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Depression

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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: 0

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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Loula Feeling limited by bipolar disorder
  • replies: 38

Does anyone feel limited by their mental disorder? I have bipolar and feel very limited due to it. I find that I always need to be in my head when I'm with people so I act in a normal behaviour so they don't suspect I'm not well. I find when I'm goin... View more

Does anyone feel limited by their mental disorder? I have bipolar and feel very limited due to it. I find that I always need to be in my head when I'm with people so I act in a normal behaviour so they don't suspect I'm not well. I find when I'm going on a high or a low I tend to hide myself from people. Well actually on a high I just be friend strangers because I don't care what they think lol! I find that I'm struggling with work and the hours and that I'm not going to advance in it. I find myself taking lots of toilet breaks so I can breath. I'm worried if I do get a promotion I will snap and the be known as the girl with the mental illness. I find I can't have a hobby or study because I get so board and distracted easily. One day I want to plan events the next day I want to be a doctor. I'm just really over zero stability and having to really be in my head and watch all my steps making sure I'm healthy. I just wish I could live life with out this annoying thing.

spunkyturtle Feeling so lost
  • replies: 4

So I dumped my fiancé 5 years ago now, we were together 4 years. Whenever we had problems he'd email his ex and tell her he wanted to sleep with her. He talked to her behind my back, he even opened fake email and MySpace accounts and told her he coul... View more

So I dumped my fiancé 5 years ago now, we were together 4 years. Whenever we had problems he'd email his ex and tell her he wanted to sleep with her. He talked to her behind my back, he even opened fake email and MySpace accounts and told her he could talk to her from work so I wouldn't worry, that was after he promised me he'd never do anything intentionally to hurt me. Anyway, she had gotten married and obviously is divorced because they are now together. I'm happy for him and I'm so glad I walked away and left him when I did, he clearly wanted her all along. I was never good enough, didn't earn enough, didn't have a degree etc etc now im feeling so so down, part of me feels I have a lot to offer, I mean he didn't want to break up with me, he said we were forever. Another huge part feels like a failure, I'm still single, overweight because of my meds, in debt, trapped and so frustrated. I feel I have nothing to offer, with my lack of career, money and mental health problems. I just wish I could get out of this city, I was happy and free living in Queensland. I just want my happy ending

Sea-n-sky Depression: dog vs black dog
  • replies: 111

Some guy elsewhere in this forum, asked the question "How would we describe depression if it were a physical creature. What a sensible question to ask. The guy who asked, must be an intelligent guy, a guy with a future of success. I can answer that q... View more

Some guy elsewhere in this forum, asked the question "How would we describe depression if it were a physical creature. What a sensible question to ask. The guy who asked, must be an intelligent guy, a guy with a future of success. I can answer that question, but would first like to remind everyone that many famous and successfull persons have experienced depression. (Burton and Taylor come to mind) Indeed it seems likely that depression is a precursor to success, even to victory, in most dramatical terms. The late Winston Churchill himself said he had been afflicted by deep depression for much of his life. He called it Blackdog. Therefore I will call it that too, when considering it as the "physical creature". Most human beings can relate to the dog, and will recognise the animal as being of varying temperament according to breed. The wolf is a dog, as is the dingo. Likewise the poodle, the pekinese and the labrador. On the one hand, we have the wild feral destructive canine, whilst on the other we have the loveable domesticated pet. Clearly therefore, depression can be represented by the dog.(Blackdog). It is, all dogs, merged into one. The loveable domesticated pet today, and a destructive feral tomorrow. If you own a dog, you train it. If you do not do that it will not become the loveable domestic pet you may desire. It may become something different entirely. It will likely become a menace, in fact. The first step in training the animal is to treat it in precisely the same way as you would like it to treat you. That way, the dog will become your friend - and yes, blackdog can be that too. In training your dog, you feed it morsels of reward, treats or titbits if you like, when it behaves/responds as you would like it to. Blackdog is no different. Returning to Winston Churchill, Did he win World War II ? No of course not, but he was a leader and inspirer amongst allies, perhaps guided by Blackdog, the friend. Blackdog, is no longer my demon. I might be again one day, and if it is, I'll just remove the cause, if I can. My pain is now greatly reduced, because of that. I even jog a bit now, (when walking). I have to, in order, to keep up with a friendly blackdog, which is running ahead of me. (metaphorically speaking) If it can be true in my case, Why not yours ? Cheers, Sea-n-sky.

Trickyone Not sure how long ive had depression and/or anxiety and not sure who to talk too
  • replies: 1

I am a 38 Year old male who, over the years had had a great career and a very loving family. I have a young son and wife of whom i love dearly.Over the last week i have become very disinterested in anything including time with my son and as my wife p... View more

I am a 38 Year old male who, over the years had had a great career and a very loving family. I have a young son and wife of whom i love dearly.Over the last week i have become very disinterested in anything including time with my son and as my wife puts it "you are there but not present". As this has happened i realised that this has happened quite a lot over the years and not knowing what was going on i put it down to being run down and after a couple of days i would start to bounce back.It has now been a week and my wife is now giving me what she calls "tough love" where she is avoiding me, not touching me and i am feeling really worthless to be honest. I have a business that involves a lot of clients and now i fear talking to anyone all the time so i avoid talking to anyone who may give me any news i cant handle.This is losing me business at the moment and my heart is constantly racing at a million miles an hour and my sleep is not getting me rested even though its about 8-9 hours a night. Since being married two years ago, i have missed spending time with my friends and socialising as my wife isn't as social as i and now i'm not sure if i do anymore either although i know how good it feels to talk with my friends if that makes sense?Im really worried as i don't drink often but when i have in the last 12 months i have binged and been ill for days afterward. My wife is also the type of person who may run in the other direction if things don't work for her (as it almost has in the past) and so i am constantly running on fear of failure, fatigue and worry about anything and everything and it's strange that i now see that after all these years that this is what it is....and it scares me.I'm not sure who i can talk to about this as that too scares the hell out of me and isolation and disconnection seems the only way my brain wants me to react to the world.If anyone can help me with getting an idea of what happens next please i would really appreciate it so i know it won't be too much. I have had issues in my younger years with addiction and i am concerned that with therapy that i have received never picked up that i may have been suffering from depression as this is how it felt then too (so could i be wrong?).

