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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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willbewillbe What do I do now??
  • replies: 2

Hi. I am a 30 year old male who has for a long period of time suffered severely with depression, and until only very recently realised I have possibly been more so affected by anxiety. Things have been coming to a head for a while and exploded a coup... View more

Hi. I am a 30 year old male who has for a long period of time suffered severely with depression, and until only very recently realised I have possibly been more so affected by anxiety. Things have been coming to a head for a while and exploded a couple of weeks ago when I attempted suicide.At the time I felt I had nothing, I had moved to follow my partner of 3 months to a new town, and basically dropped my entire life to start a new one. My decision. Nobody elses. Things had began going wrong from the time I moved, I had contact with my own children stopped by their mother, I have struggled to settle in my new home, didnt like the job I had and the bliss of the new love began to fade mainly I would suggest amongst my failing happiness. A heated argument and talk of a split left me feeling I had nothing left....hopeless and a fool. Foolishly I attempted to end it all. Thankfully I was found and I have recovered well after a few days in ICU. I know what I did was wrong. I know it isnt the answer. I know what I need to do to mke sure I never end up in that situation again. I am taking all the appropriate steps. My main issue is that my partner is struggling with what has happened and is pushing me away. Initially she was very supportive and I am forever grateful and thankful.....I realise how cruel and horrible it must have been for her to go through....she seen me in a bad way. Problem is that now she says she doesnt trust me, has no idea who I am and doesnt want this for her life. I love her and feel we are meant to be. Can I support what she needs to be feeling or is this a case of me needing to pull away myself to protect my own mind and safety.......I am struggling with being shunned and hate the idea I have someone who is perhaps only with me because they are afraid I will hurt myself. I dont know what to do...can someone please give me some insight....i fear this will push me back into my mind. 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;}

bigbosco Can't get on top of life
  • replies: 2

I am retired and comfortable with a good Wife, we have been married for over 40 years. I had heart surgery in 2006 and last year I had a ICD implanted. I feel useless and cannot get on top of living with this condition. I know all the things that I a... View more

I am retired and comfortable with a good Wife, we have been married for over 40 years. I had heart surgery in 2006 and last year I had a ICD implanted. I feel useless and cannot get on top of living with this condition. I know all the things that I am lucky to be alive etc. etc. doesn't help. I wake in the morning just black and that can last some time, it also can hit me for no reason and for no reason and make my life pointless. There are times that I am hit with just anger for no reason, not anger that I would hurt anyone just anger at life. Finding it hard to deal with

Blue_Nightingale Our constant passenger
  • replies: 9

Hi guys. This is my first time here- I'm not sure what I am hoping to find here, but thought I would give it a go.I have battled with depression since my teens and more prevalently post natally and beyond. I am on anti-depressants and, try to meditat... View more

Hi guys. This is my first time here- I'm not sure what I am hoping to find here, but thought I would give it a go.I have battled with depression since my teens and more prevalently post natally and beyond. I am on anti-depressants and, try to meditate regularly, have seen a psych on and off - but mainly try to navigate it all myself. Recently I am just exhausted of my motivation, drive and will. I just want to sleep. Basic tasks are almost impossible. The energy it takes to put on a strong and happy facade at work and around friends and family is wearing thin. I just want to hibernate. I don't want to do anything. Not a thing. Ive been here before, but struggle to see how to pull myself out, what to allow myself and where to push myself? It is overwhelming. No amount of positive thinking or effort helps now.... It is all consuming. I feel it in my stomach, in my chest, in my heart and in my head. It isn't fair. I don't want to share this with friends, my husband knows but there is only so much I want to unload on him...... I feel like there is no one to talk to..... So I suppose that's why I'm here. Mi am very used to this just being a part of who I am.... But sometimes it's just too much. 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.

HA1 Feelings & Social Interactions
  • replies: 8

Why is it that whenever I say something, whether written or spoke, and I don't get the exact response that I expected (or wanted?) I have this feeling of having offended that person, or that I have said something totally idiotic? Has this to do with ... View more

Why is it that whenever I say something, whether written or spoke, and I don't get the exact response that I expected (or wanted?) I have this feeling of having offended that person, or that I have said something totally idiotic? Has this to do with my mental illness or is it something else altogether? Any thoughts from anyone? K

Gonebush Can't talk......
  • replies: 4

Most times it's so bad, talking is the last thing I want to do... Everyone says this is wrong but hiding for a week or two seems like the only way out for me! ps the mess don't help

Most times it's so bad, talking is the last thing I want to do... Everyone says this is wrong but hiding for a week or two seems like the only way out for me! ps the mess don't help

