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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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Guest_125 The need to avoid certain people...?
  • replies: 6

I think I might have made the really tough choice to avoid a couple of family members, one being my mother, as much as possible to help me with recovery. The really tricky bit is I have always craved them in my life, chasing seemingly elusive validat... View more

I think I might have made the really tough choice to avoid a couple of family members, one being my mother, as much as possible to help me with recovery. The really tricky bit is I have always craved them in my life, chasing seemingly elusive validation and acceptance. But I think I need to be much stronger and sure of myself before attempting to have much to do with them again or I might get worse. In the past and now, the more time I spend with them the worse I seem to feel. But whether avoiding them is for the better or not is yet to be seen I guess. Has anyone else felt the need to distance themselves from particular people to help with their recovery?

ash_kaye How do I help myself?
  • replies: 2

I feel completely swamped in my life. I'm living a life that isnt mine anymore I don't have a clue what I'm doing. It makes me want to run away to nowhere and live a simple life. I'm 20, I previously had anorexia for 2 years, I have anxiety and sever... View more

I feel completely swamped in my life. I'm living a life that isnt mine anymore I don't have a clue what I'm doing. It makes me want to run away to nowhere and live a simple life. I'm 20, I previously had anorexia for 2 years, I have anxiety and severe depression which I take medication for. Every health professional I talk to treat me like I should be better by now, it seems like its problem after problem and no one takes me seriously, I'm supposed to be doing well at uni but I'm not, I have a job but its very irregular, I have a couple of friends but I never want to go out. I have obviously a lot of self esteem issues and boy issues, I don't think anyone will ever love me and I know that its stupid and someone will but it feels like i've been waiting my whole life to not feel invisible. I don't know how to help myself, I've seen psychs im on medication, I try to do everything right and my life still feels so awful, I'm in pain daily from my depression and I don't know how much longer I can survive like this. I have no clue how to help myself.

gem2000 I don't know what to do anymore
  • replies: 7

I hate being like this, consistently feeling like I am not good enough for anyone around me, always feeling so down and depressed that some how that everything thats going wrong in my life is my fault. Currently doing year 12 so the stress of doing w... View more

I hate being like this, consistently feeling like I am not good enough for anyone around me, always feeling so down and depressed that some how that everything thats going wrong in my life is my fault. Currently doing year 12 so the stress of doing well is destroying me, if i don't get a good score I will be a failure to everyone around me. Everyday I dont want to wake up, every night i fall asleep early trying to escape the world I live in. The only time I'm at peace is in my sleep. Feeling depressed every minute of every day is so tiring and draining, I dont know what to do anymore. I have hardly any friends, the ones I had are no longer friends with me, school is one of the scariest places as i feel like everyone hates me. I have a boyfriend who I love with all my heart and he doesnt love me the same way back. I give the relationship everything I have and he puts in nothing, at times i feel like he's only with me if he wants something. Its so hard giving so much and never getting any effort back. I am a selfless person, always put everyone else before myself and my needs and every time it back fires on me. sometimes i just wish some body would love and care about me the way I love and care about people, I want someone to take the time out of their day and see how I'm truly going but no one ever does. I try talking to my boyfriend about all this but he doesnt have any time and the friends i do have well there sick of hearing about it. So what I do is lock myself away from everyone and just cry because i have all this pain and sadness and I dont know what to do with it. I dont know what to do anymore

SubduedBlues My circle of despair, has it been broken?
  • replies: 8

By now, my friends, you may be aware that I came to BB following the breakdown of my marriage of 24 years. At first, I believed it was this breakdown and her departure that was the source of the my pain. At first. Since coming to BB and opening up to... View more

