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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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Missberri Lost my job
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I'm posting because I pretty much lost my job today and I feel awful.. I have only been working in this job for just over 4 months and I found it very difficult from the get go. I wanted to leave as soon as I started, but decided to stic... View more

Hi everyone, I'm posting because I pretty much lost my job today and I feel awful.. I have only been working in this job for just over 4 months and I found it very difficult from the get go. I wanted to leave as soon as I started, but decided to stick it out as I thought things may improve.. my boss has been really really strict on me. She knows it is my first proper job after finishing uni, but there were a lot of things she expected me to know and pick up straight away, and unfortunately I I guess am not smart enough to do these things and I haven't lived up to her expectations.. I want to apply for a new job now, but my confidence is so hurt that I don't think I'm good enough to work at any job.. I tried really hard so many times to do the work I was asked to do, but I feel I just can't.. I'm really worried that this is going to keep happening to me in the work place and every employer is just going to think I'm a hopeless case.. I really want to improve, but maybe there is just something wrong with me I just have no idea where to go from here and I am really really worried about my career and what I'm doing with my life.. I just wish things were simpler and that what I can do would be good enough

elegantDownfall Isolated, Alone and Unwanted
  • replies: 3

I have recently started to feel alone and rather isolated from the rest of the world. I have lost several friends, some of which I have no clue why they no longer speak to me or what I have done wrong. My family is rather old-fashioned and doesn't re... View more

I have recently started to feel alone and rather isolated from the rest of the world. I have lost several friends, some of which I have no clue why they no longer speak to me or what I have done wrong. My family is rather old-fashioned and doesn't really understand why I am constantly upset and trying to explain everything to them is difficult. I feel as if I don't really belong in this world, and living everyday is a burden to my family. I struggle to get up in the morning, find motivation to do the things I used to enjoy doing and rarely go out to any social events or meetups anymore. All I want to do is stay in bed all day and avoid as many people as I can. I know that I will never be good enough to do anything, and is having the urge to give up once and for all.

Feeling_Lonely When everyday life becomes a struggle
  • replies: 63

Hi everyone, I’m new here and feel like I have nowhere else to turn. I am 39, female, have been single for most of my life and have recently had what I can only describe as a falling out with my 2 closest friends. I have been battling feelings of inc... View more

Hi everyone, I’m new here and feel like I have nowhere else to turn. I am 39, female, have been single for most of my life and have recently had what I can only describe as a falling out with my 2 closest friends. I have been battling feelings of incredible loneliness for a few years now and generally am able to push through my struggles of sadness, anxiety and loneliness to function quite normally. But this year has been awful, I was so happy, had met a new man and had a great circle of friends at the beginning of the year and all have degraded to the point where I feel like I have no one and nothing. This is now impacting all areas of my life. My work performance has suffered, I have zero motivation to get up and exercise and even leaving the house has become difficult. I feel invisible, like no one cares about me. Because I’ve previously had such an active social life, am adventurous and travel and get out there, everyone assumes that this is still the case. I feel like I have no one to talk to, to open up to, especially due to the loss of my 2 closest friendships in the last month. I have made my first counselling appointment for Monday but feel like I’m on the verge of a mental breakdown because I have taken that first step in admitting I need help. How do I get back to the fun loving, carefree person I once was? I feel so alone and this is impacting my ability to put myself out there, even in social circles I once felt comfortable with. How do I meet new people, create meaningful connections and have people in my life I can count on? I feel so lost, am constantly crying and suffering headaches and stomach issues due to the stress of this. Thank you for reading and I welcome any assistance or advice you can offer.

AQUA69 CARING 24/7 FOR MY ELDERLY MOTHER
  • replies: 3

Hi. I am a 24/7 carer for my 81yo mum who has multiple physical problems and is now getting some kind of dementia the last 2years which has not official been diagnosed. She also suffers fecal incontinence at many times the last few years. I have been... View more

Hi. I am a 24/7 carer for my 81yo mum who has multiple physical problems and is now getting some kind of dementia the last 2years which has not official been diagnosed. She also suffers fecal incontinence at many times the last few years. I have been her carer 24/7 for over 5 years now and for 5 years previous to that where i would visit a few weeks at a time and return to my unit but eventually i was here so much i moved in with her. Im a 49yo male and get zero support from my family. Ive always suffered depression and anxiety but the last 2or 3 years it has taken over my life as has the caring for mum. Id just like to know if there is anyone else in a simmiliar situation ? Regards AQUA.

