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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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maxation i no longer feel alive
  • replies: 3

Hi.im Snagz. This is my first post. Hope i dont bring you down. Ive had depression since i was 16. I was diagnosed with personality disoder but it was only there when my anxiety.level was extreme. Now.my depression is so bad.i am numb all the time I ... View more

Hi.im Snagz. This is my first post. Hope i dont bring you down. Ive had depression since i was 16. I was diagnosed with personality disoder but it was only there when my anxiety.level was extreme. Now.my depression is so bad.i am numb all the time I mean i feel numb.my eyes skin Inside my throught. I have the most disturbing nighmares. And wake up with jolts that can.make me too scared to try sleeping .i lost my sister to lung cancer.also four other family.members went. Sicknesses.. then i had at least two life threatening illnesses. Yeah.i get anxiety. I get sleeplessness. Terrible thoughts. I dont relate to.people anymore. Its like they are in.my way. I get extremely angry. I walk out on doctors.and in therapy. So im a very lonely guy. I even saw what apeared to be ghosts .at my previous address so i.left. i try to put it in.my music .as i write songs and do abstract art. People dont see or hear my story. HELP.

Dorian_Gray Such joy ambition finds?
  • replies: 17

About a month ago an opportunity for a promotion came up at work and I applied, I’d been doing plenty of things above my level, was working diligently all the time, so was fairly confident. I duly applied, had the interview etc. and then a fortnight ... View more

About a month ago an opportunity for a promotion came up at work and I applied, I’d been doing plenty of things above my level, was working diligently all the time, so was fairly confident. I duly applied, had the interview etc. and then a fortnight after found out I had succeeded…why should it have amazed me when I always knew… I thought I would feel proud, successful, good about myself, for an instant as I was told I did, but by the time I was back at my desk there was nothing but sadness…I realised that, there is no one for me to share this good news with, no one to share in my success, no one who would have consoled me had the opposite occurred. I have all this success in my career, yet nothing else, there is no one to go home to, I have all this money and nothing to do with it, no one to buy gifts or surprises for, to take on holiday….just left with the fear that I never will have anyone who really cares about me. At this time when I should be feeling up about myself, that my skills and abilities are recognised, I just feel what use are they, what is the point, why am I even bothering to succeed in this way or work so hard, I get nothing from it anymore, no one else benefits, it just denies other the opportunity - I reflected on another applicant who lost out because I won, he has a wife and child on the way…how much more he needs the extra salary than I do…yet he has someone to console him in defeat…I would trade everything I have achieved in life for one moment of that, yet who can offer such an exchange? I know others struggle to get or keep a job, here I am with a good one, vast resources…yet its still not enough…is there no limit to the emptiness one heart can hold? I can tell these events are edging me back towards a depressive state, I've been there before for other reasons, yet how many more times can i find ways to soothe the different causes...I start to toy with the thought, perhaps 'tis better to reign..... Has anyone else had such a situation, where their successes only embitter them more and lay bare critical absences? How did you deal with it etc.?

forte All in my head
  • replies: 1

I get told this as I'm sure many of you do. But how can the way people treat me be all in my head? I've got some examples of this below but you don't have to read them. What I don't understand is when I see people get treated differently to me how am... View more

I get told this as I'm sure many of you do. But how can the way people treat me be all in my head? I've got some examples of this below but you don't have to read them. What I don't understand is when I see people get treated differently to me how am I supposed to reconcile this? This concept of me being paranoid doesn't help to calm my feelings of inadequacy when I am treated as lessor than others. I work for a cat rescue place so warned lots of cat content. a few months ago my cat went missing. Rescue protocol is to make an online post on our forum requesting assistance, but this must come from a manager. I get no post and manager states "some cats don't want to be found". My cat is still missing. Others from same manager get posts and search parties and plenty of support, cats 99% of the time get found. I bottle feed orphan kittens. I get no support, told they will most likely die, have to pay for my own vet care because I'm "imagining problems". Forced to move my kittens. Other bottle feeders, get support and receive fundraiser money to support their vet costs, get posts showing off their kittens on our shelter website. I get warnings for using my phone at work, while others are talking with their partners on COMPANY phones, no warnings. I don't use my phone excessively. there are countless other things that happen to me constantly. How am I supposed to stop feeling worthless if I'm treated as such?

