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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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Dennis38 Depression the great Lie or Change Your Truth
  • replies: 8

I have suffered from depression for the last 15 years, to the point of me losing control and trying to commit suicide. As I have slowly rebuilt myself, and learned more about this great lie. Depression is a great lie because it based on lies that we ... View more

I have suffered from depression for the last 15 years, to the point of me losing control and trying to commit suicide. As I have slowly rebuilt myself, and learned more about this great lie. Depression is a great lie because it based on lies that we tell ourselves. I am fat, I am worthless, I have no friends, my family hates me, I am not worth loving. These are just some of the great lies that we tell ourselves, and we believe these lies because our emotions are running our head not the logical side of us. All of these things and more are going on in our minds . What does "Change your truth." mean? You see we each hold our own truth, what may be true for one person may not be true for another person. With depression the key to winning this war, even the small battles with it, which turn into great victories if we allow, is to change our own truth about ourselves. You see all those lies that I mentioned before, a lot of them have a grain of truth in it, that is why we start to believe all of these negative emotions that we have. It gets so bad that we overwhelm ourselves, and can not see the honest truth. Logic is the key to fighting depression and here is how Change Your Truth, comes in to effect. What we need to do is take, one of the negative thoughts about ourselves, lets say you keep seeing yourself as fat because of the weight you have put on...the truth of the matter is sure you may have put on 5 or 6 pounds, but when you look into the mirror you do not see these 5 or 6 pounds what you see when you look at yourself is this false image of a person that looks like a blimp. Yet the reality is that you are not a blimp but our minds do not let us see the truth.So what do we do? We Change our Truth, this is a hard thing to do, but once you start with ONE negative thought, and truly look at it with logic, not with emotions, you find that grain of truth and you CHANGE it...so you have gained a little weight, get up and go for a walk, go outside and watch your kids or pets play and get a little active. I am not talking about running a marathon, even if its just going down the front steps and walking to the end of your drive away and back, do that every day for a week, then next week, go beyond your drive way and go a little farther each week. This way you change YOUR truth as you will see that the weight is coming off. This is how you change YOUR Truth about yourself! It is not easy but you can do it! .

Inadeephole All alone and don't know where to start
  • replies: 2

Hello. I am suffering from depression. I have no friends, no one to lean on, I've lost interest in work, life-socialising, I sit in my house 24/7, I don't feel I'm excepted in this life, I have government debt overwhelming me to a point I'm drowning ... View more

Hello. I am suffering from depression. I have no friends, no one to lean on, I've lost interest in work, life-socialising, I sit in my house 24/7, I don't feel I'm excepted in this life, I have government debt overwhelming me to a point I'm drowning in my own tears because I have a fear I'll end up in jail because I can't manage money and find it extremely hard to wake up, trouble sleeping but when I do sleep it can be up to 24 hours at a time, I'm a 42 year old male that is very emotional and tear up at a drop of a hat, this has been going out for 2 years and I'm at the end of my tether. I don't know who to talk too , I don't know how to fix this, i need help

Lookingforpeace I know I'm not alone but still feel lonely
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone ok so I know depression and anxiety skews your thoughts. I know other people suffer. I know I'm not alone, but then why do I still feel so lonely? is it because depression is so unique to each individual? Perhaps my depression is not the ... View more

Hi everyone ok so I know depression and anxiety skews your thoughts. I know other people suffer. I know I'm not alone, but then why do I still feel so lonely? is it because depression is so unique to each individual? Perhaps my depression is not the same as yours. Or is that the anxiety talking? Lately I have been really wondering what the meaning of this all is. Why do we get up each morning, go to work, eat, sleep repeat? Like guinea pigs on a wheel. I envy people who don't have these thoughts. I look at people walking by me on the street, at work, and think "lucky you, that you don't have these thoughts, that you don't feel like I do." And if there's no meaning, then what's the purpose? And if there's no purpose, then what's the point? And if I am thinking this way, then God what is wrong with me?! How could I be so selfish as to even have that thought cross my mind. i know this post sounds a lot more like a string of rhetorical questions, but hoping somebody can relate.

