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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.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 1

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

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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Mack93 Not sure why I am posting ....
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone. First time posting here and I'm not really sure why I am, only that I need some advice and after reading some stories on here nothing seemed to fit with mine. Basically I am 22, the last year has been pretty rough I guess, I've moved fro... View more

Hi everyone. First time posting here and I'm not really sure why I am, only that I need some advice and after reading some stories on here nothing seemed to fit with mine. Basically I am 22, the last year has been pretty rough I guess, I've moved from NSW to Melbourne and then back again when I realised I wasn't happy there with my partner. My partner and I have been together for two years, and are still happy together, living in Melbourne was just very stressful considering we were both doing jobs we hated and had no friends or family there. We have now moved back home and are living at his parents' house (which I hate, we are soon moving to my parents' house) to save money while we both go back to uni. The first degree I did I hated, so I'm going back to do what I wanted to do all along. I'm fortunate enough to be able to go to uni (twice), have supportive parents and partner, we're ok financially (not great as we are both students but we earn enough to keep us going) so I'm not sure why I feel like this. The last 12 months or so I have just felt so sad all the time. I feel unmotivated to do anything, whenever I'm at home I just lay in bed all day or watch tv and don't have any motivation for doing anything. I am always tired, I went to a doctor about being so tired around 2 years ago and he told me I was Vitamin B deficient and to take supplements, I have ever since and it got better for a while but now it's worse than ever so I feel like it must be something different. I'm so tired that I have to have a nap every afternoon because I physically cannot stay awake. Again, I don't know why I'm posting here except that I've ruled out every other possibility. I don't feel like I have a reason to be depressed but I can't ignore the fact that I am just plain sad all the time for no good reason. The last year I have been saying to myself "I'll be happy when we move to Melbourne", "I'll be happy when I move home", "I'll be happy when I quit this job that I hate", "I'll be happy when I lose weight", but I've done all those things and I'm no happier. Just wanting some advice basically and to talk to people who have been through similar things. Sorry for the long post. X

Learningcurve New and need advice please
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am a new member. I have recently been diagnosed with depression. My first ever experience with depression happened when my eldest was 15mths old (he is now almost 16). I used to cry all the time and came close to leaving my hubby and child. I c... View more

Hi, I am a new member. I have recently been diagnosed with depression. My first ever experience with depression happened when my eldest was 15mths old (he is now almost 16). I used to cry all the time and came close to leaving my hubby and child. I called hubby at work on a particularly bad day and said I need help. I was put on medication for a couple of mths then came off it to have our 2nd child. Since then I would often have times of feeling down, but as I have always worked part-time since having the kids (2 boys aged 16 & 13) I found using my days off while the kids were at school was enough to get me through. Since that episode 15 years ago I have never confided in anyone (including hubby) about my down times. Last July I started a new role full-time and since then have not been coping, I cry all the time, mood swings and just generally feel really down. In early November I finally sought help from a doctor who put me on medication. I found I went downhill even more and very quickly for those couple of mths on the medication that I took myself off it. I have seen a psychologist twice now & my next appt is mid Feb. the psychologist recommended a 2nd opinion for my medication which I recently have done and am now on a new medication. I have a family history of Bipolar on my Dad's side. I honestly don't know if I have bipolar, I can get very obsessed about projects/ideas where it controls me for days/weeks to then just give up on it without seeing it through. The psychologist has not given me a diagnosis of anything as yet (not sure if they even do this). I believe I have a social anxiety also, as I get really anxious and feel like people don't like me. So tend to want to be on my own if I can. My main concerns are as I mentioned I haven't told hubby yet, I don't know why but I get really scared and nervous when I try to get up the courage to tell him. Also I know my work is not helping, but we are just starting to get ahead financially so would feel so guilty and blame myself if I had to cut back my hours but I do know if I don't start improving will have to consider this option. Any advice on telling partners especially since I have kept it from everyone for so long would be appreciated. I feel so alone and terrified about what's ahead.

