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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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LifemySide Detachment from everyday life
  • replies: 9

Wondering if there is any mums out there also having trouble doing daily routine things. I feel so alone and lifeless.

Wondering if there is any mums out there also having trouble doing daily routine things. I feel so alone and lifeless.

Tjm91 I don't want to seem like a sook or like I'm looking for attention
  • replies: 2

Ok, so I think I have depression and I don't know what to do next. It only really hit me recently when a friend made a comment and when I actually did some research I think I might have depression. Problem is I don't want to speak to anyone I know ab... View more

Ok, so I think I have depression and I don't know what to do next. It only really hit me recently when a friend made a comment and when I actually did some research I think I might have depression. Problem is I don't want to speak to anyone I know about it I don't want to seem like a sook or like I'm looking for attention-also the reason I don't want to see a doctor because I am scared they will say nothing is wrong with me and I'll never feel better. Im 24 and I have become so withdrawn. I used to be quite bubbly and outgoing but now I don't want any attention on me ( it's so bad I avoid pulling up directly beside cars because I don't want anyone to look at me). I am not excited about anything anymore and I can't see any future for myself and I am always so tired. To try and describe it I feel as though I'm stuck in a tiny frosted glass box, everything outside is blurry and everyone outside the box is going about their lives in fast forward and can't see me in there and have forgotten me. I feel like everyone is always annoyed with me. I've lost all my confidence I avoid eye contact with people and I just feel like it will never get better. Strangely though I get weird bursts of happiness/energy for about an hour at a time and then crash again. I don't feel connected to anyone anymore. My best friends/family feel like strangers. I want some honest opinions - do you think this is depression or just a phase? I've felt like this for about two months now and it just seems to be getting worse. Thanks - sorry for the long post

white knight Radical effort might help
  • replies: 3

My wife and I have different types of depression so this might not suit all. I felt depression coming on. Maybe I'm lucky but I get signs, mood swings and sadness. The sadness maybe from dysthymia. At any rate it as coming on 3 days ago. This cycle n... View more

My wife and I have different types of depression so this might not suit all. I felt depression coming on. Maybe I'm lucky but I get signs, mood swings and sadness. The sadness maybe from dysthymia. At any rate it as coming on 3 days ago. This cycle normally lasts around 10 days and I push through it. Last time about 6 weeks ago I couldnt push through it. This led to me approaching it differently. Instead of staying home I asked my wife if she'd accompany me for a drive about 5 kms away to collect firewood. We did that and it was so hard. All I wanted to do was go home maybe stare at the TV or sleep. We got our full trailer load of wood then out of the blue I stopped the car and told my wife I'll be back in 5 minutes. I jogged in one direction then returned. That was hard to do also. It's like running against the tide. When we got home my instincts were to - yep retire inside to TV. Instead I did some digging in the garden. Then went to my 'man cave' to rearrange shelf items. This is when I have a little cry. It was getting harder. Again I went against the tide and trimmed some tree branches. I didnt even enter our home for a drink as the temptation to collapse was too great...drank from the tap. Finally a lot of work behind me I was to enter our home then thought it best to visit our neighbour thus delaying again the resting time. Helped my neighbour with the building of his green house which took 2 hours. A couple of days later and I'm fine. I broke that barrier. Dont know if you can try this but its worked for me. It is hard though Tony WK

Gajas Depression like a fire - Sometimes it smolders, sometime it's an uncontrollable inferno.
  • replies: 4

I've been dealing with depression for appox. 40 years. It's everpresent, smoldering, then suddenly flaring into an all consuming feeling of loss, fear, approaching doom and dreadfully explainable loneliness. It's a pit so dark and deep no light can b... View more

I've been dealing with depression for appox. 40 years. It's everpresent, smoldering, then suddenly flaring into an all consuming feeling of loss, fear, approaching doom and dreadfully explainable loneliness. It's a pit so dark and deep no light can be seen. Noone can know what it's like unless they've been there, it's the most foreign of foreign places, you can't fully explain it to someone that hasn't been there and seen the sites. But, the misery passes and medication can help, it may take some searching until you find the right doctor/s and meds, but you must keep searching. My greatest regrets bought about by my condition is the pain l've caused to people that love and care for me. I hate my own self pity, l've seen some awful things, l've been directly involved in the accidental deaths of at least two people, one of them was a small girl. I'm here whining about how miserable l feel, l can't even begin to know the misery l caused the family of these people, accidently or not. Today l was asked to recall detail some of the trauma l've witnessed and its left me feeling empty and dead inside. I know it'll pass, but while it's here the pain is almost unbearable. Writing things down or talking is cathartic, it lets some of the mental pus out of the abcess l live with. Thank you for the oppurtunity to write this here and thank you for taking the time read it. It has eased the pain and settled the flames a little in the process.