BHA I Envy Physically Handicapped People!
  • replies: 3

You lost your arm or leg. However, you still can achieve things. You still can earn some of your living. You still can play a role in the society or in your family. People worked very hard to invent equipment, which can complement your capabilities. ... View more

You lost your arm or leg. However, you still can achieve things. You still can earn some of your living. You still can play a role in the society or in your family. People worked very hard to invent equipment, which can complement your capabilities. I have depression. I get un-welcomed visits from this Black Dog. When it arrives, this Black Dog takes over my brain. Brushing my teeth becomes an impossible mission, let alone going to work. If it comes while I am at work, it takes over my mind. On a blink of an eye, I lose all my capabilities to do anything useful. Even going home becomes a huge effort. It is relatively easy for you to imagine how difficult living with no hands or legs can be. However, unless you have been through it (God forbids), it is impossible for you to understand how the mind can be crippled and you have no control over it. For short periods of time, I feel normal; I can laugh and communicate. At most of the time, I cannot do anything at all. My biggest problem is that I cannot tell when the change from being normal to being mentally handicapped occurs. I literally wake up every morning wondering if the Black Dog is present today or not! Sadly, it has wings! This Black Dog can disappear in a blink of an eye for a few minutes; then, it comes back in a surprise un-welcomed appearance. In a single hour, I experience different personalities and feel having different capabilities, all based on how much presence this Black Dog has around me. I am a useless piece of sh*t. I cannot keep a job. I cannot play a role model for my children. I cannot commit to anything. Over and above all my frustration and incapacity to kick this Black Dog out of my life, you blame me for my illness, and you accuse me of not being strong enough to face my problems. My problem is not a temporary sadness. My problem is a malfunction in my brain, which scientists have been struggling to fix. Finally, I am not trying to undermine the physical pain (as the title might indicate). Rather, I am trying to stress that the pain of an invisible (mental) illness can be as much as the pain of a visible (physical) illness. However, what makes the pain of a mental illness 100 times worse is that people around you do NOT acknowledge your pain, and even worse, they BLAME you for it! So, I do NOT envy physically handicapped people because they are not suffering, but because people appreciate their suffering.

jakob Little hope left
  • replies: 5

i um , dont know where to start, its been some months now since i have seen my kids. my wife and my home. i'm very sad , my parents are both terminally ill and have buried 3 of their pets in 2 months. i am surrounded by death. my mother is alcoholic ... View more

i um , dont know where to start, its been some months now since i have seen my kids. my wife and my home. i'm very sad , my parents are both terminally ill and have buried 3 of their pets in 2 months. i am surrounded by death. my mother is alcoholic and very abusive when she drinks and assaults my father physically , emotionally , and verbally . i protect dad and lock myself in room too. i have nowhere to go. my mother confuses me as being my father and blames me for 30 years of a failed marriage with him. i will never be able to have another partner as I have an STD and will never be able to be with my ex again. I am 38 , no family , no home and no future. i'm so very sad.

Albert11 Understanding myself, understanding Bipolar.
  • replies: 2

They say that the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result. What if on appearance it looks like the mentally ill person is doing the same thing for the same result but what is actually happe... View more

They say that the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result. What if on appearance it looks like the mentally ill person is doing the same thing for the same result but what is actually happening is that the person is trying something different and that difference is so infinitesimally small to the naked eye, it is invisible. Invisible to everyone, except the person with the illness. The human mind is the most amazing and complex thing in the world. The whole world was essentially created from our minds and nature. We often venture down paths with our mind that take us anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes these paths are terrifying and unpredictable but never the less, we venture down them anyway. Sometimes we discover things that are 'too much' so we back out or take another direction. For people with a mental illness, these paths can lead to danger for themselves and/or others and can be tragic for the person and their loved ones. This is certainly not an invitation for anyone to risk their lives or the lives of others. My priority, our priority has to be safety. We need to constantly evaluate what is happening and constantly work out if we have delved into a risky situation where that risk is too high. Under valuing our lives is a error that all of us make at some point in our lives. We can also not take calculated risks which can hamper our evolution as human beings. There has to be a balance. My journey with Bipolar Effective Disorder has been fascinating and also caused considerable pain for myself and those I love. Unfortunately, I think this pain was a learning experience and most of it was unavoidable. Each time I have experienced an elevated mood or mania it has been the same but different. It is a paradoxical experience. It is like riding a bike, but an unpredictable bike that changes shape and form and at times the bike has been riding me. It is by its nature uncontrollable, In fact, the key to Bipolar and maybe even life, is knowing when to control yourself and when to let things be. To co exist with what you know and what you don't know, but accepting what you don't know. Patience is also vital.

