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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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Ambula84 Depression, anxiety, social anxiety. No motivation
  • replies: 8

Hi guys. First time poster on here. So i am 33 female and just feel so fed up with life at the moment. I have suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember and bouts of depression from time to time but this time it has hung around for 6 months ... View more

Hi guys. First time poster on here. So i am 33 female and just feel so fed up with life at the moment. I have suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember and bouts of depression from time to time but this time it has hung around for 6 months or so. There isnt any major reasons why either, other than the fact my life isn't what I planned it to look like at 33. I have an awesome supportive family, who I hate putting them through my emotions all the time as I can imagine how draining it can be. I do have a boyfriend who is a nice guy but I just dont feel the stability i want at my age. We have been together 2 years. He works away alot, has had a gambling problem and his priorities are just not good. Im just not in the right frame of mind to make the decision of what to do in this area. Things felt so bad yesterday that I decided to go to the hospital. I have just started to see a psychologist recently (have in the past) and first time seeing a psychiatrist a few weeks ago which was very disappointing as for the first consult i was in there for all of 10 minutes and sent away with a new medication i am still trying to find something that can help... just hate the side effects especially insomnia. Basically what I have beem struggling with most lately is the mornings.. i hate them. I wake up feeling almost like a dread feeling. Any suggestions on how to overcome this? Also I always feel the need to sleep. On my days off I feel so exhausted with my anxiety that doing things feels too much. My social anxiety is getting worse. I don't want to see friends.. i worry about driving. Going to the shops can be a mission. I envy people that have energy and that are happy. I want to be that person. I have good intentions, read up on ways to help, but when it comes to the crunch... anxiety knocks me down. Sorry for the rant. Needed to get all that off my chest x

Mary_Ploppins Having a hard time in general.
  • replies: 4

Like the title says.Everything seems to be getting just a little too much these days, i am literally so bored i can't wait for my kids to get home from school so i have someone to talk too. I was studying to be a counselor at Tafe but my teach took o... View more

Like the title says.Everything seems to be getting just a little too much these days, i am literally so bored i can't wait for my kids to get home from school so i have someone to talk too. I was studying to be a counselor at Tafe but my teach took over three months to mark my first assesment so i deferred because i throught i wasn't going to pass and didn't want to get in any further debt. I feel it's kind of a waste of time studying anyway i have zero experience am in my 40s and on a disability pension for a few different reasons. I hate being like this though i would rather work but even studying for 3 hours or so a day really took it out of me. I feel like i can't really give my kids anything much and they will grow up being poor and going without,not what im wanting for them. Really don't know what to do just having a very down day which came by way of a very down past few weeks.

Flick_SnotGrass How many Psyckologists does it take to change a lightbulb?...
  • replies: 6

One. But the lightbulb has really gotta wanna change. Hi, I'm Flick SnotGrass, good to meet you. Now obviously I don't know who you are, your age, your gender, your 'problem' etc however Scientific Studies Show that laughing eases misery. You can't l... View more

One. But the lightbulb has really gotta wanna change. Hi, I'm Flick SnotGrass, good to meet you. Now obviously I don't know who you are, your age, your gender, your 'problem' etc however Scientific Studies Show that laughing eases misery. You can't laugh and sulk at the same time...though I've tried. So I'd like to offer this space, this thread, as a place for us to tell each other MH jokes. MH Jokes!!! Is he mad? Well yes, that's why I'm here. Anyway, there's a funny joke about a guy who gets a flat tyre/tire right by a Lunatic Asylum and he loses the four nuts down the drain and can't put the spare on....stop me if you've heard it....and one of the inmates has been watching the whole scene unfold and says to the guy 'Take one of the nuts off each of the three other wheels and put the spare on with three nuts and drive carefully till you get to a garage'. "That's brilliant!!" said the driver. "I know. I may be crazy but I aint stupid" Now you tell me one. Flick SnotGrass

Lea_ Where do i go from here?
  • replies: 8

I have been feeling lost for over a year. I know i should be grateful to have a roof over my head, i have an income and enough to eat. But i just feel hollow. I try and fill the time with tv, books, music, friends any thing to keep my mind busy. But ... View more

I have been feeling lost for over a year. I know i should be grateful to have a roof over my head, i have an income and enough to eat. But i just feel hollow. I try and fill the time with tv, books, music, friends any thing to keep my mind busy. But i end up staring into space. I have tried therapy, exercise, cbt, medication. None of it worked. I just don't know how to move forward getting up is a challenge even for something i enjoy. Can anyone help me with coping?

