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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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Lovessweet How do I know if I’m depressed or not?
  • replies: 2

This is my first post and I’m scared to post here because I don’t know if I am depressed. I’m currently 22 but this has been a question I’ve asked myself since the beginning of high school. When I was 13/14, I noticed that I would get this empty feel... View more

This is my first post and I’m scared to post here because I don’t know if I am depressed. I’m currently 22 but this has been a question I’ve asked myself since the beginning of high school. When I was 13/14, I noticed that I would get this empty feeling in my stomach and/or a heavy feeling on my chest where it would feel difficulty to breath. I realised that I didn’t care if I lived or not but would never self harm because I couldn’t put the people I love through that. This didn’t occur often, it wasn’t constant, maybe for a couple of hours every month or two (maybe more, I don’t recall) and because of that I thought I would be fine and that it will past. And it kind of did. The feeling would sometimes creep up, but it never lasted long. Nothing in particular would trigger it, sometimes I would wake up and feel empty. Sometimes in the middle of doing something I would feel empty. But as I’ve gotten older, gotten more responsibility, I’ve gotten better at distracting myself from it. Until today which has been the most intense and longest I’ve felt this way (past the couple of hours mark which I know still isn’t much). And I realised something, I can’t talk to anyone I know about it. I have tried before and I tried talking to my boyfriend about it today. But every time the idea or thought of me being depressed is brought up, my mind begins to trivialise it. Oh I’m not depressed, I just get sad sometimes, stop being dramatic. And I push it away until the emptiness comes back again. The thought that my life is meaningless from when I was a teen never went away. Like I said, I would never do anything intentionally but I don’t think I would be happy or sad if I wasn’t here anymore. But at the end of the day I don’t know if I’m just really sad sometimes and I worry that if I do talk about it I will seem dramatic and trying to make a victim of myself or trying to seek attention because I’m not actually depressed. Ironically I’m also scared that if I talk about it to someone I know and they believe that I am depressed, they will try to help me and I don’t know if I’m ready for that either. Im sorry if I wasted anyone’s time (especially if I’m right that I’m just sad and not depressed) but at least typing this long thread up has distracted me from the emptiness a bit. Also thank you to anyone who actually reads through this full thing...

MelodyWasHer2ndName I need a friend…
  • replies: 10

I just need someone to talk to. I am struggling emotionally with a lot of things right now. I am in a long term relationship with someone (12 years) but I feel as if our relationship is falling apart. I don’t know whether to stay and try to fix thing... View more

I just need someone to talk to. I am struggling emotionally with a lot of things right now. I am in a long term relationship with someone (12 years) but I feel as if our relationship is falling apart. I don’t know whether to stay and try to fix things or leave. Either option will be equally hard. My partner has OCD and other ongoing mental health problems and I feel he takes them out on me. He can be rude, condescending and verbally aggressive when he gets upset about extremely trivial things. Things have been slowly getting worse and worse and I can’t cope. I’ve tried for a long time to be supportive but I’m at my breaking point. I still love him, I really do, but he always make me happy. Sometimes when I’m coming home from work, I get a sinking feeling in my stomach, fearing what kind of mood he will be in. Sometimes we have a nice evening together and get along great. Other times, the smallest and stupidest things will set off a fight between us. I have terrible self esteem which is why I find it hard to stand up to my partner. I literally hate myself. I wish I could be anyone else. I despise the way I look. When I look in the mirror, I see the world’s ugliest face staring back. I hate that I wasn’t born an attractive, confident, happy person. This is why I think I tolerate his behaviour towards me. I just can’t find the strength to confront my partner to tell him that either things need to change or that I might consider leaving him. I am seeing a physiologist and so is he (separately) but we can only have a session every 3 weeks or so to be able to claim the Centrelink gap benefit. Everything seems so hopeless. Counselling is so expensive and I feel we need more of it. I want us to go to joint counseling so we can sort our issues out together. I need help. I need support. But I feel like I’m on my own. If I turn to friends and family, they will make judgements about our relationship and I can’t trust any of them not to say anything to my partner. Please I just need someone who is a stranger to talk to.