Star123 Feeling Out of Control
  • replies: 1

Hi Everybody, I've had depression for 10 years. Lately things have been pretty intense for me. I've been having huge problems with my husband where I find I'm always angry or sad. I get so mad and worked up that I can't think straight. I then got a m... View more

Hi Everybody, I've had depression for 10 years. Lately things have been pretty intense for me. I've been having huge problems with my husband where I find I'm always angry or sad. I get so mad and worked up that I can't think straight. I then got a message from my ex and without thinking went and saw him. For the first time in a long time I felt good and happy. I don't know what to do because whenever I'm with my husband or if I'm alone I always feel so worthless

use_to_be_giglebug use to be giglebug
  • replies: 3

i just cant do this anymore!!! i feel so helpless and just want it to stop!!!

i just cant do this anymore!!! i feel so helpless and just want it to stop!!!

chelseajones I don't know how to help myself anymore.....
  • replies: 2

I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression 4 years ago. Recently I had a serious loss of a very close family member and a break up of a long term relationship which has pushed me over the edge. I started self harming. After this I was sent to the in... View more

I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression 4 years ago. Recently I had a serious loss of a very close family member and a break up of a long term relationship which has pushed me over the edge. I started self harming. After this I was sent to the inpatient facility at melbourne clinic the 'general' ward but was told that I really shouldn't be there so came out after 4 days. I see a psychologist every 2 weeks, I am on all sorts of medications and health products, I exercise and eat fairly sensible. (Yes, I sometimes overdo it on the alcohol but it makes me feel more me with all the medication.) I have tried meditation and still can't seem to calm myself down when I am depressed or having a panic attack My parents keep on saying they want to see me try to get better - what more can I do, other options?

sydneyharbour17 Do I have bi-polar?
  • replies: 16

Hi there, I have recently started seeing a psychologist to help deal with the emotions I have experienced after a particularly painful break-up. It has been very helpful but in becoming more in tune with my emotions through these sessions, I have not... View more

Hi there, I have recently started seeing a psychologist to help deal with the emotions I have experienced after a particularly painful break-up. It has been very helpful but in becoming more in tune with my emotions through these sessions, I have noticed a few things. Firstly I have noticed that I experience what I could only describe as 'highs' where I am completely satisfied with life, become extremely impulsive, spend a lot of money, have racing thoughts, am very productive and social, become even more loud and talkative than usual (I am an extravert) and sleep very little. Following these episodes, which last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, I usually become extremely down, have negative thoughts, sleep poorly, and yeah just become all round depressed. Again this lasts for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. My first depressive episode occurred when I was 15 (I am now nearly 20) and I have had these 'cycles' ever since although sometimes they are not as obvious and they are definitely much worse when I am experiencing severe emotional stress like I am now. In the past month a have experienced 2 highs and am now entering my 3rd low. My psychologist has been focussing very heavily on the break up but I would like to move away from that in my next session and explore these feelings further. Does this sound like bi polar? How do I talk about this with my health professional without him thinking that I am just matching symptoms in my head like a lot of people do when they Google their illnesses? Also if it is bi polar what can be done to treat it? Regards, Concerned

Loula Laughed At
  • replies: 4

Does anyone else get really upset about the stigma with mental illness? Ive got Bipolar which the world calls the crazy gene. People use it left right and centre as an insult to payout on people. Like if a girls upset oh that chick is crazy she's bip... View more

Does anyone else get really upset about the stigma with mental illness? Ive got Bipolar which the world calls the crazy gene. People use it left right and centre as an insult to payout on people. Like if a girls upset oh that chick is crazy she's bipolar. All the Facebook memes joking about it. "I hate having bipolar it's fun!" Even the movies. I was watching the Intern and the little girl dad is like your friend has so many moods she's bipolar and they all laugh like a happy family about it! Like it's a nightmare. I'm trying hard to accept it and let people know but once they hear Bipolar your crazy. The Stigma is set in. Today one of my close friends who knows I have bipolar started liking jokes about it so goodbye loser!

Allen_p82 FEELING EMPTY, LIVING WITHOUT MEANING
  • replies: 7

Hi this is quite difficult for me to post on here. Never really spoken about my issues but i guess this is the first step. I wake up everyday with nothing to look forward to. I have no interests or hobbies anymore. Everything seems to be such an effo... View more

Hi this is quite difficult for me to post on here. Never really spoken about my issues but i guess this is the first step. I wake up everyday with nothing to look forward to. I have no interests or hobbies anymore. Everything seems to be such an effort to do. I have this feeling of complete emptiness. I find it very difficult to make decisions and when I do finally make one is always the wrong one. I no longer see my friends and barely talk to me family. I rather be alone. I feel likeI have to be a different person around different people and situations. I get quite nervous just talking to people. I feel like I just wake up each day and go through the motions without any meaning. I no longer have the capacity to have feelings. I say and do things which are mean to those I supposedly love but I feel no remorse. I hate being like this. I spend most of my days in bed sleeping and staring blankly at the tv. Sometimes I watch for an hour or so then in an ad break cant even remember what i am watching. Yes I am quite messed up, I know. Im just wondering if anyone has had similar things happen to them and could share with me.