GabJH Depression came back and I'm lost
  • replies: 8

Hi, I'm a young academic who is trying to fight depression on my own. I've fought this before in high school and never thought it would come back for another tournament. I know the signs and they scare me. I'm too ashamed to tell my fiance. My work i... View more

Hi, I'm a young academic who is trying to fight depression on my own. I've fought this before in high school and never thought it would come back for another tournament. I know the signs and they scare me. I'm too ashamed to tell my fiance. My work is slowly crushing me and I am continually thinking that I've made my parter sad or mad when I haven't and he isn't. I go from super excited to downright miserable all in a day. It's a cycle I don't know how to get out from. I don't have many friends where I live and none I can really talk to. I hope by posting here there might be someone who's in the same situation as me or has been and could give me some insight into how to Start climbing back out of the ring.

OhmeOhmy Finding My Way Back From Isolation
  • replies: 5

Hi Everyone, This is my first post and I am doing this as a way of helping myself out of this depressive state of being. I am so very tired and feel like I just want to stay in my bedroom and sleep however I am a sole parent to 3 wonderful children (... View more

Hi Everyone, This is my first post and I am doing this as a way of helping myself out of this depressive state of being. I am so very tired and feel like I just want to stay in my bedroom and sleep however I am a sole parent to 3 wonderful children (22months, 11yrs and 16yrs) and I must function not only to meet my responsibilities but because I love my children and want to be the best that I can be for them and myself. I have isolated myself socially for a very long time. I realise I need to makes steps to remedy this and recently started going to AA meetings however I find them overwhelming on every level. I have been sober for 1 month and 17 days and I am grateful AA and intend to keep going however I haven't been for 3 weeks now and am trying to work up the courage to go back. I have always used alcohol and pot to deal with depression since I was a teenager and it has only ever made things worse so I am determined to walk down a new path from now on. I thought that by talking to people online it may be a start to finding my way back from the isolation I have dealt myself over the years and might lead me to build up the courage to reach out to people in the real world. I'm not going to hide who I am anymore, I have to be honest with myself and others so I can move forward. Does anyone have any advice about how to form new connections with people after actively avoiding connections for so long?

nataya all this help but getting nowhere
  • replies: 3

I have a great team of help who look after me. I have a case manager and a peer support worker, I am currently waiting for a new psychologist but that may come when the dbt group starts I am not sure on that one. I still feel iI am getting nowhere ev... View more

I have a great team of help who look after me. I have a case manager and a peer support worker, I am currently waiting for a new psychologist but that may come when the dbt group starts I am not sure on that one. I still feel iI am getting nowhere even with all this support I am also on medication. I feel all I have learnt is what I can and can not say due to there requirements. I feel I can not be honest about my latest plan, but yet I am still trying to get all this help. I am loosing hope and fast I want to see that this is worth all my time and energy I put in but it feels like it's all been worth nothing I just need some hope but I have lost all mine....... 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.

Ashmad Many years of depression, but it does not rule me
  • replies: 4

I have suffered depression for many years (8yrs). I have been to the lowest point you can go and have come back from it. I view my illness now as the equivalent of diabetes there is no cure, but I have learned to live and manage it. It does not rule ... View more

I have suffered depression for many years (8yrs). I have been to the lowest point you can go and have come back from it. I view my illness now as the equivalent of diabetes there is no cure, but I have learned to live and manage it. It does not rule me I rule it. The thoughts are just that. It had taken me many year and countless hours of treatment and a few hospital admission to come to this conclusion, finally I have. There is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. I hope someone reads this that has no hope, but believe me there is. I tried to harm myself thank god I did not take. I am now working On myself every day and believe there is a better world out there. My goal in life now is to help people in need and to explains experience. Life is worth living and enjoying

redbrigade Breakdowns - what are the warning signs & what are the symptoms?
  • replies: 7

Dear all, I've recently been having experiences which are (not ironically) increasing my anxiety that I might be approaching a breakdown. A week or so ago I had my mental healthcare plan renewed at my GP. We didn't really discuss much that might have... View more

Dear all, I've recently been having experiences which are (not ironically) increasing my anxiety that I might be approaching a breakdown. A week or so ago I had my mental healthcare plan renewed at my GP. We didn't really discuss much that might have been obvious triggers, but afterwards, when I got into my car I just started crying and struggled to stop. I've been googling for information but can't really find any that isn't vague. Perhaps that's just the way this sort of thing goes, but I'm really trying to understand what the warning signs of a breakdown are, and what the symptoms are, because knowing - I guess - is half the battle. Cheers