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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: 0

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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a_white Feeling low
  • replies: 3

Hi, I've had depression for a few years now, but only sought help at the start of the year. I've been on medication for 5 months now and there was a period where I was feeling do much better. Although in the last couple of weeks I feel like the meds ... View more

Hi, I've had depression for a few years now, but only sought help at the start of the year. I've been on medication for 5 months now and there was a period where I was feeling do much better. Although in the last couple of weeks I feel like the meds have just stopped working. I've never been so sad in my life. I'm constantly excusing myself at work and going to the bathroom to cry. I don't want to kill myself, but I want to just hit pause on my life. I've thought about packing up my stuff and leaving for awhile. I'm struggling at work and constantly feel like I'm just waiting to get hone and lie in bed and cry. I've had enough of this. I want to be happy so bad. Anyone experience the same after taking medication? Any advice?

Glassa What's left to try? Treatment resistant dysthymia
  • replies: 3

I grew up thinking that my highly muted capacity for emotional response was just a personality trait. It took a double depresion episode in my 20s to realise otherwise. Sought treatment then, nothing worked, so I just tried to get on with things. Hit... View more

I grew up thinking that my highly muted capacity for emotional response was just a personality trait. It took a double depresion episode in my 20s to realise otherwise. Sought treatment then, nothing worked, so I just tried to get on with things. Hit my mid 30s, and my ahedonia became so pronounced I stopprd having feelings of reward or achievement often, or lastingly. Over the past 3 years, I've engaged a mental health team, but nothing we've tried's worked. Aside from an occasional catostrophising and the odd moment of anxiety, there's not a lot for CBT to target. Talk therapy worked through some other issues hasn't provided any symptom relief. On the psychiatry side, if you can name a drug, I've been on it. And if I've been on it, it has either had no effect or an abnormal one. Exercise - also a bust. Joined a gym & a team sport, went to both regularly for a bit over a year.got into the best shape I've been in a decade & only felt worse because now I was depressed *and* phyically exhausted, without ever apparent benefit of exercise endorphins. Joined a community organisation for regular socialisation and do-good spirit; left bevause I'm one of nature's introverts and people are exhausting. I don't even get a lasting sense of good feelings from being with friends What's left? What else should I try? I'm on the waiting list for tcm therapy but there don't seem to be any other treatment trials or research programs in WA. Even if I can't be fixed, knowing more aboit why I am the way I am would make things more bearable.

ro63 Depression is so Exhausting
  • replies: 52

Hi All, Have had depression for around ten years,It is envioromental depression if there is such a thing I don't think it is a chemical imbalance as there is no depression in the family that I know of altough my mother has high Anxiety and will never... View more

Hi All, Have had depression for around ten years,It is envioromental depression if there is such a thing I don't think it is a chemical imbalance as there is no depression in the family that I know of altough my mother has high Anxiety and will never admit it ,she isn't good at admitting things I have to say, particularly the mental abuse we suffered and even at 53 still getting it today altough my sisters get far more now than I do as I don't see her much now, and avoid her like the plague but still get panic attack when I see it's her on the phone ,so damage done too deep to just forget.Married a woman who is pretty much the same only with far more venom and we barely speak and I have to end this marriage and soon or it will take me this time. I just have'nt the strength for the torrid battle it will be and she will use our son as a weapon against me that I can't avoid.It kills me he is 17 and is autisic and has the worst OCD that 3 doctors and 5 psycologists have ever seen (their words). he washes his hands 50 times a day is paranoid about germs and fumes so will not go out of the house without a major battle ,and has also a phobia about flies ,and we live in sydney so summer is an absolute joy as you can imagine.I am not on any meds as I was for 7 years and will not go down that road again ,have seen many psycologists with varying degree's of assistance ranging from little to none.One has been very helpful and very well known so when I watch tv I see her often I aso do her work I am a tradie so it is a little familiar and Fills me with shame when I think about how she must feel about me ,even thogh I know it isn't the case and I know it's just the ruminating thought patterns creating a false reality it still hurts me.I have hit a place where I haven't been before in as much as I don't want to go out and I don't want to exersize which I normally do crossfit 4 times a week and yoga twice a week I have just hit a wall and feel paralized ,

