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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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GuyIncognito Just signed up, new to this, could use some help and support
  • replies: 4

Hi all,I've had depression and panic/anxiety for 25 years. It comes and goes in intensity but at the moment it has returned with a vengeance. I feel down, detached from reality and times, finding myself just zoning out. My old friends, palpitations a... View more

Hi all,I've had depression and panic/anxiety for 25 years. It comes and goes in intensity but at the moment it has returned with a vengeance. I feel down, detached from reality and times, finding myself just zoning out. My old friends, palpitations and "missed" heart beats are also back. I take an antidepressant and have just started taking a small amount of a benzodiazepene each day. This episode seems worse than most, I can't see a recovery any time soon. I thought I'd turn to the Beyond Blue community for advice, to know that I'm not alone in this, that others feel this way. I don't really talk about it, even with my wife and friends and perhaps that's where the problem lies. I am seeing a very good therapist so I am seeking professional help. Thanks for listening.

rg725 Seeking guidance..
  • replies: 7

Hi there, Im posting mainly to free how I feel (hopefully). And seek some advice on what I can do to help myself before it's too late. I have been suffering mental breakdowns especially over the last two months. I wake up and cry and dread going to w... View more

Hi there, Im posting mainly to free how I feel (hopefully). And seek some advice on what I can do to help myself before it's too late. I have been suffering mental breakdowns especially over the last two months. I wake up and cry and dread going to work or doing anything really. I dont sleep well. I have nightmares like there is no tomorrow. I cant get my happiness and mojo back. I know there is something wrong with me, especially cause i know what it feels like to be happy and right now im completly the opposite. I currently work as a cop, and the job is demanding. The things I have experienced keep replaying on me and have changed me as a person. I feel like I cant help anyone, and when I do it gets thrown back in my face. i've tried to help and i get death threats towards me and my family. I hate it when people automatically assume im mean, just because im a cop. I am the most kind hearted lady anyone will meet, and always try to have a smile on my face and i believe communication is key when dealign with people not violence. people treat me differntly, im not even sure if they mean to but they do. people just assume thats what ive turned into, which i havent. I am still myself, and i do the job because its a job. and i genuenly wanted to help people. i just need a break. But if you seek help in my job, you get classified as "unfit for duty" so you literally have to bottle everything up. they dont care about you at all. Im stressing cause of money. I have to support my parents because they have no money and I dont want them to lose their home. they live 5 hours from me, and i stress each day that they will be ok. i need the job so i can give them money and pay my bills too. Ive applied for so many jobs, and i honestly think its because of my profession now no one will hire me. havent even had an interview. previous i did marketing and sales for radio, which was the best thing ever. I feel like ive made the biggest mistake joining law enforcement and its so hard to get out. I cant just quit cause i need an income, and they make it so hard to leave. I just hate the fact that everything i used to love to do, i now dont enjoy. and i am miserable all the time, and it effects my partner and i's relationship. I know it sounds trivial and i should be more grateful to even have a job but really cant keep living on like this. I just need some help i think, but i am not sure where to start. anything would be helpful... please and thankyou.

acacia100 Struggling
  • replies: 5

Hi all, i feel silly even posting here but i just feel like i am not coping very well lately. I struggle with anxiety and feel completely miserable most days, i don't like myself very much and i just assume everyone else hates me too. I get so down t... View more

Hi all, i feel silly even posting here but i just feel like i am not coping very well lately. I struggle with anxiety and feel completely miserable most days, i don't like myself very much and i just assume everyone else hates me too. I get so down that i wish i just didn't exist at all and basic things like dealing with other people causes anxiety, i feel tense, stomach is in knots etc all because i feel others are prettier, smarter, more capable than me and that eventually they will see me for the weak loser that i really am. I feel like i want to curl up in a cave and just sleep for 10 years just to get away from myself. I don't have anyone to talk to about this stuff, there are a few people in my world who are nice and i feel do care about me but i do not want to burden others with my problems because thats unfair on them, lately i have found myself bursting into tears over stuff and it takes me by surprise because normally i am tough and don't cry. What the heck is wrong with me !!? How do you manage to keep afloat and not drown when you have no one to turn to ? It makes me feel so weak and silly because everyone else seems to manage ok without having anyone, why can't i ? I want to stop feeling this way and i have tried so hard to calm my anxiety and keep busy, if it wasn't for the fact that i had a child i would have just ended things by now. Can anyone relate ?

