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Depression

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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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Zetta Feeling unmotivated
  • replies: 10

Today is the mark of my seventh day on my AD's and i'm not motivated at all to clean the house and feel really tired. It's not even 7pm yet and i'm ready for bed. It's been a rough couple of weeks and my sleep pattern has been up and down lately. Thi... View more

Today is the mark of my seventh day on my AD's and i'm not motivated at all to clean the house and feel really tired. It's not even 7pm yet and i'm ready for bed. It's been a rough couple of weeks and my sleep pattern has been up and down lately. Thinking of watching a movie in bed and trying to go to sleep earlier. Just not feeling myself lately.

Lost_Girl What to say to my "helpful" friend? - feeling harrassed
  • replies: 12

I have major depression and have just had a visit from one of my closest friends after avoiding everyone for some time. She has started sending me messages every songle day asking if I have showered, if I have gone outside in the sun for at least 5 m... View more

I have major depression and have just had a visit from one of my closest friends after avoiding everyone for some time. She has started sending me messages every songle day asking if I have showered, if I have gone outside in the sun for at least 5 minutes because you know vitamin d is good, did I eat the dark choc she gave me, etc. If I write back and say no but I made it out of bed into the lounge room and ate a piece of bread she still emphasises how good it would be to shower and go outside. I feel like someone should be throwing a party that I moved but it's not enough for her. Don't get me wrong, I know it would be great to do those things but I just can't. I also know she is trying to show she cares but the end of the day when she is "just checking in again" I just feel annoyed and I can't help thinking she will end up annoyed with me. What can I say to her?

Abc1238 My partner is picking up on my depression and tells me he feels sad and pushed out
  • replies: 7

Hi I'm 25 years old, I have suffered from depression and mild ptsd. I am on medication and I'm going to cbt therapy. I live with my partner who is very supportive however I keep having dips, sometimes I'll be buzzing and be in an amazing mood and the... View more

Hi I'm 25 years old, I have suffered from depression and mild ptsd. I am on medication and I'm going to cbt therapy. I live with my partner who is very supportive however I keep having dips, sometimes I'll be buzzing and be in an amazing mood and the next day I'll just dip. I feel empty and low, I don't speak and don't feel like I have anything to say anyway. My partner is picking up on this and tells me he feels sad and pushed out and asks if I still love him, I love him more then anything but I think in the back of my mind I'm doing it on purpose as I believe he can be so much happier with someone else rather then having to deal with me. I don't show him any affection and we haven't had sext in months which is down to me as I just can't deal with that at the moment. Any advice would be appreciated, I feel like everything is getting worse and I am struggling to cope! Thankyou

Elizabeth CP When determination & motivation become a problem by interfering with self care
  • replies: 38

I was doing well for a while. After motivating sessions with psychologist & psychiatrist and life stresses easing somewhat I set some goals and started working towards them. I kept a daily record of how I was going with each of the different goals an... View more

I was doing well for a while. After motivating sessions with psychologist & psychiatrist and life stresses easing somewhat I set some goals and started working towards them. I kept a daily record of how I was going with each of the different goals and this proved helpful by focusing on what I had achieved rather than what I hadn't done. I had a couple of bad nights sleep one due to my husband being unwell but still kept myself going. Unfortunately I remained tired and was unable to sleep in to catch up. My problem now is that I am in the middle of a project at home which is taking longer than expected partly because pushing myself to work when tired has led to mistakes and inefficiency. I either push myself as I did last night and then when I stop I can't relax which then stops me sleeping creating ongoing problems or I give in and rest but then I keep noticing all the stuff needing doing so can't get the rest I needed. I have had long term problems with pushing myself too hard and not caring for myself. If I am not being productive I feel worthless which makes my depression worse but fatigue is also a huge trigger for depression. This pushing myself has been a pattern since a traumatic event as a child which left me feeling guilty for doing nothing to help so feeling useless is a trigger for very negative self talk. Does anyone else have problems balancing being motivated & productive & carrying out more relaxing activities / self care to remain well

Leaba I Don't Fit the Profile
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am new to this forum. I was diagnosed with severe depression 2 years and it has been an ongoing battle ever since. There is a lot of help out there for the young, males and elderly but very little for middle aged divorcees. My psychologist has ... View more

Hi, I am new to this forum. I was diagnosed with severe depression 2 years and it has been an ongoing battle ever since. There is a lot of help out there for the young, males and elderly but very little for middle aged divorcees. My psychologist has cast me off in case I develop "dependency" which made me feel a fraud so I haven't been back to my doctor.

