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Depression

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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: 1

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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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

Kate88 Feeling helpless
  • replies: 6

I'm isolated pretty much 24/7, still live at home with my parents. One has PTSD the other has depression, so it's rarely a happy household. My dad has nit picked at me for as long as I can remember. Now my brother who is a drug addict has moved back ... View more

I'm isolated pretty much 24/7, still live at home with my parents. One has PTSD the other has depression, so it's rarely a happy household. My dad has nit picked at me for as long as I can remember. Now my brother who is a drug addict has moved back in. I told my family how angry I was that he was moving back in and they just jumped down my throat and got angry at me. When the reason I felt angry was because I know how much stress it will put on everyone and because I so badly want some happiness within the household. I have no job as I have chronic fatigue, any friends I make I seem to end up losing. I've tried getting a job suitable for me but with no success, then I started to get more migraines and was diagnosed with costochrondritis. I feel like no matter what I do, something is always there holding me back. I feel like the only friends I have left don't want to be around me. I've thought about possibly moving out into a sharehouse or something but I can't imagine anyone would want to live with someone like me. I'm on medication and I've seen my doctor about it but she isn't much help anymore. I'm tired of feeling depressed, lonely, I'm tired of being in pain. I'm tired of always being in my own head, listening to the negative thoughts over and over again. I'm tired of seeing how unhappy people in my family are and I'm somehow expected to feel happy regardless of it all. Now I'm concerned my brother will take his life and there's nothing I can do about it. And it's hard because I know how he feels deep down. I feel like it's just a matter of time that someone in my family will take their own life, I just don't know who it'll be. Maybe it'll be me. I'm so tired of feeling worthless, feeling like I'm incapable of such simple things. I'm tired of people putting me down. I'm tired of the counselling appointments, the medication changes, the side effects. I'm tired of not getting anywhere. And instead I just suffer. I don't know where to go from here but disappearing definitely looks more appealing than anything else right now. Decided I'll just stay away from the only friends I do have, I don't feel like they want to be around me anyway and I don't want to bring them down. I also don't want them to only hangout with me because they feel bad. I've had enough. I'm so over my life and I don't see anyway out.

JmOnEy I dont have a personality.
  • replies: 4

Lets get into it then: Over the past month ive had to face some extremely hard truths about myself and my mental health as a part of trying to move forward and better my quality of life. 1) I dont find a SINGLE thing funny anymore - jokes, TV, Movies... View more

Lets get into it then: Over the past month ive had to face some extremely hard truths about myself and my mental health as a part of trying to move forward and better my quality of life. 1) I dont find a SINGLE thing funny anymore - jokes, TV, Movies, social gstherings etc. 2) connected to the above, I find myself fake lauging at everything - to the point where my face and throat hurts. 3) I am a perfect chameleon. Im able to blend into any kind of sub culture I am currently around. But nothing feels natural. 4) I lack symapthy and empathy for most people apart from family. Infact emotion has become extremely vacant for me as a whole. Countless times I have been to a doctor. And countless times its just resulted in nothing - you know the drill "heres some SSRIs and see me in a month" - the follow up just results in an increased dose that makes me angry and impotent (not joking). Basically long story short i have a complete apathy for life and its growing worse and worse. I just dont know what to do. Is this what real life is??

James76 Clinical depression
  • replies: 6

Hi, I'm 41 and having the worst year of my life. My Dad passed away 11 months ago after since that event I went on a downward spiral into clinical depression and anxiety. It got so bad that I was hospitalised. I had 12 treatments of ECT and discharge... View more

Hi, I'm 41 and having the worst year of my life. My Dad passed away 11 months ago after since that event I went on a downward spiral into clinical depression and anxiety. It got so bad that I was hospitalised. I had 12 treatments of ECT and discharged. I'm still battling depression and get angry and teary at times. My girlfriend has left me recently and I am feeling lost. I am religious and feel I'm being punished by a higher power for a relationship I had with a married woman 16 years ago. I regret a lot about my life and want a fresh start but am anxious about taking the next step. I feel I have wasted so many opportunities in my life and I've left things too late. I am going to the gym and practising mindfulness but now it's school holidays (I'm a teacher) I begin ruminating and beginning the "What ifs". Thanks for reading.

happyannie Battle of the Brain
  • replies: 5

I dont know about anyone else but Im always having a battle with myself. My good side of my brain helps me with positive thoughts and tries to inspire me and then my bad side of my brain tells me negative thoughts and feelings,when this happens it ma... View more

I dont know about anyone else but Im always having a battle with myself. My good side of my brain helps me with positive thoughts and tries to inspire me and then my bad side of my brain tells me negative thoughts and feelings,when this happens it makes my life very difficult. For example if Im trying to leave the house to go to an appointmentmy good side will pump me up with positive talk and then in comes the bad side of my brain telling me that I cant do it. Im sure other people may experience these feelings, if anyones got any helpful ideas on coping methods it would be appreciated. I always say I feel like I'm in a constant battle with myself. Thanx Annie

