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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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MissMc Am I over reacting?????
  • replies: 6

Hi I went to see my psychologist this morning and talked about some pretty heavy stuff but anyways talking away and I told her I'm getting part payment from Centrelink a disability pension and work as well which I claim my wages every fortnight ........ View more

Hi I went to see my psychologist this morning and talked about some pretty heavy stuff but anyways talking away and I told her I'm getting part payment from Centrelink a disability pension and work as well which I claim my wages every fortnight ..... But what has puzzled me was the look on her face? .... which was of really, why?.... which has worried me ever sense this morning, .... my anxiety is high and now worried she might ring Centrelink and say something? .... Even though is not about the money ... its about my health and wellbeing!!# I have taken 9 weeks leave cause of my relasp with my depression ... 8 weeks ago and I took unplanned paid leave and unplanned unpaid leave .... and without the Centrelink payment I would not be able to the buy food or pay bills and pay my loan repayments etc .. I see her next week and I'm going to bring this up? should I or shouldn't I?

Elsker lost and lonely.
  • replies: 4

I feel very trapped and alone at the moment. I was diagnosed with clinical depression when I was 21. After medication and counselling, and I learned some tools that have helped me get by since, without medication. I’m 43 now. I spent years of my chil... View more

I feel very trapped and alone at the moment. I was diagnosed with clinical depression when I was 21. After medication and counselling, and I learned some tools that have helped me get by since, without medication. I’m 43 now. I spent years of my childhood listening to my parents fighting constantly, sometimes violently. Then my father dying when I was 16. Then I had a motorcycle accident when I was 18 and shattered my humurus and twisting my collarbone. I have lost 75% of the movement in that arm and have varying levels of constant pain in the shoulder and arm ever since. I lost my most recent job 18 months ago under bad circumstances, I live in a small town and it has been impossible to find another job I suspect in part because my previous employer gives me bad references, despite my having been a hard reliable, punctual and dedicated worker all of my life. I‘m now back on the family farm with my mother. She is aged with a string of ailments. I spend about half of my time helping her, I cook all her meals, doing the physical chores, despite often being in pain from my shoulder and a compacted disc I now have. I spend all day listening to her complain about how sick she and criticising the way I do things. My brother and sister never help out. Visiting the house maybe twice a year. I spend the other half of my time looking for jobs to apply for, rarely getting a response. I was also diagnosed with diabetes type 2 and really need to lose weight but find that a struggle, despite eating healthy, no fried foods and very rarely eat takeaway. I walk and do physical activity every day. But it never seems to make any difference. I tripped yesterday and kicked my toes and now my 4th toe is swollen and partially black and extremely sore. Though I was reminded how lucky I am by my mother than I have never experienced true pain. Now I find myself 43, stuck at home, no friends, nobody to talk to, I struggle to afford to go to the doctor, no bulk billing here. I can’t remember the last time someone asked how I was. I’ve tried to make new friends but I am not very outgoing and my interests are not similar to people I meet. I’m quiet and introspective, I like music and books and matters of the mind. I used to be a romantic, I used to believe in magic and dream big dreams. Now I am just lost. I do understand my problems are trivial compared to the real problems a lot of people have. It still gets a bit overwhelming some days.

Cucuboth Here We Go Again
  • replies: 49

So, here we go again. In to yet another year. Another year that starts like the last one ended. And the one before that. And before that. And continue that another 25+ times. Had another Christmas alone. And another New Year's Eve. My therapist said ... View more

So, here we go again. In to yet another year. Another year that starts like the last one ended. And the one before that. And before that. And continue that another 25+ times. Had another Christmas alone. And another New Year's Eve. My therapist said to try and get my family involved in some form of physical contact ... a hug for instance. But no. They don't want to. So that's that door shut. Again. And they are the only people in my life. I've been writing to another online forum as well as this one, but, it's not doing much good. A lot of same old cliched 'advice' that I have tried to death already. A few that say "message me if you want to talk", so I do, and never hear from them again. Not that any are in Australia anyway. The feeling of isolation is just .... it's like I am being choked. Slowly. I called Lifeline yet again, and yet again got the same disinterest. Yay Lifeline ... way to make someone feel even more worthless. It's going to be another year of the same thing. There's no more hope to hold on to. Just like there's nobody who will hold me. Maybe there is some kind of symmetry in that, I don't know. I can't do this on my own, and yet there is nobody who wants to help. There's only so many times you can 'put yourself out there' again. And again. And again. Only so many hobbies you can have. Only so many times you can ignore it, focus on something else and hope that it will happen 'someday when you least expect it'. Because it never does. I'm just expected to shut up and be happy alone. To be happy, lonely. And I just can't do that.