musicfreak I have this empty feeling inside
  • replies: 1

I think I beginning to get depressed. In the past I have only had small periods of depression but this has lasted a while now. I nothing is helping me. I feel like I have this empty pit inside of me and I don't know how to fix it. I am too scared to ... View more

I think I beginning to get depressed. In the past I have only had small periods of depression but this has lasted a while now. I nothing is helping me. I feel like I have this empty pit inside of me and I don't know how to fix it. I am too scared to talk to any of my family and friends about because I don't feel a care trust anyone enough to talk to them. I am not afraid to admit to myself that I need help, I am afraid to admit it to the ones I care about. I don't want them to worry about it, by I know if I want help, I am going to talk to them about it. How do you tell someone that you are feeling depressed almost all of the time and nothing can bring you out of it?

DJRDIESEL When Do The Guilt and Dark Thoughts Stop
  • replies: 1

Hi all, This is my first time posting because I am having issues with everyday life and I think I may be on the verge of going back to a very dark space. I am 43, married for 22 years and I had depression for approximately 18 months. It started as a ... View more

Hi all, This is my first time posting because I am having issues with everyday life and I think I may be on the verge of going back to a very dark space. I am 43, married for 22 years and I had depression for approximately 18 months. It started as a small change but by the middle of last year I was a different person. In December my beautiful wife, who stop by me through all this, along with a few mates took some action. I finally recognized that I needed help and began the road to recovery. It has been some hard work but I have really invested in myself and learning what makes the the mind tick and where certain behavioral patterns come from. Over the last 3-4 weeks my life has been the best it has been, my marriage has been the best it has ever been and things were going great. Then my wife, in a caring way, said I was smothering her somewhat (very justified). Well, after opening up to her and telling her all about my emotions, thoughts and some things I had kept from her, this came as a bit of a slap in the face. Now, over the last few days we have been arguing. I am over analyzing everything she say's or doesn't say looking for validation that she loves me. I am stricken with guilt for what I put her through and scared I will loose her. I slip back to old behaviors and she straight away get angry and yells at me. I feel she should be a bit more understanding and help work me out of it. Now I feel alone, mad and sorry for what I am doing. I feel like I am good for no one and just make things harder for the people I love. For the first real time, deep down, I feel I don't deserve to be here anymore. Am I broken?

Guest_8790 depression sick of this life
  • replies: 4

how I wish I could turn back time when I never felt down and out. Sick of medication and not knowing what to do with the remainder of my life. tried studying and now been told not ready for placement due to my mental health. also teacher indicatef ca... View more

how I wish I could turn back time when I never felt down and out. Sick of medication and not knowing what to do with the remainder of my life. tried studying and now been told not ready for placement due to my mental health. also teacher indicatef cannit support someone for half a hour when I get anxiety moment. that was so hurtful ad it never took that long. also felt ashamed because she indicated that care has to be made for other students. I can understand that but I always left room discreetly when felt overwhelmed and it was not every day either. now course finishing two weeks and don't want to complete as have to wait till next year for placement. feel teacher did not understand how I felt as she is not a mental health worker. feel like giving up. upset confused angry yeah all that. not working have the indignity of being on new start at my age as worked for 36 years. where to from here? rusty or rusted

Cam084 Dont know what to do.
  • replies: 2

First time here and not very good at talking about my feelings. For the last 6 weeks or so i have been feeling extremely down about my self. I feel worthless . Depressed. Sad and tired. I feel that the world is out to get me and the walls are closing... View more

First time here and not very good at talking about my feelings. For the last 6 weeks or so i have been feeling extremely down about my self. I feel worthless . Depressed. Sad and tired. I feel that the world is out to get me and the walls are closing in on me. I constantly have anxiety attacks and break downs.

