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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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KevFromSydney Changing meds for BP disorder
  • replies: 2

This is my first post here. I was diagnosed with BP Type II at the age of 16 ( I’m aged 44 now ). I’ve been taking medication for most of that time ( only going off it a couple of times ). It’s been great for me except that it’s been damaging my kidn... View more

This is my first post here. I was diagnosed with BP Type II at the age of 16 ( I’m aged 44 now ). I’ve been taking medication for most of that time ( only going off it a couple of times ). It’s been great for me except that it’s been damaging my kidneys. My PD recently took me off it as my levels had become toxic ( 1.7 ). He’s put me on an alternative nstead. I’ve found that it’s great for sleeping ( now getting 9-10 hrs sleep per night ) but it makes me feel very dissociative and in a dream-like status the next day which I really hate. Was wondering if anyone else experienced similar reactions to medication and if they were able to do anything about it to help? Thanks!

slippery_slope Not sure what to do.
  • replies: 10

Hi, I'd like to know other peoples opinion on what I'm going through. Actually, I feel I can't make certain decisions. I guess i'm stubborn in some ways or maybe frightened. I've come along way mentally. I haven't had a apocalyptic episode for a whil... View more

Hi, I'd like to know other peoples opinion on what I'm going through. Actually, I feel I can't make certain decisions. I guess i'm stubborn in some ways or maybe frightened. I've come along way mentally. I haven't had a apocalyptic episode for a while (5-6 weeks). I still have low mood and can catch the apocalyptic episode before it happens with acceptance and positive thinking. Motivation to do things like getting out of the house and just doing things is a huge effort even with positive thinking and knowing the benefits. My GP has offered anti-depressants over the last 2 years but I always refuse, thinking I can do this without them. I'm not so sure now. I still have not made any new friends, not sure which direction to take about my future. I still feel I'm not all there but i know I never will be if I don't continue to change my life. I wonder if I've just hit a wall, tired of this journey, maybe lazy, maybe just need to slap myself out of it. I finally let myself see a councilor but its only been 2 consultations so far. I guess I want to know if anti-depressants will benefit me or delay progress?

J_M_ Going back on medication after 3 weeks of awfulness
  • replies: 6

Hi all: I reluctantly came off my medication 3 weeks ago on a psychiatrist's advice. All this time I have been feeling worse and worse and worse, and finally I reluctantly went back on the medication yesterday. On my medication I was doing OK, not gr... View more

Hi all: I reluctantly came off my medication 3 weeks ago on a psychiatrist's advice. All this time I have been feeling worse and worse and worse, and finally I reluctantly went back on the medication yesterday. On my medication I was doing OK, not great, but was capable of enjoying things. These last 3 weeks I have felt nothing but hideous nausea, misery and disconnectedness from my loved ones. I wake up every morning so tense my bowels turn to water, and I can't eat properly until late afternoon/evening. Every day is crawling past, minute by minute, joyless and miserable. Coming off the medication was the worst mistake I have ever made, and if I had a time machine I would go back and physically force myself not to make any changes. Can anyone reassure me that going back on the medication is likely to get me back to where I used to be, and quite soon? It didn't seem that brilliant at the time, but from here it seems like paradise.

Timeout Loving someone with Depression
  • replies: 2

If you have depression you know how hard it can be at time, you cut your self of from everyone out there, you get in to a very bad head space and a black hole. Are there people out there that can love us all the time with owe depression. And stand wi... View more

If you have depression you know how hard it can be at time, you cut your self of from everyone out there, you get in to a very bad head space and a black hole. Are there people out there that can love us all the time with owe depression. And stand with us when we are in that mind set, as I have heard a lot of people and my self had people walk away because it gets to hard. Now I think I am un-loveable because of what I have. Do they fall in love with you and only find out about your depression years later as you try and hide it from them at the start as you want someone to let be you?

CB81 Feeling let down
  • replies: 2

It was my birthday a few days ago and although I've never made a big deal of it I have been deeply hurt by the fact my friends didn't remember and only one texted. Another friend emailed in reply to someone else and mentioned my birthday. It makes me... View more

It was my birthday a few days ago and although I've never made a big deal of it I have been deeply hurt by the fact my friends didn't remember and only one texted. Another friend emailed in reply to someone else and mentioned my birthday. It makes me feel sick as I think so much of them and I'm not even worth a text! They all have partners and babies and this proves they don't think much of me. I don't want to speak to them or see them again. But then I will truly be on my own.

