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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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rustynails Intro/years of dealing with depression
  • replies: 3

Hi,my name is steve and I'm fairly new on here. I'am 34 and have been experiencing depression from the age of 15. on and off medication but have taken med constantly for 6 years. lately being depressed is still pretty bad some days. I work about 20 h... View more

Hi,my name is steve and I'm fairly new on here. I'am 34 and have been experiencing depression from the age of 15. on and off medication but have taken med constantly for 6 years. lately being depressed is still pretty bad some days. I work about 20 hours aweek in cleaning early mornings. lately finding energy to work is getting hard. when I'm at home,getting anything done and finding motivation is pretty tough. I lay down a fair bit and tend to shut myself inside allot. I also have been living alone for ten years and the only family I have is my mum that lives in town.social life is pretty limited apart from trips to town,bills,shopping,things that you have to do. I find it hard to meet new people and I'm abit reserved/quiet. being lonely is something I have felt for a long time.

James75 Feeling guilty about being depressed not working
  • replies: 20

Hi I'm new to this forum. I have always had depression off and on my whole life The last 4 weeks I seemed to slip badly into depression and anxiety breaking out in tears feeling i cant go on. I went to the doctors he stated me on medication for depre... View more

Hi I'm new to this forum. I have always had depression off and on my whole life The last 4 weeks I seemed to slip badly into depression and anxiety breaking out in tears feeling i cant go on. I went to the doctors he stated me on medication for depression and anxiety but the side effects are hard lack of sleep Et I thought if i brought a puppy it would help... But its hard looking after him when you are soo low the teething the continuous energy barking and whimpering causing me grief. I FEEL i can't leave him and get additional anxiety i have guilt feelings all the time My depression makes me tired i lay arround alot and feel the biggest guilt i used to have a career once but feel unable to face any work i just feel so quilty about everything i hate being lasy and have this black cloud in me ​

VK Can't find things to enjoy
  • replies: 4

Hi, this is is my first time here. I've just recently accepted I'm suffering from depression and anxiety. I've found myself not finding joy in anything. I've also found everything feels harder and burdensome. I even spent thousands of dollars shoppin... View more

Hi, this is is my first time here. I've just recently accepted I'm suffering from depression and anxiety. I've found myself not finding joy in anything. I've also found everything feels harder and burdensome. I even spent thousands of dollars shopping for clothes to make me feel better and the comfort was extremely short loved. I'm worried my work will suffer and my son. Are there people out there feeling the same?

Moogen Just another sad story.
  • replies: 2

I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with depression about 3 years ago after getting really drunk at a friend's 21st, getting upset about a boy, crying in the bathroom, and hurting myself. I am on medication and have seen a handful of psychologists and... View more

I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with depression about 3 years ago after getting really drunk at a friend's 21st, getting upset about a boy, crying in the bathroom, and hurting myself. I am on medication and have seen a handful of psychologists and councillors over the years.I'm currently living with my sister and a friend. My sister struggles with terrible anxiety, to the point where she cannot get out of bed some days. My friend I live with also has bad anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and is grieving from her Mother who committed suicide 3 years ago. It is very hard for me to help them when sometimes don't know how to help myself. My mother was diagnosed with Bipolar about 2 years ago after being exposed by another family member with evidence that she had stolen money from my grandmother's bank account. My immediate family and I were all in denial about my Mother's issues for years. My father was miserable in his marriage with her and was having an on-and-off affair since I was 14. My parents only separated 2 years ago. My mother has lost everyone in her life except for my sisters and I. She used to speak to her mother every day and now she's lost her forever. I feel like it has been so difficult because even now still, 2 years later, we have not gotten help for my Mother, and she is too stubborn to listen to me or my two sisters.I know that I need to focus on myself but I find it so difficult with all these people in my life struggling around me. I am currently not speaking to a psychologist or anything. When I feel sad I spend money and treat myself, even though I can't afford it. I'm already in debt and I just can't get on top of it. I seem to always look for quick fixes because I don't focus on the consequences. I don't care enough for myself. My anxiety has stopped me from getting my drivers licence too, I can't get myself to study for the test because I've built it up in my head so much. I don't know why, I feel really stupid for doing things like that. I feel like other people judge me or look down on me.I don't know what I expect writing on this forum but I guess I thought it would be a good idea to try it. I guess it feels good reading other people's stories and realising that I am not alone and that other people can relate. I hope someone out there can relate to me.

Lookingforpeace Blaming others for depression
  • replies: 6

Hi all I'm really down at the moment and feeling like I've hit rock bottom. Just last week, I was completely fine. Chirpy if anything, and motivated, positive, grateful. But Ive just had some personal issues arise in my relationship, and back down I ... View more

Hi all I'm really down at the moment and feeling like I've hit rock bottom. Just last week, I was completely fine. Chirpy if anything, and motivated, positive, grateful. But Ive just had some personal issues arise in my relationship, and back down I go. Which got me thinking, could it be that my relationships or certain toxic people I surround myself with are the cause of my depression? Now that I've had the thought - I am thinking back to the last 7 years in which I've had depression on and off, and the common theme seems to be that there is a certain person on the other side who is causing it in some way. Despite the subject line of this post, I don't mean to be blaming others and in fact I don't want to. However I'm just wondering whether maybe those others really are the cause of my depression.

