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

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Pelayn how to move forward?
  • replies: 85

Hi Over the last three months i have been doing therapy for the first time for depression. Its been a roller coaster of emotions. My husband has been a great support. I hit bottom, couldn't go to work and thought id lost my best friend cos of the way... View more

Hi Over the last three months i have been doing therapy for the first time for depression. Its been a roller coaster of emotions. My husband has been a great support. I hit bottom, couldn't go to work and thought id lost my best friend cos of the way I treated her. After her yelling at me down the phone we reconciled. I've been doing much better the past few days but i still feel like I'm relying on others too much. I get disappointed when friends don't return messages or doesn't initiate contact with me. I am lonely when I'm by myself. I also get jealous when my best friend does things with her other friends. I really really can't go through a repeat of last month. I want to be happy with my own company and not feel like I'm waiting for people to make contact all the time. Can anyone share and experiences? ?

Cassar Long time sufferer
  • replies: 7

Hi first time on line have been seeing psychologist for a couple of sessions.Guess it is a start i hope this talking thing does help. I was brought up to not cry and not show your emotions. I am now 54 year old female,that simply woke up one day ceel... View more

Hi first time on line have been seeing psychologist for a couple of sessions.Guess it is a start i hope this talking thing does help. I was brought up to not cry and not show your emotions. I am now 54 year old female,that simply woke up one day ceeling broken. My way to describe it being fractured and needing to be fixed.I am not who i always was i feel i am drifting so far down a shitty slope if i get a cold or something minor wrong in my life Nothing matters anymore and feel Take that last step if this is all my life is now.And then the fight to live begins again.But then something minor triggers it of again and i get tired of trying to hang on to life.It would be one last sad thing for my family then they could get on with there lives and i would not have to fight this battle that keep,s lingering around the corner.Deppression ad the constant shakes with shot nerve,s is relentless. SO TIRED.But i am still fighting it Can someone reasure me therapy and talking fixes this because i can not see how reliving stuff and opening up all built up things helps not makes worse thank,s for listening in advance..

GemAndLogan I'm in so much pain
  • replies: 1

For the last two years my life has been in turmoil. My mum died, then my gran, I got diagnosed with depression, then my partner of 8 years became addicted to ice, that resulted in him losing his senses and becoming literally crazy. Then the police ra... View more

For the last two years my life has been in turmoil. My mum died, then my gran, I got diagnosed with depression, then my partner of 8 years became addicted to ice, that resulted in him losing his senses and becoming literally crazy. Then the police raided our house twice, which was really traumatic because both times I was home by myself and they tore my home apart. I have never committed a crime in my life. I then found myself in lockup and then in court getting a drugs charge purely because I live in the same house as my partner. (I do not use drugs of any kind) Things seemed to come good for a little while- my partner got clean, I saw a psychologist and took medication which all helped. Now, however, things seem worse than ever. I haven't seen my partner in a week or heard from any other family or friends. I have never experienced loneliness like this and it is crippling. I feel trapped in this misery. Even my pets, hobbies and friends all of which has always helped me so much- I now feel like I hate them all. I feel so isolated but I am stuck. I decided to leave my partner, I packed my things but now I feel like I have no where to go. Which is making me feel more isolated. The pain is so bad that I just don't know what to do anymore. Throughout everything that has happened, its like I am always standing still and all this stuff just happens around me and I cant do anything about it. Is life really meant to be this hard?

Luke_the_Duke I don't understand what's going on.
  • replies: 1

Im new here, joined up today. I'm a 25 year old male, im employed, have a wife and 3 beautiful kids. I'm having trouble with my mind that i don't understand. I getting EVERDAY feelings/thoughts that use to be an uncommon occurrence (every few months)... View more

Im new here, joined up today. I'm a 25 year old male, im employed, have a wife and 3 beautiful kids. I'm having trouble with my mind that i don't understand. I getting EVERDAY feelings/thoughts that use to be an uncommon occurrence (every few months). When I was younger I got really bad night terrors where I would half wake up, life wasn't reality and i would feel as though i was looking out my own eyes but being controlled by someone else, at times i slepwalked my fists/head through windows and jumped off balconies. Now what im feeling as of late is not as severe but I'm in a similar headspace. I find myself asking all the "what is life" questions and i freak out as though I am not the one living my own life some of the time and that someone else is going to take over and im going to lose touch with reality or do something stupid. I'm trying to do my best to explain how i feel but its hard to put it to words. I haven't seen anyone i dont understand what is going on or why. I did have some trauma as a teenager my older brother and my best friend died and i dabbled with drugs and depression afterwards, i don't know if that has anything to do with it. Just wondering what i should do? I hate feeling not 100% in control of my life and paranoid something is going to happen to my mind. Thanks

Sophia22 New and unsure
  • replies: 3

Hello guys, I am totally new to any kind of forum and any sort ofor public communication about my feelings. I just thought I would express how I'm feeling and see if anyone has any tips for me. In life I have good family support, financial security, ... View more

Hello guys, I am totally new to any kind of forum and any sort ofor public communication about my feelings. I just thought I would express how I'm feeling and see if anyone has any tips for me. In life I have good family support, financial security, a loving husband and a roof over my head. So it seems so silly and selfish to complain about anything. But at the same time I often wake feeling sad. I have days where I feel like I am different from everyone else. Days where washing up a plate seems like too much effort. I don't worry about the things most people my age do but I worry about other things like the planet and the way society is going and our unsustainable lives. I don't worry all the time though. I'd never say I was anxious at all. All I mean is I feel quite distant from everyone else a lot of the time and end up feeling empty. Sometimes I feel like the world we have created for ourselves isn't one I want to live in and just want to run off and live in the woods where I would have real problems like food and water not silly friendship stuff or money stuff. Does anyone else ever feel this way? Thanks. S.

