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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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HelenM roller coaster
  • replies: 9

I've been having episodes of depression for 12 years now. As the years have gone on it's become milder. This one started in January after a year's break. It's a roller coaster and not the way I usually experience my depressions. So please could someo... View more

I've been having episodes of depression for 12 years now. As the years have gone on it's become milder. This one started in January after a year's break. It's a roller coaster and not the way I usually experience my depressions. So please could someone tell me if this makes sense. Bad days, copeable days, days of fear, sometimes great days. All these moods come any time, lasting anything from a day to a week. Nearly always for no particular reason. The depression is no deeper and these moods are so random I don't know where I am.

Neil_1 I Don't Know
  • replies: 24

Dear allThanx for your posts.I don’t know at all – I think it can be a fine line as well – with so many things. Whether you’re here or you’re not. Whether it’s sunshine, whether it’s cloudy or whether it’s just a miserable cold foggy morning.You leav... View more

Dear allThanx for your posts.I don’t know at all – I think it can be a fine line as well – with so many things. Whether you’re here or you’re not. Whether it’s sunshine, whether it’s cloudy or whether it’s just a miserable cold foggy morning.You leave you animals and dog at home and off you go to work. You spend whatever hours you have to at that place. Then you head back to your “home”. Where you live. Where the food is, where the plates are. The dishes, the ever constant dishes that just build up – almost like magic. How can there be that many dirty dishes in one day? The TV’s are there, the computer is there. The clothes are there – we have to be here. We have to.We have heaters to keep us warm in winter.Our bodies are all different – everyone is different. Just look at your fingerprints to reveal that.Some of us like tea, some like coffee, some like water – some like spicy food – some enjoy jazz music, others enjoy western or heavy metal.With every choice in your life, you are creating a path – a path that you have to travel on.So I guess when you don’t want to exist, you just don’t make any decisions. Therefore, does the path stop? Or do you stop? I think the path is always there – and maybe you are on a travelator, that moves you along. Just while you sit with your head in your hands – but what are you contemplating?I don’t know.Neilps: my DOG days are counting up - and you know, I somehow feel better for doing that - my stomach was just getting way out of control - I had to do something. Maybe it's not drinking that is causing me to be so terribly down. I don't know. I don't think so. I think it's other things.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.

viper57 not happy
  • replies: 4

I just got rejected for help for my problems by a mental health service was really wanting their help dont feel very happy

I just got rejected for help for my problems by a mental health service was really wanting their help dont feel very happy

NeverID Just lost and confused
  • replies: 6

Hi, not sure how to start. Ive finally decided to make a profile and post something after a couple of weeks of just reading. I'm 19 and just finished my first semester at uni, working part time aswell. I thought that once exams were over i'd be able ... View more

Hi, not sure how to start. Ive finally decided to make a profile and post something after a couple of weeks of just reading. I'm 19 and just finished my first semester at uni, working part time aswell. I thought that once exams were over i'd be able to relax but i cant. Im panicking about results becuase i didnt do aswell as i'd hoped and cant afford to pay to redo my papers aswell as work demanding i work more shifts and it feels like this pressure from every direction is just crushing me. I moved cities to start fresh at uni to escape these feelings but theyre only getting worse, ive had a really hard time making friends and ive fallen out of contact with those i had. I feel like ive backed myself into a corner and eventually im just going to break. Every time i come to a fork in the road it feels like i choose wrong, I cant talk to my family, they'll only worry and want me to come home. It feels like im just a facade (i think thats the term i want) im just one ball of stress and anxiety who keeps up appearances everywhere i go. I have a different personality for every situation and now that ive finally got some time to myself i dont know who i am anymore. I dont seem to enjoy anything, its like ive kept up these appearances for so long that im just no one anymore. Dont even know what to do with the time now that ive finally got some to spare. Think i just wanted to get some of that off my chest, seems like ive got no one to talk to but myself nowadays.

