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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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Anna4 35 years of depression loss and trauma
  • replies: 3

Life can change in an instant !I am 52, I recently survived a serious attempt on my life and ended up in ICU. Where do I start, my journey seems to not end….A head injury at 15, a parent hit by a car survived with an acquired brain injury then stroke... View more

Life can change in an instant !I am 52, I recently survived a serious attempt on my life and ended up in ICU. Where do I start, my journey seems to not end….A head injury at 15, a parent hit by a car survived with an acquired brain injury then strokes. I lost a boyfriend in a car accident at 18, divorced with a 1 year old daughter at 24, remarried, had an amazing life with beautiful property a house and blessed with a son, then widowed at 39, my husband died of cancer. A few failed relationships later, doing all the comprising, getting love bombed and being taken advantage of, I have respect for myself but looked at as the problem when wanting more. Pay my own way always and an independent women.Family issues, mental health, anxiety, trauma and PTSD. Living with chronic pain. Worked through it all and raised two amazing children, who I am so proud of. I am seriously considering ending my life .

Sillycat Retail
  • replies: 2

Not sure where to put this so I hope Depression is okay.I’m sick of being stuck in this job.I’ve been working at a big company’s department store for three years now when this job was meant to be a ‘while I look for something better so I can make mon... View more

Not sure where to put this so I hope Depression is okay.I’m sick of being stuck in this job.I’ve been working at a big company’s department store for three years now when this job was meant to be a ‘while I look for something better so I can make money in the meantime’ job - needless to say, job hunting hasn’t gone well, and it feels like I’m going to be stuck here forever. I don’t mind my immediate coworkers - they’re friendly enough. We don’t have anything in common beyond the job (I’m a twenty-one year old closeted transmasc amongst middle aged women), so naturally we aren’t particularly close or anything; which is fine. I like the manager we have in the later half of the week too, she’s nice. But that’s it. It’s not ‘good’, but the only not-bad part of it really. Aside from getting paid I guess. The job I (and my immediate coworkers) do is essentially tidying and putting returned stock out. It’s also meant to be organising stock (i.e: putting an arm of shirts in S->M->L->XL etc), but more on that later. We also do customer service & price checks. It honestly feels like nothing I do here is ever good enough. I’ve been told I’m a part of the ‘strong team’ for our half (clothing half), but that’s where the praise ends. I run around like a headless chicken every shift to try and make sure I get all the returns back onto the floor, the tables are folded & everything is in it’s correct place/nothing is on the ground (which would be natural if this was only happening at this time of year, Christmas leadup - but it’s been all year). I don’t take any of my fifteen minute breaks - and I’ve started skipping the thirty minute ones I’m entitled to when my shifts expand beyond the mere 4 hours I usually get. I haven’t sized since before the Christmas rush last year. I haven’t had time. The year prior to last year, after Christmas - when it’d quieted down, we had a fair amount of people on (minimum three - our half of the floor is best split into three) and had decent hours for shifts (always at least four) which allowed us to catch up on all the stock to put back out & fix sizing. We had a new guy start doing the rosters last year, and consequentially when the store quieted down - he cut us down to as little as he could and we couldn’t catch up. During the quieter parts of this year, we’ve only had two people on, both for the minimum time you can roster on (three hours), meaning each had to now do 1.5 of the work prior within a measly three hours. Of course, it was simply impossible to do sizing as well as regular tidying & folding as this is done while we’re still open. Yesterday, a manager who’d recently come back from a month off was complaining about the lack of sizing - which beyond being annoying for the fact I, and my coworkers really don’t have the time for it, is also annoying in the fact that she didn’t notice this prior to her time away. Nor has anyone else complained about it. My shift was four hours long yesterday and I still didn’t manage to even finish my section without doing sizing, without any fifteen minute break. Yet this is the same manager who will tell me I need to take my fifteens. Which one is it? Do you want me to take the break? Or do I need to work harder? Because even though I put everything into trying to get everything done I just can’t? I run around with my stomach cramping from hunger on my longer shifts, my left hip/knee randomly acting up sometimes (I don’t have any actual problems, I’m not with a disability - my hip joint just kind of feels like I’ve pinched a nerve/knee aches sometimes), forgoing even drinking from the water bottle I bring because I don’t even feel as if I have time for that … and my work is still poor? But also oh I should take care of myself? It can’t be both. It’s not possible.Not to mention how pleasant (sarcasm) customers are. But that’s to be expected so. I’m sorry this is a whole lot of whining I’m just sick of it, really. I don’t need to be lathered in praise from my managers, but I’d like some form of appreciation … some acknowledgement. And also to get a new, more enjoyable job.

