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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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lilsleepybih I really just be feeling sad
  • replies: 2

When you just always sad and alone even wen u work to be happier and more social smh

When you just always sad and alone even wen u work to be happier and more social smh

demonblaster HELPFUL numbers, Threads, Apps & Internet sites. Quick forum reference.
  • replies: 27

Hi. BB home page-getting support has numbers & info If it's not clear in title please a brief explanation & mention Phone (PH:) Apps & Internet sites Please feel free to add inc; category thx I'll randomly do summaries BB 1300224636 (for talking to t... View more

Hi. BB home page-getting support has numbers & info If it's not clear in title please a brief explanation & mention Phone (PH:) Apps & Internet sites Please feel free to add inc; category thx I'll randomly do summaries BB 1300224636 (for talking to trained professional) BB chat online: 3pm-12am 7 days a week ( scroll to bottom on left in Red click on link) BB EMAIL (Response within 24 hrs) (Click on link bottom L) of page) Suicide call back service 24/7 helpline 1300 659 467. Support after suicide (03) 9421 7640 Lifeline 131114 Black Dog institute (02) 9382 4530 (9am-5pm) Sane Australia 1800 18 7263 Headspace for ages 12yrs -25yrs 1800 650 890. Kids Helpline (for ages 5yrs -25 yrs 1800 551 800 LGBTI-Qlife 1800184527 (3pm-12pm Internet-Naccho- National Aboriginal community health organisation (not sure which no: to put up? Relationships Australia 1300 364 277 Mensline 1300 78 99 78 Carers Australia 1800 242 636 Young Carers Australia 1800 242 636 (up to age 25 yrs Mindspot 1800 61 44 34 VVCS Veterans & Veterans family counselling service-1800011046 (24 hrs) Head to health internet site. PH: Apps Meditation Smiling mind BB threads (Search bar top R) of pages Suicidal section Suicide why not? Tips for surfing urges Staying well Saying no to the unhelpful thoughts How do you make yourself do the things that make you feel better Mindfulness what is it? Even if you don't know please post to grow forums Do you love yourself? Your thoughts are welcome Store your happy memories here Be kind to yourself Sleep Multicultural What makes you proud of your ethnicity? We are more than we are! How do You Respond to Racist Remarks? Relationship & family issues Loneliness what choices are there Anxiety: Helpful Books and Products for Anxiety and Depression (staying well section) BB Web Anxiety in men Health professionals & treatment Forums Got a question related to mental health? ASK DR KIM BB Web Helpful contacts and websites BB Web Helpful contacts and websites for young people BB Publications: Brochure -Coping with a serious health event: How to keep mentally well BB Publications: Booklet -Managing mental health conditions during pregnancy and early parenthood: A guide for women and their families PTSD & Trauma Sharing strategies to help with PTSD How do others deal/manage their triggers? How do you let people know about your PTSD without stigmatizing yourself? I strongly believe we can win over depression...together Best to all

NellieJ It's like looking from the outside in and it is not you
  • replies: 22

I've been on and off this site that many times.Scared and nervous about what to say, here goes. There are times when I feel happy, but there is an enormous amount of times that I just don't feel right. I can't concentrate on things, feel restless a l... View more

I've been on and off this site that many times.Scared and nervous about what to say, here goes. There are times when I feel happy, but there is an enormous amount of times that I just don't feel right. I can't concentrate on things, feel restless a lot of the time, burst into tears at the slightest, and not know why. I think not knowing why I have these feelings is the thing that worries me the most. Which just makes me feel even worse. Sometimes when I have been sitting with friends, everyone is laughing and having a good time. I get the feeling of isolation. I then put on a front that I'm enjoying what is going on. It's like looking from the outside in and it is not you. It's like being on a roller coaster. I can exude confidence really well and hide the way I feel, but inside my stomach in churning. My father died back in 1995 and I have just neverI really felt the same. Here I am yet again looking for reasons/excuses for the way I feel. I'm unsure of myself nearly all the time. I go through mood changes where I get this strong "not a problem" "whats the worst that can happen" attitude, a sort of high, then I go downhill fast and the wave of uncertainty comes back full on. I more times than not have a feeling of unsettled nerves. Small things that most people seem to just handle, set me off, making me so stressed that I cant eat, sleep and break out into cold sweats. I'm scared for some reason of going to a GP, fear of what to say. Any advise or help would be greatly appreciated.