JenJen10 Recovering from Depression
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. Im 27 and unfortunately lost a good part of the last 8 years due to my battles with major depression but I’m proud to say now that I am doing well. I’m not sure where to classify things right now, as I ... View more

Hi everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. Im 27 and unfortunately lost a good part of the last 8 years due to my battles with major depression but I’m proud to say now that I am doing well. I’m not sure where to classify things right now, as I am still having regular ECT to maintain my mood, taking medication and seeing therapists. I am however, happy! I have goals, I see a future, I have started looking for work again and started dating again too ☺️. If you had asked me 6 months ago if any of this was possible, I would have said no way! Recovery and wellness is possible!!! It is also soooo worth it!! I sometimes think about the 30+ hospital admissions, the ongoing day programs and commitment to outpatient appointments. I feel a little ashamed that it took so much effort but I have come out of this a MUCH stronger person. I have drive and commitment now to use my experiences to help others recover and work on their own MH issues. I hope to study next year to enable me to pursue this goal and work in the field. To conclude, I say PLEASE, never give up. Ask for help !! The process can be exhausting and can feel like there is no way forward but there is! And when you are feeling better, even if it’s only a little bit, you will be proud you persisted in fighting. The battle is worth it and recovery and a life beyond whatever ailment you have is amazing! I have so much more gratitude for the small things now, ie a nice sunny day, the fresh air on a morning walk, a good laugh with a friend or a tasty cafe treat. Thank you for reading. Positive vibes

p_man p.man
  • replies: 10

hello, im new here.....i have bipolar disorder and am currently in the midst of a very deep depression, i was on medications for 15 years with good results until about 5 months ago when they stopped working and my depression took hold in a big way...... View more

hello, im new here.....i have bipolar disorder and am currently in the midst of a very deep depression, i was on medications for 15 years with good results until about 5 months ago when they stopped working and my depression took hold in a big way...my medication was changed 3 times with horrible results, the last combination was so bad i wound up in hospital for two weeks....my current medication is not working at all, so i will need to change medications again.....im very worried about this because of the previous changes and the hospitalisation i endured as a result......this bout of depression has lasted for 8 months.....im so tired and worn down, it's relentless, i'm at a point where the simplest things are incredibly difficult....im tearful a lot of the time ...feeling hopeless and helpless, like things will not improve......feeling too low to socialise, becoming isolated.......ive weathered many ups and downs over the years but never had my medication fail until now.....im so afraid nothing is going to work and that i am stuck with the horrible reality im stuck in......i want so badly to be well, to get my life back.....it seems so far away and theres no clear way out.....i feel like ive forgotten how it feels to be well ive been depressed for so long....so so tired.......this illness is relentless...im holding on , just ,trying my hardest to stay afloat .......im really afraid of changing meds but hoping that there is a combination that will pull me out of my current depression......desperate days are these.....hoping with all i am that some relief is on the horizon

An_Aging_Youngster A Single Bout of Clinical Depression: A Case Study
  • replies: 1

My only bout of moderate clinical depression was caused ultimately by a collision between my upbringing as a child and my wife's expectations and personality as an adult. In retrospect, this was an event that had been building slowly for decades. It ... View more

My only bout of moderate clinical depression was caused ultimately by a collision between my upbringing as a child and my wife's expectations and personality as an adult. In retrospect, this was an event that had been building slowly for decades. It was the clinical anxiety that accompanied my depression that drove me to seeing a doctor, this in the face of my wife's opposition. (My wife's opposition was driven by her own fears, but that is another story.) The doctor confirmed my guess that I was suffering from clinical depression. He offered me a choice: medication or counseling. I have an aversion to medication except where absolutely necessary, so I opted for counseling. This choice ultimately led to my development as a person. The doctor referred me for a course of 10 counseling sessions. The counselor was skilled. I also started the counseling knowing in advance that I would be the author of my own recovery under the counselor's guidance. I opted to have weekly sessions rather than fortnightly sessions. By the end of the fourth session I had an idea of my escape route from depression. I spent the fifth session consolidating that idea, and confirmed to myself my recovery in the week that followed. I spent the sixth session debriefing the counselor, which debriefing the counselor found useful. The key to my recovery was anger. Anger often receives a bad press these days and is easily confused with rage. My own anger takes the form "This is not right!" and always overrides any slide towards depression that starts within me. It can also motivate me to discuss the events leading up to that moment with my wife, which discussions always prove beneficial to both parties. My anger reaction kicks in without me having to make any effort. This situation has been stable for five years. I realise that this solution is not for everyone. My own Beck Depression Inventory score is 2 (very low). I have started working with somebody whose score hits the mid 20s between treatments. She has a genetic predisposition to depression which was triggered by escalating parental abuse in her teenage years and became chronic at age 20, so my own solution is extremely unlikely to work for her. The take away from all this? Everybody's journey is different. Go well. AAY

