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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 chats on this Forum having 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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heather92 I feel like I'm letting people down
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm 22 and have been suffering from depression for a bit over a year. I've had a tendency to get down on myself since high school but basically I had a big professional opportunity get cancelled due to circumstances completely out of anyone's con... View more

Hi, I'm 22 and have been suffering from depression for a bit over a year. I've had a tendency to get down on myself since high school but basically I had a big professional opportunity get cancelled due to circumstances completely out of anyone's control which acted as the major trigger. In the month or so following I moved back to Sydney from Brisbane leaving behind a group of friends who were around all the time and moved back in with my parents who had just decided to get a divorce. So I basically went from an amazing living situation to a really toxic and unpleasant one, and I couldn't move out as I was unemployed. Around the middle of this year things started to turn around - Dad moved out and got his own place in May or so, I got a job, and I am hoping to have another chance at the opportunity I missed out on this year - although there is still a chance it will fall through again. I had a few sessions with a counsellor who suggested I try St John's Wort to help with my depression and it worked well for me. But there have been times when I forgot to take the pills for sometimes extended periods of time and during those periods I get really frustrated with myself that I even need to be taking pills to feel happy. Does anyone else who's taken antidepressants feel like this? When my depression first hit last year it significantly impacted my studies - I scraped through my exams but ended up not submitting a major assignment that I needed to finish my degree. I lost all motivation and I am still suffering from that now. I tried to take one subject this semester and have had no motivation to study at all. I'm so angry with myself because my parents have been so supportive of me while I have been studying and I feel like I'm letting them and myself down and I'm worried that my poor performance is going to impact on my post uni options. I haven't told them just how much my studies have been impacted because I feel so ashamed. I don't really know what to do. I just feel... lost. My self esteem is at an all time low, I'm questioning my ability to pursue the career I want and just feel like I'm failing the people I care about.

JustTiffanyxo More bad days than good...
  • replies: 5

I'm finding that I am having more 'bad' days than 'good' at the moment. If I get too overwhelmed or even angry, I cry. Sometimes hysterically. It's like I have no control. My actions (the crying) doesn't convey how I'm really feeling. It makes me fee... View more

I'm finding that I am having more 'bad' days than 'good' at the moment. If I get too overwhelmed or even angry, I cry. Sometimes hysterically. It's like I have no control. My actions (the crying) doesn't convey how I'm really feeling. It makes me feel weak. It makes me hate myself. It feels like I'm stuck in this huge hole and I can't get out. You know? I nearly get to the top and then something happens and I fall back down again. But that's depression isn't it? Nasty thing it is. Oh well. Just writing down thoughts.

Breakeven I'm Not Sure If I'm Depressed Or Just Downright . . . Weak
  • replies: 2

A bit about myself before April/May 2014 -> I'm 22, I work full time in a call centre, the pay is really good, I have a loving boyfriend - soon to be fiance, I'm days away from picking up my first BMW, I go to church every Sunday, I go to the gym, I ... View more

A bit about myself before April/May 2014 -> I'm 22, I work full time in a call centre, the pay is really good, I have a loving boyfriend - soon to be fiance, I'm days away from picking up my first BMW, I go to church every Sunday, I go to the gym, I have about six loyal friends that have my back no matter what, I have a family that I love and would do anything for. I don't understand why even with all this I'm struggling to be happy let alone content. My dad works overseas in Iraq for a defence organisation in the counter terrorism field operations and intelligence division. He's been doing this ever since I was 7. My family and I only see him twice in a year and whenever he comes home - we drop everything to go spend time together as a family. My family and I are very close. Every time he goes back - I've noticed the same behavioural and psychological patterns. I don't feel motivated to go to work, I'm sick, I phase out, I stop caring about bills, commitments, my friends etc. Especially the last two months I've gradually started to take more and more days off work. My dad visited the country and left four weeks ago. I've been off work for the past three weeks. Some days I pull a sicky when I'm not sick but not lately. I've had a cold, really bad headaches, bleeding noses twice a day, indigestion and days where I feel like my chest could cave in. Work used to be enjoyable. Church is now a time filler for my Sundays, I'm short tempered, emotional, easily angered, tired all the time, I cry about the little things, I'm insensitive, rude and just "whatever" with life and people. An incident at work that occurred in May2014 I know set me back a bit. I was one of the best in my role. I now doubt my ability to perform certain tasks at work, I stress about work and I'm cautious and anxious always trying to keep on the safe side in fear that I'll lose my job. I've cut some friends off because there was unnecessary drama and I don't have time for it. I'm confused. I don't know why I don't care anymore. I dont know why I can't force myself to go to work. I feel stressed, angry, sad and sick at the thought of going to work the next day. I don't understand why I have literally everything but I feel like I've got nothing but my family and my boyfriend. My family and I we all live in different suburbs, states, countries but even when I'm with my family i feel slightly happier but only because I'm not lonely. Am I depressed? Or do I just need to harden up? Help me

