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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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Troyboy What help is available?
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone. It's s been nearly a year since Ive posted on here, not that I haven't wanted too more often, It's just that I still find it very hard reaching out and only do so when I'm feeling very low, I have a question that I hope someone can help ... View more

Hi everyone. It's s been nearly a year since Ive posted on here, not that I haven't wanted too more often, It's just that I still find it very hard reaching out and only do so when I'm feeling very low, I have a question that I hope someone can help me with? Due to my illness im not working at the moment, and for those that might judge, (no im not on any centerlink benefits either) I'm not ready to return to work really, I find it difficult to get up and do basic things let alone leave the house, but for financial reasons I may have to return to some type of work, I was wondering if there are any government departments, or services available to help people with mental illness find employment or at least find a employer who knows your situation and would be understanding of how it might take you time to adjust to things, kind of like how they get people into the workforce with disabilities. I just know if I was somewhere where they knew a little about my situation and were understanding that it may take me a little time to learn and get into the work groove I would do better, it worries me greatly that I might just have to try and suck it up and do it on my own when I know I'm not ready. Any advice would be welcome. Troy

Vanilla Feeling alone and disconnected
  • replies: 2

Hi there, I am new to the online forums. I have anxiety, depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I would like to share my experiences of having mental illness as Im feeling alone and want someone to hear me. I have been aware of my anxiety for ... View more

Hi there, I am new to the online forums. I have anxiety, depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I would like to share my experiences of having mental illness as Im feeling alone and want someone to hear me. I have been aware of my anxiety for about the past 4 years. I feel it may have been around before hand but hard to know when you engage in activities that alter your mind and behaviours. Anxiety hit me hard at my last workplace. I was bullied and overworked. The job itself was a stressful occupation. I eventually found myself unable to function well at work and this is when I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I sought professional help and after battling to go to work each day, I eventually resigned. My relationship of 10 years with my fiance was also under pressure. I wasnt sure if I was in love with the person and they decided to end it as they felt happier on their own and not having to worry about me. They also knew of my uncertainties so perhaps didnt want to risk investing themselves in a relationship which may not have had a future anyway. Thankfully, my parents offered to accomodate me and support me financially in some ways. I have slowly built up a network of support in my new community and have learnt tools which I can use to help me with feelings of anxiety,depression and intrusive thoughts. The thing that I'm struggling with most is the intrusive thoughts. They can last for days, even months and cause a lot of anxiety for me. I wish I could better manage these thoughts as they make me unhappy and can sometimes be too overpowering for me to battle. The Christmas period has been difficult for me as some of my usual support network is not available. My partner used to encourage and support me a lot and remind me of my strengths. I miss that kind of support and I feel he was my cheer squad.I feel like not many people just 'listen'. Its now been about 4 years of therapy for me with different professionals and spiritual work in the years before that. I feel as though I work so hard on myself and I want recognitiion for that. Perhaps I need to start being my own cheer squad... On the rare day I will feel connected with life, which makes me most happy. Everyday I feel anxious for most of the day, with my anxiety going up and down. I also experience periods of depression. Ideally, I would like to come off my meds, and be a more confident and happier person. Thank you.

makkahone Depression and otherthings
  • replies: 1

Makkah 67I have ticked all the boxes and now find i am suffering severe depression as well as anxiety and have no idea of what to do or who to talk to apart from my GP. i have often thought of commiting suicide. My worst problem is my mind, is contin... View more

Makkah 67I have ticked all the boxes and now find i am suffering severe depression as well as anxiety and have no idea of what to do or who to talk to apart from my GP. i have often thought of commiting suicide. My worst problem is my mind, is continually spinning like a top and wont let me concentrate on any subject for more than a minute or less ( even now ) i have to force myself back to the subject. I am continually talking to myself even going as far as having a conversation with myself, and no i am not talking out loud only in my own mind. I live alone and only have a younger sister who has her own family to care for and her own life to live and certainly does'nt need an elder brother slowly going nuts to worry about, she also has her elderly father to look after. Is there somebody out there who lives their lives in a similar manner, if there is could they and would they be able to offer any suggestions and advice.Makkahbeyondblue'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.

Nishii worse than I though but don't know where to start?
  • replies: 8

After being in an emotionally abusive relationship for a year, coming out of it, I realize I have been broken down a lot more than I though. With a new boyfriend now, he has helped me take steps towards getting help. As it's that awkward time of year... View more

After being in an emotionally abusive relationship for a year, coming out of it, I realize I have been broken down a lot more than I though. With a new boyfriend now, he has helped me take steps towards getting help. As it's that awkward time of year where my usual help is unavailable, I have found myself feeling anxiety, exhausted , crap sleep and scared. My head feels clouded and I just can't get my feelings and emotions straight. Today both my parents and my boyfriend that in the past few days, something has changed but I can't pick what it is myself. Not much information to work with sorry, I'm new to this. I just want to know what it is I can do to get my head back on track, atleast until next week.

