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Depression

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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: 0

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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Marcus78 Depression and feeling tired, no one seems to understand
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, So I will try to be as brief as possible. I am suffering from depression. I have felt this way for the last 15 years. I never really addressed it until 3 years ago after a very mentally abusive relationship. I guess that was the catalyst... View more

Hi everyone, So I will try to be as brief as possible. I am suffering from depression. I have felt this way for the last 15 years. I never really addressed it until 3 years ago after a very mentally abusive relationship. I guess that was the catalyst. I have seen a psychologist and a psychotherapist and I am on an anti-depressant. I still have bad days but I have come a long way in the last 3 years. I find it very hard to control my sleeping patterns. For instance, yesterday I was in bed at 12am, turned my alarm off whilst half a sleep, slept through the other 3 alarms I have set, and wake up 16hrs later. Other nights I may only sleep for 4-5hrs. No matter what, I feel tired. I lack energy during the day, and I find it hard to even get the energy to exercise. I have read that depression may cause tiredness. And my psychologist says the same. People seem to think that I am just making an excuse for being so tired, and that it is my lifestyle which is causing the issue. But I think it is the depression myself. I am not trying to make an excuse. But it is what it is. Is it normal for people to think like this? It makes it so much harder at times.

Vegetarian Marshmallow Cathartic noises
  • replies: 3

Sometimes I feel like expressing my terrible feelings to the world (the royal "world". Not actual people, because I would feel uncomfortable doing that. Just... to spurt my displeasure out of myself and into reality) with (mostly groaning) sounds. Bu... View more

Sometimes I feel like expressing my terrible feelings to the world (the royal "world". Not actual people, because I would feel uncomfortable doing that. Just... to spurt my displeasure out of myself and into reality) with (mostly groaning) sounds. But there are people around who will be very confused. So here is a textual representation of the sounds I want to make. HhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhrrrrSHhhhssssssssguuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhssffffffffffffffffffff. Juh.

star65 thinking im a bad person and i dont understand why
  • replies: 5

hi,have had depression since child due to a stepfather that made my life hell.grew up thinking i was worthless.teenage years were a game,realising i was far from ugly gave me a fake confidence,but could never risk letting others close.married a relig... View more

hi,have had depression since child due to a stepfather that made my life hell.grew up thinking i was worthless.teenage years were a game,realising i was far from ugly gave me a fake confidence,but could never risk letting others close.married a religious non drinker as a way of saving me from where was headed.we were vry different,made myself into what he wanted.good mother of 5 kids,devoted wife.to everyone we were the perfect family.was content for lot of yrs but always sad underneath grew into habit crying myself to slp husband never knew.mentioned depression,he wouldnt hear of me seeing somebody,was a mar on family name,so kept up happy family image for yrs.later could no longer sleep,only cry.couldnt get up to get children off to school,struggled doing housework,shut off family.began computer game son was on,met people made me feel good first time in yrs.son asked me to say i was his sister because wasnt cool havn mum.lead me to become friends with a guy on there and before knew it,was so messed up,believed i was falling for him even though he stl thought i was a single sister.its true 1 lie leads to another,felt trapped confused.all came out after only 3wks and felt forced to leave.couldnt take kids with me,slept at sisters.kids were convinced didnt want them,wouldnt be hard way id behaved last yr.i believed i didnt deserve them and ended with only youngest halftime.i didnt even have guts to go to court,only legalaid which he reminded me after was a waste of time,he wouldnt brings kids in.nrly 8 yrs have past,he recently convinced my baby to leave.her note said her dad said she shouldnt have to put up with me having a bf and she was missing too many familyfunctions there.that was 3mnths ago.round same time i thought id finally met kindest guy in world,hes jst left me,no reason given,we had no fights.his family have told me he felt guilty,hes an acute drug addict,hid it and i had no idea,feeln crushed.1 of my girls has made me a grandma first time few wks ago also.was let know as i was about to visit,would be too awkward for my ex and not to come.hit me hard.my mum spoke to them upset for me,now even oldest and my babygirl wont reply.ive said and done nothing to them and wish they would let me know why.1 daughter has said im toxic and mabey shes right.every person i love leaves,must be something wrong with me. i cant understand though if its true,why do all my friends and clients feel so close to me and regularly tell me im a beautiful caring person.

