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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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Julz01 Frustrated at the ignorance of my boss
  • replies: 5

After discussing with my new senior manager and another manager how we could support an employee going through a mentally challenging time, my boss made the most alarming statements. She said she understood anxiety but she did not get depression & sa... View more

After discussing with my new senior manager and another manager how we could support an employee going through a mentally challenging time, my boss made the most alarming statements. She said she understood anxiety but she did not get depression & said people need to choose to be happy & it's all about choices. She went on to say suicide is cowards way out & people have choices. She said fat people choose to be fat because they choose not to exercise & eat properly. I have battled depression & anxiety for 14 years & this time last year I was hospitalised. I am in a good place now but it wasn't a simple choice & if I had a setback she would refer to me as a fruit loop as she does other staff suffering mental health conditions. I was 30 kg overweight till this year but I didn't choose to be that way & if I could have fixed it overnight with a choice I would have. I have been in a good place but this has really bothered me. My colleague tried to explain ill mental health is not a choice but to no avail. I get there are ignorant people out there but was not expecting it was something from someone in her position. Mind you this is the same day we had an R U OK function with our staff today & had a BB Ambassador speak. My friend thinks I should report her but I have to report to this person. Truly gobsmacked!!

Precis60 Is is wrong to be happy one minute angry the next.
  • replies: 5

My sister tell me I have mania because I am so up and down, people tell you to get help but I feel sometimes thing just get on top of you. Everyone these days seems to busy to really want to do more than token help. I don't know if this is just me no... View more

My sister tell me I have mania because I am so up and down, people tell you to get help but I feel sometimes thing just get on top of you. Everyone these days seems to busy to really want to do more than token help. I don't know if this is just me not being able to deal with situations. Is there somewhere you can just chat online and not have people judge or pretend to care.

Possum_Magic1 So over it!
  • replies: 10

Hi All Decided to rant because I am so over this depression! My first depression was over 23 years ago. I have been on an antidepressant ever since and never had another episode until May this year. I was quick to pick up the signs and finally got in... View more

Hi All Decided to rant because I am so over this depression! My first depression was over 23 years ago. I have been on an antidepressant ever since and never had another episode until May this year. I was quick to pick up the signs and finally got into see a psychiatrist at the end of June. I was put back into the same combination of medication that got me well the first time. Wow some of the side effects I never had all those years ago, I definitely have this time! I have an amazing partner who is both supportive and loving. He is my Tower of strength both episodes. This time around it's a bit harder having though having 2 teenage children. I haven't told the kids as they would take it very hard. It has been 10 weeks or so since beginning medication. I am no longer low but still haven't returned to myself. I find this so hard to deal with. I find the everyday tasks a challenge, just thinking of what to have for dinner every night does my head in. I feel I am constantly counting the days, weeks,months that this has been going on. I get so upset that I'm not 100%. I feel like I am letting down my husband and kids. School holidays are coming up and I was unable to take the kids anywhere in the last holidays. My husband says I'm too hard on myself but I am just so over it. How much longer does this suffering have to go on for before it's done? Possum Magic

Revenuer Depression: The beast won't let me speak everything
  • replies: 8

Hi I recently joined the Army 7 months ago but for the past 5 years I've been suffering from depression however during those years I didn't know much about depression and thought that my internal struggles were normal. But things started to get worse... View more

Hi I recently joined the Army 7 months ago but for the past 5 years I've been suffering from depression however during those years I didn't know much about depression and thought that my internal struggles were normal. But things started to get worse and I did some researching and from the info I gathered from mental health websites such as Beyond Blue I was indeed suffering from depression. I sought help through the Army and went to see a Psychologist but the worst thing was I couldn't tell her everything. I only told her about 10 percent of what's really going on. It's like there was an invisible force preventing me from saying everything I just couldn't do it . I hate that at the most crucial moment to actually get help I was weak. How can I overcome this beast and actually tell my Psychologist the whole story.

Greyscale There must be a better way
  • replies: 7

Hi Everyone, I've been battling with depression/anxiety on and off for 12 years. Luckily in the last 3 years, with the help of meds and occasional counselling I've been feeling a lot better and have been mostly on the up. However in the last month I'... View more

Hi Everyone, I've been battling with depression/anxiety on and off for 12 years. Luckily in the last 3 years, with the help of meds and occasional counselling I've been feeling a lot better and have been mostly on the up. However in the last month I've completely spiralled into darkness and self loathing. I am lucky enough to have everything 'sorted'. Full time work loving boyfriend cute (if bitey) kitten home (mortgage) owner travel plans on the horizon I thought that not having to worry about these things anymore would help me feel at peace. But instead I'm finding myself feeling the worst I've felt in two years. Just not being able to shake this feeling of complete sadness and failure. Previously I could pin it to something, though now, there's nothing In my recent appointment with my psych we spoke about acceptance and trying not to fight my depression. But I can't help but feel like it's not fair. That just because something in my body is broken, I have to go through this wave of overwhelming sadness. Just to accept this is my lot in life. Get up, got to work and push through How is that ok? What is the point in trying if this wave will just come and crush me again in a few years, months or weeks? This really is making me question the point of living if this is to be the cycle. I guess I'm just putting these thoughts out there to see if anyone else has had the same advice, or how you got to a point of acceptance. Because I'm really struggling here to see the positives. Thank you for listening/reading.

