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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: 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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Hayley How do you handle disappointing others?
  • replies: 3

When the depression hits hard I find that I cant commit to things like employment, volunteer work even friendships and family. Having to call and cancel or say I am unable to make it today brings anxiety because I feel so guilty that Im letting that ... View more

When the depression hits hard I find that I cant commit to things like employment, volunteer work even friendships and family. Having to call and cancel or say I am unable to make it today brings anxiety because I feel so guilty that Im letting that person down, not being the best friend that I could be,daughter I could be, How do other people handle this any advice on this shared experience would be helpful.

Rainforrest Social fear
  • replies: 4

Dear CommunityPlease help. I feel like I am sliding into a black hole. I am numb and withdrawn from society. I function and appear normal, I go to work smile at the customers then go home and hide. but inside I am crying out for real connection and u... View more

Dear CommunityPlease help. I feel like I am sliding into a black hole. I am numb and withdrawn from society. I function and appear normal, I go to work smile at the customers then go home and hide. but inside I am crying out for real connection and understanding. I feel very alone. I feel embarrassed and a bit pathetic. I feel like I have lost being able to connect and converse on a normal and meaningful level. If I do go out I sit alone and feel awkward. I am drifting into oblivion and it frightens me. Where can I go to reconnect and find a place where I feel accepted and welcome and to have something to contribute without being a burden, a victim or wallowing in self pity. I have felt like this for as long as I can remember - even as a kid. I want to be vibrant and a part of something bigger than these feelings of lack.

Bloodstone My life with depression.
  • replies: 7

Hi Bloodstone here, I'm new to the forum. 46 years old, male. I really appreciate the shares. I would like to share alittle of my story. I've had depression since I was small, about 5 or so. This was due to family difficulties. Teens were tough, due ... View more

Hi Bloodstone here, I'm new to the forum. 46 years old, male. I really appreciate the shares. I would like to share alittle of my story. I've had depression since I was small, about 5 or so. This was due to family difficulties. Teens were tough, due to family relations and no vent for my emotions. Nervous breakdown with 18 years. Depression and daily suicidal tendencies for the next 20 years. Then I went on meds, trying various one under the direction of my Psychiatrist. Changing after a few years to combat relapse. I must say the medication really helped my confidence and enabled me to tackle bad habits and addiction. I found that tackling depression and suicide, for me, was an all round approach. First I needed to live a lifestyle that included rest and play, meditation, reflection, counselling, medication, and reduced work hours. Secondly I needed to address my addiction. This took about 10 years with help from self help groups and meds. I have lowered my life and career expectations to match the reality of my illness. I still have many dark times and depressive relapses. But when I'm really blue the fact that my lifestyle is healthy means I'm not starting at zero. Thanks warm regards B.

QldMouse Dealing with frustration, in the context of depression?
  • replies: 15

I know I'm struggling to ask this in a sane manner, but I would really like to get opinions from other depression sufferers. For a long time, in parallel to my depression I have suffered what I can only describe as constant frustration. It is an over... View more

I know I'm struggling to ask this in a sane manner, but I would really like to get opinions from other depression sufferers. For a long time, in parallel to my depression I have suffered what I can only describe as constant frustration. It is an overall tension and has caused many physical symptoms like stress, migraines, high blood pressure yadda, yadda, etc. I've discussed it with psycho's in the past but never got close to an answer. They womble on about relaxation and meditation which fail for me. So here is the question to the community. Do other people find themselves constantly frustrated and stressed to the point of physical stress symptoms, or even self harm? Does your depression drive you to panic and freak out at things normal people would not sweat? Yes I have read "Don't sweat the small stuff" but I do, and can't seem to shake it. Do you? What do you do about it? Does anything work? Thanks in advance.

webster439 I am lost in life
  • replies: 5

I just dont know what to do anymore. I feel like I have no place in the world and I have come to the realisation that I will probably live a life unfulfilled, without having accomplished anything, let my family down and realise my biggest fear, being... View more