Kargroth Hi im Kargroth and I have D.A.D ( Depressive Anxiety Disorder )
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone i am new here my name is Kargroth i am 27 yrs young and i have recently been diagnosed withDepressive Anxiety Disorder and Insomnia. recently in 2011 i lost my father, lost my job and recently come out of a three year marriage, yes i k... View more

Hello everyone i am new here my name is Kargroth i am 27 yrs young and i have recently been diagnosed withDepressive Anxiety Disorder and Insomnia. recently in 2011 i lost my father, lost my job and recently come out of a three year marriage, yes i know they say bad things come in three's. i am just writing to find out if anyone else has the same disorder as me to be able to relate to this disorder to be able to chat with. it seems of late since leaving my wife of only 3 years, everyday is a struggle. very had to find the motivation to find a new job and im currently also finding it hard to find myself new housing as i am only on a low government income. I have a just recently turnt 4 yr old daughter whom i regard as my everything. i have only seen her 3 times since i split up from my wife. (1) Christmas Day.. 26th December (2) Day before her Birthday 13th January (3) Yesterday 30th January I am trying to negotiate with my ex wife to see her more often. It hurts me more-so when i have to leave and my daughter doesn't want me leave and don't understand that "daddy no longer lives at home with mummy" i often find myself crying myself to sleep at night. ( when i do sleep ) Thank you for taking the time to read my story

HC247 Struggling.. But keep telling myself it's not serious
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, Long time admirer of beyondblue, first time user of a forum.. I've never really thought of myself as depressed, but looking back over the last 12 months, it seems likely that I am. Nearly 18 months ago, I started having problems with a c... View more

Hi everyone, Long time admirer of beyondblue, first time user of a forum.. I've never really thought of myself as depressed, but looking back over the last 12 months, it seems likely that I am. Nearly 18 months ago, I started having problems with a colleague. It took me a while to realise there was actually an issue, as the problems were in the form of passive aggressive emails which I initially took very little notice of. Fast forward 15 months, and my generally happy self had finally been worn down to the point I had to make a complaint. My employer has sent me to a psychologist, and I have had two sessions with him. To be honest, I don't know if I'm getting much out of them. I noticed my mood had changed - probably over the last six months. I am not as confident as I was, my motivation has decreased and I frequently have no energy. I may have been better able to deal with this, had I had a little more support from my partner. When things at work began to get problematic, I tried talking to him, but he seemed not to realise I was attempting to have a serious conversation with him, and interrupted me. This happened several times and I just gave up trying to talk to him. I feel like we never talk about anything of any substance. We started having problems of our own which, to be honest, had been brewing for awhile. Between Christmas and January, I was feeling quite a lot better, but I am back in a black hole again now, due to an issue with my partner a couple of days ago. I feel like if my problems were just related to work OR home I could deal with them, but I am feeling unbearably sad - it is the only way to describe it. I feel like I am a fraction of my former self and I don't know how to get back to where I was. I guess in posting on here, I am wondering if anyone might have some practical tips for 'getting back to happy,' and also getting a relationship back to a happy, but perhaps more open, state. I know compared to a lot of other people's posts, these things seem quite trivial. I think it is for this reason I have just tried to figure out how to deal with things on my own, but it is becoming quite apparent that I need some help. Would really like to hear if anyone has felt the same, and what might have helped them. Thank you.

Shiny Ashamed of my depression
  • replies: 8

I don't have severe clinical depression. I am able to get up and work part time in my own business, and cook most nights for three teenage boys. I am a single parent, my ex-husband having passed last year after four years of pain and suffering follow... View more

I don't have severe clinical depression. I am able to get up and work part time in my own business, and cook most nights for three teenage boys. I am a single parent, my ex-husband having passed last year after four years of pain and suffering following a heart attack. He was only 49. For four years the kids and I have been in a traumatic limbo with my ex having brain damage and DVTs and cellulitis and other issues. With his passing late last year so many people have said "Now you are all free to move on" etc. They mean well. And it is true we are now in a place to move on with our lives. After 4 years of carrying my children through this I am now exhausted. I find myself sleeping a lot. I'll get up in the morning and make my youngest breakfast and get him off to school with a healthily lunch etc ... then when he's gone I'll go back to bed until he comes home again. This happens at least twice a week. I feel ashamed.My life is not that bad. My boys are healthy and after a really hard time the two older ones are now in Uni. My business is doing OK. I have to be careful with money and I have learnt to budget! I have good friends and a dysfunctional but somewhat loving family in another state. I have even met a lovely man who has held my hand through this ordeal for some time now.So why do I go to bed. When I know I should go for a walk or do the food shop or wash the floors? I feel like I am just doing what I need to do to get through and I feel ashamed of my sadness ... I don't want to talk about it to people anymore because I feel like I'm just boring those who care about me. After last year hitting my rock bottom I started to see a psychologist and psychiatrist to help me. I went on anti depressants just after my ex husband's heart attack and put on 10 kilos in 6 months...one day I would love to come off them. Some days I feel fine and feel like I am going to be OK. And then there are days when I just feel so sad. Anyway ... thank you for letting me share.