Depressed24 My story
  • replies: 10

Hi to all I m new here sadly I got bipolar type 1 and schizophrenia . I m after friends cause I get lonely can anyone help me make or find friends who will accept me and who wont abandon me you know .

Hi to all I m new here sadly I got bipolar type 1 and schizophrenia . I m after friends cause I get lonely can anyone help me make or find friends who will accept me and who wont abandon me you know .

wolfee81 36, alone, unloved and ready to give up
  • replies: 7

I write this knowing that there are far more people worse off than me - but I can't help wondering what if I was no longer here, the stress would be less for my parents Dad 74 & Mum 68, still living with them, work situation - dead end job where I'm ... View more

I write this knowing that there are far more people worse off than me - but I can't help wondering what if I was no longer here, the stress would be less for my parents Dad 74 & Mum 68, still living with them, work situation - dead end job where I'm expendable and devalued and forever worried that my job will end without much notice. No love life what so ever and no one seeming interested. Little money so would not be much of a catch anyway. Forever worried about myself or people around me dying suddenly. Feeling something is seriously wrong health wise with me but scared to go to doctors to find out. My only saviour is a gorgeous 4 year old Labrador but Im in constant fear of losing him - got him when I was long term unemployed and he saved my life, I had a purpose, wake up walk the dog, look for work during the day, and in afternoon socialise the dog at the park, lately I haven't been near dog park and miss the interaction with the people but my dog was attacked a couple of times and while okay does get very nervous in the parks now and if I lose him I won't have anything left Ironic hey, a dog that is just as anxious as its owner I don't want to talk to family about my issues as I will scare them too much if they knew how I was really feeling. Im a pretty guarded/ shy person and find it hard to make friends and even then, why would I lump them with my problems, I'm fearful of going back to work also, have a review coming up in the next couple of months and I'm unsure of how that will go. Have been there 3 years in Feb but don't get the sense that I'm liked. I'm a very strong willed person who lives by a set of rules that is a mixture of my upbringing and rules that I have made as I have gone along in life. Lots of people I work with don't have the same thinking or willingness to try and understand me and this puts me on the outside of the group. I have noticed over the last month or so that my thoughts are causing my sleep to be less and less although when working I don't have much nightly sleep anyway (about 4-5 hours a night). Lately though its been bad dreams and just a constant state of worry about money that causes disturbances in my sleep. Some nights I will go to bed and hours later I am still lying there thinking and worrying whats next: illness, car breakdown, loss of job, loss of family, I wish I could just jump out of my head for a while. Well I've wasted enough of your times, feel free to offer advice

Depressed24 My sad day
  • replies: 1

Hi I found out what anxiety I got and it is PTSD . I had to baby sit my nieces and they keep asking questions about Auntie Kylie my sister and I say to myself everyday will she ever come back home I cant live on my own and my mother Deborah might hav... View more

Hi I found out what anxiety I got and it is PTSD . I had to baby sit my nieces and they keep asking questions about Auntie Kylie my sister and I say to myself everyday will she ever come back home I cant live on my own and my mother Deborah might have breast cancer . I thought I had OCD it was PTSD all this time . my voices get annoying at night more distressing but I have a list of diversions / hobbies what I do and talking is one of them I m a chatterbox . I m sad cause I m not going to the clinic were I live anymore but I should be happy I know its bipolar 1 nothing makes me happy anymore . My sister left and I haven't been the same mentally

Littlevegannurse Having a bit of trouble
  • replies: 2

I can't seem to figure out how to shake this feeling. I'm usually down most of the time and when people continue there day not paying attention it makes it worse even though I'm glad they are happy it saddens me and makes me feel neglected and I cry ... View more

I can't seem to figure out how to shake this feeling. I'm usually down most of the time and when people continue there day not paying attention it makes it worse even though I'm glad they are happy it saddens me and makes me feel neglected and I cry for hours about this

JayEss Workcover making things worse
  • replies: 5

Now I'm not very good at expressing myself so im just gonna start typing and see what happens. Also if this is posted in the wrong area i apologize On the 6th of May 2016, 4 days into a new job working in a warehouse i suffered a left thumb injury. U... View more

