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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 chats on this Forum having 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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happyannie Inside Struggle
  • replies: 4

Hi Im writing to have a whinge because today Im having a really bad day, Im just so down and depressed, my anxiety is out of control. I have been sick with the flu as well, which isnt helping. I haven't left the house for over a week and when I did i... View more

Hi Im writing to have a whinge because today Im having a really bad day, Im just so down and depressed, my anxiety is out of control. I have been sick with the flu as well, which isnt helping. I haven't left the house for over a week and when I did it was for a appointment with my GP. My agoraphobia is really taking a hold of me now, its out of control. My psychiatrist comes back at the end of the week, so hopefully going on the emergency waiting list will get me to see him, as I dont want to go back to Hospital again. Just wondering if anyones got some ideas that I could try. I haven't even wanted to go on my computer until now... Thanx Annie

Poppy24 Hormones and Depression
  • replies: 3

Hi, This is my first time on a forum so please be kind. I have suffered depression and anxiety for many years. I have seeked help and spent thousands and I am at a loss. I have two extremely supportive people in my life but they don't seem to underst... View more

Hi, This is my first time on a forum so please be kind. I have suffered depression and anxiety for many years. I have seeked help and spent thousands and I am at a loss. I have two extremely supportive people in my life but they don't seem to understand. My partner who I have been in a long and committed relationship of 8 years is a wonderful man but we are polar opposites. I over think he does not, I over obsess he does not. My mother is beautiful and I love her but she only knows the basics as I am afraid of judgement. I need help and I don't know where to go. I suffer terrible hormonal issues and find doctors don't quite understand how to help me. I just feel I am alone with it all and I am suffering silently yet I know I don't have too. I love and am loved so not all is negative but I feel this unstable feeling is putting immense pressure on the ones I love. Thank you for reading and I hope someone can give some wise words. I really appreciate any help x

Missberri Feeling empty
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone I just wanted to post as I haven't really been feeling like myself lately. I don't feel like I'm full on depressed, but lately I have just been feeling very empty like just nothing is really making me feel good or happy or excited and I d... View more

Hi everyone I just wanted to post as I haven't really been feeling like myself lately. I don't feel like I'm full on depressed, but lately I have just been feeling very empty like just nothing is really making me feel good or happy or excited and I don't know why and I don't know what to do about it.. When I see my friends and meet up with people I just don't feel good how I used to. I used to be super excited, but now I just feel like I don't know what we would do I don't know what to say and I don't enjoy myself. It's starting to make me feel a bit anxious because I feel like I'm boring them and I'm starting to not want to see them at all because I'm scared of ruining my friendships with this attitude i have.. but I'm just genuinely finding it difficult to have fun and find things to talk about with everyone even with my closest friends I'm also having a bit of trouble with work.. I've been working in a retail job for the past 6 months and it's starting to get very repetitive and i don't feel fulfilled and excited when i go there. I don't get that much time off either so all the time I wanted to spend doing exciting with friends and family during my uni holidays has been instead spent in this boring empty store which I know is a part of working but I'm getting tired of trying to make plans with people to do things i actually enjoy and then being told no you have to stay here to do this 3 hour shift because no one else is available. A lot of my close friends have moved away in the past few months and it just would be nice to be able to see them while I have the time before things get too busy and crazy with uni again.. Anyway I really just don't know why I'm feeling this way I'm used to feeling pretty happy and having a lot of fun and I feel like I'm just filled with negativity and negative emotions right now.. I just wish I wasn't feeling this way and wish I knew what to do about it.. Thanks in advance if anyone has any advice or stories they can relate or anything it is much appreciated!! :):)

BlackOnBlack Is it necessary to be happy?
  • replies: 6

I have suffered with depression for most of my life, but was only diagnosed a couple of years ago. For as long as I can remember, its been a rough ride. All through my life, and even after being diagnosed, people tell me to "cheer up", "smile", or "b... View more

I have suffered with depression for most of my life, but was only diagnosed a couple of years ago. For as long as I can remember, its been a rough ride. All through my life, and even after being diagnosed, people tell me to "cheer up", "smile", or "be happy" - as if it is that easy. Being happy seems a big ask at the moment. I'm not even sure what that would feel like. Lately I have been asking myself - is it necessary to be happy, or is it enough not to be miserable - at least not all of the time? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this, and how you cope/react to being told to "cheer up".

diaplayname hugs?
  • replies: 7

Just curious if anyone has gone a substantial period of time without hugs, how does/did it effect your depression and self esteem. My last hug was seven years ago, sometimes I feel like that is all I am missing from life. I feel like I am a friendly,... View more

Just curious if anyone has gone a substantial period of time without hugs, how does/did it effect your depression and self esteem. My last hug was seven years ago, sometimes I feel like that is all I am missing from life. I feel like I am a friendly, outgoing and reasonably confidant guy. I just can't convince someone to hug me. I would really appreciate any feedback from someone in a similar situation. "You were right, it is good to have something to do with my hands, sometimes I can almost forget what I have lost, sometimes. Then the memories return and I feel as if I am choking on them."

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?