Cb004 Can't shake my sadness
  • replies: 6

I feel as though alot of my young adulthood I have spent at one time or another feeling alone and depressed. I have been through relationship failures and have struggled with other relationship related loss. I've always kept my problems to myself and... View more

I feel as though alot of my young adulthood I have spent at one time or another feeling alone and depressed. I have been through relationship failures and have struggled with other relationship related loss. I've always kept my problems to myself and have always had the mentality that dealing with personal problems should be faced alone, because I do not want to burden others with my issues and thought that it would also strengthen my character. I find myself in my thirties and worried that I'll never find another lasting relationship or start a family that I have so longed for. I do think that I have great qualities and am physically in great shape, but I'm struggling to see why I am the only one that thinks that this is the case. I have dated people for short periods and it always seems like I'm putting in effort and it's never reciprocated. People just seem to loose interest? I know I have a great humorous personality and I'm not the clingy type. I'm very easy going and I just dont understand why men just don't see myself as having great potential. I'm constantly over thinking situations and seem to be trapped in my own head. I'm trying to remain positive by reminding myself that my situation isn't abnormal and I'm sure many others face bigger struggles than Im currently facing. I feel a heavy sunken sadness that I cannot shake and suffer from sleeping issues because I can't stop over annalysing my life which keeps me awake at night. I do alot of shift work, so I'm finding myself sleeping too little at night and sleeping too much during the day. There are times that I cannot get out of bed. Not because I'm too tired, just because I don't feel like I can face the world feeling the way I do. It takes a lengthy time to complete small tasks and I'm finding it hard to just do simple things like folding washing, cleaning my bedroom, going to the gym because it takes so much motivation. I just feel like I get to a good place in my life and start feeling positive only to get knocked back down again. I just don't know where I go from here?

TWJ New here and need help
  • replies: 5

hi, where do I start ? I a happily married guy with a great family that will be 56 next week. Sorry this may get a bit confusing but here goes.Things started to go wrong in October 2014 when I got sick on a cruise for our 30th wedding anniversary. In... View more

hi, where do I start ? I a happily married guy with a great family that will be 56 next week. Sorry this may get a bit confusing but here goes.Things started to go wrong in October 2014 when I got sick on a cruise for our 30th wedding anniversary. In January 2015 I finally admitted to my family I needed help as I was in a black hole off depression, felt worthless was not interested in anything or anyone.I have been told that I contracted a virus that has managed to infiltrate the nervous system in the brain - but have no proof. We will touch on that shortlyI went to our local GP and was confirmed as being depressed, given an anti depressant tablets to take everyday and sent on my way.After about a week I was hit with bad headaches and buzzing / zinging noises in my ears, back to the doctors and he changed the tabs to another brand. Not long after this I developed a tic / twitch in the left arm and now in the neck.They did seem to help the mood a bit but there would always seem to be highs and lows over the following months.We were sent to psychologists and later to neuro specialists for brain scans , blood test MRI etc etc and they could find nothing wrong.I was put on medication by the last psychologist and that was so bad I was having suicide thoughts. So we quickly stopped them.Out of frustration my wife suggested acupuncture and no meds - this is where the virus was mentioned and was told to see a Chinese herbalist.This seemed to really work and the headaches decreased , the tic / twitch slowed dramatically and the mood improved. But it has never totally gone away and has gradually returned.Some days I want to sit in the corner and cry, and have had days when I wish the floor would just swallow me up - I suffer bad memory and confidence issues.Has anyone heard of this or suffering similar issues?Just wish life would get back to where it was. TWJ

Lolita Jealousy over others receivig sympathy/attention
  • replies: 4

This is going to sound absolutely horrible. But does anyone else feel even worse when someone else you know is unwell and gets lots of sympathy and attention from others? Normally this wouldn't bother me but since my depression has started spiralling... View more

This is going to sound absolutely horrible. But does anyone else feel even worse when someone else you know is unwell and gets lots of sympathy and attention from others? Normally this wouldn't bother me but since my depression has started spiralling, seeing others who are unwell getting sympathy and support from other people while i struggle silently is making me feel terrible and even more hopeless! Am i a horrible person for saying this?? Does anyone else ever feel like this also?

b_rock isnt that just being numb
  • replies: 3

Hi im new to bb and a bit lost on the website and in life ..... iv have a background of sexual, mental and verbal abuse iv always suffered depression it usually comes every 6months sticks around for a few weeks then takes off again but since January ... View more