Nad ITs time to tell them about my bipolar..but how?
  • replies: 16

Hello BB Citizens, its been 5 years now since i have been diagnosed with bipolar type 2. Since then, i've gone through sooo many different medications and each day is a roller coaster ride for me. For those that don't know i'm bp, they just see me as... View more

Hello BB Citizens, its been 5 years now since i have been diagnosed with bipolar type 2. Since then, i've gone through sooo many different medications and each day is a roller coaster ride for me. For those that don't know i'm bp, they just see me as an emotional guy that goes up and down. I get judged that i'm temperamental and unstable. My mornings are ridiculous difficult. To be precise, i wake up tired, not motivated, afraid of the day, afraid of peoples judgement, uncomfortable in my own skin, nausious, light headed, electric shock to the face feeling. This is easily presented in my facial and body expression. So when i'm at work between 8-10 people say "mate, u look dead, get more sleep". after 10 i'm back to stable normal or if there's something exciting happening, i go along with it. Then around 2pm i'm back to the same dead feeling. I was absent at work for 3 weeks having ECT treatment and working from home. alot of questions were flung around the office as to what happen to me but my manager didn't tell them. Due to ECT not working, i'm now about to do rTMS which will consume around 1 month off work. i'm planning now to email all people i interact with at work about my bp and the journey i've been on however i don't know how to deliver this information to them. i don't want to be emailing everyone making it like a sob story or a sympathy stab..... Can i get some suggestions please

Struggling2 Changes are on the way
  • replies: 4

Hi all, A bit about me. I am a 51 year old women and have suffered major depression for most of my life. From early on in my life I felt "different" to every one else around me. I had a very very bad temper and wasnt pleasant to be around. At 31, I w... View more

Hi all, A bit about me. I am a 51 year old women and have suffered major depression for most of my life. From early on in my life I felt "different" to every one else around me. I had a very very bad temper and wasnt pleasant to be around. At 31, I was finally dignosed with major depression and was prescribed anti depressants and have been taking these now for over 20 years. In the past few years my depression has worsened. This is because of my job in the public service, who know by the way of my illness, I have been bullied and harrassed and treated dispectfully by others that I work with. I have never been given or shown any empathy or respect because I have a mental illness. Recently I decided, for my own mental health and well being, to resign and find a job I really like with nicer people surrounding me. The ironic thing is I work at the department of health.

sadbuthappy I used to be happy
  • replies: 3

ok so when i was little i was ur typical 'smart, shy kid.' everyone knew me based on my results on tests and exams. that was probably the only reason they were so nice to me, cause i was so shy i couldnt even speak. then a few years later, i met this... View more

ok so when i was little i was ur typical 'smart, shy kid.' everyone knew me based on my results on tests and exams. that was probably the only reason they were so nice to me, cause i was so shy i couldnt even speak. then a few years later, i met this guy. he opened my eyes to the world, and made me realise that i should come out of my shell. so i did. he made me laugh so hard i cried, and around him i felt safe and happy. the world seemed so much brighter when he was in it. i became one of the 'popular crew' and everything in life felt like it was picking up. that year was grad year, so the next year, everyone was going off on their separate paths in life. i was separated from all my friends. it was weird, cause one minute i could be happy, and laugh like i used to, but the next? i remembered those times where i was truly happy, and everything else seemed like a waste. i think its cause my friends became my family, in a way. not by blood, but by love. i loved every one of them, and i was torn away from them. they were kind of the only family i've ever known, because my blood family puts up all of these expectations that i cant reach anymore. the pressure is getting to me now. it was probably the same before, but back then i had my friends to cheer me up when things got tough. now i have no one. i think im depressed, but i havent told anyone yet. i've left clues for people. i even told someone i was sad all the time, but they didnt pick up on it. what hurts the most is that no one even notices that something is wrong. they just go on, thinking their lives are tough, and im here, sad and depressed.

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