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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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Letting_Life_Pass_Me_By I don't know how to be happy
  • replies: 2

I have been asking myself lately why I can't be happy. I'm starting to feel like maybe I want to be depressed. Am I a glutton for punishment. I have had a horrible couple of years. I'm struggling to trust my husband. I'm struggling to bond with my 8 ... View more

I have been asking myself lately why I can't be happy. I'm starting to feel like maybe I want to be depressed. Am I a glutton for punishment. I have had a horrible couple of years. I'm struggling to trust my husband. I'm struggling to bond with my 8 year old. I feel like I'm only capable of being close to my 3 year old. I feel like I've gone from one heartache to the next without having a chance to stop and take a breath. I keep finding evidence that my husband intends to cheat but he denies it forcefully. My 8 year olds father and his wife refused to give him back at the beginning of the year during the holidays forcing me to take them to court and then retrieve my kid from school first day back. They made my life miserable for months. I live in a rural town with no friends to speak of and no family close enough to turn to. I've never felt more alone in my life. Ive been in therapy and I'm on anti-depressants but it feels like nothing is helping. I don't understand why I always feel depressed, incapable of finding happiness in my life. I dont want to feel miserable anymore! But, I don't know how to help myself anymore......

Cas221 I really want to be happy.
  • replies: 3

I guess I just need to get this off my chest. There's a billion things I could say but, one of them is just being unable to be happy no matter what I do. I've had severe depression for three years, and I'm fairly sure I had a less severe type of depr... View more

I guess I just need to get this off my chest. There's a billion things I could say but, one of them is just being unable to be happy no matter what I do. I've had severe depression for three years, and I'm fairly sure I had a less severe type of depression before it became severe, I just don't know for how long I had it. Anyway, I'm rarely excited about anything anymore no matter how hard I try to keep myself happy and busy with things to do. I indulge in activities that I enjoy and even go outside my comfort zone every once in a while but I'm still unhappy. And I know it's just the depression doing that, I know that if I wasn't depressed I would be more happy and motivated and feel like the doing the things that I know I want to do. I know nobody can be happy all the time but it just doesn't feel right when I'm unhappy in times where I'd usually be excited or motivated. Holidays don't make me happy. Events don't make me happy. Buying stuff I really want or playing video games makes me pretend I'm happy but I can't actually feel it. Art used to make me feel imaginative and creative. Even hanging with friends, I feel like I'm not really there. I try sooo hard to be happy or excited or glad etc. about things, but in the end I really don't actually feel any of it. I guess I really want to also ask if taking medication helps with this feeling or if I'll become more apathetic. I just want to be happy. Really that's all I care about anymore. I want to feel like my life is worth it again. Any success stories (or even non successful stories) people can share with me? Has anyone started being happy after dealing with severe depression? (I say severe because even some of my depressed friends don't understand me not being happy because they don't have the same severity of depression I guess) I'm really hoping that seeing a psychiatrist goes well for me. I just need that hope I suppose.

Alonewiththoughts Alone with worry
  • replies: 4

I feel so sad and lonely with no one to talk to. I am struggling at work now and decisions are so hard I feel useless. I dont have anyone that understands

I feel so sad and lonely with no one to talk to. I am struggling at work now and decisions are so hard I feel useless. I dont have anyone that understands

Slaugh Work anxiety probably due to work history.
  • replies: 3

Hello, Having a rough time mentally at the moment. work is sucking my motivation. It's not so much that the job I have now is bad but from past experiences with other jobs it triggers my depressive episodes. Right now I'm in my 5th year of a 4 year e... View more

Hello, Having a rough time mentally at the moment. work is sucking my motivation. It's not so much that the job I have now is bad but from past experiences with other jobs it triggers my depressive episodes. Right now I'm in my 5th year of a 4 year electrical apprenticeship with my third employer. The reasoning for such a long stint is due to redundancies and abuse of power (IMO). I have lost my motivation. My grades in school are declining and the roadmap for completion, although only a few months, seems long difficult and somewhat questionable. It began with a redundency and then the following employer pulling me out of school for over 6 months under the threat of losing my job. However I re-enrolled after repeated requests to go back to school which I was subsequently fired over. Went down the avenues of fair work but it just seemed like too much hassel. I continued to go to school to finish the year knowing I was six months behind. Finished the semester and after the Chrissy break I went to enrol again. Problem was I was unemployed so I couldn't re-enrol. What's worse is the previous semester didnt count as it was a two part module. So I would have to restart the module again. Another 6 months added and an additional $700. Managed to find an employer again but had to wait an additional 3 months before I could even start the full year I was behind on. so here I am now. Possibly less than 3 months from completion before I can sit my final exams and I am at breaking point. Another annoying thing is I believe the TAFE haven't included a module in my roadmap. A module which will take and additional few months to complete. Even when I finish the course work there's still 6 more months just prepping for the final exams. All this added time whilst earning minimum wage has just destroyed me. I have been struck down with pnemonia and have been off work for a week. I need to take more time off but I don't believe Ill have a job if I do. But to tell you the truth, I almost don't really care. I'm just so fed up. This apprentiship just doesn't seem to end despite the effort. So now it's not so much employment that is screwing me its the TAFE. My current boss seems like a good bloke but I just can't trust him. All this with a family to support is becoming too much. My parents are well off so financially we are pretty secure, it is more an issue of relying on others which is shameful and embarrassing. Not the full history but as relevant as can be.