Dusty5586 Who can help?
  • replies: 5

I dont know what the point of this is...there isnt anything anyone can do to help

I dont know what the point of this is...there isnt anything anyone can do to help

Shane0 I always feel guilty about how my moods effect my wife and kids
  • replies: 5

Hi I'm 28 and married with 3 kids. My life seems to be great and I feel like I have nothing to be depressed about. But when I do this i get myself in a continuous cycle of feeling bad because I feel bad. I always feel guilty about how my moods effect... View more

Hi I'm 28 and married with 3 kids. My life seems to be great and I feel like I have nothing to be depressed about. But when I do this i get myself in a continuous cycle of feeling bad because I feel bad. I always feel guilty about how my moods effect my wife and kids. The times I get really down anything makes me cry even. Especially when I think about stuff I did yesterday this makes me really upset and makes me wish I could go back and do it again. It doesn't matter what it is. Please does someone have any advice

d15c0nn3t Lost
  • replies: 2

I'm starting to feel that i'm being consumed by mental health issues, and I feel they have been with me for a very long time. It's almost like it's been programmed into me and i've just found a way to cope with it on a daily basis. Lately though I kn... View more

I'm starting to feel that i'm being consumed by mental health issues, and I feel they have been with me for a very long time. It's almost like it's been programmed into me and i've just found a way to cope with it on a daily basis. Lately though I know I'm struggling. Everyday seems to be a blur. I feel as if i'm living in state of of being out of body. Almost numb to what's happening around me or to me. It's almost impossible for me to feel any heightened state of emotion. In situations where I should feel happiness, all i can seem to produce is apathy. All day, every day, all i feel is nothing. It's impossible to connect with a fellow human being, and with those I feel comfortable with, I feel whatever connection we have is becoming non existent. I'm lost and I don't know what to do. I can't continue feeling or living my life like this.

Noodle17 How to maintain friendships with depression? and other stuff
  • replies: 7

Hi there! This is the first time I have reached out to a group like this before. I'm not sure what I am looking to achieve, I guess just to talk. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression at 13 (I'm 36 soon) I'm an only child and have always been i... View more

Hi there! This is the first time I have reached out to a group like this before. I'm not sure what I am looking to achieve, I guess just to talk. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression at 13 (I'm 36 soon) I'm an only child and have always been independant. Sometimes my depression is under control, other times it overwhelmes me to the point where I can't sleep, can't focus, I can't feel joy or even taste properly (does anyone else get this?) only sadness, emptiness, the feeling of not belonging. To most I am a confident woman. The reality is very different. Ive just learned to cover it up and when it gets really bad, I close the door and hide until the 2nd personality releases me. I have always had problems maintaining friendships, I find it easy to talk to people, but hard to connect emotionally with people long term. People begin to see me as uncaring and alouf. I've been the focus of gossip and spiteful was from female friends all my life. Perhaps because I don't have normal emotions and don't react the same way as they do. My forced confidence is mistaken for uncaring. Does anyone else feel like this? At the moment Its like my feelings of worthlessness and emptiness are so obvious to people that I would rather not see anyone. It's like I know I'll be found out if they look in to my eyes long enough, through my fake smile and air kisses. They will see me for who I really am. I am paranoid and desperately sad at the moment. I feel like I'm just a blip, worthless and pathetic. This long weekend I have spent on my own, Im finding it very hard being around people because I feel like a fraud, pretending to be normal. I'm trying to keep up my exercise and my work but I'm struggling big time. All I want to do is sleep. I know this particular cycle will eventually ease but I don't know how I can ever hold down friendships or a relationship. If anyone has any suggestions or similar experiences I wound really appreciate it. Thank you and sorry for the rant! x

Clues_Of_Blue It's like being two people
  • replies: 6

First of all, greetings. I've looked at the forums several times here, but this is the first time I've posted. I guess I decided to this time because I am no longer so far gone I can't manage to talk to people, but I still have a fight on my hands wi... View more

First of all, greetings. I've looked at the forums several times here, but this is the first time I've posted. I guess I decided to this time because I am no longer so far gone I can't manage to talk to people, but I still have a fight on my hands with my depression and kind of want to compare my experience with that of others. I know plenty of depressed people, but I also know my own personality and experience with it has differed somewhat from theirs, and a wider pool of people might yield a few that have had a similar run with it to myself. Perchance you know something I don't about dealing with it, or perhaps I know something you can use. I know a lot of people get lost in the pressing immediacy of depression and can't always recognise it for what it is, when it's happening. It hasn't been like that for me. I've always been been big on self-reflection and have a thoroughly comprehensive knowledge of myself (allowing for the fact there's always more to learn), and am someone who can step outside what is happening and analyse it. There's kind of a two-track process to my depressive episodes: my mind is perfectly functional and alert, and knows exactly what's going on, but my emotions are screaming and crying and flailing their proverbial arms. My body is caught in the middle, usually trying to keep functioning whilst very tired and fighting the urge to curl up and have a little cry, and my mind is left like a captain with a profoundly harried lieutenant trying to bring into line a boatload of underlings who just aren't competent enough to carry out an order. In many ways it's best that I have my mental faculties in order, but it's stupidly frustrating, even whilst going through it, knowing my emotions are completely out of proportion and that very little of what they're up to is matching up with my cognitive processing of a given situation. By which I mean I've bullied myself into doing what I had to in order to eliminate the things keeping me in the state I was in, but though they're less frequent I still have these bouts of acute depression for no real reason. Before, A+B=C, now I've changed things for the better A+B=Z, and I don't care for it at all. I guess it's kind of an inertia, the effects of everything I've had to deal with are still rolling along though the problem itself is largely resolved. It really is like being two people, sometimes. Do any of you find it like this?