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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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Fury Broken, but never beaten
  • replies: 21

Hi. Just stared at this blank box for 45 minutes. My feelings are raw I'm very, very alone right now I'll come back when I can pull myself together

Hi. Just stared at this blank box for 45 minutes. My feelings are raw I'm very, very alone right now I'll come back when I can pull myself together

Countrymusicgirl Suggestions on opening up to your mother?
  • replies: 3

So I'm depressed and anxious been like this for about 4 years now. My psychologist has suggested on talking to my mother about it, and how I feel about her and what she's done to me in the past and now. One thing is I can't. I can't open up to her be... View more

So I'm depressed and anxious been like this for about 4 years now. My psychologist has suggested on talking to my mother about it, and how I feel about her and what she's done to me in the past and now. One thing is I can't. I can't open up to her because I'm afraid she will shut me down. Any suggestions on how I should go 'hey mum I'm depressed, anxious, on meds, thanks for not believing me, thanks for not being there'

slippery_slope Finding that purpose again.
  • replies: 1

Never have been one for publicly posting my problems or even talking about them but I have started to realize I have to think and do things differently now. I hated who I had become, I hated my life, I hated the relationship I was in, I hated everyth... View more

Never have been one for publicly posting my problems or even talking about them but I have started to realize I have to think and do things differently now. I hated who I had become, I hated my life, I hated the relationship I was in, I hated everything except for my kids. I wasnt a bad person though I have done some horrible things in my early years and a few horrible things have happened to me, made some bad mistakes and have made some great decisions too, I had a very good life by society's standard but i was severely depressed. I couldnt understand me. Almost 12 months ago I deliberately threw myself into the deep end, I left my life as I knew it to really focus and search 100% for answers, to search for peace, freedom and understanding. F%^K I felt so scared, ashamed, guilty, hopeless, you name it ..........I've had a few earth shattering heart breaking moments in my life but this felt like facing death by being eaten alive by a pack of lions, no has my back, no one there to catch me, I never felt anyone had ever been there anyway, but deep down I thought this would be the best thing for me, sink or swim.Divorce, it wasnt working anyway, I knew her like the back of my hand but felt she never knew me. I didnt know me. No job, we were in business together. A major back injury so finding employment is close to impossible. I took the camping gear and tools and we split the cash 50/50. I had $16K and the unknown ahead of me. I refuse to get government handouts but don't have a problem with others receiving it, I just see it as a extra hassle I dont need, nothing to say i wont apply later, I hope i wont have too. Took the journey back into my life to process who I am, read higher conscious books, other's life stories, understanding why people turn to religion, TED Talks, Mind Spot program, self help, divorce support group, blogs, nature, exercise, eating healthy though we always have, reduce alcohol though now I haven't touch it for a while, quit smoking though I do vape now. I had been searching for that holy grail that silver bullet my councillor calls it. There is no holy grail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! after almost 12 months I'm back to square one!!!!!!!!!!!!or am I? I've worked out that I am me, what works you my not me, what works for you my not for me, that doesnt make us better or worse, we just want to get through life better than how it has been. I think it's starting to get a little better, maybe a little clearer. I now need to find my new purpose.

Guest_9870 Tackling a Gambling Problem
  • replies: 3

I wasn't sure where to put this but i am feeling desperate and was hoping to find some people who have had a gambling problem in the past so they can share what they did to tackle it completely. It has gotten to the stage where i don't feel i should ... View more

I wasn't sure where to put this but i am feeling desperate and was hoping to find some people who have had a gambling problem in the past so they can share what they did to tackle it completely. It has gotten to the stage where i don't feel i should be working because i just keep feeding the addiction. i work hard and then all the money is gone because i am a idiot. Something in my mind gets triggered and decides to convince me its okay to keep going back etc and i also chase my loses everytime. But i know its not about the money because when i do win it goes straight back in. i also Justify my own actions and its just a vicious cycle. I have anxiety and depression but the aftermath of gambling makes it 100 x worse. I dont understand why i cant just stop. Ive finally admitted i have a problem. I can't talk to anyone else as i know they will definitely not understand. Any advice would be great. Also i do see a pyschologist but i am even embarrased to bring it up to them.

Philin_Down Motivation of a newbie?
  • replies: 4

Hi community, not sure what to do or say, instead of negative feeding on negativity - but reading some of the issues people are experiencing is making me lift some of my spirits. is this normal? Are my symptoms of possible anxiety or depression not r... View more

Hi community, not sure what to do or say, instead of negative feeding on negativity - but reading some of the issues people are experiencing is making me lift some of my spirits. is this normal? Are my symptoms of possible anxiety or depression not really there? is it (as my wife says) all in my head?

Alonewiththoughts Hopeless and alone
  • replies: 3

I am still struggling with ever day. I honestly don't feel I'm living anymore and go with the motion of day to day things and eat work sleep. I dont know how long I'll grieve for my little brother as it's been a yr. I still think it's a nightmare and... View more

I am still struggling with ever day. I honestly don't feel I'm living anymore and go with the motion of day to day things and eat work sleep. I dont know how long I'll grieve for my little brother as it's been a yr. I still think it's a nightmare and I'm the one who has died and this is hell. As 6 months after I lay my grandpa to rest then as I unwind after work two days after my grandpa's funeral my partner of 5 years walks in the house to state he doesn't love me.. I am lost now with my heart broken so much. I have no feeling but despair. My life has changed so much in less then a year and I feel like I live in absolute hell. At work I am lost and frail. While weekends leave me lonely with no interest.. I feel I just waste my days and let life pass me.. when will this pain and suffering end