Roonil_Wazlib How do you stop yourself from spiraling when things keep going wrong?
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I'm going through a period of time where things keep happening (out of my control) and I can feel myself sinking deeper and deeper. I have things to look forward to, I know that there are good things in life but too many things have happ... View more

Hi everyone, I'm going through a period of time where things keep happening (out of my control) and I can feel myself sinking deeper and deeper. I have things to look forward to, I know that there are good things in life but too many things have happened recently and I'm struggling. Have you ever felt like this? How did you/do you deal with times like these?

Memphis_lee Please help me too understand what is happening
  • replies: 3

Picture this... I bounced my ball so high it landed over a wall. I climbed the top of it. I can see the ball clearly. I know exactly where it is. All I have to do is get it. I am frozen! I swipe at the ball from the top of the wall with my arms cross... View more

Picture this... I bounced my ball so high it landed over a wall. I climbed the top of it. I can see the ball clearly. I know exactly where it is. All I have to do is get it. I am frozen! I swipe at the ball from the top of the wall with my arms crossing over each time. I can't grab it because it's too far away. I can't push my brain to make the effort to get the actuall ball. This is how I feel. I was once well groomed always had pride in my appearance and so many other great things. Now, I don't even care anymore. I can't be bothered getting out of bed yet I am super ashamed if anyone would ever see me like this. I am getting further and further away as each day passes. I want my old self back so badly but it's over the wall....

Salvatore I need help please
  • replies: 2

Hello, help me, me and my family are constantly stalking by two people. I made two reports to Acorn, but no one did anything. There is no more I am in crisis, I'm afraid, we have been threatened. please help me. This person has also stolen sensitive ... View more

Hello, help me, me and my family are constantly stalking by two people. I made two reports to Acorn, but no one did anything. There is no more I am in crisis, I'm afraid, we have been threatened. please help me. This person has also stolen sensitive data, they are defaming and talking about my children, at school parents of other children look at us with suspicion. Please help us.

Soreeyes Need help for mental health.
  • replies: 7

Hello guys, I'm a 41 year old male. I've been suffering from mental health issues most of my life, sever anxiety and depression. I've been shuffled around from GP to GP, different psychologists, I just can't find the right help. The psychologists I'v... View more

Hello guys, I'm a 41 year old male. I've been suffering from mental health issues most of my life, sever anxiety and depression. I've been shuffled around from GP to GP, different psychologists, I just can't find the right help. The psychologists I've seen were very unprofessional, as the sessions were supposed to last for an hour, but they would see patients for only 10-15 mins, patients would be told to turn up at the same appointment times. Very unprofessional. I received no feedback and have been left to feel like I can't receive help that I need. I changed my GP and he referred me to a new therapist, I have waited more than 3 months, and still haven't received any notice of when I start my first session. I'm sick of this. Is there anyone on this site that can please put me in touch with a GP in Melbourne that specialises in mental health and who can start me with a new psychologist or psychiatrist? I'm at my wits end. I can't go private, has to be bulk billing as I don't currently work. I'm receiving unemployment benefits. Thanks in advance.

Aoifa Removal of the mental illness stigma
  • replies: 5

Hi, This is a real bug bear of mine that in the 21 Century there is still a stigma attached to mental illness and there shouldn't be. What's the difference between that and any other illness? There isn't one. They are all illness that can be debilita... View more

Hi, This is a real bug bear of mine that in the 21 Century there is still a stigma attached to mental illness and there shouldn't be. What's the difference between that and any other illness? There isn't one. They are all illness that can be debilitating and require medical and specialist support. The stigma just shouldn't be there and can be removed by talking openly and being more educated. That's why Beyondblue and other support networks need to be successful. Thanks, Aeoifa

james1 Frozen - stuck - just not in touch
  • replies: 59

Hello, I apologise if this doesn't make much sense. I've not been posting much because I've been struggling to work out what I'm struggling with. And after a couple of weeks (or days? time passes in a funny way now), I'm half a step closer to figurin... View more

Hello, I apologise if this doesn't make much sense. I've not been posting much because I've been struggling to work out what I'm struggling with. And after a couple of weeks (or days? time passes in a funny way now), I'm half a step closer to figuring it out. So I feel like I'm frozen in some sort of bubble. What I mean by that is nothing I do seems to affect anyone outside of me. I don't really work while at work, and no one seems to notice. I don't talk to friends, and they don't talk to me back. Even when I try to break the isolation a bit, it's like I'm not really reaching anybody. Even if I try to think about myself, I get stuck so I'm not even in touch with myself. I am more venting than anything. I had a psychologist appointment on Saturday and we're now meeting twice a week. I shut down completely in my last appointment - involuntarily. My mind just wouldn't let me think or talk when we started getting close to something that must've been...hard. But the trouble is I don't actually remember what it was anymore. I know I need to keep going to each appointment and I genuinely look forward to them...but I'm quite tired now. I've tried ways of grounding myself but they only help me feel connected to the physical environment. Not other people's minds and emotions, and I need that. James