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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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Evet Hi everyone 😀
  • replies: 3

My first post ! Been in a dark place for a while now. Unfortunately didn’t seek help. Realise now that I need to do something if I want my quality of life to change. I’m relocating to a warmer state to rejuvenate and rebuild but with all the professi... View more

My first post ! Been in a dark place for a while now. Unfortunately didn’t seek help. Realise now that I need to do something if I want my quality of life to change. I’m relocating to a warmer state to rejuvenate and rebuild but with all the professional support so can get. Hard part is that I’m leaving my wife behind as I feel I need a completely new environment and just don’t have the love to give to anyone let alone myself. Now I’m covered in guilt as well as depression. I know in my mind I need to do this however scary the future may be. Just feel so sad for letting people down

Quietwulf Slowly coming apart
  • replies: 2

I'm 39, having worked full time since I was 20. I hold down a fairly well paid job in I.T and have done so for 10 years. I have no debt, rent a place on my own, pay my bills. I have a girl I've been seeing for the last 2 years. She says she's in love... View more

I'm 39, having worked full time since I was 20. I hold down a fairly well paid job in I.T and have done so for 10 years. I have no debt, rent a place on my own, pay my bills. I have a girl I've been seeing for the last 2 years. She says she's in love with me. From the outside, my life appears to be pretty set. Inside, I am slowly coming apart. Slowly dying a little more each day. Unable to deal growing sense of crushing failure and disconnection. I am bitterly disappointed that having worked so hard to build my life... I'm unhappy. Miserable. Empty. Nothing brings me any real joy. I never feel elation, or pride. I never feel the rush of passion when I make love to my girlfriend. I'm numb. I set goals, achieve them and feel nothing. I strive to make some positive change in my life, only to find that when I finally achieve them.. I feel nothing. Then I feel anger.. So much anger at being cheated. Where is my peace? Where is my satisfaction in a job well done? Where is the warmth of holding a lover? I've tried a variety of drugs, spent thousands on therapy. In the end, they usually just send me away. They're used to dealing with people who've had real problems. Child abuse, PTSD, divorce, bereavement. What am I doing wasting the time of a therapist. I have failed in every way that mattered to me. I am broken inside and I just don't know what to do anymore. I think about leaving my girlfriend daily. I think about calling my best friend and abusing him for abandoning me when I need him the most. I think about the disappointment of my family. I thought I'd have it figured out by now, but I'm lost. Why does it have to be this way? Why can't I just be happy.

ZacNz Feeling worthless
  • replies: 1

6 January 2018 Hello im a 25 year old male living in au. For the last 2 years ive had really bad social anxiety which has made me drink in social situations to get through. But in the last 6 months ive just been feeling worthless like lifes not worth... View more

6 January 2018 Hello im a 25 year old male living in au. For the last 2 years ive had really bad social anxiety which has made me drink in social situations to get through. But in the last 6 months ive just been feeling worthless like lifes not worth living anymore. I wouldnt do anything though. I wake up everyday tired no matter how much i sleep. I have no motivation or energy to workout. I come home from work and either sleep or lie in bed from 2.30pm till the next day. I find it easier to hide away at home than to see friends . My bed has become my safe place . I feel to anxious to go to the doctor to get sorted out . Im not sure what to do. Ive never posted anything about this ever. I think i might have low testosterone because i have many of the symptoms . I just dont know

Bluebird46 Struggling - very good at hiding feelings
  • replies: 15

Hi, totally not sure where to start. On the outside I have it all together but inside it's all in pieces. I'm very functional but am about to lose it as am at the end of my tether. Been to doctors and told have anxiety and depression - can't take tim... View more

Hi, totally not sure where to start. On the outside I have it all together but inside it's all in pieces. I'm very functional but am about to lose it as am at the end of my tether. Been to doctors and told have anxiety and depression - can't take time off as am self employed and professional career. Even though I have found love he has his own issues and the only thing that brings me comfort is my cat

Hillyee Unsure what's wrong with me..keep having negative thoughts
  • replies: 9

Hi, I don't know whether I need some treatments or simply mood disorder.. I do not have any friends or family here, just my family. Therefore I resigned and decided to stay home to look after my baby. Before I was working I still could manage my emot... View more