Lionel69 Newbie
  • replies: 6

Hello im lionel. New to the forum but not new to depression and very much struggle to cope with things right now

Hello im lionel. New to the forum but not new to depression and very much struggle to cope with things right now

slippery_slope Courage to Share
  • replies: 7

Hi, Not sure how to start? Didnt think I'd make it this morning but it's now 3.50pm SA time and have finally made it through to the other side of these apocalyptic episodes. It's really hard to stay positive, it's always uphill battle, it's a relentl... View more

Hi, Not sure how to start? Didnt think I'd make it this morning but it's now 3.50pm SA time and have finally made it through to the other side of these apocalyptic episodes. It's really hard to stay positive, it's always uphill battle, it's a relentless war inside the mind but I know I just have to stay alive long enough for it to pass. I'm tired, lonely, and sometimes frightened but I've hung in there again, just. I would really give my soul to devil to stop this. Thanks for reading.

Bluedaze Reposting after a long long break - Good & Bad news
  • replies: 9

Hi there, thought I'd post again after a very long break. I have good news and bad, 1st the bad. I'm still alive. Yes I know, drag.. bummer.. boring!. Now the good. I have finally someone who deeply loves and cares for me (I can't imagine why). Unpla... View more

Hi there, thought I'd post again after a very long break. I have good news and bad, 1st the bad. I'm still alive. Yes I know, drag.. bummer.. boring!. Now the good. I have finally someone who deeply loves and cares for me (I can't imagine why). Unplanned, unexpected but very welcome. So in that, I finally have someone who will morn over me when I'm gone. Thanks for reading. C-ya.

Devoid My life in a nutshell...
  • replies: 2

Hello everyone, For reasons I can't fathom...I find myself without a person to lean on.... About life; Youngest of four, dad with addictive/abusive behaviour, met an aussie online/met/married at 18, came to Oz at 19, husband had addictive/abusive beh... View more

Hello everyone, For reasons I can't fathom...I find myself without a person to lean on.... About life; Youngest of four, dad with addictive/abusive behaviour, met an aussie online/met/married at 18, came to Oz at 19, husband had addictive/abusive behaviour, stayed married 18 years, had 4 children to him, went to Tafe for nursing diploma, workplace bullying twice, cracked/had time off/ got medicated, seperated/divorced, isolated, self destructive behaviour when kids were with their dad, settled down (mostly), met a new man in another country (been overseas twice), engaged, pregnant, no friends, extremely depressed/hormonal/emotional, fiance can't "just come over" Because he wasn't born in a first world country, no family here.... No best friend. I have tried reaching out to others about where I'm at and I'm constantly being rejected. I invited 23 ppl from work to my home for a short notice barbeque....I got 14 "nos" and 0 ppl turn up. I tried joining a newbie motorcycle club but honestly no one was very helpful or Interested. My best friend disowned me because she didn't support my pregnancy....but it turns out after almost two years of trying she's 3 weeks more pregnant than me. Also she said I'm a bad parent because I went to my fiance twice because he couldn't get approved for a visitor's visa here and not taking my kids on expensive holidays (that I can't afford) makes me a bad parent in her opinion. She was like a sister to me....and it feels like she died....so I'm still really hurting and grieving that. I see an antenatal social worker at the hospital. I've done the mental health assessment with my GP. I struggle with wanting someone and not wanting to be a burden or be dependent. Im going to end up being alone in the delivery room in March.... And maybe for a couple years til my guy can come over...if he comes over....he's not talking to me right now..."for the good of our relationship" because I'm so angry/broken.... Evwryone will say get more help, get more help....but it feels cheap knowing the only ppl that will "care" about you are getting paid to do so.....

OhmeOhmy Here we go again
  • replies: 5

I have dealt with depression and anxiety all my life on and off. I understand if so much more now and have so many more tools in my tool box which means that life is generally much better than ever before. However right now I am really struggling and... View more

I have dealt with depression and anxiety all my life on and off. I understand if so much more now and have so many more tools in my tool box which means that life is generally much better than ever before. However right now I am really struggling and I feel so alone. "The sadness" (what I call is because it is just a deep overwhelming sadness) and the constant gut churning anxiety is back. It just shows up whenever it feels like it out of the blue. It snatches away my resolve and my confidence and leaves me feeling like a vulnerable, frightened child who is alone. When it gets me like this I feel helpless. I know however that I'm not helpless and that there are things I can do to help myself feel better. maybe as human beings we are meant to experience polarities, like hot and cold, happy and sad, so that we can appreciate the difference between the two....