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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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Mr nobody Lost
  • replies: 3

I am a lost soul. My relationship has been on the rocks for a number of years and I've just been clinging on with my finger tips which in turn reflects my life. I have no family, no friends. Yesterday I told my partner who is working overseas that I ... View more

I am a lost soul. My relationship has been on the rocks for a number of years and I've just been clinging on with my finger tips which in turn reflects my life. I have no family, no friends. Yesterday I told my partner who is working overseas that I just can not do this relationship as it stands anymore. That was with the help of alcohol which seems to be my best friend. I work in a Government department which is secure but with rents like they are I would be homeless and i dislike the job anyway. The only comfort I have is my little furry dog which I will lose shortly. I have taken the day off work today as I just can not face anyone. No one. I'm so depressed. This has been the situation since my partner went overseas to work and now after last night has consumed me like a favorite blanket or a hug just when you need it from a dear friend. I'm not sure where I am going here. I don't know how to explain how my heart just feels so bloody empty. How do you feel when you know that you will be literally on the streets, depressed, angry and so damn frustrated. Nobody cares, nobody will even notice. My heart feels like it has bled out any semblance of care and is left with nothing. I'm very sorry to burden anyone reading this. I suppose I just needed to get my feelings out before I can't anymore. Thank you for bothering to read and listen.

Jersey_Girl How do I break the chain 2
  • replies: 1

Hi John, Thankyou for your reply on my other thread. Not sure what happened but the page is gone. I will take your advice and just take each day at a time. Baby steps. Lately I have been struggling but tomorrow is another day. Take care

Hi John, Thankyou for your reply on my other thread. Not sure what happened but the page is gone. I will take your advice and just take each day at a time. Baby steps. Lately I have been struggling but tomorrow is another day. Take care

Montanna 22 year old female student (me) - depressed, anxious & never happy
  • replies: 4

Hi all,Everyday I wake up feeling useless, negative and pointless. I struggle to see the light in my own situations but can so easily help those around me. Not many people know I am depressed because I pretend to be happy around all of those that kno... View more

Hi all,Everyday I wake up feeling useless, negative and pointless. I struggle to see the light in my own situations but can so easily help those around me. Not many people know I am depressed because I pretend to be happy around all of those that know me. I am currently on anti-depressants and try to meditate a few times a week. Every time I feel like I am moving forward, something will happen which will bring me down. From the outside, it seems like my life is great. I do have perfect friends, loving parents and a great job. But why am i still depressed? I just need help, well lots of help because I do not want to live my life feeling lonely and rarely happy. My friend committed suicide a few days ago because he was suffering from depression. I know I won't get to this point, but I just want all these bad feelings to stop. It is wasting my time and my life. 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.

Jaybird27 How do I fake being happy?
  • replies: 7

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this, but here goes. I'm not a naturally happy person, I'm not bouncy and I don't get excited about many things but a lot of people around me do. There's recently been a birth in the family and everyone ... View more

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this, but here goes. I'm not a naturally happy person, I'm not bouncy and I don't get excited about many things but a lot of people around me do. There's recently been a birth in the family and everyone is giddy and cooing and while I am happy for the parents and the new sprog, I'm not as happy as everyone else. I do love them but I don't feel the urge to be around them 24/7 and tell everyone I see about the new baby. This makes things very difficult because while everyone is running around happy as Larry, they see me and think I'm angry or depressed because I'm not acting like them. This does make me depressed because then they start trying to suppress their own emotions for fear of offending me or they start getting angry at me because they feel like they're bothering me, so I try and reach their level of enthusiasm but its exhausting and things can quickly become a fight because I can't keep up. I try to limit how often I'm around people but that just makes me feel lonely and I miss a great deal of what goes on in my family. I hope this all makes sense. Basically, I don't know what to do, It's a constant cycle and I need to break it somehow. SO how do I fake being bubbly and enthusiastic like everyone else around me?

Smurf80 Support groups
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm new to this but I have also been looking for face to face support groups for those with depression in my area. I'm in Newcastle nsw but have had no luck finding any where close by. Does anyone know of such groups in the Newcastle area? View more

Hi, I'm new to this but I have also been looking for face to face support groups for those with depression in my area. I'm in Newcastle nsw but have had no luck finding any where close by. Does anyone know of such groups in the Newcastle area?

Jo3 Not feeling too good
  • replies: 7

I don't know why but I have woken up and started crying (story of my life That's all I seem to do lately is cry, think of something and cry. think of my childhood and cry. I have so many unfinished things that need to be completed but have no motivat... View more

I don't know why but I have woken up and started crying (story of my life That's all I seem to do lately is cry, think of something and cry. think of my childhood and cry. I have so many unfinished things that need to be completed but have no motivation to do any of them. And then I feel guilty for not completing them and feel horrible, lazy and feel that I just can never finish something, to actually complete something. For eg. my eye pillows, I bought the material and the lavender oil, i sewed up the pillows but haven't bought the dried lavender. So now this project is in a bag and it will stay there forever. That's how hopeless I am, never can I do anything that I can finish. I have all these grand plans but never once do I go ahead with any of them. I don't have the strength or confidence to tell myself to just do it. Get up and do it. If pnly it was that easy. i haven't walked for a while and i need to. i know i do but just can't face the idea of going for a walk. i just stay inside and hibernate. i now have three days off and i don't know what to do, i am crying. i actually have a bbq lunch to go to today but not sure now if I'll go. I have so much pent up anger, hurt and emotions running everywhere. So much happening in my life right now i feel like i;m going crazy. i wish there was someone right now that could just sit with me and give me a hug. but that feels like a child. damn the tears are flowing ad i can't stop. need to go, this is too hard, everything at the moment is too hard jo

