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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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future_ Please help me I am so sad all the time, I can not find anything to do after work to pick me up
  • replies: 9

I don't want to get out of bed anymore, I have to to go to work so I survive to keep a rented roof over my head. I have a 15 year old daughter how wants nothing to do with me anymore she has found her family in the internet, youtube or talking with f... View more

I don't want to get out of bed anymore, I have to to go to work so I survive to keep a rented roof over my head. I have a 15 year old daughter how wants nothing to do with me anymore she has found her family in the internet, youtube or talking with friends over facetime, skype. we argue every time i turn the internet off or ask her to sit with me and watch some telly. I am so sad about renting and want to just run. I am so ugly no one wants to date me at 50 years old, my neighbours hide from me, it's cold and my heart is broken

svetln No motivation to do uni work
  • replies: 1

Hello. I've been struggling with depression for a bit more than three years now. Recently I've hit a pretty low point in my life, and I found that my motivation to be productive with uni work has become almost none. I can manage to get myself out of ... View more

Hello. I've been struggling with depression for a bit more than three years now. Recently I've hit a pretty low point in my life, and I found that my motivation to be productive with uni work has become almost none. I can manage to get myself out of bed and go about my life, while it may not be all that exciting, it's something. I will be seeing a psychologist within the next week to manage this, but before then I can't exactly ask them for advice. While I was at school, towards the end of the year I noticed that my motivation to do work was becoming less and less. This became an issue because of exams, but I managed to do enough to not struggle through them. Now I'm at uni, and I find that I can see the same problem arising, although this time I've practically lost all motivation to do my work. I love the course I'm doing with all my heart, but I just can't seem to get myself to be productive about the work anymore. At home when I go to do my work, I find I just sit at my desk doing something other than what I'm supposed to be doing. Same goes for being in my lectures and studio session, I always seem to avoid the work, or not go in altogether. Sure, I've never loved doing school or school work, but I certainly know how important it all is, and I was never afraid to study that bit longer then the recommended time. Now that uni is more mature and stricter about deadlines, I'm unsure as what to do, particularly with the end of the semester coming up I can't get the date extended. This reason also makes me hesitant to speak to my lecturers, as not much can really be done. I was wondering if there could be any motivation tips/techniques that would be useful in my circumstances. Or is there anything else that could be recommended? Thanks

el000927 I think I need help but I don't know what to do
  • replies: 5

Hey, So for a while now I've been feeling pretty worthless. I live a pretty active life but I can't do any work (school work), am waking up tired, not sleeping enough, eating poorly, and there is also stuff going on with my friends at school, which m... View more

Hey, So for a while now I've been feeling pretty worthless. I live a pretty active life but I can't do any work (school work), am waking up tired, not sleeping enough, eating poorly, and there is also stuff going on with my friends at school, which makes me really irritable and depressed etc. My main issue is that I think I need help but I'm too scared. I don't want to talk to my parents about it, and I've talked to one of my close friends but I think I need more help. Can I book a GP appointment if I am under 18? If I want to see a psych I have to go to the GP first in oder for medicare I think. Even still, I'm scared to talk to someone I don't know. I think I'll break down crying straight away and not be able to talk. Any advice? Thanks

Knicks13 Unsure of feelings
  • replies: 3

I guess I’m just wanting to write down how I’m feeling/have felt for the last few months as it seems unusual. I have a great job, wife, kid, house and yet lately overall I’ve been feeling bummed out. On paper it looks like I’ve ticked all the boxes a... View more

I guess I’m just wanting to write down how I’m feeling/have felt for the last few months as it seems unusual. I have a great job, wife, kid, house and yet lately overall I’ve been feeling bummed out. On paper it looks like I’ve ticked all the boxes and shouldn’t have anything to be sad or unhappy about as there are many people who would see my life as great yet I still feel crappy. I’m not a talker of my feelings as such and I think the anonymity here is helpful. i have plenty of support but I really find it difficult to broach the subject to people that know me. Further, I then don’t want to be treated with kit gloves as a result. I get plenty of exercise and remain motivated, eat well and generally do all the things I’ve read that say “this is what you should do to be happier and healthier” yet again I still feel unhappy ultimately, I think I feel guilty that I have everything most people want out of life yet I’m not happy with my life... just wondering if anyone else has felt this way and in a similar scenario and what they’ve done to combat he negative feelings

louies Early pregnancy depression
  • replies: 4

Hi there. I am a 36 year old woman who is 7 weeks pregnant and struggling with a low mood. I have previously had anxiety and depression and I am on a safe medication to controlle it through my pregnancy. But unfortunately at this stage its not doing ... View more

