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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 discussions in this section of the Forums have 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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Leleina I feel like no one understands
  • replies: 26

Hi... today is an exceptionally blue day. My husband triggered my depression this morning by criticising my priorities. I get it, I made a mistake and I feel so wrong. Then it just started hurting all morning. I became a monster to myself. I don't kn... View more

Hi... today is an exceptionally blue day. My husband triggered my depression this morning by criticising my priorities. I get it, I made a mistake and I feel so wrong. Then it just started hurting all morning. I became a monster to myself. I don't know. I feel like no one understands and I am supposed to voice how I feel but I rather not. And I know, it is all eating me up inside, and I tell myself it's ok it's ok of course it's not but what can anyone do about it. Is it a case of a hurt ego from being told off? Letting the masks fall is making me feel so vulnerable, I rather not feel.

HearMe Weight loss - I need inspiration
  • replies: 12

Hello I am a female with a lot of self esteem issues. I am considered obese and I feel it! i have 2 kids under 3 and I have let myself go along with my mental health, I take care of everyone else before myself. my husband and I live in a community wi... View more

Hello I am a female with a lot of self esteem issues. I am considered obese and I feel it! i have 2 kids under 3 and I have let myself go along with my mental health, I take care of everyone else before myself. my husband and I live in a community without family support so it makes it hard to let each other go and do those extra things for our well-being because we rely on each other so bad. the last time I was happy with my weight was when I weighed less but that is still classified as overweight for my height. I want to hear from people that successfully lost weight against the odds and how you did it?! Every night I say I’ll start tomorrow my Diet isn’t shocking but it could be better. I could exercise a lot more. any inspiration would be appreciated

Supermum Something needs to change
  • replies: 7

It’s been a long time since I posted on the BB forums. I would like to think it’s because I was cured and no longer had the issues I had before and in my defence I was starting to feel more I control of my life and my head. Alas life threw me another... View more

It’s been a long time since I posted on the BB forums. I would like to think it’s because I was cured and no longer had the issues I had before and in my defence I was starting to feel more I control of my life and my head. Alas life threw me another curve ball that I wasn’t expecting and now I’m left with chaos. I’ve hit 50 and I just feel more lost, more isolated, more alone and more confused than I did when I was 18. I go to work and function as I should, I look after my home and my children as I should but inside it’s not as it should be. I am afraid that if I let just the smallest part of what’s inside out then chaos would be unleashed . The anger, bitterness, emptiness and hurt and pain would be like a black hole enveloping everything around me that I still love and cherish. That I wouldn’t be able to control that emotion, that tsunami of everything I hold inside to mask how I feel would engulf all in its path. What would I be left with ? Someone I truely didn’t like, that I despised , that people didn’t want to know ? But it’s coming , I feel it I am just a ticking time bomb going through the motions of a high functioning life. I make reckless decisions, I step out into the road without looking, I don’t care if I get caught speeding or doing something wrong. I just don’t care anymore. I don’t know what this message will achieve or why I am even writing it …

gshdnnr Feels like the world is against me
  • replies: 1

Recently, I've been crying a lot over things, and it's hard trying to be open about my feelings to people who I am close with, especially family since they always shut me down because I'm the "youngest." It actually sucks being the youngest because e... View more

Recently, I've been crying a lot over things, and it's hard trying to be open about my feelings to people who I am close with, especially family since they always shut me down because I'm the "youngest." It actually sucks being the youngest because everything I say gets undermined. First and foremost, I have been diagnosed with depression before by my GP but after a while, things improved only because people knew about my condition but, they eventually brushed it off like it was nothing. My two siblings, mental health means the world to only them, well only theirs, because recently my sister has gotten back from her psychiatrist who tells her she's got ADHD and is telling my brother to go as well since he has signs due to hyperactivity. My parents value that. But for me? I just feel like, yes, I get stuff I need that my parents would consider, "We do everything for you to make you happy," but it feels like there's no consideration of my feelings anyway. I had an exam last week, and the morning I woke up before it, I felt worried. I was trying to eat breakfast and chose to eat leftovers from dinner, but I don't see the reason why my sister just had to comment on everything I do? Then proceed to get away with it because she's older than me. I told her to stop commenting on my diet but she yells out to my mom who begins to yell at me for acting like I'm older. So all I heard that day was yelling so instinctively I said shut up because the yelling already worsened the fact that I was annoyed. Also, it feels like my sister has the been the primary driver of getting everyone against me. I know she talks behind my back to my parents because she does so with my brother since she feels like she's the responsible sibling. I play games with a friend online and we call. Our house is an open space, and I sit next to my sister. She studies, and apparently she's been complaining to my mom that I get too loud and she can't study. I retaliated whenever I do study, she also gets loud when she talks and I don't complain and my mom tries to say that I'm too loud in a way to cover up my feelings and the conversation ends. Again, my mom came out and told me off for the same reason, however, my sister was NOT even studying or working when I has called my friend and the complain was that I talked too loud when she was working... I told my mom she wasn't even doinf that and my mom knew she had nothing to say to that and proceeded to say that she didn't wanna hear from me again.

