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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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Hopefullseeking Thought my closest friend understood, she doesn't.
  • replies: 51

I was having a Messenger conversation with my closest friend, she has been a great support and thought she Got me, until last night. The last ccouple of weeks have been better, l know shock, and l thought I had turned that corner. This friends sister... View more

I was having a Messenger conversation with my closest friend, she has been a great support and thought she Got me, until last night. The last ccouple of weeks have been better, l know shock, and l thought I had turned that corner. This friends sister even commented on how good I looked. Last couple of days haven't been good, have felt really low again, fortunately I know the trigger but even knowing hadn't helped. I told my friend I was feeling low again , and how l thought l had finally turned the corner then she said 'depends on how much you want to turn that corner' then she immediately said Be strong. I think she realized she had said the wrong thing but I still felt hurt. Do you have to have depression to understand what someone else is going through? Feel like I can't talk to her anymore. I am not going to lose her friendship but l feel different towards her now. Am l being to sensitive? Has this happened to any one else? What did you do? I feel mire weird than ever now. Anne

JustinH Should be happy, but sad
  • replies: 2

Everything 'should be' great in my life! I have a wonderful wife, 4 beautiful kids and am 'successful'. I also an overwhelming sense of sadness and a deep sense of insecurity that everything will soon wrong. I live in Melbourne, yet, for the last 3 y... View more

Everything 'should be' great in my life! I have a wonderful wife, 4 beautiful kids and am 'successful'. I also an overwhelming sense of sadness and a deep sense of insecurity that everything will soon wrong. I live in Melbourne, yet, for the last 3 years, have worked in Canberra - a different city! What started as Mon-Thurs afternoon away turned into Sunday night to Thurs night and sometimes Friday. Nightly Skype calls to 'see' my family turned into intermittent phone calls and now I often go for the week without speaking to my family; just texts for the logistics. I have now been away from home for 600 nights over the last 3 years, including 300 flights. I've also had to deal with my father getting dementia, looking after him (from Canberra as best I could), VCAT hearings against one sister (a recovered drug addict) to offer the best care for Dad that my other sister and I could find, then having him pass away in Aug 2014. I then became sole Executor and discovered a lot about Dad I never knew - his emotions, the 50 year-old love letters between Dad & Mum (divorced 35 years ago) he kept, the fact he retained every single letter, Christmas Card that any his kids ever sent him, even a poem about death that he wrote and I read at his funeral . . . He had an emotional and compassionate depth I never saw or knew about and it saddens me that we never talked about it. During this, I felt my wife didn't give me the emotional support/outlet I needed and craved. Shortly after Dad passed, a member of my team in Canberra was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I never knew how to handle this with the rest of my team, but tried as best I could; provided support to the rest of the team etc. He passed away in Feb 2015. This was on top of another member of my team who was diagnosed with terminal cancer 3 years ago, but lived until passing away last month. Now my wife's father has been diagnosed with dementia. I want to make sure I'm there for her. This has CHANGED me. I am irritable, moody, frustrated, cry often (to myself, even if for 30 seconds having had a thought about Dad or one of my team), am drinking more alcohol more often in Canberra. I have sought emotional support from those around me in Canberra, that I wasn't getting by not being; not have I been cut any slack from my employer - which, by the way, wanted to 'get rid of' the second team member some time ago and, when he stopped turning up to work, I hid from HR to protect him and his family. Am I normal?

Carmen82 hi...i suffer from depression, anxiety and bpd
  • replies: 6

Hi I am unsure how to start...my husband wants me to harden up and just be happy. I think he's tired of me being the way i am, but i am too and don't know how to be happy all the time. Sometimes I'm happy and other times i can't help myself be happy.... View more

Hi I am unsure how to start...my husband wants me to harden up and just be happy. I think he's tired of me being the way i am, but i am too and don't know how to be happy all the time. Sometimes I'm happy and other times i can't help myself be happy. It feels like I'm expected to snap out of it...i wish it worked that way. I don't like being this way and feeling like I do, and he is understanding and nice to a degree, but i don't know how to get myself happy all the time so that he's not disappointed with me for not being a 'normal' person. I just want him to understand that it's not that easy.

