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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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MrsOverwhelmed I think my final diagnosis may be wrong?
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Apologies if this post is a bit muddled, I find it hard to explain myself a lot of the time recently. I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and have had both since I hit puberty, maybe even a bit before. I had a dysfunctional chi... View more

Hi all, Apologies if this post is a bit muddled, I find it hard to explain myself a lot of the time recently. I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and have had both since I hit puberty, maybe even a bit before. I had a dysfunctional childhood with a bit of trauma sprinkled in there, a troubled adolescence, and even though I have what most would consider a successful life i.e married, new house, new car, good job that I'm moving up in, etc I feel like a complete fraud because I don't even know how I've managed to do all of this, I feel so fractured all the time I don't even know how to explain it. I have been to a few psychs throughout my life none of which I have felt have truly understood what I am trying to explain to them. They'll ask a question and I'll answer and then they'll repeat back to me to make sure they've understood but what they repeat isn't what I've said and even if I try explain it seems to get nowhere. The therapy has helped to some degree for sure, but I feel I may have been diagnosed with GAD and depression as that's what they usually diagnose, and they haven't understood the full picture. From the research I have done, I believe I may have bipolar, probably bipolar 2, however when I mentioned this to my psych she dismissed it. Probably thought I was exaggerating? Who knows. I have gone through every disorder that may even slightly resemble how I feel and narrowed it down to the ones that overlap and that I have the most symptoms of, and have got to a psych and shown her what my research has come to and she didn't take much notice of it at all, at least from what I could see. i feel at a bit of a loss because I don't have the energy or time or money to keep going to a psych or finding a new psych. I work in a demanding industry and time off is very limited, and with all the other stuff in my life I feel like I don't have the time to contact any try fix these problems and get no results. I now have digestive issues, sleep issues, I've developed severe OCD and social anxiety in the last 2-3 years and my arachnophobia has become so intense it's a problem. I don't feel like myself, but then I don't even know who "myself" is. I feel like I lost my identity long ago. Can anyone with bipolar 1 or 2 possibly give me some insight? Or does it sound like I was correctly diagnosed as GAD and depression? I just don't know what's wrong with me or how to fix it

DanielZ Don't feel like myself lately
  • replies: 4

Hello all, I have recently joined. Thanks for sharing your stories. The last year has been extremely difficult for me and I find myself struggling to get through my days. Some days are good and others not so much. I feel down, and then begin to worry... View more

Hello all, I have recently joined. Thanks for sharing your stories. The last year has been extremely difficult for me and I find myself struggling to get through my days. Some days are good and others not so much. I feel down, and then begin to worry that something isn't right. That worry has become excessive and it haunts me most days. It's as though I am not me anymore. Thoughts of worry and sadness keep recycling in my head and often I try to rationalize out of them but find that they return. I wish that I could just go back to being me, driven, motivated, and happy. I am not sure where everything went pear-shaped but at 33 I find that my life has not turned out very well with major career setbacks, job insecurity, and discontent with my social relations. I have not turned to medication yet as I am afraid of the side-effects and want to give myself more time to get better.

D_L Finally hitting home
  • replies: 2

Hi I'm new to all this but I figured Letting it out is better than keeping it in, so here goes. Ive watched my mum go through alot of medical issues over the last 15 or so years and has been a tough ride and she has always managed to pull through but... View more

Hi I'm new to all this but I figured Letting it out is better than keeping it in, so here goes. Ive watched my mum go through alot of medical issues over the last 15 or so years and has been a tough ride and she has always managed to pull through but after the last hospital visit the doctors informed us that there is nothing else they can do for her, she wants to keep fighting like she always has but I'm afraid eventually her life will be lost. I'm struggling to come to terms that I will loose my mum, I've lost a lot of people close to me over the years but it's my mum and she is everything, it's breaking my heart, I was quite depressed before this and scared that it's gonna break me. I've never spoken to anyone outside of friends and family cause I feel embarrassed to let out all my emotions. thanks for listening

Chuckles1977 Feeling Down - Needing Support / Advice
  • replies: 20

Well my story begins 22 years ago when I ran away from home at the age of just 14 years old. I was from the Mid North Coast and jumped on a bus to Sydney. I had never been there before. So when I got there it was dark, nearing the middle of the night... View more

