Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with 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

All discussions

Anntug It's all to hard sometimes
  • replies: 3

I as on here a month or so ago feeling really helpless, depressed and anxious due to health anxiety. I had got on top of things for a few weeks and felt on top of the world..... then it all come crashing down again! I cannot pin point as to why this ... View more

I as on here a month or so ago feeling really helpless, depressed and anxious due to health anxiety. I had got on top of things for a few weeks and felt on top of the world..... then it all come crashing down again! I cannot pin point as to why this has happened but I cannnot cope with this all again! All I want to do is lay in bed and sleep however my mind is in overdrive and will not allow me to sleep. I don't want to eat or socialise with people. The mornings are the worse for me as I don't know how I am going to get through the day.

NoOtherName The right job for depression?
  • replies: 5

Hey guys I'm new here so it's nice to read about all your discussions. Just needing some advice please. Currently looking for a job I can maintain and I just got offered a job as a case worker working with kids in foster situations with severe trauma... View more

Hey guys I'm new here so it's nice to read about all your discussions. Just needing some advice please. Currently looking for a job I can maintain and I just got offered a job as a case worker working with kids in foster situations with severe trauma and mental health issues. In one way, it sounds perfect as I love kids and helping people but I'm also worried that my depression isn't steady enough to go back to work as it does make me unreliable and especially in such an intense environment. Have any of you had experience with this type of work or can you recommend any other work to me? I've tried being self employed but it's hard to stay motivated for me and not get discouraged with the lack of money. Thanks so much in advance ☺️

massdancer Finally letting it all out
  • replies: 2

I have never been one to express my emotions and tend to bottle everything up, but I just need a place where I can express all the feelings I feel in a judgement free zone. I'm hoping this is the place. My recent move to Australia from the states has... View more

I have never been one to express my emotions and tend to bottle everything up, but I just need a place where I can express all the feelings I feel in a judgement free zone. I'm hoping this is the place. My recent move to Australia from the states has taken quite a large toll on my mental health, way greater than expected. I have felt so alone and am afraid to confide in my new found friends about my depression, homesicknesses, and the anxiety i get just thinking about going to uni. I have been purposely avoiding class so I don't have to participate because every time i think about speaking in front of classmates I can feel a panic attack coming on. Back in the states i suffered from this as well, but it was easier to stay in the comfort of my room and just forget about it . Here I am confronted with my thoughts and emotions every second of the day. I have felt so alone and like i'm not good enough recently. It has been affecting my sleeping and my eating habits. I want to be able to talk to my friends about it, even my friends and family back home, but I don't want to scare them away or make them think any less of me because of it. I don't even know how to go about bringing the topic up to them. *just needed a place to finally write down what I'm feeling and not have it bottled up inside*

StevoMuz My Alcohol and Depression
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am new here. I've reached a point in my life where I am starting to realise that if I keep going the way I am, then I will not likely live much longer. I find myself frequently drinking very heavily and frankly I don't really know why. I figure... View more

Hi, I am new here. I've reached a point in my life where I am starting to realise that if I keep going the way I am, then I will not likely live much longer. I find myself frequently drinking very heavily and frankly I don't really know why. I figure it is because of anxiety/depression but more than anything I think I have been doing it so long now that it has become habitual. I don't actively search out alcohol, well not often anyway. I just find myself buying alcohol and getting drunk. I hate the way alcohol now controls me, but I also find there is not a lot out there for me. AA i have tried, and that isn't for me. I'd really like to go to rehab but I can't afford the time off work. I'm seeing a doctor today for something else but will have a chat with them. I want to find a solution to this, I just don't know what that is or if there is even one. I don't want to die, I want to live and I want to start having a happy life. Not this lonely, self destructing existence that it is now.

CB81 Fighting anxiety & depression at work
  • replies: 8

How do other people deal with maintaining a mask at work to deal with anxiety and depression? I struggle with the need to perform among extroverts. Last week I delivered two presentations on a new system that the audience couldn't care less about. Th... View more

How do other people deal with maintaining a mask at work to deal with anxiety and depression? I struggle with the need to perform among extroverts. Last week I delivered two presentations on a new system that the audience couldn't care less about. They were rudely looking at their mobiles during the presentation and there were some technical issues as well which just left me feeling so anxious and afterwards so depressed. I also stumble over my words and I'm worried I won't be able to keep my job. On paper it's high status and high paying but my depression is making it one long struggle.

Sirona Creeping Depression - "I'm stuck"
  • replies: 3

Hi... I'm 17, turning 18 in two months or so and I think I have depression. I've been called lazy for as long as I remember. And I've come to acceptit as who I am. But recently I'm starting to think it's something more than that. My parents allways t... View more

Hi... I'm 17, turning 18 in two months or so and I think I have depression. I've been called lazy for as long as I remember. And I've come to acceptit as who I am. But recently I'm starting to think it's something more than that. My parents allways tell me that "I have an amazing memory" but I have a terrible memory and everyone I've met recently has informed me thusly. So I think that i used to have a good memory and it's deteriorated. I never seem to be modivated to do anything and I think this is where the lazy stigma came from. I have countless television shows and books and whatever I want to watch or read. Countless things I say I'll do. But I don't, I stay inside, playing games on my computer. And even then I've caught myself talking myself out of wanting to play those games on multiple occasions. I can't even get a job. I want to work so bad. I want to be able to support myself but I keep forgetting to apply or talking myself out of it. Recently there was an open day for a uni I wanted to go to... I didn't go. I want to tell my parents. I want to be able to say "I'd like to see a psychiatrist"... But because I'm turning 18 and still don't have a job I'm terrorfied to ask more money from them... I just don't know what to do... I need help