Cattiii Depression or the cycle of anti-depressants and not being able to feel
  • replies: 1

I have had depression since 2010, granted it has been relieved at times and also reared its ugly head in two big episodes of depression. I've been on antidepressants now for the majority of the past 6 years and have changed them throughout the years.... View more

I have had depression since 2010, granted it has been relieved at times and also reared its ugly head in two big episodes of depression. I've been on antidepressants now for the majority of the past 6 years and have changed them throughout the years.... I have low times where I just want to avoid things of responsibility like driving, work, cooking, cleaning and well life. I have avoided driving to much that now I get very anxious about having to drive to new places even though deep down I know I can drive well and that nothing terrible can happen it's like a protective bubble I put myself in to avoid to much stress and becoming depressed but in the process I become Depressed I guess because of the avoidance behaviour. I also avoid work as well when I feel too anxious and that is when it causes problems at home and at work. I guess what I am trying to get at is perhaps being on antidepressants and this avoidance behaviour is actually preventing me to feel what I need to feel. Maybe I need to feel more so my body and brain and adapt to life... I am starting to think this bubble I have created is not me anymore and I just want to be me.... I guess I want to feel anger, stress, excited, happy, loved.... All of that and more but I can't feel any of that and haven't for years. I know that things in life I experience I should be feeling a certain way but I just feel nothing. I was got married years ago and did not enjoy the day, I didn't experience happiness. I just want to feel again and I want help with this so badly.

OhmeOhmy That Sinking Feeling
  • replies: 3

I have been doing well for just over 12 months now but tonight I'm scared because I have that sinking feeling coming over me. I feel like I'm spiraling and that I'm going to mess everything up. It's like I'm collapsing under the weight of everything.... View more

I have been doing well for just over 12 months now but tonight I'm scared because I have that sinking feeling coming over me. I feel like I'm spiraling and that I'm going to mess everything up. It's like I'm collapsing under the weight of everything. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

abby754 Confused & lost in this roller coaster...
  • replies: 3

Hi Everyone. I am new to this forum. thank you for having me here. I hope as well as receiving advice and support that I can also give helpful advice and support as well. I am currently feeling a bit "All over the place" at the moment. and my mind is... View more

Hi Everyone. I am new to this forum. thank you for having me here. I hope as well as receiving advice and support that I can also give helpful advice and support as well. I am currently feeling a bit "All over the place" at the moment. and my mind is constantly trying to break me down. telling me, i'm hopeless pathetic and worthless, then other times I feel okay, not on top of the world but just okay - I am just wondering does anyone else have this experience with depression or any other mental illness, okay one day, rock bottom the next.. ? It's as if I am caught in a whirl wind that is my mind. its exhausting and confusing. but most of all i feel like i should be able to be 'good' 'happy' all the time. and i'm not. any words would be greatly appreciated. is it normal to feel quite all over the place? Thanks everyone. Ab

Chicken_Wings It's back
  • replies: 11

I haven't been on the site for a while. I've been working on myself and trying to be better, but the last couple of days I've gone backwards. there was about a week where I can say I was genuinely happy, I was blissfully unaware of depression or anxi... View more

I haven't been on the site for a while. I've been working on myself and trying to be better, but the last couple of days I've gone backwards. there was about a week where I can say I was genuinely happy, I was blissfully unaware of depression or anxiety. I was eating and sleeping well, I was interested in things and people. But all it took was one conversation for these feelings to begin to come back. Gradually my feelings towards myself have gotten worse again and now I'm starting to feel these anxious feelings returning too. It's been happening slowing and I've been trying to curb it. Lately I've been becoming more and more critical of my appearance. I'm also worrying more and more about my health. I tell myself I'm going to do things to make my lifestyle more healthy, but I can't force myself to actually do them. I feel like there is an answer somewhere to how to be happy with myself. Other people seem to be happy. Other people seem to be able to accept aging or the changes in life. i feel like I'm peddling the wheels but I'm not getting anywhere.

