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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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Pete54 My cotton wool room
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I hope sharing my story will help me to express something that words have always really failed to do. I'm 61. My messed up thinking about myself and relationships led to poor choices that were destructive; choices that hurt others and which, ... View more

Hi all, I hope sharing my story will help me to express something that words have always really failed to do. I'm 61. My messed up thinking about myself and relationships led to poor choices that were destructive; choices that hurt others and which, in the end, cost me my first marriage. There is a huge disconnect between my life as a health care professional and my personal, internal life. I'm told I'm good with people; that I can talk to others easily & interact in a caring, consultative way, with good communication that contributes good outcomes for clients. Yet I have no friends. I have no one (other than my current wife) who is close to me (and even there I feel a lack of understanding). I must send out non-verbal "stay away" messages, because rarely do family, or people I might wish to call friends, initiate contact with me. Life can be very lonely. Perhaps I'm afraid that others will see the messed up fraud that I am and I subconsciously push them away. For me, depression is like home being a small, dark room with walls lined with thick cotton wool that has pieces of broken glass embedded in it. Somewhere there is a light switch that would go a long way to helping me find my way and avoid the pain from the broken glass, but the darkness makes it pretty much impossible to find. At the same time the cotton wool muffles the soundness of my thoughts and choices and also the voices of anyone offering help or direction. And all those thoughts seem to want to get my attention at the same time. Everything is just a mumbling jumble of painful thought, and no one seems to be able to hear when I call for help. I can sometimes break free from that bad place for a few hours to go to work where most people wouldn’t know anything is wrong, where you can trick yourself and others into thinking that everything is ok, but it’s exhausting keeping up the act of being normal; I can put on a good mask make it look like everything is OK. At the end of the day, though, you have to go back to my "room" – back to that place of confusion and pain – which also doesn’t make sense because any rational thinking person would choose to stay away. Depression isn’t rational. I'm not really able to be explain it with words! I've seen counsellors/psychologists. My GP has me on an antidepressant which gives a little help, but life is still flat, without purpose & full of guilt. Some days I just wish I didn't have to wake up and do it all again. I just ache both inside & out.

Ghengis Just the Beginning
  • replies: 4

Hey all, I'm a 44 year old male that has just hit the wall. Nothing is good enough, tired, headaches, frustrations, wondering how people feel about me and if I'm doing the right thing, looking over my shoulder consistently to find nothing there. I ha... View more

Hey all, I'm a 44 year old male that has just hit the wall. Nothing is good enough, tired, headaches, frustrations, wondering how people feel about me and if I'm doing the right thing, looking over my shoulder consistently to find nothing there. I had to walk out of a Meeting at work the other day to cry and then 1hour later I was good again. It feels like 10% of my brain is telling me all the good stuff and then the other 90% kicks in and takes over and feeds me with all of the confusion that I have now. I suspect I have been depressed for years but it hasn't been until the last week where everything has started to multiply that has started to scare me. I have a doctors appointment this afternoon but cant get into a psychiatrist until next week. I will continue to read these forums and the information on this web site as it has been a great help to this point in time. Why does this happen to somebody like me that has a great family, job and in general a great life and really don't have anything to be stressed about. I don't understand it but here's hoping I learn to deal with it. Until next time everybody take care. Ghengis

Holdhopes Today it's the first time I cry at work
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, My name is Nick and I'm 27. It's the first time I use this forum. I was a little hesitant at first until I recently found that it might be a little too much for just my partner to handle my issues all by herself. I have had depression/an... View more

Hi everyone, My name is Nick and I'm 27. It's the first time I use this forum. I was a little hesitant at first until I recently found that it might be a little too much for just my partner to handle my issues all by herself. I have had depression/anxiety since 2005 but things'd gone on and off until recently. I have seen a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist too. At the moment, I'm struggling particularly as I really want to give up on my PhD programme in medical field. However, I do realise it could just be my avoidance trait. As I have had the exact same feeling when I was jobless or doing jobs which supposed to have lower stress level. I also found it really hard to concentrate in my reading. I choose many ways to proscastinate. I even want to take an intermission. As an Asian, as explained by my psychiatrist, I have vulnerabilities in seeking approval from others (this has internalised in me as my father has been telling me I'm not good enough more than half of my life). My other issue is I always need a sense of success to keep me going, in order for me to feel that I'm worthwhile as a person. However, this is my main problem as a PhD student. Sometimes, you don't necessarily see the end of the tunnel. I am so close to giving up. Today I have had a panic attack after receiving the email from my supervisor asking if I've had returned after a whole week of "day offs" due to my viral infection. I told my gf how I felt so worthless. Then all of a sudden, it became the first time I ever cry at work (or at the sports facility) as a man (although I always feel miserable). I feel so helpless and I really need someone to talk to. Just to see if any of you out there have had similar issue at work with depression/anxiety. How did you overcome? Looking forward to hearing from you. Nick

caroline_ Struggling with depression and anxiety due to living arrangements
  • replies: 3

