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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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Celery I need some help
  • replies: 1

I have posted on BB previously but truly never seem to know what my real problems are. I am staying temporarily with an adult son (27) and his gf. They do not understand MI despite his gf on AD and self medicating with lots of alcohol every night. I ... View more

I have posted on BB previously but truly never seem to know what my real problems are. I am staying temporarily with an adult son (27) and his gf. They do not understand MI despite his gf on AD and self medicating with lots of alcohol every night. I have nowhere else to go at the moment and feel trapped. I have had 4 pshycologists appts and just cry and get of the track when there plus she gives me another supplement each visit. I am on AD. I have a long history of trauma being raised in a home with a violent alcoholic father and a people pleasing mother whom are both deceased though suicide. I cared for my sick father for 2 yrs and he took his life while i was in the house. I did not get any counselling at the time and must of been living in denial of that truama, hence my older sibling blamed me for his death. We have been esstranged for 7 yrs now and i feel the pain everyday of losing my family despite the dysfunction i lived with all my life. I lived in an isolated rural area up until Sept last year and came to the this city area to get help for my MI as i was falling to pieces rapidly and not knowing what was really going on with MI.. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and dysthymia. I am also severly hearing impaird from infancy and this has been difficult in many ways through life with education and just general understanding. I got hear aids 5 yrs ago so people think i can just hear now like eryone else..i cant! I still get lost with conversation and have to be looking at peoples faces..which brings me to the next thing..i have relied on facial expression all my life and often i misread and think people are angry with me. My pshyc said i will not stop feeling anxious and depressed until i settle..i cry everyday and blame mysekf for all the losses in my life and wonder why i keep going. I have no job and my pshcartrist said that i would not likely get one because of my MI and my age. I made a decision last night to drive to my old home to see my dog that i miss so much and my ex partner who still does not no he is an ex. Yes messy and now today im thinking i made the wrong decisiin as atnight time i always feel a lot better and mornings are back to the lows of depression. I have contacted many organisations for help and come to dead ends. I get so tired of having to go over the same stuff to get help. I just want some peace from my own head and why does depression play cruel games?

the_boy Unsure About Me
  • replies: 2

I guess I just needed a place to just put down all my thoughts anonymously... I'm not sure if I do or don't have depression but I've felt so lost and also a bit lonely lately. As a student who recently completed my HSC, I had really struggles to mana... View more

I guess I just needed a place to just put down all my thoughts anonymously... I'm not sure if I do or don't have depression but I've felt so lost and also a bit lonely lately. As a student who recently completed my HSC, I had really struggles to manage my stress, and on top of that, during that period, my girlfriend and I split, as well as some group drama because I was quite unhappy about the way they treated me and I took a bit of a hiatus. It wasn't abuse or anything, just more so feeling like the black sheep of the group, where my group had about 10 people, and there seemed to be little sub groups that I was never a part of which made me feel a bit lost. Finishing the HSC took quite some weight off my shoulders, and me and my ex girlfriend ended up getting back together because I really do like her. But now that the craziness of HSC has subsided, I still find myself lost and alone - more so as of the new year than ever. Me and my group has pretty much cut off all communication, and I'm quite happy to see them having a good time with each other and what not, but I still can't help but feel really left out. Granted I'm not a perfect human being or what not, but I'm still part of the group, except they don't include me in things. My girlfriend on the other hand... Am I clingy which in turn drives me to feeling this loneliness and no sense of direction? I'm not to sure but its just kind of weird when she always claims she never has time for me, but then turns around and goes out with her friends or what not. I feel as if I'm a plan B, or like I'm the spare tire in the back of the car that she doesn't necessarily need, but still wants so she feels secure. Sometimes she just gets really moody and lashes at me like I'm a punching bag, but I just take it because at the end of the day, I know that she loves me and I love her. To add to that, I've been struggling really hard to find jobs that I guess contributes to the feeling of being lost. I wouldn't say I'm the best candidate for many jobs, but I feel as though the things I've done and achieved should get me somewhere. Maybe I just feel underappreciated?

