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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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Bellanana What if all jobs make me suicidal?
  • replies: 1

What if I can never work and I'll be struggling financially for the rest of my life? What if I'll never be able to handle the easiest job on earth? What if I'll always be struggling?

What if I can never work and I'll be struggling financially for the rest of my life? What if I'll never be able to handle the easiest job on earth? What if I'll always be struggling?

SayumH TW: Depression is really bad.
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm Sam, 19 years old, 20 in a month. As you can see, I'm struggling pretty bad. Mainly with feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. I used to fear death like crazy but nowadays it's simmered down and what's replaced it is feelings of pointlessn... View more

Hi, I'm Sam, 19 years old, 20 in a month. As you can see, I'm struggling pretty bad. Mainly with feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. I used to fear death like crazy but nowadays it's simmered down and what's replaced it is feelings of pointlessness. When I don't fear death as bad, I sort of start to think of how pointless mine and everyone else's life is, how no matter what we do or achieve in the end, at some point we cease to exist. A key value I have for life is connections and relationships. While I do have plenty of people to call my family or friend/s, it still just doesn't feel like any of them really do care. Everything feels one sided, I message and initiate everything and either get responses hours or days later or nothing at all. I don't receive any messages asking if I wanna do something, play something, talk, or simply asking how I am, Nothing. All my 'friends' and family are nothing like me, I just disappear into the background. While I try to not let it get to me, it always has and always probably will. I'm at the point where I'm just sort of ready to give up and accept the fact that no matter what I try I will never come into the thoughts of anyone's mind. While I won't be committing suicide or anything, everyday is a bore and I can't seem to imagine that any difference would be apparent whether I was dead or alive. From an outsiders point of view I'm sure that's not the case, but in my head it sure as hell seems that way. I've spent the last 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 years in my bedroom on my computer no job no nothing. I have a warped sleep cycle where I start my day at 12 - 1ish pm. So half of the jobs I can't even make too unless I wanna feel like I'm on deaths door every time I wake up. I'm morbidly obese but starting to lose weight, but I still don't feel happy or fulfilled even when I have been able to make a change. I'm a recluse with no happiness. Everything I used to enjoy is becoming a task or something that is uninteresting anymore. I'm constantly just in a state of melancholy. Crying doesn't help, laughing doesn't help, like I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't have any dreams or aspirations other than to be married and a father at some point, yet looks like I'll be alone all my life. I don't speak to anyone about it because they can't relate, they don't know how depression or anything works. They don't know how to help, so I just keep it all to myself, and every time I do open up, nothing changes, it just becomes a drop of water in the ocean, like I never reached out. (pun included.) I've always prided myself in trying to put others happiness before me but I can only do it for so long before I forget about my own, which just so happens to be the case now. I hope you all are happy and surviving, thanks for taking the time out of your day to read my sob story, apologies for wasting your time.Thanks, Sam

KirSa Being Bipolar Feels Normal To Me - confused
  • replies: 5

tl;dr: I don't know what normal is... and that's a scary thought. I don't know what I should be aiming for now. How do I aim for normal if I've never had it? At age 20 - homeless & seeking crisis accomodation - required to have a psych eval - diagnos... View more

tl;dr: I don't know what normal is... and that's a scary thought. I don't know what I should be aiming for now. How do I aim for normal if I've never had it? At age 20 - homeless & seeking crisis accomodation - required to have a psych eval - diagnosed with bipolar and told I wouldn't live past 30 - given meds (epilim) and told I should find Jesus. Rejected meds and diagnosis - meds turned me into a zombie. Spent next 25 years cycling every couple of months from one failed job/relationship to another. In my 'mania' episodes (I guess - feels normal to me but I guess I'm just used to it), I'd lean heavily into looking for the meaning of life, and more specifically, religions, ideologies, philosophies, politics, economics, etc. I even joined a cult or two. I quite frequently find myself feeling I'm on the edge of discovering something completely game changing - for the entire human race - or the universe itself. Becoming a god (and you can too!). I inevitably become discouraged by both the complexity of the task I'm pursuing and the inability to find anyone 'on my wavelength' to comprehend it. Frustration and disputes... arguments, debates. Usually about unrelated things... I can't tell these fools what I'm really thinking, they'll think I'm nuts. I focus on some other injustice at work and put my energy into that. There's usually a heavy binge drinking session in there every couple of months too. When I can't take it any more and need to escape from my own thoughts... cool my head down. Usually a few bouts of this throughout the year and a job or relationship suffers and I end up unemployed and alone again. Commence deep depression and hopelessness - often for weeks, sometimes I pick myself up and go again hard after only a few days, then crash again in a week or two. Wanting to grasp onto that feeling of confidence and power I was so sure of not long before. Countless interests and hobbies over the years. Good at picking myself up again though... Quick to learn new skills too. So I've got that going for me. But, I'm confused. I honestly just thought I was an undisciplined binge drinker. I've been to many rehabs, and learned so much psychology and self help around motivation and achievement I've been told I sound like a motivational speaker. 47y now I'm diagnosed Bipolar Disorder 1 but I don't feel any different. To other people my lifestyle is ABnormal. But to me it IS normal. I don't know what normal is... and that's a scary thought. I don't know what I should be aiming for now. How do I aim for normal if I've never had it?

