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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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Scott76 Guilty about getting better
  • replies: 5

I've been medicated for depression for about twenty years. Last year I lost my dad, my mother in law and a great friend to cancer. As a result of this I descended into a severe depressive episode that's been going on for over a year. I've hardly work... View more

I've been medicated for depression for about twenty years. Last year I lost my dad, my mother in law and a great friend to cancer. As a result of this I descended into a severe depressive episode that's been going on for over a year. I've hardly worked, been on a range of new medications and was even in hospital for a few days. More recently I have started seeing a psychiatrist. He fiddled with my meds. Since the last alteration I feel good. No tears, and the feeling of sadness and being on the edge is pretty much gone. But it's been replaced by guilt. I feel so bad that my wife is out working supporting the family while I'm at home. The dr says my recovery will be a long term thing and even once my depression is controlled it will be a long time before I have my confidence back (I'm a teacher). I've got myself into a routine which my therapist suggested but I just feel so bad that I'm not contributing. It almost makes me miss the lows of my depression.

Beetle Today i just hate people.hate their games and immmorality.
  • replies: 6

HI Just need to vent.Im not antisocial.i have friends , working as a nurse. But humans and their immorality and their games gives me the sh.... I have quite high moral standarts and it makes me sick seeing so many people, especially CEO's and executi... View more

HI Just need to vent.Im not antisocial.i have friends , working as a nurse. But humans and their immorality and their games gives me the sh.... I have quite high moral standarts and it makes me sick seeing so many people, especially CEO's and executives kick morals with their feet. And these people are nurses and doctors too!! Its disgusting. At the moment I just want to turn into cavewoman . I have been diagnosed with D+A and have experienced the usual shi++++ many of us have in their childhood. I

phil1967 long term depression,anxiety and ptsd now causing digestive problems
  • replies: 4

hi all ,I have been suffering long term depression ,anxiety and ptsd caused by a number of things but have recently been plagued by digestive problems ,doctor seems to think i am creating the problems myself and that its all associated to my mental h... View more

hi all ,I have been suffering long term depression ,anxiety and ptsd caused by a number of things but have recently been plagued by digestive problems ,doctor seems to think i am creating the problems myself and that its all associated to my mental health . can any 1 else relate to this ? am I doing this to myself ? or is there other factors in play here ? without a heap of invasive tests that I might put myself through for no real reason I might never know . if others have had this same problem then could you describe your symptoms ,this may help me a lot in working out if its me or something else and give me the drive I need to pull out of this or get the medical help I may need ,any help would be appreciated

whitepointer Husband not coping with my depression
  • replies: 18

Hi, Im new. Sorry a bit useless with the site, but Ive just joined. I was carted off by my daughter to my physchiatrist last week and he told me I was depressed and I didnt even recognise it. I have been on Anti depressants for about ten years, quite... View more

Hi, Im new. Sorry a bit useless with the site, but Ive just joined. I was carted off by my daughter to my physchiatrist last week and he told me I was depressed and I didnt even recognise it. I have been on Anti depressants for about ten years, quite a high dose actually but with many very stressful things happening to me, a death, diagnosis of a grandchild with autism, and two medical issues ontop of each other I went down hill. I couldnt get off the bed for months. I have a thyroid condition, Hashis so thought my tiredness and being exhausted was due to that. My husband has put up with three years of ill health due to that trying to get me medicated properly. I dont blame him but since last week he seems angry with me, (hes overseas for work and hadnt even asked if Im okay. He left day after diagnosis. He has sent me some angry texts and I almost feel like hes trying to blame me for my depression. Hes a good man but dosnt understand depression. I actually think hes depressed now himself. I dont blame him for being frustrated because I have been tired, grumpy and suffering social anxiety for years.

Debzmite Genetic testing
  • replies: 1

Have you done it? they can tell you which diseases you're open to and help with diet and treatment options - $760 total

Have you done it? they can tell you which diseases you're open to and help with diet and treatment options - $760 total

Tim1976 Feeling very isolated and bored at home
  • replies: 2

I am currently on disability and am at home most of the day. I do have friends but they are a long way away. I have tried to go to the library and do other things but can't seem to find anything to distract or occupy myself. My medication is giving m... View more

I am currently on disability and am at home most of the day. I do have friends but they are a long way away. I have tried to go to the library and do other things but can't seem to find anything to distract or occupy myself. My medication is giving me brain fog and I keep drooling but not sure what I can do about that. I am sleeping but not sure if straight through and I keep going to bed so early I wake up early. I just want something to look forward to so I don't feel like I am wasting my time.

