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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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Macka90 IT DOES GET BETTER
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. I am on 3 weeks of my meds and would like to say, it does get better. I have been on these meds before a few years ago so they have kicked in pretty much straight away, I am slowly becoming my old self again. i had a mental/nervous break... View more

Hi everyone. I am on 3 weeks of my meds and would like to say, it does get better. I have been on these meds before a few years ago so they have kicked in pretty much straight away, I am slowly becoming my old self again. i had a mental/nervous break down a few weeks back, my whole body crashed on me, I was then diagnosed with depression and anxiety. But with the help of good doctors and my family and friends I am slowly getting back to myself.

Juggler The craziness of depression - this forum made me laugh while I am crying
  • replies: 2

I have just joined here.. Having a badish day but I had to share what just happened to me to me just shows how the simple things can become overwhelming when depressed. I was reading some of the posts and when I went to the top of the page I saw 'Hom... View more

I have just joined here.. Having a badish day but I had to share what just happened to me to me just shows how the simple things can become overwhelming when depressed. I was reading some of the posts and when I went to the top of the page I saw 'Home >Connect with others > Online forums' the Online forum part was not clickable so the only way I could work out how to get back to the forum was hit the back button after doing this a few time I burst into tears yes no clickable link seemed to mean that much to me I am sure some will understand that here. After reading a few more posts I realised just below the button for the 'Community rules' is the clickable link back to the forums well when I realised that I started laughing so as I started writing this I was both crying and laughing as well as think damn your crazy. Sorry just had to share that depression if you have not had it you are not going to believe the things that effect you

Raven666 What do you do when no one will listen?
  • replies: 13

Hey, I, umm, new here and really don't know what i'm doing. I'm 25 female and been having a tough time. Had a break down at work 3 or 4 years or so ago and been struggling since. For 3 years I was seeing Psychologists, Psychiatrists,GP, getting medic... View more

Hey, I, umm, new here and really don't know what i'm doing. I'm 25 female and been having a tough time. Had a break down at work 3 or 4 years or so ago and been struggling since. For 3 years I was seeing Psychologists, Psychiatrists,GP, getting medicated and all that but no one seems to really want to listen to what I say. I keep getting fed lines like "You're young", "you've got your whole life ahead of you", "Your pretty". I keep feeling like i'm getting dismissed a lot. Yes i'm small, yes i'm built "petite", yes i'm young but that shouldn't mean i should get dismissed, does it? I've read the Psych reports on me and one Psych said I "chose" this and the other said I "overreact". Half the time they don't even give me enough time to arrange my thoughts, and how to word things properly. I don't know what I can do. I've been giving it my all, its taking a lot of strength and will out of me and i keep getting stone walled. I try and i try and i try and nothing happens... I'm finding it hard to continue on, i'm struggling to survive with all this stone walling and deaf ears around me. I'm standing on my last leg and I'm in need of help. Can anyone help me? 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:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; 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-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Fire_is_catching Having a rough time
  • replies: 2

I have been suffering from depression since I was 13, I am now 25. It hasn't always been a struggle, I have tried to manage it as best as I can. Done the meds thing, I see a psychiatrist... but it never really goes away. The dark, the negative thinki... View more

I have been suffering from depression since I was 13, I am now 25. It hasn't always been a struggle, I have tried to manage it as best as I can. Done the meds thing, I see a psychiatrist... but it never really goes away. The dark, the negative thinking, the stress, the anxiety... it is always there waiting on the sidelines, looking for an opportunity to take over when you're vulnerable and down. I have always been a very private person, I don't reach out well to others, I don't want to burden others with my problems or let others into the jumbled thoughts that bounce around in my head. Its pretty hard trying to deal with it on your own, who do you turn to when you're having a really off day? I decided to go off my anti depressants two weeks ago because the side effects were becoming to much and I had gained alot of weight in a short amount of time, right now though my emotions are stuck on a wild roller coaster ride and I feel my mood slipping into that dark pool, that horrible darkness deep within your soul. Going through a bit of a hard time right now and trying to muster all my strength to overcome it and see the light on the other side.

davethesock How to be less of a burden
  • replies: 3

I really ave no idea where to start with this so I will try to be as clear as I can. I have suffered from depression all my life, however, I have managed to function and hold down a job and a relationship. However, over the last few years my ability ... View more

