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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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Just Sara Triggered by posting on BB
  • replies: 36

Today I posted a few times; the last time I wrote some really interesting stuff about power and control. As my day has progressed, I've had increasing low feelings and a heavy chest. I figure power is an item of contention, especially with re to my e... View more

Today I posted a few times; the last time I wrote some really interesting stuff about power and control. As my day has progressed, I've had increasing low feelings and a heavy chest. I figure power is an item of contention, especially with re to my ex who I wrote about. This is difficult...I'm trying to ride it out, these feelings are known to me oh so well. It's now moving into my shoulders and up into my throat. I feel depressed, but my body says anxiety. Tears are building; trying to see the screen. Waiting for words to come...I just want someone to hold me and tell me it's going to be alright. (many tears) I miss physical touch. I feel raw...exposed...vulnerable I ventured out of my protective bubble and am paying the price. I talked with him...setting myself up. His false charm got me again. Why do I punish myself like that. Memories of his hugs? Self destructive behaviour...OMG I'm so angry with myself. I hate feeling needy. He's not worth this...I deserve to feel better about myself. Learning to protect myself...not from him...from me. My bubble is my space and who I let in or venture out to meet has to be learned. I need to be more self aware. (Taking a breath)

TheChosenOne_4883 My loneliness is making me feel genuinely depressed and almost ill.
  • replies: 6

I'm a 19 year old male, by the way. I had quite a few friends in high school, and one or two that I'd even call 'best' friends. We saw each other heaps and got along so well. But now we've all gone our different paths and don't see each other anymore... View more

I'm a 19 year old male, by the way. I had quite a few friends in high school, and one or two that I'd even call 'best' friends. We saw each other heaps and got along so well. But now we've all gone our different paths and don't see each other anymore, and so I started at a university in March with a four month pathways course. I was pessimistic going in, thinking that nobody would be interested in me or want to be my friend, but to my genuine surprise I was wrong, and within a few days I had several friends (all female, which was weird for me). One girl in particular I became quite close with. She was somewhat quiet and introverted like me, and we shared many of the same interests (video games, anime, etc). She lived near me so I picked her up and dropped her off from her house every day when we went to the train station to go to uni. We quickly became really good friends and saw each other pretty much every day. You have no idea how good this made me feel about myself, and it snapped me out of the depression and insecurity that I'd had for a couple of years. I finally felt like somebody (of the opposite sex) was interested in me and cared about me and was happy talking to me every day. I've never had a girlfriend so that's another reason this made me feel like my life was back on tracks. But sadly and inevitably the four month course came to an end, and that was today. When I dropped my friend off at her house and gave one last look at her before driving away I knew I'd probably never see her again (since she has a very busy social life outside of university, and she never showed much interest in going out with me outside of school). Words can't even really describe how utterly alone I felt then (and still feel now as I write this). It may sound extreme and stupid, but seeing her and being with her and talking with her every day made me feel like I had value to someone's life and that I wasn't worthless and that my life could finally become good. But all that's over now. In my emotional state I wrote a message to her on Facebook telling her how much I appreciated her friendship because I thought I wouldn't make any friends, and how I'd miss her, but that was an hour ago and she hasn't replied (even though she's online and has seen my message). I just feel... horrible. Like, I haven't felt this alone and depressed and hurt for a really long time (maybe never). All the progress of these past four months are gone... like they never even happened.

EloiseS I've never felt so low, I can't get out of the fog
  • replies: 8

Hi, I'm Eloise and around 3 weeks ago a personal experience affected me deeply and profoundly. At the time I was overseas on the trip of a lifetime and was in very happy spirits. My life has never been perfect and even prior to this experience I was ... View more

Hi, I'm Eloise and around 3 weeks ago a personal experience affected me deeply and profoundly. At the time I was overseas on the trip of a lifetime and was in very happy spirits. My life has never been perfect and even prior to this experience I was and still am in a very unhappy marriage. Despite this my life was functional and I sought and found enjoyment in many things that I now longer do. I can't function at all. I'm drinking almost every night or taking things to numb me or take away the horrible feelings and I was never like this before and just a social drinker. I only find solace in sleep and hate having to drag myself out of bed in the morning. I'm barely eating and have lost weight but seeing this as the only positive!!!! I have 3 kids and finding it hard to find happiness or joy in anything. The kids are happy and well cared for and would have no clue that I am going through this as I put up a good happy facade. The person responsible for my sadness initially came across as a charmer and now wants nothing to do with me and won't give me any explanations or answers. I know deep in my heart this person should be written off but I don't have any closure and cannot move forward. It has been 3 weeks now and I don't feel any better and have made the decision to seek professional help/medication tomorrow as I am having awful thoughts I cannot seem to to quash. To be honest I am not sure why I'm even here as I don't believe anything can help me. I hate myself.

