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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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Keypi Struggling
  • replies: 2

Hi, I've been going down hill very quickly recently, I feel like my life is out of control in every way possible, I suffer from depression and have for a long time and more recently accepted that I have BPD, as I never wanted to believe it before. I ... View more

Hi, I've been going down hill very quickly recently, I feel like my life is out of control in every way possible, I suffer from depression and have for a long time and more recently accepted that I have BPD, as I never wanted to believe it before. I did start talking on a different thread so won't go into lots of details but my most recent development is that I only really had my wife as my support, she's my rock. I don't really have any friends and am in the process of trying to find some. But last night my wife told me we should split up, and then that was that, in one foul swoop I lost the very last thing I was holding onto. This past fortnight in particular has been rough, I've had 3 different people bail on me when I said I needed them. But as someone reminded me 2 days ago I have a supportive wife and now I've lost her too. I'm not sure what to do any more. I already felt alone and now I'm more alone than ever. Please help. I'm not ok anymore. Keypi

SisterKiKi DEPRESSION & ALCOHOL USE DISORDER
  • replies: 2

Hi All, I am 54 & started drinking at 48 following gastric sleeve surgery. Prior to this I raised three beautiful amazing children & did two degrees to get to my most loved job. I grew up with my father being a violent alcoholic so this has shocked m... View more

Hi All, I am 54 & started drinking at 48 following gastric sleeve surgery. Prior to this I raised three beautiful amazing children & did two degrees to get to my most loved job. I grew up with my father being a violent alcoholic so this has shocked me that i have succumbed to it. In the last 6 yrs I have drank alot of wine. I think trying to numb my feelings. I am an overthinker. Now, my husband, rightfully so, has had it with me. He's a very stoic, stubborn, older man. Very old fashioned. He's very critical of me. We've been married 29.5 yrs.

Soloyo Unable to stop crying
  • replies: 6

You know those days, when you are lying on the lounge room floor, sobbing, and unable to stop... What do people do to manage this?

You know those days, when you are lying on the lounge room floor, sobbing, and unable to stop... What do people do to manage this?

violet1212 does numbness go away? is it called feeling numb?
  • replies: 4

hi, my names violet and I am a normal teenage girl that's going through some shit. okay, my question is, am I feeling numb? and would this feeling go away? I have some problems which I will not mention. but this problem occurs frequently. it has been... View more

hi, my names violet and I am a normal teenage girl that's going through some shit. okay, my question is, am I feeling numb? and would this feeling go away? I have some problems which I will not mention. but this problem occurs frequently. it has been occurring ever since I could remember but as I grew older it became worse. usually, I would get mad or angry when the problem happens or sometimes I would get upset and cry but I had come to a realization that the past year I had bearly felt any emotions. whenever this problem occurs I would lash out and become angry but now I go emotionless. no anger, no happiness, no sadness nor frustration. I don't know what's happening but I feel fine. I've never really noticed but I don't remember the last time I had felt emotion when I was truly happy. and whenever I choose to let go and become happy and start laughing with true happiness it feels weird for me. like it's not right for me to be happy because I know something bad is going to happen next. im noticing im becoming faker by the minute. I always have a smile on my face at school and no one seems to notice its fake. my friends always say that im always happy or they've never seen me cry or become upset so I just softly laugh and walk away. I don't know what to make of myself anymore. when I see someone look at me a smile automatically falls on my face. but when I look away it sets back to the emotionless face. I feel like the most emotion I mainly feel is anger but even that I feel like im losing. I do cry but, for reasons that i will not say is that I never cry in front of people unles I can't get a grip on my emotions and i break down, but never really happens. I feel like im getting emotional easily and I hate myself for it I know everyone cries but I just feel vulnerable when I do so. apparently, I was told that I used to have anger problems and that I would lash out if I was angry. and thankfully I've learned to control that but as I steer my anger away I feel like I lost control of the steer and im losing the only part of myself where I felt something.... now whenever the problem occurs I wait till I feel upset or something but I feel fine and yet im dying on the inside.

