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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 chats on this Forum having 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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Kalima Relationship trouble and depression
  • replies: 1

I have had bipolar symptoms most of my life, diagnosed in 2000. My parents were caught up with violence, alcohol abuse, multiple infidelities, financial issues. My mother had severe social anxiety and would not leave the house with out my company. I ... View more

I have had bipolar symptoms most of my life, diagnosed in 2000. My parents were caught up with violence, alcohol abuse, multiple infidelities, financial issues. My mother had severe social anxiety and would not leave the house with out my company. I find it very hard to "fall in love" although I have had many , many relationships with men. Recently I have been in a relationship with a guy - a Dominant/submissive relationship with me as the Dom. We have had a lot of fun, but things have started falling apart. My mood has dropped a lot and it has become very hard to remain dominant when all I want to do is sleep. The fight we had was insignificant ... He said something insensitive about my sexuality and it suddenly spiralled. Now we are only texting each other tersely when normally we would meet twice a week. What I am wondering about is whether depression brought on by relationship trouble is the same as clinical depression? Will it be long-lasting? Should I try to "make things better"or let the relationship go so I can concentrate on improving my own mental health? It's hard to know whether having his company is important. He's very understanding of my psych. needs as his mother has been unwell, but in other ways he is an ocker type who is not used to offering emotional support. Any thoughts about this? Thank you.

Freakyfrootloop Tough times in my head
  • replies: 2

So I've had a pretty bad day with my partner we have been together for 9 months now and I've always had trouble just talking and getting my feelings out and it's kinda exploded today I love and care for him and his 2 kids so much his kids are going t... View more

So I've had a pretty bad day with my partner we have been together for 9 months now and I've always had trouble just talking and getting my feelings out and it's kinda exploded today I love and care for him and his 2 kids so much his kids are going through a tough time atm being 8 and 11 but I need some help in my head I feel very lazy and unmotivated to do anything at all I do house work and all I just can't seem to get out and do things I've put weight on been eating too much also I think because I'm unhappy but I just don't know why? Why am I so lazy why am I so un motivated and what do I do to change and help myself so my life with my partner and 3 kids can be happier with life

Allan533 Relapse guilt
  • replies: 3

Just checking in. I've been doing pretty well for the last few weeks - don't know if it's because of the medication or just the cycle, but I'm happy to have the rest. But the last couple days, particularly today, has been rough. Pretty mild, as thing... View more

Just checking in. I've been doing pretty well for the last few weeks - don't know if it's because of the medication or just the cycle, but I'm happy to have the rest. But the last couple days, particularly today, has been rough. Pretty mild, as things go, and I am grateful for that, but I'm feeling really guilty, like I've failed somehow. Like, I was doing so much better, but then I go and slide back down, throwing away the progress I'd made. I know that's not what's happening, I know it's not rational because it's not like I'm choosing to feel like this, or that I've slacked off on my self-care or anything. If anything I'm better equipped to handle these moods then I have been in the past, partially due to my hard work, and mostly due to the hard work of my psychologist (with an uncertain proportion due to the psychiatrist and medication). I'm just feeling so alone. That I've done all this hard work, putting myself out there, talking to people, engaging with them, but I still go to bed and wake up alone every day. That unless I keep this work going, most people wouldn't notice if I dropped off the face of the earth for days at least. I know this is just my jerk!brain talking. I know it's not real. But it feels real. And I'm having to actively fight to remember that it's not real. Damn it, I was doing so well.

Reenie93 Post Graduate Depression
  • replies: 8

I graduated uni in June 2017 after a final 6 week internship at the end of my degree. I struggled to get through the internship as my mentor and I did not mesh so well and I felt anything but positive vibes from her. I constantly felt like I wasn't d... View more

I graduated uni in June 2017 after a final 6 week internship at the end of my degree. I struggled to get through the internship as my mentor and I did not mesh so well and I felt anything but positive vibes from her. I constantly felt like I wasn't doing a good job despite getting a good report from her. All my previous pracs in my degree I received nothing but high praise from all mentors. Anyway once I finished my degree a full time position had opened up at my current employment which I took. (For reference I studied a bachelor of primary education and I was working at a before and after school care as an assistant). I took on the coordinator position at the before and after school care. I was comfortable here and I knew exactly what I was doing. For a while I used the excuse that I was taking a gap year for myself before I went into full time teaching but the reality was the thought of teaching and getting a graduate job made me physically sick. All i could think about was how I'm not very good and I'm going to be a horrible teacher who has no idea what to do so what is the point. a year later and I'm still trying to cope with my anxiety around teaching and I'm also considering if maybe I should choose and different job all together. However recently my work lost the tender at the school where we run our after school care, meaning a new company will come in and take over and we are all loosing our positions. This is stressful in itself. The new company has encourage us all to apply for positions but has told us we will still need to go through the full interview process. This is very upsetting because I feel like I have to interview to keep my job and I'm worried that other people applying will get it over me because they probably have more experience in the position then i do. My anxiety has been through the roof just dealing with this alone I can't sleep and I've been calling in sick to work because I can't bring myself to go knowing I might not be there anymore at all. A part of me is saying go and use your degree and get a job as a teacher but again the thought makes me sick and I already know I'm no good anyway. Then this thought makes me feel like such an idiot I wasted my time at uni to study a degree im going to do nothing with. This disapointment I have in myself hurts so much I just don't see the point in anything. I feel like I've let everyone in my life down and like I'm going to go no where so why even bother continuing.

Lilly18 Over it
  • replies: 2

I hate my life and there is nothing I can do about it. I'm beyond broken.