artilleryman37 Getting things off my chest and looking for opinions
  • replies: 2

I have decided to write here because my life is on the verge of ruin and I have trouble talking to anyone let alone medical professionals about this sort of stuff. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety, especially social anxiety. It takes me ye... View more

I have decided to write here because my life is on the verge of ruin and I have trouble talking to anyone let alone medical professionals about this sort of stuff. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety, especially social anxiety. It takes me years to fully open up to people. Anyone new I meet can walk all over me because my anxiety stops me from being able to express myself and I just do whatever I can to keep others happy no matter the personal cost to myself. The males on my fathers side are a long list of bipolar sufferers so I'm concerned I may be bipolar too but I'm not sure, I could have something completely different. I have intermittent sleeping problems, sometimes I'm fine and sometimes I'll get as little as 15 - 20 hours in a week. I have bad problems with memory. I have been known to forget how to spell my name or what my birthdate is. Sometimes I forget what I'm saying mid sentence or repeat things to people many times not knowing I have already told them. I forget to tell people things even minutes after thinking to tell them. I have even had times I have been driving and forgotten where I am and where I'm going for several minutes. I suffer from cognitive problems where it's like my brain doesn't work anymore. Its severity varies from day to day. Some days I'm at 100% and I'm like a computer, I am smart enough to have done university level maths in high school and came top of the school for the school certificate (which was a while ago as I'm now 29), and then there are days I take 10 minutes to calculate simple things like, for example, 128 + 37 and i'll still get the wrong answer. The anxiety, memory and cognitive problems have stopped me from holding any job in the last 8 years for more than 6 months which has ruined my employability in the eyes of employers and can no longer find employment. I get audible hallucinations. Sometimes not for months, sometimes every day, usually when I'm zoned out and not concentrating on anything. They used to be of an aggressive guy and a placid girl saying they were going to get me. That was years ago. These days I either get babies crying and screaming or I get a massively crowded room with hundreds of people talking to each other. I reached my character limit and will post the rest below as a reply.

Guest_9845 better people have it worse but...
  • replies: 3

I'm 35 off meds but they messed with my head too much and don't solve the issues of the character flaws I must have, I have always had. Better people have it much worse , i know, i know, but i'm really getting tired of it all. It's like anything to h... View more

I'm 35 off meds but they messed with my head too much and don't solve the issues of the character flaws I must have, I have always had. Better people have it much worse , i know, i know, but i'm really getting tired of it all. It's like anything to help is just like putting the braindead on life support. I've no hope and no forthcoming solution but dont fret, I'm too weak for suicide.

Tamara-Lee Always Angry and irritable
  • replies: 5

Firstly Hello to you all, this is my first time posting here. I am seeking some advice/help... I am 29 and a wife and mother to four, i find that i am constantly feeling angry and irritable even when i don't want to feel this way, certain things will... View more

Firstly Hello to you all, this is my first time posting here. I am seeking some advice/help... I am 29 and a wife and mother to four, i find that i am constantly feeling angry and irritable even when i don't want to feel this way, certain things will really set me off such as kids screaming, loud tv, water dripping and people chewing gum. How do i overcome these feelings?

Christine0912 Loneliness, days alone, and finding someone who understands.
  • replies: 3

Let me start by saying I have never posted here before and honestly I don't know what I am trying to achieve. I guess I'm just looking for someone, anyone, who understands this misery. I am a 25 year old woman and by all appearances I have a great li... View more

Let me start by saying I have never posted here before and honestly I don't know what I am trying to achieve. I guess I'm just looking for someone, anyone, who understands this misery. I am a 25 year old woman and by all appearances I have a great life. I have a good job that I love, and amazing supportive partner and family, and fantastic friends. And yet I have never felt more alone.I have struggled with anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember. However in the last couple of months I have reached levels of misery, loneliness and emptiness that I never thought were possible. I am so tired. I am so tired, and yet no amount of sleep makes the fatigue dissipate. I have reached breaking point. I have no desire to harm myself, but I don't know how much longer I can endure this hopelessness.Both my parents have their own struggles with mental health and addiction, so I feel as though I can't talk to them because I don't want to add more stress to their already difficult lives. My partner loves me and wants me to be healthy but he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't understand why I can't just 'be happy'. I know they are just trying to help, but I am SO sick of the people in my life telling me to just 'go sit in the sunshine' or 'get out of the house' as if that is going to be some saving grace that I haven't thought of before. Don't people know how badly I want to have the energy to get myself ready and go out into the world?On my days off, I spend my time at home staring into nothingness or sleeping. I barely have the energy to shower or feed myself. I guess I'm wondering if anyone else is feeling this way and if so what do they do to help themselves on days where the emptiness feels like it is consuming you? It took me a long time to realise that this is an illness. I am seeing a psychologist and taking medication. I am doing all the right things, so why doesn't it feel like I am ever going to get better?

