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Depression

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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.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 1

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

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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amamas Is your "Beast" male, female, both or neutral and WHY?
  • replies: 5

My beast as I refer to him is what I call my depression. At times he swallows me whole while at others I'm living enjoying live but he's always there, I can feel him. Thanks to a post by was it Super_Nurse (sorry if I remembered that wrong! My PTSD b... View more

My beast as I refer to him is what I call my depression. At times he swallows me whole while at others I'm living enjoying live but he's always there, I can feel him. Thanks to a post by was it Super_Nurse (sorry if I remembered that wrong! My PTSD brain SUX!!) I've become aware of the strangeness of attributing a sex to the Beast, or whatever your version of it is. I'm intrigued as to what you all call your depression and if it has an identity, male/female or other? If you have any thoughts on why the name? why the sex or not? does it help you? how does it help you? cheers amamas

Notmyself Numb
  • replies: 3

Its a strange wave of emotions you get when depressed. I didn't cry yesterday, must have been the first day in over a month! Although I was close. I felt numb, so numb, like UGH I just give up, you win take me. You've consumed every part of my life a... View more

Its a strange wave of emotions you get when depressed. I didn't cry yesterday, must have been the first day in over a month! Although I was close. I felt numb, so numb, like UGH I just give up, you win take me. You've consumed every part of my life and haven't shown any signs of leaving. TAKE ME!! Think about all the reasons you should try to be positive, my mum, my dad, brother, sister, grandparents? My dog and Most importantly My little 3 year old Nephew, oh boy if a child like that can't make you feel better nothing will. He is the main reason for any smile or happiness I have these days! He's a magical little boy. You notice none of the reasons are your self. Not one says try stay positive for YOU! Why the hell bother!!! It feels like your being kicked when your down over and over again. Mostly by the people YOU LOVE! and this horrible illness that has consumed you gives you the belief the world is against you!!! Tease me about it, give it your all! If you cant understand me your not worth knowing! Support and Love is what I need! Not people going on about Oh cheer up, go out have fun, forget him, forget it you'll feel better, blah blah blah what the heck do you know!!! Spend a day inside my head and tell me all these things will help!!! One thing that I find truly helps me battle this beast is working out...... When im at the gym, my worries are halved, im focused on beating personal bests..... being better than the day before. But the second I leave.... I fall into this massive black hole and get swallowed up. Just a random vent this morning. x

ttguerra Someone to talk to
  • replies: 3

I know this is an Australian website, but i'm not Australian. I was looking for advice online and found this forum. I'm a 24 yo gay man who's still in the closet and that's probably the cause of what i'm feeling right now. I live in a country with a ... View more

I know this is an Australian website, but i'm not Australian. I was looking for advice online and found this forum. I'm a 24 yo gay man who's still in the closet and that's probably the cause of what i'm feeling right now. I live in a country with a very strong macho culture, I was born a male I'm supposed to do what a male does, get married, have kids, continue with the family legacy. I've known I'm gay ever since I was 16 and I thought I was okay with that... apparently I am not. My family would never accept me by who I am. I always make plans, but lately I haven't had the drive to. I wake up every day reasonless... I just need someone to talk to.

Mummyhazel Whats next?
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, Im a mother of 2, a defence wife and was diagnosed with post-natal depression and anxiety. Ive recently hit a point where everything ive been doing over the last 8 months to aid my recovery feels like a waste of time. I relocated to Sydn... View more