Always_raining Hi. Just want to write some things down and see how it feels.
  • replies: 2

I'm still %99 sure I'm sick and that's why I'm depressed and not the other way around. The doctors arnt looking deep enough. But yes I probably am depressed and anxious too. I knowing not normal to be convinced you are going to die soon. I know it's ... View more

I'm still %99 sure I'm sick and that's why I'm depressed and not the other way around. The doctors arnt looking deep enough. But yes I probably am depressed and anxious too. I knowing not normal to be convinced you are going to die soon. I know it's not normal.to despise yourself. But I do. I am piece of shit. The only good thing I have ever done is brought two perfect little angels into the world. That's probably just the depression talking. I don't want to die. I want to see my.girls grow up. I feel terrible for my poor wife who has to put up with me. I don't want to be who I am.

Beth88 Adive needed
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm 20 years old and need some advice. I often get patches where all I want to do Is sleep all day and I just feel so lonely and upset. Little things trigger patches like this, one moment I'm fine then the next out of no where I just feel so hopel... View more

Hi I'm 20 years old and need some advice. I often get patches where all I want to do Is sleep all day and I just feel so lonely and upset. Little things trigger patches like this, one moment I'm fine then the next out of no where I just feel so hopeless and tired. I never speak to anyone about it because I feel embarrassed, Iv told me boyfriend and mum on some occasions but they don't seem to care. I have been diagnosed with anxiety a few years ago but have never been back to the doctors for depression as I feel they can't help and I also don't think I'm as extreme as most people so I'm wasting their time. I push my family and friends away, when I get these patches I start to ignore my boyfriend and don't want to speak to him about it which I know isn't good but I just can't speak to anyone about it, so I'm hoping someone can speak to me and give some advice. I hate feeling like this it's so draining one moment I'm fine then the next moment I just feel so low and I hate it. just hope someone can relate or help me out because I just want to feel normal again

Le13 Lost and lonely and needing to get these thoughts out of my head.
  • replies: 3

Im new to this for forum thing. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and have been on since I was in high school. Lately I have been finding it hard to fall asleep because as soon as I go to bed all these thoughts and feelings just drown out a... View more

Im new to this for forum thing. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and have been on since I was in high school. Lately I have been finding it hard to fall asleep because as soon as I go to bed all these thoughts and feelings just drown out any chance of sleep then morning comes and I don't want to leave my bed. I fake being happy all day to the family and hubby as best as I can and don't really have any close friends or family who understand or that I can talk to. They just put it down to a bad day. But every night my husbands asleep and I lay there and cry until I'm so tired I don't remember falling asleep. Usually when the sun rises I dose. I don't know why I'm feeling like this all the time again. Why aren't my meds working anymore. What's wrong with me. I hate this and I'm hating life. I just want to give up and disappear. Why can't i just be happy. I don't what to be me anymore. Its getting harder to fake it, harder to care, harder to do life anymore. I wish I hard someone to talk too. I don't want the sadness anymore. Life is too hard. What did I do wrong. I feel myself slipping and I don't know if I'm strong enough to stop myself or pick myself back up. I'm just so tired. I just needed to get this out of my head.

Jarf Disclosing Depression on Pre-Employment Health Assessment
  • replies: 3

I'm starting a new job in a few weeks and I have to fill in a Pre-Employment Health Assessment form. On it it has a health questionnaire that outright asks if I currently have or have ever had depression or any other mental illness. Do I have to answ... View more

I'm starting a new job in a few weeks and I have to fill in a Pre-Employment Health Assessment form. On it it has a health questionnaire that outright asks if I currently have or have ever had depression or any other mental illness. Do I have to answer truthfully, and, if not, is it better if I do not disclose my depression at all.

Debzmites Sick of feeling as though I'm worthless.
  • replies: 5

I've been going through a legal process due to my mental health and have realized how irrelevant I am. No mental health people will stand up for me, no one listens to me I'm irrelevant, it's driving me crazy. I keep thinking what do I have to do to h... View more

I've been going through a legal process due to my mental health and have realized how irrelevant I am. No mental health people will stand up for me, no one listens to me I'm irrelevant, it's driving me crazy. I keep thinking what do I have to do to have a voice? Become a Psychologist? Am so tired of feeling like a failure. Any advice?

Notreallyhere Eerie calmness
  • replies: 8

Depression for me is an eerie silence in my soul, everything is uneasy in my body. I don't feel any other emotion other than sadness, but mostly it's just a numbness, that infects every aspect of my life, I am losing hope that I can get through this ... View more

Depression for me is an eerie silence in my soul, everything is uneasy in my body. I don't feel any other emotion other than sadness, but mostly it's just a numbness, that infects every aspect of my life, I am losing hope that I can get through this on my own, I have been trying for years! Although I am taking antidepressants nothing is getting any easier it's actually getting so much worse. I literally have no desire for anything. Can I be helped?

