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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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b_nderz Just not good
  • replies: 4

Ok, bad week, my finances went bad. Elevated my depression and anxiety.made me review my life and how I have no value

Ok, bad week, my finances went bad. Elevated my depression and anxiety.made me review my life and how I have no value

EmiJ Just a poem I wrote.. I thought others may like to share their creative words too.
  • replies: 7

I don’t care about these walls anymoreIt will never be my placeI don’t care for the mirror anymoreI can’t stand this faceI don’t justify myself anymoreI will just take on another mistakeI don’t have dreams anymoreNightmares have driven them awayI tho... View more

I don’t care about these walls anymoreIt will never be my placeI don’t care for the mirror anymoreI can’t stand this faceI don’t justify myself anymoreI will just take on another mistakeI don’t have dreams anymoreNightmares have driven them awayI thought I was building my path to the golden life on the highYet it was the path to my quiet grave where the roots twist and close behindEJ

Amanzimtoti frustrated
  • replies: 2

Not sure where to start.In a 12 year relationship which was excellent until she resigned from a very stressful job .I still work a 4 day week.We now argue a lot and somehow it is always my fault. I seem to be forgetful .She tells me things like "we a... View more

Not sure where to start.In a 12 year relationship which was excellent until she resigned from a very stressful job .I still work a 4 day week.We now argue a lot and somehow it is always my fault. I seem to be forgetful .She tells me things like "we are meeting them at 11am saturday".A few days later I ask "oh what time are we meeting them?" and the reply is "I ALREADY TOLD YOU".Okay,I forgot,just say 11am and carry on .But no,the argument expands and we dont talk for days.Yes,I love her and she is a beautiful person .I am in remission from cancer ,after 12 months of treatments and she has been so good to me.But she has a lot of family and friends and spends time with them without including me.My birthdays I dont get "happy birthday " calls or texts.No one enquired with me how I was going during chemo.She got heaps of calls offering her help.I have a lot more things to say but I dont think you all want to hear.I am surprised I am even writing this but I do feel like I need help.Thank you for listening.....

Poppy81 life is out of control
  • replies: 2

I have been struggling with depression recently on a bg of anxiety for years. I had a very scary childhood full of abuse, sexual and physical. I have been in a loving same sex marriage for 9 years but recently our circumstances have changed and I fee... View more

I have been struggling with depression recently on a bg of anxiety for years. I had a very scary childhood full of abuse, sexual and physical. I have been in a loving same sex marriage for 9 years but recently our circumstances have changed and I feel like my partner has been pushing me away more and more, I have tried talking about it with her but she doesn't like talking about feelings and says I ruin holidays that are meant to be happy talking about this stuff. I feel like I am messing everything up and I feel myself sinking lower and lower. I think Antidepressants just make me feel numb but don't fix anything. Could the Antidepressants be making me feel worse?

koi_pond Scared about the near future. How do I cope?
  • replies: 2

Trigger warning - unaliving thoughts I recently graduated university and struggled hard to cope on my own getting through it on top of disabilities. But I made it, albeit I'm in massive HECS debt and I can't cope with the thought of it all. I wanted ... View more

Trigger warning - unaliving thoughts I recently graduated university and struggled hard to cope on my own getting through it on top of disabilities. But I made it, albeit I'm in massive HECS debt and I can't cope with the thought of it all. I wanted so badly to recover from my burn out, but a cancer diagnosis upon graduation, I was advised to put off work applications. Now that I've had surgery and am struggling with health complications one after another, I feel so alone and fight to get through most days. Some days I have to choose between chores, a medical appointment or taking a shower and making dinner. I'm never not in pain and exhausted. I'm taking each day a step at a time and trying extremely hard not to catastrophise the near future. I want so badly to support myself and get ahead but for every step forward I'm knocked back 5. I don't have family to rely on and with the cost of living crisis and no where to go if I'm struggling. I'm scared. I've had a long history of trauma and struggles in life but I've always made it through some how. But now it's all adding up and effecting my body in so many ways. I've contemplated ending my life. But I'm going to do my best not to give into those thoughts. I'm doing my best all the time and it scares me how close I am some days, with all the pain, all the time. The pain killers and nerve blocker only does so much for so long. I'm scared. I'm thinking to volunteer soon to help try building up my skills whilst applying for jobs. I'm trying extremely hard to be a productive member of society, it's always been my goal to learn as much as I possibly can in order to help others. I feel so frustrated and angry at my body that I can't do more. Every time I push just too far I end up in hospital and I don't want that. So many other people need that medical attention and I'm sick of being a burden! Every time I try my best to focus on recovery all my brain does is send me down an anxiety spiral of both shame and fear. I don't know what else I'm supposed to do.

