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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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Suet suet Does our mood swing with the weather too !?
  • replies: 8

Hi, its been raining for the last few days in Brisbane here. I feel that my mood also swings which acts like the weather - extremely restless and depressing. On those sunny days my mood seems to be better! Does anyone feel the same or just me ??

Hi, its been raining for the last few days in Brisbane here. I feel that my mood also swings which acts like the weather - extremely restless and depressing. On those sunny days my mood seems to be better! Does anyone feel the same or just me ??

Samaanthaa_16 I've had enough.
  • replies: 5

lately the stress and anxiety has got so bad and so constant,that it feels like I'm just going around in circles with trying,failing and then hating myself for the failures I've made. I have tried to let it out to others and it seems they are sick of... View more

lately the stress and anxiety has got so bad and so constant,that it feels like I'm just going around in circles with trying,failing and then hating myself for the failures I've made. I have tried to let it out to others and it seems they are sick of hearing it. I don't want to be a burden to anyone anymore...so why bother even telling anyone if it's a let down. Sometimes my mind get's so bombarded by unwanted thoughts that I just want to scream. I feel like I'm just constantly drowning and slowly get deeper and deep in the 'ocean'. It has consumed me so much I think I have unfortunately reached that breaking point.It is so exhuasting having to pretend I'm 'okay' and all calm infront of others,but in reality I'm dying inside,hating myself and just mentally broken and drained.This may sound strange but,It's like I'm soo used to being anxious,depressed and on going (pressure mentally) that it feels out of the blue and kind of 'empty' when it's not happening. I don't want to feel this way anymore,but at the same time I don't want to get better or fight it anymore. It's like I'm just stuck inbetween wanting to get better and actually be 'happy' and then just drowning and staying in my fears and sorrows to not be a burden and fear I will just relapse and be a failure again. I feel like such a failure,but so mentally exhuasted it's hard for me to keep going some day without wanting to just snap and break down. Although, the worst thing is letting down others. That is what I fear the most and have always been the reason why I feel so much pressure to keep being me and trying to be strong,happy and push through it. It frustrates me that these such negatives things have to exist in our lives. But life unfortunately has it's negative and scarring battles to get through to be a better person.I guess.

concused In pain
  • replies: 34

We have just lost our dog of 10 years. My husband is 82 and not well. He was the thread which kept us going. A help to my husband when he wasn't well. My help when I needed it. We have lost our best friend. It hurts just as much as when I lost my son... View more

We have just lost our dog of 10 years. My husband is 82 and not well. He was the thread which kept us going. A help to my husband when he wasn't well. My help when I needed it. We have lost our best friend. It hurts just as much as when I lost my son. I have been to the dr. And a psychologist..but I don't really want to do this anymore. I am not suicidal.,,,but it is now too hard. No....I don't want another dog..Eddie was one of a kind...almost human. Our day and night was devoted to Eddie. Just don't know what to do. Everywhere we went Eddie was there too. Am so so lost.

Paul_D My 2018 Story: 10 Months Unemployed/Freelancing to Survive
  • replies: 6

Hey guys, In January I left my $70K Navy job after 8 years full time service. I'm 36 years old. Prior to joining the military I worked as a Travel Consultant, a Retail Salesman and Freelance Web Developer. I have been actively looking for part time/f... View more

Hey guys, In January I left my $70K Navy job after 8 years full time service. I'm 36 years old. Prior to joining the military I worked as a Travel Consultant, a Retail Salesman and Freelance Web Developer. I have been actively looking for part time/full time work since Dec last year and haven't been able to find the right company. This has forced me to freelance full time but I can't bring in more than $350 a week. In Dec I started applying for multiple Gov/Admin/Customer Service/Web Design roles via Seek/Linkedin and Jobs WA. Two months went by and I had collected about 20 job rejections. I approached two recruiters in Perth in April and was offered a top gun interview at Robert Half Recruiting. In the group interview I failed to sell myself and didn't get offered a second interview. At about the same time I received a phone call from a web design agency for a front end web developer role. I aced the interview but lacked the skills they needed to replace their senior developer. That job only lasted 2 weeks and was unpaid. This had a really negative effect on me. It made me realise I had no skills in the real world anymore that would get me a decent paying job. Before I knew it 5 Months went past and I still had no job. Then in June at a networking event I met Macmahon who were offering truck driving jobs in the mines. They called me up for a video interview but I couldn't stop thinking about going away for 2 weeks, coming home for 1 week and working 12 days stuck in a truck. My brain was talking me out of it. By this stage it was July and I was starting to feel the financial pressure. To pay my bills I started throwing a lot more attention at my online freelance web design business which was bringing in an average of $300 p/wk. Given that my expenses were more than that winter would see me spiral into a hole of anxiety and depression. Until finally I went and saw the doctor who said I was low on Vitamin D. Once my blood levels were normal I started feeling ok again but I still had no job and my freelance business was getting hard. Chasing clients for money, working for free. Spending 14 hour days in front of the computer. I was beginning to go insane. When I decided I needed to redesign my website and start taking money up front. This would work for a few weeks but the past month I have only managed to bring in $250. I realise this career is never going to be easy but it seems like all I have with having to go FIFO. By this stage it was late September and I had racked up at least 50 job rejections. Then out of the blue I had three opportunities all at once. My friend up in Tom Price said his company would take me on as a trade assistant for $45 p/hr (12 hour days) on a 2/1 roster. I had a website enquiry for a $3k in house web contract and an interview with a leading IT company in Perth for a 4 week unpaid internship. So out of all those opportunities which one do I pick. The unpaid no guarantees unpaid internship. Not only did I screw my mate around but I turned down two paid jobs for a IT internship that is designed for uni graduates in the hope that I might get a new career out of it. Am I clutching straws? I know Im worth more than working for free for a month. I don't know who I am anymore. Why the hell would I take a unpaid internship over guaranteed work? Well it's a big gamble as I can't live on my current freelance income and things don't look like they're going to get better on the job application front. To summarise, I have spent 20 years working "not ideal" jobs and my main skill web design is useless because it doesn't pay enough to live comfortably. I would get more money on welfare. It' really sad. I appreciate the clients I do have but my business has failed. The sooner I realise this the sooner my life will get better. I just don't know where to go from here.

