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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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janazantar Post depression driven remorse
  • replies: 1

So i've been talking to someone i wronged while being depressed and its been hard to hear the truths that they wanted to cut me off and how my actions hurt them. how can i recover from this criticism that depression makes cut even deeper. i know they... View more

So i've been talking to someone i wronged while being depressed and its been hard to hear the truths that they wanted to cut me off and how my actions hurt them. how can i recover from this criticism that depression makes cut even deeper. i know they are right but i'm also sorry for myself because I didn't ask for depression either. its not fun being me and i don't get a break from being with me either. i don't think people with happy lives, filled with happy families, the love of a partner, the joy of a new child can know how lonely depression is. how hard it is to keep your chin up when you are empty, lonely and so sad inside. finding some strength to make it through every day on the hope of a better tomorrow. I feel like an unrecoverable distance now sits between us and wishing won't make it go away. Just another in a long list of losts in a life that i don't want but have to endure. I'm getting help but it doesn't turn on a dime. i'm taking my meds and trying to forgive myself but right now, i just want to cry and give myself a hug and say its ok. tomorrow will be better, you just need to make it through the night.

Jas_b54 depression, anxiety and sleeping
  • replies: 6

I go to bed each night lay my head on the pillow and most night l start getting this anxious feeling some nights worse than others When l am like this its stops me from going to sleep the anxiety , depression can get worse getting me upset then l hav... View more

I go to bed each night lay my head on the pillow and most night l start getting this anxious feeling some nights worse than others When l am like this its stops me from going to sleep the anxiety , depression can get worse getting me upset then l have to get up from the bed sometimes l can be up all night heading to bed around 5am. Can anyone gives me any suggestions that might help Jas_b54

Paul Going back in time, advice for yourself
  • replies: 2

If you could go back and give yourself some advice about coming out or dealing with depression or anxiety, what would it be? Who would you say you are? Paul

If you could go back and give yourself some advice about coming out or dealing with depression or anxiety, what would it be? Who would you say you are? Paul

Farang18 I get angry and sad very easily. Anyone else?
  • replies: 7

I normally am not the most level headed person anyway but lately I feel like I get really angry and defensive over nothing. Things that never used to bother me now bother me greatly. I am always snappy or snarky with my friends and those around me. T... View more

I normally am not the most level headed person anyway but lately I feel like I get really angry and defensive over nothing. Things that never used to bother me now bother me greatly. I am always snappy or snarky with my friends and those around me. They have started saying "oh no don't bring out angry Katherine" when they see me getting annoyed. They would have never said that before because I wouldn't have been annoyed in the first place. Whenever I'm angry I can feel the tears welling up as well. Normally after I get really angry I go off and have a big cry alone. When I cry I feel like the world is ending. I don't even want to be around my friends and family because I think I'm not a nice person to be around and I want to save them the pain of being in my company. I think thesee feelings have been caused by a very stressful time at work and some major life changes. I just want to know if anyone else ever feels like this or if they have any tips on how to deal with these feelings. I want to know if the feelings can go away or if I'm stuck feeling like a crazy person forever. Thanks heaps

Stormi71 Trying to better my life is just making me depressed again.
  • replies: 2

I just want to vent here, because I know you will all understand, as opposed to whining to family and friends who are probably sick of hearing it. As I said in another post, I had an epiphany the other week, and decided I wanted to be a mental health... View more

I just want to vent here, because I know you will all understand, as opposed to whining to family and friends who are probably sick of hearing it. As I said in another post, I had an epiphany the other week, and decided I wanted to be a mental health worker. I haven't worked for ten years, or studied for 20. I planned to do an online course, to be able to cater around my children and my mental health needs. So I planned to do something easy to start, and found an introductory mental health and AOD course online via TAFE. So I enrolles, paid, gets to start date - no confirmation email. I chase them up, and the course was cancelled because I was the only one enrolled. So then I had to fill in a bunch of forms to get my money back. They said they would offer it again in February (although the same scenario could happen again). I was soooo motivated, I decide instead to do Cert 4 in Mental Health via OTEN. I get ready to enrol, only to find the course is being revised. So I speak to the consultant, who says it will be available in February, or there is a diploma course starting November which they've removed the pre-requisites from. So I decide I'll do the diploma. I do more research into it, and as eager as I was, decided it might be too much at once, and I will wait till February for the Cert 4. So this let me down as I really want to start studying now. So then I decide while waiting, I will source out organisations that I could possibly do work placement with. I am in a regional area, so while there are some places, there are not a lot. Out of all the ones I've contacted, I've had two replies, both of who can't take work placement. I haven't heard from anyone else. I don't want to start a course that is costing me over $3000 that I won't be able to complete, because minimum 80 hours work placement is compulsory. Then I email OTEN to see if they could help with ideas for work placement, and they tell me they don't know if they are even offering that course in February, even though my consultant said he'd received confirmation. So now I'm feeling really down and stressed because I want this so much, and you all know how hard it can be to actually really want something and be excited about it. I'm stressed as I bought myself a laptop on sale and even some folders and notebooks in preparation for the course. I'm obsessively checking my emails and feeling let down when there is none from the organisations. I've just about lost my enthusiasm and motivation now.

