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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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_lady_ Denial
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I'm new here. I'll try to keep this short. On Friday I perked up the courage to go see a Uni councillor to talk about my decline in mental health over the past few months, particularly this past month where it's been almost daily and I have b... View more

Hi all, I'm new here. I'll try to keep this short. On Friday I perked up the courage to go see a Uni councillor to talk about my decline in mental health over the past few months, particularly this past month where it's been almost daily and I have become too fatigued to function (but have to function in order to keep my life going with work etc.) this is regardless of how much sleep I have had. I wake tired, and that level didn't change all day. I made about 5 GP appointments and cancelled them all over the last few months, as I have a complex where I feel as though I am faking what ever I am feeling (I think this has something to do with upbringing and being called a drama queen my whole life). Anyway, the Uni councillor did a screening test with me in which I rated high for depression and anxiety. She booked me in with the school GP (she's fantastic) the same day so I wouldn't avoid it. I went, she diagnosed me with depression and anxiety and prescribed me medication and set up a plan for me and some referrals to good psychs. I felt relieved, I felt like someone believed me and it was a relief to know that was I was experiencing wasn't something I've made up in my head. I'm now waking up to day 4 on the anti-D's (the side effects were a little less harsh yesterday thank god but still there), but I've woken up today with this overwhelming sense that I need to stop and that nothing is wrong with me and that I feel extremely guilty and selfish and stupid for even seeing a doctor because none of this is real. My fiance and I don't talk about it much - which is fine with me, he doesnt know how to deal with it so he just tries to cheer me up and we kinda avoid conversation about whats going on - which is fine because none of it overly concerns him. The problem is, last night in jest I said something about the medication and his response was "You don't even need them". And this really hurt me. Because I had yet another person in my life reject what I was going through. I don't think he meant to hurt me, I think his mentality is that he has seen his brother and dad go through pretty severe depression and bipolar and maybe I don't equate to that, or maybe it's that he feels I shouldn't be depressed and if I am maybe it's because of him. I don't know. It's irrelevant anyway, my post here today is to hopefully talk to people who have felt similar? I don't know how to deal with it. I keep thinking I need to get off the medication (I promise I won't).

lee_2014 do I have depression?
  • replies: 11

Hi, I was just wondering how do you know if you have depression? I have thought about killing myself because I' m not afraid of dying isn't the unknown what gets me. Thinking about my family also stop me from doing it because I don't want to hurt the... View more

Hi, I was just wondering how do you know if you have depression? I have thought about killing myself because I' m not afraid of dying isn't the unknown what gets me. Thinking about my family also stop me from doing it because I don't want to hurt them. But I don't see the point in life and I just want it to end already, and I often think can accident just happen to me so I don't get labelled a cowed. This normal? beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

rererestarting Struggling to keep it together
  • replies: 11

First post here. Sadly lots of problems and very little solutions. I'm 32 and am struggling to keep it together after a string of bad decisions in my 20s coupled with some poor socialisation in my youth that has led me to a very desperate point. I ha... View more

First post here. Sadly lots of problems and very little solutions. I'm 32 and am struggling to keep it together after a string of bad decisions in my 20s coupled with some poor socialisation in my youth that has led me to a very desperate point. I have been unable to find ANY work for almost 18 months. I used to be a youth worker in my previous role, but I couldn't find another agency that would hire me despite them being apparently desperate for staff, and being out of work so long means I've lost all my skills... I'm stuck in the holy trinity of unemployable: too old, zero experience, too much education with no qualifications from it. I tried to complete a bachelor of nursing 2010-2015; but had to quit due to bullying, then moved to a bachelor of arts doing sociology that I have completed a minor in so far, but centrelink has cut me off from austudy. I did a certificates and diplomas in music industry before that and a whole lot of good that achieved... Basically I am no longer allowed to study to try and improve my employability. I cannot even get a job pushing trolleys at coles because I'm not the "exploitable" type. It was dehumanising. I tried volunteering with two separate community organisations in fields that I used to thoroughly enjoy; servicing the elderly migrants and teaching refugee kids English, but without any income my will to continue just evaporated. I got a white card and several certificates that are useful for trades, but unless I'm under 20 tradies don't want a bar of me. I didn't get my first job until I was 27 as an assistant in nursing and I cannot go back to the health and support industry due to PTSD from the bullying (undiagnosed, but avoiding the whole industry is all I need to keep it in check). I have a string of issues that keep me out of certain industries: I can't work nights due to the mood destabilisation from sleep deprivation, I cannot work sales due to anxiety. I cannot cold call businesses due to anxiety either, and I struggle at the best of times to send in job applications because rejections REALLY badly affect me psychologically. What are some suggestions for PAID entry level work. I need cash, not experience. I am at the point of considering picking up a drug habit just so it would make a pension claim easier because of all the horror stories I have read of trying to apply with mental health alone

demonblaster With Depression: Is it all the time?
  • replies: 15

Hey I ask out of interest, learning & gathering info for my purposes which are to get on top of Bipolar (BP) Flog the demons & when I get there thinking to public speak (Paid hopefully) & would help many. A goal I HAVE to reach. Our depression beyond... View more

Hey I ask out of interest, learning & gathering info for my purposes which are to get on top of Bipolar (BP) Flog the demons & when I get there thinking to public speak (Paid hopefully) & would help many. A goal I HAVE to reach. Our depression beyond eventually goes when we've recovered fortunately. Questions: Sufferers of depression: Does it lift at times during depression? Do you find you get depressed when tired? (I've spoken to a few over the yrs with/out M.Illness or ? undiagnosed, but most have said no. I always have but may have been the BP.) A Psychiatrist said the depression causes tiredness which I get why but... I'm not so sure, I think other way round too but might be wrong, open to that Cheers

Xara BPD (Boarderline Personality Disorder}
  • replies: 5

So I got diagnoses with BPD looking back at myself and who I am I see it I just don't know how to handle it. I completely disassociate myself and generally reflect a lot of anger. I don't know how to help myself. I am doing all my psychiatrist asked ... View more

So I got diagnoses with BPD looking back at myself and who I am I see it I just don't know how to handle it. I completely disassociate myself and generally reflect a lot of anger. I don't know how to help myself. I am doing all my psychiatrist asked me to. And onto of that I have relationship problems that I don't know how to handle and so I just shut off and push everyone away or yell at them for pushing me. Need some help figuring this out because no-one is really helping me understand.

JS22 No emotion
  • replies: 1

I have realised in the last 12 months that I have no emotion, I don't feel sad, happy, angry, I just don't feel any emotion whatsoever. I find that I say things or express love for people because I know I do love them but I express this I feel it is ... View more

I have realised in the last 12 months that I have no emotion, I don't feel sad, happy, angry, I just don't feel any emotion whatsoever. I find that I say things or express love for people because I know I do love them but I express this I feel it is expected of me. And I don't want to hurt peole close to me so I do this to save any hurt, but deep down there is no emotion at all, and I have really noticed the last few months even more, I have an amazing boyfriend and would do anything for me but I am finding it increasingly hard to show emotion to him, and I feel that is not fair to him so I should break up with him so he has the chance of a more fulfilling life with someone who can show this to him. So the dilemma and constant battle in my head is why I feel like this and what I should do in regards to my partner and what's best for both of us going forward. Any advice at this point would be much appreciated

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