Mal50 The whole package bundled up in one
  • replies: 6

I was rejected before I was born. "A mistake", "an accident". When my mother told my father she was pregnant he kicked her several times in the belly in an attempt to abort me. Because I was unwanted I was made to feel like there was something seriou... View more

I was rejected before I was born. "A mistake", "an accident". When my mother told my father she was pregnant he kicked her several times in the belly in an attempt to abort me. Because I was unwanted I was made to feel like there was something seriously wrong with me, even evil, that didn't deserve to live. So I was always an underachiever and had no motivation to even try. Always felt like, and was treated like, the black sheep because I was very withdrawn and quiet. Was always the prime target for bullies at school, receiving even death threats. So I began running away a lot, and even though I wasn't breaking any laws the 'authorities' warned my mother that I would be "institutionalised" if I didn't "conform". So when I wasn't at school being bullied and threatened I had to be chained with a length of chain locked around my ankle with the other end locked to a steel post in the middle of the room. By the time I was 15 I had very little sanity left and was admitted to a Psychiatric hospital for "treatment". I looked younger than my age and the authorities, in their great wisdom, put me in with grown men, and therefore I became the target for every pervert and pedophile in the place. By the time I was 16 I seriously wanted to end my life. Thus the life-long depression, anxiety, panic attacks, no self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts. Whenever I tried to raise any of these issues with my mother, who is now 84, she would just yell, "I did it for your own good!" To date she has never said she was sorry and never will. My conclusion is that I must've been evil and deserved everything I got, and never ever deserved life.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.

Ilovemydog Just when I think the worst is over.
  • replies: 6

It's getting late and I'm tired (always tired). But I just had to say to somebody/anybody, I was on such a high last week, I had so much energy and I was happy and grateful. It is such an unusual feeling for me that it is almost scary, I had the auda... View more

It's getting late and I'm tired (always tired). But I just had to say to somebody/anybody, I was on such a high last week, I had so much energy and I was happy and grateful. It is such an unusual feeling for me that it is almost scary, I had the audacity to think that maybe, just maybe, the worst was over, the menopause was nearing the end, the depression/anxiety and OCD was all going to exit out of my being and leave me in peace to try and live what's left of my life in relatively normality. One week I had that for, sheer bliss for one week. Now I'm back to the "dark place", that is which "normal" as far as I go, the depressed, tired, exhausted, painful, hating, sad, pathetic shell that I am. The worst thing about the rare burst of "happiness" is the fear and realisation that I will and do come crashing back down to here, to this place I'm in again, it always seems worse. I'm so tired I can hardly lift my fingers to type this. That is all I can allow my mind to cope with saying at the moment.

AussieJovi I don't think I'm after advice, but will accept any
  • replies: 7

I don't think I'm after advice; but will accept any. I just have nowhere to vent without family/friends interfering. I have suffered from depression from as long as I can remember. I have had 3 bad cases of PND; lost my first husband to Melanoma 20yr... View more

I don't think I'm after advice; but will accept any. I just have nowhere to vent without family/friends interfering. I have suffered from depression from as long as I can remember. I have had 3 bad cases of PND; lost my first husband to Melanoma 20yrs ago; left my 2nd husband {& 2 young boys} 5 yrs ago. My ex & kids are now about to move back to our home town {4 hrs away} due to financial pressures. I love my boys dearly & the thought of them leaving is killing me; BUT; I also know that in reality I am NOT capable of looking after them on my own. ATM; their father is an on call casual & I get called to come stay with boys at a drop of the hat....and this sends me into a downward spiral...they don't behave for me {they are 10 & 15}; they are rude & call me names & I get in trouble if I discipline them....damned if I do & damned if I don't. I have a new man in my life {for 8mths}...all started out well; but he doesn't believe in depression & is one of those who say "suck it up & get over it"; which; of course; is making me worse. When my ex & kids leave he will be all I have as all my friends have busy lives with kids & husbands of their own. I have always said that I am too silly to do anything silly to myself; but there are more & more days that I wish I wouldn't wake up or hope something happens to me {I don't want to leave my kids with the guilt of me committing suicide}. I AM SORRY FOR RANTING; JUST NEEDED TO PUT IT SOMEWHERE. 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

fifi Really struggling today
  • replies: 68

having such a horrible day today and here i was thinking that i was having more good than bad well this week has proved me wrong . I am in a major downward spiral sitting here at my work desk finding it hard not to burst into tears and the anxiety at... View more

having such a horrible day today and here i was thinking that i was having more good than bad well this week has proved me wrong . I am in a major downward spiral sitting here at my work desk finding it hard not to burst into tears and the anxiety attack that is going with it has my stomach in knots. my body is aching all over and i am finding harder to function as the hours roll on over the last few days i have had a heap of veins explode and my hands are now all bruised and extremely sore not helping at all . the stupid irrational thoughts are back and i find myself over analyzing everything i have types this post over 5 times just wish everything would just settle down i really dont like where my head is heading praying for a better day