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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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150lashes Terrified of going back + No confidence
  • replies: 13

I've been struggling with depression and anxiety and over the last week made a big turning point where I am feeling a lot better. My thinking is clear I'd say about 85% back to normal, I'm eating and drinking properly and have kicked the alcohol. How... View more

I've been struggling with depression and anxiety and over the last week made a big turning point where I am feeling a lot better. My thinking is clear I'd say about 85% back to normal, I'm eating and drinking properly and have kicked the alcohol. However I feel terrified of going back to where I was and I feel like I'm desperately clinging on to how I feel now as I'm afraid if I let my guard down I'll slip back to the black wave I also have no confidence whatsoever. The fire I'm my belly to achieve and get out there whether it be work study or otherwise seems to be gone. I lead a simple life. I get up of a day go for a refreshing walk or bike ride, do some cooking, catch up with friends for lunch, do school pick ups, after school activities, take photos of the sunset and other scenic shots. Finish the day with a good meal, a good book and repeat. That's all I seem to be interested in. But I have mortgages, responsibility and a good career - I can't understand how I have no desire to do anything about this. Any suggestions? Is this normal?

Jess_bee Crying for help.
  • replies: 3

Tomorrow i am going to a beyond blue fundraiser for my friend who died last year. I wanted my partner to come with me enjoy the day out and most of all support me because i am falling apart. My kids are what make me get up each morning, if it weren't... View more

Tomorrow i am going to a beyond blue fundraiser for my friend who died last year. I wanted my partner to come with me enjoy the day out and most of all support me because i am falling apart. My kids are what make me get up each morning, if it weren't for them i don't know where i would be. Im crying out for his help and his closing the door. I cant keep doing this.

saviourseth how do you keep going ?
  • replies: 4

Hi. I am a 44 year old female who has been diagnosed with depression for 20 years. I have been on and off meds over the years and tried numerous drs also. No luck really. It never goes away. It's just some days I cope and a lot of weeks I don't. Most... View more

Hi. I am a 44 year old female who has been diagnosed with depression for 20 years. I have been on and off meds over the years and tried numerous drs also. No luck really. It never goes away. It's just some days I cope and a lot of weeks I don't. Most days i bite my lip and carry on. Recently i am finding that harder day by day. I have had recent relationship issues and broke up with a partner of 10 years and am now with an old partner who i have recently discovered is an alcoholic. Last week I was made redundant from my job and yesterday i found out my mum has 6 months to live. That tunnel of blackness seems to have no end in sight. Its hard enough to cope under normal circumstances and now i feel like i am terrified of every new day. So much so that i dont want to go to bed. any tips?

Tammie84 When you prefer being alone
  • replies: 15

Hello! I suffer from depression and anxiety and feel so lonely. Up until recently I've realised that for a long long time I have preferred being by myself. I would rather be at home watching movies or meeting with a friend. I have no motivation to ge... View more

Hello! I suffer from depression and anxiety and feel so lonely. Up until recently I've realised that for a long long time I have preferred being by myself. I would rather be at home watching movies or meeting with a friend. I have no motivation to get out there. I had really bad anger outbursts with my family and I wouldn't talk to one of them if I felt that they hurt me. I would become angry when things trigger other things and would feel like no one cares or understands me. I would then feel guilty for putting my problems on them. I am a private person. I don't like people knowing things about me. I can remember being depressed from when I was maybe 10. It wasn't until I was about 19 that I remembered that I was molested as a child. I realised why I was always scared of intimacy, I told a boy that he can sleep with me but he can't touch me. I wonder if I will be alone forever.

BBUser10 Help! need to find a way to stop myself being nasty when down
  • replies: 16

Hi all not posted for awhile as things have been ok , not great but better. my main issue at the moment is that when i start to have an episode (which is happening now) i start to let my mouth run away with me.... i cant seem to stop telling my wife ... View more

Hi all not posted for awhile as things have been ok , not great but better. my main issue at the moment is that when i start to have an episode (which is happening now) i start to let my mouth run away with me.... i cant seem to stop telling my wife all the bad things i am thinking and how i think she does not love me or support me, then that turns into to her getting upset then turns to arguing... i cant seem to get this under control and she does not know how to deal with me when i'm like this .... she asks me what she can do and to be honest i dont always know myself..... i seem to want to bring people down to feel like i feel and knowing that make me feel like a bad person :-(... this usually ends in us not talking to each other and she just walks passed me when im sat on the bed (i spend alot of time in the bedroom when down) and that makes me feel like she doesn't care. also i have to really try and stop myself (this doesn't always work) from just telling her i want our relationship over . i presume this is common fight or flight response ... does anyone else act almost nasty when down ? how do i control my mouth ? i have thought about going away when this happens, but it's not practical as we have young children and i take them to school . my wife is in a no win situation if she leaves me to it i resent her for not comming to 'help' me if she comes near me sometimes it helps but sometimes i lash out and she feels that she can do no right. i hate the fact my depression in time will end my marriage, i exercise for 1 hour a day , i have lost weight all these things have helped as i do not need meds anymore (or at least its manageable) but this nastyness is really affecting her Cheers Martin

Lost_andconfused Feel like ive wasted my youth
  • replies: 4

Im 26 and i feel like ive just drifted past my youth without inventing myself into the person i was suppose to be. My parents made every decision for me and im so lost with no sense of personality. Ive felt like i do what is expected of me and im jus... View more

Im 26 and i feel like ive just drifted past my youth without inventing myself into the person i was suppose to be. My parents made every decision for me and im so lost with no sense of personality. Ive felt like i do what is expected of me and im just sick of it all. My father is abusive and disregards my life. He makes a shitload of money and makes me feel guilty for taking his money. I know im just feeling sorry for myself and i have no one to blame but i just cant help feeling so bad for myself im 26 and ive done nothing for myself.