Lucyopp188 My partner is not very supportive
  • replies: 7

Having a newborn, he is not very supportive. He doesn't want have kids and doesn't want to pay child support. Everyday he just watches movies in his room. The way he talks to me so disgusting. It makes me hard to breath .What shall I do?

Having a newborn, he is not very supportive. He doesn't want have kids and doesn't want to pay child support. Everyday he just watches movies in his room. The way he talks to me so disgusting. It makes me hard to breath .What shall I do?

Burgundy3 Worried about too many sick days due to anxiety and depression
  • replies: 3

Hi, This is my first time posting here. I've read a few threads on here before and people seemed to be incredibly helpful so I thought I'd reach out with my current situation. I've been struggling with anxiety and depression for approximately five ye... View more

Hi, This is my first time posting here. I've read a few threads on here before and people seemed to be incredibly helpful so I thought I'd reach out with my current situation. I've been struggling with anxiety and depression for approximately five years or so now and it's recently gotten a lot worse, mainly increasing before or after a shift at work or in the lead up to work. I am only a casual, though I feel incredibly guilty that I have been taking more sick days than normal as a result of depressive episodes and anxiety attacks and I am aware that a lot of people at my work do think I am frequently just 'throwing a sickie'. Yesterday, I went to a doctor who was lovely and helpful, who booked me in for counselling, and recommended that I take a week off work and that, eventually, I try to find employment elsewhere. At the moment, I'm unsure of whether or not to use the medical certificate he gave me as the store (my workplace) has a huge event this weekend and they're probably going to be a little short staffed without me. On the other hand, I do believe that I need some time off to sort myself out. What should I do? Has anybody else been in a similar situation before? Thank you.

enerfydriinks BPD diagnosis??
  • replies: 2

hi, im pretty sure i might have BPD. ive read quite a bit about it and have pretty solid understanding on how it relates to me. my only problem is that im not sure how to get diagnosed, im not seeing at therapist and wold prefer not to so is there a ... View more

hi, im pretty sure i might have BPD. ive read quite a bit about it and have pretty solid understanding on how it relates to me. my only problem is that im not sure how to get diagnosed, im not seeing at therapist and wold prefer not to so is there a way to get diagnosed by a GP? is there a similar way to the k10 test or is it only able to diagnosed by a psychologist/psychiatrist?

HunterBresson Losing the happiness and want in my life.
  • replies: 4

Hi, Ive never posted on somewhere like this but im really looking for anything right now. My life has been good and stable, nothing has really ever gone wrong and im extremely grateful for that. But over the past 18 months, Ive had this emptiness fee... View more

Hi, Ive never posted on somewhere like this but im really looking for anything right now. My life has been good and stable, nothing has really ever gone wrong and im extremely grateful for that. But over the past 18 months, Ive had this emptiness feeling almost just overwhelm every aspect of my life. I belived it was my Job, so I quit and found another, I believed it was my lifestyle so I went out of my comfort zone. I actively tried to change all these major apsects of my life in order to combat it but it seemed to just consume me. In the past 6 months its became quite aggressive I wake up with little to no care about the result of anything or anyone for the day, I still go to work and remain apart of society, but the days of not even wanting to do that are becoming more normal. The want in my life is gone, I dont want anything or anyone. Im only 20 years old, i feel i should be wanting to take on the world. In the past couple months its been heartbreaking to see the enjoyment is used to get from being around family and friends completely dissapear. Life has become really grey and bleak, and it never used to be like this. Nothing has changed drastically in life so i dont know why or expect anyone to understand or believe this is happening. I dont want to feel like a victim and I sometimes feel like the best thing would be for it to be all over, not just for me but for everyone as id rather them remember me for the person I was rather the empty person im becoming. I know i need to talk too someone about this, but I just cant see myself ever doing so. Even if it may be the only way to get better, I feel like the only option i can convince myself is that its best to just let life take its course. I never used to be like this, im really exhausted and upset at the situation, but i know life will go on and im hoping it gets better. Has anyone else felt like this, and managed to find a happiness again? if so im really looking for help Thanks Sam