Hi everyone, Im a mother of 2, a defence wife and was diagnosed with post-natal depression and anxiety. Ive recently hit a point where everything ive been doing over the last 8 months to aid my recovery feels like a waste of time. I relocated to Sydney 6 weeks after my 2nd child was born (away from friends and family) and feel like this was the point my illness became evident. I do practise cognitive therapy, and mindfulness most days I was seeing a counsellor regularly and I exercise as much as I can...this has been getting me by. But the last few months it feels like my world is falling apart. My husband got his notice he will be deploying to the middle east for 7 months and we decided to move me home to be closer to family and help considering im not always 100% emotionally and I have struggled with motherhood...the defence turned down our request for assistance with our relocation so we payed for it ourselves and I packed up the house by myself, this was most upsetting as we had saved for a romantic holiday (our first holiday as a couple EVER) but had to use our savings on the moving truck. then only a week before our move the defence force decided to deny us entry to a defence housing property....My truck was on its way and I had said my good byes, redirected our mail to the inlaws, pulled my eldest from day-care and transferred my course to the location I was supposed to be moving too (yes I managed to start studying aswell...I am a bit crazy!) So this leads me to my current situation...Homeless and bouncing between family members trying to find a home, our belongings dumped under a family members house, im commencing my studies next month, My husband is away working until Christmas break then after that away again for 7 months (don't even ask about a sex life!!!) Physically im loosing weight, my skin is aging, I cant even see the point in general Hygiene anymore...my reflection isn't what I would expect a 25 year old to look like! Emotionally I cry everyday, Im confused, I cant raise my voice to ask for help, Im filled with guilt.....I think about death and wonder into day long anxiety attacks shaking and feeling ill. I hate crowds, and I feel like everyone is staring directly at my flaws or the things I talk about will just be joked about when im not there. I ignore my children when they want my attention (apart from feeding and washing and caring for them as much as any human being would...the love and joy isn't behind it like it used to be)- I just don't want to listen or deal with their horrible behaviour (the move into a homeless disrupted situation has just killed any working routine I had). They are beautiful girls but the fact im alone all day with them and im ashamed to ask for help or a day off means I turn into mean mummy and I see myself acting selfish and ignorant..i hate myself for it but im tired of smiling and pretending im happy with this. To top it all of my parents have decided to separate so they are both recently diagnosed with depression and I haven't had the courage to tell them of my illness (why burden them with it when they cant even function emotionally themselves) I never had the best childhood with them either but that's a whole other story I haven't even personally decided to start dealing with. Ive come here basically to speak and let it all out! I don't know whats next....I just sat on the stairwell after tucking my girls in and thought...'I could just disappear now and they would be ok because my husbands family (the most amazing family in he world) are just next door to look after them. I think about vanishing all the time...not on holiday but just vanishing so everyone else can be happy! I feel like im living in secrecy, I talk to myself out loud all day long... I drive with he fear im about to crash...every stranger is an attacker or paedophile about to get me or my children... Im tired of checking windows 5 times before bed, crying in my pillow, visioning how happy my husband would be with someone else...yes...im rambling!! but this is my thought pattern...always scatterd and confused. I loose my phone 5 times a day, misplace my keys, forget important dates.... I don't know where my head is at anymore and im scared!!

ApproachingNormal How do people in the medical field cope??
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone. For the last few years I have worked in the field of anaesthesia and found it to be one of the most interesting and rewarding careers but over the last few months have been struggling with my depression and have been having more regular ... View more

Hi everyone. For the last few years I have worked in the field of anaesthesia and found it to be one of the most interesting and rewarding careers but over the last few months have been struggling with my depression and have been having more regular downs than ups. I had recently been involved in a paediatric resus with a bad outcome, it was just devastating. At the time I did not think it affected me as much as what it did to other staff who were visually upset and rightly so. But over the last few weeks the event has been playing over and over in my mind. There was nothing we could have done differently to change the outcome. Over the years I have seen some pretty horrific stuff, but no prior event has ever triggered this same response in me. Last week was one of the worst weeks for me mentally, it was affecting my work and people knew I wasn't my self. I knew I wasn't my self as well but I just went on, ignoring the fact that my depression was worsening, I suppose pretending it wasn't happening. People were asking what was wrong and I just couldn't tell them the truth. I went to my GP and told him what I was going through and he helped me out with some advice and meds. I have an appointment to see a counsellor in two weeks but don't really know how that's going to go as I struggle talking face to face with people about my mental health issues. I am wondering if there are any other people that may be in the same boat or have had similar experiences and what their coping mechanisms are when faced with similar situations? Cheers Arron.

amamas the lure of the Beast
  • replies: 7

Hey guys Two and a half weeks since I literally woke up. Or actually escaped the beasts hold. It's been amazing! So good in so many ways... what about the in-betweens though? Not the spaces if you think of life as a written story, I enjoy the pauses.... View more

Hey guys Two and a half weeks since I literally woke up. Or actually escaped the beasts hold. It's been amazing! So good in so many ways... what about the in-betweens though? Not the spaces if you think of life as a written story, I enjoy the pauses. It's all the rest that's the problem So I love the highlights, I enjoy the spaces but the rest of the book of life is pretty damn crap! Certainly makes the beasts embrace very alluring. I find it so bizarre that thats true. The beast - the hated depression demon that never leaves, who I have worked so hard to get away from I'm now drawn like a super powered magnet back to. I just want to let go, sink back and let him take over. Even writing this I think I sound crazy but the pull remains cheers amamas

Vester Portraits in Blue
  • replies: 1

Hi - A group of us who experience depression have started a research project into peoples' stories of depression. We're being assisted by the usual academics, psychiatrists etc..., but it a consumer lead effort. If nothing else check out our movie at... View more

Hi - A group of us who experience depression have started a research project into peoples' stories of depression. We're being assisted by the usual academics, psychiatrists etc..., but it a consumer lead effort. If nothing else check out our movie at http://www.portraitsinblue.com/ - look forward to your participation.