Hi there. I am a 36 year old woman who is 7 weeks pregnant and struggling with a low mood. I have previously had anxiety and depression and I am on a safe medication to controlle it through my pregnancy. But unfortunately at this stage its not doing much for me. I'm struggling right now with hormones and feeling I'll and it reminds me of being in one of my depression states as the symtoms are the same. At some points it makes me have my growing baby and I feel guilty for that. Just won't to know if any one ells has experienced this and does it pass as the pregnancy progresses. Please help.

Open_for_joy More than a 'senior's moment' - Being hit from out of the blue
  • replies: 9

I am turning 66 in a week and have had a terrible 5 weeks where I have been hit by a sudden and unexpected bout of depression and anxiety for the first time in my life!! This has been very disabling and I have been struck by the severity of it and co... View more

I am turning 66 in a week and have had a terrible 5 weeks where I have been hit by a sudden and unexpected bout of depression and anxiety for the first time in my life!! This has been very disabling and I have been struck by the severity of it and confused about what I need to do about it. The strength of my reaction seems out of proportion to a recent crisis in the family but it seems to have raised a lot of issues that I just keep ruminating over. I am waking at 3am and spending hours dwelling on various issues. I have been feeling very flat and have no energy. But the most dramatic thing is how anxious I feel!! I have always been a bit shy at parties etc but this is very different - I am restless and agitated, and feel a little sick in the stomach and chest a lot of the time. The main reason I am making this post is the surprise I have felt with the suddenness of this situation and incredible powerlessness I feel in dealing with it. I have been quite happy to talk to my partner and close friends but there is a real issue about how much to keep talking about it and how much to "take control back" by trying to be positive etc Wondering if other people - particularly in my age group - have any similar experience or insights Best wishes to all Open for joy

jigglypuff99 Gave my all and still became a recluse..
  • replies: 4

I was broken from a young age.. my toxic parents didn't help me develop certain skills... but that was ok, I tried my best with no support, I worked my fingers to the bone in factories not knowing what my future held. I eventually got out the factory... View more

I was broken from a young age.. my toxic parents didn't help me develop certain skills... but that was ok, I tried my best with no support, I worked my fingers to the bone in factories not knowing what my future held. I eventually got out the factory and still work on my career on a daily basis.And try to get ahead. But an overwhelming depression and lack of energy for life coupled with bad choices bad friends and toxic family has left me alone sitting on the couch every minute I am not at work. Fat. And isolated beyond the ability to pull myself out of a hole. Without the energy to light up a room I have now found I am even struggling at work now.. working in male dominated industries you need to be aggressive or you will not survive. My fear is I am a train heading in the direction of a family-less , lonely , broken down body and empty life type town for which I tried my best to avoid. And this train is an express

Allan533 How to know if I'm over-burdening people
  • replies: 15

So I had a really, really bad time lately. And despite me really, honestly trying to minimise the support I asked for from my friend, apparently it was too much, and she said that she couldn't be there for me at that point, and that I'd been "over-us... View more