Hamrock Newly diagnosed and reaching out
  • replies: 4

Hi, Thank you for providing such an open forum for people to learn and discuss these issues I was diagnosed with depression only a couple of weeks ago but the battle has been ongoing for about 12 years. Until recently I didn't know what I was dealing... View more

Hi, Thank you for providing such an open forum for people to learn and discuss these issues I was diagnosed with depression only a couple of weeks ago but the battle has been ongoing for about 12 years. Until recently I didn't know what I was dealing with and why I behaved the way I did. I'm finally starting to gain an understanding of what has been happening and why but I'm struggling at the same time. I have only spoken to my wife about this battle and she is an endless source of support but I still feel somewhat alone with this battle. i've started taking medication and have found it's levelled me out from the extremes I'd been showing - irratability, anger, sadness and self loathing. I've also found though that days like today I struggle to get motivated about anything. I'm an active person and train very regularly but days like today I can barely get myself out of bed, am not hungry and it then turns into feelings of guilt for being so inactive. I guess im looking to anyone to talk a bit more about this battle. I'm a bit lost and unsure of what to do. thanks

Roundhole Why
  • replies: 10

Why do people turn away from me? Why have I no friends? Why do I have problems communicating? Why do I always (eventually) see the bad in people? Why can't I be nice (for ever)? Why am I such a smart ar-e? Why does a haze cloud my mind when I talk to... View more

Why do people turn away from me? Why have I no friends? Why do I have problems communicating? Why do I always (eventually) see the bad in people? Why can't I be nice (for ever)? Why am I such a smart ar-e? Why does a haze cloud my mind when I talk to people? What the hell is wrong with me????????????????????

Jo3 Alcohol & depression
  • replies: 10

Last night I was invited to join 3 other friends for dinner. Two of us drank a bottle of wine. I was feeling really happy and was feeling relaxed and having good time. But that changed very quickly. By the time I got home I was so feeling a bit stran... View more

Last night I was invited to join 3 other friends for dinner. Two of us drank a bottle of wine. I was feeling really happy and was feeling relaxed and having good time. But that changed very quickly. By the time I got home I was so feeling a bit strange. Within a few minutes of going to bed I could feel my anxiety building up; I could feel my emotions rising. I don't know if it was the alcohol and anti depressants. Why couldn't that relaxed feeling stay with me a bit longrer. Maybe if I keep drinking my body will get used to it and I would feel good. The 3 hours of being together with friends and drinking was good, I didn't even think of any negative thoughts. Jo

bb88 Depression, Lack of Intimacy, Binge Drinking
  • replies: 3

Today I'm having one of the worst depressive episodes I've had in 2 years. My head feels like it's going to explode and I can't escape. This is the first time I've ever sought help, and for anyone reading you are the first people I've ever told. But ... View more

Today I'm having one of the worst depressive episodes I've had in 2 years. My head feels like it's going to explode and I can't escape. This is the first time I've ever sought help, and for anyone reading you are the first people I've ever told. But I desperately need to vent and get some things off my chest. I don't know what went wrong in my life to get to this point, I feel almost ashamed writing this because my life is relatively normal. Yet I can't explain this feeling that has steadily been building and worsening since I was 16 (26 now). I guess I'll start with lack of intimacy, I'm a male and I struggle with the opposite sex, I've never had a girlfriend. I have zero confidence and self esteem and I heavily rely on alcohol as a crutch. The only time I've ever been sexually intimate or intimate at all is when I'm absolutely plastered. I sometimes get very anxious socially, and I stew and dwell on how I react with people. I have never truly been comfortable around people, I have somehow learnt to merely pretend by observation. I probably drink once or twice a fortnight, but when I do binge to excess and lately I've started to act out antisocially. I never used to be an aggressive person but lately I've found when I drink I will shove and intimidate other guys, or I find myself being dragged out of a place kicking and screaming. I see myself going down a dark path and I'm scared I'll hurt someone or be hurt. Today was a bad day, its almost 1am and I can't sleep, I had a big night on the weekend. I balled my eyes out earlier. I have friends and family but I feel utterly alone in this world, I want to feel intimacy with someone, just to hold someone. I'm a good person, I'm loyal to the people that love me, without them I could never cope. I have so much negativity in my head all the time, I think it shows and drives girls away from me, I just wish I had the confidence to make a move, say something interesting. I feel down all the time and its a never ending cycle, its not just the lack of intimacy, there are other issues rattling in my head as well. Its a mindset I wish I could shatter and just live, after so many years its become ingrained, I cant remember the last time I was happy. I don't know if anyone will understand my ramblings I just typed the first things that came to my mind. Thanks for giving my the space to put this somewhere, I hope this catharsis will let me sleep at least for now.

