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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 chats on this Forum having 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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pixiee I have so many reasons to keep my chin up but I just can't, I wonder if there is hope?
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am new here. And I am looking for advice please? I have seen so many counsellors over the years, I don't even remember all their names. I feel like I am unlucky, it is as if I feel the world is hunting me down and I can't escape it. Depression ... View more

Hi, I am new here. And I am looking for advice please? I have seen so many counsellors over the years, I don't even remember all their names. I feel like I am unlucky, it is as if I feel the world is hunting me down and I can't escape it. Depression just lurks in the corners of me mind, haunting me. My mother refused to leave her abusive husband, who hurt her and myself for years. I had to end the relationship with her 2 months ago and I miss her so much. I feel as if I have abandoned her, and she had a son with this abusive man who I also feel I have abandoned. I have a deadly auto-immune disease waiting in my body waiting to strike up again. I have so many reasons to keep my chin up but I just can't, I wonder if there is hope? A better future? Does it get better? Will I be able to sleep without nightmares? Can my mind get better? I just got engaged in January and I wonder if I should delay the wedding or continue to see it through? Can I put this incredible man, now fiance through this? Will he be happy and content living with a morbid wife? So many people don't understand depression, and I am hoping that someone out there does. If so, do you have a hope to get you through? How do you get through the day, what motivates you to keep going?

macuser2017 No work, no friends and wife sick for many weeks
  • replies: 8

I work for a consulting company and still have a job. But have had nothing to do for many many months and very afraid the company might fire me any day. I tried confronting my manager to ask if I would be fired but he always keeps quiet and does not ... View more

I work for a consulting company and still have a job. But have had nothing to do for many many months and very afraid the company might fire me any day. I tried confronting my manager to ask if I would be fired but he always keeps quiet and does not say anything (he is based on the US and does not want to talk on phone and will only answer via chat). The few Australian managers I know do not respond either. Have been applying for many months & do not even get an interview. I have revised my CV more than dozen times. Being in IT for 17 years I thought my skills were valuable... Wife has been sick for 2 months now and wont get out of bed most of the day...feel sad for her since she is very active and loves the sun but is not able to go out at all. She is also over anxious and every time she speaks to me it's only a "i'm in pain...". Doctors as usual have a 2-3 month wait everywhere. Kids are young and have a demanding school life. Wake up (though there is no desire to do so)...get kids to school...do the basic household chores (dishes/laundry/tidying)..look for work all day on internet....pick up kids...do some homework or take them to swimming etc.... Feeling let down and defeated. thought many times about ending it...if not for my kids.. I have no friends or family other than wife/kids...no one to speak to talk about anything...just keep to myself and ride the day...i tried talking to my wife about anxiety of not having work and afraid of loosing job, but she is more worried about her pain so I don't talk to her anymore about it....

Rubyrose Feeling beaten
  • replies: 15

Hi im a newbie to this site, I have battled depression among other issues for some years. I have been very well but in the last month or so have been on a downhill slide. I am a single mum of 3 beautiful girls but find I am very limited to being able... View more

Hi im a newbie to this site, I have battled depression among other issues for some years. I have been very well but in the last month or so have been on a downhill slide. I am a single mum of 3 beautiful girls but find I am very limited to being able to work atm, this has left me lonely, isolated and feeling unmotivated and just want to sleep and do nothing, as I have just moved to another area and cannot really get out I am finding strategies of meeting new ppl yet alone friends very difficult. If anyone has any suggestions or wants to be friends it would be greatly appreciated. I just want to get the spring back in my step to be the best person I can be but I'm not doing that very well

Tom87 Motivation is hard to come by
  • replies: 5

Hi, I have been dealing with depression for 10 years off and on but in the last year or so it has gotten worse. I feel tired a lot of the time and don't have much motivation to do anything. I am studying at university and I often find it hard to even... View more

Hi, I have been dealing with depression for 10 years off and on but in the last year or so it has gotten worse. I feel tired a lot of the time and don't have much motivation to do anything. I am studying at university and I often find it hard to even get to class. I am on anti depressants and have seen a few psychologists about my problems but it only seems to help for a week or so before returning to how it was before. I have tried CBT and ACT and they do help but I feel like I need something else to help me get up and start living my life again. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what I should expect from my anti depressants, when it might be time to try a new one and any other tips I can try?

Kittyg Stuck in my own horrible head
  • replies: 23

Hi there, I am desperately hoping I can find someone who has suffered in the same way I do or can offer some advice. It’s a really hard thing to describe but I will try my best:I have a problem of constant negative and depressive thoughts. I have a g... View more

