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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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dboy1975 empty lives
  • replies: 6

A year ago I had it all my son was living with my partner and her two kids and myself and for for reasons I don't understand I managed to self destruct it all the ones I cared about the most I hurt them deeply so 9 months ago I failed at an attempt t... View more

A year ago I had it all my son was living with my partner and her two kids and myself and for for reasons I don't understand I managed to self destruct it all the ones I cared about the most I hurt them deeply so 9 months ago I failed at an attempt to take my own life. I was put in mental health ward and I hated it.ever since then I have not been able to find anything to help me and I have lost custody of my son and my partner and I have separated I have been so lost I have been so cranky my attempt did not work now I'm just trying to get by

Bruce_Wayne Feeling trapped and frustrated
  • replies: 5

Feeling absolutely terrible at the moment, I'm behind on paying my parents board because I've spent my money on food and drinks, money which I received from centerlink. They're working hard and all I do is spend money on stuff that I want because I f... View more

Feeling absolutely terrible at the moment, I'm behind on paying my parents board because I've spent my money on food and drinks, money which I received from centerlink. They're working hard and all I do is spend money on stuff that I want because I feel too stressed to work a job. I feel like my life is going no where at the moment, I'm 23 and don't have a diploma or any qualifications. Attempted 2 different TAFE courses, 1 of them twice. All of which I dropped out of because I felt overwhelmed and stressed by. I don't have a job and feel like I'll struggle to work one. I feel so stuck, despite trying to keep busy I feel like a direction-less spoilt brat who has been given everything and yet is still unhappy. I feel even worse though because I know feeling sorry for myself achieves nothing and I can't help feeling it. This makes me angry and frustrated at myself. I feel like I never learn, I never deal with this in a better way. I just sulk until things go my way because I feel powerless to actually do something about it.

DDarko Tick tock goes the clock......
  • replies: 3

I have always had in the back of my mind that when you get to the age of thirty your life pretty much ends. So, i guess i've got two years left….. I am struggling to effectively deal with growing older and find that i am experiencing a lot of anxiety... View more

I have always had in the back of my mind that when you get to the age of thirty your life pretty much ends. So, i guess i've got two years left….. I am struggling to effectively deal with growing older and find that i am experiencing a lot of anxiety and depression associated with the idea. I will briefly touch on my background. I have just turned 28. I would describe myself as having super sensitivity to life, which is slowly being dulled with time. One of times few positives. I am relatively introverted, socially anxious, characterised as OCD, imaginative, idealist, borderline dreamer, person who has probably lived too much time in his head instead of facing that sometimes painful 'real world'. I have historically been someone that has tended to enjoy riding the emotional roller coaster and have dabbled in drugs to potentiate this fluctuation. Don't get me wrong. I am a real person, am slowly beginning to face some long running fears, engage in a lot of healthy behaviour and there are a lot of positives in my life . I understand it is not a unique idea, and is probably in the back of everyones mind. It hasn't come into fruition overnight but the feeling (or lack of) has grown since my mid-twenties. I am pessimistic about the future as i feel it is going to be one general slide towards feeling less and less. I hate this emotional flat lining. Is this what ageing is……?? Where the moments of feeling truly alive become less and less. What sucks more is i feel that i am acutely aware (more than other people) of what i am loosing. I get fleeting glimpses of how i think i felt (experiencing feelings of higher intensity) when i was younger, and feel sad knowing that i can't get feelings of that same intensity back. I have half a mind to neglect preparing for the future just so i can experience the next few years with more feeling. As in quit my job/career, travel, go hard on drugs and generally not give as much of a $#@%. I hate sounding like a downer, but hey, i guess this is a depression forum. Any advice and or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Maybe from someone that's gone/going through a similar experience. I guess its not something that you can conquer but more come to peace with. If you do have a time machine though…. let me know, I'm ready! I am listening to the song 'Human' by the artist Krewella on youtube , as i write this and well...... not all feeling is lost. Cheers guys/girls

Declan Every day has become a struggle
  • replies: 6

I was 8 years old when I first thought of suicide. I'm now 20 and over the years these thoughts have gotten more frequent to now nearly every day. Some worse than others. I have a beautiful loving and caring girlfriend, family and friends. And yet I'... View more

I was 8 years old when I first thought of suicide. I'm now 20 and over the years these thoughts have gotten more frequent to now nearly every day. Some worse than others. I have a beautiful loving and caring girlfriend, family and friends. And yet I've been stuck in my head for years dealing with this stuff myself. I've tried reaching out to people but finding it makes them feel awkward which results in them trying to dodge where the conversation is going. I've spoken to my mum and bought her to tears. Dealing with this burden has become a burden. So I deal with it myself. I'm so tired of living life like this. Driving to work and feeling awful over nothing. I think about suicide. And it all sounds perfect until that one word comes into play. Selfish. What of my mother? What of my sister and father? What of my friends? And what of my girlfriend. A complete stranger who has come to love me and grown with me. How could I be so selfish to leave them all. All these beautiful people full of colour and love....but what about me...?theyre not spending their time dealing with these thoughts day in day out. I have little will to live. But I can't deal with the thought of hurting anyone other than myself. And so I guess I continue to block it out. Wear a fake smile and and cry silently , pretend to be happy as I have done for the past 12 years. It's just a sad fact that one of these days it's all gonna be too muchbeyondblue’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.