egore Letters From The Dark Side
  • replies: 1

I have been suffering mental illness from the age of 12 years old. I am now 44. I have survived 3 suicide attempts and have been on medication for over 30 years. Although my family were aware of my low points I have only just come out to closer frien... View more

I have been suffering mental illness from the age of 12 years old. I am now 44. I have survived 3 suicide attempts and have been on medication for over 30 years. Although my family were aware of my low points I have only just come out to closer friends and extended family. I admit, I feel embarrassed and sensed that some people fear it. I don't blame them because it scares me also. BUT it's the world I live in. My illness is strange and I go through extended periods of euphoria followed by short periods of depression. I love being the strong, friendly and comical relief to so many but I dread the next stage. This period is what I call the DARK SIDE. As I grew familiar with my episodes I decided to document them in a diary called "Letters from the Dark Side". These were letters I wrote to myself when at my greatest low to help me recognise the symptoms and feelings I had during that time. It is my voice at a time when I can't speak, one I hope to one day give to others to allow a greater understanding of where we go when at our lowest. I just hope with the understanding people gain from my notes will give a better inside into how to help rather than helping in ways that can sometimes further intensify the darkness. I want to show them the hand that helps.

hitandmiss The highs and lows of depression
  • replies: 1

I became diagnosed earlier this year with depression and anxiety and started to take medication for it. I have felt much better on the medication but my family thinks they can see extreme 'highs' and 'lows' in my behaviour. I don't feel these highs a... View more

I became diagnosed earlier this year with depression and anxiety and started to take medication for it. I have felt much better on the medication but my family thinks they can see extreme 'highs' and 'lows' in my behaviour. I don't feel these highs and lows I just think my behaviour is normal. I don't know how to change my behaviour to make them worry less about my emotional state.

Guest_5809 Tired of being alone, tired of being lonely
  • replies: 6

I am 43 sole carer of 2 children I love and adore my children. Bit I hate my lot in life. Sounds crazy I am sure. I wouldn't change my kids for anything but I hate being alone. I have been alone for 8 years. I long for someone to cuddle me and give a... View more

I am 43 sole carer of 2 children I love and adore my children. Bit I hate my lot in life. Sounds crazy I am sure. I wouldn't change my kids for anything but I hate being alone. I have been alone for 8 years. I long for someone to cuddle me and give affection. I have severe depression and anxiety. I have immense guilt feeling like this. I know it is selfish but I would dearly love to have someone in my life who loves me( I know my kids love me but it isn't the same). I am overweight which I know doesn't appeal to men and the fact I have 2 kids full time. I lay in bed at night and cry. I am so lonely. I seem to have so many things going on in my life I know I will be alone forever. It's a horrible daunting feeling. I am recently thinking that once the kids are adults my pain can end. The kids won't need me or want me around. The thought of me being even more alone is unimaginable. No body I know gets the loneliness and isolation that I live with. I feel like I am hanging on by a thread until the kids are just that bit older. I am a good person. I have made mistakes. I feel like I am being punished for the rest of my life. This dam black dog is my punishment and I am scared of succumbing to it.