Dean1 Terrible Rut
  • replies: 17

Hi Its been a while since I put my first post on this fantastic page but I seem to hit a low again, my test score was 34 I believe how tired I am I can hardly keep my eyes open. I am in a terrible rut and I cant seem to get out of it and its really g... View more

Hi Its been a while since I put my first post on this fantastic page but I seem to hit a low again, my test score was 34 I believe how tired I am I can hardly keep my eyes open. I am in a terrible rut and I cant seem to get out of it and its really getting me down, 2017 was without doubt the worst year of my life and I was glad to see the back of it. I have been waiting for a basic procedure to be done its a umbilical hernia, I was retrenched so I could no longer afford private health insurance. I have been waiting 7 months, and I was told that it will probably be done in June. My marriage also failed last year as well, and that is really starting to hit home as well. I always hear that you should talk to people don't bottle things up and I was doing that for a while but now I have become very reclusive. I found that every time I spoke about how I was feeling I was tearing open a old wound I hate the way I feel at the moment, if they told me I would die tomorrow I wouldn't bother me. I know my problem isn't as bad as a lot of other peoples but I am in such a unfamiliar place mentally at the moment I'm not sure what step I should take next. Why am I so tired.

Steph92 I need help
  • replies: 3

Hi all I am new to this and I have finally found the courage to accept what I am experiencing and reach out. I am 26 years old, I am a female and I am a lawyer. I have always had tendencies to get depressed and experience anxiety. However, it is not ... View more

Hi all I am new to this and I have finally found the courage to accept what I am experiencing and reach out. I am 26 years old, I am a female and I am a lawyer. I have always had tendencies to get depressed and experience anxiety. However, it is not until recently that I noticed myself getting worse than ever before. I feel empty inside and I have lost all hope and enthusiasm for life. I am scared of my own thoughts, and they just keep getting louder. I walk around all day with a fake smile on my face but deep down inside I am broken and holding back the tears. Today alone I found myself wiping tears from my face on several occasions for absolutely no reason. I woke up in the middle of the night with severe anxiety and found myself throwing up in the morning. The struggle to get out of bed is getting worse and there has been occasions where I have laid in bed for days straight without any food. I am here today to ask if anyone can recommend a professional I can see to help me with whatever it is I am experiencing. Also, if anyone has experienced this and can share their recovery with me, I would be forever grateful. Thank you

debrox1618 New person...
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I’ve just joined and wanted to introduce myself. I’m looking forward to finding people to talk about mental illness with. I’m 41 and in the last few years I’ve been diagnosed with (in order) alcoholism, bipolar, chronic fatigue, and adhd... View more

Hi everyone, I’ve just joined and wanted to introduce myself. I’m looking forward to finding people to talk about mental illness with. I’m 41 and in the last few years I’ve been diagnosed with (in order) alcoholism, bipolar, chronic fatigue, and adhd disorders. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at 20, but now looking back I can see I was showing symptoms from about 13/14. I feel crazy all the time, I can hardly work and I’ve practically cut off all social ties. My job means nothing to me and I really can’t handle full time work, but my husband hadn’t worked for years so there was nothing I could do to help myself. I felt so stuck. Anyway life goes up and down, and sometimes I’m stable and sometimes I’m not. I stopped drinking about 3 years ago and I’ve got a good psychiatrist. But for a while now I’ve had something inside me I want to say out loud to anyone who’ll listen, “Hey I’m really sick! And all the medication I take makes me sick too! And I’m not the person I used to be, and I don’t even know who I am now. And I need a break! I need a chance to get better, But how can I find that with two kids and a full time job?” I really don’t have anyone to talk to about this. My husband is supportive but he really doesn’t understand what I’m talking about when I describe any type of episode. My parents wouldn’t mention bipolar for years, but Mum has now stretched her vocab to describe it as “a head thing”. My friends are amazing beautiful people and they’ve known me long enough to see all the best and worst. They’ve never judged me and never will. But on every single get together I bail at the last minute. I know it’s stupid but I keep doing it. I think what I really want, is to find people who understand me when I talk about having a mental illness that consumes me.