By now, my friends, you may be aware that I came to BB following the breakdown of my marriage of 24 years. At first, I believed it was this breakdown and her departure that was the source of the my pain. At first. Since coming to BB and opening up to all you kind people. Reading how others are struggling day-to-day also, many a lot longer than I; and some a lot tougher too. I have come to realise that I am not alone. I have learnt that I am not as useless that I once thought I was. That there just might be a better tomorrow out there somewhere, someday. Though some days I may still have my doubts, I know that I just need to get past these bad days and the good days are just around the corner. I try to see this akin to when I quit smoking way-back-when. These bad days are just like the nicotine withdrawal symptoms; a craving for garbage that will pass. Reading everyone's posts, the regulars, the irregulars, the new people and the once-off, each time I learn more about myself. Each post and each thread sinks in a little, and changes me a little. The BB forums are the most moving and tearful experience of my week. It is where I reconnect to a world that I have had disconnected from all those years ago. I got so caught up in my own world: my wife and that I had forgotten about everyone else. Now, after my wife has departed and I have only my children and a need to maintain a normalcy for them. I find that I have a lot of time to reflect on years gone by. In this reflection, I fear that I have been living in one of those so called one-side relationships that WK has spake of in his other recent thread. Or maybe it was more likely to be where my wife and I were each living in our own one-sided relationship, but neither of them were connecting. It was so depressing being told by the doc that I am depressed. And it was even more depressing when he told me that he wants me to go on ADs for the next six to twelve months. I thought to myself, "Just what I need, to be kicked further down when I was already feeling down." No, I am not ready for this type of treatment; I'll work with the psychologist first. Anyhow, I'm not starting the ADs just yet. As I have had an epiphany. I am will be exploring with the psych of the next few weeks if it was the presence of the marriage that caused the depression and not the absence of the marriage. And, if that were true, would not then, the absence of it empower me to lift myself up without the meds? D'

pink_rose1 I don't know what to do anymore.
  • replies: 3

I don't know what to do anymore. I have no sense of direction in life and I don't have any idea what to do with my life anymore. I just don't want to be here as it is too painful to be alive constantally worrying about what I need to be doing job wis... View more

I don't know what to do anymore. I have no sense of direction in life and I don't have any idea what to do with my life anymore. I just don't want to be here as it is too painful to be alive constantally worrying about what I need to be doing job wise and figuring out what I want to do. I have no goals anymore and no motivation. I have seeked professional help and nothing seems to work. I just don't want to be here anymore. When I talk to someone all I hear is "it will get better" "it's all right something will work out" but it's been like this for years.

MrsC Hello.
  • replies: 4

Hey all, Warning. Looooong story First time here at BB im not really sure what to say but for most my life since early teen years to present (25) ive had a mental illness. (i think) ive never been to a shrink or even a doctor. My poor husband cops al... View more

Hey all, Warning. Looooong story First time here at BB im not really sure what to say but for most my life since early teen years to present (25) ive had a mental illness. (i think) ive never been to a shrink or even a doctor. My poor husband cops alot of my mood swings and moments where all i do is cry. Im not very educated on it all but all i can say is i can only see the negative on most things. Some days im the happiest person but then something could pop up in my head from the past and there goes the happy mood. Ive had a fairly good childhood although my mother suffered from bad depression and alcoholism which led to gambling problems etc. Shes got it all under control now which is great but its left me in a shitty place as i had to deal with ALOT of it as i grew up. Id also always protect my brother so alot of times id push away my emotions and comfort him. But now theyre all catching up with me. yay. Im married to the best man in the world (haha) i have a beautiful 2yo daughter. And my life is good. I feel so guilty being like this on and off happy/sad/angry they both dont deserve it. I dont want anything to rub off on my little one either. Remembering me as a miserable person. My head just feels cloudy and i am constantly putting myself down over every little thing. I could type for hours but i feel like a whinger as i know theres people out there without food for example and people that are in devastating circumstances. But i want to feel happy and give my family the best life i can. I guess im scared and embarrassed to talk about it to anyone. My husband knows but theres only so much he can do. Ive recently met some really good quality friends but they arent aware. Im worried if i go on antidepressants i wont be me anymore. Ill be a zombie. I love who i am. And i just want to get rid of that heavy clouded mind and focus on the positives as lifes too short. Also the funny thing is id love to get into mental health as a career as i love helping people. So id like to sort my own head out first. Can taking antidepressants effect getting into a role like this? Do you Have to tell people. For example if i wanted to foster a child would this be a problem if i was on antidepressants? Are there certain ones that are better or is it up to the doc to decide. Please only nice comments i know that was a whole lot of confusion. Im not the best at expressing myself Thanks

