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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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Voice_Mail What to do?
  • replies: 6

I'm supposed to be looking after my elderly grandmother for a week from this Thursday, but my depression is very bad at the moment and I feel like I can't even look after myself, let alone have someone else relying on me. Getting out of bed, having a... View more

I'm supposed to be looking after my elderly grandmother for a week from this Thursday, but my depression is very bad at the moment and I feel like I can't even look after myself, let alone have someone else relying on me. Getting out of bed, having a shower or getting dressed are hard enough at the moment. I don't know what I should do or how I'm going to cope. I've already had two panic attacks just thinking about it coming up.

No_one Can't find decent help
  • replies: 7

Ok so my life's a mess my nan died in February more like a mother to me than anything I have female problems on top and keep getting knock backs for a gono appointment I have no money so help is hard to find and waiting lists are over a year I'm worr... View more

Ok so my life's a mess my nan died in February more like a mother to me than anything I have female problems on top and keep getting knock backs for a gono appointment I have no money so help is hard to find and waiting lists are over a year I'm worried if I wait a yr for gono I'll already be gone, I suffer anxiety untreated for most of my life but now I think my grief has sparked it into overdrive it's now September I've lost the whole yr and don't really care I'm getting aggressive impatient and I feel I need help, doctor just refers me around and I get nothing no help at all in the end what do poor people do for help ? I'm losing my mind I just want to function again, please don't say have you got friends or fam that support you . No I don't I've been alone for many years it was just me and nan now it's just me and I don't feel I belong anywhere I'm 31 live in Melb am overweight lonely depressed feeling insane does loneliness affect people like that I'm unsure. P.s I've done the mental health plan and am waiting for an appointment with some fresh outta uni student who will think I'm nuts cause I've never spoken too or had a friend since kinder. And over the years I've seen the health care system fail so many who seek help where to go what to do is the question I spose, sorry if it's a jumble first time here

zamir Depressed all my known life
  • replies: 3

Hi. I am 35 yrs old. Immigrant from Pakistan. since i was 10 years old i was bullied in school, by classmates, teachers and neighbours. As growing up in pakistan, people over do not know even the word "Bully". but bullying was not the only thing that... View more

Hi. I am 35 yrs old. Immigrant from Pakistan. since i was 10 years old i was bullied in school, by classmates, teachers and neighbours. As growing up in pakistan, people over do not know even the word "Bully". but bullying was not the only thing that contributed to my depression, i guess i inherited it, but bullying enhanced my already depressed nature. I never knew that depression is an illness, till i arrived to australia 10 years ago. Now knowing that Depression is an illness, made it a bit easy to face it. But in Australia the thing that refrained me of seeking psychologist or psychiatrist advice was the stigma attached to depression. I do not seek it, because anywhere you apply for job you come across with this question in the applying form, "Are you suffering from depression?". Now an immigrant from a third world country with a family to support you will never take this risk of seeking the advice and then not been able to work to support your family. As depressed person the last thing you would want, is your family suffer because of you. So i take it all on me. never sought any professional advice, and living with it. Thanks

Tyke_Talty A song from me
  • replies: 2

HelloI am a singer/song writer, with a song I have written over 16 years ago that you may be interested in using to highlight or help raise awareness about depression.It was a song I have written to help me externalise the demons I have to battle wit... View more

HelloI am a singer/song writer, with a song I have written over 16 years ago that you may be interested in using to highlight or help raise awareness about depression.It was a song I have written to help me externalise the demons I have to battle with.It is one of many such songs I have written to help me cope with my depression. I don't believe I have any serious depression, just your average type that one may easily, (or not), find a road out of.But my two teenage daughters are struggling, with medication, to find a way forward from their unhappiness.My brother has had severe depression and has to take a constant cocktail of drugs to keep himself in a happy state.And so the list goes on.It is a song that talks about the horrible things that go through my mind, what I believe causes the horrible downward spiral, and what I believe one must do to find a way out.Yours sincerely,Tyke Talty

Astara Feel like a failure
  • replies: 9

So I went to my GP to get a script for something to help me sleep and left with a referral to see a psych and a script for anti depressants. It wasn't even my regular GP. I don't understand how that happened and how she could see what I apparently co... View more

So I went to my GP to get a script for something to help me sleep and left with a referral to see a psych and a script for anti depressants. It wasn't even my regular GP. I don't understand how that happened and how she could see what I apparently couldn't and says I'm back in the middle of severe depression. I feel like an absolute failure. I've had the medication before. I went to counselling before. Intellectually I know how to make myself better. So why am I here again? What is the point in going through all this treatment again if it's just going to sneak on me again when I don't even know. I just feel even more depressed for recognising I'm depressed. Hate this life.

