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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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Emma-Lee Struggling, need to talk.
  • replies: 6

Hi I'm new to this so please bare with me. I have suffered anxiety and PTSD most of my life and only started treating it 4 years ago. It took my now husband to tell me something wasn't right. My family always told me I was just emotional and overthin... View more

Hi I'm new to this so please bare with me. I have suffered anxiety and PTSD most of my life and only started treating it 4 years ago. It took my now husband to tell me something wasn't right. My family always told me I was just emotional and overthinking everything and made me believe what I felt was what everyone felt. i successfully went onto medication and sort help with a psychologist and everything was getting better despite how hard it was to talk about how I felt and The abuse I had been through as a child. last year my psychologist decided it was time to reduce my sessions and to call her when I needed her instead. I convinced myself I was doing great I was happy and confident and had convinced my self I was fine. I had even struggled with depression when I lost my grandfather last year and she felt I came through ok. In this last week I feel different I feel as though the depression has been creeping back and I've just been telling myself I'm ok, and convincing others the same. i honestly did not have a great childhood and now I do have a loving and caring husband who works so hard to give us the world and tries so hard to understand what I'm going through. But I know I make it very hard for him sometimes, I'm just feel neutral or down a lot of the time and have been constantly sick of late which has thrown off my medication and made things worse. I've been to Drs and now need to see a psychiatrist to change my meds. I don't feel I need my psychologist but I do feel lost and embarrassed that I have fallen back into this state that I tried so hard to convince myself I wasn't in. Basically I just want to know if there is anyone that can relate, I just feel really alone at the moment even though my husband and work collegues are telling me they understand I just feel alone.

Bakers_wife It's just to much
  • replies: 4

Help! I'm 25 with two kids, a husband & a business. I can't say that life is easy for me but I do have what a lot of people dream of but I can't seem to enjoy what I have worked for. Each day I wake I can barely put my thoughts together. After I have... View more

Help! I'm 25 with two kids, a husband & a business. I can't say that life is easy for me but I do have what a lot of people dream of but I can't seem to enjoy what I have worked for. Each day I wake I can barely put my thoughts together. After I have sorted my daughter for school. And got my son ready for either daycare or just a busy day with mum. My days are often spent fixing problems with in my business. I'm either trying to get paper work done or ordering or baking or cleaning no matter what I'm there everyday. If I was to pick up and leave not only would the place full apart but my anxiety just goes through the roof!!!! I strive to make things work but it all comes pilling on top. Then to top work of my husband family work with us from time to time when "they need" us. For years I feel as if I have never been good enough for his family. I feel has if they tear at me. Try to pull down my walls. I don't know what it is they want but my husband is always on there side. I feel so lost. Alone.Afraid. I feel as if I'm meant to be a hole In The wall. A memory not a person. After work is done its time for me to rush round picking kids up. Doing dinner trying to get the reading done. The washing done for school the next day. Keeping the house up to scratch. Only to put the kids to bed. By myself and not know if tonight I will sleep for 4 hours or 6 sometimes 2 hours sometimes my days flow from one to the next. I feel lost. I feel empty. I can't find happiness and my kids feel it the most my temper is short and my weight is at an all time low. I don't eat. I don't sleep an I'm afraid of what's next. I am alone in my own battle with myself. I'm suffocating and don't know what to do next

thomasle1984 Recently diagnosed with depression
  • replies: 3

Hi All, My name is Tom. 30 years old and divorced for over year. I was diagnosed with depression months ago, when my mind and body started to shutdown. My mind couldnt string one though together and my anxiety actually would be at the point of making... View more

Hi All, My name is Tom. 30 years old and divorced for over year. I was diagnosed with depression months ago, when my mind and body started to shutdown. My mind couldnt string one though together and my anxiety actually would be at the point of making my body and voice physically shake. Since being on my medication it had improved, however over the last couple of days I have really struggled again. At times I cant think straight and when i do it gets negative.Its such a battle, and a battle I think i have fought for years before asking for help. Im tired of my thoughts, my anxiety. I just wish for peace and quiet.. Thank you for just letting me speak what is in my mind. Iwould not wish this on anyone... Take care and I hope you keep fighting your battle.Tom

aap Too much to fix
  • replies: 9

Hello i have visited BB quite a bit but have only just signed up. I have been seeing a counsellor for issues at work , over the last year, and I have been making some improvements as far as things not getting to me as much, although I have lost my pa... View more