PaulGC No medication helps with my anxiety or depression
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, over the years I’ve struggled with a lot of stuff and my main issues come from trying different meds for anxiety and depression, I wake up every morning thinking what’s the point of even getting up, or when I do get up to go somewhere I ... View more

Hi everyone, over the years I’ve struggled with a lot of stuff and my main issues come from trying different meds for anxiety and depression, I wake up every morning thinking what’s the point of even getting up, or when I do get up to go somewhere I have a anxiety attack while driving and unfortunately nothing that the gp has prescribed me works, oh just up your dose he says, I don’t think taking heaps of benzodiazepines is the best idea whilst driving, I’m tired ALL the time even when I think I’ve had a good sleep I’m still tired all day, I’m trying to get back on my feet and find a job so I can give my wife and myself the life we deserve but it feels like everything I do is against me, and as I’m writing this out I’ve got tears streaming down my face for no reason hopefully someone can help me cause I’m seriously over it Paul

Jenben Are you Bipolar 2? - questions for what happens in the first few months on mood stabilisers
  • replies: 8

Hey there. I'm 37 and was misdiagnosed in my early 20s with clinical depression. 4 weeks ago i was diagnosed with bipolar 2. Oh it makes so much sense now. So apart from coming to terms with this new diagnosis (and wondering huh, bipolar 2 what's tha... View more

Hey there. I'm 37 and was misdiagnosed in my early 20s with clinical depression. 4 weeks ago i was diagnosed with bipolar 2. Oh it makes so much sense now. So apart from coming to terms with this new diagnosis (and wondering huh, bipolar 2 what's that? there is more than one?) I am also dealing with the physical symptoms and feelings of taking mood stabilisers and would love some feedback from other bipolar 2 recently diagnosed people about their initial experiences on mood stabilisers. Here's 10 questions/comments/issues I'm going through: 1.) Am sleeping the best I have had for years. Insomnia at bay for now. Wow. Can this last? 2.) But sooo exhausted during the day. Just feel tired all the time now. What's with that? Is my body catching up on years of crappy sleep?! 2.) Am more grumpy and intolerant than normal and surprised by this. 3.) missing my highs already feel like something's gone (well it's there but just a shadow). Will that ever come back? 4.) Still able to feel sad (bawled my eyes out over sad tv last night). But no despair. 5.) Not much appetite at all. 6.) feel really slow but people around me say I'm not so is it my own perception? 7.) things are more deliberate and thought out which is totally spinning me out. Will I still be spontaneous? 8.) it feels like an actual physical barrier is stopping me from falling into that dark pit of nothing. Very interesting. 9.) For the first time in years I don't feel hollow. 10.) people are wondering if I'm ok because I'm not my bubbly, effervescent, over the top self - will my personality catch up once the meds settle in? I am going through all of this with my psychiatrist so I'm not asking for medical advice. But I know no one with this disorder and would love to hear about others' experiences when first diagnosed and on medication. Or guide me to where I can find out more? Cheers

Nerhew Is this Post Natal Depression?
  • replies: 3

I am a new mother, my baby is at 12 weeks now and I don’t have any problem looking after her. I really love my daughter. But since I had my baby I keep on crying and thinking of negative things like hatred and sadness. Even if there’s no reason. Beca... View more

I am a new mother, my baby is at 12 weeks now and I don’t have any problem looking after her. I really love my daughter. But since I had my baby I keep on crying and thinking of negative things like hatred and sadness. Even if there’s no reason. Because it all started with this. I am with my mother-in-law and I do not want to trust my daughter with her care. It is because when my baby was born she was putting powder and using alcohol on my newborns skin which is for me whats the point??? ALCOHOL??? Is my baby infectious for her to sanitise my baby??? Her reason is for my baby to have a good smell. And I am like HUHHHHHH???? Even if you dont put anything on baby they still smells good because they are baby. They don’t sweat! Now seems like I am very protective mother because I started to get paranoid everytime she’s looking after my bub. What I want should be followed, the way how I care. But if my in-law doesn’t follow what I said i feel like a bomb that will explode, however I dont show it infront of her, I will tell my husband to let her know. But that issue keeps on going and if it doesn’t solve I just cried and argue with my husband. I feel that my husband is on her mothers side and having this feeling I don’t want to see or talk to her mother all the time, and thats what she was doing as well she stays in her room all the time, even ask my husband to cook for her eat her dinner inside her bedroom which makes me angry because we are raised by our parents that every meal time we must have it in the dining. I even hate what she’s doing because my husband just came from work and she still wait for him to cook for her. Sometimes I just even ignore her even if I heared what she said because I really hate her since I had my baby. For me she is like the evil mother-in-law trying to be perfect. I don’t know what psychological issue I am having right now.