Joy Left alone
  • replies: 1

After 26 years if marriage I was left on my own.Children are in touch and care about me but are busy with their lives.I am 61 don't own my home working full time not financially secure to retire.Any ideas on how to progress

After 26 years if marriage I was left on my own.Children are in touch and care about me but are busy with their lives.I am 61 don't own my home working full time not financially secure to retire.Any ideas on how to progress

Jani Not sure, but it could just be starting...
  • replies: 6

...I'm not depressed, because I can still wake up in the morning with energy with a purpose in mind. I lost my job almost a year ago, can't find another at the moment, the industry is tough with hundreds of competitions, bills piling up. I'm flatting... View more

...I'm not depressed, because I can still wake up in the morning with energy with a purpose in mind. I lost my job almost a year ago, can't find another at the moment, the industry is tough with hundreds of competitions, bills piling up. I'm flatting, I have a teen (young adult) who I've been fully supporting with payments since 2 and my ex can't complain about that, sending extra cash if I can, when I was employed. Since losing my job, I seemed to have lost half of my purpose, the other half being making sure to be always at my teen's side when I'm needed, we bond every weekends, eat out, drive around, play console games, but I feel like it's not enough. I also need a source of finance since driving to see my teen takes petrol (3 hours return) and something to pay for whatever she wants to eat and buy. Not sure where's this post going.... I really don't want to hurt my teen nor give out the idea that I'm giving up on life.. My teen is at the critical stage of her life, being confused and all, talking to me and telling me the difficulties of life while ignoring the mum, which makes me think I'm really deeply needed, still. Mum is sickly, she's now based overseas but bedridden, I want to look after her as well, but I'm torn between my teen and my mother. Most nights I always watch videos why I still need to do this, what's the point in all of this, and how it would probably be great not to wake up one day. I don't have friends, my 3 sibilings are all estranged, they have their own issues. I could say it's my teen that's pushing me to get out of bed in the morning, but my day will be mostly spent looking out the window, wondering when this will all end. Sorry for the long post, I just want to get this out of my head, life seems to be meaningless, esp. after dropping off my teen home after a weekend out...

mjh depression and shopping
  • replies: 5

was wondering if shopping online to make you happy is apart of the depression whenever I buy stuff I feel good then later it all comes crashing down again its been a hard road still fighting these evil thing in my head

was wondering if shopping online to make you happy is apart of the depression whenever I buy stuff I feel good then later it all comes crashing down again its been a hard road still fighting these evil thing in my head

Guest_60540607 Hi there, I am new here. Just saw this on here... I have been living with depression for over 30yrs
  • replies: 2

I get really tired.... an expert in doing all the recommended things, but not at living somehow.I feel lately like I have been rearranging furniture in my soul, while feeling empty and robot like.I am a professional and have my high functional person... View more

I get really tired.... an expert in doing all the recommended things, but not at living somehow.I feel lately like I have been rearranging furniture in my soul, while feeling empty and robot like.I am a professional and have my high functional persona, just so over it, very tired....I am good at existing but not living some how....I am great to being there for others, but so lonely at times....

Guest_59080740 Online gambling has taken over me
  • replies: 3

I am a mother of 3 small children who I love dearly and I’ve always wanted to be the best mother I can be for them. My own mother was never caring or nurturing and it’s made me not want to be like her at all.For a while now I’ve been hooked on online... View more

I am a mother of 3 small children who I love dearly and I’ve always wanted to be the best mother I can be for them. My own mother was never caring or nurturing and it’s made me not want to be like her at all.For a while now I’ve been hooked on online gambling, more so when I have a drink. It’s now ended up being something I associate with drinking. I also hide my gambling from my husband. He also likes to gamble on occasion but no where near as bad as me. I’ve tried so hard to stop so many times. I finally found the website to register to self exclude which I’ve done this morning and I’m proud of that first step. Losing money has made me feel so depressed and so often wanting to end my life, I feel like I am a bad person, a bad mother and a bad wife. I hate myself so much and everyone would be better off without me.I’m so sad all the time and I get so snappy and grumpy. It’s not who I am, I try so hard to be a kind person, to treat people with respect and to teach my kids that but here I am wasting money behind my husband’s back. He works so hard and he deserves better than me. I just want to be happy and live a normal life with my little family. I just want to stop feeling worthless and thinking about ending my life. I don’t think I ever could, I wouldn’t be able to do that to my children but it doesn’t stop the dark thoughts. I’ve made that first step to self exclude and I’m hoping it helps.