Fredi Things I have lost part I - friends
  • replies: 2

I had a whole heap of friends that I kept in touch with, organised things with.I would be a recluse every now and then, but we would always be out and about. Travelling to Tassie, travelling to Canada, kayaking/canoeing Kangaroo Point river, driving ... View more

I had a whole heap of friends that I kept in touch with, organised things with.I would be a recluse every now and then, but we would always be out and about. Travelling to Tassie, travelling to Canada, kayaking/canoeing Kangaroo Point river, driving to Darwin for wedding, having dinners etc. Then things started to happen. My depression smacked me hard and I was down for the count for some time. My close friends were great, and even went to the community counsellor at the hospital to learn about depression, signs, what it means etc. This buoyed me up – how lovely. But I haven't really got better. I began to fall out of the loop. People did not include me in the group invites or to the Christmas party. Friends did not tell me that my other ‘friends’ were in a bad places (like 1 with stage III breast cancer; another whose parents died), so I just drifted backwards more and more. This made me terribly sad – and made me feel very selfish as I wasn’t there to support them,which made me more distant as I didn’t know what to say (I know this is very self, self, self, but that is where I am at right now).

white knight Sad all the time? Dysthymia
  • replies: 22

It's difficult to describe but if you see and feel sadness in most things in life you could have dysthymia. Constant, uncontrollable crying, thinking often about sad topics. A proper diagnosis is needed. This illness generally develops prior to adult... View more

It's difficult to describe but if you see and feel sadness in most things in life you could have dysthymia. Constant, uncontrollable crying, thinking often about sad topics. A proper diagnosis is needed. This illness generally develops prior to adulthood and can be described as a constant low mood depression. You can google "dysthymia mood disorder" to receive a full description. The disorder makes one feel alone, desperate and unusual. I have a friend I went to school with, he never cried in 35 years I knew him until his father died. He was uncontrollable that funeral day. The next day we chatted. I mentioned that his state the day before was how I felt every second day. He got some idea of the magnitude. Soon after I got the diagnosis Bipolar2, depression, anxiety and...dysthymia. my psychiatrist discovered that a near drowning of my brother when I was 12yo was the spark, the shock that set it off. I didnt talk for 3 months after that incident and was highly emotional ever since until 2009 when he prescribed medication. Since then my life has turned around in terms of sadness. If you believe your level of sadness is high, constant and you feel desperate, even suicidal, you might have dysthymia. It effects more women than men, can come about if you have a parent with a mental illness or if you suffered trauma at a young age. Seek help. The difference to your life will be much more positive. Tony WK

Izzy_blue Feeling hopeless and lost
  • replies: 1

I gave up everything to be where I am now. But when I finally started to find a job and started work, it seems like nothing's going my way. I've considered changing profession but I don't want my family to be disappointed as they have high expectatio... View more

I gave up everything to be where I am now. But when I finally started to find a job and started work, it seems like nothing's going my way. I've considered changing profession but I don't want my family to be disappointed as they have high expectations. I feel like a failure all the time. I have trouble getting asleep and I wake up in the middle of the night for no reason. I just don't know what to do anymore.

MelissaFirstTimeMum Post partum depression
  • replies: 7

I am really struggling. I feel like I'm not enjoying being a mum. I love my daughter but I really strugle with the stress of it all. I see a psychologist and I'm definitely doing better than I was but I am just wondering if I will ever be "better" or... View more

I am really struggling. I feel like I'm not enjoying being a mum. I love my daughter but I really strugle with the stress of it all. I see a psychologist and I'm definitely doing better than I was but I am just wondering if I will ever be "better" or "normal" or "me" again. I get so anxious in public situations especially if she is cranky or tired so I just avoid going out completely. I keep wondering how the psychologist is going to fix me. I'm just a bit lost.