violet1212 an answer to my confusion?
  • replies: 2

um.... hi? okay im not sure if im doing this right but it's my first time being on this website and I read through a lot of peoples thoughts and problems hoping I would get something out for myself. growing up as I child I was literally the shyest gi... View more

um.... hi? okay im not sure if im doing this right but it's my first time being on this website and I read through a lot of peoples thoughts and problems hoping I would get something out for myself. growing up as I child I was literally the shyest girl out there. and although my parents said otherwise I knew I was different. I was at the age of 5, 6, 7 or so, I was very young. im not sure why but I was always thinking I was judged. I used to think everybody felt like me, but as I grew older I realized it was not normal for a 6 or seven years old to feel like there being judged all the time. whenever someone would laugh I would have the urge to cry as I thought it was directed at me. weird but my biggest strugle when i was younger was to call my name out on the roll. i remember waking up and being upset that i had to say a simple 'here' or 'present' infront of the class. whenever somone wispered i used to think it was about me. even if i hear some of there conversations being related to random topics, I always had the fear that they were laughing at me. I could never say no to anyone afraid they might hate me, and as a child, I never really felt like myself in front of others, and I would always beat myself up about it. I used to pray every day that I would gain confidence. my biggest wish was to have a best friend that I can ramble non stop without being judged on what I say. I was so insecure and had no confedence, and that was the biggest thing I bet myself up for. everybody knew me as the quiet girl as I bearly spoke, but thankfully as im older now logic settles in a bit and I had come to a realization that nobody was judging me. i never really took notice until i actually looked back at myself and relised that it wasn't normal but then again im not sure. is it normal for a 6-7 year old to feel so sared of everybody judging her every move? oh and note i only remember this started when i was in yr one with a somwhat clear memory and it continued all the way into highschool until 2 years ago when i finally managed to make myself more confident and gain more friends. and although i know there still an a small bit in me were i feel judged but i had taught myself not to car anymore and dismiss others opinions unless there good or adviceful ones.

Ryfn My life’s been falling apart for a long time
  • replies: 2

I’m not sure what I want to achieve here, but I guess with anonymity I can write honestly about what’s happening to me. After almost 8 years of battling my worsening mental state, I’ve finally found the courage to tell some of my friends but I’m not ... View more

I’m not sure what I want to achieve here, but I guess with anonymity I can write honestly about what’s happening to me. After almost 8 years of battling my worsening mental state, I’ve finally found the courage to tell some of my friends but I’m not ready to tell them the full extent of it because I don’t want them to have to carry this darkness in their lives too. I used to feel invincible: in my dream degree (medicine), successful athletically, and capable of talking to anybody about anything, and more importantly willing and able to help anyone I cared about with anything. I can honestly say I was living my best life: a life of ego approaching zero where I gave everything to the people I cared about. But after the person I considered my only true friend, and the person I wanted to spend my life with - chose a path of actions that made me experience hurt more than I’ve ever experienced in my life, something in my brain snapped and it’s felt like I’ve been cut off from the ability to use it properly ever since. It wasn’t a gradual creep, it was like a switch. I dropped out of medicine to do Commerce, since it was less rigorous and I could attempt to balance my shifting moods with my workload. My whole personality changed, my new insecurities would flare up at any little trigger and my ordinarily sharp memory has deteriorated to the point I can’t hold a conversation or recall recent events. Although somewhat ironically, I constantly wake up at 3am on work nights to nightmares of events that have upset me and am unable to get back to sleep. I’ve intermittently sought professional help, tried all sorts of self medicating, meditation etc. but nothing’s helped me so far. It think the saddest thing is I have no longer have any will to live. I’d never act on this, I don’t have the strength, and I care too much about my family and friends. But it’s getting harder and harder to keep my life together, and people are more aware of the cracks than ever. It’s just exhausting, and immensely painful to keep going without any drive or passion fueling me.

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