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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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Sigwingal How to talk to my partner about my depression
  • replies: 6

Hi All, i am very new to this all and just thought I would ask how other people have gone about telling there partner about their depression. I believe I have had it for many years but only have started seeing a professional in the last few weeks. I ... View more

Hi All, i am very new to this all and just thought I would ask how other people have gone about telling there partner about their depression. I believe I have had it for many years but only have started seeing a professional in the last few weeks. I did see one a couple of years ago for a short period of time and depression was mentioned then but I guess I wasn't ready to hear it. This time around it was pretty obvious to the professional straight away what I was dealing with. Anyway I've been with my partner for nearly 5 years. He has seen it all. I had felt like this before I met him too so he has been dealing with it too I guess but I have never mentioned depression. I believe he just thinks that's me and I have a choice. I don't think he will ever understand but I do no I need to try and explain and at least let him no what is happening. It has effected us a great deal. Unfortunately he is the one I take it out on and well we are now in a unhappy place because of it. I guess this is what has lead me to seriously get help this time. For the both of us but I no I need it. I can talk to him about everything else just not this. Suggestions please.....

white knight Great expectations
  • replies: 34

The scenario. You, your wife and your dog have planned a round Oz driving trip. Your wife's best friend, her husband and their dog will be in their bus. You'll travel together. Early on in the trip they forge ahead, on each leg they go out of sight a... View more

The scenario. You, your wife and your dog have planned a round Oz driving trip. Your wife's best friend, her husband and their dog will be in their bus. You'll travel together. Early on in the trip they forge ahead, on each leg they go out of sight and you wonder if you break down that you won't have the help you could have had if he'd kept an eye on you and kept close by. You drive along an outback highway and it happens, engine oil seal gives way. A tow job. No phone range. Your friends don't know, they were 5 kms ahead. You hitch a lift 60kms to the last town and organise the tow truck. You wait at the van park until its fixed. Your friends text you when they are finally in phone range about 300km away. You reply that you are OK, the car needed towing and "this is why one should keep watch on the other party" You also tell them to continue with their holiday but you are fuming inside. There are many questions but these are the ones I need answering - it it unreasonable to expect your friends to automatically realise for safety reasons to stay together? - if you think so and they don't share that view, would that difference mean you could not ever be close mates? - is there a bare basics level of mateship that you expect from friends. As we are in our van waiting for our car repairs my dear wife wants me to remain friendly towards our "friends" which I would now find difficult. But I'll try. Well meet about 5 days from now. Here's the thing. Had the tables been reversed when I found out my mate was stranded or even settled back at the caravan park, I would have driven back there to support them. In fact on two occasions that happened on our trip. Is it unreasonable to base your friendship with someone upon your own values? How can you calculate acquaintance will make a committed "mate" in the long term? So you can save time and not waste effort on someone that would leave you for dead on an outback highway? Are we unfair having expectations? Two mates head off riding their trail bikes. One gets a flat tyre. The other says "too bad, its not my bike that has a flat tyre" and rides off. It would be a given that they'd help each other in such circumstances. But my sister hit the nail on the head. "Our father always went over and beyond the call of duty and always got hurt". Im tired of people hurting me. It has to stop. The walls are going up! I just have to find a way of doing that and putting on a smiling face at the same time Tony WK

hannahxox Travelling long term - Eating disorder and depression
  • replies: 2

Hey all. So I'll try and summarize it all. I'm 23 year old female from the UK, I came out to Australia in Feb with the intention of doing the year as I have the working visa. 3 weeks in I fractured my collar bone but was also feeling extremely depres... View more