Dana J lonely and untrusting of the world
  • replies: 3

my kids go to school, my husband to work and I just sit there staring at my phone, not interacting with anyone all day. I just do some chores and then sit on my own. My casual job didn't work out. I'm trying to find purpose and goals but I'm genuinel... View more

my kids go to school, my husband to work and I just sit there staring at my phone, not interacting with anyone all day. I just do some chores and then sit on my own. My casual job didn't work out. I'm trying to find purpose and goals but I'm genuinely fearful of getting out into the world because I fear rejection. For a year now I've genuinely tried to find joy and connect with people but it never seems to work. I even went rollerblading the other day, a hobby I used to take joy in, only for two men on bikes to stop me while one told me that the path was only for bike riders (not true I checked with the council after). It just made me want to go back and hide. I'm trying though, I'm really trying and I know I have so much to be grateful for but I just can't get past the idea that I'm a piece of sh*t and nobody likes me so I stay in my house. I try to hide it when the kids come home but I'm struggling to keep it contained. Last night at the dinner table my 10 year old kept asking me what was wrong and trying to cheer me up although I said I was ok and smiled at him. Later I told him that he was not responsible for my emotions and that it was just how my brain works sometimes. My husband is supportive but he doesn't know how to help other than telling me to exercise. I have no family to connect with - there's only my mentally ill mother who has put me through hell the last four years. I keep trying to find ways out of this but I can't commit to anything and I'm starting to dread any social situations. I've cut back on my friendships. I was seeing a therapist for a few years but then she told me that my brain was set on a negative path and recommended I pursue neurofeedback therapy instead. I spoke to my GP and she said I would need to talk to a psychiatrist if I wanted to get the medicare rebate for it. I do not want to talk about my childhood crap to yet another professional and I don't think it would work anyway. I'm so lonely and it's my fault. Believe me when I say that if you have any suggestions on how I can fix this I'm all ears because this just isn't how I want to live anymore.

Scared Motive check
  • replies: 4

Im not doing well.My meds are not working and Im at times worried i am going out of my mind. I pathetically check beyond blue forums all day waiting for a notification. Anything to stop the madness in my head.I was replying to a serious post and then... View more

Im not doing well.My meds are not working and Im at times worried i am going out of my mind. I pathetically check beyond blue forums all day waiting for a notification. Anything to stop the madness in my head.I was replying to a serious post and then deleted it because I felt Im using their pain as a way to stop my own. I suddenly felt dirty when I thought of the Authors post and the seriousness of what they are going thru. I realised I had nothing new to add to help this particular person so I deleted and made a new post.Posts on here are not written for my distraction but for serious input to which I had none. Thats how I feel. I dont know how to get betterIm glad there is some decency left in me because there isnt much else.

Gj-1974 Not coping
  • replies: 1

Hi l am really struggling today everything is getting on top of me financially under pressure hardly eating lack of work housing uncertainty no family talk to etc

Hi l am really struggling today everything is getting on top of me financially under pressure hardly eating lack of work housing uncertainty no family talk to etc

Tamrby alone
  • replies: 2

not really sure where to put this. I just feel bad for burdening others with my problems and I struggle with asking for help because my struggles don't feel bad enough even though people I am close with says it is. In some ways I do not want to get b... View more

not really sure where to put this. I just feel bad for burdening others with my problems and I struggle with asking for help because my struggles don't feel bad enough even though people I am close with says it is. In some ways I do not want to get better just something else I have failed, is that weird?

LollieHS Lost and Lonely Mum
  • replies: 5

I'm certain people look at my life and think how lucky I must be. They see a vibrant, intelligent, happy and very friendly young woman and mother but the truth is I have never felt so sad and so lonely. It's hard wearing a mask everyday and not havin... View more

I'm certain people look at my life and think how lucky I must be. They see a vibrant, intelligent, happy and very friendly young woman and mother but the truth is I have never felt so sad and so lonely. It's hard wearing a mask everyday and not having any support to share how I'm really feeling. I am a Mum of 2 year old twins who are the light of my life, they bring me the only joy in my life. I often feel guilty for relying on their existence and presence to make me happy and realise that needs to change. Having twins is a lot of work and whilst I manage really well, the only support I have is of my partner. We don't have family near by that we can call upon regularly. I've hardly had anytime away from them in 2 years and going to the supermarket is my only form of 'me time'. I'm exhausted all the time, I work 3 days a week in a job I absolutely hate, I have no real work relationships with colleagues and feel very alone at work too. I have 1 friend who is a life long friend but now also a long distance friend and we just don't have that emotional connection which I really need. I have tried so many times to make friends and put myself out there and I'm constantly let down, people not responding, or taking weeks at a time or my effort just isn't reciprocated. I don't understand why I have no friends and this has been a life long problem. I'm also having major issues in my relationship, my partner works full-time and does help with the twins but that is about the extent of it. We are having to move soon and he has done nothing to help prepare the house for sale and just complains when I get external assistance such as a gardener (which we can afford). Last week I opened up to him whilst I was at work as I was having a really hard day and trying not to cry at work. He never even asked me if I was ok or anything when I got home, it was like that never happened. I let him know I was disappointed he didn't check in on me and allow me to talk about it and he still hasn't checked in on me. This is only adding to my feelings of loneliness. I guess the only common denominator in this equation is myself...so maybe I am the problem. I have also been having some really intrusive thoughts about past traumas and things flooding my memory from when I was a child that I have never spoken about to anyone. Maybe I have a lot of underlying unresolved traumas. I know I have problems with emotional eating.

TigerTheDog asking for help
  • replies: 1

I'm struggling with self hate and depression and want to talk to a professional about ithow do i get the courage to talk to parents about thisi don't know why its so scary but it is what are some strategies i could try

I'm struggling with self hate and depression and want to talk to a professional about ithow do i get the courage to talk to parents about thisi don't know why its so scary but it is what are some strategies i could try