Fmlsad Stuck and alone in a small ball
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, I have suffered from depression and anxiety for 15+ years, starting as a teenager. I have always managed for the most part, though lately it is getting the better of me. I am a single mum, with a very lacking ex who does not make time fo... View more

Hi everyone, I have suffered from depression and anxiety for 15+ years, starting as a teenager. I have always managed for the most part, though lately it is getting the better of me. I am a single mum, with a very lacking ex who does not make time for the kids, nor helps me with them and does not help financially, so I don't get a break. I have no family - except a mother in law that is 1400kms away - and she has her own issues, so I really hate to burden her. I want to join some groups, but find it hard to find kid friendly, low cost options. so here I am, hoping to find some like minded people to rally with and talk to when I feel so low and just need human interaction - without the online chats who just seem to want to talk sex all the time - and maybe lead to some RL friendships. I have separated in the last few months - after 11 years - it was my decision and I was quite happy about it, but he is very good at manipulating me and with my depression I can be very easily led, hence his mind games have sent me into a downward spiral, I really was in a nice place, getting my life in order, reaching out to new social circles, however now I just want to roll into a ball and not move - I know it's just the depression, but I just can't function or get past it.

Lisa1989 Looking for advice for overcoming feelings of depression
  • replies: 9

Hi, I am 26 years old. I have not been officially diagnosed with depression, but identify with a lot of its symptoms. I have problems with yo yo dieting and binge eating, to the point where it sometimes makes me ill. On the weekends I don't feel like... View more

Hi, I am 26 years old. I have not been officially diagnosed with depression, but identify with a lot of its symptoms. I have problems with yo yo dieting and binge eating, to the point where it sometimes makes me ill. On the weekends I don't feel like doing anything but going to bed or watching TV. I have a job that can sometimes be stressful and it gets to me so much that I become a blubbering mess! I am married, have a new, beautiful house, and a pretty good job. I shouldn't feel the way I do. My husband tries to make me feel better and tries to understand it but mostly it just makes him frustrated and helpless. In turn this makes me feel guilt for bringing him down with me. I have seen two different psychologists, each time helping me to deal with different issues. They both suggested that I take up a new hobby. But each time I think of doing it I have no motivation. I don't want to feel like this anymore. I would really appreciate some advice on how to not allow depression to take hold.

Resilence I don't see my smile anymore
  • replies: 4

I use to always be a happy person and was called smiley before but now I don't see myself even looking at myself in the mirror anymore. I've been depressed since I've been 16 and now I'm 24 I suffer from anxiety and I've finally decided to take medic... View more

I use to always be a happy person and was called smiley before but now I don't see myself even looking at myself in the mirror anymore. I've been depressed since I've been 16 and now I'm 24 I suffer from anxiety and I've finally decided to take medication to help me and so far it has been helping me little by little each day. I see a psychologist every now and then but feel like I always need to vent ALOT because I'm such an emotional person and I feel so much better when it is out. This drives me crazy as a person. I feel like my personality as a person makes me crazy at times its like I can't be happy anymore. I'm a social person and I feel so depressed all the time when I don't get enough interaction in my day or when I'm left alone for a couple hours in my day... I hate it. I hate being alone. I hate living in this isolated area and being away from people. When I don't talk to someone in my day it drives me crazy I just want to drive somewhere and TALK. I've been very confused about which career to do for many years now and I struggle making decisions and anxious about making wrong choices. I've done a few different careers and I don't want to be a failure again. I either get bored from the job or feel like I need more talking in the job. Every job I've done I've legit hated and it has made me depressed all the time. I sit at tafe and I feel so costriphobic being in a classroom all day and sitting on my ass.. I hate it.. I hate studying and have never liked school.. I'm not enjoying tafe and I don't find it fun at all.. I hate it so much but I do it because I'd rather be depressed in class then be depressed sitting at home. I will be worse. I'm so outgoing, hands on and I value my freedom heaps. Is anyone out there feel like me? Can anyone relate to this? My personality drives me crazy! I feel like my heart is a ghost town.. Forever depressed and I never find anything I'm passionate about or LOVE. How long do I have to be miserable for seriously?

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