I'd been doing well coping lately. Been off meds for a bit, been able to bounce back after minor episodes. But now, my anxiety has spiked and am feeling hopeless and worthless because one of my housemates doesn't like me. Maybe I wouldn't mind if I d... View more

I'd been doing well coping lately. Been off meds for a bit, been able to bounce back after minor episodes. But now, my anxiety has spiked and am feeling hopeless and worthless because one of my housemates doesn't like me. Maybe I wouldn't mind if I didn't overhear her whispering about me to someone else lately. Or if she didn't leave passive aggressive messages on the house whiteboard. I feel trapped. My partner is great, he understands my concerns and tries to help me feel better, but he's able to just laugh off her little spiteful comments and actions. I just sit here and dwell on them, and feel scared to leave our room. We are looking to move, but it just doesn't happen fast enough for me. I still have to cope with this until we find somewhere. I feel like a stupid teenager, even though I'm 35. Don't want to go running back home only after a few months of finally being away from them, even though part of me really wants to just run away from all this. I think therapy could help me... but it's incredibly difficult for me to choose someone just from a website or a list. The last therapist I went to was ok, but I just didn't click with him and didn't feel like it was helping so I stopped going. I really wish I could still see the woman I had at uni, but I'm not a student anymore.

Creative_Mind Life feels hard today.
  • replies: 5

Why can one day start normal you feel happy.Then all a sudden a cluster of small things that don't go to plan cause you to breakdown.Then you obsess or over think everything and somehow you make it seem like its all your fault.Today i wanted the day ... View more

Why can one day start normal you feel happy.Then all a sudden a cluster of small things that don't go to plan cause you to breakdown.Then you obsess or over think everything and somehow you make it seem like its all your fault.Today i wanted the day to be perfect and a few tiny minor issues have resulted in me hysterically crying and wanting to run away from everyone and everything.I have been diagnosed with social Anxiety and i have it given a good fight for 7years without medication .But now i feel like it has just manifested into something so big and its starting to consume every waking hour of the day and in fact even in my sleep i grind my teeth with the stress.I'm the happy carefree mum of 2 at school that has a fulltime successful hairdressing business 2 dogs a cat a husband with his own business and i just manage it perfectly and carefree and never get mad or frustrated........yeah right!I've become a master now at covering up the real me but now i finally feel like i shouldn't that it's making things worse everyday living up to everyone else's expectations of me what they tell me i look like from the outside calm and carefree , organized instead or being true to whom i am and admitting i can't fix this on my own anymore.I need the help of medication i already see a psychologist but i know im even fake when i talk to her.I don't want to be the one on meds i want to be the one that can cope.How do i get it right in my head that i need this extra help and not fear taking medication , not fearing the very thing that could take this sadness, frustration and fear away.

Creative_Mind I'm so Lost
  • replies: 3

I'm 28years old i have an amazing supportive husband 2 boys a beautiful house,pets my own Hairdressing Salon and my husband has his own Electrical business.Every morning i wake up do my hair and makeup just right, get my kids ready for School feed my... View more

I'm 28years old i have an amazing supportive husband 2 boys a beautiful house,pets my own Hairdressing Salon and my husband has his own Electrical business.Every morning i wake up do my hair and makeup just right, get my kids ready for School feed my pets.Then the nightmare begins.Behind this seemingly put together Women is a terrified,angry,frustrated and most importantly a sad person.Taking my children to School.I'm faced everday with the fear of taking them to class and waiting for that bell to go so i can excape the people the you look great and how are you feeling how's work.I need your help with my hair comments.I start work in my salon in my home because I'm too afraid to work anywhere else.I frantically run around make my house perfect incase someonne spots a flaw.I get through the day with everyone dumping on me with their issues and always finishing with a comment.Great my hair hair looks good i feel great and thanks for the chat i feel so much better.Im left with comments from people.Are getting skinner? You don't need to loose anymore weight.How about a how are you going? And i would say well actually I'm struggling I'm loosing weight because I'm sick with worry and trying to keep this perfect happy image up.After my day of pretending ends my darling husband comes home to which i greet him with a cold distant hello,or a thank god your home.No how was you day hunny or hug

Spinifex lost faith, spark and enthusiasim, tired of trying things i think will help but feel I do not fit to this world!
  • replies: 12

Hello all,First time here, 50 years old, been treated for depression for many years, medication since 1999, tried a few classes of drug treatment, . Seen many psychologists, social workers a few clinical psychiatrists and have a terrible history of n... View more