Hello i have visited BB quite a bit but have only just signed up. I have been seeing a counsellor for issues at work , over the last year, and I have been making some improvements as far as things not getting to me as much, although I have lost my passion for my job as a result. I have a supportive husband and son who is 21 and a teenage daughter who is busy being a teenage girl I have had serious health issues over the years that seem to be resolving themselves but my problem is there still seems too much to fix. Despite having a good immediate family I don't have that relationship with my extended family, on both sides they live away and aren't interested. My friends prefer to stay at home rather than go out and I feel I have no family, friends or workmates that I can talk to about my mental state ,work issues or even just go out with on a regular basis. My son whom I am very close to is moving out soon and I know it is the next phase of his life, but I am feeling for my own loss as he truly is good company and understands me.( his moving out has been the instigation for signing up as I am devastated for myself and happy for him) Sometimes I feel there is too much to fix about my life as I have been trying to work on many things over a number of years and am getting tired of it all. I feel very lonely often and as I am so unhappy at work this compounds the problem. I need help to fix my loneliness, learn to let go of things and have some peace where I am not trying to rectify some part of me that is not right. Any ideas ?

rhiannon13 Mental health spiraling back down again
  • replies: 2

I thought my depression and anxiety was getting better, I've been seeing a psychiatrist for the past year and after agreeing that my mental health was getting back on the right track I've stopped having sessions. That was 2 months ago and the first m... View more

I thought my depression and anxiety was getting better, I've been seeing a psychiatrist for the past year and after agreeing that my mental health was getting back on the right track I've stopped having sessions. That was 2 months ago and the first month leading into the new year I felt so happy and felt like I was slowly escaping it all. But this last month has just had my mental health spiraling back down again and I've found myself in the worst states and I don't know what to do about it. I was taken into hospital last week while on holiday with some friends and thinking back to that night and the mental place I was in scares me so much. I know I need to go back to my doctor but thinking about talking to anyone always makes me so nervous. I'm stuck on what to do and feel as if I've taken 100 steps back and sat at square one again..

AlexClaire I feel very alone.
  • replies: 4

Hi Guys,Where to start. I'll try to keep it brief.I' m 28, have suffered with depression for the last 10 years caused by a head injury when I was 18. Been on medication off and on since then but have been on the highest dose for around 4 years, I am ... View more

Hi Guys,Where to start. I'll try to keep it brief.I' m 28, have suffered with depression for the last 10 years caused by a head injury when I was 18. Been on medication off and on since then but have been on the highest dose for around 4 years, I am been completely off it for the last 2 months. I am struggling. So so much. I have only been in Australia for just under two months having moved over with my boyfriend of over 3 years. There are a lot of firsts with this. First time we have lived together just the two of us, first time we have moved across the other side of the world together, first time I have been unemployed in a while etc etc. I'm really struggling. I' m so alone, spending so much time alone as he works 5 days a week, he has his mother and his sister here, I have nobody, I don't know anybody, we have so little money I'm trying not to spend anything so am not going out. He says I have a 'bad attitude'. That I'm being defeatist and negative about everything. Which is true. My mother is a very negative person and I think it's brushed off on me rather nicely. I'm taking everything out on him because there IS nobody else to take anything out on. I literally don't talk to anyone else unless it's on skype or whatever. And that's not talking. I just don' t know what to do, I'm not even really sure why I'm writing this I know other people have it much worse. I just have nobody. Why can I not just see the positives in life? Is my current mood just an effect of not being medicated in which case should I have stayed on them? I'm fairly sure we're nearing break up because he says he can't be around negative people. Then in which case, I'm across the other side of the world all alone and don't have the money to go back home. So. Honestly though, I am feeling very defeatist today. I would be quite happy if the world came and swallowed me up because right now its just to much pain and uncertainty. 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:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; 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-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

somebody1209 help for people with chronic depression
  • replies: 8

I have chronice depression and i go through everyday with a pretend smile on my face and thinking about suicide. I am on medications but sometimes they struggle to work sometimes. Im just wondering if there is somebody out there that can help me beyo... View more

