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Depression

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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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Bulldogbobby73 Recurring depression after 20 year break
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone, I have been feeling pretty bad lately, just turned 50, though that's not the reason I feel low. I have five children, oldest daughter is 25 with my twin son, then down to 14 who is the youngest. I have realised it has popped up again ... View more

Hello everyone, I have been feeling pretty bad lately, just turned 50, though that's not the reason I feel low. I have five children, oldest daughter is 25 with my twin son, then down to 14 who is the youngest. I have realised it has popped up again in the last few weeks after laying dormant for almost 20 years, my late 30s and 40s were happy, as happy as I've ever been, my oldest daughter is and has always been moody and of late, barely speaks to me apart from to tell me in a passive/aggressive way that she's fine (she suffers from depression herself) and I try to understand that but her most of her moods are directed towards me only, so I take it personally. She takes after her Mum as she is passive/aggressive too. She has always had a rocky relationship with my wife but has recently started getting along and since then has started on me. Anyway, since this has happened I have started to feel bad and a complete failure as a person, it seems I have no one to talk to about this as my wife isn't very good at this and can sometimes make things worse, this is the main reason why it is getting worse as it always seems I am moody and am the cause of it and have noticed I am becoming more and more withdrawn, even in my own family. Don't know what to do and would appreciate any advice. Thanks for listening to me ramble. Thank you W.

2004 Depression?
  • replies: 7

Life for me feels like…. Nothing, life feels like nothing. I feel nothing but alot at the same time. I want to cry but I can’t cry. I want to talk to someone but I don’t want to be around anyone at the same time. It’s starting again, im slowly isolat... View more

Life for me feels like…. Nothing, life feels like nothing. I feel nothing but alot at the same time. I want to cry but I can’t cry. I want to talk to someone but I don’t want to be around anyone at the same time. It’s starting again, im slowly isolating myself from everyone once again thinking life is never going to be okay. Right now im outside laying on a bench in the park under the moon while listening to music and writing this. Ive tried to be productive today but I just can’t. I can’t even talk to my parents about this because they never even once acknowledge mental health and they would discriminate people who suffer with this and make jokes about my SH scars. I have counseling appointment tomorrow and i know i should talk to them and be open to them about what im feeling but whenever i attend every appointment all i could say is that im okay or say i dont know what im feeling. Well, I can’t explain what I’m feeling… i can’t see myself living in the future. Im so tired of trying to survive everyday without relapsing and giving in to my thoughts. Im tired of constantly trying to be okay. Im tired of waking up everyday with the same thoughts. I know i need help but i dont want help.

car10001 leaving hospitality questions
  • replies: 5

hi needing someone to talk to many of you probably are and have gone through what am going through below How do people know when it’s time to move on from hospitality and retail and what do people do to hang on a little longer if they’re not quite re... View more

hi needing someone to talk to many of you probably are and have gone through what am going through below How do people know when it’s time to move on from hospitality and retail and what do people do to hang on a little longer if they’re not quite ready to move on just yet or if this job is currently only option or if they can’t afford to not work and they haven’t got their plans in place just yet when they want to get out and have done for a while and know they can’t just yet. reason is that am working in hospitality and have done so far for 14 years and feel tired and had enough and want to do other things while able to still and have done for a while and since 2020 the industry has just got harder which is the reason for starting to do whats needed for the next thing. you just wonder if the shop will ever sell or if you just might have to work to your own timeline and plans and ignore sale and you keep telling yourself to try and hang on a little longer. How do you tell the owner you probably won’t stay on after sale or new owner that you’ll only stay 3 months and/or you’re no longer able to do the hospitality side. There’s been changes in last 3 years and had enough and want to do other things. A cafe down road has closed down and it’s made things harder for us and you wonder how much longer it’ll keep going on, would it be better to have a talk and apologise for any inconvenience. plus grandparents are needing more done as they get older as well. you see others only having to work a set schedule and having a life outside work and it seems far away before you get to do same and you wonder how long before it happens. this xmas may be the last one doing hospitality work, probably wont be doing it in a couple years. thanks

Ollienells Just venting ig to see if anyone understands
  • replies: 1

I don’t really know what category to put this in but I don’t really discuss my feelings and I have been hesitant to do it on here but I want to try. This year has definitely been a year of discovery and acceptance which has been a good and bad thing.... View more

I don’t really know what category to put this in but I don’t really discuss my feelings and I have been hesitant to do it on here but I want to try. This year has definitely been a year of discovery and acceptance which has been a good and bad thing. I have realised I probablyyy need therapy but I also feel like I’m being dramatic. I have been invalidating my feeling because I can’t tell if what I’m feeling is even real. I don’t even know where to start but right now I’m just not happy with my lifestyle but I can’t get myself to actually make change because I’m in a way comfortable where I am. I have basically just been isolating myself in my room and just filling my days with distractions but I want to be productive and I feel guilty. These distractions are making me happy short-term but it’s unhealthy. In my teenage years I kind of put up a front of happiness but now I don’t even try is the thing, and it has just gotten worse. I think an issue might be loneliness because I’m an only child and it’s been hard for me to connect with people. Overthinking is another thing that just doesn’t help because I can’t do anything normally because of it, which might be linked to anxiety, I’m not sure. As a first year uni student It also sucks seeing other people my age doing stuff with their life which adds to the guilt. It just sucks because I want to do better but I don’t have self control or discipline. Anyway that was just some base level context.