I really ave no idea where to start with this so I will try to be as clear as I can. I have suffered from depression all my life, however, I have managed to function and hold down a job and a relationship. However, over the last few years my ability to cope has become less and less and I ended up getting divorced (that's another long story) and changing jobs. I am in a new relationship but I feel a constant burden. It seems that nothing I do is right and we have started to argue a lot I do not think it is my fault but I ave been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and a generalised anxiety disorder so intellectually I recognise that I am probably not being reasonable but I cannot make the emotional connection - it is like things are either blank inside or wound up so tight I could explode at any moment. I just do not know what to do and what would be reasonable behaviour and it scares the hell out of me. I am off work at the moment as I try new medication but there is a constant tension and it seems that for whatever reason either my behaviour or something else a history has built up in my relationship which means that as soon as anything happens it is instantly attributed to my depression, with comments such as - I cannot talk to you when you are like this. I just can't tell if this is me being unreasonable or whether this has become a habit or an excuse. Does anyone have any experience of how to deal with this and maybe have some form of benchmark that can help them know when they are reasonable and unreasonable - I just can't believe it is me all the time or is this something I have to get used to as one of the things that have to be dealt with whilst suffering from depression.

Fred23 Struggling after a workplace accident.
  • replies: 1

Ok so i have no idea where to start but I'm struggling to get back on track after an accident at work ended with me losing half my index finger. I've been fighting the depression from many years ago that's come back after it. Whilst my recovery is go... View more

Ok so i have no idea where to start but I'm struggling to get back on track after an accident at work ended with me losing half my index finger. I've been fighting the depression from many years ago that's come back after it. Whilst my recovery is going well, I'm so scared that i won't be able to do the job I love doing so well. I can't do my hobby to take my mind off it as I race remote controlled cars and it requires my index finger as a vital part to work the throttle. My mate is trying to push me to go bike riding and go to the gym, but I just can't get the motivation to keep it going. The big thing is that i feel like I've stalled in my recovery and it's not going as quickly and i want/ expect it too. I'm just completely lost and don't feel like myself all of a sudden and I don't know what to do to get through it.

Sunshine_lollypops Demotivated demoralised and frustrated
  • replies: 3

Argg! Why is everything so hard! Year in year out I've worked my hardest to be positive, hard working, motivated. I've worked a great job (which after 15 years I was retrenched from due to outsourcing) and did my best to see it as a blessing and an o... View more

Argg! Why is everything so hard! Year in year out I've worked my hardest to be positive, hard working, motivated. I've worked a great job (which after 15 years I was retrenched from due to outsourcing) and did my best to see it as a blessing and an opportunity to retrain. So at 8 months old I put my child in daycare 2 days a week and went back to school and got my cert 4 in fitness. And what a joke that has been. I hoped it would give me the ability to work the hours my child is asleep so I could spend the days with her. But getting shifts late enough so it doesn't interfere is non existent and most people seem to want a "cheap" trainer. And if you work for a gym they want you to do sales. I couldn't sell to save myself, I hate sales with a passion, so it appears I've completely wasted my time. On top of that, I have been training people I know just to keep myself current but I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall. People just aren't dedicated to their goals. They spend more time making excuses than listening to what I actually have to say, And it doesn't seem to matter what angle I take to help I've wasted my time and effort investigating new training methods. So what does that say about how effective a trainer I am? I'd rather spend all day in my room by myself (aside from my daughter). I have read about depression including not wanting to feel alone but I rarely feel lonely and often get annoyed and anxious about having to actually spend time with people. I know this isn't healthy and push myself to have activities to do every day but it's causing me more frustration everyday. I feel so demotivated to do anything. I've lost passion for most everything. It's driving me spare. I want to be a good mum and a role model but I can't even keep my house in a decent state. Why can't I work out how to make something work. Ive tried writing down things I'm grateful for everyday for 6 weeks. It make zero difference. what the heck do I do? I'm so lost.

