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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.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 0

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

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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Lea_ Where do i go from here?
  • replies: 8

I have been feeling lost for over a year. I know i should be grateful to have a roof over my head, i have an income and enough to eat. But i just feel hollow. I try and fill the time with tv, books, music, friends any thing to keep my mind busy. But ... View more

I have been feeling lost for over a year. I know i should be grateful to have a roof over my head, i have an income and enough to eat. But i just feel hollow. I try and fill the time with tv, books, music, friends any thing to keep my mind busy. But i end up staring into space. I have tried therapy, exercise, cbt, medication. None of it worked. I just don't know how to move forward getting up is a challenge even for something i enjoy. Can anyone help me with coping?

JenJen10 Recovering from Depression
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. Im 27 and unfortunately lost a good part of the last 8 years due to my battles with major depression but I’m proud to say now that I am doing well. I’m not sure where to classify things right now, as I ... View more

Hi everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. Im 27 and unfortunately lost a good part of the last 8 years due to my battles with major depression but I’m proud to say now that I am doing well. I’m not sure where to classify things right now, as I am still having regular ECT to maintain my mood, taking medication and seeing therapists. I am however, happy! I have goals, I see a future, I have started looking for work again and started dating again too ☺️. If you had asked me 6 months ago if any of this was possible, I would have said no way! Recovery and wellness is possible!!! It is also soooo worth it!! I sometimes think about the 30+ hospital admissions, the ongoing day programs and commitment to outpatient appointments. I feel a little ashamed that it took so much effort but I have come out of this a MUCH stronger person. I have drive and commitment now to use my experiences to help others recover and work on their own MH issues. I hope to study next year to enable me to pursue this goal and work in the field. To conclude, I say PLEASE, never give up. Ask for help !! The process can be exhausting and can feel like there is no way forward but there is! And when you are feeling better, even if it’s only a little bit, you will be proud you persisted in fighting. The battle is worth it and recovery and a life beyond whatever ailment you have is amazing! I have so much more gratitude for the small things now, ie a nice sunny day, the fresh air on a morning walk, a good laugh with a friend or a tasty cafe treat. Thank you for reading. Positive vibes

p_man p.man
  • replies: 10

hello, im new here.....i have bipolar disorder and am currently in the midst of a very deep depression, i was on medications for 15 years with good results until about 5 months ago when they stopped working and my depression took hold in a big way...... View more

hello, im new here.....i have bipolar disorder and am currently in the midst of a very deep depression, i was on medications for 15 years with good results until about 5 months ago when they stopped working and my depression took hold in a big way...my medication was changed 3 times with horrible results, the last combination was so bad i wound up in hospital for two weeks....my current medication is not working at all, so i will need to change medications again.....im very worried about this because of the previous changes and the hospitalisation i endured as a result......this bout of depression has lasted for 8 months.....im so tired and worn down, it's relentless, i'm at a point where the simplest things are incredibly difficult....im tearful a lot of the time ...feeling hopeless and helpless, like things will not improve......feeling too low to socialise, becoming isolated.......ive weathered many ups and downs over the years but never had my medication fail until now.....im so afraid nothing is going to work and that i am stuck with the horrible reality im stuck in......i want so badly to be well, to get my life back.....it seems so far away and theres no clear way out.....i feel like ive forgotten how it feels to be well ive been depressed for so long....so so tired.......this illness is relentless...im holding on , just ,trying my hardest to stay afloat .......im really afraid of changing meds but hoping that there is a combination that will pull me out of my current depression......desperate days are these.....hoping with all i am that some relief is on the horizon

An_Aging_Youngster A Single Bout of Clinical Depression: A Case Study
  • replies: 1

My only bout of moderate clinical depression was caused ultimately by a collision between my upbringing as a child and my wife's expectations and personality as an adult. In retrospect, this was an event that had been building slowly for decades. It ... View more

My only bout of moderate clinical depression was caused ultimately by a collision between my upbringing as a child and my wife's expectations and personality as an adult. In retrospect, this was an event that had been building slowly for decades. It was the clinical anxiety that accompanied my depression that drove me to seeing a doctor, this in the face of my wife's opposition. (My wife's opposition was driven by her own fears, but that is another story.) The doctor confirmed my guess that I was suffering from clinical depression. He offered me a choice: medication or counseling. I have an aversion to medication except where absolutely necessary, so I opted for counseling. This choice ultimately led to my development as a person. The doctor referred me for a course of 10 counseling sessions. The counselor was skilled. I also started the counseling knowing in advance that I would be the author of my own recovery under the counselor's guidance. I opted to have weekly sessions rather than fortnightly sessions. By the end of the fourth session I had an idea of my escape route from depression. I spent the fifth session consolidating that idea, and confirmed to myself my recovery in the week that followed. I spent the sixth session debriefing the counselor, which debriefing the counselor found useful. The key to my recovery was anger. Anger often receives a bad press these days and is easily confused with rage. My own anger takes the form "This is not right!" and always overrides any slide towards depression that starts within me. It can also motivate me to discuss the events leading up to that moment with my wife, which discussions always prove beneficial to both parties. My anger reaction kicks in without me having to make any effort. This situation has been stable for five years. I realise that this solution is not for everyone. My own Beck Depression Inventory score is 2 (very low). I have started working with somebody whose score hits the mid 20s between treatments. She has a genetic predisposition to depression which was triggered by escalating parental abuse in her teenage years and became chronic at age 20, so my own solution is extremely unlikely to work for her. The take away from all this? Everybody's journey is different. Go well. AAY

Nad ITs time to tell them about my bipolar..but how?
  • replies: 16

Hello BB Citizens, its been 5 years now since i have been diagnosed with bipolar type 2. Since then, i've gone through sooo many different medications and each day is a roller coaster ride for me. For those that don't know i'm bp, they just see me as... View more

