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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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Grayskull Potato and Depression
  • replies: 3

Hi, Potato has nothing do with this, just an example of how I usually take something that affects me and attempt humor. I don't know where to start. I think I've been suffering from depression since childhood, except I had no idea what it was till a ... View more

Hi, Potato has nothing do with this, just an example of how I usually take something that affects me and attempt humor. I don't know where to start. I think I've been suffering from depression since childhood, except I had no idea what it was till a few things hit me all at once. When I got to my teen years, my health suffered. I managed to get quite a bad chest infection, combine that with a life of asthma and it's slightly worse. Then shortly after that a skin infection (the infection comes and goes as it pleases). Skipping a few things, (only because I can't think of their names right now). The biggest two contributions to my depression is the person who decided to cyber bully me in high school over 5 years ago. Never found out a name, which kind of left it brewing. An attack through a very popular site that anyone around the world could have seen. It doesn't faze me too much anymore though I still wish for a name. ( I know I'll never get that). The other contribution is my chronic headache. That more than anything I want a name to, well maybe a cure. Now my chronic headache has been going for about 5-6 years strong, 24/7 7 days a week and not faltering once. This has been quite a hindrance to my life. Constant pain: Can't think too easily, can't absorb information, zone out often and I don't realize, I forget things (possibly because of the things I just wrote), I have suddenly found myself out and about (when seconds previous I was at home), can't get my licence because the previous things don't go well with me behind the wheel, can't get a job (I'd have to have a boss who was extremely understanding. Though with all that going on, why get a job). The person I'm supposed to be able to rely on is my mum. All siblings moved out, just me. She can't see it, so it's not there. She even said as much once. I understand its harder for those who can't see or think what it might be like. But the support I'm supposed to be getting from her I'm not. Damn sure she has depression too, though she loves her mask and is very much in denial about it. I've always questioned if I even own a brain, I guess this rant is some evidence something is there. There's more to say but my brain has used up it's energy writing this. That and I'm nearly out of characters.

reddress bad day
  • replies: 2

last night i was all motivated packed my bag for college tomorrow, made the kids lunches. all systems go! I can do this next day even my 9 year old couldnt get me out of bed! I kept saying 10 more minutes and would fall asleep. alarms going off etc. ... View more

last night i was all motivated packed my bag for college tomorrow, made the kids lunches. all systems go! I can do this next day even my 9 year old couldnt get me out of bed! I kept saying 10 more minutes and would fall asleep. alarms going off etc. it was 1030am when i got up and i thought OMG! kids are soooo late for school and im sooo tired! so I said "boys dont worry about school today" I didnt go back to bed but i also did nothing. I get so frustrated with myself. And then u have to lie to people. I have depression and PTSD its the dreams that make me tired. But really.....'I wish I could say ' nope boys not sick, but im totally fatigued??? Just didnt happen today meh ​

Roberty_Bob Depression versus situational sadness
  • replies: 4

One thing I've learned over the years managing my depression is to distinguish it from sadness. I'm in a bad place right now and I have every right to feel sad. However, because it is not inexplicable random depression I know why I feel sad and I kno... View more

One thing I've learned over the years managing my depression is to distinguish it from sadness. I'm in a bad place right now and I have every right to feel sad. However, because it is not inexplicable random depression I know why I feel sad and I know what to do in order to process the sadness. The most important thing for me right now is to not let this situation trigger another depressive episode.

Sncklefritz Depression and anxiety from Misophonia
  • replies: 4

Hey, new to these forums Does anyone here also have Misophonia (hatred of different sounds) and have any ways to cope and help with the depression and anxiety that comes along with this issue? Thank you

Hey, new to these forums Does anyone here also have Misophonia (hatred of different sounds) and have any ways to cope and help with the depression and anxiety that comes along with this issue? Thank you

Elizabeth CP Unable to cope with negative feelings when alone Feel worthless
  • replies: 15

Sorry I should be able to cope better than I am. I am overwhelmed when I am caring for my husband & need a break but then when he is out I just waste time & feel terrible. When I'm not productive or helping I'm worthless. I need to get a break so I c... View more

Sorry I should be able to cope better than I am. I am overwhelmed when I am caring for my husband & need a break but then when he is out I just waste time & feel terrible. When I'm not productive or helping I'm worthless. I need to get a break so I can recover from fatigue but any break just allows the negative thoughts to take over so I feel worse. Most people here are much worse off than me so I shouldn't whinge. My councillor has been sick & so I have missed several planned sessions which hasn't helped

cloudy overhead The hardest thing for me and trying to cope with depression is to not give myself a hard time for feeling this way
  • replies: 5

The hardest thing for me and trying to cope with depression is to not give myself a hard time for feeling this way; I believe at least half of my depression is due to my belief system and how I interpret things; even-so at times it's really hard to b... View more

The hardest thing for me and trying to cope with depression is to not give myself a hard time for feeling this way; I believe at least half of my depression is due to my belief system and how I interpret things; even-so at times it's really hard to be positive, when many of the important areas in your life are not going well; or not going how you would like them to go. I'm 59 yoa now and thinking back, I feel I've often tended to be quite serious and melancholy and sensitive; getting older comes with its own set of challenges; therefore I try to get plenty of sleep; nap during the day if I feel like it; eat healthy; hydrate, exercise; or at least move; get massages; especially for the physical contact factor; which is very important; especially if your not in a tactile relationship...the sense of touch is extremely important; find a good therapist and only keep people in your life that are worth your time....sometimes, trying to cover all of these points feels too hard; then I remember how much better I feel when I can accomplish even one of these things. Talking about how I feel with my partner is also good; he's a good listener. Cloud Decreasing!