Lookingforpeace Common self-talk
  • replies: 2

Some common things I tell myself when feeling depressed: I can't do this anymore help things will never get better even if they do, I'll slip back again nobody knows how this feels this is the worst feeling Sorry, just brain dumping. Anyone relate?​ View more

Some common things I tell myself when feeling depressed: I can't do this anymore help things will never get better even if they do, I'll slip back again nobody knows how this feels this is the worst feeling Sorry, just brain dumping. Anyone relate?​

mc0501 is it me or just my imagination??
  • replies: 3

i feel that since being diagnosed with depression that my wife has changed attitude towards me. she seems more harsh and less caring. how can i tell? am i imagining it? i cant talk to her about these feelings as she thinks im just picking on her. Its... View more

i feel that since being diagnosed with depression that my wife has changed attitude towards me. she seems more harsh and less caring. how can i tell? am i imagining it? i cant talk to her about these feelings as she thinks im just picking on her. Its a tough time.

Teeblue AT ROCK BOTTOM
  • replies: 1

I have been depressed now for 3years and its not getting any better, I fall back into the same patterns, my relationship has fallen apart and I have lost my sons to my partner. My relationship was very toxic I played the working single mother role fo... View more

I have been depressed now for 3years and its not getting any better, I fall back into the same patterns, my relationship has fallen apart and I have lost my sons to my partner. My relationship was very toxic I played the working single mother role for a long time and sat back and watched my partner constantly live a single life go out and party, he was never home. He would constantly come in and out of my life, destroying me every single time i built myself back up. This has been on going for the past 3 years. I lost my job aswell from depression and for the past 3 years i have not been able to hold a job down. I start work and then i am instantly affraid, my body feels like it goes into deffence mode and drains all of my energy. The next day i cant bring myself to go back and i quit even knowing that i am going to go without food for a week because i have no money. I am homeless, alone, without my children and no support. I am at rock bottom and i cant see the light at the end of the tunnel.​

Bru Don't know what's wrong
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, bit hard for me to discuss this and haven't told anyone but thought I would start here. i don't if it's depression, anxiety or loneliness but I'm 37 next week with a wife and two great kids but for some reason I'm so unhappy. I don't see... View more

Hi everyone, bit hard for me to discuss this and haven't told anyone but thought I would start here. i don't if it's depression, anxiety or loneliness but I'm 37 next week with a wife and two great kids but for some reason I'm so unhappy. I don't seem have friends, friends that call or I call, friends that I can count on and can't seem to make friends. I often think friends at my age don't exist, only acquaintances. im on the verge of quitting my job because I hate it and I don't know what to do next as a career and often stay up till 1 to 2 am to try and sleep. Don't know what category I fit in but feel like the world hates me and I hate it. sometimes I think I'm being over the top, but how can I feel so alone yet I'm surrounded by my wife and kids. Is that enough? I sometimes think talking to someone but feel embarrassed as I don't think my problems are no where near as bad as others but I don't know where to start. thanks

Rochan2014 Feeling very down
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I joined the online forum a few days ago and posted in the anxiety section. I'm just trying a new medicine these last 4 days and finding my anxiety is less but now I'm feeling very depressed and down. Maybe because of the weather, or cau... View more

Hi everyone, I joined the online forum a few days ago and posted in the anxiety section. I'm just trying a new medicine these last 4 days and finding my anxiety is less but now I'm feeling very depressed and down. Maybe because of the weather, or cause my mate (who is always up for a good yarn) had an off day, or cause I'm not really comfortable with my GP, not sure the reason why I'm so down. Normally i suffer from anxiety mostly with a bit of depression, now its quite a lot of depression. I did meet my support worker today and we had a good chat for an hour and a half but the rest of the day I just felt really down. My family does all the unhelpful things like avoiding me when i need to feel people around me and say things like "keep busy" which doesnt help. I guess other people have or are going through something similar and I know it can take several weeks for a medication to work also but would be interesting to hear if others are going through this and what strategies they use (I have some already, the weather really fouled up everything today but that's another story).

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