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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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BBUser10 Do you let your loved ones read your posts ?
  • replies: 1

Hi just wondering how many of you tell the people closest to you that you post here ? I'm thinking about telling my wife I post here and that if it helps her she can read my posts ...... It's hard to tell someone close how you feel , but easier to po... View more

Hi just wondering how many of you tell the people closest to you that you post here ? I'm thinking about telling my wife I post here and that if it helps her she can read my posts ...... It's hard to tell someone close how you feel , but easier to pos about it to people going through the same cheers

BBUser10 Depressive episodes .... How to get through them without hurting wife
  • replies: 4

Hi Guys i am averaging 1 depressive episode per week anywhere from 4 hours to 2 days since kicking my meds 7 months ago. the other 5 days are great filled with closeness to my wife and I find it hard to remember what depression fills like , the BAM s... View more

Hi Guys i am averaging 1 depressive episode per week anywhere from 4 hours to 2 days since kicking my meds 7 months ago. the other 5 days are great filled with closeness to my wife and I find it hard to remember what depression fills like , the BAM something is said and triggers the black dog ! Im looking for advice of coping methods? at the moment I end up alienating my wife , she try's to talk to me when I start spiralling down checking if I'm ok but a lot of questions frustrating and end up snapping then I go through a stage of getting angry with the kids and her which ends in a row, the I get to the sad/crying phase when I climb under the covers listen to sad music and cry when this is done I feel physically drained and mope around for a few hours then it lifts. i can see my wife getting more and more worn down each time and it puts our releonship back a few steps every time ( we are trying to become close again and regain sex life after no sex on meds)...... Does anyone have similar issues ? Or advise on the best way to cope? Ideally I would like to live with this weekly episode without if affecting my family TIA

Tiny_tears Wow... I say thank you to you All..
  • replies: 11

Wow what can I say.. I have been on this site minamum a week.. And all I can say is wow, you all have helped me, it's hard to explain. I be found it hard to find some one to talk to that actually understands me, I hadn't found that in so many years t... View more

Wow what can I say.. I have been on this site minamum a week.. And all I can say is wow, you all have helped me, it's hard to explain. I be found it hard to find some one to talk to that actually understands me, I hadn't found that in so many years that I thought I was starting to go mad, bam one week with you guys and my attitude has changed, my view on life has changed. I'm even understanding i may not be as mad as I thought I was, I'm finding such positive attitudes and just helpful advice and information, I find I can be totally honest and express myself, and that's thanks to the broude range of experiences and minds, found in the forums here, Thankyou, everybody have their own situations going on, but we all stop and express and share, you are so positive and helpful, by doing that you are not just helping others, but also helping ourselves. tip of the day.. If you love and care for someone, u don't always have to agree with them, we are all Intilted to our opinions, but if you learn to understand them, they will learn to understand you. God bless

Tiny_tears Every things going wrong
  • replies: 11

I'm in my 30's and 3 years ago I spit from a long time relationship, he kept the kids due to me having to move into my car for a bit. I took it to court to get visits and I do, I see them every second weekend, but for the past 3 years I just haven't ... View more

I'm in my 30's and 3 years ago I spit from a long time relationship, he kept the kids due to me having to move into my car for a bit. I took it to court to get visits and I do, I see them every second weekend, but for the past 3 years I just haven't been able to make anything work. I always end up worse of at the end of the year then when it started. Last year ended with me living in a back packers and not really having much going for me. During the year I got a good paying job and a apartment and everything seemed to be going ok for a few months, but the apartment block was to noisy and was affecting my work so I left and moved in with a friend. Well not even a month later I lose my job, I lose my licence, and my house mate kicked me out all in a space of 3 months. Now I back living in my car with out a licence and I can't even see my kids. I'm extremely depressed and just feel sick all the time, I'm nasty and hurtful to people and I'm just not a nice person to be around. I didn't have a good childhood my parents bought me to wa as a kid and dumped me on the side of the road the day we go here and I haven't seen them since, I just feel like I'm a failure in life I can't do anything right i cant bare not seeing the kids they are only 6 n 8. And I feel like I've let them down so much. I suck at living life and I don't know what to do.

Chicken_Wings What do you say?
  • replies: 4

So the last couple of days have been down days after about a week or so of feeling great. I find myself fighting off tears and telling myself I can do this, I can beat it and I am strong. Sometimes I just try and psych myself up in my head, other tim... View more

So the last couple of days have been down days after about a week or so of feeling great. I find myself fighting off tears and telling myself I can do this, I can beat it and I am strong. Sometimes I just try and psych myself up in my head, other times I say literally it out loud to my boyfriend! "I'm going to beat this, I'm going to because I want to." I was wondering if anyone else does this? Does anyone else talk themselves into going out of the house or into not just slumping on the couch and giving up? And if so, what do you say? What gets you moving?