pamela82 new and in need of some friends
  • replies: 3

My name is pamela and I need some help. I suffer with depression and no one around me understands what its like. I am married but my husband is not at all supportive he thinks its all a joke and that my Dr will just say its anything to get money. Whe... View more

My name is pamela and I need some help. I suffer with depression and no one around me understands what its like. I am married but my husband is not at all supportive he thinks its all a joke and that my Dr will just say its anything to get money. When I try yot tell him stuff he just rolls his eyes and go here we go again. I have 2 children and they are the only reason i get up each morning. They are the ones who hold me here on earth without them I don't think I would be here. I need people who knows how it feels tosuffer in silence Thanks pamela 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;}

Xtron the struggle gets worse
  • replies: 1

hiive been suffering from depression for most of my life but didn't realise it until I was diagnosed roughly 3 years ago, since then I have been on medication and saw a counsellor at one point. it's getting to the point where I feel nothing helps and... View more

hiive been suffering from depression for most of my life but didn't realise it until I was diagnosed roughly 3 years ago, since then I have been on medication and saw a counsellor at one point. it's getting to the point where I feel nothing helps and I feel like imuseless, everyday feels like a struggle and ive found ive become very distant from family and friends avoiding any social interaction where I can. theres even days I cannot bring myself to go to work and even got fired from my previous job for that reason, I got a new job but still am finding it hard to get up to go. and the past few weeks I feel I have fallen deeper in the hole of depression, its a struggle to even be happy and it seems I have to keep a fake happiness appearance to not let people know. for the past year on and off I even turned to smoking pot to try and suppress these intense feelings even though I know its only making things worse. im trying to cut drugs out and seek real help, ive let this depression get out of hand and it wasn't until today I realised I really need to seek further help. I went to my gp to get help with a mental help plan but he didn't seem to want to do anything so im now searching for a new gp.is there any advise out there to try and keep it under control? its to a point where I have no control over my own feelings and found myself balling my eyes out today for no apparent reason and couldn't shake that feeling for a few hours until my wife came home from work to comfort me and help seek support. thank you 800x600 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 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* 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:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}

29fwa help, I'm just not improving.
  • replies: 3

I've suffered from depression and anxiety for a while now, I had really bad postnatal depression after my son. I just haven't seemed to get better. I take tablets and have tried multiple ones and these are the best ones so far. I've been having littl... View more

I've suffered from depression and anxiety for a while now, I had really bad postnatal depression after my son. I just haven't seemed to get better. I take tablets and have tried multiple ones and these are the best ones so far. I've been having little episodes alot lately like always being down, hate myself, my weight, my life. My oh does fifo 8&6 so its a great swing and we have a 2yr old. I'm really angry all the time and just not happy but I really don't know what's wrong with me. I have had several counsillors and speak to get things of my chest as I've lost my son in 2008 and had a crap time from about 14yrs old to 22yrs old as I was on drugs and in bad relationships and abusive ones. I have not touched drugs for at least 4-5 years am not interested in them. I just don't know what's the problem my past does haunt me as I'm an over thinker and a worrier and always have reoccurring worries about one of my exes. I used to be confident and happy but i could cry at a heartbeat. I drink alcohol because it makes me feel good (at the time) I've had a few episodes we're i actually drink too much and lose it, always in front of my loved ones. It's like I blame them I'm not sure at all. In saying that i drink maybe once or twice a week, but when i do i write myself off and wake up feeling sorry and saying sorry for what I've done. I'm going to stop it as its getting beyond a joke as over a fn ago i was so drunk i tried to take my life. I know I'm a good person and i want to be strong for my son and my partner but I'm just so sad. Thanks 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;}