Well my story begins 22 years ago when I ran away from home at the age of just 14 years old. I was from the Mid North Coast and jumped on a bus to Sydney. I had never been there before. So when I got there it was dark, nearing the middle of the night and I was scared. From them until approx. 4 months ago I was homeless when I found my younger sister and mum through Facebook of all places. My sister invited me to live with her, my future brother in law and 2 young nieces (8 months and 4 years old). I was an Uncle and never knew it until we began talking before moving back up to the Mid North Coast. A week after moving back up to the Mid North Coast and moving in with my sister and her family I had to go to the doctors to have some tests done which is what I was about to have done in Sydney. Within a matter of days it came back that I have Stage 4 Cancer. It's aggressive and no option of treatment as they feel it would be pointless. I had to break this to my mum and sister. That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. My mums first words after being told what the doctors said was 'I just got my son back and now he is going to die on me'. This broke my heart. My sister held her emotions well as her partner was at work. She messaged him and told him the news. He decided to come home so she went and picked him up. They took a long time and I could see when she walked in the door that she had been crying. She broke down as soon as she got with her partner. Right now I am on some really strong medications to control the pain as it is really bad at times. And sometimes I can't even get to sleep. I find it difficult talking to my mother or sister about my feelings and what is going on in my head. They want to know so they can help, but it's hard to tell them. And I just don't know how to do it. Now the worst thing is the oncology unit at the local hospital gave me a time frame of roughly how long I have left. And I haven't told them that. And I really don't know how to or even if I should. Because it's not a massive time. We are trying to spend as much time together doing things and getting lots of photos so there is some good memories before I pass. But with the pain I have been sleeping a lot and we haven't been able to do much lately. I feel that I am a burden on them, even though they say I'm not. I can't help how I feel. Now, do I tell them the truth about what I know or do I not. My counselor thinks I shouldn't tell them. But to me that's lying.

Celery I need some help
  • replies: 1

I have posted on BB previously but truly never seem to know what my real problems are. I am staying temporarily with an adult son (27) and his gf. They do not understand MI despite his gf on AD and self medicating with lots of alcohol every night. I ... View more

I have posted on BB previously but truly never seem to know what my real problems are. I am staying temporarily with an adult son (27) and his gf. They do not understand MI despite his gf on AD and self medicating with lots of alcohol every night. I have nowhere else to go at the moment and feel trapped. I have had 4 pshycologists appts and just cry and get of the track when there plus she gives me another supplement each visit. I am on AD. I have a long history of trauma being raised in a home with a violent alcoholic father and a people pleasing mother whom are both deceased though suicide. I cared for my sick father for 2 yrs and he took his life while i was in the house. I did not get any counselling at the time and must of been living in denial of that truama, hence my older sibling blamed me for his death. We have been esstranged for 7 yrs now and i feel the pain everyday of losing my family despite the dysfunction i lived with all my life. I lived in an isolated rural area up until Sept last year and came to the this city area to get help for my MI as i was falling to pieces rapidly and not knowing what was really going on with MI.. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and dysthymia. I am also severly hearing impaird from infancy and this has been difficult in many ways through life with education and just general understanding. I got hear aids 5 yrs ago so people think i can just hear now like eryone else..i cant! I still get lost with conversation and have to be looking at peoples faces..which brings me to the next thing..i have relied on facial expression all my life and often i misread and think people are angry with me. My pshyc said i will not stop feeling anxious and depressed until i settle..i cry everyday and blame mysekf for all the losses in my life and wonder why i keep going. I have no job and my pshcartrist said that i would not likely get one because of my MI and my age. I made a decision last night to drive to my old home to see my dog that i miss so much and my ex partner who still does not no he is an ex. Yes messy and now today im thinking i made the wrong decisiin as atnight time i always feel a lot better and mornings are back to the lows of depression. I have contacted many organisations for help and come to dead ends. I get so tired of having to go over the same stuff to get help. I just want some peace from my own head and why does depression play cruel games?

the_boy Unsure About Me
  • replies: 2

I guess I just needed a place to just put down all my thoughts anonymously... I'm not sure if I do or don't have depression but I've felt so lost and also a bit lonely lately. As a student who recently completed my HSC, I had really struggles to mana... View more

