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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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Emgirl Flat!
  • replies: 2

I'm sure everyone has found times where they are having continuously flat and emotionless periods of depression? What are ways you cope with this? What helps you get out of these periods?

I'm sure everyone has found times where they are having continuously flat and emotionless periods of depression? What are ways you cope with this? What helps you get out of these periods?

Karl23 Just saying hello/needing support
  • replies: 9

Hi I'm Karl. I'm in my late 20s and have suffered from bouts of depression since I was 13. Just in the last few days I have decided that I need to reach out and get some support because it's terrible that I have spent nearly 20 years being sad. It's ... View more

Hi I'm Karl. I'm in my late 20s and have suffered from bouts of depression since I was 13. Just in the last few days I have decided that I need to reach out and get some support because it's terrible that I have spent nearly 20 years being sad. It's been a vicious cycle. I've lost 2 friends to cancer in the last year and a family member passed away in January. I'm having a hard time coping and I'm not looking after myself properly. i am so lucky to have a girlfriend that loves and cares for me so much and she is always there for me. But I need to give her some relief and need support from others. I want to own my life. If anybody from Perth knows of any support groups that may be of help I would very much appreciate it. I just want to be happy. Like we all do and deserve to be!

DWR Nightmares and unpleasant dreams - how to cope?
  • replies: 10

For a few weeks now I have been having nightmares and unpleasant dreams all through the night, usually more than 2 a night. I get to sleep at a decent hour and wake up completely drained and in a terrible mood. A lot of them I don't remember yet they... View more

For a few weeks now I have been having nightmares and unpleasant dreams all through the night, usually more than 2 a night. I get to sleep at a decent hour and wake up completely drained and in a terrible mood. A lot of them I don't remember yet they've put me in a bad mood all day. Sometimes its about people from work, if we had a fight or they said horrible things to me or about me. The dream felt so real its hard to forget the fact it was a dream. Which makes me analyse over everything they say to me and how they say it. On top of this, my nail biting habits have gone a bit far. I have been biting the skin on my fingers to the point they bleed. Its an unconscious habit that I'm finding hard to stop. I am seeing a therapist next week (first time with this person), which is making me nervous, which will most likely fuel these dreams and habits.

rustynails Intro/years of dealing with depression
  • replies: 3

Hi,my name is steve and I'm fairly new on here. I'am 34 and have been experiencing depression from the age of 15. on and off medication but have taken med constantly for 6 years. lately being depressed is still pretty bad some days. I work about 20 h... View more

Hi,my name is steve and I'm fairly new on here. I'am 34 and have been experiencing depression from the age of 15. on and off medication but have taken med constantly for 6 years. lately being depressed is still pretty bad some days. I work about 20 hours aweek in cleaning early mornings. lately finding energy to work is getting hard. when I'm at home,getting anything done and finding motivation is pretty tough. I lay down a fair bit and tend to shut myself inside allot. I also have been living alone for ten years and the only family I have is my mum that lives in town.social life is pretty limited apart from trips to town,bills,shopping,things that you have to do. I find it hard to meet new people and I'm abit reserved/quiet. being lonely is something I have felt for a long time.

James75 Feeling guilty about being depressed not working
  • replies: 20

Hi I'm new to this forum. I have always had depression off and on my whole life The last 4 weeks I seemed to slip badly into depression and anxiety breaking out in tears feeling i cant go on. I went to the doctors he stated me on medication for depre... View more

Hi I'm new to this forum. I have always had depression off and on my whole life The last 4 weeks I seemed to slip badly into depression and anxiety breaking out in tears feeling i cant go on. I went to the doctors he stated me on medication for depression and anxiety but the side effects are hard lack of sleep Et I thought if i brought a puppy it would help... But its hard looking after him when you are soo low the teething the continuous energy barking and whimpering causing me grief. I FEEL i can't leave him and get additional anxiety i have guilt feelings all the time My depression makes me tired i lay arround alot and feel the biggest guilt i used to have a career once but feel unable to face any work i just feel so quilty about everything i hate being lasy and have this black cloud in me ​

VK Can't find things to enjoy
  • replies: 4

Hi, this is is my first time here. I've just recently accepted I'm suffering from depression and anxiety. I've found myself not finding joy in anything. I've also found everything feels harder and burdensome. I even spent thousands of dollars shoppin... View more

Hi, this is is my first time here. I've just recently accepted I'm suffering from depression and anxiety. I've found myself not finding joy in anything. I've also found everything feels harder and burdensome. I even spent thousands of dollars shopping for clothes to make me feel better and the comfort was extremely short loved. I'm worried my work will suffer and my son. Are there people out there feeling the same?