Unforgettable_fire It has come back again
  • replies: 1

After 7 years without being on a medication, I'm in a state that I'm feeling pretty low. I think everything has got the better of me. I've been trying to fight it for a few months but I realized I can't continue on this path. I've been feeling like s... View more

After 7 years without being on a medication, I'm in a state that I'm feeling pretty low. I think everything has got the better of me. I've been trying to fight it for a few months but I realized I can't continue on this path. I've been feeling like something is wrong or is about to happen. I've been worrying about my 14 year old son who last year has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and my 84 year old father has been suffering from depression and is about to go into surgery next week for his kidney to be removed. I'm currently struggling to find permanent accommodation as well in the city that I moved to nine months ago as my flatmate decided to up and leave. I feel like at best I'm existing, not actually living

Dee289 Recurrent chronic depression
  • replies: 5

I've had recurrent chronic depression and anxiety for most of my adult life and probably before that too. It seems like a never ending roller coaster, only lessened a bit by the medication that I have taken for over 10 years. In the last 5 years I ha... View more

I've had recurrent chronic depression and anxiety for most of my adult life and probably before that too. It seems like a never ending roller coaster, only lessened a bit by the medication that I have taken for over 10 years. In the last 5 years I have had a new job, relocated towns, divorced and a new relationship. I have learnt to spot the warning signs of when I'm slipping, but its getting harder and harder to remain positive. Just when I seem to be making progress another blow hits me out of left field. I'm looking for hope that it will get better!

EnergiserBunny7 Feeling sick and tired, all the time.
  • replies: 3

Hi there. I've got BPD, and I feel like a giant boiling pot of anger, depression and anxiety. I have seen some professionals recently, but they make me feel like a ping pong ball, as I never get to see someone more than once. I find it hurting more t... View more

Hi there. I've got BPD, and I feel like a giant boiling pot of anger, depression and anxiety. I have seen some professionals recently, but they make me feel like a ping pong ball, as I never get to see someone more than once. I find it hurting more than helping and I can't gain trust, which I so desperately need. The only person that seems to understand things are my Live-in-boyfriend, but he is the sole earner in our household and if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have a roof over our heads. I try not to talk to him to much about my issues, or cry too much, as I don't want to stress him and affect his job, etc. I'm on a break from take at the moment, as I can't do it, I just can't. The words swim before my eyes. But this is only for another three weeks, and I'm dreading going back. Lately I've been unable to answer the phone if my Mother rings, buy my shopping, tell someone I'm not okay, and I'm at a loss to how I can handle day to day things. I hate feeling so needy and weak, but I don't feel like I can do anything at all, I can't read or paint or play with my cats. I noticed this morning I have a bedsore! I've been spending that much time in bed, doing nothing, I have a bedsore. I have other health issues that impact me, no gall bladder, arthritis, osteoporosis and asthma, so I generally feel weak, but that's physical, not emotional. Everything is just weighing down so much. I'm so anxious I feel physically Ill, I almost puke if my Nanna rings, and I adore her, and my Father. I don't know what's wrong and I'm lonely, and sad, and scared, and I feel like I've been trying to get help for so long and like I'm going no where, and I just don't know where to turn now.. I dont even care if no one reads this, I just had to say something, somewhere.

luke91 Depression, this is a start
  • replies: 3

Hi. lately I have been feeling very depressed, down and basically just crap about all aspects in my life. I have thought about getting help for a long time now but haven't yet been able to get the courage to actually talk to someone so this is my sta... View more

Hi. lately I have been feeling very depressed, down and basically just crap about all aspects in my life. I have thought about getting help for a long time now but haven't yet been able to get the courage to actually talk to someone so this is my start. There's a few things in my life that I just can't let go to the point where I can no longer sleep at night and lay in bed for hours on end thinking about my problems.. i don't know what to do! I let go and drove out the thing I loved most in my life about 6 months ago and can not stop thinking about her every single day, I think about why I did certain things, what I could of changed and dream of it getting it fixed but know that I will never get my relationship back. I have also been made redundant 3months ago and haven't worked since so I've decided to work for myself. But in doing this I lay here in bed thinking I don't have what it takes to do this, I'm not good enough to be successful and I'm just bound to fail. with all this time off I just think negative thoughts all day and all night and I know I need help but don't know what to do

Guest_2350 Value of life
  • replies: 15

I don't feel suicidal, but I really struggle with challenging negative thinking. I understand that I should not tell myself I am worthless, so I tried to change the sentence to "I am valuable" and for weeks I have been trying to find evidence that I ... View more

I don't feel suicidal, but I really struggle with challenging negative thinking. I understand that I should not tell myself I am worthless, so I tried to change the sentence to "I am valuable" and for weeks I have been trying to find evidence that I myself believe. Am I asking the wrong question? Even when I think of something, I immediately feel like that is ok when I feel well but now there is not much value left in me? How did you get out of this? What did you change in your thinking to find answers? Any advise would be really good as I need to believe the answers I give myself. I had a pretty messed up day, I got confused at work, got names mixed up and struggled to concentrate. I just feel flat. I eat and eat as if I am training for an ironman. I think my body thinks I am starving as I have no energy. I just hope I can sleep tonight.