Letting_Life_Pass_Me_By I don't know how to be happy
  • replies: 2

I have been asking myself lately why I can't be happy. I'm starting to feel like maybe I want to be depressed. Am I a glutton for punishment. I have had a horrible couple of years. I'm struggling to trust my husband. I'm struggling to bond with my 8 ... View more

I have been asking myself lately why I can't be happy. I'm starting to feel like maybe I want to be depressed. Am I a glutton for punishment. I have had a horrible couple of years. I'm struggling to trust my husband. I'm struggling to bond with my 8 year old. I feel like I'm only capable of being close to my 3 year old. I feel like I've gone from one heartache to the next without having a chance to stop and take a breath. I keep finding evidence that my husband intends to cheat but he denies it forcefully. My 8 year olds father and his wife refused to give him back at the beginning of the year during the holidays forcing me to take them to court and then retrieve my kid from school first day back. They made my life miserable for months. I live in a rural town with no friends to speak of and no family close enough to turn to. I've never felt more alone in my life. Ive been in therapy and I'm on anti-depressants but it feels like nothing is helping. I don't understand why I always feel depressed, incapable of finding happiness in my life. I dont want to feel miserable anymore! But, I don't know how to help myself anymore......

Cas221 I really want to be happy.
  • replies: 3

I guess I just need to get this off my chest. There's a billion things I could say but, one of them is just being unable to be happy no matter what I do. I've had severe depression for three years, and I'm fairly sure I had a less severe type of depr... View more

I guess I just need to get this off my chest. There's a billion things I could say but, one of them is just being unable to be happy no matter what I do. I've had severe depression for three years, and I'm fairly sure I had a less severe type of depression before it became severe, I just don't know for how long I had it. Anyway, I'm rarely excited about anything anymore no matter how hard I try to keep myself happy and busy with things to do. I indulge in activities that I enjoy and even go outside my comfort zone every once in a while but I'm still unhappy. And I know it's just the depression doing that, I know that if I wasn't depressed I would be more happy and motivated and feel like the doing the things that I know I want to do. I know nobody can be happy all the time but it just doesn't feel right when I'm unhappy in times where I'd usually be excited or motivated. Holidays don't make me happy. Events don't make me happy. Buying stuff I really want or playing video games makes me pretend I'm happy but I can't actually feel it. Art used to make me feel imaginative and creative. Even hanging with friends, I feel like I'm not really there. I try sooo hard to be happy or excited or glad etc. about things, but in the end I really don't actually feel any of it. I guess I really want to also ask if taking medication helps with this feeling or if I'll become more apathetic. I just want to be happy. Really that's all I care about anymore. I want to feel like my life is worth it again. Any success stories (or even non successful stories) people can share with me? Has anyone started being happy after dealing with severe depression? (I say severe because even some of my depressed friends don't understand me not being happy because they don't have the same severity of depression I guess) I'm really hoping that seeing a psychiatrist goes well for me. I just need that hope I suppose.

Alonewiththoughts Alone with worry
  • replies: 4

I feel so sad and lonely with no one to talk to. I am struggling at work now and decisions are so hard I feel useless. I dont have anyone that understands

I feel so sad and lonely with no one to talk to. I am struggling at work now and decisions are so hard I feel useless. I dont have anyone that understands

Slaugh Work anxiety probably due to work history.
  • replies: 3

Hello, Having a rough time mentally at the moment. work is sucking my motivation. It's not so much that the job I have now is bad but from past experiences with other jobs it triggers my depressive episodes. Right now I'm in my 5th year of a 4 year e... View more

Hello, Having a rough time mentally at the moment. work is sucking my motivation. It's not so much that the job I have now is bad but from past experiences with other jobs it triggers my depressive episodes. Right now I'm in my 5th year of a 4 year electrical apprenticeship with my third employer. The reasoning for such a long stint is due to redundancies and abuse of power (IMO). I have lost my motivation. My grades in school are declining and the roadmap for completion, although only a few months, seems long difficult and somewhat questionable. It began with a redundency and then the following employer pulling me out of school for over 6 months under the threat of losing my job. However I re-enrolled after repeated requests to go back to school which I was subsequently fired over. Went down the avenues of fair work but it just seemed like too much hassel. I continued to go to school to finish the year knowing I was six months behind. Finished the semester and after the Chrissy break I went to enrol again. Problem was I was unemployed so I couldn't re-enrol. What's worse is the previous semester didnt count as it was a two part module. So I would have to restart the module again. Another 6 months added and an additional $700. Managed to find an employer again but had to wait an additional 3 months before I could even start the full year I was behind on. so here I am now. Possibly less than 3 months from completion before I can sit my final exams and I am at breaking point. Another annoying thing is I believe the TAFE haven't included a module in my roadmap. A module which will take and additional few months to complete. Even when I finish the course work there's still 6 more months just prepping for the final exams. All this added time whilst earning minimum wage has just destroyed me. I have been struck down with pnemonia and have been off work for a week. I need to take more time off but I don't believe Ill have a job if I do. But to tell you the truth, I almost don't really care. I'm just so fed up. This apprentiship just doesn't seem to end despite the effort. So now it's not so much employment that is screwing me its the TAFE. My current boss seems like a good bloke but I just can't trust him. All this with a family to support is becoming too much. My parents are well off so financially we are pretty secure, it is more an issue of relying on others which is shameful and embarrassing. Not the full history but as relevant as can be.