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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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Hopefullseeking Here I go again
  • replies: 19

I am so tired of the roller coaster that is depression and I am sure I am not alone in this. I have been working off and on with a psychiatrist for 20+ and at the begining of the year I agreed to work with a psychologist as well. My shrink and i felt... View more

I am so tired of the roller coaster that is depression and I am sure I am not alone in this. I have been working off and on with a psychiatrist for 20+ and at the begining of the year I agreed to work with a psychologist as well. My shrink and i felt I was stuck and no matter what we did nothing would shift it. So I have been seeing this psychologist every fortnight and touching base with my shrink every other fortinght. We all felt I was making progress with the different apporach that the psychologist has taken. I spent 10 days last month interstate staying with a cousin and had a terrific time came back about a week ago and have sunk to new lows. Why what went wrong. My shrink said people often are down after a holiday but I am more than down, back to old thought patterns, feel teary and lost. Dissappointed that I have gone back down agian. Yes I have a lot on my plate but that doesn't explain it. I had a lot on my plate before when I was feeling better. Does it ever end. The psychologist says the depression will be with me for life and I just have to learn to manage it. That doesn't make me feel very hopefull for a better frame of mind either.

janazantar A farewell note to a friend and the person I tried to be
  • replies: 3

I wrote a goodbye to a friend today knowing I'd never give it to them.I couldn't alter the actions of those last days or explain the thought patterns that seemed valid at the time.That cruelly caused me to react with emotion.I’m grateful I was able t... View more

I wrote a goodbye to a friend today knowing I'd never give it to them.I couldn't alter the actions of those last days or explain the thought patterns that seemed valid at the time.That cruelly caused me to react with emotion.I’m grateful I was able to keep my emotions contained for the entire last day in their presence, even when faced with the smiles of their child. A glimmer of hope that in such innocence, surely there was truth.But I managed to push that away and resist the urge to hold their beautiful child lest my dark shadow block their light. I don’t blame them for the distance that now exists between us.I let the illusion go freely that we were friends or that I was important in their life.I was not strong enough to contain my emotions or reactions at the time and wishing won’t allow me to erase those days.They will define me.I will be remembered for them.I have learnt the lesson not to voice my inner thoughts or outwardly display my inner emotion other than on this forum.I have found it particularly difficult this time around and am deeply disappointed in myself and I now know I may not make it back to the person I was trying to be before.I feel the pull of my old ways of thinking and choose to bury that side of myself as deeply as possible and return to detachment.I survived for a long time that way, having to fight for each day.Depression is always near if not actively stripping from me any joy I could know. So for now I’ll slip back on my mask and play the part that allows those around me to be at ease, ignorant of my daily torment.I will avoid shows of kindness that break down my walls and allow tears to flow; an echo of the hope that I can no longerentertain.I don’t want to feel remorse, guilt, confused or hurt.I will take every word, expression or actionat face value ensuring my interactions are limited to polite indifference.Expecting no more I will be able to smile if I pass you in a hallway, or come across you in the street.If I hear your name I will think on thisfarewell until all feeling remains unfelt.I’ve spent these long and lonely years trying to protect myself from hurt knowing of the demons I keep inside.I have felt too much sadness these past weeks.I have cried too many tears and been frozen in fear from knowing no other way to endure, to be better, to find peace. So I also say goodbye to those parts of me that are too broken to repair, but mercifully they sink deeper each day and will soon be out of my reach. beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

Voice_Mail What to do?
  • replies: 6

I'm supposed to be looking after my elderly grandmother for a week from this Thursday, but my depression is very bad at the moment and I feel like I can't even look after myself, let alone have someone else relying on me. Getting out of bed, having a... View more

I'm supposed to be looking after my elderly grandmother for a week from this Thursday, but my depression is very bad at the moment and I feel like I can't even look after myself, let alone have someone else relying on me. Getting out of bed, having a shower or getting dressed are hard enough at the moment. I don't know what I should do or how I'm going to cope. I've already had two panic attacks just thinking about it coming up.

No_one Can't find decent help
  • replies: 7

Ok so my life's a mess my nan died in February more like a mother to me than anything I have female problems on top and keep getting knock backs for a gono appointment I have no money so help is hard to find and waiting lists are over a year I'm worr... View more

Ok so my life's a mess my nan died in February more like a mother to me than anything I have female problems on top and keep getting knock backs for a gono appointment I have no money so help is hard to find and waiting lists are over a year I'm worried if I wait a yr for gono I'll already be gone, I suffer anxiety untreated for most of my life but now I think my grief has sparked it into overdrive it's now September I've lost the whole yr and don't really care I'm getting aggressive impatient and I feel I need help, doctor just refers me around and I get nothing no help at all in the end what do poor people do for help ? I'm losing my mind I just want to function again, please don't say have you got friends or fam that support you . No I don't I've been alone for many years it was just me and nan now it's just me and I don't feel I belong anywhere I'm 31 live in Melb am overweight lonely depressed feeling insane does loneliness affect people like that I'm unsure. P.s I've done the mental health plan and am waiting for an appointment with some fresh outta uni student who will think I'm nuts cause I've never spoken too or had a friend since kinder. And over the years I've seen the health care system fail so many who seek help where to go what to do is the question I spose, sorry if it's a jumble first time here

zamir Depressed all my known life
  • replies: 3

Hi. I am 35 yrs old. Immigrant from Pakistan. since i was 10 years old i was bullied in school, by classmates, teachers and neighbours. As growing up in pakistan, people over do not know even the word "Bully". but bullying was not the only thing that... View more