Bec98 Weight gain… will I fail again.
  • replies: 2

When I was around 21 (2019) I went on a new medication which had a side effect of weight gain. Last year I joined a gym and tried to loose the weight. I lost about 10kg… then in June I went through a bad break up, august I was bullied at work and had... View more

When I was around 21 (2019) I went on a new medication which had a side effect of weight gain. Last year I joined a gym and tried to loose the weight. I lost about 10kg… then in June I went through a bad break up, august I was bullied at work and had to leave my job. No job, no money, no gym. Since then my mental health has been down, down and downer. I self harmed and had an attempt… I’m on workcover because of that situation, i go to psychology every week, doc every few weeks. I have changed medications that many times trying to stabilise my mood and one of them had a weight gain side effect (as well as increased appetite). Today I was weighed and all the work I did last year is gone. I feel so deflated. I am literally not doing anything (other than general farm duties) and I just don’t have the energy. I’m looking at joining a gym again now that I am on work cover and have some money coming in (not living on savings like before). But I am terrified that I will fail again. That I will make some progress then some curveball will hit and I will end up where I am or worse. I don’t have a support system really, just my psychologist. I am really terrified that I won’t be able to shift the weight or I’ll end up back here. I will try but I am just so scared I’ll fail again.

Guest_48546029 My pain
  • replies: 2

It’s not always an uphill battle. Sometimes I’m in a valley. The land is flat and easy to navigate. The grass is soft beneath my feet. And sometimes I’m in the sky, floating on cotton balls in the baby blue. It’s not always bad. Most of the time, I’m... View more

It’s not always an uphill battle. Sometimes I’m in a valley. The land is flat and easy to navigate. The grass is soft beneath my feet. And sometimes I’m in the sky, floating on cotton balls in the baby blue. It’s not always bad. Most of the time, I’m happy. But sometimes the clouds sink and the valleys end. Storms begin, and I’m climbing mountains. These are the times I’m left in thickets and thorn bushes, bruised and broken, scraped and scarred. My mind is noisy but my heart is empty. But I’m not. No matter how much I try, no matter how long it’s been, the gears get stuck and don’t work properly. I wonder why I’m so tired. I don’t do much, so why do I feel burned out And then it’s the lack of desire and motivation, to see anyone or do anything anymore and am fine with that to. And then I realize it. It’s back. Then the anger starts. The thoughts rumble. My mind is a mess, I prefer being away from the world cause i prefer being alone I can’t control it, even when I try. I can't be in social places for some reason I don’t write much. I just think. It’s been a while since I’ve written a journal or a book . It makes me feel unproductive, like I’m failing. It makes me question my abilities and my future. I think a lot, but at the same time, I feel numb. But the reality of it is, i am so down but i’ve dealt with it before so am good

b_nderz Kinda feel i'm done
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Hey, A tired issue, just tonight it's hitting me kinda hard.Screwed by my mother.Screwed by my partners.Lost everything I worked for.Left to struggle in life now, struggling to understand why I should continue, can't see a reason

Hey, A tired issue, just tonight it's hitting me kinda hard.Screwed by my mother.Screwed by my partners.Lost everything I worked for.Left to struggle in life now, struggling to understand why I should continue, can't see a reason

Giuseppe1954 Is it possible to have a side effect from prolonged use of antidepressants?
  • replies: 1

I have been using antidepressants continuously for 50 years.. For about 5 years all of a sudden I've had a heat in my head, especially after eating, which lasts all day. I do take meds that make it go away for me or even a long nap. Is it possible th... View more

I have been using antidepressants continuously for 50 years.. For about 5 years all of a sudden I've had a heat in my head, especially after eating, which lasts all day. I do take meds that make it go away for me or even a long nap. Is it possible that this is due to prolonged use of my meds? Thank you

Novaley Really need advice - studying abroad....
  • replies: 2

I've had depression and anxiety since I was a kid, and I'm currently a 24 year old female university student. I made plans with my best friend to study abroad this semester, at the time I was very anxious about it but thought it would be good for me ... View more

I've had depression and anxiety since I was a kid, and I'm currently a 24 year old female university student. I made plans with my best friend to study abroad this semester, at the time I was very anxious about it but thought it would be good for me to step outside of my comfort zone. However, it's been so much harder than anticipated. My best friend always needs me to handle everything for her and this has been no exception, I've had to organise and plan everything for us with little help from her. Instead of providing us accommodation like I expected, the school abandoned us to deal with it on our own and I had to book 4 different airbnbs for us, all no where near our school, and all in incredibly tiny studio apartments where I'd have to share a sofabed with her. Then, I booked all our accommodation around a mid semester break where I planned to visit and stay with a different friend in another part of England, and the school suddenly and without warning got rid of this break and I cannot extend our accommodation to stay during those 2 weeks because we can't afford it. On top of all this I still don't even have my class timetable. I don't know what to do, having to handle all these problems by myself has left me at a depression low I haven't seen since I was in high school. I've had multiple breakdowns and cried more in the last few weeks than I have the whole rest of this year. I really just want to cancel this whole thing and stay home, I feel like it would be a relief and I owe it to my mental health. But on the other hand, because my friend has left me to do everything myself, all of her travel plans have been organized by me so I can't cancel this without completely abandoning her and throwing her under the bus. AKA she'd have to find all new accommodation on her own. On top of that, my Father organized to come with us for the first 2 weeks so he's gonna be really upset too. I don't know what to do, we leave for Europe in a month and this week is really the last week I can cancel these plans without losing lots of money/leaving myself time to enrol in classes in my home university. If I cancel now I think we could get full refunds for everything, but I don't want to ruin my relationship with my best friend and my Father....