Lookingforpeace Feeling good... Then not.
  • replies: 8

I came across a quote about anxiety/depression the other day that said something along the lines of: when we (the "depressed") have a good day, our initial thought is not to enjoy it but to worry about how long it will last. sad but true. I have had ... View more

I came across a quote about anxiety/depression the other day that said something along the lines of: when we (the "depressed") have a good day, our initial thought is not to enjoy it but to worry about how long it will last. sad but true. I have had a few good days recently, which I know is a huge positive as I have barely had any good days this year, only to wake up the next day feeling crappy again. It amazes me how my moods can change so drastically from one day to the next. Why is that? On a good day, I almost forget what it's like to be depressed. This illness really is deceptive isn't it - it makes you think you're better and can't imagine how it felt before and then BAM, you remember again. This emptiness, lack of motivation, frustration... Just to go to bed and hope tomorrow is one of the good days. sorry for the rambling, just had to get my thoughts out there.

Mel_B An overwhelming feeling of sadness
  • replies: 9

For the last four or so weeks I have had an overwhelming feeling of sadness, that I just can’t overcome. I went and saw my GP who thought it was a level of depression I could manage with exercise and psychological intervention (I did not want to star... View more

For the last four or so weeks I have had an overwhelming feeling of sadness, that I just can’t overcome. I went and saw my GP who thought it was a level of depression I could manage with exercise and psychological intervention (I did not want to start taking medication). I have not yet seen the psychologist (waiting lists where I live) and despite exercising vigorously 4-5 times per week, the sadness has just gotten worse and worse. I’m having trouble sleeping, and crying frequently for no apparent reason. I’ve lost interest in eating, work, and am struggling to care for my children. I also have anxiety about things that ‘might' happen – I may be unemployed at the end of the financial year (but I may not). I went and saw my GP again yesterday and she strongly recommended I commence medication, which I did last night. I know that the medication will take several days/weeks to start having an effect, but can anybody suggest any self-help strategies in the meantime. I’m a person who likes to be in control of everything, and these feelings are just awful.

Tiny_tears Oh crap
  • replies: 2

Ok was watching free Willie this arvo and got a little tears in my eyes... Cozy I wanted to sit watch it with my boy... So I got outta my chair n took a breather.. Becouse I haven't seen my kid and I'm so screwed emotionally.. And I've been couch hop... View more

Ok was watching free Willie this arvo and got a little tears in my eyes... Cozy I wanted to sit watch it with my boy... So I got outta my chair n took a breather.. Becouse I haven't seen my kid and I'm so screwed emotionally.. And I've been couch hoping due to ( thread, nothing working) don't cry they say.. I said it's ok I'll go for a drive n clear my head.. Gave it 3/4 hours and went back.. House locked all the little bits I had locked inside.. Won't answer phone calls, haven't spoke since Willie was set free n I lost.. I'm done I'm done

justyou81 Hate so much being depressed
  • replies: 6

I live in Perth WA and I work full-time. I hate waking being depressed. I wish I had friends at work who are my friends. Actually I wish I had friends who I can trust and lean on. I hate being on my own. I try so dam hard to fit in. I sick of this ev... View more

I live in Perth WA and I work full-time. I hate waking being depressed. I wish I had friends at work who are my friends. Actually I wish I had friends who I can trust and lean on. I hate being on my own. I try so dam hard to fit in. I sick of this everytime I wake up.... argggghhhh.. please help me....

simmac Dysthemia - can anyone recommend a professional?
  • replies: 2

Hello, I'm in my mid-twenties and I have dysthymia (persistent mild depression), which has come about since I was a teenager. I'm wondering if anyone has this disorder and may be able to recommend a good psychologist (in Sydney) to speak to? I have s... View more

Hello, I'm in my mid-twenties and I have dysthymia (persistent mild depression), which has come about since I was a teenager. I'm wondering if anyone has this disorder and may be able to recommend a good psychologist (in Sydney) to speak to? I have seen a psychologist twice before, for anxiety, but I don't feel I got what I needed out of that psychologist's approach, I felt it was very short-term rather than long-term solution focused. I wonder if anyone has had a good experience with a psychologist or psychiatrist who helped them with dysthymia? It is something I keep putting off seeking help for, probably because it is so invisible in a way. With anxiety, I had panic attacks, those were very apparent symptoms that needed attention. With dysthymia, I kind of kept hoping things would get better, because it's not like I can't function or get out of bed. But for the last year I've actually struggled to cope. I feel worthless all the time. I have little to no friends. At work I struggle to smile and hide my sad days and I "feel down" very easily, it only takes a small mishap for me to go into what I call "The Well", I'm not sure if other people experience this, but it's like you're doing fine, walking along like normal, and then all of sudden someone says something (or forgets to say something) and you're not looking and you fall into the well, it's dark, practically no light, and only negative thoughts are there, and it's very heavy, it actually feels like an anchor weighing down your heart, and once you're down there it's a struggle to get back up. My co-workers must think I hate my job, but I don't, I just don't derive pleasure and excitement from anything in the way they do - and I've pretty much been this way since my teens. But I don't want to be a gloomy person. I would like to stop avoiding this problem and speak to someone about it, but to someone who will take it seriously and not dismiss it. I'd prefer a cognitive or talking therapy based approach. I've been trying for years to overcome it myself, but I've hit a complete wall and can't go any further. I'd really appreciate some help if anyone can offer advice on some good people to talk to, or tell me about strategies that have helped you? Thanks everyone.

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