StephD I hate humanity
  • replies: 7

Is this just depression or am I right to feel this way?I hate humanity because I get pushed out of the way by selfish business men trying to board the train before me so they can get a seat.Because I was insulted and teased by strangers on the street... View more

Is this just depression or am I right to feel this way?I hate humanity because I get pushed out of the way by selfish business men trying to board the train before me so they can get a seat.Because I was insulted and teased by strangers on the streets for being overweight and now being accused of a drug addict or told to eat more food because I worked hard to lose the weight and am now apparently too thin (I'm not).Because women on three occasions have thrown drinks at me from their car window and have shouted abuse. Even though I hate my body, and was a virgin when the events happened.Because I fianally worked up the courage to wear a dress for the first time and a man spat at me for wearing a dress. It was below my knees and I was wearing a jumper.And because a man once punched me in the shoulder because I walked too close to him.Because I feel lonely and other women walk past me giving me narky looks.Because I'm socially akward and people assume I'm dumb and condescend. Because a man once asked me if I was a prostitute while I was waiting for a bus. I know it sounds like I underdress but I don't.Because I dated a narcissistic man for six years who took all my money and my self respect.Because I survived high school not being seriously bullied but had my self esteem damaged by my mum when she was going through her mid kife crises and started to call me flthunder thighs before I even started gaining weight.Do I menifest this behavior from others because I don't love myself or something? Does anyone go through what I go through? I also hate the way people judge others in such a small minded way. I hate that people stare at their iphones all the time. I hate that they're addicted to technology.I hate that they take too many selfies and are self absorbed. I hate that they all follow trends no metter how ridiculous.I hate that people throw around mental illness and disorders like OCD, depression, bi polar, adhd, etc like they're meaningless adjectives. "I'm tots OCD because I'm so neat".I hate that people are fake to impress others.I hate that people are selfish in general.I hate people who use a instead of an.That's just my OCD.I know that there are diamonds in the rough. I wish there were more good people than there are bad. I don't want to hate humanity. I want to have fun in life.

NOmadx Guilt about depression
  • replies: 4

Hi guys, I have been quietly struggling with depression, anger and mood swings since I was 18. What gets me the most when I feel depressed is the enormous sense of unbridled guilt. Guilt that my partner and my family have to put up with me on my bad ... View more

Hi guys, I have been quietly struggling with depression, anger and mood swings since I was 18. What gets me the most when I feel depressed is the enormous sense of unbridled guilt. Guilt that my partner and my family have to put up with me on my bad days, and guilt that I'm depressed but don't have any valid and communicable reasons for it. I have a decent paying job and a loving partner and a supporting family. Not all that much bad has happened to me in life that warrants me being a depressed curmudgeon. My dad did die when I was in my early 20s and I did struggle with school early on (primarily because I was angry) which resulted in me dropping out really young. I did work through that though, so I thought, I went back to school accrued a couple of tertiary qualifications and found a loving partner. On paper at least and in my own head I feel like there is just no rational reason for being depressed and I'm guessing this is why I feel incredibly guilty about it. I'm 29 and I just don't know what the right next steps are. Does anyone have any good tips about how to cope? Is this something that warrants professional help?

Braxiatel81 I need to get this off my chest
  • replies: 4

I need to say right at the start that I just need to get this off my chest. I have anxiety, depression, bi-polar and I'm not coping...I'm over it. I don't want any more help...its not working. Everything I do is impacting my family and my friends and... View more

I need to say right at the start that I just need to get this off my chest. I have anxiety, depression, bi-polar and I'm not coping...I'm over it. I don't want any more help...its not working. Everything I do is impacting my family and my friends and all the strategies and sessions and meds are not working. Its all happening still and its impacting my family, my friends and my colleagues. Its not fair on them and I am over it. I don't know what to do and all I want to do is crawl into a corner and cry. I don't want to talk about it anymore, I don't those looks of sympathy, those looks of "I don't know what to say". I don't want to be included in the world anymore..i want to be me, away from everyone that I make frustrated and angry. I don't know what to do other than to write this down and get it off my chest. No one else I know is like this and I can't deal with professionals anymore.