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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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Tiredandlost Defeated by recurrence of depression
  • replies: 1

I've experienced a number of episodes of depression, which have in the past come good with changes in medication, but I feel at a loss about what to do this time. It's inescapable that my current relapse was the result of talking with my doctor about... View more

I've experienced a number of episodes of depression, which have in the past come good with changes in medication, but I feel at a loss about what to do this time. It's inescapable that my current relapse was the result of talking with my doctor about some difficult issues growing up and I really struggle with the fact that talking about something that happened so many years ago (I'm now in my late 30's) could have such a profound effect on my mood. I'm not sure how to get through this current episode. A medication change doesn't seem right because after trialling about 4-5, my current medication has been working well up until now. I find it really difficult to talk to my doctor when I'm in the throes of depression anyway (I've never really quite worked out why) and the fact that my current relapse was caused by talking has reinforced that. My next doctor's appointment is just under two weeks away and I'm considering cancelling it, even though in the past my doctor has helped me through some very bleak times, because I only feel worse when I can't fully articulate how I'm feeling. At my last visit, my doctor suggested I go into hospital but I don't see that as an option. Work is the only place where I feel like I'm coping at the moment and I don't want to lose that. Also, I have been in hospital once before and I didn't find it too useful. I feel really defeated by suffering another relapse, especially when I was trying so hard to do everything right. A big part of me just wants to give up because it feels impossible to defeat. I wonder if there would be relief from not trying so hard to fight against something that maybe is just an inherent part of me. I'm venting a little, but any thoughts or suggestions on what to do would be appreciated.

pinkkookaburra99 Feel like I’m stuck in a hamster wheel?
  • replies: 2

Bit of a random title but I guess it describes what I’m feeling pretty well. I feel like I’m in a never ending cycle of doctor’s appointments and blood tests and medication and therapy appointments where I don’t achieve anything. I always get the sam... View more

Bit of a random title but I guess it describes what I’m feeling pretty well. I feel like I’m in a never ending cycle of doctor’s appointments and blood tests and medication and therapy appointments where I don’t achieve anything. I always get the same terrible advice- exercise and socialise. I just wish people would realise the problem isn’t that I dont think exercise and socialising is important (I know it is), the problem is that I’m physically trapped in my bed and unable to get out. I shouldn’t have to fight this hard for healthcare. All I want is a GP I can trust, who listens to me and takes me seriously, a medication regimen that actually works and a clinical psych who can do their job. I really don’t think that’s a lot to ask! I’m happy to put in the hard yards but I’m sick and tired of the healthcare system not meeting me halfway. I keep telling people nothing I’m doing is working and they just say to do it again! sorry for the rant. Anyone relate?

Crit29 Help? Feel like I'm lost without hope.
  • replies: 4

So a bit about me first; I'm a 25y/o guy who is for the most part a recluse with few friends. I rarely drink, I smoke pot often and I've been dealing with varying levels of depression and anxiety for the past few years. I also have a gaming/porn addi... View more