IDK What's wrong with me!
  • replies: 9

So I've been lashing out lately (well probably for quite a while now), like in sort of a blind rage for no reason - or at least the smallest little things will trigger it. I just can't seem to help myself. I just feel like I want people to think for ... View more

So I've been lashing out lately (well probably for quite a while now), like in sort of a blind rage for no reason - or at least the smallest little things will trigger it. I just can't seem to help myself. I just feel like I want people to think for themselves and stop bothering me. I just don't want to have to deal with people in general. I don't return phone calls or emails. I seem to self sabotage everything and push people away. How did this happen? I don't feel angry all time, mostly I just feel flat and heavy - I have been attributing it to laziness and lack of motivation. I used to know happiness and lightness once, but I remember this feeling of disconnection and flatness from way back when I was in primary school. My husband and partner for the last 20 years confronted me last night about my short temper and lack of patience... so I googled for the first time "Why am I so angry?". One of the first pages I came across said some things that rang true: Frustration, not being able to be happy, lashing out, being withdrawn and disconnected. Apparently, these are all symptoms of depression. I couldn't believe it, I'm not depressed, surely not! I'm optimistic and not a negative type of person, how can I be depressed? I have a girlfriend who suffers from depression and I have never been able to relate to what she goes through on a daily basis. How can I be depressed? I'd always thought that the "D" word was some peoples way to get attention. To think that I was depressed was not right, surely. I don't wan't to be the attention of anyone, I just want to be left alone to do my own thing. So I casually mentioned it all to my husband this morning, this "D" word. He was very sweet and gave me a cuddle. But then, when I dropped him off at work. He said to me I should be grateful that I have a son and a husband that loves me and a roof over my head. Things could be so much worse. I know this, but all it did was make me feel worse, much worse. I now feel guilty! I cried the whole way home and most of the day. So here I am... trying to find my way to the lightness.

Long_neck_19 my depression is ruining my relationship
  • replies: 3

my moods and depression is ruining my relationship. All I'm doing it pushing my partner further and further away because I don't know how to deal with it all- and he has had enough of trying to help me that I just cant talk to him about it anymore be... View more

my moods and depression is ruining my relationship. All I'm doing it pushing my partner further and further away because I don't know how to deal with it all- and he has had enough of trying to help me that I just cant talk to him about it anymore because I know even though he loves and cares for me he cant deal with my problems anymore. Because we cant talk about it without it turning into a fight I cant convince him that my problems stem from me constantly letting him down and feeling like a useless sack of shit because of letting him down. I know I should walk away and let him live his life before I ruin it anymore- but I just cant make myself as I know he is the only thing keeping me slightly sane and giving me something to love and want to be better for. Not quite sure where to go from here other then back to the doctor tomorrow and hope this time I can get the help I need and not quit as soon as I feel slightly better. I just hope he will still be there as its getting less and less likely he will keep outing up with my shit!

Durban Not fitting in.
  • replies: 1

The feeling I have today is nothing new. just existing. normal childhood, struggled in school (adhd) dropped out to persue my swimming career. It was the one thing I could do good! Swimming and lifesaving was my life and entered a career as a profess... View more

The feeling I have today is nothing new. just existing. normal childhood, struggled in school (adhd) dropped out to persue my swimming career. It was the one thing I could do good! Swimming and lifesaving was my life and entered a career as a professional beach life guard in early 20s. That's when it all started. Experienced a case of discrimination being the only female on the team and over a year of severe bullying. Stood up for myself but at the end all I ended up with was my confidence and belief in who I am shattered. This was the start of my "depression" and health issues. At the time I was lucky to meet my husband and marry and now have 2 kids. It has not been smooth sailing. Husband worked away at sea for 3 months at a time.(at home for 3) Many bumps along the way, always being the one to pick up the pieces. Loosing my dad to heart failure and dealing with it alone as my husband was at sea. Then 4 years ago I was in serious heart failure ... And my husband was away. I'm just tiered and couldn't even be gravely ill without worrying about everyone else. I survived my heart failure. I had to because I have tue beautiful boys who need me. Realising a relationship like the one we had could not continue, we immigrated to Australia to a shore based job in rural wa. We have been here almost 20 months and it has been hard. Although my husband now comes home every night, he is tiered and withdrawn and if I speak to him it is no more than 5 minutes a day. It's as if he is out on the ocean and not home at all! I have given up my home, where I had a job(swim teacher at my home pool) and everything I knew(good medical, which I now have to fly 2 hours to get to) and my family. Life was no peaches there but I had a life. Now in a small rural town, and nothing is working for me. I am not able to teach swimming cause my qualification is not recognized here. I have no filter when it comes articulating myself and I ruined the other love of my life which is working with children in scouts. I struggle to make friends, yet I would be your best friend. i just want to be me and be accepted. And loved.

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