kellie70 Care of possessions
  • replies: 1

Hi all, Do any of you with depression and anxiety get upset if others touch your personal possessions? For example, I don't like my Dad washing my car, or anyone using my computer, as I get worried that they will "wreck" them. I have had this issue m... View more

Hi all, Do any of you with depression and anxiety get upset if others touch your personal possessions? For example, I don't like my Dad washing my car, or anyone using my computer, as I get worried that they will "wreck" them. I have had this issue my whole life, and it is a family joke. Apparently my grandmother was the same with her possessions too. And now that I know a lot more about depression, I know my Nan suffered it too although it was never diagnosed with her. Would love to hear if anyone else has this problem? How do you handle it? It is not normal to not want people to touch everything we own, especially a favourite coffee mug. Is it because we want control over something as our minds are out of control a lot? Thanks for reading, Kellie

bipolarMe Confused
  • replies: 2

Hi. I have bipolar with severe depression. I've had moments of psychosis years ago. Not sure what I'm experiencing now... I see shadows or something on the corner of my eyes - daily. Sometimes hear my name or something being called out. But live alon... View more

Hi. I have bipolar with severe depression. I've had moments of psychosis years ago. Not sure what I'm experiencing now... I see shadows or something on the corner of my eyes - daily. Sometimes hear my name or something being called out. But live alone. Sometimes feel like something is touching me or crawling but nothing there. I get sleep paralysis occasionally. I get paranoid. I make myself believe things that I don't believe are true...feelings and beliefs. Been having this for a while but it's getting worse. Have been more depressed lately with spikes of mania. Any advice or does anyone associate? Thanks in advance

fifi hate this time of year
  • replies: 20

its seems every one is happy yet I sit hear all alone I hate this time of year soooo much .It is soo very hard when you don't fit in no matter where you go so why is this so much worse this year because all of my family are together and you guessed i... View more

its seems every one is happy yet I sit hear all alone I hate this time of year soooo much .It is soo very hard when you don't fit in no matter where you go so why is this so much worse this year because all of my family are together and you guessed it I am not included there has been tension over the last few years between my sister and I over lets face it rubbish any way of course I have a panic attack and loose it try to leave and then have my mother start her manipulative rubbish and long story short starts an argument between my sister and I any way she rips me telling me that I am basically a terrible person a drama queen and god only knows what else sorry guys I know this is sounding so hate filled and probably really petty but honestly if I don't let it out I really don't know what I will do I honestly just feel unwanted several references were made about my depression and how because of it I am weak and her words pull my head in cause the whole world doesn't revolve around me . that is where I should have let it stop but no idiot Fiona tries to make it better tries to make her see reason and then she starts telling me that the fact I cant have kids is my fault and not meant to be so I should just suck it up and get over it wow you would think after that I would retreat but no I continued to try to get her to hear me to validate that what I was feeling was valid but she just continued to attack me . all I want all I have ever wanted is to be embraced for the person I am I want to be wanted loved included just for once I would love for someone to see me I am again really sorry guys but honestly I just feel so down and needed to reach out to some one .

MisterM Mood swings in a day - is that bipolar?
  • replies: 4

I have always understood bipolar to be where you have a period of high and then a period of low. What if in the one day you can be high mood then later on low mood or vise versa, is that bipolar or does it have to be days/weeks of high and days/weeks... View more

I have always understood bipolar to be where you have a period of high and then a period of low. What if in the one day you can be high mood then later on low mood or vise versa, is that bipolar or does it have to be days/weeks of high and days/weeks of low?

Relay_for_life Emotionally attached to someone while depressed
  • replies: 5

Hi all , I am new to this whole thing of depression . I am a 37 years old mum of two beautiful kids . Married and have a settled life . It looks like I have been pushing myself too hard and being taken for granted . I had a conflict with my husband a... View more

Hi all , I am new to this whole thing of depression . I am a 37 years old mum of two beautiful kids . Married and have a settled life . It looks like I have been pushing myself too hard and being taken for granted . I had a conflict with my husband and then collapsed after that . I could not go back to my old me . My problem is that I feel emotionally attached and depending on my GP . He is an old friend as well , he is younger than me and not married. I understand that these are false emotion and that it is not gonna go anywhere due to back ground restrictions as well . I don't want to sacrifice my marriage and life too , but these feelings are killing me . I feel like a teenager again . Is this something common to happen and if so how can I deal with it ? Thanks

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