LauraM Depression and dating
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum, although I wish I'd signed up much much earlier! I was diagnosed about 6 years ago and I have been on the long road of recovery, and I've certainly had my ups and downs. Recently I've begun dating again, and I've f... View more

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum, although I wish I'd signed up much much earlier! I was diagnosed about 6 years ago and I have been on the long road of recovery, and I've certainly had my ups and downs. Recently I've begun dating again, and I've found it quite strange with this monkey of 'mental illness' on my back. Recently I had one gentleman taken aback by it, saying he knew nothing about depression and was really apprehensive. He said that he had an aunty who suffered from psychosis, and that's all he could think about when I told him I had depression. He since has explained that he still wanted to get to know me and try to understand my lived experiences of my illness, but it's really made me super aware and anxious about telling potential partners about my depression. Like, when is the right time? How do I explain it? What do I do if they reject me because of it? And further from that, if a relationship develops, how will my illness impact the future? Will he understand? Will he blame me? I've even been wondering if I will be able to cope with the complexities of a relationship? I know I'm in danger of catastrophising here, but I would love to know other people's opinions and experiences of navigating this illness and dating and relationships! Thanks!

MrsCam over it
  • replies: 31

I know it is just a low phase and I will come out the other side, as I usually do, but I am so over it right now...not feeling too great physically which makes it worse, have been alternating between freezing cold & boiling hot all day... I wish I co... View more

I know it is just a low phase and I will come out the other side, as I usually do, but I am so over it right now...not feeling too great physically which makes it worse, have been alternating between freezing cold & boiling hot all day... I wish I could just escape sometimes from myself and my life... I know its not the answer but it would be so damn easy and I think a relief to just be done... have another counselling session tomorrow and we have discussed this before, that I dont need to get too stressed about the low times as I know they will pass but still it is hard...just wanted to vent to someone who would understand, I dont have much of that in my world...

viper57 depression and sleeping
  • replies: 4

Hi need to know if its ok to sleep a lot when depressed my tablets make me so relaxed I sleep for few hours in the day

Hi need to know if its ok to sleep a lot when depressed my tablets make me so relaxed I sleep for few hours in the day

Weirdo123 Am I just depressed or really mad?
  • replies: 3

I feel terribly restless, can't concentrate on anything most of the time, come across excessive mood swings, and too much of impulsiveness as well... can this be cured.. and what kind of mental disorder is it.. Am I Borderline -- emotionally unstable... View more

I feel terribly restless, can't concentrate on anything most of the time, come across excessive mood swings, and too much of impulsiveness as well... can this be cured.. and what kind of mental disorder is it.. Am I Borderline -- emotionally unstable personality disorder or bipolar or just suffering from ADD sometimes I'm super happy and sometimes I'm super sad.. I want to win as well as lose... I'm kind of really confused.. can you suggest me something... some days I feel irritable and easily get angry and on other days I feel suicidal and self harm whereas other times I've great future plans full of enthusiasm. Then suddenly a fear of losing everything or being bankrupt or being thrown out from my home and job starts appearing in my mind and I get terrified. I' m so very scared and frustrated that I can't even explain. I' m terribly sad, scared, hopeless yet hopeful and ready to face the challenges too. what should I do? I can't even afford a good psychologist here -- the place I'm. please help me somebody.. please suggest me something that works..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.

Allenm How does everyone cope?
  • replies: 2

For the last few months I've been struggling to look even my own family in the eye. I am terrified of getting out of bed and cry myself to sleep almost every night at the sheer horror waiting for me the next day. I am unemployed and have been jobsear... View more

For the last few months I've been struggling to look even my own family in the eye. I am terrified of getting out of bed and cry myself to sleep almost every night at the sheer horror waiting for me the next day. I am unemployed and have been jobsearching for over a year when I found the reason I haven't gotten a job is because my father in law (first reference on my resume) has been telling the whole town not to hire me. I feel worthless, I want to make a difference in my life, I want to change. I have been trying to call about about getting a diploma done, but every time I start to dial a number into my phone I freeze up. I just want to know what to do, I'll do anything, I just want it all to be over whatever it takes