I just dont know what to do anymore. I feel like I have no place in the world and I have come to the realisation that I will probably live a life unfulfilled, without having accomplished anything, let my family down and realise my biggest fear, being alone for the rest of my life (apart from immediate family) and even then I want them to hate me so bad that if I decide to move away, they would hate me enough that after time they would have it in them to leave me behind as well so I don't bring them down as well. I have no goals I want to achieve. nothing that I really want to pursue and I have no idea how to find out, no motivation or drive to get anything done, or finish anything. I never finished my uni degree (commerce) because I hated it and felt like it was a useless degree (which I spent a good 6 years or so doing just to fail out because of mental health) that would only get me a job in an office which I would hate doing, do poorly at and hate myself more because of it. Even when I look for jobs or try to do anything productive its like a big cloud covers my head and I put things off longer than they should because I am nervous or something. I want to find fulfilment but my shortcomings and skewed view of the world messes everything up. My friends don't need me anymore, unlike me they have moved on with their lives, most of them with significant others or with careers they want to do and have left me behind. E.g. I visited my friends a couple of weeks ago and all it did was make me depressed at how useless I am, and that no one will ever love me like they love each other and that finding comfort and love with another person is something that I am just not meant for and this hurts really deep. I have a terrible self image because I have let myself lapse into my poorest stat of fitness of my entire life and I know I should change and do something but whats the point really, getting healthy won't fix any of my other problems that I have. I will still be the ugly, balding, boring, unfunny, untalented person with poor conversational skills I always have been. Also because I know I need a job, and I have tried sort of, with minimal effort without any reward for months now and I havn't got one, and I only started a TAFE course which I have just stopped doing because I dont like that either and cant be bothered putting any effort in and now my AUSTUDY has stopped and I dont know what to do again. I see no path for me that will see life happiness

Jackbear Overthinking myself to death
  • replies: 2

I'm 23. I've had a few relationships fall apart all for various reasons, I've fallen for toxic people who've completely destroyed me and turned off for basically the past 2 years. Recently met a girl, and suddenly felt okay again, all the typical dep... View more

I'm 23. I've had a few relationships fall apart all for various reasons, I've fallen for toxic people who've completely destroyed me and turned off for basically the past 2 years. Recently met a girl, and suddenly felt okay again, all the typical depression bs went away and i was motivated to do things, spend time with her etc. I started seeing a future. Then as it goes (Ain't no fairytale story here boys and girls) she told me she still has feelings for someone else and would like to keep things between us just friends, as if we hadn't already gone way, way past that already. It's stupid, writing this out and reading it back I sound like an angsty teenager again. I don't know why, I can't figure it out but something, somewhere along the line has turned every single person I've ever been close with away. Friends, family and lovers. I haven't been happy since I was prepubescent, had a really rough rural australian upbringing, overweight and apathetic. I've lost it all, I'm fit and healthy, I have a job and I perform music but I don't care about them. I don't have anyone to talk to, to care for or just hug, every time I've felt loved it's been short and/or destructive. I'm unbelievably lonely and I've gotten really bloody good at hiding it. I don't know why I'm even bothering writing this out, it's just made me face the fact and tear up like a sook. Im not sure what the point of this whole thing was either. Maybe it's just a journal entry that noone can find and be like "Hey jack remember when you were a little bitch"

77 I'm not sure If I'm depressed or I just lead a miserable life.
  • replies: 2

My schedule has been just wake up tired at 7:am get dressed, get to school, come home, do stuff on my computer to kill time and go back to sleep again. I don't keep track of the date or the month. Its either Monday - Sunday and its [year]. Don't have... View more

My schedule has been just wake up tired at 7:am get dressed, get to school, come home, do stuff on my computer to kill time and go back to sleep again. I don't keep track of the date or the month. Its either Monday - Sunday and its [year]. Don't have any outside hobbies due to most of what I'm interested in being not available where I live. I don't really have any plans for the future Job wise as I'm unremarkable at everything and I'm not passionate about anything. I also cant go the money route as my average grades completely tanked due to personal reasons. I'm barely scraping by at this point. I don't even know what I'm working towards. I'm also have ASD so I have to work twice as hard to get half as far and Most jobs are completely off the table. Ill also never have a relationship or life a full life because of it. I cant do a thing to change that by taking meds.