mc1622 Feeling completely alone and like giving up
  • replies: 12

This is my first time since I was a kid that I've tried to reach out but I'm at the point where I know I need to talk to someone. I moved to Australia 2 years ago from Canada and it seems like a constant struggle since day one. I gave up everything I... View more

This is my first time since I was a kid that I've tried to reach out but I'm at the point where I know I need to talk to someone. I moved to Australia 2 years ago from Canada and it seems like a constant struggle since day one. I gave up everything I had back home to be with my partner here and although I love him very much, it's becoming extremely overwhelming. I haven't met any friends, his family and I don't get along although I have tried everything and it's become a wedge between us. I recently lost my job leaving me with zero income with adult responsibilities still to pay for, found out that my partner (after a year and a bit of being here he finally decided to come clean after being confronted numerous times) had cheated on me 3 times when we lived together in Canada and he lied to me about everything. I feel completely isolated and alone and when I get upset I need to walk away to avoid massive blow outs. I have pre existing depression and anxiety and it's increasingly getting worse every day. Sometimes I will just start crying and not have a reason that I can explain to anyone to have them understand. I have no one to talk to and feel like every time my partner and I try to discuss anything, it's turned around on me that I'm the one with the problem. It's hard enough to make friends as an adult but I feel with my anxiety that it's next to impossible. I've always felt like I'm a strong individual but inside I'm struggling to survive. I have next to zero trust in any one due to previous abuse (multiple types) from friends and family as a child continuing on to adulthood. The current relationship trust issues are extremely hard to get over. I feel hard headed in trying to stick up for myself but am always brought down and made to feel like it was my fault somehow. I feel like after losing my job (I have been looking non stop for a new one), that I am worthless and can't contribute to anything that I'd like to and that I'm just a burden. My defence mechanisms have become anger I guess...I get so upset when I feel like I've been wronged and in my head it clicks in to "well, why did you trust them anyways?" and I get angry with myself that I let it happen. I don't know where to start to deal with any of it other than to write it down like I have here...and if anyone does reply, than it's an added bonus haha RELATED THREADS Anxiety - feeling alone, like I am going crazy I feel nothing and I don't care about anything anymore Can't stop crying for no reason Feeling alone and stuck Feeling alone, now realise I'm not the only one

HoneymoonErin In so deep :/
  • replies: 3

I'm so deep in my depression, I don't do anything anymore.... like at all. I don;t eat, sleep, do assignments, do the things I used to love and I gave up on my dream of singing a few months ago. I can't seem to get myself above it. I am under extreme... View more

I'm so deep in my depression, I don't do anything anymore.... like at all. I don;t eat, sleep, do assignments, do the things I used to love and I gave up on my dream of singing a few months ago. I can't seem to get myself above it. I am under extreme pressure to the point where I don't want to wake up in the morning and go to school. I'm always handing stuff in late and the thing is I just dont care, My grades are sucking and I want to do something about it but I can't....Does anyone have an suggestions on how I can cope with the pressure and so i can do the things I love again? 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.

bel1701 Ive been dealing with depression for ten years or more
  • replies: 4

Im so sick of it, bringing me down, im not able to do anything because it feels like its controling me. Help.

Im so sick of it, bringing me down, im not able to do anything because it feels like its controling me. Help.

Lweezuk Work life depression balance
  • replies: 2

Hi I'm 28 and have been suffering with depression since my late teens. I'm currently on medication but just in the process of switching. I've been in Australia for just over a year and thought a move away from my old life in England would make me "be... View more

Hi I'm 28 and have been suffering with depression since my late teens. I'm currently on medication but just in the process of switching. I've been in Australia for just over a year and thought a move away from my old life in England would make me "better" but hence feelings have just travelled and I feel isolated from my friends at home. I've been in a really bad place for about 3-4 months now really urging myself to think positive but struggling to drag myself out of my "pit". Sometimes I feel like I want to scream and cry all at once and still this won't represent my thoughts. My work are great but I've been taking a lot of time off recently unable to motivate myself to get to work or bursting into tears at my desk. I feel like a burden. Some days I feel good and on my "down days" im worried my colleagues think I'm overreacting or being dramatic. I have my sister here in Melbourne but I push her away a lot not wanting to drag her into my mood. I'm going through through a relationship breakdown because he doesn't understand my depression. I wish I knew what to do for the best. Louise