So I had a really, really bad time lately. And despite me really, honestly trying to minimise the support I asked for from my friend, apparently it was too much, and she said that she couldn't be there for me at that point, and that I'd been "over-using" her (not her words). And while obviously that hurt me a lot, I can concede that it's her right to do so: if she doesn't feel that she can help for whatever reason, it's absolutely OK for her to pull back. She has to take care of herself. But now I'm unsure how much I can ask people for support. My other two main supports are good friends, but one of them has anxiety issues, and the other has depression, and I don't want to cause extra stress on them, and clearly I can't tell if I'm going overboard. So the last few weeks I've been trying to handle things myself without asking for support, but frankly I'm not doing well. And over the last couple of days, while I haven't fallen back to where I was before, it's been a definite downward trend, despite my honest best efforts. In addition, this whole situation has led me to thinking that maybe my thoughts aren't entirely off-base. That I am a burden on the people around me, and I should pull away from them for their own good. I know that's not healthy, but... well, it's hard not to reach that conclusion, isn't it? I do have the occasional good day, and I try to take advantage of them as best I can. But it just seems like all that does is slow the descent. And I've seen where that descent goes. I don't want to go there, but I can't see a way to divert the track.

Paul12345 Battling Depression. I can't handle it anymore!!
  • replies: 12

Hi all, My name is Paul. I am a 48 year old male and I am having a really hard time with my depression. I have been unemployed now for over 2 years since the last paying job. Times are tough and the bills have hit the roof. I feel that I have no purp... View more

Hi all, My name is Paul. I am a 48 year old male and I am having a really hard time with my depression. I have been unemployed now for over 2 years since the last paying job. Times are tough and the bills have hit the roof. I feel that I have no purpose anymore and have been able to manage my depression for about 18 months. The last 6 months however I can not sleep more than 3 hours at a time, I get anxiety about my future, I am not eating properly, I think dark thoughts that are uncontrollable and that scares me and finally I have come to the point of being suicidal, but just don't have the balls to do it!! I am losing my mind and my resolve to handle this naturally and may need medication to get me through this. I don't like medicating myself. I don't have ANY faith in the pharmaceutical companies and their placebo agendas to rape the world of money for NO CURE!! As you can see I am broken. Life has broken me badly and now I want out. I don't go out anymore and feel very uncomfortable around other people. It is however good to vent and get it off your chest. This is the therapy I have used to get me by for the last 18 months of my 2 year hiatus. I am a majorly qualified individual and have 143 IQ. I am no idiot!! This makes me borderline insane and depression bring it out in me. I feel better to get all this off my chest. Thanks for letting me make your ears bleed, but this is what is going on in my head. Dark times indeed!!!

Neferata In teaching I also learn, but there is darkness still.
  • replies: 6

Fully investing myself into my tutoring work and my teaching studies, I have been shrugging off fatigue and pretending that by ignoring my personal crises they may somehow disappear the next time I look. Alas, recently I have been staring into that p... View more

Fully investing myself into my tutoring work and my teaching studies, I have been shrugging off fatigue and pretending that by ignoring my personal crises they may somehow disappear the next time I look. Alas, recently I have been staring into that particular void and I did not find it wanting. There is much love in my life, the love of friends which means a great deal to me. There is the love of teaching, the love I have for my students and my great work with them, but I have little love for myself. What I lack is human companionship, the intimacy of the human creature. This lonely state of mind is entirely self imposed and I pose the question to myself almost as an excuse: "How can I expect another life to love me if I cannot love myself?." How can I with good conscience enter into another live and introduce into it the myriad of identity crises I possess, my dark, vindictive yet ultimately confused mind, my sensitive sexuality, my frustrated identity and my nerdy, highly personal theatrics? I have long been burying my personal desires underneath my work and now that they have been abruptly unearthed and let loose in my mind, I don't know what to do with them. I've prided myself on my cold, distant attitude toward sexual relations but it is increasingly hard to reconcile that pride with my loneliness and mental health. In an effort to be a messianic figure to my students, their spiritual guide through these dark and troubling times, I have ignored myself and my needs. I have never been in a relationship and aged 25 there is a certain shame that comes with the acceptance that I've never been in a sexual relationship and my immediate reaction is to withdraw, but I cannot push this away for much longer. I am not a creature of casual relations, I am a creature which values permanence, predictability and sensitivity and none of those conditions are encouraged by modern match making. I enjoy meeting people in person but I am not a social flower, I don't "do" fun, I don't do parties, I don't dance, I don't drink, I don't club and I don't do things like tinder. I am the uncompromising autocrat of my own realm but am I going to have to show a gesture of compromise to the cosmos in order to find new people?

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