Newtothis1 I'm Empty, can't do it anymore
  • replies: 1

I have had to deal with this ever since I can remember. There are periods when it's not so bad, but it always there. I've reached a point now where I can't take it anymore, don't want to feel anymore. Things won't get better for me. I have a supporti... View more

I have had to deal with this ever since I can remember. There are periods when it's not so bad, but it always there. I've reached a point now where I can't take it anymore, don't want to feel anymore. Things won't get better for me. I have a supportive family, I have everything I've ever wanted, I have friends, it's just not enough. I'm empty , I just don't see a point of continuing but I couldn't never take my own life, I could never do that to my family. So I'm just trapped feeling like this, having to live so miserably , it hurts so much. I have so many people I could reach out to, but what's the point, they can't fix the way it hurts inside. My stomach is in knots because I know I can't fix this.

Teeks An attempt to reach out
  • replies: 2

Hi all, Not sure how far I will get in this post. I have been needing to reach out to someone/something for a while now but haven't been able to. While I have known that BeyondBlue is always there, I feel immense fear in connecting with the community... View more

Hi all, Not sure how far I will get in this post. I have been needing to reach out to someone/something for a while now but haven't been able to. While I have known that BeyondBlue is always there, I feel immense fear in connecting with the community. A quick back history: 27yo female, living in WA, been battling mental health (with a few different diagnosis) for the best part of 10 years (first official diagnosis was early 2005), I completed my teaching degree and then post grad in special needs education, I have now left teaching as the uncertainty of a job, nature, hours and stress of the job were too much for me and didn't match the my personality (aside from the mental health). The last two years I have had various casual contracts in jobs that I wasn't happy in, with a manager who was a pain & hours that sucked. Currently unemployed, which is a massive issue right now. Have a very supportive network but that just don't "get" it. Okay, so that wasn't so brief...I tend to talk a lot and just trying to let myself ramble and reach out here...the hardest step will be hitting "post this thread". Now: I can't afford to see a counsellor, I'm living on bare minimum as it is. I have tried finding/asking about a free counsellor, so far with no luck. I feel myself spiraling backwards - the negative self-talk, attacking and analysing anything I may have said or done, the complete lack of self-worth. Without sounding up myself, I feel that my intelligence and understanding of everything that is happening to me is my downfall. I can't really explain that right now but it is certainly putting the tears on my face, which tells me that it is a big issue/concern. I feel like I'm too "functioning" to receive help. Everyone sees the functioning side but noone sees what happens underneath that to get to that part. I spend my days fighting and arguing with myself. I don't know what is good for me to do, what is too much. I have lost all sense of trust in myself. And, then my tolerance levels are so low...I feel for my boyfriend. He copes all the mood swings and irrationality and it isn't fair. Sorry all for the rambling I have tears streaming down my face but am feeling a sense of relief that I have been able to write this down, and that hopefully someone might read it and "get it". I do have a great GP (but I'm wondering after 10 years whether I need to try someone else's approach). I am on meds - not sure they are working. Teeks

Brooke89 My daily routine of not having a routine is sending me crazy (well, crazier...)
  • replies: 0

Hi, today I decided to sign up to Beyond Blue to reach out for help and advice for myself. I' m lost, frustrated and majorly lacking motivation. I'm approaching the one year mark of being off work (covered by income protection for both physical and m... View more

Hi, today I decided to sign up to Beyond Blue to reach out for help and advice for myself. I' m lost, frustrated and majorly lacking motivation. I'm approaching the one year mark of being off work (covered by income protection for both physical and mental health issues). Whilst I have tackled some of my physical health issues, this mental battle isn't so easily fixed. I'm sad to say that I am probably mentally worse now than I was a year ago. I have a very supportive partner who I couldn't fault, and for that I am extremely grateful, but I worry that he may enable me to succomb to every little negative feeling I experience. I feel like I needed the past year to deal with my health issues rather than continuing to soldier on whilst struggling and not meeting the expectations of my employer or keep a household together, but now, a year later, I am spending my days in bed and sleeping around 18 hours of the day. I will not leave my room as I do not wish to socialise with my flatmates. In the evenings my partner comes home from work and arranges dinner. When he goes to sleep I lie there half awake waiting for my pain medication to kick in (I have recurring migraines and strong prescription pain killers for this) which in turn makes me drowsy and sends me to sleep again. I will generally wake up around 11am the following day and immediately try to fall asleep again. Getting out of bed just seems so overwhelming. My bedroom is a mess and it haunts me, I see it as a reminder that I don't have my life together and I feel guilty for the way I am living. I don' t want to live like this anymore but I have no idea how to help myself. I have read some information online but putting anything into action feels impossible and daunting. I would much appreciate any advice you might have. Thank you (P.S - I have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Depression and am on medication for this which I don't feel is working. My GP has advised that it will take a number of months to feel the full effect and has a plan for me to see a psychologist in the new year. I worry that I won't even be able to leave the house to attend these appointments).