So a bit about me first; I'm a 25y/o guy who is for the most part a recluse with few friends. I rarely drink, I smoke pot often and I've been dealing with varying levels of depression and anxiety for the past few years. I also have a gaming/porn addiction. It's been almost 3 years now since my life got flip-turned upside down, but in truth I've been stagnant for closer to 5 and it's caused my life to come crashing down around me... I had it all at one point; a steady job, a proper family, normal routines, good finances and the most important to me, love. I look back on the choices I made with deep sorrow and regret. At the time I was an entitled, arrogant fool who thought the world and everyone in it owed me something, and everything would always be as I wanted it. Part of me knows I got what was coming to me, but knowing the error of my ways hasn't made it any easier dealing with and accepting the consequences (subsequent years of mental strife) that have followed. tl;dr It started when I fell in love with a girl and we broke each others hearts, how cliche... We met online through gaming and pretty quickly fell for each other (LDR). I dropped out of uni and uprooted my life at 19 to move overseas until 2 years later when we moved home to Australia where we lived for a further 18 months until she lied, cheated and ran off with an acquaintance of ours (who she's still with today). During a lot of this time I was controlling, manipulative and mentally abusive, to an extent that I'll never forgive myself for some of the things I said and did to her. I kept my own insecurities about how others would perceive me and also my gaming/porn addictions under the rug while shifting the blame for all our problems almost entirely onto her throughout. She broke my heart, but only after I had hers. I feel useless. Since I've come home it's enabled me to basically go back to being a teenager and runaway from life and growing up. I live with my dad, I don't work or drive and I've got no ambition. I sit around playing video games all day, locked up in my bedroom like a cavetroll while life is just passing me by. The whole thing with my ex still dwells heavily on me and I just feel so alone all the time which feeds the addictions. I lost a lot more than a girlfriend 3 years ago and I'm still not coping. I haven't been intimate with anyone since either. I want to move on but feel trapped. What should I do? How do you motivate yourself when you've felt like this for so long?

t..c please help me
  • replies: 3

I go to school everyday and come back to my parents saying I had an amazing day, when all I do is just sit there staring out the window. at the start of the year I was pretty happy I had a good group of friend in my class but there were a couple girl... View more

I go to school everyday and come back to my parents saying I had an amazing day, when all I do is just sit there staring out the window. at the start of the year I was pretty happy I had a good group of friend in my class but there were a couple girls that bullied me the tiniest bit, but know they have nearly everyone against me but the people I still have are with their groups and their groups hate me so I have no one to hang out with. I feel like dying nearly every second and if I don't I just think would the world be any different without me there and my answers always no. I try to fit in and I try to be happy but I don't think I can do it anymore I need a friend, a true friend but I don't know who or how to find one. someone, anyone please help me any advice will help. but right now I'm drowning in my own tears and I can't get back up..

ArkFall Mum doesn't believe me
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I was diagnosed with ASD nearly 2 years ago now, but the earliest I can remember coping with my depression using maladaptive daydreaming disorder is October 2013 when I was 12, and nothing's changed since. When I realised I wasn't supposed to... View more

Hi all, I was diagnosed with ASD nearly 2 years ago now, but the earliest I can remember coping with my depression using maladaptive daydreaming disorder is October 2013 when I was 12, and nothing's changed since. When I realised I wasn't supposed to feel empty for months at a time, I looked it up and told mum what keeps happening and 'this might be why' but she said I don't. Not any reasoning or anything, I just don't. She always denied it before I was diagnosed, but now has the excuse of using my ASD diagnosis as the reason of my 'not-depression'. Depression is tied in with ASD and anxiety disorders, and she accepts the extreme social anxiety, but she refuses to acknowledge the fact that I can't function like I'm supposed to, even with ASD. As far as I can tell the depression ruts are getting worse and I don't have any active support readily available. I feel she might be using her experience with depression as a sort of comparison; I've never self-harmed or actively run away from home so surely I'm not depressed, right? I know that everyone experiences depression differently, it just makes me feel like I make it up whenever I get stuck in a rut for weeks or months at a time. It's certainly not helping that I never manage to catch a therapist appointment while I feel particularly bad, and so I can't accurately describe what's going on at the time. Would it be a good idea to start a sort-of diary entry every time I can manage to write more than a few words so my therapist can more accurately see what's going on? I know mum won't accept a self-diagnosis, but I can't think of anything else that could help at the moment. I want to make sure I'm not making it up or exaggerating something else before I start my final year of high school.

