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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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Bluegirloz Where do I begin?
  • replies: 2

Hello, I'm new to the online community. I've been suffering depression & anxiety for the past two years since a relationship breakdown (10 years) I'm currently living with a friend she's been a great support but I'm very focused on helping her and he... View more

Hello, I'm new to the online community. I've been suffering depression & anxiety for the past two years since a relationship breakdown (10 years) I'm currently living with a friend she's been a great support but I'm very focused on helping her and her family but have no interest in doing something for me. On the outside I appear fine to others except those extremely close who know I'm not going that well. I've tried psychological help and medication which I don't feel have helped and would rather try to help myself with other options. So I'm just looking for some advice on where to start. I have times when I spiral into thoughts of panic about my future on a myriad of levels. I am not the person I once was and am not sure how or if I will be again. Today I drink,smoke,rarely socialise,little exercise. I previously was running marathons,gym junkie,social drinker & non smoker..so I thought I'd see if anyone might have some suggestions as to where I begin...thank you for reading

hannalogy I dunno
  • replies: 4

I wasnt sure what to call this thread.. I basically have some questions.. Sometimes it just hurts to be around people. Like I just want to lay on the floor or go home. There is just something so painful about it sometimes. I have to go to the bathroo... View more

I wasnt sure what to call this thread.. I basically have some questions.. Sometimes it just hurts to be around people. Like I just want to lay on the floor or go home. There is just something so painful about it sometimes. I have to go to the bathroom and calm down. I don't really understand why this is.. I just feel so sad. For no reason. Sometimes life just doesn't seem to have much meaning or point. Why do i work? So I can pay the rent and feed myself. Why pay the rent and feed myself? To what end? Like I know that's kind of dramatic and silly, but it's how I feel some times. Life just seems to be this thing to "get through". Are these depression things? Or just my own immaturity?

hannalogy Pregnant and numb?
  • replies: 1

Hey, so I'm not sure which forum to put this in.. But here goes. I'm 17 weeks pregnant and I just don't know what I am supposed to feel. I don't feel happy or excited but I don't feel sad or dread.. I just feel blank about it. I find the gush around ... View more

Hey, so I'm not sure which forum to put this in.. But here goes. I'm 17 weeks pregnant and I just don't know what I am supposed to feel. I don't feel happy or excited but I don't feel sad or dread.. I just feel blank about it. I find the gush around it quite un relatable. I can see in my mind how it's a good thing, I think it's a good thing but I have no feelings about it. What if I have no feelings towards my baby? I dunno.. I dunno if it's normal but I'm kind of nervous to bring my ambivalence up to my friends or family in case they get the wrong idea. I don't not-want to be pregnant.. But I don't want to be either.. By which I mean there is an absence of want.

Yoga_has_changed_my_life I dislike labels
  • replies: 13

Hi all I've been officially diagnosed with BP disorder.... any tips? Ps - I got asked today 'are you taking your medication' my answer 'of course I am!!!!' the response --- change of tone. *venting* Why do people ask you if your ok then are not prepa... View more

Hi all I've been officially diagnosed with BP disorder.... any tips? Ps - I got asked today 'are you taking your medication' my answer 'of course I am!!!!' the response --- change of tone. *venting* Why do people ask you if your ok then are not prepared for the answer. Sometimes I think I'm better off lying just to make people happy. Cheers keeping positive xo

choleeey Can't eat, drink, sleep
  • replies: 2

My partner recently ended things with me for the second time. I have been diagnosed with depression already, and I am not coping well at all with this situation. I can't eat, drink or sleep. Every time someone comes in to see me I just cry and cry an... View more

My partner recently ended things with me for the second time. I have been diagnosed with depression already, and I am not coping well at all with this situation. I can't eat, drink or sleep. Every time someone comes in to see me I just cry and cry and can't even speak. I don't want to be alone though. I've begged my family not to go to work just because I'm petrified of being alone. I feel so weak and light headed, I don't have motivation to move from bed to even shower. I feel like I can't do this anymore. I can't do anything at all. I'm scared.

Toadstroke Feel so sick, dont think I can hold it together, to scared to even leave my desk
  • replies: 9

Feel so sick today, just can't fight it today, so tired of it. Made it to work then got unwanted call from family member that just made things worse and triggered of screwed up feelings and anger, now about to break. Feel so down and just sick of it,... View more

Feel so sick today, just can't fight it today, so tired of it. Made it to work then got unwanted call from family member that just made things worse and triggered of screwed up feelings and anger, now about to break. Feel so down and just sick of it, don't even want to leave my desk or look at anyone in fear I'll break down again and everyone will see. Started new medication a couple of weeks back but I'm just feeling worse, so down feels like I have a lump in throat from swallowing trying not to break down. Have used up most of my sick leave so can't really just walk out and go home. Feel so trapped and just thinking why am I doing this, things are so far gone in my life its just so rubbish, but I know there are people worse off and that have really big problems, but I'm running out of strength. I can't even call a support phone line because I know I'll just break down. I just don't know anymore, what to believe in.

