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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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Gazb I just don't fit.
  • replies: 4

Hey, I apologise in advance, as I'm not much of a writer (or speller) and this is pretty much off the top of my head. I've been having a bit of a hard time over the last few years, I feel like every time an opportunity comes my way I stuff it up or I... View more

Hey, I apologise in advance, as I'm not much of a writer (or speller) and this is pretty much off the top of my head. I've been having a bit of a hard time over the last few years, I feel like every time an opportunity comes my way I stuff it up or I get really excited and it falls through. I make plans to better my life (study or start a business or change jobs) but whenever I get close I freak out and quit on it, I can't commit to anything because I've been so horribly let down in the past that I'm scared that I'll get hurt again. I work in a job where I'm made to feel stupid and useless all the time and so I get down about that, but the economy isn't great so I worry that I won't find anything better. Basically I'm lost, I feel empty and don't really enjoy anything anymore. I feel trapped and that I'm so much better than what I'm doing now but just can't change. I feel that I'm a loser as I'm not qualified in anything and don't own a house but at the same time I don't want that either. I spend soo much time hearing about other people's problems and I take them on board and offer advice but can't sort out my own. I'm not sure really why I'm writing this, I just want to be happy and "normal" but for some reason I'm never satisfied. cheers -Gary

chipmonk What do I do?
  • replies: 5

Hi I'm not sure what to say but here goes.. I'm 28 married for almost 8 years and have two beautiful daughters.. All my life I thought how i thought was normal.. I mean how was i supposed to compare?? And for as long as i can remember I have had prob... View more

Hi I'm not sure what to say but here goes.. I'm 28 married for almost 8 years and have two beautiful daughters.. All my life I thought how i thought was normal.. I mean how was i supposed to compare?? And for as long as i can remember I have had problems with awful thought filling my head while i tried to sleep, Always feeling like no matter what I did or who I was no one liked me and everyone will leave me, to the point where I would be the reason they left.. Ive always found it hard to trust anyone because I always think everyone is lying to me and that I'm a pest and no one wants me around.. I suffered through bad bullying through 4 different schools and never really had many friends because the other girls didn't like me, which just confirmed my thoughts of myself. I haven't just come here to tell a sob story, I need hep as in the last month I have felt like my world was crashing around me.. My thoughts have driven me to a point where it is threatening my marriage. I wrote all my thoughts down on one particularly bad day and at the time it all sounded reasonable, but when I came back and read it on a different day it was awful and I couldn't believe I had those thoughts. I find myself a lot of the time when I am facing something emotionally difficult, that I'm trapped inside my own head with dozens of different me's all with different reactions to this situation and I don't know which one is me now.. Yet I know they ARE all how I feel..Yet at other times I fell like I emotionally switch off completely. I'm sorry this post is disjointed as I'm writing as I'm thinking, I'm trying not to buffer my thoughts. I don't want to damage my marriage anymore than it is and I know with time I can work through this but I have to listen to my husband and ask for help... So here I am.. Please Help me.

beep891 Lost.
  • replies: 7

I don't even know where to start. I've been feeling increasingly more depressed over the past few months, but I've never really dealt with depression before so it's taken me a while to realise. It just seems like everything in my life is negative at ... View more

I don't even know where to start. I've been feeling increasingly more depressed over the past few months, but I've never really dealt with depression before so it's taken me a while to realise. It just seems like everything in my life is negative at the moment, there is literally nothing good. I don't feel comfortable talking to people I know about this kind of thing, it's just not the kind of person I am. Sometimes it's easier talking to a stranger. My weight has always been an issue as long as I can remember, and over the past couple of years its gotten worse, and I feel like this affects every aspect of my life. I hate going to uni or generally out in public because I'm scared of being judged and this has affected my grades, meaning that I will most likely have to do another year of my degree, on top of having already done 5 years (it's a 4 year course), I hate my job, and I'm so messy and lazy I can't stand it. The past few weeks, and especially the past few days I just feel like crying all the time, with no exact thing that sets me off, it's just everything. I started a new job a few months ago, and I don't feel like I belong there, I almost dread having to go there every day. The staff are all very nice, but they are all so close and it's almost like a clique. I miss my old job, I felt comfortable there and loved going, but due to problems with the boss I don't think I'll ever be working there again. I'm just so lost, and have no motivation to lose weight or to do anything. I don't know how to turn this around.