Amy_G What does it feel like to feel "numb"?
  • replies: 4

I'm supposed to be like...noticing what I feel more and like getting in touch my emotions etc. but I don't think I really feel much? Like...I have reactions to things, e.g. we just got netflix and I was like "yes that's awesome" but I don't think I r... View more

I'm supposed to be like...noticing what I feel more and like getting in touch my emotions etc. but I don't think I really feel much? Like...I have reactions to things, e.g. we just got netflix and I was like "yes that's awesome" but I don't think I really felt anything physically in my body, it was just a thought? I think I used to feel more than that? Maybe? Idk? And one of my grandparents who I wasn't all that close to died and I was just like "I should act sad because that's a sad thing", even during the funeral I was just...fine? Like I didn't care? Usually I cry pretty easily, at least in sympathy with other criers, and my mum, sister and cousins were all at least sniffling and I wasn't even doing that? And I know when people are depressed sometimes they end up feeling numb, or they feel flat, or dead, or like they have no feelings, but I'm not all that sure what is actually meant by that? And usually I read about this being connected with losing interest in things they like which isn't what I'm experiencing... I still enjoy things, at least I think I do? Like I entertain myself, and there are still things that I like doing to fill my time. But then life doesn't ever actually seem worth living so I guess I'm not enjoying things that much, but I've felt like that for at least two years so that's not exactly a new thing...but I'm pretty sure I used to have a lot more feelings than this. I was sad, at least, and stressed. I remember that. Tbh I just feel really chill...like nothing truly bothers me, like I just don't care. But I'm kind of confused about this whole thing and I'm not quite sure what's going on here, so I was wondering what other's people's experiences were with having less or no feelings during depression? What was this experience like? Could you still be entertained by things? Could things still make you laugh etc? I'm not even sure what I'm really asking for here...just anything anyone can say that relates to anything I've written here lol - Amy G

Cloudydaze considered attention seeking - escalates guilt
  • replies: 4

I have differed clinical depression for 23+ yrs and every rpisode has pushed my husband firther away. I seem to blame him for all my failings when i get caught up in the blurred space between reality and depressed reality. I dont know how to bridgevt... View more

I have differed clinical depression for 23+ yrs and every rpisode has pushed my husband firther away. I seem to blame him for all my failings when i get caught up in the blurred space between reality and depressed reality. I dont know how to bridgevthe gap that just keeps getting bigger! He says he loves me but stands back and watches me slide further into the black hole! Any ideas?

Girl_Anachronism Glass Walls
  • replies: 324

Hi all, The old thread was getting a bit long, so I thought time to start a new. I thought the same with this weekend - I did my new patterns of blue and purple, wore the beautiful black and gold dress. I went to the convention I normally go to in co... View more

Hi all, The old thread was getting a bit long, so I thought time to start a new. I thought the same with this weekend - I did my new patterns of blue and purple, wore the beautiful black and gold dress. I went to the convention I normally go to in costume. Just for one day, not in costume. It is the first time since my separation from the ex, whom I went in cosplay with. It is the first time catching up with people who I haven't seen since the break up. Or I thought I would. I went and shopped a very little as I have big bills this week. I took the anti anxiety meds, tried to squash the shakes and held up the mask for the kids. The feeling wasn't good though. I tried talking to a few friends in the costume community I bumped into but it was like they didn't even know me. They soon made excuses and left. I know its busy, they see lots of people and there are so many crowds, but it felt like they just barely recognised me, and when they did they couldn't wait to leave. I looked around, and it felt like I was surrounded by glass walls. Like now that everyone on my friends list knows about my depression, how bad it got, etc they don't want to know me. I asked how they were, I didn't bring it up. I just feel dejected, and lonely, like I have no friends in the world. Like they don't care. I am irritable and not good around the kids, so I am hiding in my doona listening to a podcast. I'm really alone in this now aren't I? I say I keep going for my cats, for my little Elsa. I hold on to the thought of watching her grow up, because I can find no other reasons to stay. GA

MillyMolly Why do I still feel so lost and alone when I have a loving partner and family and friends who support me?
  • replies: 6

I am in my mid 30's I have had anxiety since primary school and depression since high school, I have a husband, family and friends who love and support me but still I feel so lost and alone. I have no motivation to do anything. I sleep eat and go to ... View more

I am in my mid 30's I have had anxiety since primary school and depression since high school, I have a husband, family and friends who love and support me but still I feel so lost and alone. I have no motivation to do anything. I sleep eat and go to work like a zombie, my hubby has depression also so I try not to worry him with my issues. I am mostly depressed about my money situation debts bills, I hate my job, I worry about not ever being able to have kids. Mostly I just want to feel normal and have the energy to be active and make the most of life but instead I just feel miserable 90% of the time

Jenny_B Newby reaching out.
  • replies: 8

Just joined the site so will keep it short for now. I have Major Depression and Fibromyalgia amongst other things. Right now I have that horrible feeling of alienation from the world, pain, brain fog etc. I now have a support system but it doesn't fi... View more

Just joined the site so will keep it short for now. I have Major Depression and Fibromyalgia amongst other things. Right now I have that horrible feeling of alienation from the world, pain, brain fog etc. I now have a support system but it doesn't fill the blankness of the days, lack of motivation, fatigue and a feeling of pointlessly existing. Confused that I want no physical contact with people but am so isolated and alone at the same time. Not sure what I want, just know that Beyond Blue is a really good organisation. Hugs, J

DWR A month alone
  • replies: 7

I have had depression as long as I can remember. Its gotten fairly bad the last few months. I am on medication but haven't worked up the courage to see a therapist (I have many times in the past but I never connect with them) My boyfriend who I live ... View more

I have had depression as long as I can remember. Its gotten fairly bad the last few months. I am on medication but haven't worked up the courage to see a therapist (I have many times in the past but I never connect with them) My boyfriend who I live with has just gone to America for the month of April. It has been one weekend and I feel desperately alone. My co-workers tell me Ill be fine if I have my friends over all the time. Truth is I have no friends, my boyfriend is my only friend and he is gone. To sound like a crazy cat lady, we got 2 kittens before he left as company for me. I don't know what I would do if they weren't here and it was just me..

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