Tanya__ Feeling worthless
  • replies: 17

I lost my mother unexpectedly when I was 21. Since then I got married and have 3 children of my own. I am super busy with working, looking after the kids, I run a small business from home, secretary on 2 different committees and own a stud with horse... View more

I lost my mother unexpectedly when I was 21. Since then I got married and have 3 children of my own. I am super busy with working, looking after the kids, I run a small business from home, secretary on 2 different committees and own a stud with horses, I think I try and keep myself busy to try and distract myself. I am feeling like my husband and kids would be better off without me, I get really irritated easily and don't really want to socialise at all, not sure where to go from here, I just know that something needs to change

Flowerchild07 Totally out of control.
  • replies: 2

My whole life has spun totally out of control. After battling, mostly alone, for more almost 40 years. I think I've tried everything anyone could possibly suggest to try to help me. Nothing has ever really helped. Every single aspect of my life has b... View more

My whole life has spun totally out of control. After battling, mostly alone, for more almost 40 years. I think I've tried everything anyone could possibly suggest to try to help me. Nothing has ever really helped. Every single aspect of my life has been ruined because of this dreadful, ugly illness. I don't even know where to start. I'm unemployed, single, no home of my own, no car, no money. Just on unemployment benefits and dragging myself through each day. I have sisters and a brother who are busy with there own lives. They love me and care about me but there's really nothing they can do. I am tired, so very tired of fighting. It's true, no one wants to hear about it. I've lost all of my so called friends because of this. What I hate most is there is nowhere to turn, so I suffer in silence my whole life. This only makes it harder to cope. If you asked me if I was suicidal, I would say no. I don't want to die, but that's because I don't want my family to suffer. Honestly, what I do want is to be sedated, so I'm still alive for them but I don't have to feel like this any more. I try to sleep the day away, but one can only sleep for so long. I feel like I'm out of options.

Tikese Do I have clinical depression?
  • replies: 3

So I'm a 19 year old male who has recently finished working full time for around 5 months on a construction site. I know it may sound quite obvious that my depression has flared ever since my last day on the job due to the sudden change in environmen... View more

So I'm a 19 year old male who has recently finished working full time for around 5 months on a construction site. I know it may sound quite obvious that my depression has flared ever since my last day on the job due to the sudden change in environment and routine, but for the last few days, my depression has reached to a point I've never experinced before. It started as i was working, due to the isolation and such long hours, but it has gotten a lot worse ever since i no longer work in the industry. I'm unmotivated to do anything, sleep strange hours, feel a general sadness and extreme mood swings. I'll also add that i am on medication for an anxiety disorder (OCD), which may play a role. I'm scared that i will soon be diagnosed with clinical depression, considering the fact that I'm already on meds and i still have it tells me that my depression is non-curable. Any thoughts?

LesDave Advice dealing with anger and stress
  • replies: 2

I have depression and have pills. The past few years I find myself getting angry a lot of the time. I just cannot cope with incompetence or mediocrity anymore. I have so much anger I try to deal with and it gets my blood pressure right up. I am alrea... View more

I have depression and have pills. The past few years I find myself getting angry a lot of the time. I just cannot cope with incompetence or mediocrity anymore. I have so much anger I try to deal with and it gets my blood pressure right up. I am already on high meds and I check it all the time. I exercise really hard each day and eat a reasonable diet. I seem to be ok until something goes wrong and then I get so frustrated. It can be simple things like people not paying attention in the traffic, or badly designed websites, store people getting my order mixed up. Any advice would be appreciated. I feel like I am going to explode.

Tarzi Why would anyone want to talk to me if I'm being such a downer?
  • replies: 11

I have been struggling with depression for about 18months now and it has gotten progressively worse. about two years ago I moved away with my partner for work. It takes three flights just to get back to where our family and friends are from so as you... View more

I have been struggling with depression for about 18months now and it has gotten progressively worse. about two years ago I moved away with my partner for work. It takes three flights just to get back to where our family and friends are from so as you can imagine we don't get home much. I had a baby about 10 months ago and with no family support it has been difficult. I told my GP how I have been feeling and about three months ago he put me on anti depressants. I haven't told any of my family or friends because I am embarrassed. I feel like I'm weak and why would anyone want to talk to me if I'm being such a downer so I always put on a happy fake phone self. Now it's to the point I am avoiding their calls. I don't want to call anyone. I don't do anything or go anywhere, I'm at home all day with a baby and it's an effort to get out of bed (I always attend to all his needs no matter how bad of a day I am having) but I find it hard to even want to do my hair or makeup, clean the house etc. but I also feel like by moving home I am ruining our future because we are here working away for a reason. all as my partner ever says is it's my fault for not helping myself and I understand if I did things like mothers group and took the baby to the park etc. I would probably feel better but it just feels like such a big task to get myself organised enough to get out the door. Especially when I dread seeing anyone else. Can anyone else relate or am I just super crazy. i don't feel like myself at all!! I don't feel normal. I don't feel like I will ever be happy again even if I do move home. Where as six months ago I thought moving home would be great as I would have support and friends and family now I can't see myself happy anywhere. Feel so lost! P.s- partner works 13days straight and only has every second sunday off and he leaves for work at 5am and doesn't get home until 6pm or 7pm! I feel so alone.

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