Moogen Just another sad story.
  • replies: 2

I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with depression about 3 years ago after getting really drunk at a friend's 21st, getting upset about a boy, crying in the bathroom, and hurting myself. I am on medication and have seen a handful of psychologists and... View more

I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with depression about 3 years ago after getting really drunk at a friend's 21st, getting upset about a boy, crying in the bathroom, and hurting myself. I am on medication and have seen a handful of psychologists and councillors over the years.I'm currently living with my sister and a friend. My sister struggles with terrible anxiety, to the point where she cannot get out of bed some days. My friend I live with also has bad anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and is grieving from her Mother who committed suicide 3 years ago. It is very hard for me to help them when sometimes don't know how to help myself. My mother was diagnosed with Bipolar about 2 years ago after being exposed by another family member with evidence that she had stolen money from my grandmother's bank account. My immediate family and I were all in denial about my Mother's issues for years. My father was miserable in his marriage with her and was having an on-and-off affair since I was 14. My parents only separated 2 years ago. My mother has lost everyone in her life except for my sisters and I. She used to speak to her mother every day and now she's lost her forever. I feel like it has been so difficult because even now still, 2 years later, we have not gotten help for my Mother, and she is too stubborn to listen to me or my two sisters.I know that I need to focus on myself but I find it so difficult with all these people in my life struggling around me. I am currently not speaking to a psychologist or anything. When I feel sad I spend money and treat myself, even though I can't afford it. I'm already in debt and I just can't get on top of it. I seem to always look for quick fixes because I don't focus on the consequences. I don't care enough for myself. My anxiety has stopped me from getting my drivers licence too, I can't get myself to study for the test because I've built it up in my head so much. I don't know why, I feel really stupid for doing things like that. I feel like other people judge me or look down on me.I don't know what I expect writing on this forum but I guess I thought it would be a good idea to try it. I guess it feels good reading other people's stories and realising that I am not alone and that other people can relate. I hope someone out there can relate to me.

Lookingforpeace Blaming others for depression
  • replies: 6

Hi all I'm really down at the moment and feeling like I've hit rock bottom. Just last week, I was completely fine. Chirpy if anything, and motivated, positive, grateful. But Ive just had some personal issues arise in my relationship, and back down I ... View more

Hi all I'm really down at the moment and feeling like I've hit rock bottom. Just last week, I was completely fine. Chirpy if anything, and motivated, positive, grateful. But Ive just had some personal issues arise in my relationship, and back down I go. Which got me thinking, could it be that my relationships or certain toxic people I surround myself with are the cause of my depression? Now that I've had the thought - I am thinking back to the last 7 years in which I've had depression on and off, and the common theme seems to be that there is a certain person on the other side who is causing it in some way. Despite the subject line of this post, I don't mean to be blaming others and in fact I don't want to. However I'm just wondering whether maybe those others really are the cause of my depression.

Dusty5586 Who can help?
  • replies: 5

I dont know what the point of this is...there isnt anything anyone can do to help

I dont know what the point of this is...there isnt anything anyone can do to help

Shane0 I always feel guilty about how my moods effect my wife and kids
  • replies: 5

Hi I'm 28 and married with 3 kids. My life seems to be great and I feel like I have nothing to be depressed about. But when I do this i get myself in a continuous cycle of feeling bad because I feel bad. I always feel guilty about how my moods effect... View more

Hi I'm 28 and married with 3 kids. My life seems to be great and I feel like I have nothing to be depressed about. But when I do this i get myself in a continuous cycle of feeling bad because I feel bad. I always feel guilty about how my moods effect my wife and kids. The times I get really down anything makes me cry even. Especially when I think about stuff I did yesterday this makes me really upset and makes me wish I could go back and do it again. It doesn't matter what it is. Please does someone have any advice

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