Hi im new to bb and a bit lost on the website and in life ..... iv have a background of sexual, mental and verbal abuse iv always suffered depression it usually comes every 6months sticks around for a few weeks then takes off again but since January this year its hung over me iv also developed anxiety with it this time..... most of my stuff revolves around a general feeling of worthlessness I suffered in silence for months then with in a few days broke down in front of everyone im close to but still no one can call or message ...I say I feel disconnected and thay cant ask me over for coffee my partner said I need new friends but how can I open up to new people when the people who have been here all along dont give a hoot..... is it me is it the depression is it them.. why dont thay care...why would someone eles.... am I trying to get better so it dosnt hurt that no one cares isnt that just being numb

Ginnyh New here and struggling with depression relapse
  • replies: 2

Hi there. I am a 41f with a husband and 2 kids. I first sufferered depression due to a stressful job in my late 20s but didn't use medication and got better once i changed jobs. I then suffered from depression after the birth of my second child and h... View more

Hi there. I am a 41f with a husband and 2 kids. I first sufferered depression due to a stressful job in my late 20s but didn't use medication and got better once i changed jobs. I then suffered from depression after the birth of my second child and have been on meds ever since. I rarely have relapses and when I do then the dr generally tries a new medication which seems to sort me out. I have been on medication now for 2 years and have been very well but just a few weeks ago I started to feel bad again - everyday has got worse and today I find myself curled up on the sofa crying. I don't know what's caused this - I am in a new job which is stressing me and I'm struggling with my weight so I know both those things arnt helping. I hate feeling this way- each day I wake up hoping I will feel brighter but I don't. I have a dr app this afternoon so will talk to dr but I get so embarrassed as I know i will start crying and I hate crying in front of people . I'm also anxious as I don't want to change medication as I have heard that's it's really hard to come off this particular one I'm on.Thanks for reading - just needed to share and I hate continually burdening my husband with it as he has issues too

priya91 How to deal with constant failure
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I've tried pursuing the same goal for two years now. Every time I try, I fail. And no matter how hard I try, I seem to fall. This led me to losing motivation in my job, and life in general. I find myself wanting to hide from everyone and... View more

Hi everyone, I've tried pursuing the same goal for two years now. Every time I try, I fail. And no matter how hard I try, I seem to fall. This led me to losing motivation in my job, and life in general. I find myself wanting to hide from everyone and everything. I find it extremely hard because my partner is pursuing the same goals, and has succeeded. The only difference between us, is our circumstances. What are some things that you do/say to force yourself to keep going? How do you know if it will get better? And what if it doesn't?

Ellie05 Scared, sad and lonely
  • replies: 4

Hello all, It's been a while since I've posted on this forum. I found it to be such a lifeline when I can share my troubles with other likeminded people and not feel judged. This time last year I went through a really bad case of anxiety and depressi... View more

Hello all, It's been a while since I've posted on this forum. I found it to be such a lifeline when I can share my troubles with other likeminded people and not feel judged. This time last year I went through a really bad case of anxiety and depression, which was triggered by job loss. I got a new job and whilst it was stressful it meant complete distraction from my deepest worries and allowed me to forget them and just focus on the day to day. I then decided to take some time out to travel as I was too exhausted from work. The two weeks leading up to my trip were so good and I was really happy, but I noticed I was really tired/lethargic as soon as I got to my first destination. This combined with headaches meant I isolated myself too much and began to dwell on all my deep seated fears and causes of sadness. I'm currently in transit (on my way to my next destination) and am locked in my hotel room crying. I'm so afraid of the anxiety and depression, it just seemed to come out of nowhere and take hold, sending my thoughts into a dark spiral. I just feel as though things are meaningless and I will never be able to lead a truely satisfying life. I feel badly about my appearance, my lack of accomplishments and most of all, my mental health issues, which scares me in that seemingly normal or even positive scenarios (i.e. travel) it just takes a hold and a I can't cope. I'm really reliant on my family as I love them so much and am unable to have a partner/kids of my own as dating is a real trigger. I really fear the ageing process as I don't want to lose them. Anyway, I helps so much to be able to get this of my chest. Is there anyone else out there who just gets completely overwhelmed at times by irrational thinking and the poison of anxiety and depression? If so, is there anything you do to help yourself cope?