I guess I just needed a place to just put down all my thoughts anonymously... I'm not sure if I do or don't have depression but I've felt so lost and also a bit lonely lately. As a student who recently completed my HSC, I had really struggles to manage my stress, and on top of that, during that period, my girlfriend and I split, as well as some group drama because I was quite unhappy about the way they treated me and I took a bit of a hiatus. It wasn't abuse or anything, just more so feeling like the black sheep of the group, where my group had about 10 people, and there seemed to be little sub groups that I was never a part of which made me feel a bit lost. Finishing the HSC took quite some weight off my shoulders, and me and my ex girlfriend ended up getting back together because I really do like her. But now that the craziness of HSC has subsided, I still find myself lost and alone - more so as of the new year than ever. Me and my group has pretty much cut off all communication, and I'm quite happy to see them having a good time with each other and what not, but I still can't help but feel really left out. Granted I'm not a perfect human being or what not, but I'm still part of the group, except they don't include me in things. My girlfriend on the other hand... Am I clingy which in turn drives me to feeling this loneliness and no sense of direction? I'm not to sure but its just kind of weird when she always claims she never has time for me, but then turns around and goes out with her friends or what not. I feel as if I'm a plan B, or like I'm the spare tire in the back of the car that she doesn't necessarily need, but still wants so she feels secure. Sometimes she just gets really moody and lashes at me like I'm a punching bag, but I just take it because at the end of the day, I know that she loves me and I love her. To add to that, I've been struggling really hard to find jobs that I guess contributes to the feeling of being lost. I wouldn't say I'm the best candidate for many jobs, but I feel as though the things I've done and achieved should get me somewhere. Maybe I just feel underappreciated?

Always_raining Hi. Just want to write some things down and see how it feels.
  • replies: 2

I'm still %99 sure I'm sick and that's why I'm depressed and not the other way around. The doctors arnt looking deep enough. But yes I probably am depressed and anxious too. I knowing not normal to be convinced you are going to die soon. I know it's ... View more

I'm still %99 sure I'm sick and that's why I'm depressed and not the other way around. The doctors arnt looking deep enough. But yes I probably am depressed and anxious too. I knowing not normal to be convinced you are going to die soon. I know it's not normal.to despise yourself. But I do. I am piece of shit. The only good thing I have ever done is brought two perfect little angels into the world. That's probably just the depression talking. I don't want to die. I want to see my.girls grow up. I feel terrible for my poor wife who has to put up with me. I don't want to be who I am.

Beth88 Adive needed
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm 20 years old and need some advice. I often get patches where all I want to do Is sleep all day and I just feel so lonely and upset. Little things trigger patches like this, one moment I'm fine then the next out of no where I just feel so hopel... View more

Hi I'm 20 years old and need some advice. I often get patches where all I want to do Is sleep all day and I just feel so lonely and upset. Little things trigger patches like this, one moment I'm fine then the next out of no where I just feel so hopeless and tired. I never speak to anyone about it because I feel embarrassed, Iv told me boyfriend and mum on some occasions but they don't seem to care. I have been diagnosed with anxiety a few years ago but have never been back to the doctors for depression as I feel they can't help and I also don't think I'm as extreme as most people so I'm wasting their time. I push my family and friends away, when I get these patches I start to ignore my boyfriend and don't want to speak to him about it which I know isn't good but I just can't speak to anyone about it, so I'm hoping someone can speak to me and give some advice. I hate feeling like this it's so draining one moment I'm fine then the next moment I just feel so low and I hate it. just hope someone can relate or help me out because I just want to feel normal again

Le13 Lost and lonely and needing to get these thoughts out of my head.
  • replies: 3

Im new to this for forum thing. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and have been on since I was in high school. Lately I have been finding it hard to fall asleep because as soon as I go to bed all these thoughts and feelings just drown out a... View more

Im new to this for forum thing. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and have been on since I was in high school. Lately I have been finding it hard to fall asleep because as soon as I go to bed all these thoughts and feelings just drown out any chance of sleep then morning comes and I don't want to leave my bed. I fake being happy all day to the family and hubby as best as I can and don't really have any close friends or family who understand or that I can talk to. They just put it down to a bad day. But every night my husbands asleep and I lay there and cry until I'm so tired I don't remember falling asleep. Usually when the sun rises I dose. I don't know why I'm feeling like this all the time again. Why aren't my meds working anymore. What's wrong with me. I hate this and I'm hating life. I just want to give up and disappear. Why can't i just be happy. I don't what to be me anymore. Its getting harder to fake it, harder to care, harder to do life anymore. I wish I hard someone to talk too. I don't want the sadness anymore. Life is too hard. What did I do wrong. I feel myself slipping and I don't know if I'm strong enough to stop myself or pick myself back up. I'm just so tired. I just needed to get this out of my head.

Jarf Disclosing Depression on Pre-Employment Health Assessment
  • replies: 3

I'm starting a new job in a few weeks and I have to fill in a Pre-Employment Health Assessment form. On it it has a health questionnaire that outright asks if I currently have or have ever had depression or any other mental illness. Do I have to answ... View more

I'm starting a new job in a few weeks and I have to fill in a Pre-Employment Health Assessment form. On it it has a health questionnaire that outright asks if I currently have or have ever had depression or any other mental illness. Do I have to answer truthfully, and, if not, is it better if I do not disclose my depression at all.