Hi, I don't know whether I need some treatments or simply mood disorder.. I do not have any friends or family here, just my family. Therefore I resigned and decided to stay home to look after my baby. Before I was working I still could manage my emotion. But not anymore, I am having very negative thoughts, worries, anxiety these 6 months. I cant talk to any one as it seems there is no one willing to listen , even my husband. So I started to talk to myself, there is a voice inside me keep talking and bringing up all my problems. Most of the time I feel so empty, like I am sitting with my baby, but not feeling like I am actually here. And because of these problems, it makes me lost power to appreciate, to see the good side of others, even my husband, I keep blaming him and very easy to lose my temper.. Though I am going through this, I still can smile and feel happy sometimes. So my questions are : Does people have depression still feel happy? What is wrong with me? Do I need to see specialist? (Sorry for my grammar ....I tried my best..) If you have gone through similar situation, can you please share with me .. Thanks, A new mum who wants to enjoy life...

white knight Getting depression into perspective. Please read this, it might help YOU
  • replies: 11

Every now and then, along comes an article that blows your mind and makes incredible sense. The one I'm refering to is just what I needed to explain the modern day depression in some of us. So please google the following: depression is not a disease ... View more

Every now and then, along comes an article that blows your mind and makes incredible sense. The one I'm refering to is just what I needed to explain the modern day depression in some of us. So please google the following: depression is not a disease but an indication that consciousness needs to change Open for discussion.

Joe1 Over my mental health being so labeled
  • replies: 3

Dose anyone else just wish their mental illnesses just disappear or be fixed tomorrow? Today all anyone has spoken about all day is the fact that I have a mental health illnesses. From my boss to my girlfriends mother! I'm over it! I just want the fa... View more

Dose anyone else just wish their mental illnesses just disappear or be fixed tomorrow? Today all anyone has spoken about all day is the fact that I have a mental health illnesses. From my boss to my girlfriends mother! I'm over it! I just want the fact that I have a mental illness to be forgotten. I'm over everybody saying stuff about my mental illness and I'm crazy ect. Anyone else feel like this at times?? Need help dealing with it all, its really getting to me.

hm83 Best self help books for Depression
  • replies: 2

Would love to know if anyone has read any books that helped them while severely depressed?

Would love to know if anyone has read any books that helped them while severely depressed?

Asynth Uncertainty on diagnoses
  • replies: 5

Hi all! I've been struggling with mental health issues for ages. I was institutionalized and it was discussed I could have manic depression but nothing was ever solid. 8 years on, I'm still struggling and haven't had a firm diagnoses. The psychologis... View more

Hi all! I've been struggling with mental health issues for ages. I was institutionalized and it was discussed I could have manic depression but nothing was ever solid. 8 years on, I'm still struggling and haven't had a firm diagnoses. The psychologist I'm seeing now is incredible and she's teaching me to not self-pity and to move on past a diagnoses. She wants me not to cling onto the idea that something is wrong with me, that I don't need to prove anything to those who didn't support me during my darkest times (my family). She believes I love the dramatic lifestyle and that I thrive on people's pity. I agreed with her, but it's been a month or two after we came to that realization and I still find I have great difficulty 1) feeling anything, 2) controlling my emotions, 3) controlling myself altogether. My partner believes I have mood swings, I get into very obvious bouts of anger and jealousy. I spit mean things at him then the next day or a couple of hours later, I apologize and admit that's not the normal me, nor who I want to be. I don't know who I am, I feel like I'm constantly changing. The yesterday me is not the today me, the 12pm me is not the 2pm me. I'm also constantly empty/bored. I feel like there is a switch in my brain I can't control. From battling with this for years, I would self-diagnose as Borderline Personality Disorder. However it's so difficult to not doubt yourself after my psych told me what she did. I can't tell if I'm just being 'dramatic' because for years I've been searching for the reason I'm like this, or if there is actually a legitimate reason. I can't tell what I should do with taking the next step forward. Should I seek out a psychiatrist that's happy to help diagnose me, or should I just keep believing that I don't need that confirmation and continue therapy with my current psychologist? I'm scared that if I get diagnosed, I'd put myself in a box and excuse my actions for it. Thanks for reading all this. Any response, even if it doesn't offer any advice, is welcome

Bruce7 Existential Crisis
  • replies: 7

My ongoing depression and anxiety is under control however the ongoing existential crisis is not. I'm no good at self delusion and this is essentially what is suggested I do... nearly everyone starts with the statement 'live is worth living', where a... View more

My ongoing depression and anxiety is under control however the ongoing existential crisis is not. I'm no good at self delusion and this is essentially what is suggested I do... nearly everyone starts with the statement 'live is worth living', where as I start with 'is life worth living'.... The outcomes to these 2 questions are vastly different. I know for me the only answer is to walk away from all convention, and attempt to find stillness....... life is futile... life lived in the mind is futile

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