loobygirl life sucks and i have lost myself
  • replies: 2

hi, when i was in my 20s i enjoyed life. i was married at 23 wit 4 children. things tumbled when i hit 30 and no happiness in sight. my husband left me with small children and i was pregnant at same time with 5th child. i gave birth and was grieving ... View more

hi, when i was in my 20s i enjoyed life. i was married at 23 wit 4 children. things tumbled when i hit 30 and no happiness in sight. my husband left me with small children and i was pregnant at same time with 5th child. i gave birth and was grieving and looking after 5 small children wasnt easy. my husband had affair with my best friend. i lost two people not one. 3 years later i met a guy who i thought was soul mate. my ex was jealous and was putting kids in middle. that person left me and 2 years later at age 35, i fell in love again. problem was he needed help with immigration to stay here. i loved him i did it. i married him and had his baby. sadly he didnt tell me he had a girlfriend back home. she would fight to keep her relationship with him. he had an affair with girl from work who told me about affair when i was pregnant to him. he used to beat me anytime i say i loved him or ask why dont he love me? i did everything for him to try and make him happy. night after night he never came home till past 11pm totally drunk. i would worry about him. he told me too he wants to commit suicide. i stayed by his side through it all. it made me so sad i cry myself to sleep every night. before i had his baby i had miscarriage and i haemorrage at home. scared confused and alone i was afraid n i called the ambulance. i was taken to hospital and was told its a miscarriage. i begged the hospital i want to stay i didnt want to go home but they said i couldnt. i went home and saw porn on my computer, a totally drunk man in bed. he never cared if i lived or died omg. well we broke up after my baby turned 1yr old and i received text message im dead from girl back home he engaged too. he lived in another house but he be asking me to come every weekend n hang n have sex which i did for 3 years later until he stopped wanting me. i have no relationship with my mum nor my father. my mum is racist and doesnt like the people i married. she insults me and calls me dirt and im unclean. i have no friends either. they go to club and never invite me or do anything with me i feel. we only go out to eat. which i think contributes to my fatness. i have no stable job since i was made redundant 2 years ago. i went back to uni since redundancy just keep trying but nothing is working. when i fail a class i feel i cant do it. im dumb stupid fat and unlovable as i keep losing relationships than gaining. im not introvert and i cant get out of this rut. help me pls

redapple Coffee and depression.
  • replies: 1

hey guys! 1st post yay! so today and lately i had a bad experience with coffee, i was meeting up with friend today and i was tried and had a coffee, i was over come with with anxiety then the depression just set in bad .. after the coffee ware off I ... View more

hey guys! 1st post yay! so today and lately i had a bad experience with coffee, i was meeting up with friend today and i was tried and had a coffee, i was over come with with anxiety then the depression just set in bad .. after the coffee ware off I was left with the worse depression ever. the odd thing is dont get this with energy drinks... has anyone had this happen before?

CW Just need someone to listen, without judgement or advise
  • replies: 7

Hi there About 5 years ago I was getting treatment for depression/anxiety, and managed to get out of it. After 5 years of being happy and motivated, I think I'm back there, but in a different way. I know all the signs/symptoms, and have been trying t... View more

Hi there About 5 years ago I was getting treatment for depression/anxiety, and managed to get out of it. After 5 years of being happy and motivated, I think I'm back there, but in a different way. I know all the signs/symptoms, and have been trying to manage it myself for the past 6 months, but I need to be honest in saying I need help. I don't think I need help with my way of thinking or behaviour, I think its more about stress this time. I've started tearing up at little things, staying up far too late (6 hours sleep a night), and developed a strange happen of chewing the inside of my bottom lip, which I've never done before. To explain my stress at the moment: I changed jobs 6 months ago to a much stricter, less fun job where I have no friends still My mum has been going through some kind of dissasociative disorder where she thinks she's not still married to my dad (it seemed to have happen overnight), and it's been tough on everyone I got engaged to my partner 3 months ago, and wedding planning has been intense I'm studying online which is hopefully finishing in a months time I rent with my older brother who drinks a lot and never helps with the housework I have no savings for a house, but my fiancee does. I feel extremely guilty Girlfriend issues (sex has been reduced to once or twice a month, lack of quality time spent together). I think because of these factors and my struggle to deal with them, I've torn away from my friends, ​stopped exercising (I used to run alot, but now can't find any motivation to do it), and pretty much lost all motivation for life and having fun. I talk to myself in a really condescending way, telling people and myself that my life is boring and done, meaning it is what it is and there's nothing I can do now. I speak like I had my chance in life, and this is all I have left. I feel like I don't need advice or lectures, just someone to hear me pour it all out. I'm constantly trying to fix things and make my life better, but this underlying stress seems to remain no matter what I try. And I know what I should be doing (going to sleep on time, exercising, get more sun, etc), but I can't seem to do these things. I tell myself that when my study ends, things will get better, but something deeper down is telling me they won't. Not sure what I'm asking for here, just putting it out there to the universe I guess. Will probably have to seek professional help, I just wished I could have fixed this on my own.

tigh Trying to fight depression by myself
  • replies: 2

Hey guys I'm new to this. I have had depression and anxiety for a couple years now . I have been fighting it by myself thinking i can fight it myself but lately it has hit me so hard and I don't no what steps to take . I have everything I need in lif... View more