Hi there, I am desperately hoping I can find someone who has suffered in the same way I do or can offer some advice. It’s a really hard thing to describe but I will try my best:I have a problem of constant negative and depressive thoughts. I have a great life, a good job, beautiful family and a great boyfriend, but can’t stop my conscious thoughts going around & around. They aren’t really centered around anything in particular, but I seem to have gotten into the habit of constantly being aware of my negative thoughts kind of thing. Like I can’t stop my mind thinking or searching for something negative. For instance if I am outside going for a peaceful walk I will think negatively, if I am at work I think negatively. As soon as a I find myself even coming close to enjoying myself, my mind ticks back to searching for something negative. I suppose the only real basis of my thoughts is “what is happiness, are you feeling happy right now? What is the point anyway?”. I used to love working out but now I struggle to even go to the gym because it allows too much time in my own head. I would rather be in bed reading or watch a movie because at least then I can find some escape…. It’s such a hard thing to describe and I don’t think I am doing a very good job at it, but it’s like I have lost the capability to just let my mind just drift off into a day dream, experience happiness on its own or ever just relax . I am always consciously fighting with my own mind. It’s sooo exhausting and most days I can’t wait to get to sleep so I can finally let my mind go. When I wake up I automatically welcome the negativity and fighting back in. Some days if I really let it get to me I get really really depressed and even suicide thoughts sneak in. I would never actually do that, but sometimes I think it would just be easier... I have seen a psychologist who didn’t do much at all except tell me to practice mindfulness. I have been trying, and meditation seems to work when I am actually in the process of doing it, but as soon as I’m finished my usual racing negative thoughts begin again. It really is the most frustrating habit I have gotten myself into and I seriously have no idea how to allow myself to let it go. I have read up about how you should accept the thoughts and let them go n all that, but so far it just isn’t helping.I wish I could go back to before all these messed up thought patterns and be the happy careful girl I used to be :'( beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Dinosaur_duck Depression desperation!
  • replies: 3

Im new here, but I just needed this out...I'm so confused but I'm finally admitting to myself today I'm depressed...I know I need to see someone but that is gonna be near impossible today and our local hospital is useless...I feel like I must be the ... View more

Im new here, but I just needed this out...I'm so confused but I'm finally admitting to myself today I'm depressed...I know I need to see someone but that is gonna be near impossible today and our local hospital is useless...I feel like I must be the reason my marriage of nearly 6 years is broken down....my husband doesn't appear to care and has been pushing me away (and telling me to stop pushing him away...I'm not though...at least I don't think I am)...I can be curled up on the floor crying an my husband would appear angry that I was crying and ask me "what are you doing?"but now we are separated....his decision....not mine.....I'm not coping well today....as I realised this morning all our mutual friends appear to be talking to him and ignoring me....I'm feeling so alone...I tried to voice this to my husband when he came to pick up our son and he just looked at me and called me stupid...I can't do anything right anyway!writing this down it seems I've been conditioned into being depressed, and I dunno how much truth there could be to that...I know my side may be bias but I need it out! I feel like I'm eating my time here and I'm just a pain to everyone i just feel like no matter what it's never gonna get better.....I'm gonna be like this forever....

Mollymoo53 2 steps forward 1 step back
  • replies: 5

I don't feel like I am getting any better, my antidepressants were changed as the ones I was taking were causing all sorts of side effects I have been on the new ones for 5 days now . My sessions with the counsellor have been hard and I leave them fe... View more

I don't feel like I am getting any better, my antidepressants were changed as the ones I was taking were causing all sorts of side effects I have been on the new ones for 5 days now . My sessions with the counsellor have been hard and I leave them feeling good, however, last night I seemed to have a relapse and had suicidal thoughts and spent most of the night crying the same as I am doing now. I know Im supposed to do things however, I don't want to do anything. beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

chloe33 I need a distraction
  • replies: 6

I hurt all over. I don't really know what else to say. I've tried, but cannot seem to find a solution. Everything feels like it is too much. Who has felt like they're done with it all but then pulled through?

I hurt all over. I don't really know what else to say. I've tried, but cannot seem to find a solution. Everything feels like it is too much. Who has felt like they're done with it all but then pulled through?

scarlet_dove Has anyone experienced disassociation?
  • replies: 2

Can anyone share with me their experience with disassociation? I've recently learned that that thing I do where I space out, or "go elsewhere" and have all these blank spots, has a name. Is disassociation bad? Is it a symptom of something else? What ... View more

Can anyone share with me their experience with disassociation? I've recently learned that that thing I do where I space out, or "go elsewhere" and have all these blank spots, has a name. Is disassociation bad? Is it a symptom of something else? What can I do?

kezza21 Everthing is a challenge
  • replies: 7

Hi my name is kerrie. Nothing seems to go right for me I moved to another suburb 8 years ago and since then everything seems to be going wrong. I got married which ended after 2 years due to my husband's intravenous drug use and DV. I moved house the... View more

Hi my name is kerrie. Nothing seems to go right for me I moved to another suburb 8 years ago and since then everything seems to be going wrong. I got married which ended after 2 years due to my husband's intravenous drug use and DV. I moved house then met someone else we were together for 1 1/2 years which also ended due to his alcohol addiction ; DV and controlling attitude which only ended one month ago. Now I have decided to move back closer to my family. But I lost my licence for a month so this makes everything so much harder. I just want to move with my 4 children and start a fresh life but nothing seems to go right I applied for a house last week and didn't get it my house is packed ready to go but I feel I am sinking further into depression I now have no motivation at all I just want to sleep all day I don't feel like going out or doing anything. it would just be nice if everything wasn't such a challenge and things started to go right for me for once.