Stranger Always the rock
  • replies: 1

Ok, im not gonna lie, i live a pretty privlaged life... roof over my head, food on the table, Went to a private school all that jazz. Right now im going through some pretty strange stuff, and not dealing with it to well. but right now it seemd like a... View more

Ok, im not gonna lie, i live a pretty privlaged life... roof over my head, food on the table, Went to a private school all that jazz. Right now im going through some pretty strange stuff, and not dealing with it to well. but right now it seemd like all im doing is pumping other peoples egos, and making sure i catch them if/when they fall, im always their rock, always the one saying its going to be ok. But now im starting to slip and i dont know if anyone will catch me so to speak. I don't know how or who to talk to and im just lost right now. i know its not nuch in the grand scheme of things, but for me, its my personal hell.

Beetle Reflecting on my Depression and what it did to me
  • replies: 4

HI all Im still a new bee but i found this forum very very helpful and have posted some threats already and replied to some. I was diagnosed last week with severe depression,anxiety and stress. now the meds really kick in and they blow my mind. I wou... View more

HI all Im still a new bee but i found this forum very very helpful and have posted some threats already and replied to some. I was diagnosed last week with severe depression,anxiety and stress. now the meds really kick in and they blow my mind. I would like to share my experience with them since ive never been on meds. I am on a strong brand new SNRI which is also used as a pain killer.I expereince sideeffects and they are unpleasant. But they finaly took away my suicidal thoughts, the constant worry, my constant stressing about things. I feel on them like i am in a warm fuzzy relaxing oasis. I am so glad that i finaly gave in to accept help. I dont know about you all, how you go with your meds, if they help you or not and give u side effects. I expected nothing and got what i wished for: relief from my busy brain.I feel like my mind opened and I can see the kindness and support and care other poeple offer me. I can see now 3D wheras i feel before I looked at everyhting in 2D.Its like someone took away a glaswall around me and allowed me to live. Even if this drug is toxic to your liver makes you dizzy and nauseated, i rather put up with that than havinmg to live in a fishbowel being disconected and isolated from everything.I feel the disease had taken away the real me, and killed of the kind sensible caring person i once was.Today I realised what a stress head i must have been. I stressed about everything. I worried that it may rain if the washing is on the line,i worried about using too many gigabites and blow out my telstra bill, i worried about not getting a job , not being able to sleep if i have a coffee at 16.00 or that i fail an assignemnt which I havent even written.I also made an elepahnt out of nothing. I could fly off the handle for little stupid things. I broke out in tears if the coffee tin was empty and became suicidal if i got a big bill. At the end I was really bad and was speeding.bad speeding. I feel I would have killed myself or others within the next 4 weeks if I would't have gotten those drugs.Before I agreed to them i went to councelling, i walked every day, ate healthy and tried to talk things through with friends. But all those measures seemed not to do anything. I wonder now if I am one of those people were therapy just doesnt work because the basics, the chemicals were never right in my brain. I dont want o use that an excuse, but as long as i can remember I was different, anxious, sad and preoccupied with the 'what if" question and OMG drama. How are you all going? have people have simiar expereinces.?

k_therase Hurting every one else around me.
  • replies: 3

Hi to all, 5 years ago I lost the most important person in my life my mum. 3 months later i lost my step dad to suicide. 3 months after that my uncle passed away too. In between these years too my best friends brother committed suicide, my boyfriends... View more

Hi to all, 5 years ago I lost the most important person in my life my mum. 3 months later i lost my step dad to suicide. 3 months after that my uncle passed away too. In between these years too my best friends brother committed suicide, my boyfriends mum committed suicide too and my gran passed away. Yes it all sounds like a huge thing, and they are. but 5 years down the track i feel like i should not be stressing over the past. Yet this year i dropped out of year 12, lost all my friends and feel like I'm loosing myself among it all. The only thing that is bothering me though is the other people who I'm hurting, while I get into my moods, my depressed stages i go into shut down mode. I don't care about my own well being, only everyone else around me, yet no one see's that. But why is this happening now?