Now I'm not very good at expressing myself so im just gonna start typing and see what happens. Also if this is posted in the wrong area i apologize On the 6th of May 2016, 4 days into a new job working in a warehouse i suffered a left thumb injury. UCL Tear and a bone abrasion. Essentially my thumb bent a way its not meant too, damaging ligaments and tearing a small chunk of bone off also. This new job was just after a period of time off work due to my mental health. I was put onto workcover by the employment agency i was hired through, and it has been one of the most horrible experiences of my life. The original diagnosis of my thumb was just extreme swelling which my gp advised me would be gone in 3 days. After a week of no improvement i went back to the doctors and saw a different gp. He reffered me to a local hand therapist and my thumb was put into a plastic splint, to keep the joint stable while the ligaments healed. I was immediately put onto 'light duties' in the employment agencies office, as I technically still had a capacity to work and the doctor/hand therapist where hopeful my thumb would recover with rest. It didnt. My light duties are shortened hours, sitting in a tiny room with a table and a laptop, doing work which they say is used, but nobody has ever even opened the spreadsheet. I dont receive my payments unless I do the hours specified each day. After 5 months of being in the splint, xrays, an inconclusive ultrasound, an mri and an independent medical examination, i was finally reffered to a surgeon and given an actual diagnosis; UCL tear. I was given 6 weeks off work fully after surgery, then put back onto light duties. Its been 3 months now since surgery, and while it 'went well' progress on movement and building strength has been painfully slow. Monthly hand therapy appointments are apparently enough, and while they say things are looking good its hard to believe that when i can barely move the joint. My motivation has hit rock bottom, and some days (like today) I get so anxious i just shut down. The thought of going to work and sitting in that room make me feel sick. I just feel lost. I've grown to despise anything to do with this place and i know its not helping me. Im thinking about asking my gp about a mental health plan again? Its now been over 9 months and I feel useless Has anyone else whos been through the workcover nightmare got any advice or help?

Maxiewolf Looking for support....
  • replies: 7

Hi All, I've come here for some support as I usually just take this 1 problem at a time, I've been depressed for over half my life, And suffered anxiety for the past few years since I became a bit of a recluse due to having severe spinal issues, I'm ... View more

Hi All, I've come here for some support as I usually just take this 1 problem at a time, I've been depressed for over half my life, And suffered anxiety for the past few years since I became a bit of a recluse due to having severe spinal issues, I'm in pain 24/7 so my threashold for everything is low. I also have Existential Death Anxiety. These kind of things deprive me of sleep, I also have night terrors. I've got so many issues I don't know where to begin,Or where to post. If there's an edge to be driven to that isn't suicide, Then I think I've reached it. Just some of the things I've had going on Abused sexually as a child by a family member. I have only just started to pick at this.eg Told my dad for the first time. Arguing and disagreeing about said family members inheritance with my mother after I was cut out of the will. Mother loans me money from inheritance, has hounded me ever since. Coming to grips with the fact my mother is a Narcissist and I've had to go no contact for my sanity. Disowned by a best friend of several years, no contact no reason given. Was told "you know what you did" Was never told what. Mothers family takes their side and spends Christmas with them. I spent that year feeling more worthless and suicidal. With anxiety getting worse I decided to move from QLD to NSW to live with dad so we (hubby) could save money to buy a house. Moving made me breakdown for weeks later I have now been told I have bipolar2 disorder, told I've had it most of my life and that it's affected every crazy decision I've ever made, So this has left me feeling even more depressed and lost as I can no longer trust my own thoughts. Psychologist feels she has diagnosed me and all will be ok when I take enough meds One of our 2 Dogs died suddenly in November Dad has been off work with no income due to a knee injury in December so we are paying our bills and his I'm on DSP and hubby on carers. On Friday the 10th one of our indoor cats was accidentally let out Friday the 13th My 9 year old Dog collapsed of a heart attack and died in my arms. We rushed him to the vet in vain but he was too gone. While on the floor saying my goodbyes to my dog, I get a call from the neighbour. Telling me our missing cat had been mauled to death by his dog 3 days ago. he had left him to rot in the sun and gave him back to us in a garbage bag. I feel like everything has been pulled from under me Where should I go from here?

Depressed24 Depressed24's history of mental health
  • replies: 2

Hi at 15 years old I did not want to be around anymore I got hurt in primary and high school primary school it was another student who hurt me and in high school it was a teacher . My sister Kylie doesn't call me a sister at all I try to talk to her ... View more

Hi at 15 years old I did not want to be around anymore I got hurt in primary and high school primary school it was another student who hurt me and in high school it was a teacher . My sister Kylie doesn't call me a sister at all I try to talk to her on face book but she does not reply . And I had to put up with my sister come and then go that's why I don't call her a sister she had a bad boyfriend who did not treat her right t all. And ever since she left home at 16 years of age I haven't been the same mentally . And I live with my parents there the only ones who care . I m sadly single as well no guy wants to accept me just because thanks to the voices I hear . I cant live on my own cause I got 2 serious mental disorders and OCD Anxiety as well . I m just angry in high school and primary everyone teased me more than my sister. And I was annoying to her she wanted to call other high school students her sister.