deepdarkwoods rock bottom
  • replies: 5

Hi All, I'm hoping to get some support and advice here as I don't know how much more I can take, of myself or my circumstances. I have suffered with depression for many years but the last couple of years I have hit rock bottom again and again. I have... View more

Hi All, I'm hoping to get some support and advice here as I don't know how much more I can take, of myself or my circumstances. I have suffered with depression for many years but the last couple of years I have hit rock bottom again and again. I have read a few posts on here but really haven't found much I can connect with or relate to as I feel like I haven't had anything to be happy about for some time now. Three years ago I ended up in a psych ward with a really bad depressive episode after breaking up with my partner of 11 years who I have 2 lovely children to. I was prescribed antidepressants and started to claw my way out of the hole. Spent some time in crisis accommodation and slowly got myself back into work and started making a life and things were looking up. 6 months later I started the slide downwards again and haven't been able to pick myself up. I lost my job but managed to be positive enough to find another within 3 days. around the same time I met a girl who I really hit it off with and ended up relocating a few hours away to be with her even though I let my depression get to me again and lost my job again. since then everything has gone from bad to worse. Long story short but it turns out my new girlfriend seems to have BPD and as soon as I moved in with her she started abusing me. She gets into rages telling me I am faking depression, using her, A burden on her, that im a terrible father, cheater - everything under the sun. She has kicked me out of the house many times, leaving me to fend for myself on the streets for days at a time before saying sorry and asking me back. I feel stupid but so many times I came back hoping things will get better. A few months ago things I had gotten so stressed and depressed and anxious that I ended up getting admitted to hospital again and trying to get help. they started me on new antidepressants which I don't really think are working and stupidly I came back to my girlfriend afterwards. I have gotten so bad I just loathe myself for my weakness for coming back here, it just adds to the self-hate I have. I don't have anything at all other than my clothes and a few small items. I haven't answered calls from any of my very few friends and have just shut everyone out. Christmas is coming and I have no money, no job, a relationship that is toxic and just feel like I am all alone and helpless. I really don't know where to turn to any more.

Neil_1 Recent weeks, horrible days and where to now?
  • replies: 58

Dear all, dear friends This post could be placed on 3-4 other forum headings, but I've decided to lodge it here. Mainly cause of the overwhelming sense of horrible depression that I've got on board with me at this time. I'm numb, I'm empty, I'm gutte... View more

Dear all, dear friends This post could be placed on 3-4 other forum headings, but I've decided to lodge it here. Mainly cause of the overwhelming sense of horrible depression that I've got on board with me at this time. I'm numb, I'm empty, I'm gutted and everything is just moving along like a blur. Dear friends, one week ago (Tuesday night), I lost my Mum - she fought a long long fight with cancer, but the mongrel disease took her in the end. The reason you haven't had me on Beyond Blue for some time now is that I've been back in my home town with Mum and then the last week, well, you can imagine. Yesterday was her funeral - and it was a lovely service. A year ago Mum wrote her own eulogy and it was her wish that I read it out. Which I did. I also created my own eulogy of my personal memories of Mum and read that as well. I stumbled on a few occasions, but I had my daugther up front with me, and she held my arm, to keep me going. I did the same thing for my Dad (7 years ago) and it was something that I knew I had to do for Mum as well. I must have done ok, because many people commented to me or my brother afterwards about the eulogies and how good they were. I've been away from "home" now for coming up to 30 years - as I commented in part of my eulogy - and that during that time, I would have phoned the family phone number thousands and thousands of times. But now, the house is empty and I won't be phoning that number ever again. As I also said in my eulogy, I don't know how I'm going to go in the future - certainly not forward - it might just a case of sideways for a while. So I now have both my parent's no longer here (as well as a very close brother) - my dad's and brother's deaths devastated me and now my Mum (I was a mummy's boy as well). I'm going to miss her so much. Neil ps: I may post occasionally in the coming days - but they may be few and far between at this stage. I won't be going away, but I just have nothing inside to offer.

stevo210209 Something that is helping me, which I wanted to share!
  • replies: 2

Hi Guys I use an iPhone app called "My Wonderful Days", where I can list good things that happened during the day. I have found that using this app, has helped me to stay in a positive mind frame. Hope this helps someone else, like it has helped me. View more

Hi Guys I use an iPhone app called "My Wonderful Days", where I can list good things that happened during the day. I have found that using this app, has helped me to stay in a positive mind frame. Hope this helps someone else, like it has helped me.