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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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louies Early pregnancy depression
  • replies: 4

Hi there. I am a 36 year old woman who is 7 weeks pregnant and struggling with a low mood. I have previously had anxiety and depression and I am on a safe medication to controlle it through my pregnancy. But unfortunately at this stage its not doing ... View more

Hi there. I am a 36 year old woman who is 7 weeks pregnant and struggling with a low mood. I have previously had anxiety and depression and I am on a safe medication to controlle it through my pregnancy. But unfortunately at this stage its not doing much for me. I'm struggling right now with hormones and feeling I'll and it reminds me of being in one of my depression states as the symtoms are the same. At some points it makes me have my growing baby and I feel guilty for that. Just won't to know if any one ells has experienced this and does it pass as the pregnancy progresses. Please help.

Open_for_joy More than a 'senior's moment' - Being hit from out of the blue
  • replies: 9

I am turning 66 in a week and have had a terrible 5 weeks where I have been hit by a sudden and unexpected bout of depression and anxiety for the first time in my life!! This has been very disabling and I have been struck by the severity of it and co... View more

I am turning 66 in a week and have had a terrible 5 weeks where I have been hit by a sudden and unexpected bout of depression and anxiety for the first time in my life!! This has been very disabling and I have been struck by the severity of it and confused about what I need to do about it. The strength of my reaction seems out of proportion to a recent crisis in the family but it seems to have raised a lot of issues that I just keep ruminating over. I am waking at 3am and spending hours dwelling on various issues. I have been feeling very flat and have no energy. But the most dramatic thing is how anxious I feel!! I have always been a bit shy at parties etc but this is very different - I am restless and agitated, and feel a little sick in the stomach and chest a lot of the time. The main reason I am making this post is the surprise I have felt with the suddenness of this situation and incredible powerlessness I feel in dealing with it. I have been quite happy to talk to my partner and close friends but there is a real issue about how much to keep talking about it and how much to "take control back" by trying to be positive etc Wondering if other people - particularly in my age group - have any similar experience or insights Best wishes to all Open for joy

jigglypuff99 Gave my all and still became a recluse..
  • replies: 4

I was broken from a young age.. my toxic parents didn't help me develop certain skills... but that was ok, I tried my best with no support, I worked my fingers to the bone in factories not knowing what my future held. I eventually got out the factory... View more

I was broken from a young age.. my toxic parents didn't help me develop certain skills... but that was ok, I tried my best with no support, I worked my fingers to the bone in factories not knowing what my future held. I eventually got out the factory and still work on my career on a daily basis.And try to get ahead. But an overwhelming depression and lack of energy for life coupled with bad choices bad friends and toxic family has left me alone sitting on the couch every minute I am not at work. Fat. And isolated beyond the ability to pull myself out of a hole. Without the energy to light up a room I have now found I am even struggling at work now.. working in male dominated industries you need to be aggressive or you will not survive. My fear is I am a train heading in the direction of a family-less , lonely , broken down body and empty life type town for which I tried my best to avoid. And this train is an express

Allan533 How to know if I'm over-burdening people
  • replies: 15

So I had a really, really bad time lately. And despite me really, honestly trying to minimise the support I asked for from my friend, apparently it was too much, and she said that she couldn't be there for me at that point, and that I'd been "over-us... View more

So I had a really, really bad time lately. And despite me really, honestly trying to minimise the support I asked for from my friend, apparently it was too much, and she said that she couldn't be there for me at that point, and that I'd been "over-using" her (not her words). And while obviously that hurt me a lot, I can concede that it's her right to do so: if she doesn't feel that she can help for whatever reason, it's absolutely OK for her to pull back. She has to take care of herself. But now I'm unsure how much I can ask people for support. My other two main supports are good friends, but one of them has anxiety issues, and the other has depression, and I don't want to cause extra stress on them, and clearly I can't tell if I'm going overboard. So the last few weeks I've been trying to handle things myself without asking for support, but frankly I'm not doing well. And over the last couple of days, while I haven't fallen back to where I was before, it's been a definite downward trend, despite my honest best efforts. In addition, this whole situation has led me to thinking that maybe my thoughts aren't entirely off-base. That I am a burden on the people around me, and I should pull away from them for their own good. I know that's not healthy, but... well, it's hard not to reach that conclusion, isn't it? I do have the occasional good day, and I try to take advantage of them as best I can. But it just seems like all that does is slow the descent. And I've seen where that descent goes. I don't want to go there, but I can't see a way to divert the track.