Asriyah Career Anxiety and Loneliness
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I'm new to the forums, but everything felt like it was a bit too much today and I think I need to get some things off my chest, and see if anyone has any advice to offer. I'm 23 years old, and for about the last year I've been working in a la... View more

Hi all, I'm new to the forums, but everything felt like it was a bit too much today and I think I need to get some things off my chest, and see if anyone has any advice to offer. I'm 23 years old, and for about the last year I've been working in a law firm full-time. . I've been maintaining a GPA of 6.6, and I've really worked hard at my uni studies. I thought when I got this job that it was everything I'd been working towards. Working in a law firm used to be everything I wanted. I now believe I'd rather do anything but. I know that my law degree will help me in other areas, and I would still like to become a solicitor and perhaps work in government, I just don't want to work in a firm. I hate the culture at my workplace. But currently, I can't see any way out of my situation. With the number of law graduates there are every year, I know I should be grateful to have a job in this field but I find myself wishing something would happen to me on the way to work every morning, so I don't have to go. It's the disorganised workplace, a high workload, and the feeling that I have spent years of my life studying something I don't enjoy in practice. Every day feels like another challenge to face. Get up, go to work, come home, cook, study, sleep, repeat. I'm so scared of this coming year. I'm only doing one subject over Christmas, and in order to finish my degree this year I need to do three or four. I'm already struggling right now with how I feel just doing one. I want to get this study over and done with but I'm afraid I'm going to have a breakdown if I keep pushing at this pace. My partner of four years works night shift, and although before I used to love the time to study, I now find myself in tears Sunday night knowing I won't see him until the weekend. I can't stand the loneliness. I feel like I'm sinking into depression again (I had a bout in my teens) and I'm desperate not to. I know that it's mainly my job and my partner's work hours, but I feel as though I can't change either of them. We have a mortgage, and I can't just quit. Although things have been rocky in our relationship lately as well, I can't just quit that either, because I know the legal costs and problems it would cause (he bought most of the money to the relationship and some things he has said while fighting make me believe he would make it hard) and that it would likely make things worse. I don't know what to do. If anyone has advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

SJ22 My struggling journey
  • replies: 3

hello everyone My name is SJ,I'm 28,I'm single and I'm an overseas trained physio.I come from the middle east and I'm new to this forum. I like to share my life story since I moved to Australia and how it affected my mental health with you guys. 3 ye... View more

hello everyone My name is SJ,I'm 28,I'm single and I'm an overseas trained physio.I come from the middle east and I'm new to this forum. I like to share my life story since I moved to Australia and how it affected my mental health with you guys. 3 years ago I moved to Australia where most people with medical/para-medical professional backgrounds(similar to mine) have to go through many many strict,costly,hard and at times painful filters to be able to work independently in Australia,and physiotherapy is not an exception.one of the worst feelings in life is moving to a country and not being able to work(not having your qualification acknowledged)although you are competent enough. anyways,I started work(supervised work under limited terms)shortly after I got a work visa(I was sponsored by my employer,which gave them a chance to abuse me even more)shortly after I arrived,I was then severely abused and neglected at work and I had to change my job twice in one year. not hard to imagine,the severe pressures of getting through my professional registration process,the many problems I faced at work,the cultural shock and difficulties of settling down in a new country(Australia was the first country after my hometown that I've lived in)as well as the huge sudden change of my life course: being alone and all on my own(back in my hometown,I had a huge network of close friends with whom I used to hang out all the time,whereas in Australia it's been very hard for me to make new like-minded friends,or have such deep and real connection with people as I used to have)knocked me down after 1.5 years of non-stop struggle with severe depression,up to a point where I had to be hospitalized for a while. my whole life was shattered and dark, without the slightest ray of hope for months after this incidence,I had come into this wonderful land in search of a brighter future like many people do,but I was defeated and broken in a way I'd never could have imagined.I experienced the hardest most painful moments of my life for few months,until I gradually started to recover and began to get back on my feet.my family was very supportive of me during this time,though my breakdown came as a shock to them as well. long story short,I successfully finished my registration process very recently and I'm very proud of myself. and I've come into terms with myself about my mental and emotional health status,somehow I had to convince myself that the the life I had before,is gone.

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