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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

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_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

Morrisy1990 The struggle
  • replies: 2

Hi I have depression and anxiety and last night I went out and had a few drinks which turned into about seven and I ended up gambling away some money as well, woke up today feeling quite down about it I have been on medication for a few years now for... View more

Hi I have depression and anxiety and last night I went out and had a few drinks which turned into about seven and I ended up gambling away some money as well, woke up today feeling quite down about it I have been on medication for a few years now for depression and everything has just felt like a struggle I just recently left a job which I disliked and have started a job at a new company but so far I have been failing to pick things up like I use to and already received a written warning for a minor mistake, it just feels like I am slipping and I am turning to the wrong things in order to elevate my problems any advice would be great

startingnew BPD
  • replies: 12

ive just been diagnosed with BPD. its shocked me becasue i wouldnt have thought i have a personality disorder. ive been told that DBT is the best form of therapy but dont really know much else, and i dont really know what to do from here. ive been pu... View more

ive just been diagnosed with BPD. its shocked me becasue i wouldnt have thought i have a personality disorder. ive been told that DBT is the best form of therapy but dont really know much else, and i dont really know what to do from here. ive been put on a waiting list to DBT group therapy but thats a long list minimum 4 months until then so not really sure how to proceed from here can anyone share any experiences about where to from here, DBT experiences or anything at all

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).