Paul12345 Battling Depression. I can't handle it anymore!!
  • replies: 12

Hi all, My name is Paul. I am a 48 year old male and I am having a really hard time with my depression. I have been unemployed now for over 2 years since the last paying job. Times are tough and the bills have hit the roof. I feel that I have no purp... View more

Hi all, My name is Paul. I am a 48 year old male and I am having a really hard time with my depression. I have been unemployed now for over 2 years since the last paying job. Times are tough and the bills have hit the roof. I feel that I have no purpose anymore and have been able to manage my depression for about 18 months. The last 6 months however I can not sleep more than 3 hours at a time, I get anxiety about my future, I am not eating properly, I think dark thoughts that are uncontrollable and that scares me and finally I have come to the point of being suicidal, but just don't have the balls to do it!! I am losing my mind and my resolve to handle this naturally and may need medication to get me through this. I don't like medicating myself. I don't have ANY faith in the pharmaceutical companies and their placebo agendas to rape the world of money for NO CURE!! As you can see I am broken. Life has broken me badly and now I want out. I don't go out anymore and feel very uncomfortable around other people. It is however good to vent and get it off your chest. This is the therapy I have used to get me by for the last 18 months of my 2 year hiatus. I am a majorly qualified individual and have 143 IQ. I am no idiot!! This makes me borderline insane and depression bring it out in me. I feel better to get all this off my chest. Thanks for letting me make your ears bleed, but this is what is going on in my head. Dark times indeed!!!

Neferata In teaching I also learn, but there is darkness still.
  • replies: 6

Fully investing myself into my tutoring work and my teaching studies, I have been shrugging off fatigue and pretending that by ignoring my personal crises they may somehow disappear the next time I look. Alas, recently I have been staring into that p... View more

Fully investing myself into my tutoring work and my teaching studies, I have been shrugging off fatigue and pretending that by ignoring my personal crises they may somehow disappear the next time I look. Alas, recently I have been staring into that particular void and I did not find it wanting. There is much love in my life, the love of friends which means a great deal to me. There is the love of teaching, the love I have for my students and my great work with them, but I have little love for myself. What I lack is human companionship, the intimacy of the human creature. This lonely state of mind is entirely self imposed and I pose the question to myself almost as an excuse: "How can I expect another life to love me if I cannot love myself?." How can I with good conscience enter into another live and introduce into it the myriad of identity crises I possess, my dark, vindictive yet ultimately confused mind, my sensitive sexuality, my frustrated identity and my nerdy, highly personal theatrics? I have long been burying my personal desires underneath my work and now that they have been abruptly unearthed and let loose in my mind, I don't know what to do with them. I've prided myself on my cold, distant attitude toward sexual relations but it is increasingly hard to reconcile that pride with my loneliness and mental health. In an effort to be a messianic figure to my students, their spiritual guide through these dark and troubling times, I have ignored myself and my needs. I have never been in a relationship and aged 25 there is a certain shame that comes with the acceptance that I've never been in a sexual relationship and my immediate reaction is to withdraw, but I cannot push this away for much longer. I am not a creature of casual relations, I am a creature which values permanence, predictability and sensitivity and none of those conditions are encouraged by modern match making. I enjoy meeting people in person but I am not a social flower, I don't "do" fun, I don't do parties, I don't dance, I don't drink, I don't club and I don't do things like tinder. I am the uncompromising autocrat of my own realm but am I going to have to show a gesture of compromise to the cosmos in order to find new people?