Hey guys I'm new to this. I have had depression and anxiety for a couple years now . I have been fighting it by myself thinking i can fight it myself but lately it has hit me so hard and I don't no what steps to take . I have everything I need in life a wonderful partner of 6 years a good lifestyle .But that all goes out the window my partner doesn't understand what I'm going through .And I'm making it really hard on her . Basically I need to start taking steps to get better before I loose everything ? I did go to a G.P once but she told me I don't have anything wrong with myself so i never bothered again . Any advise would be great I just need a bit of a kick to get me going . Thankyou

Emmers Overwhelmed and exhausted
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I have never posted on an online forum before, so here goes. I am 32 yo woman who has recently been diagnosed bipolar. I have had manic episodes in the past which have upturned my life. I have a psych degree but have been working in reta... View more

Hi everyone, I have never posted on an online forum before, so here goes. I am 32 yo woman who has recently been diagnosed bipolar. I have had manic episodes in the past which have upturned my life. I have a psych degree but have been working in retail for the past 10 years because of consequences of mania and low motivation, as well as having to move to a small town with little opportunity due to having to care for my mum, who passed away a few years ago now. I am now studying to be an occupational therapist, but juggling work with study is really hard and on top of that I am medicated now so I get tired really easy and keep having depressed feelings and depressed days where I can hardly get the motovation to do anything. I got a not so great grade today from uni (I am studying online) and I know it sounds stupid and petty but it just felt like the last straw. I don't know how to keep going. I am just so tired. With the work and the study I have hardly any time for me. Before I started studying I was doing better but at the same time I want to do something different with my life. Going to see a psychiatrist on monday so maybe different medication might be the answer I don't know. I try to talk to my partner about it but because she is not depressed it is hard for her to understand. Just wanted to put my thoughts out there, thanks for listening.

jjac Do I have to?
  • replies: 33

I'm not entirely sure I really want to live a full life. I feel like I have already. I can see my entire life for what it is, what it will be and there isn't really anything worth hanging around for. I'm not suicidal per say, I fear death, suffering,... View more

I'm not entirely sure I really want to live a full life. I feel like I have already. I can see my entire life for what it is, what it will be and there isn't really anything worth hanging around for. I'm not suicidal per say, I fear death, suffering, failure (for the guilt trips from loved ones and possible disability) and something so final...but I don't want to be a part of my life anymore. I'd rather a clean slate. In all facets of my life I am not happy, and haven't been for quite a long time. If not all of them at once, just one or two more than others. I can see exactly how each option will work out. I am not happy at work, I struggle with relationships, I'm just lazy and don't care while caring too much. The solutions are always "have you tried yoga?" Seriously? Yoga? How on earth would that help?! Yeah, yeah, serotonin and movement. Of course, I am just in the "wrong" mindset and if I actually tried I could be happier. Sure sure. I just can't be bothered even entertaining such time wasting, it's just a pety distraction from the reality. This green smoothie and stretching sure makes me feel less like life is a waste of time! YIPPEE! At work everyone demands too much, or asks stupid questions. My field is purely dealing with all of the dregs and nonsense and having to answer the same questions constantly. A problem to solve puts a cloud over me that I can't lift until the issue is resolved or gone. I don't know how much longer I can deal with stupid people and their stupid demands. How much longer can I come into work and stare at a screen all day? I've tired of all of the take away. I'll have to do this for the rest of my life? Why bother? Before you say get a new job, I am a few years away from long service leave, so why cut loose now? That and everything I have experience and training in is the same. Same crud, different workplace. Nothing would change. I find no satisfaction in anything. I get bitter at the car that runs the red light, the subpar food I am served in a restaurant, the rude person, the rain, my washing machine, anything. I'm cynical before anything else and can't imagine constantly looking on the bright side, because when I do I am put in my place and realise I shouldn't have bothered. I'm seen as wrong all of the time by my partner, because he just doesn't understand me. I can't get my points across. I just want to cancel my life, cut the subscription and start again as a new person with better prospects.

bluewater Depression and Anger
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone Im newly signed up but have been around for a while!I've had an awful two years and wont go into it all but have been diagnosed with PTSD and generalised Anxiety Disorder.So far my medication have got me through but i know they are only s... View more

Hi everyone Im newly signed up but have been around for a while!I've had an awful two years and wont go into it all but have been diagnosed with PTSD and generalised Anxiety Disorder.So far my medication have got me through but i know they are only short term and now im becoming angry!I've been prescribed another medication but am scared to take them due to other issues.my main problem is i appear to be getting worse and everything feels like its snowballing not getting better even with the help of my psychologist!Im snapping and yelling at my children to the point its upsetting me more and my anger is getting worse! Im honestly standing on the line of seeing how much I can take and giving up!!!

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