Turis Times like these are so draining
  • replies: 4

[MOD NOTE: Original title of this thread was "I feel like this life is not for me"] Hi This is not a suicide thread the title is just the best description of how I truly feel today. I've tried really hard to get better. I've seen doctors and shrinks,... View more

[MOD NOTE: Original title of this thread was "I feel like this life is not for me"] Hi This is not a suicide thread the title is just the best description of how I truly feel today. I've tried really hard to get better. I've seen doctors and shrinks, been on medication, confided in people and changed a few big things in my life that where dragging me down. Probably taking myself off my medication a few months ago was a bad idea. I have felt OK though up until these last few weeks. I'm just hoping some more good days come soon I do have very happy days but just none lately. I just can't help but be upset about my own existence lately. It's just so frustrating having no choice in being born and having all these expectations put on you. I hardly ever take a day off work, I try so hard to be a good person and I never complain to anyone about how hard it is to be so miserable. But I just can't help hating my existence. I know there are people out there doing it worse and it breaks my heart that I can't give then my life. I would do it in a heartbeat because this life is so wasted on me. I know what I have to do and that's go back to the doctor and try some medication again. I will as soon as I can. I'm just hoping for some happier days soon where I'll feel more motivated to do so. Hopefully those days aren't too far off. Times like these are so draining. Trying so hard to fix myself and ending up back here, always ending up here. I'm just so tired so many years spent like this. I'm tired of feeling so trapped. Living with this awful disease is so hard and I know one day it will be the death of me. Here's to better days soon I hope. Thanks you for reading.

Craig87 a very shallow depression
  • replies: 5

Hi, I just wanted to put my thoughts out there. I'm a 29 year old Male. I've been dealing with depression since my early teens. I guess it started when I first realized that I wasn't attractive.. I was/am just an average looking guy.. nothing special... View more

Hi, I just wanted to put my thoughts out there. I'm a 29 year old Male. I've been dealing with depression since my early teens. I guess it started when I first realized that I wasn't attractive.. I was/am just an average looking guy.. nothing special. I just have never really figured out how to deal with this. I find now that it's gotten to the point where I stay inside as often as possible to avoid seeing happy couples, or even just women in general because if I see a girl I find attractive while I'm out.. my mind instantly goes straight in to the whole "why even bother looking, she would never be interested in you.. no one ever will" mode and then that's me done for the day. I'll spend the whole day hating myself and wishing I was someone else.. I don't even fantasize with my self included anymore because it just seems so unbelievable that any girl would find me attractive anymore. I tried tinder and various online dating sites which were ok when I started back in my early 20s. Not many people used them as they do now so the people on there tended to be more serious about it. but now.. I think those kind of sites just don't work for average guys anymore.. now that EVERYONE is on them there's just way more "better" options for women now, so there's no need to settle with someone like me anymore. On top of all this I just feel guilty that my depression is because of such a stupid shallow reason. I want to be happy with myself.. but I don't ever see that happening. I feel resentment towards couples.. not them directly. but the fact that they have what I don't and wont. I know some people live quite happily alone for their lives, I am just struggling a little to accept that as my possible fate. Sorry for the ramble

Berenice I really don't know what to do any more
  • replies: 6

Life is hard. I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for 14 years now but I've hit my hardest time yet. Severe anxiety and panic attacks forced me to stop working in Dec last year. After this, I found out my partner who is supporting me, h... View more

Life is hard. I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for 14 years now but I've hit my hardest time yet. Severe anxiety and panic attacks forced me to stop working in Dec last year. After this, I found out my partner who is supporting me, has a hefty amount of debt. We are struggling just to buy enough groceries every fortnight, let alone seeing my psychiatrist or anything else for that matter. I can't access disability because my partner earns too much. I can't get better... They think he has inflammatory arthritis too. He hates his job but to leave he needs a redundancy to pay off his debt. I feel so trapped and so useless, like I'm barely living and I'm not sure I want to continue fighting. I love my partner dearly after being with someone emotionally abusive previously and who left me for another woman. But the weight of everything is dragging me so far down and his debt makes me feel utterly trapped, with no end in sight. Like I can't live my life until this burden is lifted. I'm so upset and I know he is too and it feels like life keeps kicking us down over and over again. I just have no idea what to do.. I need help but it seems to get it you have to be off the deep end and I don't want it to get to that. What am I going to do?