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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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Guest_92761897 Struggling Teen - Any Help Appreciated
  • replies: 2

Hello, I am a 14 (turning 15 later on in the year) year old girl who was diagnosed with ADD (inattentive ADHD) and level 2 autism probably about a year ago. Recently, a psychologist had me do a questionnaire and when they got the results back, they t... View more

Hello, I am a 14 (turning 15 later on in the year) year old girl who was diagnosed with ADD (inattentive ADHD) and level 2 autism probably about a year ago. Recently, a psychologist had me do a questionnaire and when they got the results back, they told my mum that my answers showed I could clinical depression. Honestly, I wasn’t too surprised, because ever since the start of high school I have noticed my mood changing as well as developing a ‘procrastination monster’ who stops me nearly everyday from doing stuff from basic chores to having a quick, easy shower. I think year 8 was the start of most of it: My attendance started to get really bad because I would jump right into bed after school, never get out, wake up in the morning realising I wasn’t ready, then miss the bus. Neither my poor mum or myself could tell if I had a serious problem or if I was just super lazy. Now that I’m in year 9, I feel like I’m always moody, causing everyone to get stressed out and then upset at me. When it gets bad, I often get thoughts of how nice it would be for everyone if I disappeared: Mum would no longer have a dramatic, sulky daughter, my sister would spend 80% less time having to fight with an annoying older sister, and everyone would have a whole lot less stressing out to do. I also don’t feel okay with my body. I stress eat, or just eat when I’m bored. When I get lollies, I try to eat a few, then end up eating the whole packet. When I feel gross, I desperately want to exercise but the singular though drains me, just like mum asking me to do the dishes. Why do I make it such a big deal? She spends all her time at work just to afford food for my sister and I can’t even get myself to do the dishes.. What kind of daughter am I? Part of me really wants to help her, but it’s like there’s a weight that keeps me down on the couch or in bed. Someone tell me, am I depressed? Am I procrastinating? Is this just a symptom of ADD? Or am I just lazy? I want to be able to save myself before I become so unbothered that I quit all my favourite sports and never see anyone again. I don’t want to, but I could stop taking care of myself entirely and disintegrate by decaying in my own filth for too long. I think I amheading in that direction. Someone please let me know if you have ever felt this way, because I feel so selfish and stupid.

Toddw Life is falling apart
  • replies: 1

I have been suffering from depression since Feb, I have tired 2 medication and there has been complications with both of them, the first one saved me back in 2020 when I had a physical and mental breakdown. Everything goes back a difficult marriage w... View more

I have been suffering from depression since Feb, I have tired 2 medication and there has been complications with both of them, the first one saved me back in 2020 when I had a physical and mental breakdown. Everything goes back a difficult marriage which I have stayed in for years. Which we couldn't have children and tonnes of fertility treatment and crazy amounts of verbal and physical violence to a point I cracked after a bad back injury and 18 mouths of hell happened I was on a certain medication for months and didn't know what happening. I ended up at my parents in bed crying all day and not knowing anything, then I found a doctor that helped me who was train shrink and naturopathy and she save me. Then 3 years later after being normal and off medication for 18 months. I hurt my back again and flood of anxiety came and all the problems started with the meds and not before long the depression set in and marriage I rebuilt collapsed again and I'm back at my elderly parents again off work for last month and not sure what to. Not on any meds. Barely coping and maybe trying a third medication or maybe doing tms treatment or going into a treatment clinic. My life is a mess always crying and now have zero energy. That probably on half what happened in the last 15 years with marriage and mental health. I just had to get that off my chest. Thank you

Jessksch How do people get through the work week without going crazy with depression?
  • replies: 9

I'm going crazy at the moment: My job sucks so much, I can never save enough for my own home in the future. What are we actually working for? To survive? Why survive a life when we never have time to live. I just want a house with a garden to have lo... View more

I'm going crazy at the moment: My job sucks so much, I can never save enough for my own home in the future. What are we actually working for? To survive? Why survive a life when we never have time to live. I just want a house with a garden to have loads of pets, at least then I can work to support them. Now, I'm renting and not allowed to have pets anywhere, it stresses me out and I have nothing to look forward to in the future. I'm so sick of taking it day by day at the moment, when I'm at work I would rather paint or do crafts, something that gives meaning to myself, but I'm so sick of lowering my bar to find a little sliver of something in the day to day to keep going. It all sounds like excuses to me to keep going and it's all not good enough anymore for me.

Guest_28173449 how can i find help?
  • replies: 1

hi everyone, i think i might be depressed, and i think i have been for quite a while now. i am in my last year of high school and i really need help. i want to see a psychologist but i dont feel comfortable talking to my parents about it. they are al... View more

hi everyone, i think i might be depressed, and i think i have been for quite a while now. i am in my last year of high school and i really need help. i want to see a psychologist but i dont feel comfortable talking to my parents about it. they are also very expensive and i think there is a long waitlist. i have a councillor at school, but i don’t really want to talk to her about it. it feels weird talking about that stuff at school, so i keep conversations with her a bit more surface level. what should i do?