I hate my life and there is nothing I can do about it. I'm beyond broken.

Lady_Phoenix Rejecting support and feeling alone
  • replies: 2

Hi there, i suffer from generalised anxiety disorder as well as mild depression. Recently I have found myself saying no to any suggestions that is thrown at me and I want to find strategies to stop that, because it is hurting loves ones I cherish. A ... View more

Hi there, i suffer from generalised anxiety disorder as well as mild depression. Recently I have found myself saying no to any suggestions that is thrown at me and I want to find strategies to stop that, because it is hurting loves ones I cherish. A lot has happened in my life from upset and broken families, to an unhappy job, grief, worrying about friends, finances many things. I just want some help from people that have maybe been where I’m at and have seen the lifhr through the darkness. I want to be a happy and stronger me, not pushing away people that are trying to help. Anything is greatly appreciated.

Unbeliever "Who" would I be without the "darkness"?
  • replies: 4

I have often wondered what I would be like as a person, who I would become... if the "darkness" was completely removed from me. If one day it just vanished, what exactly would be left? Since I have lived with it so long. It has resulted in many aspec... View more

I have often wondered what I would be like as a person, who I would become... if the "darkness" was completely removed from me. If one day it just vanished, what exactly would be left? Since I have lived with it so long. It has resulted in many aspects of my personality, not all of which are negative things... in fact some of them are the best characteristics of my character. For example, my time spent alone thinking and introspectively searching has resulted in a great understanding of myself, how and why I think the way I do and my beliefs. It has also given me a powerful connection and understanding of my emotions (to a degree that not only men, but most women I have met cannot reach). I am highly empathetic to the suffering of others and driven to help when I can. I am able to view things easily from other peoples perspectives. I am consciously aware of many problems that people around the world are dealing with and driven to understand and find solutions or ways I can actively not contribute to them getting worse. It has driven things such as the types of organisations I have volunteered for in the past. It can also be argued that it has likely increased my intelligence, made me more articulate and able to communicate my thoughts and emotions with others much more easily. Also it has given me a deep understanding of many issues happening at the moment that the majority of "normal" people are ignorant of because they are too afraid to look into "the dark". People in my life have learned without question that when things get bad, the worse they become... that I am the person to come to for help and as a consequence I have helped many of the people I care about through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Sometimes they talk to me because I am literally the only person they know that could possibly understand how they feel and what they are going through. They also consider me more moral, more honest and more capable of giving opinions without biasm than the other people in their lives. They seem to respect my point of view because I try to be as "realistic" as possible.

Stillme Bipolar roundabouts
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I feel I am becoming more depressed atm from not working, yet my energy & moods levels are too inconsistent to seek a new job and also look after my children. I quit my professional job early last year during mania (unknown to me what it was ... View more

Hi all, I feel I am becoming more depressed atm from not working, yet my energy & moods levels are too inconsistent to seek a new job and also look after my children. I quit my professional job early last year during mania (unknown to me what it was at the time). So I find myself nearly 43 with 2 kids and medications not working/tolerable and I haven't been able to get back to where I was 18 months ago, before this severe mania swept everything from under me (& the following depression). I honestly don't know if I have the energy & strength to find another job/career/life, I've had to pick myself up before and this time feels so hard. I know I'll get through this as I've been depressed before, but I still feel like a shell of myself when I'm not low. I've lost my self-confidence. I feel like I've lost my capacity to use my intelligence. I'm trying to study again to be proactive and at least try to make future head roads into something but I honestly just want to be a recluse and buy a block in the bush somewhere and disappear. Stigma is really harsh too, lack of followup/care from my previous workplace (although it was in the health education industry?!). Probably the hardest thing though, has been my family, they've been too scared to talk about it, only my mum has tried. If I had had breast cancer or something, I'm sure they would have tried talking or being there, but nothing really. It's really confused me, I didn't expect it from my family and it's really affected my will, my worthiness or lack of. It's been the hardest factor actually. Presently, I don't want to trek to the countryside to see my parents/family, I just feel too forgotten to try. I feel like well, if you didn't try to understand or help last year, in what was one of the hardest year of my life, you missed out on getting to know me & you can't know me at all now, I feel like I've pulled away from them all, indefinitely. I know that's not healthy long term but I just don't want to go and 'hang out' with them if they don't get me or want to try. I feel so distant from family love after this last 18 months, it's not something I needed on top of the mental instability and I didn't expect it. They're a loving family but they just aren't great emotional talkers or good with mental health it seems. Thanks for listening x

Callumm Depressed
  • replies: 2

hey everyone, I'm feeling really depressed atm, I can't seem to get my head out of it. alittle about me - I'm single 36 and live alone, I'm also estranged from family and all my friends are on Facebook, none offline. So I'm isolated and need to talk ... View more

hey everyone, I'm feeling really depressed atm, I can't seem to get my head out of it. alittle about me - I'm single 36 and live alone, I'm also estranged from family and all my friends are on Facebook, none offline. So I'm isolated and need to talk to people that understand how I'm feeling.

Corrinne Treatment resistant depression
  • replies: 2

I am at the stage where it feels like none of the meds work anymore. Have been on anti-dep meds for 30 years. Have recently had some improvement and took steps to try to re-engage with life. The positive change has not been sustained. How does one ge... View more

I am at the stage where it feels like none of the meds work anymore. Have been on anti-dep meds for 30 years. Have recently had some improvement and took steps to try to re-engage with life. The positive change has not been sustained. How does one get through the day and try to connect with life when your mood is very low? My natural inclination is to just lie on my bed