Hi. I am 35 yrs old. Immigrant from Pakistan. since i was 10 years old i was bullied in school, by classmates, teachers and neighbours. As growing up in pakistan, people over do not know even the word "Bully". but bullying was not the only thing that contributed to my depression, i guess i inherited it, but bullying enhanced my already depressed nature. I never knew that depression is an illness, till i arrived to australia 10 years ago. Now knowing that Depression is an illness, made it a bit easy to face it. But in Australia the thing that refrained me of seeking psychologist or psychiatrist advice was the stigma attached to depression. I do not seek it, because anywhere you apply for job you come across with this question in the applying form, "Are you suffering from depression?". Now an immigrant from a third world country with a family to support you will never take this risk of seeking the advice and then not been able to work to support your family. As depressed person the last thing you would want, is your family suffer because of you. So i take it all on me. never sought any professional advice, and living with it. Thanks

Tyke_Talty A song from me
  • replies: 2

HelloI am a singer/song writer, with a song I have written over 16 years ago that you may be interested in using to highlight or help raise awareness about depression.It was a song I have written to help me externalise the demons I have to battle wit... View more

HelloI am a singer/song writer, with a song I have written over 16 years ago that you may be interested in using to highlight or help raise awareness about depression.It was a song I have written to help me externalise the demons I have to battle with.It is one of many such songs I have written to help me cope with my depression. I don't believe I have any serious depression, just your average type that one may easily, (or not), find a road out of.But my two teenage daughters are struggling, with medication, to find a way forward from their unhappiness.My brother has had severe depression and has to take a constant cocktail of drugs to keep himself in a happy state.And so the list goes on.It is a song that talks about the horrible things that go through my mind, what I believe causes the horrible downward spiral, and what I believe one must do to find a way out.Yours sincerely,Tyke Talty

Astara Feel like a failure
  • replies: 9

So I went to my GP to get a script for something to help me sleep and left with a referral to see a psych and a script for anti depressants. It wasn't even my regular GP. I don't understand how that happened and how she could see what I apparently co... View more

So I went to my GP to get a script for something to help me sleep and left with a referral to see a psych and a script for anti depressants. It wasn't even my regular GP. I don't understand how that happened and how she could see what I apparently couldn't and says I'm back in the middle of severe depression. I feel like an absolute failure. I've had the medication before. I went to counselling before. Intellectually I know how to make myself better. So why am I here again? What is the point in going through all this treatment again if it's just going to sneak on me again when I don't even know. I just feel even more depressed for recognising I'm depressed. Hate this life.

kellie70 Care of possessions
  • replies: 1

Hi all, Do any of you with depression and anxiety get upset if others touch your personal possessions? For example, I don't like my Dad washing my car, or anyone using my computer, as I get worried that they will "wreck" them. I have had this issue m... View more

Hi all, Do any of you with depression and anxiety get upset if others touch your personal possessions? For example, I don't like my Dad washing my car, or anyone using my computer, as I get worried that they will "wreck" them. I have had this issue my whole life, and it is a family joke. Apparently my grandmother was the same with her possessions too. And now that I know a lot more about depression, I know my Nan suffered it too although it was never diagnosed with her. Would love to hear if anyone else has this problem? How do you handle it? It is not normal to not want people to touch everything we own, especially a favourite coffee mug. Is it because we want control over something as our minds are out of control a lot? Thanks for reading, Kellie

bipolarMe Confused
  • replies: 2

Hi. I have bipolar with severe depression. I've had moments of psychosis years ago. Not sure what I'm experiencing now... I see shadows or something on the corner of my eyes - daily. Sometimes hear my name or something being called out. But live alon... View more

Hi. I have bipolar with severe depression. I've had moments of psychosis years ago. Not sure what I'm experiencing now... I see shadows or something on the corner of my eyes - daily. Sometimes hear my name or something being called out. But live alone. Sometimes feel like something is touching me or crawling but nothing there. I get sleep paralysis occasionally. I get paranoid. I make myself believe things that I don't believe are true...feelings and beliefs. Been having this for a while but it's getting worse. Have been more depressed lately with spikes of mania. Any advice or does anyone associate? Thanks in advance

fifi hate this time of year
  • replies: 20

its seems every one is happy yet I sit hear all alone I hate this time of year soooo much .It is soo very hard when you don't fit in no matter where you go so why is this so much worse this year because all of my family are together and you guessed i... View more

its seems every one is happy yet I sit hear all alone I hate this time of year soooo much .It is soo very hard when you don't fit in no matter where you go so why is this so much worse this year because all of my family are together and you guessed it I am not included there has been tension over the last few years between my sister and I over lets face it rubbish any way of course I have a panic attack and loose it try to leave and then have my mother start her manipulative rubbish and long story short starts an argument between my sister and I any way she rips me telling me that I am basically a terrible person a drama queen and god only knows what else sorry guys I know this is sounding so hate filled and probably really petty but honestly if I don't let it out I really don't know what I will do I honestly just feel unwanted several references were made about my depression and how because of it I am weak and her words pull my head in cause the whole world doesn't revolve around me . that is where I should have let it stop but no idiot Fiona tries to make it better tries to make her see reason and then she starts telling me that the fact I cant have kids is my fault and not meant to be so I should just suck it up and get over it wow you would think after that I would retreat but no I continued to try to get her to hear me to validate that what I was feeling was valid but she just continued to attack me . all I want all I have ever wanted is to be embraced for the person I am I want to be wanted loved included just for once I would love for someone to see me I am again really sorry guys but honestly I just feel so down and needed to reach out to some one .