_FallenAngel_ The Queen And King Of Personality Disorders- Cluster B
  • replies: 6

Haven't we met before?- an amazing puzzle of Cluster B ♡♡♡ The Borderline & Narcissist Couple ♡♡♡ - A great read I found on net & thought could be a subject of interest to others & may want to share their thoughts. As they say scratch a borderline & ... View more

Haven't we met before?- an amazing puzzle of Cluster B ♡♡♡ The Borderline & Narcissist Couple ♡♡♡ - A great read I found on net & thought could be a subject of interest to others & may want to share their thoughts. As they say scratch a borderline & find a narcissist. Around one third of those with BPD also struggle with NPD. Individuals with this condition need near-constant affirmation, unique treatment and reinforcement of their own superiority. Part of narcissism is an inability to empathise with others. Sympathy is the ability to feel with or for another person, while empathy is the ability to put oneself in another person’s shoes and imagine life from their perspective. This is quite beyond the person with NPD. When you meet someone with NPD they may initially appear exceptionally confident, but this is a ruse. They will verbally inflate their own skills while minimising the contributions or abilities of others, but the truth is their arrogance is a mask for shatteringly low self-esteem. The narcissist is overly sensitive to any perceived slight and cannot bear with being directly or indirectly challenged by others as they are so desperately insecure. It’s easy to see how this could seriously aggravate the symptoms of interpersonal inadequacy that go with BPD. They can get together so well, there can be much acceptance but no peace. Borderline Outburts and Narcissistic Rage has many symptoms in common with narcissism. In fact, many psychiatrists believe BPD is the child disorder of NPD and hence the two disorders can overlap to large extent and can cause a lot of confusion in the diagnosis for the health professionals, spouses and partners of these people as they go from seemingly normal & ok and you start thinking well, maybe they aren’t a narc, maybe they were just having a bad day. As with anything in life, sometimes narcissism comes in shades of grey. In actual truth, the Narcissist is no match for the Borderline (rolling eyes). It doesn't matter how smart a narcissist is, someone with borderline is much more manipulative and keeps an upper hand & has the ability to turn narcissist's world upside-down to where a narcissist could lose his/her entire fortune, acquire a serious disease & literally become a shadow of his/her former self. Often in a relationship, the Narcissistic perfectionist believes; "If I'm feeling bad in a relationship, it must be MY fault." The Borderline believes; "If I feel bad in a relationship, it has to be YOUR fault."

Ozzrob New here. Not sure, but I think I need help.
  • replies: 6

Hello everyone. i hope someone can help or advise me. Lately I get up I feel fine, then about 2hrs or so later I feel miserable like I can't be bothered to do anything, it all seems too much of an effort. At night I'm lucky to get 3hrs sleep, I can't... View more

Hello everyone. i hope someone can help or advise me. Lately I get up I feel fine, then about 2hrs or so later I feel miserable like I can't be bothered to do anything, it all seems too much of an effort. At night I'm lucky to get 3hrs sleep, I can't sleep, yet during the day a fall asleep on the lounge. Sometimes a think what's the use of me being here, I want to escape, leave everything behind me, I used to go out with my friends but now I make up excuses not to go. i don't know if there is something not right or what.

4snoopy4 Not doing well
  • replies: 3

I am struggling so much today not sure how the day will pan out. On my way to work running late as did not want to get out of bed. Head in a spin and stress levels really high. Sock of feeling so sad and looking at happy people on the train interacti... View more

I am struggling so much today not sure how the day will pan out. On my way to work running late as did not want to get out of bed. Head in a spin and stress levels really high. Sock of feeling so sad and looking at happy people on the train interacting and laughing. So so sad.

Millie99 What the hell is wrong with me?
  • replies: 9

This is my first ever post so here goes. I'm married with kids but I feel so alone. Ever since I was a teenager I've never felt good enough. I was given a hard time in high school and never felt like anyone really wanted me around. Nothing's changed.... View more

This is my first ever post so here goes. I'm married with kids but I feel so alone. Ever since I was a teenager I've never felt good enough. I was given a hard time in high school and never felt like anyone really wanted me around. Nothing's changed. I have a couple of friends but no one really close and I've always felt on the outside, like if I wasn't around they wouldn't miss me anyway. i used to love my work but not anymore. A new employee started a year ago and she's just like all those high school bullies, sneaky and conniving and bitchy. She has talked me down to so many other employees that several have turned against me, it's like none of them can see what she is doing. High school all over again. the last few days all I've done is put up a fake face when I'm around anyone and the second I'm alone I just cry. I wish I could just pack up and leave it all behind but I adore my children, they are the only shining light in my life. What the hell is wrong with me? Why can't I just pull myself together? Why don't I ever feel like I'm enough? I feel so alone