mishka2014 DSP and work
  • replies: 6

Hi Everyone. This is my first time posting. I have been on a Disability Support Pension (DSP) for the past 7 years due to suffering from anxiety and depression which was preventing me from keeping a job and doing many hours. The DSP was an absolute b... View more

Hi Everyone. This is my first time posting. I have been on a Disability Support Pension (DSP) for the past 7 years due to suffering from anxiety and depression which was preventing me from keeping a job and doing many hours. The DSP was an absolute blessing as I was in a really bad mental state, but ofcourse it was very hard to obtain. Last year I got reviewed which was very stressful and damaging to my mental state, but my application was accepted to stay on DSP. Recently I have been offered work (up to 10hrs a week) my psych thinks it will help my self esteem, but I am worried if I start working again even though it is only a small amount of hours, that I will be reviewed and taken off DSP which I don't feel ready to do. Any advice or personal experience would be appreciated.

AbsoluteAe Vent from struggle
  • replies: 4

Hello, Struggling with depression and social anxiety for 20+ years to varying degrees. Seeing a psych and trying my best for the most part. On holiday vefore starting a new job and staying with family. Had a quick hello with some new people and one g... View more

Hello, Struggling with depression and social anxiety for 20+ years to varying degrees. Seeing a psych and trying my best for the most part. On holiday vefore starting a new job and staying with family. Had a quick hello with some new people and one gave everyone a hug as she was leaving as "shes a hugger" and I felt a mental dam burst, I felt/feel so ashamed, normally that wouldnt bother/effect me but it was a short and it takes me awhile (weeks) to warm up to people, I'm not particularly shy but I can be quiet when I have nothing to say. Just woefully sad that all I could manage was a hello, that a hug was wasted. On the train back I had to cover my face from my early teens niece and nephew as I was crying and trying to jeep it together. I think my oldest niece picked up on it and switched seats to rest her head on me and all I could do was hold it in like supressing a grenade. Just one of those days where its easier to be alone rather than hurt people. Most days talking to people feels like we're a million miles apart, disconnected or forced conversations, unnatural to fill time but can never grow. Venting to release some pressure. Would go for a walk but in a bad neighborhood. Regards.

TTTJJJ Do ‘Wellness” retreats help?
  • replies: 2

Hi there, im not sure if I’m stressed, depressed or something else but i am having a tough time coping at present and had a complete meltdown yesterday. Doc says medication wont help, and referred me to a psychologist. Honestly i think i would be bet... View more

Hi there, im not sure if I’m stressed, depressed or something else but i am having a tough time coping at present and had a complete meltdown yesterday. Doc says medication wont help, and referred me to a psychologist. Honestly i think i would be better talking to the staff at the supermarket checkout for all the help she was - 2 sessions, had a chat, showed me an app for ‘minfulness’ - i really don’t think that she was of any use at all. The mindfulness is a good start, but now i have the app what do i need a psych for? my partner is at a loss to help me either, and wants to send me away to a ‘wellness’ retreat next week. I appreciate that these things cost a lot of money and not everyone is able to afford that so i feel lucky that i can have such an opportunity, but i am questioning whether i will get any benefit. Maybe I’m better off taking a week off work and booking as many massage and yoga classes as i can locally instead. does anyone have any experience with these type of retreats? Can they help when you are at the point of full meltdown, or are they just for busy people who need an excuse for a few days off? What if i have another meltdown while i’m Away, then i wont have my partner there to hug me, and I don’t think they offer that level of care at these wellness retreats. any opinions or personal feedback is much appreciated