Indra Alone and Acceptance
  • replies: 37

This weekend was the first for me to be fully alone. Children were away and the house was very empty and quiet. I tried to keep myself busy, but you find yourself slipping back to thinking in the negative. Tears were shed at random moments. The sting... View more

This weekend was the first for me to be fully alone. Children were away and the house was very empty and quiet. I tried to keep myself busy, but you find yourself slipping back to thinking in the negative. Tears were shed at random moments. The sting of a partner gone all to prevelant. I then think to myself, well this is your lot in life, need to start preparing for a life alone. I truly feel that one should not have to be alone. Unfortunately with my circumstances that is a reality I am now facing. So what do you do when friends don't call back or you are limited in what you can join? BB is a great help, people listen and care, but the lack of physical contact can start to wear you down. I have a fear of if something happened to me - who would know? I know I am the only person who can change this - trying to find the inner strength to do this is the challenge. I wonder????

Sparkles183 Struggle to get out of Bed.....
  • replies: 22

Struggle to get out of bed. Lately my depression and Anxiety has hitten rock bottom and I can bearly find the effort to get out of bed,even if it is just for a few moments to go to the loo or plug my phone in. I no longer feel my medication is workin... View more

Struggle to get out of bed. Lately my depression and Anxiety has hitten rock bottom and I can bearly find the effort to get out of bed,even if it is just for a few moments to go to the loo or plug my phone in. I no longer feel my medication is working and it is still hard for me to go and get the help I need. I now am living in another state and I thought once I move things will start to get better but in fact they have got worse. Although I live with the fact that living here is the only way that I will get the help I need without family shouting in my ear with the stigma we grew up with that I don't need antidepressants and I have nothing to be depressed about. But I know it is real to me and I do have nothing to be depressed about. But I do live with depression a condition that does not discriminate. I know I need help and in need it now... as I can not tolerate the unhelpful thoughts that go through my head at night they are like torture and I have never been so scared in my life. but every time I go to get help I chicken out. I was going to go to a support group the other night but I got to front door and turned around I was going to make an appointment to go to a GP today but well at least I thought about it. I guess being out of the house for more then two hours is just too much for me at the moment.... Although I do feel like staying in bed all day and know if I do go out of the house for more then two hours is exhausting I make sure I do try to make the effort every day to go out for an hour or two as I have found even just a little bit of sunshine helps my mood... thanks for listening I guess my goal for the next week is to find a good GP in this city that bulks bills and understands mental health issues.. Sparkles

Mr nobody well it can't continue like this/Well how long do you want off work
  • replies: 4

I've had mental issues back last year when everything got so so overwhelming. My partner was/is still currently working overseas and I was what felt like in a deep black hole. I felt like I was loosing my sanity. Short story is that whilst seriously ... View more

I've had mental issues back last year when everything got so so overwhelming. My partner was/is still currently working overseas and I was what felt like in a deep black hole. I felt like I was loosing my sanity. Short story is that whilst seriously considering finishing everything and thankfully having the CAT team come out and guide me through the most overwhelming negative attitude I could ever imagine I managed to find my way through. My partner in that period came back for several days and left again. I'm put on medication which was quite confronting dealing with not being able to think and just fuzzing through every day for a number of months. Sure the thoughts went away but there seemed like no thoughts going through my mind. I finished up weaning my way off it with a number of side effects mid year.Fast forward a few months and I've just come back from a trip to see my Partner overseas and my mind starts to go into a downward spin again. I fought and fought these massively negative, hopeless feelings yet again. I fell into not leaving home instead of going to the gym and I started making more mistakes at work (been there 8 years). Things just started going bad to worse, hardly eating, not wanting to go out and last week finished up with the flu and had the week off to recover. Over the weekend I nosedived again, deeper into the abyss. That dirty disgusting black hole game up for another bite of me. I tried to act normal but felt absolutely gutted that this was now coming back. I didn't want to tell my partner as he has enough to deal with overseas. Today I went into work and sat at my desk and started crying. I'm a man of 48 years and don't cry very easily at all. I went over and said to my senior that I needed to leave and was not fit to be in at work and would need some time away. I said that I'd call my Team Leader once I got home.I called my doctors and have been told I can't get into see him until tomorrow. I've rang my Team Leader back and tried to explain the situation and asked if I can have some time off. I even said I would take annual or Long Service Leave. Her response was, well how long do you think you want off? I'm just dumbfounded at this. She said we'll see what your doctor says tomorrow. My partner was, ok well I'll have to try and get a transfer back to the city we live in, it can't continue like this. It was dismissive in both counts and I feel more depressed that no one seems to give a stuff about this black hole I'm in.

