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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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Freebo Lost in a perpetual spiral of sorrow
  • replies: 2

Life has become.... unbearable. I feel consumed by my darkness in ways that's I've never tried to articulate into words. The last 6 months I've felt so alone in the world like I can't talk to anybody. I feel so set in my isolation, I miss talking to ... View more

Life has become.... unbearable. I feel consumed by my darkness in ways that's I've never tried to articulate into words. The last 6 months I've felt so alone in the world like I can't talk to anybody. I feel so set in my isolation, I miss talking to people but can't help myself but continue it. I don't know who I am anymore. My depression is who I am right now. It's all I have. I can barely remember a time without the constant torment. As I tough through this phase, I have come to realize that I hate myself. That I honestly feel like I don't deserve help, so I use excuses to prolong my suffering. As I write this, thoughts of being melodramatic and to get over it plague me. My obsession with self pity is making me yearn a more permanent state of being. I feel like an outsider to my own journey, an alien to my existence. It takes all my being to just not give up, I don't want to. Because as distant as my past seems to my current state of mind. I do vaguely remember what serenity feels like. I haven't left my home in over a year. I haven't spoken to anyone in half that time. Both scare me to over come. I need help with it but I don't know how to ask. I can't do it for anyone else, I have to do it for myself and that's the greatest challenge of all because when it comes down to it. I don't feel like I'm worth it. Maybe this post to myself will help me, maybe it won't. Maybe someone can relate, I hope not. I am a lost soul, in a perpetual spiral of sorrow.

cfalz Why am I always so angry?
  • replies: 2

I feel like I’m ruining everything. I’m constantly upsetting people because I just can’t stop getting angry. I’m always so irritable and anything will set me off. My anger is always too intense for the tiny thing that upset me. I don’t know why I alw... View more

I feel like I’m ruining everything. I’m constantly upsetting people because I just can’t stop getting angry. I’m always so irritable and anything will set me off. My anger is always too intense for the tiny thing that upset me. I don’t know why I always overreact in this way. It’s pushing people away from me. I’m hurting people but I just can’t bring myself to say sorry. I just can’t apologise. If I could it would make things better but I just can’t and I don’t know why. I always just feel so empty and worthless and small issues always seem bigger than they are. I get this small amount of satisfaction when I cause an arguments because at least I feel something, but it always comes crashing down around me. Please help me

Anna150 Doing good to feel good
  • replies: 3

Hello all I am new here but wanted to share something I noticed recently. I have been in a slump for awhile. Not wanting to see or speak to family and friends. Wanting to avoid any human contact at all costs. I usually avoid the train but had to take... View more

Hello all I am new here but wanted to share something I noticed recently. I have been in a slump for awhile. Not wanting to see or speak to family and friends. Wanting to avoid any human contact at all costs. I usually avoid the train but had to take it the other day. When I disembarked I noticed a lady struggling with a cane and a suitcase. I offered to take her suitcase for her and as we slowly made our way down the platform we spoke. I was surprised how relaxed I was speaking with her. And that I felt less burdened than I had in a long time. Her gratitude for helping her made me feel... good. This feeling motivated me to try to return a lost wallet I found this morning to its own. Again, it felt good. Has anyone else noticed this? Anna

DJPTigerland140414 Negative thoughts never disappear!
  • replies: 3

I hate having to battle my mind every single day im alive. Trying to beat the thoughts telling me all day that im a nobody, loser, ugly, fat,etceven though nothing directly has occurred sometimes to make me feel this way. It is such a tiring and drai... View more

I hate having to battle my mind every single day im alive. Trying to beat the thoughts telling me all day that im a nobody, loser, ugly, fat,etceven though nothing directly has occurred sometimes to make me feel this way. It is such a tiring and draining battle 24/7 365 days a year fight to be in a fight that never ever ends and the mind never lets up. Im starting to feel that nothing short of a mind transplant will fix me. Some people would look at my life and say im a lucky person and there are most certainly people worse off than myself so why wont my mind accept that and let me just get on with my life and stop thinking negative thoughts whilst im not dorment and asleep. I feel like I cant keep fighting a battle I cant seem to win it just absolutely destroys my morale and doesn't allow me to start regaining my lost confidence and self esteem. I cant ever remember being confident or having self esteem it was never allowed to develop when I was a child. Being constantly put down by your parents will do that to a person I guess. Surely there must be something or someone out there that can help a person who really doesn't know where to turn next. I have honestly tried nearly everything out there and im still here today 32 feeling worse than ever. My life isn't even that bad but my mind just wont see it and believe it. I consciously know this fact yet still cant change my state of mind.