Snowman02 Low self-esteem
  • replies: 13

Hi all, I am a married man in my late 40's. For as long as I remember, I've had low self esteem and self confidence. About 7 years ago I decided to change myself for the better. I read countless books and websites with the aim of achieving this and ,... View more

Hi all, I am a married man in my late 40's. For as long as I remember, I've had low self esteem and self confidence. About 7 years ago I decided to change myself for the better. I read countless books and websites with the aim of achieving this and ,to be fair, my self confidence has improved. However, I have had little joy in raising my self esteem. I joined a gym and have had good results in getting a good physique, although the problem is despite being happy neck down, it's neck up I don’t like. I have had comments at various stages in my life about how I look, and it continues to affect me, even at my age. I find myself comparing how I look to other men, and believe I am unattractive, and not good enough to women. This is reinforced by the fact that, despite being married 20+ years, we have very little sex. I am convinced that although I believe my wife loves me, I don’t think she's ever been sexually attracted to me. I guess I'm wondering if anyone can relate to how I feel and has had any success in dealing with it. Thanks in advance.

Cloud_Raindrops What is wrong with me?
  • replies: 2

Hi, i'm new here and I wanted to seek help from others. when I was younger I was diagnosed with anxiety and I still have it now but no one really cares about that. since this year I noticed I might have depression, but it comes and goes. one week I w... View more

Hi, i'm new here and I wanted to seek help from others. when I was younger I was diagnosed with anxiety and I still have it now but no one really cares about that. since this year I noticed I might have depression, but it comes and goes. one week I will feel on top of the world, like I can achieve anything and have heaps of energy. the next week I will be super depressed and hate my life, I would cry a lot and not care about anything. Why do I have these mood swings? and does it mean I have depression or not? Thanks for reading. that's all.

Plshelpme I know i need help today but i just cant bring my self to talk to anyone
  • replies: 5

The last 4 days i have been declining rapidly and have shot past the worst i have ever been into physical pain for most hours of the day all i want is the pain in my head, chest and stomache to stop iv been sitting in my car for hours just writing my... View more

The last 4 days i have been declining rapidly and have shot past the worst i have ever been into physical pain for most hours of the day all i want is the pain in my head, chest and stomache to stop iv been sitting in my car for hours just writing my thoughts into my notes because when i go to talk to someone i can never express how i actually have been feeling and i hate it so much makes it harder to talk to anyone i even chocked up in the online message chat just someone help me

Tane Got high on test WHAT DO I DO
  • replies: 4

Hi guys Im 25 /M i have been struggling the last 6-7 months, I constantly feel like I’m being judged by everyone, constantly that no one needs me in this world I really need help and not sure what to do, I have talked to my partner about it but I thi... View more

Hi guys Im 25 /M i have been struggling the last 6-7 months, I constantly feel like I’m being judged by everyone, constantly that no one needs me in this world I really need help and not sure what to do, I have talked to my partner about it but I think she’s in denial, I will randomly cry when certain things happen, like when there is love shown on a tv, song, movie I constantly feel like I have never been loved which is a strange feeling cause I know there’s someone that loves me but it still feels as if there is none in my life, and now im feeling like I’m getting thrown around in my own brain, I try to shake it and fight it but it stays in my head. It gets so frustrating you just want it to end, you want to find peace but it’s out of control. And it’s so hard to talk to people about it, cause no matter how much you explain it, all I end up getting is things will get better. Well 7 months on still nothings getting better, I’m falling into a slump, and I just need it to stop, I just want it to stop

Jessie_L unemployment
  • replies: 2

I have been here for more than 3 years and yet cant find a job in south australia after applying numourous times and following up. im very stressed as i dont want to live off my husbands money. I always think what if his no longer around how will i l... View more

I have been here for more than 3 years and yet cant find a job in south australia after applying numourous times and following up. im very stressed as i dont want to live off my husbands money. I always think what if his no longer around how will i look after myself without any work. i dont have any close family members in australia. I dont have a driving licence since i cant afford without a job and my husband is scared that i might crash into something. i dont want feel like a loser, i want to have some status and money to be able to help my husband and my family overseas. I get depressed staying home and i want to have friends who i can talk too. I feel like im trapped, my husband relatives they used backdoor help to get thier daughter in laws a job. Im still struggling to find a job. i feel disgraced. what i am suppose to do?

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