BLC No enjoyment
  • replies: 1

Basically I cannot find enjoyment with anything anymore. I recently moved back from Melbourne where I was a furniture maker and in the coffee industry and was dealing and maintaining my depression and anxiety which I had been diagnosed with in 2012 w... View more

Basically I cannot find enjoyment with anything anymore. I recently moved back from Melbourne where I was a furniture maker and in the coffee industry and was dealing and maintaining my depression and anxiety which I had been diagnosed with in 2012 with tablets. But I went through numerous tablets and basically came to the conclusion the numbness I felt from the tablets was inhibiting my creativity and was worse than how I was feeling. so I took myself off them and for 6 months I was very up and down but I was creative again and had drive. Until I ultimately crashed and became very irrational and basically couldn't handle 'being here anymore'. So I moved back in with my parents to seek help through medication and be in a relaxing environment but all I am feeling is nothing again, this is my 5 shot at a different medication and I feel numb, the idea of exercise to help combat the negative feelings is so hard when I truly don't enjoy anything. Running/shooting hoops/surfing has become almost painfully unenjoyable. I don't have a lot of friends and my girlfriend is my biggest supporter but basically I just feel alone, I've tried turning off social media as it makes me feel more and more isolated. Also all I ever want to do it sleep, every afternoon I lay down and snooze or in the morning before work I wake up and I just cannot get up. I feel like I have no reason too im struggling with my coping because there's this feeling that I can only describe as a big thick wall that's just so full of negativity and blackness that is stopping this little slither of myself trying to fight back to get better and it's just this unbreakable force.

Robbie81 Adoption related Depression and Anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi, I have recently been diagnosed with Depression and anxiety. I believe that I have been suffering badly from these illnesses for about 3 years , however the more i learn about Depression and anxiety i believe that this has been around my whole lif... View more

Hi, I have recently been diagnosed with Depression and anxiety. I believe that I have been suffering badly from these illnesses for about 3 years , however the more i learn about Depression and anxiety i believe that this has been around my whole life. I was adopted at 4 months of age and I feel a lot of my issues relate to being adopted, abandoned and never feeling i fitt in with my adoptive family. I would like to speak with anyone who has a similar experience or even adoptive or birth parents to get their perspective. Thanks. Cam.

Spinifex I feel so lost and deeply sad that nothing can cheer me up again!
  • replies: 13

Hi all, Been trying so hard to keep my inner strength intact and then I realise i have been putting a mask on my emotions that i feel like i am coming apart at the seams. I am fighting the hardest battle in my life. Myself. Coming right back to this ... View more

Hi all, Been trying so hard to keep my inner strength intact and then I realise i have been putting a mask on my emotions that i feel like i am coming apart at the seams. I am fighting the hardest battle in my life. Myself. Coming right back to this dont fit in to this world again feeling. My real battle is that i know i have most of the answers to my own problems but get so lost then i get oozing waves of deppressed emotions so strong that causes panic attacks and feelings of uselessness. Everthing is such an effort and i am feel like i am winging even when i am seeking help and support. I am unemployed Horticulturist and reached a point in my life being 50 years old that time is flying by and yet i cringe every day i waste away with sabotaging thought processes and realising i am not very employable due to unreliability due to not coping eventhough i have tried cbt and councellors. How do you guys hold down a job when you're moods fluctuate that it impacts your performance reguraly? Does anybody actually understand me here? I read the newspaper today and upon reading the latest cases of terrible domestic violence i cried like a baby. Whats my problem i said to myself but i am still deppressed to the core. Hope to chat to somebody who understands me.Mick

MisterM Constant rejection, no future
  • replies: 8

Sick of everything at the moment. I got fired from a job in real estate 2 months ago (for not gelling with the team and not being dynamic enough). I am most likely going to get fired from a job I have been in for a month tomorrow as I am not quick en... View more

Sick of everything at the moment. I got fired from a job in real estate 2 months ago (for not gelling with the team and not being dynamic enough). I am most likely going to get fired from a job I have been in for a month tomorrow as I am not quick enough (as a waiter in a cafe). A girl I like seems to not like me back (never had a girlfriend and am 31 years old, keep getting rejected) I have started performing my songs live at open mic sessions and I suck, I can't even do the thing I love the most well. I don't know what to do with myself. I am a big failure at everything I try. Sick of rejections and failures everywhere. I feel like I was a mistake being born into this world. My medication seems to not be working lately. Feeling so low.