Tearsfall Dont know what else to do
  • replies: 21

Hello well her i am, yes just signed up , feeling lost and alone even though i have my adult children and a partner who loves me dearly. staying on top of life is becoming more difficult. So much going on and iv lost myself somewhere along the way. I... View more

Hello well her i am, yes just signed up , feeling lost and alone even though i have my adult children and a partner who loves me dearly. staying on top of life is becoming more difficult. So much going on and iv lost myself somewhere along the way. Im always helping others iv given up so much to be where i am

LalaMunk Just some thoughts - I hope this may help someone
  • replies: 3

I wonder what could have been. Who would I be if my illness were non-existant? Would I be successful? Would I be happy? Would my strongest friendships and relationships have actually lasted? Would I feel so isolated and abandoned…? It is the wonderin... View more

I wonder what could have been. Who would I be if my illness were non-existant? Would I be successful? Would I be happy? Would my strongest friendships and relationships have actually lasted? Would I feel so isolated and abandoned…? It is the wondering that hurts the most. Forever contemplating what could have been had I not been held back by the inefficiency of my own brain. These thoughts never leave my head. These thoughts keep me awake at night and distracted throughout the day. An endless cycle of what ifs. I have given up all hope of these thoughts ever subsiding. I have given up hope of ever being truly happy. I have resigned myself to a perpetual battle with my own mind; and with such resignation I have empowered myself. No, I will never be content. No, I will never be “normal”. No, I will never love myself and have sufficient confidence to brush off my insecurities. Yet I am strong; I will survive. I will forever battle with the demons inside. Surrender is not an option for me anymore. With understanding and acceptance of my illness I have found the strength to fight. To stare into the eyes of the black dog and say, “Not today mf. Not any day.” I will never back down again. I will never take the easy way out. I will struggle. I will hurt. I will cry, and rage, and scream into the night; I will polish my armour after every battle and despite my exhaustion I will continue to fight. I may have depression, but depression doesn't have me.

Chyuuuu Not sure if I should do work or not if the only thing I want is to be miserable
  • replies: 1

Recently I think I can feel my antidepressants starting to work. However, I spent so long when I was depressed telling myself that I don't want to get better or be happy, and still feel that way to an extent. Now I feel like if I start doing things t... View more

Recently I think I can feel my antidepressants starting to work. However, I spent so long when I was depressed telling myself that I don't want to get better or be happy, and still feel that way to an extent. Now I feel like if I start doing things that would be good for me like doing schoolwork or going outside it would undermine my progress and I will lose what I spent so much time on, and return to mediocrity. The only downside of not doing work is that it would just draw attention which would just be uncomfortable and humiliating and something I want to avoid, but I can't bring myself to just be good to myself. Perhaps this lifestyle of just doing nothing is more comfortable and i'm too lazy to do anything else, or I feel like my depression/misery was an excuse or achievement in some way. Does anyone have any advice for what I should do?

Kdk I am so sad
  • replies: 3

I am so sad it doesn’t leave me. I’m in short stay but feel so alone. I don’t know how long I can keep going. Everyday I wonder will this be my last.

I am so sad it doesn’t leave me. I’m in short stay but feel so alone. I don’t know how long I can keep going. Everyday I wonder will this be my last.

geoff Can we be pushed into a Depressive State ?
  • replies: 1

It's just my opinion, as I have been through this so many times in my life before and it's an ugly place to be in. If anyone has been pushed into Depression whether it's a partner, family member, or even through your work environment please let us kn... View more

It's just my opinion, as I have been through this so many times in my life before and it's an ugly place to be in. If anyone has been pushed into Depression whether it's a partner, family member, or even through your work environment please let us know as we can provide you with the support you need. Geoff.

Anicca Feeling down
  • replies: 2

Today has been a bad day. I usually manage everything on my own but because a have a friend I thought I could rely on, I asked for help. I was let down this afternoon and now feel totally frustrated. My anxiety was high for other reasons, which my fr... View more

Today has been a bad day. I usually manage everything on my own but because a have a friend I thought I could rely on, I asked for help. I was let down this afternoon and now feel totally frustrated. My anxiety was high for other reasons, which my friend knew about. Of course my anxiety skyrocketed. I have Bipolar 11 and have lived with anxiety and depression all of my life. I'm now in my early sixties. Sometimes I think I'm better off shutting myself off from the world.