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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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hm83 Best self help books for Depression
  • replies: 2

Would love to know if anyone has read any books that helped them while severely depressed?

Would love to know if anyone has read any books that helped them while severely depressed?

Asynth Uncertainty on diagnoses
  • replies: 5

Hi all! I've been struggling with mental health issues for ages. I was institutionalized and it was discussed I could have manic depression but nothing was ever solid. 8 years on, I'm still struggling and haven't had a firm diagnoses. The psychologis... View more

Hi all! I've been struggling with mental health issues for ages. I was institutionalized and it was discussed I could have manic depression but nothing was ever solid. 8 years on, I'm still struggling and haven't had a firm diagnoses. The psychologist I'm seeing now is incredible and she's teaching me to not self-pity and to move on past a diagnoses. She wants me not to cling onto the idea that something is wrong with me, that I don't need to prove anything to those who didn't support me during my darkest times (my family). She believes I love the dramatic lifestyle and that I thrive on people's pity. I agreed with her, but it's been a month or two after we came to that realization and I still find I have great difficulty 1) feeling anything, 2) controlling my emotions, 3) controlling myself altogether. My partner believes I have mood swings, I get into very obvious bouts of anger and jealousy. I spit mean things at him then the next day or a couple of hours later, I apologize and admit that's not the normal me, nor who I want to be. I don't know who I am, I feel like I'm constantly changing. The yesterday me is not the today me, the 12pm me is not the 2pm me. I'm also constantly empty/bored. I feel like there is a switch in my brain I can't control. From battling with this for years, I would self-diagnose as Borderline Personality Disorder. However it's so difficult to not doubt yourself after my psych told me what she did. I can't tell if I'm just being 'dramatic' because for years I've been searching for the reason I'm like this, or if there is actually a legitimate reason. I can't tell what I should do with taking the next step forward. Should I seek out a psychiatrist that's happy to help diagnose me, or should I just keep believing that I don't need that confirmation and continue therapy with my current psychologist? I'm scared that if I get diagnosed, I'd put myself in a box and excuse my actions for it. Thanks for reading all this. Any response, even if it doesn't offer any advice, is welcome

Bruce7 Existential Crisis
  • replies: 7

My ongoing depression and anxiety is under control however the ongoing existential crisis is not. I'm no good at self delusion and this is essentially what is suggested I do... nearly everyone starts with the statement 'live is worth living', where a... View more

My ongoing depression and anxiety is under control however the ongoing existential crisis is not. I'm no good at self delusion and this is essentially what is suggested I do... nearly everyone starts with the statement 'live is worth living', where as I start with 'is life worth living'.... The outcomes to these 2 questions are vastly different. I know for me the only answer is to walk away from all convention, and attempt to find stillness....... life is futile... life lived in the mind is futile

DJPTigerland140414 Living with Depression
  • replies: 7

I only realised I truly had depression when I was 21. The seeds were planted when I was younger but it hit home one night walking along the highway half drunk nearly getting hit by a truck. I let it out to someone for the first time the next day that... View more

I only realised I truly had depression when I was 21. The seeds were planted when I was younger but it hit home one night walking along the highway half drunk nearly getting hit by a truck. I let it out to someone for the first time the next day that I had real problems and broke down like a blubbering baby. Ive been on and off medication and in and out of councillors for many years and still to this day while I write this piece I struggle on a daily hour by hour basis. Councilling and medication certainly helped me learn ways to try to deal with this disease but it never goes away and it hurts so so bad. I hardly drink and have given up so many of the things I believed trigger my depression but still at this very moment I am fighting my mind and it really does tire you out fighting 24/7 with your thoughts and feelings. I am a very open and honest person so these thoughts and feelings are straight off the bat. I struggle badly with my self esteem and cant get these horrible thoughts out of my head when I look at myself in the mirror. My weight has become a battle in the last 3 years and am currently caught in a vicious cycle of depressed because im eating and eating because im depressed. I am a fat negative loser at the moment. I have no contact with my dad and none now with my mother. Thats one thing that gets me down. But they make me feel bad about myself so I have given them the flick. My old man for 6 years or so. I am married to the most awesome girl in the world she is my everything but me being the way I am I can never give her the best version of myself. I try not to tell her all my dark thoughts and feelings as it pains her and she doesn't truly understand why I have this cancer inside of me. I have been off medication since march and therapy for a year as I don't want to rely on it to live my daily life. I have tried hypnotherapy to get over certain issues and phobias with no luck. Honestly if I could trade my mind for a another one I would if it was scientifically possible. I would even offer myself as a test bunny if it were possible. Wipe everything in my mind except for the memories of my wife. Reboot my mind computer and give me a chance at a less stressful existence. People that haven't suffered depression have no idea of how much it takes over your life and is a monkey that lives permanently on your shoulder whispering nasty things into your ear straight into your mind. I hate thinking and feeling like this for the whole time i'm awake.

Iloveunicorns28 Work
  • replies: 2

I have worked really hard for my job, and I have always enjoyed it up until now. As a requirement of my job, I have had to relocate from the metropolitan area in which I grew up to a small rural town. As a result, I had to leave my position at the ti... View more

I have worked really hard for my job, and I have always enjoyed it up until now. As a requirement of my job, I have had to relocate from the metropolitan area in which I grew up to a small rural town. As a result, I had to leave my position at the time, and move out of my family home for the first time to live by myself. It was incredibly hard establishing myself at my new work place with no support network around me and nobody to debrief to once I got home from work. I felt absolutely miserable. I was crying almost every single day and constantly feeling regret. It got to the point where I took a week off ‘sick’ because I just could not get out of bed. I was diagnosed with severe depression and moderate anxiety and started seeing a psychologist. I told him I wanted to stay in my job because I did not want to feel like a failure and disappoint people. He gave me some strategies to help me cope and they helped me get through the rest of the year. After being back at home with my family for Christmas and New Years, I am beginning to panic about going back to the place that made me so miserable. I just don’t know what to do. Either I keep working and suffering in silence or I quit my job.