Onehooligan Feeling spaced out and no motivation
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone I am new to the forums I've had depression and anxiety for over 10 years now which has been a huge struggle balancing 4 children and work life as i work 6 days a week I've always found it a huge struggle to find motivation in my life just... View more

Hi everyone I am new to the forums I've had depression and anxiety for over 10 years now which has been a huge struggle balancing 4 children and work life as i work 6 days a week I've always found it a huge struggle to find motivation in my life just enjoying work like I used to and hobbies etc and just being happy around my family I always feel like I'm bringing them down because of my constant crappy mood and not being able to smile I've tried a few different medications I'm on one at the moment and have been for some time however it helps with the anxiety but I feel very spaced out on a daily bases and seem to be stuck in a horrible mood all the time.. does anyone have similar conditions and what works best for you?

Dark_Autumn Brain fog... Does anyone else have this that can discuss?
  • replies: 6

Hello, I am new here. I have had low to moderate level anxiety and depression for around 10 years now. I have had 2 children in the past 4 years. My youngest frequently wakes and has done for 17m now. She also has allergies. Recently I have been expe... View more

Hello, I am new here. I have had low to moderate level anxiety and depression for around 10 years now. I have had 2 children in the past 4 years. My youngest frequently wakes and has done for 17m now. She also has allergies. Recently I have been experiencing brain fog. I have not had this as a symptom before. I have been quite forgetful, exhausted and tired. A recent example... I have always been a very empathetic / sympathetic sensitive friend. I have close friendships. A close friend recently told me her beautiful mother passed away from brain cancer. I read the message. Felt overwhelmed. Then promptly forgot. She messaged me wondering if I had changed my number as it was so unlike me. Does anyone else suffer from this? Was it a depression thing or was it other things? Any things that have helped? I literally feel like a grey cloud is around my head weighing me down.

kwirky Diet and Depression
  • replies: 3

I am interested in learning more about how diet and nutrition can help combat depression but am finding a lot of conflicting and confusing information online. Does anyone have any links to resources they can share which will help with my understandin... View more

I am interested in learning more about how diet and nutrition can help combat depression but am finding a lot of conflicting and confusing information online. Does anyone have any links to resources they can share which will help with my understanding of how to start changing my life? Thank you

Erdnase83 What can I do in the future after depression ?
  • replies: 5

I recently suffered from depression and maybe still do though I'm feeling quite a lot better. My doctor is only concerned about a little of anxiety I've had lately. Its probably work related due to stress and little to no enjoyment in my work and peo... View more

I recently suffered from depression and maybe still do though I'm feeling quite a lot better. My doctor is only concerned about a little of anxiety I've had lately. Its probably work related due to stress and little to no enjoyment in my work and people around it. But it that's my issue with the future. I don't look at no direction as no future I look at it like endless possibilities but a lot of the things I would want to do in worried now I shouldn't because of my illness. i always want to be in reserves,police, paramedics, or fire & rescue. I want a meaning ful job where I try to make the world better place and help people. but now what I've gone through and self harmed I figure I should never be in those positions. so then I think about you other things that I thought about in past like nurse or psychologist. But once again I think because of my condition now o shouldn't be on these roles. i know my time at work now is limited since my boss knows I have a mental illness so I really need to consider my future but I really want to pursue something I want for a change just not cover the bills. anyone else face these problems ?

girl_interrupted Stuck
  • replies: 9

My life would appear to be fairly simple. Live alone, have two pets, work full time, study part time. Have the same ups and downs as most people. But I struggle daily with the mood swings, the feelings of hopelessness and despair, the self-loathing. ... View more

My life would appear to be fairly simple. Live alone, have two pets, work full time, study part time. Have the same ups and downs as most people. But I struggle daily with the mood swings, the feelings of hopelessness and despair, the self-loathing. I feel like the world around me has moved forward and I'm still sitting in this time warp wondering what the hell happened. I used to have close friends and a social life. But I ruined all that. Now all I look forward to is Netflix and study to keep my mind busy. Days off are the worst. I get so morbidly depressed and I have no motivation to do anything. It's a massive challenge just to get out of bed. I've become so bitter and hateful of everything. I hate seeing happy couples, knowing this will never be me. I have no one. I often wonder if it's just my personality and I should stop trying to fight it. Maybe I'm not meant to try and fit in. But my job requires it. Society demands it. I'm so socially withdrawn I am too scared to join a club and when I have tried in the past, I end up dropping out for fear of being judged. I hate people staring at me and judging me. I blush a lot, which is both humiliating and counter-productive, an ongoing cycle. I work in a very busy environment with lots of people. They all judge me and mock me. I have made no friends because of my anger outbursts and mood swings and my introverted personality. I just don't gel with people and am always lost for words and awkward. Despite making consistent efforts to improve, I can't change how people feel about me. I shouldn't care, but it's a team-based environment and I need positive feedback to progress thru my career. Being the outsider is neither productive nor helpful for anyone. Sometimes I think I should give everything up, start over. This is probably the most boring invalid post. That's who I am now. Boring. Invalid. Lifeless. Stuck.