Hello all,First time here, 50 years old, been treated for depression for many years, medication since 1999, tried a few classes of drug treatment, . Seen many psychologists, social workers a few clinical psychiatrists and have a terrible history of not coping.I am on my third marriage and the writing is on the wall, I also can not hold jobs, too much pressure or weird anxiety due to bosses peer pressure, I self medicate with xxxx beer nightly approx. 6 only per night now. have gone off my meds due to been psychologically castrated, I tried to run my own small business but could not keep the customers even though I was good at my job, just found it all too hard and cringed when phone rang consequently now bankrupt. .Great now I am a loser too boot!Moved closer too the ocean to allow healing I thought but feel lost in the society and life direction. I am beginning to wonder why what and what for, I know I do not fit in social circles with successful people because I have not achieved the neighbourhood status and have become meek and disillusioned. I feel no joy and sick of the usual she will be right mate attitude. I have tried cognitive therapy and mind tricks and so on and so on and so on.My question is to those who can identify with my true electronic open heart surgery " inspection" what can I do realistically when I not only feel like a failure I have become one with out a doubt, even when I choose to think differently those dark feelings still seem to rule and when I challenge them I find its all my fault, my perception my inadequacies and my wrong thinking. Doctors come and go like the ocean tides as their training placements has been met, pleading your case is an effort and a burden to relive. Is their help? Is the psychotropic drugs prescribed the answer, is their a real chemical imbalance or must I wear blinkers like a race horse so I can function in the system and society.I feel Mad as a hatter with out the magic tea...that might be me problem after all.look forward to meeting some one who I can connect with as this is really my last resort I guess! " no that's not blackmail"Cheers, Mick

Kassa81 It wasn't supposed to be like this
  • replies: 15

Hi, I don't reallyknow where to begin. ....i have struggled with depression on and off for years. At least about 15.....i have been on and off medication and am currently meant to be taking some but have to go back and get a script from my gp. I am u... View more

Hi, I don't reallyknow where to begin. ....i have struggled with depression on and off for years. At least about 15.....i have been on and off medication and am currently meant to be taking some but have to go back and get a script from my gp. I am usually happy to take my meds but sometimes i get sick of them. .... For as long as i can remember i wanted to get married have children and be a stay at home mum. After 4 years of trying we finally got pregnant with my beautiful daughter. I finished work and have been a stay at home mum ever since. (Just over 2 years) I adore my daughter and wouldn't change her for the world. I guess the best to describe how i feel is trapped. I have multiple layers of guilt. I feel guilty for not being a working mum, i would feel guilty if i worked. I feel bad that i don't get all the house work done and feel like i don't spend enough time with bub. I am exactly where i want to be but still miserable. I feel like my husband doesn't care or get how i feel. Some days all i can manage is feeding my daughter and i.....

Billy66 Bipolar, borderline personality and PTSD
  • replies: 52

Hi all I am new to the forums and have been reading them for a while but have been to too nervous to respond. I have 3 young adult children and a grandson who I adore. I work as a nurse in what can be a very stressfull environment. I haven't been at ... View more

Hi all I am new to the forums and have been reading them for a while but have been to too nervous to respond. I have 3 young adult children and a grandson who I adore. I work as a nurse in what can be a very stressfull environment. I haven't been at work for the last 2 months as I have been in hospital with a depressive phase of my bipolar. I got out of hospital yesterday and have today found out from my case manager that I have been diagnosed with borderline personality as well. I'm it hard to work out how I can be diagnosed with this while I am depressed. I have a great GP who is so supportive and a case manager in the community. I have been assigned to a new psychiatrist who I'm not keen on but am willing to give him a try. Even with this support I feel like I am struggling all the time. I have no friends and have disowned my family. Does anyone have any suggestions hope you all have a happy day Billy66

Olivia2 What are your triggers?
  • replies: 3

Hello I'm a newbie to BB but not to depression having suffered from depression/anxiety for most of my life. I have been on medication for 6 years now which has been a life saver and I think will also be a life-long commitment to staying well. I am a ... View more

Hello I'm a newbie to BB but not to depression having suffered from depression/anxiety for most of my life. I have been on medication for 6 years now which has been a life saver and I think will also be a life-long commitment to staying well. I am a high achiever, I am a mummy to a gorgeous 2.5 year old boy who I love to bits and who can also drive me mad, you know how it is. I work in academia, 4 days/week. In general I manage all the general day to day of life, work, housestuff, child minding etc. I have a supportive partner etc. And yet my depression or anxiety are always just 'there'. I have had years of therapy and had traumatic teenage years caused by a mum who herself was and still is seriously mentally ill. I now have minimal contact with her as a way of surviving. My psychiatrist says that my brain has simply wired itself to be this way eg thru trauma and genetics but I hate feeling like this. I am going through a depressive stage at the moment and I often just can't put my finger on what the trigger is. Life just seems like a constant balancing act which most of the time feels like it takes a huge effort to maintain. I was lying in bed last night feeling terrible and thought reaching out to BB would help, and reading the stories on here have been an amazing way to just think 'oh my god I'm not alone'. I am just interested in how others feel they manage the day to day, and if you are any good at recognising your triggers. I know the usual take time for yourself and so on, but then feeling guilty through mother guilt is so self-sabotaging too! We are thinking of moving overseas back to my husband's home country where I have lived before and am actually feeling ok about (well actually very up and down but am open to), but I worry about not having support like I have set up here with access to my psychiatrist, and I don't even know how it works with medication....I assume people in Ireland take antidepressants but would I have access to the same medication? Anyway just interested to read some more ideas.

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