Zebra Depressed
  • replies: 5

I've been suffering from depression for about 4 years now and didn't realise just how bad it was or that I even had it until I took an online quiz and read other peoples stories on beyond blue. The thing is I didn't have an major traumatic experience... View more

I've been suffering from depression for about 4 years now and didn't realise just how bad it was or that I even had it until I took an online quiz and read other peoples stories on beyond blue. The thing is I didn't have an major traumatic experience that caused my depression. My husband had been working FIFO at the time and had been doing it for 2 years at the time my depression started. At first I thought I was just feeling lonely and was missing him that's why I was feeling down but even after he came back for good I never got better. It's been 4 years now since I first realised I was depressed and I can't seem to break free from it. I used to be a very happy and bubbly person who used to enjoy going out and having a good time. Now I don't go anywhere I have no enjoyment in anything and just about find everything I do exhausting and a task even something as simple as going to the corner store which is literally down the road. I have no patience for anything or anyone. When my husband wants to take me out to dinner I get anxiety I don't wanna leave the house. I'm so unhappy I feel like nothing I do is good, I feel worthless, guilty about everything and nothing at the same time even though I haven't done anything wrong to anyone. I'm worried that my marriage is going down because of it, my husband is supportive but not in the way I need him to be because I can see how annoyed he is getting especially when he suggests we go out and do things and I always say no ALWAYS. I really hate myself for being like this with him but I can't control it I really really can't. I don't have any thoughts of suicide, thank god but I really am unhappy.

Ianian ASD and a downward spiral
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm not sure what to post here to be honest, or what to say. I've got ASD with side orders of major depressive and anxiety disorders... I came off my medication a few months ago and have had a slow downward spiral ever since, to the point where I... View more

Hi, I'm not sure what to post here to be honest, or what to say. I've got ASD with side orders of major depressive and anxiety disorders... I came off my medication a few months ago and have had a slow downward spiral ever since, to the point where I've been in tears at work for no reason at all and have been panicking that - for some unknown, unspecified reason - I am going to lose my job. I've always fought my own battles - I have no family to speak of and my wifecan' t cope... she will be there for me but she can't help me through. But now I am working FIFO I can't fight it on my own, there's no escape. I've rung EAP and seen the site doctor who wanted to send me home because he thought I was (am) going to do something to myself... I convinced him (and my manager and my manager's manager) to let me stay. I need to keep busy and working; if I get sent home I will be just sitting there isolated from my workmates and with little support. As I wrote before, I'm not sure what I am doing posting here. Perhaps it just helps getting it out. I have difficulty communicating what is going on in my head to people. I have been speaking to counsellors etc. but I am not sure that I have got it across properly. I have some good friends here on site who have been going out of their way to help and understand which is great, however I also feel guilty about that, being a burden etc. I have found myself disguising it again if I am not doing well so I don't worry them or be an inconvenience. Stupid, I know, but I feel really naked and exposed and it feels like everyone knows about what's going on. It is a long, dark road. At times, like now, I don't know if it is worth travelling.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.

JaeS Needing a break?
  • replies: 2

Hi, so I have been dealing with Depression and Anxiety for about 5 years now, since I was 16. I am now a 21 year old male, my mental problems I had gotten under control pretty well for the past 3 or so years, still having occasional attacks. Recently... View more

Hi, so I have been dealing with Depression and Anxiety for about 5 years now, since I was 16. I am now a 21 year old male, my mental problems I had gotten under control pretty well for the past 3 or so years, still having occasional attacks. Recently, within the last month I have fallen back completely into my depression, sometimes not leaving my bed or bedroom for days straight. I have had my roommate/friends come wake me up cuz it was 4:30pm, I couldn't get to sleep all night, til 12pm that day. What this post is about, is I just feel so lonely, stressed and depressed all the time. What I am wondering is, is it wrong of me to want to badly go into a mental rehab, only for a few weeks. Just so I can have a break? I don't want to have to worry about if I can afford to pay rent, or that 6 month over due bill. Or my career not going right, or the fact I can't go a day without drinking or getting high.. I started self harming again too.. Is it wrong of me to want to have this break? I have not been into a mental rehab as I hide my problems quite well. But I would think the people who visit are able to have a rest from life.. Again, is it wrong for me to want this..?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.