Brokenmirror My depression...a nautical metaphor...
  • replies: 1

My councellor once asked me to describe my depression, and how my medication was working...after a bit of thought, I said... It's like I'm in the middle of the ocean, drowning. When I'm taking the antidepressants, it's like having a life preserver, i... View more

My councellor once asked me to describe my depression, and how my medication was working...after a bit of thought, I said... It's like I'm in the middle of the ocean, drowning. When I'm taking the antidepressants, it's like having a life preserver, it keeps my head above water...but I'm still in the middle of the ocean. I get pretty philosophical at 2 in the morning... I feel like there is no point, that there is a void, an emptiness inside me, inside everyone. Some people fill it with work, with family, with religion, money, cars, drugs, alcohol, an immaculate lawn, extreme sports, exploration, or whatever...Sadly, none of those work for me.

Ausdog I am so lost
  • replies: 3

I have a girlfriend I adore and she adores me. I know she deserves better than me....I am an anchor dragging her into my life. I feel there is only one answer. I have willed everything to her and my son. No one needs me to let them down anymore. I am... View more

I have a girlfriend I adore and she adores me. I know she deserves better than me....I am an anchor dragging her into my life. I feel there is only one answer. I have willed everything to her and my son. No one needs me to let them down anymore. I am so lost

Jay3322 Never ending depression and anxiety
  • replies: 1

Been struggling with depression and anxiety for roughly the last ~20 years.For a lot of that time, was self medicating, using alcohol and drugs. Been clean and sober now for 5 years.I have a good job, good boss, loving parents. Not many friends, hard... View more

Been struggling with depression and anxiety for roughly the last ~20 years.For a lot of that time, was self medicating, using alcohol and drugs. Been clean and sober now for 5 years.I have a good job, good boss, loving parents. Not many friends, hardly at all, but I am not very social anyways.I have everything one should have to be happy. Yet, everyday I just feel empty, no real hope for a future, no interests, nothing I do gives me any level of joy that I can look forward to. I am sick of this never ending feeling of emptyness. I feel like everything is just fake and hollow in this world. Anyways, I needed to just unload my thoughts in the hopes it would make me feel a little lighter.

Fayette Fayette
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am feeling very depressed, mainly because of family stuff. I try to connect with my adult son, but he sends me perfunctory messages on my birthday and other occasions, never says "mum". Tried again recently to connect but have not received a re... View more

Hi, I am feeling very depressed, mainly because of family stuff. I try to connect with my adult son, but he sends me perfunctory messages on my birthday and other occasions, never says "mum". Tried again recently to connect but have not received a reply. I feel like he doesn't care if I am alive or dead. Actually, I am sure this is true. This situation has gone on for years. So, I have a doctors appointment in a week's time, hopefully to discuss and perhaps get some help medically. Nothing I do gives me joy, I am really struggling and sometimes really wish I wouldn't wake up in the morning. Christmas doesn't help either, makes me feel worse. I am hanging on till my doctors appointment, but it is hard. I recently turned 80 and I feel my life is not worth living.

Mike_346 Depression
  • replies: 1

Go and see GP, it's huge help. 5 months ago, I was very depressed. No positive feeling were coming. I was losing hope everyday. Tired and very tired. I was unable to accomplish anything. I was just breathing and doing things to show off. You can chec... View more

Go and see GP, it's huge help. 5 months ago, I was very depressed. No positive feeling were coming. I was losing hope everyday. Tired and very tired. I was unable to accomplish anything. I was just breathing and doing things to show off. You can check my previous post. I didn't have courage to see and talk to GP. I posted in the same forum. Many wonderful people encouraged me. I managed to go and see GP, who was very nice and put me on antidepressant tablet as soon as I saw her. I am still taking tablet, once a day, but I can feel the difference. This is not me 5 months ago. I have discovered new "me" after the therapy. I am very positive and active now. Away from bad vibes and close to positivity. I would like to thank all the beautiful souls who encouraged me and encourage everyone in need to go and speak with GP. Please give sometime to research on GP. You would definitely find someone who understands mental health. I know many GPs still doesn't understand mental health, but there are few wonderful GPs. Please do some research and speak for yourself. You will find yourself as well same as me. Thanks for reading. Mike

gia222 Managing bipolar depression
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone, I've been living with bipolar for 4 years now but managing my condition when it flares up is not getting much easier. I'm on medication which has been life-changing and extremely helpful and in between episodes I am able to live a relat... View more

Hey everyone, I've been living with bipolar for 4 years now but managing my condition when it flares up is not getting much easier. I'm on medication which has been life-changing and extremely helpful and in between episodes I am able to live a relatively normal life. At the moment I'm experiencing low mood, depression and lack of motivation and interest and just feel horrible. I wish I was better prepared for this because it's so hard to deal with. I was doing so well before this flared up again and each time it has flared up it has destroyed my life and I've had to pick up the pieces and start all over again. Today I've been feeling awful, like a dark black cloud is just hanging over the top of me constantly but I've made the effort to push myself to do things that usually bring me joy and happiness, even though I don't feel like it at all.I feel like I just need some support and advice on how to manage how I'm feeling and listen to other people's experiences. I hope this does pass soon.