Alex_genetics Struggles living with bipolar and being in a relationship
  • replies: 1

Hello community I've been in many relationships over the years and have always struggled with the same problem, whenever I slightly dip into a depression, I want to reject my partner, I see all the problems with the relationship and make up problems ... View more

Hello community I've been in many relationships over the years and have always struggled with the same problem, whenever I slightly dip into a depression, I want to reject my partner, I see all the problems with the relationship and make up problems with her that I wouldn't normally do in my well self. I'm in a relationship at the moment and it has been going really well, except I can't stop the feeling of rejection when I'm feeling low. I love her deeply, but right now I just don't feel attracted to her. I found a YouTube vlogger who spoke of a similar thing happening to her, so I feel like I might not be alone. Does anyone have any advice or have experienced these kinds of feelings. I've dipped like this once in our relationship and it took until the depression had lifted for me to be able to clearly see her and love her for who she is. Is there anyone in this community suffer with similar symptoms. Thanks Alex

emj1308 I'm scared that I'm relapsing.
  • replies: 2

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety 5 years ago, however have been managing it really well over the past 2 years. In jan of this year, my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer. This was obviously devastating news but I felt like I had been m... View more

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety 5 years ago, however have been managing it really well over the past 2 years. In jan of this year, my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer. This was obviously devastating news but I felt like I had been managing it well. Lately, I've been having issues with some of my friends and have been feeling really alone and isolated. I'm always stressed about money and work, so much so that the "stressed" feeling feels like numbness. Over the past two weeks I've been feeling down and haven't been able to pull myself out. I feel like I'm relapsing. I've been trying to do things that I know clear my head or make me feel good (self-care), but nothing seems to get me back on track. Uni is really busy at the moment and I have placement coming up soon - I'm scared to graduate next year but it's really important to me that I do because it might be the only milestone my mum will be here for... I used to love going to work but now its a place that just brings so many negative (the friends I've had issues with work with me too). I always feel so hurt and upset over small things. For eg. three of my friends (who i don't have issues with) went out together tonight and didn't invite me, and I feel so incredibly sad and left out and like these girls don't like me anymore - even though I know I'm probably overthinking it. I have the most amazing boyfriend, but I just find myself getting mad and short with him when he's done nothing but try to love and care for me. I feel like I'm lying to my parents by saying that I'm fine. I feel guilty because I feel like this unshifting feeling of sadness has nothing to do with my mum being sick, even though thats the biggest and most important thing to be sad about. I feel like big traumatic things that I've been through are slowly accumulating and I don't know how to cope with my feelings anymore. I don't know how to ask for help or if I even want it. I feel alone and like no one understands. I feel overwhelmed and exhausted. I'm just feeling really lost at the moment.

eebrik Losing hope
  • replies: 1

38 years on earth and I've achieved nothing and failed at everything no family no friends I'm living with my ex because I have nowhere else to go I don't own anything I'm broke I'm reckless I've got a long history of getting fired coz I chuck too man... View more

38 years on earth and I've achieved nothing and failed at everything no family no friends I'm living with my ex because I have nowhere else to go I don't own anything I'm broke I'm reckless I've got a long history of getting fired coz I chuck too many sickies and I want to change and be a better person and build a life but I have to go from the guy that screws everything up to a guy that gets everything right and seems too unrealistic. I've never had the drive or the motivation to succeed and being on my own success seems even more pointless. Not sure what else to type but that's just how I feel

youcantknow I feel sh**, anyone else?
  • replies: 3

So every few weeks or so i have s shit week or so. like i don't want to move or really do anything, i just feel sad down and crappy i don't want to smile or even laugh. i always struggle with energy and happiness but I'm usually really good at faking... View more

So every few weeks or so i have s shit week or so. like i don't want to move or really do anything, i just feel sad down and crappy i don't want to smile or even laugh. i always struggle with energy and happiness but I'm usually really good at faking it but drunk this time i cant fake it there is zero energy left to even try. i do everything to make my self feel better eg; walk my dog, run, paint, exercise, yoga, hang with those i love, journal, meditate. i have anxiety but never really thought that i might have depression until my dad said something about it i don't know tho? my head feels sick, it lost and hate myself more than ever, i cant really be bothered. with. life anymore!!

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