Sad_Dad Treatment for depression and possible ADHD
  • replies: 3

I'm 38 years old and have been receiving treatment for depression for the last 9 months. I saw a psychiatrist due to overwhelming feelings of sadness I'd been having recently. This was coupled with uncontrollable anger and frustration I'd been having... View more

I'm 38 years old and have been receiving treatment for depression for the last 9 months. I saw a psychiatrist due to overwhelming feelings of sadness I'd been having recently. This was coupled with uncontrollable anger and frustration I'd been having for some time dealing with my children. In the last 5-6 months, I've been investigating the possibility that I have ADHD. I raised it with my psychiatrist who said he could screen me for it but that we would need to resolve my depression first before treating me for ADHD. I no longer feel "depressed" as such but quite flat and still have trouble controlling my anger and mood. The screening test I took says that there are traits strongly aligned with ADHD. What are other peoples' experiences? Have you been medicated for both ADHD and depression at the same time or only had your ADHD treated once the depression was resolved?

Quivz UPDATED: Hating every minute
  • replies: 41

I've got no money, no job, no real friends who i can talk to about anything more serious than TV shows, am 31 living with my parents, no car, disfiguring psoriasis and a back problem that makes it impossible to stand or sit for anything longer an hou... View more

I've got no money, no job, no real friends who i can talk to about anything more serious than TV shows, am 31 living with my parents, no car, disfiguring psoriasis and a back problem that makes it impossible to stand or sit for anything longer an hour or two. I definitely have the problem of not being able to recall having felt positive about anything in years. All my friends have settled down and got married so i never see anyone anymore and I'm bored and lonely. I'm not suicidal, but i think that's only because i know what it would do to my mum. I've tried to get professional help, but with no money i've just been run around the public system from incompetent to no english (or both) until I'd used all my free sessions and haven't even been diagnosed yet. Well i was once, but he was one of the incompetents. He was so computer illiterate he typed with only his index fingers at around 5 words a minute. He spent most of the session typing (that slowly) what i was saying into a translator, because he couldn't understand any of the words over 3 syllables i was using (I'm a uni graduate and tend to articulate using precise language), said i was definitely suffering from depression and then totally failed to save any of the documentation onto my medical records. I found this out because he told me to go back and see my GP about seeing a specialist as it wouldn't be covered if it wasn't the GP that wrote the recommendation. The GP told me i have to see a psychiatrist and be assessed first before he could make that kind of recommendation and was extremely unhelpful when i explained that the psychiatrist had sent me to him. I think he thought i was just trying to get drugs. And that was the best of all the free psychologists and psychiatrists i was able to see. I've been unemployed for ages and have no references i have been able to make contact with. I cant work in any form of customer service because having to deal with strangers all the time drives me crazy enough that i would rather make myself sick than go to work (i eat off food, or have nothing but dairy for days so that i get ill. I don't know if that counts as self harm, but if it does then i do that rather than deal with people constantly). And even non-customer service jobs where i have to talk to colleagues all the time makes me feel this way too (social anxiety/introversion?). I don't know what to do to stop feeling so helpless. I can't even see the same GP twice in a row cos i dont have a family doctor or anything like that, just a centre where there are doctors and the first one free sees you and they never want to deal with anything more complex than a sick certificate. they wont do anything about my back except recommend a physio at $65 a session which i cant afford. My psoriasis is slowly taking over my face so nobody who doesn't already know me wants to talk to me so i cant meet anyone new. My parents are the sort of people who think mental illness is an excuse to be slack or to take drugs and tell me at least once a week that I'm slack or useless cos i cant find work. I truly feel like I've been backed into a corner from every direction at once. I've tried to deal with things one at a time, but life just wont let me as the other problems demand attention before i can make any headway and i just end up feeling smothered again. Please tell me how i can help myself?

Wtkms Schizoaffective
  • replies: 4

Hi, I been going through acute depression and have schizoaffective disorder. I also have polio that hinders the way I can do things like walking, carrying. I'm going through a tough time with my depression and finding it hard to find a way out. I can... View more

Hi, I been going through acute depression and have schizoaffective disorder. I also have polio that hinders the way I can do things like walking, carrying. I'm going through a tough time with my depression and finding it hard to find a way out. I can't find work because I have been out of work for 3 years, I am trying to make my way back to the work force but having no luck at all. I use to be a web developer but I have been out of that industry for quite sometime now so all work associated with web development turns me down. I also have been hospitalised in a mental health hospital for 3 months. I get lost when I try to speak and can't find words to express myself. I don't know what to do any help would be greatly appreciated.

S98 Unsure
  • replies: 4

Hi, So this is my first time writing on here and i'm just feeling unsure about how i'm feeling and what to do. For many years i've suffered with depression and anxiety. In the past few months its gotten worse and I don't know what to do. I've tried m... View more

Hi, So this is my first time writing on here and i'm just feeling unsure about how i'm feeling and what to do. For many years i've suffered with depression and anxiety. In the past few months its gotten worse and I don't know what to do. I've tried medication but that never helped it just made me feel numb inside. My mental health doesn't just effect me but others around me and I take my anger out of my partner and family when I don't mean to. Can anyone give me any tips with what to do before it gets any worse. Also, does anyone recommend self administration into a psych/hospital? thankyou, S.