Kaizer_1989 I know I need to let her go but it's so hard
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone. I have this ex which I have a lot of history (mostly complicated) and I need to let her go but I just can never seem to. We always fight, we have tried to remain friends with benefits, for weeks we are great, we hang out we talk we ha... View more

Hello everyone. I have this ex which I have a lot of history (mostly complicated) and I need to let her go but I just can never seem to. We always fight, we have tried to remain friends with benefits, for weeks we are great, we hang out we talk we have fun and mostly we are happy but then something happens like she cancels on me (and let me just say she does like usually 9 times outta 10) and I get so irritated cause she's knows how much I hate it, then it just gets outta control and it gets bad. Then we don't speak for weeks and then it becomes better and we go through it all over again a month or 2 months later. I don't want a relationship with her and neither do I. But I've known her for so long and we have been through a lot that I just want her around but she makes me feel so shit about myself because I just want to see her or hang out. Then I'm in the wrong cause I get emotional when she doesn't want to see me. Am I insane? Am I crazy? i know I probably need to let her go, she makes me so mad and upset and I get into these moods that I can't get out of for days. I just don't know what to do anymore. I need help

Little_Deer Feeling Stuck...
  • replies: 4

I frequently have feelings of being stuck and feeling like I should be further along in my life. I feel like I should be more successful and more stable. I was recent diagnosed with Bipolar and found that this feeling is something associated with my ... View more

I frequently have feelings of being stuck and feeling like I should be further along in my life. I feel like I should be more successful and more stable. I was recent diagnosed with Bipolar and found that this feeling is something associated with my Bipolar. I have a decent, well paying job in a call centre. But I really don't like it. I find it difficult to cope with a lot of the pressure associated with the work and the contract we work under. I feel very pressured as a whole. This is another area where I feel stuck. I want to keep the job because of the money, and my partner and I are getting our own place soon hopefully. But I'm not at all happy in my job and I'm struggling and suffering. It also makes it hard to arrange meetings with my psychs because they mostly work on weekdays. I should also mention that I'm dropped a shift a week to try and help myself but right now, I'm not into it at all. Does anyone else feel like this, any solutions or tips? Thank You LD

Guest_125 The need to avoid certain people...?
  • replies: 6

I think I might have made the really tough choice to avoid a couple of family members, one being my mother, as much as possible to help me with recovery. The really tricky bit is I have always craved them in my life, chasing seemingly elusive validat... View more

I think I might have made the really tough choice to avoid a couple of family members, one being my mother, as much as possible to help me with recovery. The really tricky bit is I have always craved them in my life, chasing seemingly elusive validation and acceptance. But I think I need to be much stronger and sure of myself before attempting to have much to do with them again or I might get worse. In the past and now, the more time I spend with them the worse I seem to feel. But whether avoiding them is for the better or not is yet to be seen I guess. Has anyone else felt the need to distance themselves from particular people to help with their recovery?

ash_kaye How do I help myself?
  • replies: 2

I feel completely swamped in my life. I'm living a life that isnt mine anymore I don't have a clue what I'm doing. It makes me want to run away to nowhere and live a simple life. I'm 20, I previously had anorexia for 2 years, I have anxiety and sever... View more

I feel completely swamped in my life. I'm living a life that isnt mine anymore I don't have a clue what I'm doing. It makes me want to run away to nowhere and live a simple life. I'm 20, I previously had anorexia for 2 years, I have anxiety and severe depression which I take medication for. Every health professional I talk to treat me like I should be better by now, it seems like its problem after problem and no one takes me seriously, I'm supposed to be doing well at uni but I'm not, I have a job but its very irregular, I have a couple of friends but I never want to go out. I have obviously a lot of self esteem issues and boy issues, I don't think anyone will ever love me and I know that its stupid and someone will but it feels like i've been waiting my whole life to not feel invisible. I don't know how to help myself, I've seen psychs im on medication, I try to do everything right and my life still feels so awful, I'm in pain daily from my depression and I don't know how much longer I can survive like this. I have no clue how to help myself.

gem2000 I don't know what to do anymore
  • replies: 7

I hate being like this, consistently feeling like I am not good enough for anyone around me, always feeling so down and depressed that some how that everything thats going wrong in my life is my fault. Currently doing year 12 so the stress of doing w... View more

I hate being like this, consistently feeling like I am not good enough for anyone around me, always feeling so down and depressed that some how that everything thats going wrong in my life is my fault. Currently doing year 12 so the stress of doing well is destroying me, if i don't get a good score I will be a failure to everyone around me. Everyday I dont want to wake up, every night i fall asleep early trying to escape the world I live in. The only time I'm at peace is in my sleep. Feeling depressed every minute of every day is so tiring and draining, I dont know what to do anymore. I have hardly any friends, the ones I had are no longer friends with me, school is one of the scariest places as i feel like everyone hates me. I have a boyfriend who I love with all my heart and he doesnt love me the same way back. I give the relationship everything I have and he puts in nothing, at times i feel like he's only with me if he wants something. Its so hard giving so much and never getting any effort back. I am a selfless person, always put everyone else before myself and my needs and every time it back fires on me. sometimes i just wish some body would love and care about me the way I love and care about people, I want someone to take the time out of their day and see how I'm truly going but no one ever does. I try talking to my boyfriend about all this but he doesnt have any time and the friends i do have well there sick of hearing about it. So what I do is lock myself away from everyone and just cry because i have all this pain and sadness and I dont know what to do with it. I dont know what to do anymore