BeKindRewind4Life Disabilty, Depression and DES: My Experience
  • replies: 3

I have decided to write this post as a guide for anyone applying for disability under the terms of mental illness. A number of years ago now 11 to be precise, I was offered the opportunity to apply for disability. I had left a full time job to be wit... View more

I have decided to write this post as a guide for anyone applying for disability under the terms of mental illness. A number of years ago now 11 to be precise, I was offered the opportunity to apply for disability. I had left a full time job to be with my family who were moving state, I couldn't change this.I had always suffered from episodes of depression and anxiety, but had coped enough to pursue qualifications and a few jobs. Because I needed the support of my family to cope, I left my job, and intended to find another, but that sadly did not eventuate. This put me on a collision course with government policy. Within months of leaving work and trying to find another job, I found myself in one Work for the Dole program after another, I suffer from fatigue due to depression and severe sleep apnea. Because the WFD programs didn't cater to my illnesses, I was picking up trash by the roadside, travelling kilometres on foot to be degraded and treated like bludging garbage and made to feel as if I was being exploited, which even though possibly not the intention was the end result, throwing me into deep depression, and even thoughts of suicide. I have no doubt other people feel the same with the current way of treating the unemployed. I wanted work, I couldn't get it, and within three WFD programs I was suffering severe anxiety to go along with my chronic depression, and extreme fatigue, from all that goes along with WFD, threats of non-compliance, treatment as if you are worthless and looked down upon, being put into programs that don't give skills or training to improve chances of getting back into the workforce, or worse aggravate illnesses such as high levels of fatigue that I personally would avoid when going after jobs, given my severe sleep apnea. I so desperately wanted work, and my mental health was crashing, eventually, I was assessed as being "Unfit to work"... and at this stage, I truly was, the system had done more to take away my confidence and aggravate mental health issues than working ever could, I had gone from holding it together to maintain work and be part of the world to being unable to be part of anything. The tunnel with that glimmer of hope at the end, the one that said, you'll find work again, there is a way out of this hell, seemed longer and longer. I was in the deepest depression I have ever been in, and the lifeline that was the DSP, turned out to be the rope that would bind me, and drag me to the deepest depths of despair.

MitchLT Can't see the future anymore
  • replies: 4

Hello There! I have tried a lot of things without success so I thought I would call out for help on this site. Have been with same partner for many years and we have lived in hope of having a family however we are unable due to medical problems (my s... View more

Hello There! I have tried a lot of things without success so I thought I would call out for help on this site. Have been with same partner for many years and we have lived in hope of having a family however we are unable due to medical problems (my side). We are both in our 40's now and my partner has tried to comfort me by saying that she doesn't feel she could cope with having a family now anyway. This 'hope' kept me going for over 20 years and now I am trying to accept that it is not to be. Also I am struggling financially - I had a small business that we had to close last year - a business that I had put a lot of 'hope' in for the future. I have reached a point in my life where I cannot think of anything to get up for in the morning. I have a steady job which is just a 'job' and it just pays the bills but every day is a worry. I seemed to have lost all sense of purpose and direction in my life. I have started drinking heavily and am also on depression medication. I often wish there was a quick way out of this life without hurting anyone else. Sorry to ramble on but I just don't know where to turn anymore. Has anyone ever felt like this and got past it? I've tried all sorts of motivational recordings and videos. I've tried goal-setting. I can't think off anything I would like to be, do or have anymore..............

Ibby Am I depressed?
  • replies: 7

Hi, New here. How do you know if you suffer from depression? I've done the Beyond Blue questionnaires etc which say 'yes, you are' but I'm scared about going down a path I maybe can't back out of (eg medication, counselling etc) I have felt for a whi... View more

Hi, New here. How do you know if you suffer from depression? I've done the Beyond Blue questionnaires etc which say 'yes, you are' but I'm scared about going down a path I maybe can't back out of (eg medication, counselling etc) I have felt for a while that I may suffer from depression and/or anxiety. It seems to come and go, especially the depression (very 'event based' if something goes wrong) - this usually manifests as feeling physically ill in the stomach, castrophising things, becoming very tired and irritable etc. But sometimes I feel perfectly fine. All in all, I have been not sleeping well recently, have been irritable at my partner, eating poorly, and have zero sex drive - so I feel like something is wrong. I just don't know if a doctor will be able to help, or if I'm wasting their time. Anxiety-wise as well, I'm panicking about talking to a doctor because I don't know what to say, or if it will help, or if I'll end up being medicated forever and feel like I'm not 'me'. Does anyone else go through this? And/or have any tips?