Hey all. So I'll try and summarize it all. I'm 23 year old female from the UK, I came out to Australia in Feb with the intention of doing the year as I have the working visa. 3 weeks in I fractured my collar bone but was also feeling extremely depressed/lost/struggling with lack of routine in terms of eating/excercise and so the collar bone was the perfect excuse for me to come home. Once home felt relieved, then the depressed/lost/empty feelings returned, novelty of being home wore off had zero motivation to find work, went through phases of wanting to run away, tried to move out at one point - just always trying to run away from my problems inside my head. I then decided to try Australia again as I still had what felt like 'unfinished business' over there, so impulsively booked my flight back and now here I am, back to that same old feeling, lost in Australia. I've wasted so much money, I feel depressed, my eating habits are all over the place. I have never been diagnosed with anything but known for a long time I've had issues I've just been too afraid to confront them. I'm a vulnerable mess over here and it's reached the point where I need help. I just want to disappear into nothing. In all honesty I should have stayed home and got the counselling I know I've needed for the past 10 years of my life. I've tried so hard to push through but all I'm doing over here is crying every night, then either not eating all day, or overeating all day in an attempt to control the pain. All I really want to do, is go back to England, get professional help and really finally get my life on track. I know I don't want to be here anymore but I really need help in what you think is best? I have a great support system at home, my family love and support me and my own mum is a counselor so she will understand (I hope) but it's just the shame and guilt, and wasted opportunity, and failing Australia for the second time, that is stopping me. I'm not ready to face family (except my parents) and friends and explain everything. I just want the comfort of my own home and professional help without having to see anyone for a while. Please someone help with what I should do?

Solosombra Too tired to pretend!
  • replies: 3

Anyone else feel like this? Too tired to even lie to myself anymore, when I want to frown I force myself to smile, when I want to cry I laugh. But lately its been catching up too me and its getting harder to keep it up! Feel like I'm heading for a br... View more

Anyone else feel like this? Too tired to even lie to myself anymore, when I want to frown I force myself to smile, when I want to cry I laugh. But lately its been catching up too me and its getting harder to keep it up! Feel like I'm heading for a breakdown of epic proportions! Maybe I just need to take a step back and catch my breath for a moment before life decides to start throwing more BS my way??

creativesoul Ways I have found useful to beat depression
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I have only just joined beyondblue but have struggled with depression for much of my life. If you suffer depression, you will know it is not something that simply just goes away or that you can just easily switch off. As such, support from th... View more

Hi all, I have only just joined beyondblue but have struggled with depression for much of my life. If you suffer depression, you will know it is not something that simply just goes away or that you can just easily switch off. As such, support from those who are going through it or have been through it is vital in my opinion.I have suffered from depression over the years and it is always hard, but there are ways to alleviate the problem. I have never been one for antidepressants and refuse to take them, but I am not knocking them either - if they help, that is what is important, at least to help lift your mood. I prefer the natural route myself, but that is just me. Not judging, it's just the way I choose to go. One thing I have found help me a lot when I feel depressed is humour. I normally have a great sense of humour, but when you feel depressed, you don't feel like laughing much! I have a great collection of comedy, which I use to lift me up and get myself to start seeing things differently. This works, but you might need to keep at it a bit and start slow.Deep breathing and a simple walk can do wonders to change your outlook. The worst part about depression is how it skews your perspectives and makes you see things negatively, and not necessarily as they really are. Its so hard to see outside the 'box' you are in when you are depressed. Even worse, others who are not going through it or have not been through it, often don't know what to say or do to make you feel better, I know. So, be your own best friend! I have found, thinking on paper helps a lot - at the very least, make a list - a long one, of things you are proud of, happy about, things that make you feel good, or confident, loved, respected, and elaborate on each one in writing. Keep it to yourself, so don't be afraid to write down anything - it's your list, no one else will see it. Just doing this, puts you in a better frame of mind.Hope these help, and lastly, please realise it is never as bad as it might seem in your own mind. There are ALWAYS answers and ALWAYS people who care and can help, if you give them a chance.Grant

Brent01 Problems sleeping with depression?
  • replies: 23

Hey does anyone else have the same issues as me,i will wake up atleast 4 times a night and the last one which always around 3.30 am i cant get back to sleep for atleast an hour and i start work at 5.30 am each day its ruining me