Dannie554 Feeling lost
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I have been feeling so lost recently and self destructive. I have felt bullied at work for many years now, I have been trying to seek support but I often don't get any or any understanding. I have bad anxiety and PTSD and when I go to peopl... View more

Hi there, I have been feeling so lost recently and self destructive. I have felt bullied at work for many years now, I have been trying to seek support but I often don't get any or any understanding. I have bad anxiety and PTSD and when I go to people to chat about my work problems my mental health is brought up and I often get told I must of made things up in my head which has made me feel gaslit. Most of the time when I go to people I'm just explaining I would like some respect at work and to be treated equally with everyone. I'm one of the youngest on the team (28) and most of the team are 40+ dads so its hard for them to relate back to me or understand I don't like how they talk to me, when they call me names, message me annoyed outside of work saying I make them all look bad because I work too hard, make fun of my work and say very hurtful things. I have felt really alone these last few years and really struggled at work. A few days ago I broke down crying at work, I was so frustrated, one of the girls I have worked with for 6 years found me and she promised I could talk to her and she wouldn't tell anyone, she is in HR but I trusted her. I explained to her some issues I've had with my boss and some of the others at work and I said some bad things but all true. She's now told someone else and I'm really scared I'll lose my job. I've had many conversations with my boss about this stuff and I've had a few people go to him and say I've said bad things about him and it's caused a lot of problems. I'm really scared and I don't feel good at all. I don't know how to fix what I said I really trusted her, I don't know how to calm my anxiety or relax.

Fusion2k4 Am I a bad person? Why can't I be perfect for my son?
  • replies: 2

Hi all, Today I had an incident that triggered my depression very deeply. I went for a walk it my dog, put him in the back. I stopped at the shops to get a coffee. I parked my car in 100% shade cover. It was 820am in the morning before it had gotten ... View more

Hi all, Today I had an incident that triggered my depression very deeply. I went for a walk it my dog, put him in the back. I stopped at the shops to get a coffee. I parked my car in 100% shade cover. It was 820am in the morning before it had gotten hot. I forgot to wind the windows. I was 7-8 minutes max in the shop. I came out to two people with my car door open. They immediately started blasting me saying I was an idiot and a terrible person saying the windows should be down. Yes, it would have been marginally better if the windows were down, but I thought given the time of day, duration and time of day, it was acceptable. I tried to speak with them normally to explain it. They said i was 20-30 minutes which is just not true. I do appreciate people looking after animals. The lady said "you deserve to be spoken to disgustingly". It triggered my depression because - I love animals and walk them all the time, have volunteered for several charities, I would never jeopardise their health - I wish I could just be perfect and have made perfect judgement- Turned the tables, I would just talk to the person, so being outright yelled out and called names i felt was disrespectful- Being 35, i feel i should have gotten to a point in my life where mistakes are minimised, and i can just live happily- I hate that this happened in my local neighbourhood But yeah, 12 months ago I was suicidal and in hospital. This strongly re-triggered my emotions and I cannot move past. Why am I always bad, my son deserves better.

Ms_P Financial stress due to illness and cost of living
  • replies: 7

I earn a low wage but I was doing ok and most of the time I do enjoy my job. Had a bit of debt and not really a social life however I was coping. I had savings. Then I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and the pain and chronic fatigue derailed my life.... View more

I earn a low wage but I was doing ok and most of the time I do enjoy my job. Had a bit of debt and not really a social life however I was coping. I had savings. Then I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and the pain and chronic fatigue derailed my life. I had alot of sick days and then I had to use my annual leave and then I had to change and reduce my hours which now means I lose money and then I was advised I had three months to move out of my rental which was quite reasonable rent. My new rental which is the only one that accepted me is 51% of my wage and if i hadnt accepted I would be homeless. I am seriously struggling. I literally have no money. Most of it goes to bills/food/meds/drs. I can't afford half my bills/debt. I have a loan and I spoke to the bank about hardship and explained the situation and they said they could only give me 2 months pause and then I will still be overdue but they can't stop my payments or interest and if my situation doesn't change in two months they will start collection process. I don't know what to do. I can't get a 2nd job. I can't increase my hours and if I do my health takes a dive and then I'm off sick for days/weeks. Do I pay the loan and not gas or elec or food? Sometimes I think it's best if I could just disappear...