Shev Newbie, starting to finally get things out of my head
  • replies: 3

Most nights I lie in bed telling myself how useless I am, I am not worth anything, the world will still function without me. I am working full time and studying at nights where I find myself easily distracted. Then I start hitting myself (just with w... View more

Most nights I lie in bed telling myself how useless I am, I am not worth anything, the world will still function without me. I am working full time and studying at nights where I find myself easily distracted. Then I start hitting myself (just with words) saying how useless I am, why didn’t I just study and do the work. Why can’t I? Not doing the work just makes me stay up the next night, but the same thing happens. Why can’t I just do the work!! I could then go to bed with my wife, she must feel lonely, it is my fault. I am useless. I am a useless, no hoper Idiot. It’s not just study. Why couldn’t I ring that person today for work, why couldn’t I pick up the phone and ring? Why couldn’t I send that email, I now what I need to say and do, why can’t I do it? I know my manager thinks I can’t do my job. I know I can, but why can’t I? Am I a failure? I do have a beautiful family that I love dearly. My kids love me, I think, no yes they do (why do I sometimes think that they wouldn’t?). My wife says she loves me. So why do I think that she would be better off without me? I feel sometimes that my kids might be better off without me, but I know they would be better with me. I keep waiting for my wife to tell me that’s it, that I am useless and she has found someone else that makes her happy. But she hasn’t yet? Why can’t I talk to my wife about this? I go through all these emotions at night, and tell myself that in the morning I will talk to someone about this. Then in the morning I feel fine. I say to myself, that I am just being an emotional cry-baby at nights get over it you idiot, your fine. I tell no-one. What is the difference between depression / anxiety and it just being the person you are? What if what I feel is just me, not some disorder that can be fixed? Can being shy, intrinsic and wanting to be alone be mistaken for depression? What if I am imagining these depression feelings to hide what I am? What If I am trying to mask the person I am (compared to the person I want to be) by trying to make myself think I have depression / anxiety, which stops me being the person who I want to be? I feel like I am useless, what if I actually am? What if going down the path of trying to find if I have depression / anxiety I find that I do not have it? And I am really just a hopeless, useless idiot? Would it be easier to have something to hold on to to blame than find out the truth that I am a failure?

CJs_mum just rambling here: depression and frustration (and a trigger warning!)
  • replies: 7

hi just going over (and over and over) old stuff here I know...and all I have has been written about already, but I still can't seem to work, move, be a part of the world, focus, feel, try. There have been some brilliant posts about how to overcome t... View more

hi just going over (and over and over) old stuff here I know...and all I have has been written about already, but I still can't seem to work, move, be a part of the world, focus, feel, try. There have been some brilliant posts about how to overcome that feeling of "nothingness", having a bad day or just feeling like there's something missing in your heart and finding something to fill it. I thank you all for posting up the initial question or feeling - very brave of you - and to all those who replied with helpful tips or how you feel too/your agreement - you guys rock!.... But.... I'm going to be "Norbert the Negative" here and say what if even THEN you can't get up and move - do something or feel anything at all? What if you've tried everything and just blah - you just feel blank all the time anyway? I mean ALL the time. Not just "having a bad day" or being a little down for a couple of days, i mean 24/7 every day of the year. Ok sometimes i feel a bit happy, sometimes I even show that, but mostly inside, i have no feelings at all. There's just nothing. Background here - forgive me for rambling and making NO sense....i haven't been able to be all that amicable with others, communicate clearly and with well-thought out answers, think straight or even be comprehensible for a while now: I'm not on drugs (meds, nor that illegal shite)! I do sleep, but lately that sleep is all over the place and tonight I've had none at all. That's kinda normal for me - mainly due to the points above and below. Relationships: I have an amazing, wonderful, laid-back, easy going, patient and very supportive boyfriend. He's amazing....but i hate to say this, I don't feel anything for him. It's not that I don't love him! I do, well, i think i do. I really appreciate him, for sure! He's like no one I've ever met! He's so good to me, treats me beautifully, the way I've always wished I could be treated....So why am I not happy? Its frustrating. I don't feel something - I don't feel the way he shows me love. It's weird. I never used to be like this. I would give my heart 100% to those around me and was abused for it, now I'm being treated well, I just cant give even 1% - or it seems to me that way. To be continued...

Artistaffame I dont know who I am
  • replies: 3

A bit of a back story. I came from a dysfunctional family. At 11 my dad left and around that time I became my mums fulltime carer. She had a baby a few years later and I quit school and started raising him while taking care of her. I took care of her... View more

A bit of a back story. I came from a dysfunctional family. At 11 my dad left and around that time I became my mums fulltime carer. She had a baby a few years later and I quit school and started raising him while taking care of her. I took care of her for 23 years and he's now a 21 yo. She passed away last year and I've since been diagnosed with depression anxiety and PTSD. Today after getting into an argument with my brother (he was angry at me) I realized I have no idea of who I really am. I dont know what I like or what I pretend to like. I always seem to go along with whatever other people are saying. I never disagree with anyone because I dont want them to hate me. I know the relationship with my mum was codependent i would never get mad at her in case she got mad or it caused an arguement. I also act different and my likes chsnge depending who im with. Im so confused right now

Gatherer Overwhelmed
  • replies: 4

I am a mum of 4, with a husband who hasn't worked for 10 years due to mental illness. i recently lost my well paying job. i have depression, badly managed diabetes 2, unfit, poor diet, poor sleep, on heaps of medication for thyroid, diabetes, depress... View more

I am a mum of 4, with a husband who hasn't worked for 10 years due to mental illness. i recently lost my well paying job. i have depression, badly managed diabetes 2, unfit, poor diet, poor sleep, on heaps of medication for thyroid, diabetes, depression, cholesterol, triglycerides, migraines. feeling really hopeless and struggling with motivation.