Anonymous1337 I don't know if I'm alone here but...
  • replies: 10

As I sit here at my laptop I ponder where to start and if this is just a cry out for attention, I'm just a bit lost. Hello my name is David, I am a gay male, I work as a mechanic/technician and have been for now, just over 10 years. Due to the toxic ... View more

As I sit here at my laptop I ponder where to start and if this is just a cry out for attention, I'm just a bit lost. Hello my name is David, I am a gay male, I work as a mechanic/technician and have been for now, just over 10 years. Due to the toxic and hostile nature of the industry and trades it made it hard to be open about myself, I made the mistake of never coming out, being true to myself and open with everyone. As time went on, I could tell, even though there are nice people I work with, I had to "play" along (playing "straight"), come up with excuses or fake stories if there was any questions I had to be quick thinking. This has not put me in a great position as I've formed some friendships at work over the years and no one really knows. Sad thing is, I need to get out of the trade, at least out of this job. The stress and anxiety I experience actually makes me sick in the morning and i go into a blank frozen zone in my mind and just shake/panic attack, luckily I'm on meds that help with that. This is already pretty full on, add to that I've been suffering depression since probably early 2010's, ups and downs and the downs have been gradually getting worse. I have a partner which I proposed to in Japan last year when we were on holiday with friends, that was a special time of my life (I really wanna go back to Japan too haha). Add more to the mix of my messed up mind, I have issues a bit with his weight only because it turned me off during you know what time. And it really annoys me and makes me sad when i realise this. It's something I can't help, like a natural impulse thing it's hard to describe. He's working out, swimming, going for walks, getting a better job and I couldn't be any more proud of him and I love him so much. Sadly we haven't made love in probably years, I'm not kidding. It actually hurts me that my mind just doesn't feel like it (anyone had this?) I feel like I'm hurting him like I don't love him but it's not true.. I have fear of getting older tied up with being a failure and also a strong fear of change, finding a better job and new people etc. I also haven't had good luck with any psychologist in the past, could be I just haven't got the one that "clicks" with me but even to my own mind I feel extremely complicated and it's stupid and actually pisses me off. Sometimes I really want to escape it all, like spiderman no way home, have nearly everyone forget i ever existed and start again.

reading456 I don't like myself
  • replies: 7

Hi. I don't like myself, I compair myself to others and it gets me depressed because I don't look pretty like them. I over eat because I don't feel good enough.

Hi. I don't like myself, I compair myself to others and it gets me depressed because I don't look pretty like them. I over eat because I don't feel good enough.

Guest_91029745 Don’t know what to do next
  • replies: 1

Kindly advise me please I was pass homeless because of many situations but I rebuilt my self back do everything very normal feed my self, pay my debits but I loss my job didn’t get pay my sick leave since from two weeks my income loss because I stop ... View more

Kindly advise me please I was pass homeless because of many situations but I rebuilt my self back do everything very normal feed my self, pay my debits but I loss my job didn’t get pay my sick leave since from two weeks my income loss because I stop work because of many billing and harassment problem my work place fair work department also failed to help because I couldn’t find later from doctor because doctor don’t want give later now I can’t pay my rent and miss pay my debits and no money for anything and bills and debits miss pay and jest 2 week remaining to renew my car rego I don’t know what to do. There is many of things pass and current I’m Stuckey facing feel starting enough and tired hopeless helpless because I try to talk with many people before this situation come and after also try to find solutions but I’m failed and every minutes problem keep growing…………im xmilitry person who living here with protection visa refugee my self I face many things I’m tired

Rosie Loneliness
  • replies: 10

HiI've been reading many of your posts and loneliness seem to be a common theme. I've never been able to articulate what loneliness means to me until I read this quote: "The story loneliness is much longer than the story of life. In the sense of what... View more

HiI've been reading many of your posts and loneliness seem to be a common theme. I've never been able to articulate what loneliness means to me until I read this quote: "The story loneliness is much longer than the story of life. In the sense of what most people mean by living. Without children or partner, without meaningful family or a home, a day can last an eternity: a life without those things is a life without a story, a life in which there is nothing - no narrative dramas - to alleviate the cruelly meticulous passing of time.The lack of tenderness or intimacy, loneliness is when nothing will stick to you,, when nothing will thrive around you, when you start to think that you kill things just by being there."

Guest_97782543 Depressed
  • replies: 3

I’ve been diagnosed with depression and I would like to talk to someone because I’m just feeling very down right now and a mental health worker at my school said if I ever feel the need to self harm I could talk to someone for Beyond blue or minds he... View more

I’ve been diagnosed with depression and I would like to talk to someone because I’m just feeling very down right now and a mental health worker at my school said if I ever feel the need to self harm I could talk to someone for Beyond blue or minds helpline and other sights like that

roman1613 Do i need meds?
  • replies: 2

Hi all,i cant believe im here, so difficult... guess ill explain the best i can. I have always been a bit of a loner, never had a relationship but have always been contented with that, i just figured i was asexual and left it at that. i dont really m... View more

Hi all,i cant believe im here, so difficult... guess ill explain the best i can. I have always been a bit of a loner, never had a relationship but have always been contented with that, i just figured i was asexual and left it at that. i dont really mentally understand intimacy? but a year ago i made friends with this amazing girl from the US who was on a working visa for a year and we became best friends. We both care about each other a great deal, it didnt get romantic but honestly neither brought it up or cared we just hung out heaps and enjoyed life, it was the happiest period of my life by a gigantic margin. well her visa expired and she moved back to the states. I have cried every day for a month now, and while we text daily its just not helping to remove the pain at all... i need her in my life. i feel hollow like a peice of me is missing and i cant get her out of my head at all, im obsessed with seeing her again. is that love? ive never felt it before.Am i depressed if im crying every day? I dont know if i should tell her how much she means to me now that we are so far apart but at this point im just really scared and just need another person to give me an opinion on what to do. i dont have any scary thoughts, but the sadness i live with at every moment is unbearable. thank you so much for listening,Roman.