Mellbell I'm so scared...
  • replies: 8

Hello everyone, My name is melissa and i am 25 years old. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression about three years ago. This past year has been the most darkest of my life. My issues have now lead me feeling completely hopeless, worthless and ho... View more

Hello everyone, My name is melissa and i am 25 years old. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression about three years ago. This past year has been the most darkest of my life. My issues have now lead me feeling completely hopeless, worthless and honestly not wanting to wake up in the morning anymore. I was in an emotionally abusive relationship for 5 months that destroyed my self esteem, I endured months of bullying from my boss and I was too scared to stick up for myself, so I just quit after working at that place for 7 years. No good bye party, no we'll miss you, nothing. I attempted to try and study so I could get a better job but my depression mentally broke me just a few months in. Because all that i had to move back in with my parents, I failed at everything and now im just stuck with very large bills I have no idea how to pay for. I'm scared every day because I wonder what could happen to make my life harder and more stressful then it already is. I feel as though I am a burden to everyone around me now. My anxiety has gotten so bad I cant go shopping anymore, I cant go out to lunches or dinners anymore, I have anxiety attacks so bad I get physically ill, and thats just doing any task that requires me leaving my room. My family and friends believe I'm just being a b*** and that I don't want to spend time with them. I've explained to them that I have a mental illness, they don't care. My friends just stopped inviting me places, I have tried to get in contact and reach out to them but I have never gotten a reply, but I see them constantly spending time with each other. The same goes with my family, its like a punch im the stomach when they make plans with each other and not invite me. I do see my gp monthly and in the middle of switching to a new medication, my third one, but I don't see a point anymore. Its gotten to a point that I honestly believe that no one would even realize I was gone if I were to succumb to the mental illness. I honestly dont believe anyone would care. I'm fighting tooth and nail every day to keep going. I'm honestly sorry if I have bothered anyone by writing this, honestly I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm lying here in my bed at 2am, with tears pouring out my eyes, just begging for the voices to stop. To just leave me alone. I'm just so, so scared..

Bx It's all getting too much.
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm new to this and not really sure how to go about it all. So I guess I just start with how I feel. Everyday is like a constant battle with myself. I notice myself pushing people away but I can't stop myself from doing it. I can't stop myself fr... View more

Hi, I'm new to this and not really sure how to go about it all. So I guess I just start with how I feel. Everyday is like a constant battle with myself. I notice myself pushing people away but I can't stop myself from doing it. I can't stop myself from crying all the time or excluding myself from fun because i feel like I don't deserve to smile, i'm on medication and have been for a while though it's not changing how I feel about myself. I also get so tired of trying to explain why I am or why i'm this way. I'm at the point where I no longer have any friends and my family are just about to give up on me too. I feel so alone in a world full of people and I would just give anything to feel "normal" again. I hate that I frustate everybody around me and it feels like i'm a burden on people, I know that noone likes anybody who's constantly sad, I want to be happy but how do i start? I'm thinking about getting myself admitted in to a mental hospital because I just can't keep fighting myself everyday. It breaks my heart when the people I love tell me to just get over it and stop with the poor bugger me. I just feel as though I bring no joy to anybody and they just expect the worst from me or just sit back an wait for me too fall. I even feel silly trying to explain myself to strangers. Sorry and thank you for taking the time to read.

LonelyD I just can't take another 'life lesson'
  • replies: 3

This is my first post to BB but I am at the end of my 'strength'. Over the past 18 months my life has come crashing down around me and I can't find a way out of this hell. 15 months ago my business of nearly 10 years closed due to my ill health (I wa... View more

This is my first post to BB but I am at the end of my 'strength'. Over the past 18 months my life has come crashing down around me and I can't find a way out of this hell. 15 months ago my business of nearly 10 years closed due to my ill health (I was diagnosed with MS in 2008) 2 weeks before the closure of my dream my husband of nearly 15 years told me he didn't love me anymore. I had no idea he felt that way. The previous year I had 5 people around me pass away one from complications from MS on from suicide. My husband said he couldn't tell me at that point as he was worried what I would do. So I am alone, no job, few friends with a disease that renders me useless. I have heard the 'everything happens for a reason' and 'you will learn about yourself' too many times. I am on AD's and under mental health plan, but I just don't know what to do-where to go or who I am. I am a nice person. I am a good person. I don't need to learn anymore!!!!