Riggybee I don't know what to do
  • replies: 2

How do you tell your parents you're depressed ( and also that I recently self harmed)? I don't know what to say other than I'm fine and I'm finding really hard to want to hang out with friends at school and I feel really lonely. I also feel like ever... View more

How do you tell your parents you're depressed ( and also that I recently self harmed)? I don't know what to say other than I'm fine and I'm finding really hard to want to hang out with friends at school and I feel really lonely. I also feel like everyone is judging me. Am I being paranoid? I want to tell my best friend how I'm feeling but she's also struggling with depression and anxiety atm. I feel really tired all the time and like there's a big rock sitting on my chest and I don't want to talk to anyone and I don't want to exist anymore. What should I do?

Bulldogbobby73 Recurring depression after 20 year break
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone, I have been feeling pretty bad lately, just turned 50, though that's not the reason I feel low. I have five children, oldest daughter is 25 with my twin son, then down to 14 who is the youngest. I have realised it has popped up again ... View more

Hello everyone, I have been feeling pretty bad lately, just turned 50, though that's not the reason I feel low. I have five children, oldest daughter is 25 with my twin son, then down to 14 who is the youngest. I have realised it has popped up again in the last few weeks after laying dormant for almost 20 years, my late 30s and 40s were happy, as happy as I've ever been, my oldest daughter is and has always been moody and of late, barely speaks to me apart from to tell me in a passive/aggressive way that she's fine (she suffers from depression herself) and I try to understand that but her most of her moods are directed towards me only, so I take it personally. She takes after her Mum as she is passive/aggressive too. She has always had a rocky relationship with my wife but has recently started getting along and since then has started on me. Anyway, since this has happened I have started to feel bad and a complete failure as a person, it seems I have no one to talk to about this as my wife isn't very good at this and can sometimes make things worse, this is the main reason why it is getting worse as it always seems I am moody and am the cause of it and have noticed I am becoming more and more withdrawn, even in my own family. Don't know what to do and would appreciate any advice. Thanks for listening to me ramble. Thank you W.

2004 Depression?
  • replies: 7

Life for me feels like…. Nothing, life feels like nothing. I feel nothing but alot at the same time. I want to cry but I can’t cry. I want to talk to someone but I don’t want to be around anyone at the same time. It’s starting again, im slowly isolat... View more

Life for me feels like…. Nothing, life feels like nothing. I feel nothing but alot at the same time. I want to cry but I can’t cry. I want to talk to someone but I don’t want to be around anyone at the same time. It’s starting again, im slowly isolating myself from everyone once again thinking life is never going to be okay. Right now im outside laying on a bench in the park under the moon while listening to music and writing this. Ive tried to be productive today but I just can’t. I can’t even talk to my parents about this because they never even once acknowledge mental health and they would discriminate people who suffer with this and make jokes about my SH scars. I have counseling appointment tomorrow and i know i should talk to them and be open to them about what im feeling but whenever i attend every appointment all i could say is that im okay or say i dont know what im feeling. Well, I can’t explain what I’m feeling… i can’t see myself living in the future. Im so tired of trying to survive everyday without relapsing and giving in to my thoughts. Im tired of constantly trying to be okay. Im tired of waking up everyday with the same thoughts. I know i need help but i dont want help.

car10001 leaving hospitality questions
  • replies: 5

hi needing someone to talk to many of you probably are and have gone through what am going through below How do people know when it’s time to move on from hospitality and retail and what do people do to hang on a little longer if they’re not quite re... View more

hi needing someone to talk to many of you probably are and have gone through what am going through below How do people know when it’s time to move on from hospitality and retail and what do people do to hang on a little longer if they’re not quite ready to move on just yet or if this job is currently only option or if they can’t afford to not work and they haven’t got their plans in place just yet when they want to get out and have done for a while and know they can’t just yet. reason is that am working in hospitality and have done so far for 14 years and feel tired and had enough and want to do other things while able to still and have done for a while and since 2020 the industry has just got harder which is the reason for starting to do whats needed for the next thing. you just wonder if the shop will ever sell or if you just might have to work to your own timeline and plans and ignore sale and you keep telling yourself to try and hang on a little longer. How do you tell the owner you probably won’t stay on after sale or new owner that you’ll only stay 3 months and/or you’re no longer able to do the hospitality side. There’s been changes in last 3 years and had enough and want to do other things. A cafe down road has closed down and it’s made things harder for us and you wonder how much longer it’ll keep going on, would it be better to have a talk and apologise for any inconvenience. plus grandparents are needing more done as they get older as well. you see others only having to work a set schedule and having a life outside work and it seems far away before you get to do same and you wonder how long before it happens. this xmas may be the last one doing hospitality work, probably wont be doing it in a couple years. thanks