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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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thestruggle My constant battle with depression.
  • replies: 38

Hi. This is my first post, I normally call support services or seek advice from my GP but today someone thought it may benefit me to join the forums. I have suffered with depression since the start of highschool. I'm 24 now and I feel well over half ... View more

Hi. This is my first post, I normally call support services or seek advice from my GP but today someone thought it may benefit me to join the forums. I have suffered with depression since the start of highschool. I'm 24 now and I feel well over half of my days are a real struggle. I find it hard to get excited about anything, nothing really gives me much pleasure and sometimes when it is really bad; I feel trapped and so alone. Stress is a real trigger for me. I feel incapable most of the time to help or look after myself. I don't have many friends and I feel that I am a constant burden on my family. I haven't felt "right" for a long time and I struggle to eat most days. I'm not sure how detailed I should get here, I don't see much point in typing out all of my personal issues or problems just yet. I just thought I should try to make contact with people who are also struggling with day to day life and maybe for once not feel so alone. Thanks for reading.

MissKima I think I am about to have a breakdown
  • replies: 3

I had a bad night last night. Usually I try to listen to music to get to sleep and let me relax. Last night I couldn't. All I could hear in my head was reminders and memories of times when I embarrassed myself, or when I was made fun of, when people ... View more

I had a bad night last night. Usually I try to listen to music to get to sleep and let me relax. Last night I couldn't. All I could hear in my head was reminders and memories of times when I embarrassed myself, or when I was made fun of, when people yelled at me. How I have noone to depend on and how noone understands. I have Anxiety as well and I felt so nervous and jittery I couldn't relax. It has been getting worse for days. My mister is great and supports me as best he can, but he doesn't understand and constantly worries he has done something and I am draining him... I haven't really left the house in weeks apart from food shopping. I don't have a job despite looking for one, I'm scared a lot of finding one too, and dealing with people. I don't like myself or where my life is at, and I feel like I am about to lose it completely. I want to see a psych but I am waiting on a call because my GP put in a plan because I am super broke right now. I don't know what to do.

Bobbi Here We Go Again!
  • replies: 14

It's been a while since I wrote a post on here (hear the guilt?). Depression has set in so far for over 2 weeks. Today is one of the worse days. I have housework to do, I need to order medication, I need sleep, I need to have a shower and so on and s... View more

It's been a while since I wrote a post on here (hear the guilt?). Depression has set in so far for over 2 weeks. Today is one of the worse days. I have housework to do, I need to order medication, I need sleep, I need to have a shower and so on and so on. The guilt and lethargy seems to be ruling my day today. I know lack of sleep (caused by fibromyalgia) is playing an integral part in the depression hanging around and yet I don't like feeling like I sleep all the time. I feel more guilty when I do sleep during the day even though I know its imperative for my health. I am struggling to do anything much at all. Even eating...again, imperative for my health. I have these tools I usually use when I am depressed and I don't even feel like using those. My brain is saying, put off the washing up until later, its not going anywhere. No one is coming over today, you don't need to shower right now. Take the rubbish out tonight when no one is around. Order the medication tomorrow, you have enough to last you 3 more days. Wow, just typing this down makes me feel even more guilty and more self critical. It makes me feel like I'm drowning and there's no steps on the side of the deep, dark pool. There's nothing under my feet to stand on. It's just dark and cold and dark and lonely and did I mention dark? Now for the tools..... Sitting at my desk is not going to help me to achieve what I need to do to help myself and no one else can do the things I need to. So first things first, set 1 or 2 goals for the day. My goals today are to do the washing up and to have a shower. Will I feel less depressed after doing these things? Probably not but at least there will be 2 things I've done that need doing. I also need to eat lunch and get something out for dinner. These are necessities to live and so do not go on my goal list. After doing the dishes, I'm going to reward myself by watching a movie. So on that note, I'm going to go make lunch. It's 1.10 pm here and the longer I sit and do nothing, the less likely it is that I will eat and/or achieve my goals. I hope you all have as best day as you can.

here Fed up
  • replies: 1

I'm an aspiring actor and musician. I work odd jobs to pay my way in between artistic pursuits. I like working - a lot. It gives one a feeling of belonging and accomplishment. Unfortunately, a lot of the jobs involve working in less than inspiring en... View more

I'm an aspiring actor and musician. I work odd jobs to pay my way in between artistic pursuits. I like working - a lot. It gives one a feeling of belonging and accomplishment. Unfortunately, a lot of the jobs involve working in less than inspiring environments and with some vicious personalities. I'm quite a sensitive soul. I don't mind hard work, in fact I like it, as long as there are positive people around me. I don't belittle people and when someone belittles me I find that after all this time, I shouldn't have to put up with someone judging me and making me feel small. I think I have depression. Or anxiety. Or a mixture of the two. I exercise - intensely. But I'm easily tired of late, and I think it's down to the dire financial situation I'm in. To think that there's an audition round the corner which will propel me into a successful acting career seems highly unlikely. I don't want to be the result of a typical failed actor who ended up a drop out. But I'm in such a solitary position. And there's only so much rejection a person can take. Especially in a big city where money is king and without it one is a useless tramp. I don't drink alcohol anymore. I thought this may help. I don't know where to turn. I don't know if there's anywhere to turn anymore. I'm sick of being a second rate citizen.

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?

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