ShaDevi STRESS
  • replies: 2

I work at a food factory. I just recently being diagnosed with epilepsy. I told my HR about my condition. They not allowing me to go back to work. Making all sorts of excuses. I gave then a letter from doctor. Still they not accepting it. What i do? ... View more

I work at a food factory. I just recently being diagnosed with epilepsy. I told my HR about my condition. They not allowing me to go back to work. Making all sorts of excuses. I gave then a letter from doctor. Still they not accepting it. What i do? I got no job so hard for living. Please can anyone tell me what i do?

Sunetra Why am I always ignored
  • replies: 3

I don’t understand what is wrong with me or why it happens to me but i’m always the one that gets ignored and i’m always the one that gets left out or forgotten with friends and family! I am one of four girls but i’m the odd one out and have been my ... View more

I don’t understand what is wrong with me or why it happens to me but i’m always the one that gets ignored and i’m always the one that gets left out or forgotten with friends and family! I am one of four girls but i’m the odd one out and have been my whole life and I can’t deal with it anymore I am so hurt but at the same time i’m almost numb I just want to know why my family would treat me like this if they didn’t actually hate me

cn no words
  • replies: 4

Im sitting here listening to my family play on the xbox an I feel so distant. I feel horrible that I am such a failure at being a dad and I am repeating all the same mistakes that my stepfather did with me. I can speak to them. Theres too much in my ... View more

Im sitting here listening to my family play on the xbox an I feel so distant. I feel horrible that I am such a failure at being a dad and I am repeating all the same mistakes that my stepfather did with me. I can speak to them. Theres too much in my head to fit out my mouth. I try and then I clam up. Also I feel frustrated by them. Why cant the see whats wrong with me? A hug and a kiss isnt going to fix it. Sometimes i think they dont even care and they want me to leave. I cant call my mum because ive ignored her for too long. Same as my brother. Every time the phone rings I just freeze. I feel like such a waste of time and money. I changed careers and now I dont earn enough for us and every decision I make sends us backwards. I cant even open facebook because everyone is having such a great time. Whats worse is they post the RUOK messages but they dont really care about someone who needs help. But why would they help me anyway because I have pushed everyone away. I dont know what to do. My head is spinning and I cant find any silence. I cant face work but I cant afford to take days off. The job I do has me responsible for peoples lives not that im going to hurt anyone but I really cant focus with whats going on. I just want some silence. Im so stressed about money and health and dying. Im stressed about being a good dad and husband. I just want to be taken away from all this. I was thinkin of going to the hospital but I dont know what good it would do. I am ashamed and embarrassed and confused. Negative thoughts creep into my head all the time. Ill be having a great time and laughing and then all of a sudden my chest will drop and thoughts will enter my head like "whats the point of all this, you are going to die soon anyway".

Slottx Postnatal...want it to stop
  • replies: 3

I could not love my child more.. but i cry all the time. Im angry at my husband because no matter what he does i feel he doesnt truly understand what im going through. I know my hormones are running wild.. but i want to enjoy this time with my baby b... View more

I could not love my child more.. but i cry all the time. Im angry at my husband because no matter what he does i feel he doesnt truly understand what im going through. I know my hormones are running wild.. but i want to enjoy this time with my baby but im so sad all the time.. jelous my husband gets to go to work. When will this feeling stop? Sometimes it brings in anxity when he leaves to go to work because i know ill be emotional all day and sad... why is this so hard. How do i get a stubborn man to understand what im going through... so much to postnatal...