I have chronice depression and i go through everyday with a pretend smile on my face and thinking about suicide. I am on medications but sometimes they struggle to work sometimes. Im just wondering if there is somebody out there that can 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

Laurennn Can't take this anymore
  • replies: 10

Hi all, I posted in here a little while ago about anxiety. A few months ago I went through an extremely stressful process at my work due to me putting in a complaint against an older man at my work. They turned the process around and I nearly lost my... View more

Hi all, I posted in here a little while ago about anxiety. A few months ago I went through an extremely stressful process at my work due to me putting in a complaint against an older man at my work. They turned the process around and I nearly lost my job. They ended up changing their minds when I threatened legal advice & I kept my job. During that process I developed anxiety - even though I was convinced it was going crazy! (I've never had it before) and now I believe I've got some depression symptoms. Even though I kept my job, the feeling just hasn't gone away! I can't bring myself to go back to work after what they did to me so I'm currently in the process of going on income protection. I know I should consider myself lucky that I have a job, but it all just seems too much at the moment. The last month I have hardly left the house. My family is worried & wants me to go & stay with them but I just want to be alone. I wake up every morning & it's just too much to get out of bed. My housemates tells me to 'stop feeling sorry for myself' which makes me feel even worse. Before all of this, I lived a normal life for a 23 year old. I had a good job, friends & a life! Within 2 months, my life has turned & now here I am. A lazy depressed mess. I love life & I don't want to be like this but I've let it take over! I'm seeing the doctor again & my first psychologist appointment on Tuesday - I hope it helps! Does anyone have any advice to get my life back on track? I WILL drive myself crazy if I stay in this room for another month.

Braveface Needed an outlet
  • replies: 3

What does living with depression feel like, why is it so bad. Well personally it feels like I am a hand grenade with the pin about to fall out. But how did the pin get loose. Well while the pin is in the pain increases so I pull it out a bit maybe tu... View more

What does living with depression feel like, why is it so bad. Well personally it feels like I am a hand grenade with the pin about to fall out. But how did the pin get loose. Well while the pin is in the pain increases so I pull it out a bit maybe turn my music up full ball and scream into a pillow, or randomly lock my self away and cry. The worst part of this is I have no idea why I am doing it. Sure I am not a millionaire and my job sucks arse at the moment but I am not the only one in the world with a shitty job and no money. I read once a beautiful website that was made to make you think before you commit suicide, obviously it worked and I use it daily. The line that sticks in my head is about the pain. Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain. So why not take a pill and get over it. Well this is my bodies sick way of having a crack at me, you see antidepressants work for a time for some people they work for great. Others such as my self they last until you convince yourself that you don't want to look like a druggie and have to scoff pills daily so you stop taking them and pull the pain pin out a bit more to subside the pain and the vicious circle continues. I am a single dad of 3 young boys that I love to death, I would do anything to see them happy so at the moment I have that pain pin welded in but the pain is still there. I have found myself saying if their mother grows up and finds good man the boys won't need me any more and I can end my fight with the pain pin...lovely thought to live with right...... I wrote the above about two months ago. I just got a well paying job thought this would help subside the pain, well kind of hoped it would. But again I find my self putting on that brave face pretending to every one that I am fine. I just want out I am tired. I know that pills don't make me a druggie but my head screams at me everytime I consider them. 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:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; 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-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

kiwi_girl depression and panic attacks after home invasion
  • replies: 4

I have experienced a home invasion. At night home alone have panic attacks and depression. Too scared to sleep and my depression is keeping me away from people. Feel not like I used to at all anyone got advice on how to cope. Please

I have experienced a home invasion. At night home alone have panic attacks and depression. Too scared to sleep and my depression is keeping me away from people. Feel not like I used to at all anyone got advice on how to cope. Please

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