Pennypopsicle Hello. New here. Really struggling with postnatal depression 😥
  • replies: 5

Hello. I am a mum to two beautiful children. prior to my second child i was a very calm loving parent.i had the most beautiful bond with my son who is now nearing 4. i didnt often yell. never swore infront of him (i rarely swore in general) and used ... View more

Hello. I am a mum to two beautiful children. prior to my second child i was a very calm loving parent.i had the most beautiful bond with my son who is now nearing 4. i didnt often yell. never swore infront of him (i rarely swore in general) and used to love spending quality time with him. i was very healthy and loved my regular gym sessions and running. then my hubby and i had the wonderful news we were expecting another child. once she was born it became so hard . she was such a difficult baby. not happy . cried all the time. full blown screaming cry. every night from 6pm-11pm she would non stop scream the house down until she was 4 months old. she would still then cry but i was able to actually settle her (breastfeeding) although it would still take her forever to go to sleep. she would not be without me either.she would not and still will not settle for anyone else or she screams to the point of choking. i can not leave her once shes asleep because she wakes up screaming at the top of her lungs. she is so attached to me which in one way is nice but i cannot catch a break day or night. it literally was not until 5 months old that during the day i could put her down ..on the floor, in a baby swing,rocker etc for just two minutes maximum before her cry would start and quickly escalate to screaming.now at 11 months although shes not as bad as she was she is still super dooper clingy with me. her cry now makes me anxious.i have become anxious. i cry all the time. yell at my kids. sometimes over nothing. sometimes full blown yelling which i should not do. theres times my son has done something so trivial and i take my stress and anger out on him by yelling and i hate myself for it. this is not me and i want to be myself again ive never been so negative in my life. my poor hubby cops it from me too and honestly i dont know why he stays with me. i want to be me again. i have gained 15-20kgs since having my daughter ontop of baby weight because we were housebound for the first 5 months (her dramatic cry would make me anxious when it shouldnt have) and now i still cant have an hour to myself to go to gym because no one can calm her down.not even her own dad.every night i have to retire to bed with her because she wont sleep without me right beside her. im drained.im getting worse.but i feel so anxious and scared to talk to a doctor about it.stupid i know!! i really need to because im not parenting like i used to. this mental thing is making me into a monster

V17 Black Dog.
  • replies: 9

Hi guys, I had a breakthrough moment just now that I'd like to share with you; sitting on my swing under the shade of my almond tree. You see, I've never really conformed to many things. Actually, it's more of a battle to try and conform - I see thin... View more

Hi guys, I had a breakthrough moment just now that I'd like to share with you; sitting on my swing under the shade of my almond tree. You see, I've never really conformed to many things. Actually, it's more of a battle to try and conform - I see things differently. I have never really fit or gelled with a majority of social circles (probably all of them, truth be told) - forever the outsider looking in: Why then, is it so difficult for me to follow the same pathway of thinking that most people do, especially now with the dark times I've had/am fighting to overcome? So I reflected on that question.. I came up with this.. Until recently, I had thought that there were only two types of mental illness that affected me; depression and anxiety. So when I have read posts expounding on and pin pointing mental illness; major depression, bipolar disorder, cyclothymic and dysthymic disorders, and BPD (borderline personality disorder), social anxiety, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) - it would trigger an emotive reaction. Acceptance has been a big issue with me from the onset. I couldn't get my head around the clinical terms. I understand the reasoning behind why they are used and I understand some people take comfort in that. I don't want to. So in light of this, I am re-discovering not only who I am, but WHY I am who I am. Essentially, I don't do what most people do, so I asked myself; why label myself with clinical names? I'm going to fight it anyways so I asked myself 3 questions: What way or thinking path can I take on board that will allow me to accept what I have? How can I cope with having it? and how can I overcome it? "Avoiding suicidal thoughts or intent", is a thread in here and Tony WK made reference to 'The Black Dog'; never heard of it before so I researched it. The penny dropped. At this point in my journey animals are my solace; they help me with being mindful; they help calm me - one of them is my dog. I made the correlation. Being labeled in clinical terms distress me - I can't afford to be stressed right now. I can identify with animals; the black dog, whilst a metaphor for what I suffer - is still an animal. So, black dog it is. Acceptance. This was big for me. When I now perceive the black dog lurking near me, trying to snap at my heels; I'm going to tell myself -it's just a dog. I refuse to give it the power to become something greater than what it is and I don't care what it takes; I'll make the bastard heel. V.