Karina_S Depression is tearing me apart
  • replies: 12

Hi everyone, I just want to vent out my feelings, as I've always been a very reserved person, and I share little except perhaps with a few close people. This is a first for me, I've never really made an effort to join a group, but the time has come, ... View more

Hi everyone, I just want to vent out my feelings, as I've always been a very reserved person, and I share little except perhaps with a few close people. This is a first for me, I've never really made an effort to join a group, but the time has come, I think. My depression started about 3 to 4 years ago, I think it was due to someone close to me developing dementia, and it had slowly been tearing away at my happiness and mindset (I'm sure someone could perhaps relate to this). It then started to tear at my confidence, and my motivation to get up, or get out of bed even. I've lost focus at uni, I can't concentrate well enough, and I feel as if I'm a human robot, trudging along day by day, and I feel as if I have fixed that fake "smile" in place for hours just so that people could see me as a strong, independent person. But I could only describe my thoughts as intense feelings of loneliness, as if I am walking along a dark gravel road, in a very, very deserted forest. It's cyclic. The thing is, I've tried to change my mindset, believe me. I've tried to talk to a therapist, but every time I make an effort to get back up, I fall back, and it's harder to get back up the next time. I'm tired, and I feel as if I am falling into a dark place. It's so exhausting. I'm blessed, I really am, to be here, to have a roof over my head, but sometimes I feel so numb that my tears have stopped falling. And I understand how lucky I am, and I've tried to see that, but these thoughts (sometimes indescribable), keep tearing away at my soul. I feel restless, but I'm motionless. My social life is appalling, and I don't feel like interacting with people anymore. It's as if my brain is fighting different battles at once. I also suffer from extreme anxiety, which may have caused my depression. I can't recognise that happy girl from years ago. Every time I look in the mirror, I become more invisible. I haven't shared much, but I just hope that somebody can relate, or perhaps someone similar to me, doesn't feel lonely once reading this. The reason I've written this, is I have very little hope left. But hope inspired me to share my thoughts. Thank you for reading this.

Jazzy12 Need help I don’t know what to do
  • replies: 6

Hi not sure if this is the right place but I need some advice so here it goes I’m only 28 years old have a hubby but no children yet my problem is I live in a house of 7 my parents and sisters and two babies who belong to my 18 year old sister me and... View more

Hi not sure if this is the right place but I need some advice so here it goes I’m only 28 years old have a hubby but no children yet my problem is I live in a house of 7 my parents and sisters and two babies who belong to my 18 year old sister me and my hubby are literally paying for everything no one helps mum works and dad collects center link my sisters are lazy as shit I really want my own house but I know they will struggle if we move out they never offer us anything always the same old story I really feel use right now by my family how do I even start a conversation with them. My dad is big headed and he’s a it’s his way or the high way kinda guy I’m just real sick of it now had enough I feel like I can’t live my own life I feel like they depend on me to much how can I break the cycle once and for all thank you for listening

Efb1234 Reaching out... I'm lost.
  • replies: 7

Hi, I really dont know if this is the place or whether this is the right thing to do but I dont know who I can talk to. Back story - I was diagnosed in 2013 with depression. Went on a mental health plan and seeked counseling with antidepressants over... View more

Hi, I really dont know if this is the place or whether this is the right thing to do but I dont know who I can talk to. Back story - I was diagnosed in 2013 with depression. Went on a mental health plan and seeked counseling with antidepressants over 6 months and felt that I was on the mend and I came off them myself which I know wasn't the right thing to do however, I seemed to have really had my head screwed on. A lot has happened in the time, new relationship, new job, moved to a new area. However just over 12 months ago(3ish years after I stopped antidepressants and counseling), I quit my job with the support of my fiance as I was unhappy, over worked and it was affecting our relationship. I was crying every night, tired, moody and always arguing. I thought leaving work would help change the situation however, I believe it was the beginning of where i am at today... numb. I cant find joy in anything, I struggle to get myself moving, I'm always worried about doing the wrong thing or upsetting someone. I dont keep anyone close or talk to anyone about how I feel. What's worse about this time is I still spoke to my mother and my friends about how I felt, but I cant stand to be that open with them anymore. I feel all over the place and I feel I cant ask for help because I've already done that... and I feel like I wont be taken seriously. I really dont know if anyone else has been in a similar situation or not but it would be nice to hear some advice on what you have done or think I should do. I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense. xx

demonblaster Acronym meanings
  • replies: 74

I know there's a few that I don't know but ask what they are so assuming others too may not know GAD ? Learnt recently that BPD = Bipolar Disorder can be confused with BPD= Borderline Personality disorder so the poster puts PD= personality disorder (... View more

I know there's a few that I don't know but ask what they are so assuming others too may not know GAD ? Learnt recently that BPD = Bipolar Disorder can be confused with BPD= Borderline Personality disorder so the poster puts PD= personality disorder (good thinking)