Hey does anyone else have the same issues as me,i will wake up atleast 4 times a night and the last one which always around 3.30 am i cant get back to sleep for atleast an hour and i start work at 5.30 am each day its ruining me

Lookingforpeace The blues
  • replies: 5

These waves that keep pulling me in Then washing me back out One after the other Can't breathe, I'm drowning I gasp for air But I'm under again

These waves that keep pulling me in Then washing me back out One after the other Can't breathe, I'm drowning I gasp for air But I'm under again

Leya22 I am a successful professional failure
  • replies: 19

Hello BB I am a 32yo female, a qualified health professional, in a wonderful secure relationship. I live in a nice house, drive a nice car, make good money & have good relationships with family & a handful of close friends. I generally have good phys... View more

Hello BB I am a 32yo female, a qualified health professional, in a wonderful secure relationship. I live in a nice house, drive a nice car, make good money & have good relationships with family & a handful of close friends. I generally have good physical health, I really have nothing to complain about. BUT....... That is the exact problem, despite all this I feel like a failure. I feel like I am not good enough, I feel like I'm a useless burden to everyone. I have battled depression since I was a child, my parents first sought help for me when I was about 9 or 10, & I have seen various professionals since. It wasn't until a few years ago that I accepted depression was with me for life, & was something I would need to tackle EVERYDAY for the rest of my life. I've been medicated on & off for years, but I useto take myself off it as I knew how to do it safely, I have been pretty good for the last 2 years I stuck to my meds & had regular CBT with a psychologist who I really clicked with. I built good support networks, opened up about my depression & even weathered a few 'storms' (difficult times that could potentially unravel me). The issue is that the negative self talk is winning the battle at the moment, I've had a few challenges lately, but nothing severe, and nothing that should have been so unraveling to my mental health, which only adds to the feelings of failure, 'why am I so emotionally usless?' Is a question that runs around my head frequently. I started a new job & am finding it difficult, because even tho it's in the same field, it's a new skill set & I am not feeling confident at all! My partner is overseas for work at the moment, he is a huge part of my support network & I guess I underestimated the effect his absence would have on me. I started the downward spiral about 6 weeks ago, I hit rock bottom last week, I have had to take a few weeks off work, am changing medications (having awful withdrawl at the moment) & need to find a new psychologist because the one I saw previously has stopped practicing due to her own poor health (this makes me so sad, she is young with 2 small children and a beautiful soul). I guess I don't really need advice, I've been on the 'merry go round' for years & have started the process of getting better yet again. I am just a bit lonely & edgy at the moment, I'm alone at home & I guess I want to hear from people who understand what it's like to face the internal challenges again, & again, & again. Thanks Leya x

AverageAusGuy Young man trying to figure out life
  • replies: 11

Hi all I wanted to get some feedback from some men who have experienced similar to myself and come through it. As a 28 year old guy trying to find my way in the world I have recently been experiencing anxiety and depression and have started seeing a ... View more

Hi all I wanted to get some feedback from some men who have experienced similar to myself and come through it. As a 28 year old guy trying to find my way in the world I have recently been experiencing anxiety and depression and have started seeing a psychologist and taking meds. All of my stress comes from my chosen career path as a tradesman and wanting to make a career change. Also supporting my girlfriend while she is at uni. Moving to a new city. Being away from family and friends etc I have been super reflective the past few months and really been evaluating my life. I feel like I'm wasting my life in a career I don't have a passion for. Feeling internal pressure to support my partner and make our move to the new city work. Also not wanting to let us down. Has anyone else gone through this sort of thing at this age?

acordial8 There's no way to get rid of this, is there?
  • replies: 4

I am not up for spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on psychiatric help to tell me I'm afflicted with something that can't be fixed. I've researched for 20 years now and have never come across a fix or anything that works, even slightly. I need... View more

I am not up for spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on psychiatric help to tell me I'm afflicted with something that can't be fixed. I've researched for 20 years now and have never come across a fix or anything that works, even slightly. I need someone honest enough to give it to me straight: I'm depressed, and there's no fix. I have to live with this forever, don't I?