Hopefullseeking Better, but not
  • replies: 24

Hi all, me agian. I have been seeing a psychologist for the past 12 months as well as my normal psychiatrist, (she felt her alone was not enough) and have made improvements. but. I feel at times that I am not getting anywhere. Yesterday was a typical... View more

Hi all, me agian. I have been seeing a psychologist for the past 12 months as well as my normal psychiatrist, (she felt her alone was not enough) and have made improvements. but. I feel at times that I am not getting anywhere. Yesterday was a typical example. I met two friends for lunch and it went well, I felt ok and was able to enter into the conversation rather than sit back and say nothing, which I use to do. I cracked jokes and the others laughed so that made me feel good to. Then I went home and feel flat, I was teary, panicy and felt hopeless about my recovery. (I love my little flat and my cat so being home is not the problem and I do like my own company). I seem to have come some distance towards recovery which hasn't happened in many, many years. I feel like there is something wrong with me. Do others go up and down like this in one day? I suppose I want to know if I am alone in this or is it normal. Thanks BBers Anne

Doolhof The Ugly, The Bad and the GOOD
  • replies: 11

We all have days where we wonder why we even decided to get out of bed! This is your opportunity to share the bad and the ugly...but you also have to write down what was GOOD about that day or event! I will give you an example: Recently I was doing 1... View more

We all have days where we wonder why we even decided to get out of bed! This is your opportunity to share the bad and the ugly...but you also have to write down what was GOOD about that day or event! I will give you an example: Recently I was doing 110 k.m. (As allowed in S.A.) on a highway when my front right tyre blew out. I was able to control the car and pull off the road. I was not far from home so called my husband to help me change the tyre. He said "Looks like you are having a really bad day!" I thought about it and yes, it was not a pleasant event and it was 42 degrees and I was exhausted after work and just wanted to get home. The bad news is the tyre was totally shredded, the good news is I did not run into any of the oncoming trucks and the car behind me had slowed down enough for me to dart off the road in an erratic manner. The bad news was it was extremely hot, the good news is it didn't take long to change the tyre and we were soon back in air conditioned cars. The bad news is that it cost money to repair the slight damage to the car and replace the tyre, the good news is my pay covered the repairs. The point is I could have allowed this event to totally destroy my mood for the day, but I tried to look on the bright side of things. Please share your stories here and remember to try and come up with a positive at the end! It is not always easy to see the sunshine through the storm clouds, but if we look hard enough we can find a ray of positivity and hope!

Bendad Waves of depression
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, My name is Benjamin. I'am new to these forums and would appreciate some help in understanding depression. I was recently diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Though i believe i have lived with it for years. Gradually it got more severe... View more

Hi everyone, My name is Benjamin. I'am new to these forums and would appreciate some help in understanding depression. I was recently diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Though i believe i have lived with it for years. Gradually it got more severe until i had to reach out. One thing i have noticed is it affects me in waves, which have also gradually become more rapid over time. One day i would feel very low and would believe i cant cope, i cant go on. The next day facing the same problems as yesterday i would feel confident i could get through life, it wont be difficult and i can handle it. The day after low and losing all hope. In the present these waves can occur several times in the one day. Or disappear for days at a time returning with extremity. It plays havoc on my life and personality. What i would like to know is why the waves? And is there anybody else who gets waves like this and have they any tips on dealing with them? I hope one day to experience smooth sailing and not these rough seas.

benji777 Isolated easter weekend, anxiety & idle living
  • replies: 1

Hi have spent easter on my own 4 days didnt really talk to anyone barely went outside - isolation as usual Am 36 next week, am living in a hotel room, upstairs and the hotel is actually the place i work (boss giving me a place to stay). Im only getti... View more

Hi have spent easter on my own 4 days didnt really talk to anyone barely went outside - isolation as usual Am 36 next week, am living in a hotel room, upstairs and the hotel is actually the place i work (boss giving me a place to stay). Im only getting 10 hours a week too, and this week it looks like im going to be put on "work 4 the dole" grrrrrrrrr Dad lives in central australia is uncontactable, mum has passed and i have no brothers or sisters girlfriends come & go but am tired of explaining my homelessness & lack of employment to them, 2015 brought 3 heavy break ups, the first girl was from a 4 year relationship, the other 2 were 6 month relationships am really in a dark place now, losing purpose in life, have no idea of a career direction am a talented footballer, but am being kept off the field by knee tendinitis & sciatica, else id be playing div 1 amatuers anyways this is me, this small hotel room is making me feel more and more caged in everyday, but i am unable to share houses with people their annoying habits enhance my anxieties and i bail from these homes. getting my own place is impossible without employment my thoughts are sometimes quite dire, i wouldnt wish my isolation on anyone, dont know how to get out of these empty depths