Luci3 I used to be highly motivated, now I struggle to do anything
  • replies: 17

Hi I'm new to the forum, but not depression unfortunately. I have suffered from it for many years, and struggle terribly with a complete lack of motivation. I used to be highly motivated and had a lot of self-discipline. Now I struggle to do anything... View more

Hi I'm new to the forum, but not depression unfortunately. I have suffered from it for many years, and struggle terribly with a complete lack of motivation. I used to be highly motivated and had a lot of self-discipline. Now I struggle to do anything really, and I feel shame at the state of my house. To complicate matters I also suffer from hypersomnia. I have no immediate family, but my extended family are very old school, and very judgemental about my lack of housekeeping skills. Hence I tend to not have people around, which I know contributes to my isolation. Thank goodness for my fur-babies. I can really relate to the line in one of Robbie Williams' songs - something like "I don't want to die, but I'm not keen on living either." Any suggestions from anyone would be really appreciated. Thank you

ci Feeling so lost
  • replies: 36

I'm not sure what to expect from this post. I just really need to say out loud without dumping it on my husband I'm struggling today feel so lost and alone was doing so well I'm really disappointed in myself for the big slip backwards!

I'm not sure what to expect from this post. I just really need to say out loud without dumping it on my husband I'm struggling today feel so lost and alone was doing so well I'm really disappointed in myself for the big slip backwards!

Al2345 Partner doesn't seem to understand
  • replies: 3

Sorry, this is quite long but I'm not sure what I need to do. I recently spoke to my maternal and child health nurse and she was concerned and suggested I my need to speak to someone in regards to my feelings. i have a 1 year old and for a little whi... View more

Sorry, this is quite long but I'm not sure what I need to do. I recently spoke to my maternal and child health nurse and she was concerned and suggested I my need to speak to someone in regards to my feelings. i have a 1 year old and for a little while now it seems to be getting harder to cope. My partner works 10 hour days 6:30 till 4:30-5:00ish every day. He then usually gets home and goes cycling for an hour or so when he finishes work most days. Which is all fine, but it leaves me home on my own quite often and I start to feel quite isolated. I don't have a lot of friends that aren't busy working and have other things on. I spend a lot of time just me and my baby. my problem is, that when I spoke to my partner about what the nurse said his response was kind of "oh, that bad is it?" And the way he said it kind of felt like he thought I was being silly/ had no real reason to feel the way I do. He likes to bring up how many other mothers are in the same position and they're coping fine, and though he never says it, it's like he's getting at 'so why aren't you fine' I feel okay when he's home but he doesn't seem to understand what it's like for me when I'm on my own all day. When he is home all he wants to do is 'just have a while to sit down and relax'. Most of the time he's home he does his own thing and only really helps with baby when I'm busy cleaning or cooking. He's very much of the mindset that 'I get paid to stay at home with baby and he gets paid to go to work' meaning he works and I have to look after baby 24/7. If I ever bring that up it just starts a big fight about me not appreciating that he goes to work all day and earns the money while I sit at home all day. All these little things build up and I start to feel like I'm not doing very well. And with his reaction to what the nurse said, he seems to think there's no reason for me to feel that way. So I doubt myself and think maybe I'm over reacting. I don't want to go and talk to someone because my partner makes me feel like I should be coping fine and shouldn't need to see anyone. He's never said that, but the first thing he said when I mentioned talking to someone was that 'I'll probably go there and they'll ask about him and I'll have to mention how he's always working and riding and doing whatever he wants'. And that's probably true, so he didn't seem at all keen for me to follow through. I feel like he doesn't believe I need help. i don't know what to do!

Ma_Baker Down in the mouth
  • replies: 8

Hello Anyone out there who cares to listen! Ive hit rock bottom today and just need to connect with someone. Just writing this has made me stop crying, so thats a good start. Im 57 yo and live alone which is probably why I feel the need to do this. I... View more

Hello Anyone out there who cares to listen! Ive hit rock bottom today and just need to connect with someone. Just writing this has made me stop crying, so thats a good start. Im 57 yo and live alone which is probably why I feel the need to do this. Ive always been a loner, divorced 12 years ago and female. Work has always been a lifeline because I feel valued and its so busy you dont have time to scratch yourself! But lately Ive had issues at work and in a nutshell, Ive been forced to move and I am uncertain as to where next. I feel Ive been unfairly treated and I am following due processes but its taking so long and meanwhile Ive been left out in the cold and feel like a pariah. Just writing this has helped. Im lonely and have no one to talk to, which I know is my fault because I feel people are such hard work and Ive isolated myself, Thanks for listening.

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