JoW72 How to cope with depression and anxiety?
  • replies: 2

I was diagnosed with depression about 8 years ago. I'm not on any medication and manage most of the time to keep things in check but then something happens and everything seems against me. I have only 2 people i call friend so loneliness is a massive... View more

I was diagnosed with depression about 8 years ago. I'm not on any medication and manage most of the time to keep things in check but then something happens and everything seems against me. I have only 2 people i call friend so loneliness is a massive problem too. I haven't told either that I have depression and anxiety, who whats a friend with mental health problems?? Im to shy and anxious to head out and meet people which compounds the problem. I use alcohol to "help" which we all know it doesn't but that is a difficult cycle to break as it stops the negative thoughts and kills time. Anyone have any suggestions how to handle the loneliness? any support groups out there for that??

maxandgus99 Need some advice
  • replies: 2

Around two and a half years ago I went through a really really rough patch with my mental health. My anxiety was at an all time high and I started to fall into a really bad depression. I ended up discussing this with my parents and ended up seeing a ... View more

Around two and a half years ago I went through a really really rough patch with my mental health. My anxiety was at an all time high and I started to fall into a really bad depression. I ended up discussing this with my parents and ended up seeing a doctor, psychologist and a psychiatrist and went on an antidepressant. Through the medication and the counselling I received, I slowly began to feel better and eventually made it past the dark depressing time, however the anxiety stayed with me as it always has been, ever since I was a kid. I'm now 18 and recently my anxiety has increased again to intense paranoia and stress and I've started to feel more and more down, unmotivated, sad, irritated, aggravated and just downright depressed. Going through this last time was the hardest thing I've ever gone through and I really don't think I can do it again. It took so much out of me and my family as I could tell how much of an impact what I was going through was having them. It's getting so bad that I can't sleep, nothing cheers me up and I can't go 2 hours without crying and I just don't know what to do. I just can't do it all again, and I need some advice on whether I need to just pull myself together and tell my mum it's happening again and take myself to a doctor or something because I seriously need help ans I know I need help, it's just so hard to get up and go get it this time because I just can't see myself going through all this again it just takes everything out of me to even think about the process it was last time and the strength it took

Doghouse Bleak doesnt cut it
  • replies: 3

Hi. Newbie here. Diagnosed with depression 3 yrs ago after being laid off work after 25 yrs. Really affecting marriage now. Tonight she told me that i have to sleep in the shed as she needs her space. Says im a bad influence on our 20 and 10 year old... View more

Hi. Newbie here. Diagnosed with depression 3 yrs ago after being laid off work after 25 yrs. Really affecting marriage now. Tonight she told me that i have to sleep in the shed as she needs her space. Says im a bad influence on our 20 and 10 year olds. Am at a crossroads now. I have not drank for over 30 years now but am considering turning to it to dull the torment. Meds do zilch. No one i can talk to without fear of judgement. Worst part is, is that u helped her through her depression through her menopause etc. For me now its either boozing or death.

banana12355 Not sure what to do when I have no motivation?
  • replies: 9

Hello. I've been feeling bad for a while now. I can't get myself to do anything, and it feels like I'm just trying to kill time until i can sleep again. While I sleep early, and wake up around 8:30 or 9:30 I cannot find the motivation to get myself o... View more

Hello. I've been feeling bad for a while now. I can't get myself to do anything, and it feels like I'm just trying to kill time until i can sleep again. While I sleep early, and wake up around 8:30 or 9:30 I cannot find the motivation to get myself out of bed until 12 sometimes 1pm. Then I proceed to spend the day lazing around. Nothing is getting done and this is basically how the last two years have gone. Except instead of lazing around I'd take naps. And do no work, and fail subjects. My head constantly feels hazy and I can't seem to concentrate long enough to do anything, let alone form coherent thoughts for essays. I just feel scattered and overwhelmed and I don't know what to do. Although very debilitating, that's not even the most alarming part. I don't feel anything toward anyone, I don't care about anyone but myself. And I'm confused because most of the time it feels like I can't feel a thing, and at others I can't stop crying. I've been trying to fix my erratic sleep patterns, but lack of motivation prevents me getting out of bed even when I'm well rested. Diet isn't that great either as I have no appetite. I exercise everyday.. and I'm not sure whether it's a good thing that I'm withdrawing from friends for a bit because conversations feel meaningless and I don't know what to say at all/it feels fake (social anxiety is also a bit of an issue) or whether I should force myself to get out there more. I'm a very private person, and don't feel close to anyone. I see a psychologist but I'm not sure if it's helping, and I've considered meds but I'm wary of the flat lining effect, especially when I already don't feel much. I have hobbies but I can't muster the motivation to do it or the energy to force myself to. Sorry for the illogical-ness of this all. In all honesty, I'm just very tired.

Yoga_has_changed_my_life Bioplar and Marriage issues
  • replies: 2

I was diagnosed with Bipolar last week and have been taking new medication which not deliberately I have been forgetting to take my medication and I feel fine. i have also been having relationship issues with my partner and I think our marriage is fa... View more

I was diagnosed with Bipolar last week and have been taking new medication which not deliberately I have been forgetting to take my medication and I feel fine. i have also been having relationship issues with my partner and I think our marriage is falling apart and I’ve been thinking of leaving. Feeling so lost and feel like I can’t chat to anyone