Itsawrap BPD is my label, but it isn't who I am.
  • replies: 3

My BPD story began many years ago, in a six month reign of darkness, self harm, medication and abandonment I learnt these things: 1) I am allowed to have an opinion- For many years, I agreed with everyone's ideas out of fear of loosing friendships or... View more

My BPD story began many years ago, in a six month reign of darkness, self harm, medication and abandonment I learnt these things: 1) I am allowed to have an opinion- For many years, I agreed with everyone's ideas out of fear of loosing friendships or relationships, to me to was not as though I knew I was doing it, it was just ingrained in me that to agree with everyone else if made them happy, and others happiness made me happy.. 2) Life isn't always about people trying to abandon you - My father left us with I was 3, and left me with major abandonment issues. It took many years to realise that my husband ( Married for 10 years now) wasn't going anywhere, and no matter how hard I tried to push him he loved me, for me and only wanted me. Even after walking out of our family home twice in a "episode" he was still there, helping me. 3) Some people you just shouldn't be around - With my disorder I learnt that I adopt other people's personalities, and opinions, some of these things would actually disagree with my core but out of fear of loosing people I would just try to be like them... It was not until many years later that I actually realised that I do have the right to disagree with people and if they don't like it then they are really not a good person to have in my life. 4) Please don't tell me who I am - This is linked to the previous point. It again took a long time to realise that I had a voice, I have opinions and it is ok to have these things. I had to relearn and redevelop my own personality, my own opinions and most importantly realise that if I feel down I need to say so... BPD is my label, but it isn't who I am.

blubella Loneliness
  • replies: 10

I am suffering with crippling loneliness.. After another failed relationship the effects are taking their toll and I have fallen in a hole so deep I don't know how to get out. I am trying to see the silver living and be mindful and grateful as aside ... View more

I am suffering with crippling loneliness.. After another failed relationship the effects are taking their toll and I have fallen in a hole so deep I don't know how to get out. I am trying to see the silver living and be mindful and grateful as aside from being single I have a blessed life, however the feeling is so strong now that I can't see past it. My mind is constantly plagued with negative thoughts. Any suggestions how to break out of this funk and actually put "positive thinking" into action?

Saphira Is it Depression or Bipolar?
  • replies: 6

So I've been treated for depression for the last 10 years (I'm 25 now) medications have never done all that much or stopped working eventually. I've never thought I had Bipolar but I'm only starting to wonder now. My ex partner mentioned about 6 mont... View more

So I've been treated for depression for the last 10 years (I'm 25 now) medications have never done all that much or stopped working eventually. I've never thought I had Bipolar but I'm only starting to wonder now. My ex partner mentioned about 6 months ago that he thought I had Bipolar because of the frequency/severity of my mood swings but I didn't really pay it any mind until a lady I work with mentioned she thought I have it (she has similar mental problems and so picks up my mood swings better than I do) Basically I have major depression with how I would always see it, brief and rare gaps of happiness or feeling normal which would always make me rather energetic and bubbly/ talkative. I've always put this down to it being a snowball effect because I was feeling so good about feeling good! When I crash, I crash hard and fast in an instant, there are no warnings or slowly easing back into a depressive state, this lady I work with mentioned that her crashes are more in steps bit by bit. So I'm wondering if there are other people with depression who INSTANTLY drop back down into a depressive state with no triggers or if this could be something else. I do notice that I speak and think faster/don't sleep as much when I'm up but this is maybe max a few days and with gaps of anywhere between weeks to months. When I'm down it's the usual depression, can't get out of bed, can't get enough sleep, talk and think slower. I'll be going to the doctors regardless but as I'm sure everybody here is aware that not every GP is specialized in this area so want to see if there are anyone that is on specific Bipolar medications that don't have extreme symptoms that fit the general stereotype. Thanks in advance!

MargoR I am useless and worthless
  • replies: 3

I am not that young, after 35. Female. First, I am quiet nice and friendly person, great mum and wife, but those things don't work at all. All my life I tried to do something, be someone, be useful and motivated. I am hard-worker and have very strong... View more

I am not that young, after 35. Female. First, I am quiet nice and friendly person, great mum and wife, but those things don't work at all. All my life I tried to do something, be someone, be useful and motivated. I am hard-worker and have very strong willpower. Everything that I did looks like I spent my time for nothing. I started yoga, had so much passion for that. Ended up like a shit, because working on my body more than 2 years I can't do any poses, because I am not flexible enough. Tired to prove that I can do. I tried to write a book, worked hard, spent a lot of money. At the end it wasn't good enough, as editor said. My book is not that bad, some other could be completely stupid, but they are successful, because they are lucky. I can't work on my books anymore, without perfect English knowledge it's useless. (I wasn't born English speaking). My husband saying that I failure too, because he can see that all my work that I started simply unfinished. I can't go further if I feel like nothing works for me. I am good at acting, but my agent said I am not good for that business, because I wasn't born in this country. Only words that I can hear: "Not good, not enough, not beautiful, not talented, TOO OLD, not Australian". I have nothing and completely worthless. I feel like an alien, like unwanted piece of puzzle. I feel rejected. I want to learn a personal trainer, but scared I will fail there as well. All my hard work ended up fail, no matter how hard I am working (and I am working very hard. No one need my hard work). I don't have any friends, people truly like successful ones. I stopped believe in people long time ago. I hate social media, they taking me into deeper depression. I can't talk to anyone, because I feel like people don't want to hear about this. My closest and only one friend died because of depression and I don't want to end up like her. I am very fit and sporty, exercising daily, very healthy and to other people I am very happy and positive person . But I am not at all. I don't want to go to psychologist, it won't help. I can't talk about it even with doctor. I am not religious and don't want to be. For myself, I think nothing can help me. Being very productive I had a lot's of ideas to do something, but always fail at the end. It means I am stupid. The reason that I am writing here because my case is simply too hard to understand. I just wanted to write it here, may be I will feel much better. Thank you for reading.

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