Here_apos_s2u Feeling frustrated
  • replies: 1

I have been battling this depression constantly now for 3 years with 2 long admissions to hospital I am in therapy weekly and just want everything to be ok i want my old life back where I wasn't haunted by my past does anyone have any suggestions

I have been battling this depression constantly now for 3 years with 2 long admissions to hospital I am in therapy weekly and just want everything to be ok i want my old life back where I wasn't haunted by my past does anyone have any suggestions

Loser So tired of it all
  • replies: 4

I have no strength left. None. I have been fighting this for 20 years and I have had enough. I tried, I really did. Somehow I managed to hold a job and not be drain on society but I get in return is a kick in the face. How am I expected to live like ... View more

I have no strength left. None. I have been fighting this for 20 years and I have had enough. I tried, I really did. Somehow I managed to hold a job and not be drain on society but I get in return is a kick in the face. How am I expected to live like this? I haven't left my bed now since Thursday. I don't know which is worse between the suffocating anxiety or the crippling depression. I just want it to end. Every night I pray that this will be my last and every morning I wake up filled with disappointment. My chest and arm aches and I hope that it is a heart attack but I know it's not really.im going to see my gp today but honestly, what can I expect the poor guy to do. He can't fix the train wreck that is my life. Having me front up blubbering in his face is probably the last thing he needs butI don' t know what else to do. I've got no friends or family to speak of so I have to wonder what is the point of this miserable existence?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.

MrsCam its been a while....
  • replies: 5

...... since I posted last. Still in Perth Clinic. I will be here till next saturday when my husband will fly down to Perth. Then we will have a few days in the city together as well as him having a chance to chat with my doctors then we will be flyi... View more

...... since I posted last. Still in Perth Clinic. I will be here till next saturday when my husband will fly down to Perth. Then we will have a few days in the city together as well as him having a chance to chat with my doctors then we will be flying home... bit nervous bout that... I think the mood stabilizers are working and Ive found some of the things weve discussed & learnt in group to be quite relevant and helpful. I guess the real test will come when I go back to my usual life. Going to buy tge set of relaxation cds as Ive found that really good. Hope everyone has had a good sunday

MaryG Still here, still struggling
  • replies: 6

So you think it's all going to get better...there is a goal a "something". Then you get to the other side and is it really better? I don't think so. I thought it would be better, but it's not.

So you think it's all going to get better...there is a goal a "something". Then you get to the other side and is it really better? I don't think so. I thought it would be better, but it's not.

Joe_Black1 Jezz is the name; Self Sabotage is my game.
  • replies: 7

Hi, my name is Jezz and I have depression. Not that "Black Dog" as some describe it, I feel like it's my dark side, whispering loathing thoughts and clouding my mind from the real world.I feel stupid even writing this. I'm in my early forties, marrie... View more

Hi, my name is Jezz and I have depression. Not that "Black Dog" as some describe it, I feel like it's my dark side, whispering loathing thoughts and clouding my mind from the real world.I feel stupid even writing this. I'm in my early forties, married, family, well-paid and I can't understand how I got here. I'm no good at my job, my boss hates me and my family think I'm a joke. I have self-sabotaged every good job I ever had, and my dark side helped prevent me from pursuing those things I once called dreams.I tried to kill myself when I was 13. My suicidal thoughts have been with me right through school, Army and now in the private sector. I have real trouble being able to relate to people - even my own family. They think I'm a joke and my kids don't have any respect or interest in me. I can't blame them. But they sure can blame me... and now my 10 year-old son has revealed to his teacher after much prodding that he wants to die.I have never spoken of my thoughts to him, but now he's feeling this way - has he picked these thoughts up from me?? My failure is now complete.If you've read this far - well done. I'm not sure what I'm doing here, but writing this out is bringing it all up and maybe it will help.Thanks for your time.

Notmyself To be someone other than me
  • replies: 5

Every day I wish I would wake up in someone else's life, maybe someone not so screwed up as me, I'm tired of being me, I'm tired of fighting myself trying to prove that I didn't chose to be this way, no one in my. Life actually cares to understand wh... View more

Every day I wish I would wake up in someone else's life, maybe someone not so screwed up as me, I'm tired of being me, I'm tired of fighting myself trying to prove that I didn't chose to be this way, no one in my. Life actually cares to understand what it is like to be me, I am always there for everyone else putting everyone before myself, recently tried putting myself first and to begin with it was nice, I had a back bone!! But sure a enough it's back fired and now I'm just there for everyone to call upon. I just want to wake up and not have to deal with everyone.... I can't express my feelings to my family I feel they judge and don't really take this seriously, it's just a phase.... They look at me like I do it for attention.... My friends don't understand, and my partner holds it against me constantly, he resents me for being me. And I hate it. I feel like a burden all the time I can't open up and be 100% honest about my own feelings because it somehow makes me a bad person, or I'm to I did it all to myself. Why can't anyone just know!!! Why can't anyone close to me tell me it's ok not to be ok!!!! Why can't someone just hug me and let me be who I am!!!! I haven't always been sad! But I didn't do this on purpose ! I want someone to understand and well someone to just listen and actually care.