Alistairs Depression- makes it near impossible to be around others.
  • replies: 4

Ok just throwing words out on to paper.. Here goes. I have suffered from social anxiety for many years, since I was at uni when I was 18. Now I am 28 (eeesh). Sometimes I think it is the case of the chicken or the egg in terms of depression leading t... View more

Ok just throwing words out on to paper.. Here goes. I have suffered from social anxiety for many years, since I was at uni when I was 18. Now I am 28 (eeesh). Sometimes I think it is the case of the chicken or the egg in terms of depression leading to social anxiety or the other way around. For example, if I experience depression, it makes it very hard to be around friends or family because I lose interest in connecting. It is really hard to talk, string sentences together, laugh, keep up in conversation. And it is a drain, because cognitively you are not alert (really bad short term memory) and it is hard to muster the fake enthusiasm to have anything to say. I find that to be a real battle, when I am deeply depressed, I lose interest in most things and it is very hard to connect and feel passionate about these things. When it is so hard to talk, it places a big strain on relationships, significantly when meeting new people and when you are so low on energy, the likelihood of people not understanding why you are withdrawn (even trying as hard as possible to put on a happy face) is high, at least for me. I notice that my relationships are really strained when I feel depressed and it makes me embarrassed. I can't connect with my friends and family, let alone strangers. And then you become anxious about socialising because it often doesn't go very well, it's draining or you come across disinterested. This anxiety then makes you feel more depressed because you feel trapped in not being able to connect. I know this sounds quite defeatist, but this is what I am struggling with at the moment. I am experiencing depression because I am finding it hard to connect with people and this also fuels anxiety in knowing that speaking to people is often not going well because I am so clamped down cognitively by depression (not being able to concentrate or muster up excitement). I feel really trapped by this and it is hard to get out of this cycle of loneliness of wanting to connect with others, but knowing that you are not in the state of being able to truly connect because of the fog. This awkwardness leads to a lot of rejection. Which encourages me to stay where it is safe. Especially seeing as though I have pushed many people away and have caused myself to become quite isolated. Just thoughts on the page. Sorry if it is long winded but I got it at least out of my head.

MusicSciencelearn Work-Money-Family-Responsibilities
  • replies: 5

Hi - new to the forum - hope to get a few ideas from the group.I've was diagnosed with chronic depression about 8months ago and suspected of having it since late primary school (22years ago?). Due to severe bullying through-out school, I developed po... View more

Hi - new to the forum - hope to get a few ideas from the group.I've was diagnosed with chronic depression about 8months ago and suspected of having it since late primary school (22years ago?). Due to severe bullying through-out school, I developed poor social skills and was quick to anger; getting into fights regularly (more like me crying and swinging punches). I consequently used video gaming to hide from life's anxieties/fear of people [currently working on reducing gaming - taken a long time to connect with how problematic it is] Maybe took this long to get diagnosed due tochronic low-level depressionbut also having a child recently to really see how sensitive I was to stress (especially baby's crying).Managing better with medication for 3months now - might be due for a dose increase. Been very stressful lately with suicidal thoughts creeping back in - moving house for work (both of us) and low on money. I've been slow to look for short-term work -both out of fear of 'blokey' workplaces and my resume screams Temporary! I'm a new casual educator (looking for full time now) so I haven't had much work over the holiday, except working for my Dad’s trade business. Guess it's been a hard road coping with being a dad (love my daughter but living up to the responsibilities I've never really had before - both sustained work / income / family / relationship + my own time that isn't Gaming...Luckily I don't drink very much (2 drinks a WEEK) or use drugs very often or have ever of that matter (am I in the minority?) – someone accused me of being all straight-edge once J I guess I'd like to hear what others have experienced - I know comparing isn’t that helpful so I'll try not to 'measure up'.Also tips on managing gaming - motivating myself or goal setting as well - any ideas on that would be appreciated. Any advice I'd like to hear - I'm better now to have written it down (given my girlfriend too much stress already) so thanks for reading and hope to hear from someone. Cheersbeyondblue'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.