Spirit Feeling empty and constantly wanting life to finish
  • replies: 4

I am a mother of 3 children. 15 and 16 year old boys and a 11 year old girl. I have depression and anxiety, Last year was a complete write off with two hospital admissions and having full on depression. Now with the help of medication things have bec... View more

I am a mother of 3 children. 15 and 16 year old boys and a 11 year old girl. I have depression and anxiety, Last year was a complete write off with two hospital admissions and having full on depression. Now with the help of medication things have become more manageable. However I constantly feel very inadequate. I am doing a job that is very low level than my qualifications and I feel inferior most of the time. My skills have depleted and I feel stupid all the time. I am tired of life. When we had kids we thought they would study hard and further themselves. None of them are interested in studies and I feel that they will all end up having to live at home, being unemployed. My poor husband is shouldering the family burden and I feel very sorry for him as he never wanted to have kids. It was my idea and now we are both very unhappy. I find myself wishing my life to end. I just want the drudgery of life to end. I cannot seem to find happiness. I have no hobbies and almost no friends apart from one lady who is much older than me. I look at my life and wonder how did it get to this point. I just want to go to sleep and never wake up again.

geelt Feeling overwhelmed and lost with life
  • replies: 32

Lots of things are happening at once and I just need an outlet to vent my emotions. My head is full of useless unnecessary thoughts and worries that I keep making up for myself. I can start a new activity or hobby only for me to hyper-fixate and get ... View more

Lots of things are happening at once and I just need an outlet to vent my emotions. My head is full of useless unnecessary thoughts and worries that I keep making up for myself. I can start a new activity or hobby only for me to hyper-fixate and get myself burnt out and wasting a lot of time and money that I really shouldn't be spending. I overthink things and that affects my enjoyment of the activities I do. Thinking and worrying about buying things to do or thinking about doing things but when I get to doing things I start loathing it. I have no impulse control and stress over money when its just a dollar wasting so much brain power over nothing. No discipline. Currently on Job Seeker applying for work with low qualification/ no education needed. I decided that I'm not going to try going back to University because it doesn't feel worthwhile, but also realized how limiting employment opportunities are. Having to rely on public transport with transit taking 1-2 hours at worst to the closest available work. I've recently begun volunteering at a 2nd hand shop as well just to get out the house and interact with people. I worry about having no time to do things I enjoy if I start doing paid work which is contrasted by not enjoying the things I do for enjoyment or overthinking and stressing over small details. I haven't driven in a year and only have my Ls. Stressing and loathing about it wont help and it feels exhausting trying to ask help from my parents. Paranoid about crashing the car and I've been overthinking when going for walks near/crossing the road when the cars are nowhere near me but the hesitation makes worry and is affecting my alertness. I've even begun worrying when going up escalators even though the fear is unreasonable. A lot of hesitation and a lack of confidence with everything I do. The support groups I've been going to so I can take my mind off things have had their funding cut so they've been changed to fortnightly and the counselor I've been going to won't be able to see me for a couple months. I don't know what I want to do long term so I'm trying to change my mindset. Its fine to not make a lot of money, its fine to keep living at home with my parents, its fine not to accomplish anything grand and have a simple life. I have lots of ideas and thoughts of things to do but never follow through and just wallow in self pity and feeling restricted and limited in what I can do having to compromise I dont know

KatieVic Chaotic and depressed
  • replies: 1

I was diagnosed with depression when I was 16 years old, now 39. It's always been a Rollercoaster but the last few years, I've just wanted to get off the ride.My son has complex ADHD, autism, anxiety and learning disabilities. My whole life is workin... View more

I was diagnosed with depression when I was 16 years old, now 39. It's always been a Rollercoaster but the last few years, I've just wanted to get off the ride.My son has complex ADHD, autism, anxiety and learning disabilities. My whole life is working a career job, helping my baby boy just survive and trying to save a marriage that is failing from the stress of our child. We both love and adore him but anyone that knows complex ADHD, will understand the screaming, tics, anger, hyperactivity.I wake up every day to a battle zone, a huge mental load and constant self doubt. I hate my life, my body and the choices I make.I saw my GP and have been put on Pristiq, been feeling ill for a week now so that's another little prize ha.How do others manage severe depression and on top of that situational depression from things in your life you cannot change.He is beautiful and unique but raising a nuero-diverse child has burnt me out. It's like walking in a haze all day and never seeing anything good in this life.Is there support out there for parents like us? I've done many years of psychology but feel I need a community. People that get what this life is like, where I don't feel so alone and judged? People that will build eachother up through shared experience and empathy.Thank you

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