Hello BB Citizens, its been 5 years now since i have been diagnosed with bipolar type 2. Since then, i've gone through sooo many different medications and each day is a roller coaster ride for me. For those that don't know i'm bp, they just see me as an emotional guy that goes up and down. I get judged that i'm temperamental and unstable. My mornings are ridiculous difficult. To be precise, i wake up tired, not motivated, afraid of the day, afraid of peoples judgement, uncomfortable in my own skin, nausious, light headed, electric shock to the face feeling. This is easily presented in my facial and body expression. So when i'm at work between 8-10 people say "mate, u look dead, get more sleep". after 10 i'm back to stable normal or if there's something exciting happening, i go along with it. Then around 2pm i'm back to the same dead feeling. I was absent at work for 3 weeks having ECT treatment and working from home. alot of questions were flung around the office as to what happen to me but my manager didn't tell them. Due to ECT not working, i'm now about to do rTMS which will consume around 1 month off work. i'm planning now to email all people i interact with at work about my bp and the journey i've been on however i don't know how to deliver this information to them. i don't want to be emailing everyone making it like a sob story or a sympathy stab..... Can i get some suggestions please

Struggling2 Changes are on the way
  • replies: 4

Hi all, A bit about me. I am a 51 year old women and have suffered major depression for most of my life. From early on in my life I felt "different" to every one else around me. I had a very very bad temper and wasnt pleasant to be around. At 31, I w... View more

Hi all, A bit about me. I am a 51 year old women and have suffered major depression for most of my life. From early on in my life I felt "different" to every one else around me. I had a very very bad temper and wasnt pleasant to be around. At 31, I was finally dignosed with major depression and was prescribed anti depressants and have been taking these now for over 20 years. In the past few years my depression has worsened. This is because of my job in the public service, who know by the way of my illness, I have been bullied and harrassed and treated dispectfully by others that I work with. I have never been given or shown any empathy or respect because I have a mental illness. Recently I decided, for my own mental health and well being, to resign and find a job I really like with nicer people surrounding me. The ironic thing is I work at the department of health.

sadbuthappy I used to be happy
  • replies: 3

ok so when i was little i was ur typical 'smart, shy kid.' everyone knew me based on my results on tests and exams. that was probably the only reason they were so nice to me, cause i was so shy i couldnt even speak. then a few years later, i met this... View more

ok so when i was little i was ur typical 'smart, shy kid.' everyone knew me based on my results on tests and exams. that was probably the only reason they were so nice to me, cause i was so shy i couldnt even speak. then a few years later, i met this guy. he opened my eyes to the world, and made me realise that i should come out of my shell. so i did. he made me laugh so hard i cried, and around him i felt safe and happy. the world seemed so much brighter when he was in it. i became one of the 'popular crew' and everything in life felt like it was picking up. that year was grad year, so the next year, everyone was going off on their separate paths in life. i was separated from all my friends. it was weird, cause one minute i could be happy, and laugh like i used to, but the next? i remembered those times where i was truly happy, and everything else seemed like a waste. i think its cause my friends became my family, in a way. not by blood, but by love. i loved every one of them, and i was torn away from them. they were kind of the only family i've ever known, because my blood family puts up all of these expectations that i cant reach anymore. the pressure is getting to me now. it was probably the same before, but back then i had my friends to cheer me up when things got tough. now i have no one. i think im depressed, but i havent told anyone yet. i've left clues for people. i even told someone i was sad all the time, but they didnt pick up on it. what hurts the most is that no one even notices that something is wrong. they just go on, thinking their lives are tough, and im here, sad and depressed.

liannajayde Stuck
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I'm just feeling really stuck at the moment. Between my depression and anxiety, I feel like I can't catch a break. My main issue that I seem to be struggling with is motivation. I end up late at work as I find it hard to leave the house ... View more

Hi everyone, I'm just feeling really stuck at the moment. Between my depression and anxiety, I feel like I can't catch a break. My main issue that I seem to be struggling with is motivation. I end up late at work as I find it hard to leave the house some days, and I just don't enjoy it anymore. I'm in a retail sales role and some days my anxiety can really affect my work. I also stress that I'm not 'fitting in' at my job, which just makes me feel alone. I have horses and to me, riding and spending time with them really clears the mind. But even now I'm finding the motivation to go see them is becoming harder and harder, (It's a 20-minute drive to the agistment). I make up excuses as why I can't go places, it's the same as the gym and anything else I enjoyed. The annoying part is when I have days like this where I don't do anything, I feel even more depressed as I'm disappointed in myself for not doing anything. If that makes sense. It's a vicious cycle. I was on medication, but I found after a few months on it, I would feel numb and just didn't care about anything. I would be willing to give it a go again if it would help with my energy. Just wondering if there's anything that helped others find their motivation. - Lianna

5note Brain Chemicals or just caused by our own actions?
  • replies: 7

ok, so I'm in denial still about having depression. The doctor has put me on antidepressants and told me it's all about an imbalance of brain chemicals. I'm still believing it's about actions in life. (cause/effect) Curious to know others thoughts on... View more

ok, so I'm in denial still about having depression. The doctor has put me on antidepressants and told me it's all about an imbalance of brain chemicals. I'm still believing it's about actions in life. (cause/effect) Curious to know others thoughts on this. Is it our actions in life or things that happen to us that cause depression or purely a brain imbalance.

KatK24 lost control of life
  • replies: 7

I've currently dropped out of uni, have no idea what i am doing. I feel like my depression is getting worse and taking over my life, and im just feeling so hopeless, like i'll never get over this

I've currently dropped out of uni, have no idea what i am doing. I feel like my depression is getting worse and taking over my life, and im just feeling so hopeless, like i'll never get over this