Happy_Place New here, undiagnosed and reluctant to see a doctor!!
  • replies: 4

Hello followers, I came across this forum just this morning, out of sheer desperation. I had been crying all morning and needed to know that I'm not the only one who feels like this. As far as everyone knows, I'm great. Happy go lucky, a sweet job, a... View more

Hello followers, I came across this forum just this morning, out of sheer desperation. I had been crying all morning and needed to know that I'm not the only one who feels like this. As far as everyone knows, I'm great. Happy go lucky, a sweet job, a family who loves me a beautiful daughter and caring husband. I smile through my day but feel like I'm living a lie. Am I happy, no, am I overwhelmed, yes, do I feel noticed, important or appreciated, no. It's exhausting...im ALWAYS tired! I have a history of anxiety, I can't even remember when it started but it's been probably close to ten years. I've seen doctors, then put me on a care plan, I see a counsellor for my 5 sessions or whatever it is, they give me medication and I'm on my way. This was the case a few years ago now, I was in denial but it was the deal I made with my husband so we could start a family, but looking back (I was so young) I'm not finished.. My issues remain un resolved. I went to my gp prob 3 months ago and gently touched on it again and asked about another care plan (I simply cannot afford $150 a week/session to see someone) and see sent me home with the k10, so of course, I felt like she didn't take me seriously and I never went back. I pulled that k10 out this morning and did it, it told me I was high and suggested I see a doctor. I'm really struggling with that first step. I've been minimising my feelings and mental health for so long, that I can't even be completely open with a doctor. I want help, I want a better life, I forget how it feels to be happy and content. What do I say to a doctor, how do I take that first agonising, scary step??

fergrl PND and anxiety
  • replies: 4

Right now I feel pretty hopeless. 4 month old twins and PND and anxiety since about 4 weeks in getting worse over time. Right now I am struggling to see how I will ever feel like I didn't make a huge mistake in having children and to have a connectio... View more

Right now I feel pretty hopeless. 4 month old twins and PND and anxiety since about 4 weeks in getting worse over time. Right now I am struggling to see how I will ever feel like I didn't make a huge mistake in having children and to have a connection with them.

Justice_League Centrelink Form for 3 monthly review
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, Does anyone know if the required form is able to be downloaded or do I need to obtain it from Centrlink? Thanks and God bless.

Hi everyone, Does anyone know if the required form is able to be downloaded or do I need to obtain it from Centrlink? Thanks and God bless.

Lou75 The deafening sound loneliness
  • replies: 4

Hi , over the past 2 years I've suffered panic attacks and anxiety , which I sort help via cognitive therapy through a psychiatrist. Unfortunately now , the old black dog has coming creeping in and I now suffer from depression.. I didn't recognise th... View more

Hi , over the past 2 years I've suffered panic attacks and anxiety , which I sort help via cognitive therapy through a psychiatrist. Unfortunately now , the old black dog has coming creeping in and I now suffer from depression.. I didn't recognise the symptoms and put them down to bad days . It was the loneliness and feelings of nothing that kept reoccurring , my GP has medicated me now. Im surrounded by wonderful family and friends who are loving and caring . I own my own business with my partner of almost 20 years , with 2 perfect kids and I am always busy and social. I know I hold my partner accountable for the way I feel , even though he can also be my biggest supporter. I know that stress from our business has contributed to the way I feel - worthless if things are perfect or don't go as planned .... The nothingness is so unfamiliar to me , and hiding behind my smile is my biggest security blanket as no one would ever guess that I have black days , when I let it in and it stays with me . How do others cope with the loneliness, even though being always been surrounded by people who Love you . thanks

MAnon Heartbroken...
  • replies: 4

Ever since I left my ex-boyfriend in North America I’ve been feeling depressed. Not crying constantly depressed, just generally feeling down, unmotivated, confused and less confident in myself. The world seems muddled, or my mind does? Like I can’t t... View more

Ever since I left my ex-boyfriend in North America I’ve been feeling depressed. Not crying constantly depressed, just generally feeling down, unmotivated, confused and less confident in myself. The world seems muddled, or my mind does? Like I can’t think clearly and don’t really know what I’m doing or what to do in general... Its really hard to explain but it kind of feels like a combination of lack of self-belief and uncertainty (I guess they’re kind of the same thing?), which I didn’t feel when I was with him (which was only two weeks ago…) Most things feel like a struggle but simultaneously I feel pressured to do more with my life and achieve more than usual. Bit of a conundrum! Also it’s really weird/frustrating but I don’t feel nearly as beautiful now that we’re not together. He made me feel beautiful I guess. And I miss that. It would be nice to feel that way without him too. I am in emotional pain. And I know I’m not going to be with him for quite a while if at all so I need to get better without him. I want to feel really good again. Currently, we’re not together. We’re worlds apart. Literally. The context: I’m (F26) from Australia. Earlier this month, I spent a week with him (M27) in America, which is where he now lives. We dated for a year and a half before breaking up about a year and a half ago due to his move overseas (for some fancy shmancy job). We had a great time together in the States but there were many tears upon saying our goodbyes and it’s been hard ever since. Because it’s been really hard I texted him the other day saying that I think it’s best we don’t meet up when he visits Aus at the end of this year. Now we’re not really talking… Hard to go from being so in love and happy together to absolutely nothing. We never didn’t work, he just strongly felt the need to live overseas on his own for a while. While I understand why he did what he did and deep down I know he loves me, it’s still really frustrating to go on living my life as a single woman while he’s living on the other side of the world, with no real plans for the future...