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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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venusfever It's hard to tell, am I depressed?
  • replies: 12

Hardly remember when these all started, I wasn't myself anymore as told by my husband. I am miserable, bad temper, rude and lazy, that he keeps complaining me and we argued a lot in the past couple of years. According to him, I was a cheerful, positi... View more

Hardly remember when these all started, I wasn't myself anymore as told by my husband. I am miserable, bad temper, rude and lazy, that he keeps complaining me and we argued a lot in the past couple of years. According to him, I was a cheerful, positive and always taking care of the family well, most importantly never bad-mouth about anything and were soft and gentle. I just can't help myself, whenever he complained, I break down in tears and just couldn't stop blaming myself for everything. I feel tire everyday, couldn't really enjoy anything in life and getting to hate myself so much that I can't even get my job done properly. Although my little 3 years old someone become the only source to cheer me up sometimes, I still couldn't speak it up to my husband nor my close friend about my emotional problem. Don't think my husband will care and listen after all. This morning I nearly run into a crash on my way to work, very close missed, don't know how that could happened but I still don't feel like talking to anyone about it. In fact, I have told my husband to leave me a lone and stop talking to me for over 2 weeks now. After the incident this morning, I realized I should have go to see my GP about my emotional issues, but I'm really not sure if I couldn't tell her anything..I found it very hard to tell, and whenever I tried to tell my close friend or husband, I found myself hard to breath and rather stay away alone. Really not sure if I am depressed, or just need to find a way to express my feeling. But I really don't know how, and really dislike what I am now. Can anyone suggest how I could get this over and back to my old-self?

diadine needing someone to talk to
  • replies: 2

sometimes i think im fine for a while but then quite suddenly i feel as if everything has come crashing down on top of me and i have these huge depressive episodes where i just bawl my eyes out and re-live every bad thing that has happened to me. i t... View more

sometimes i think im fine for a while but then quite suddenly i feel as if everything has come crashing down on top of me and i have these huge depressive episodes where i just bawl my eyes out and re-live every bad thing that has happened to me. i try and try to calm down and be positive but this is one of the times where i cant stop feeling like im breaking apart. i desperately need someone to talk to me

Yoli Bored, bored, bored
  • replies: 4

Hi all I would like some feedback... I have been suffering with depression and anxiety over the last 3 years, recently however, I am feeling very very bored, so bored that my body hurts. Can anyone please tell me if this is a symptom of depression? o... View more

Hi all I would like some feedback... I have been suffering with depression and anxiety over the last 3 years, recently however, I am feeling very very bored, so bored that my body hurts. Can anyone please tell me if this is a symptom of depression? or is there something else is going on here??... apologies for the silly questions... Yoli

PrettyKitty85 Having off day today - advice and suggestions are welcome!
  • replies: 1

Hey Everyone, I have been battling depression for approximately 6 months and have been taking medications around the same time. I have to admit I am handling things OK but there are some days where I wish I didn't get out of bed and just feel like ut... View more

Hey Everyone, I have been battling depression for approximately 6 months and have been taking medications around the same time. I have to admit I am handling things OK but there are some days where I wish I didn't get out of bed and just feel like utter crap. Today was one of those days, unfortunately one of the common side effects of my anti-depressants is nausea and dizzy spells and I spent most of the morning sitting down on the kitchen floor trying to stop the room from spinning. I had to call in sick at work today which is another downer because it's a new job who is aware of my condition but it's a place I really love going to but when I have these days, it's really hard to deal with people in general and I just feel like a complete burden to everyone around me. I am happily married and have been for 4 years and my husband is amazing supportive man, however there are some days where I wish he could come home to a normal happy wife instead of having to dry my tears and nurse me back to bed. Like most people suffering from a mental illness, I am taking anti-depressants, going to a counselling session once a week which is helping but I often wish I could just go back to being happy without the medication. My parents are worried about me and have suggested for me to stop the medication and see if it makes me any better but I don't think that's going to help me one bit. Does anyone have any moments where you wish you could go back to being normal without the medication? I do all the time. I understand depression is something that takes a while to overcome but I am really just over taking the tablets. I have tried getting into fitness and healthy eating but when I have bad days, I comfort eat like you wouldn't believe. I am overweight for my age and height and as a 28 year old woman who is constantly surrounded by girls who are tiny and are just perfect in every way, I feel so inferior and not confident at all. One of the things that is on my mind at the moment is I have a friend's wedding to attend this weekend where it's going to involve a lot of old friends we don't really associate with anymore because one of them decided to pick on me for no reason and made me feel like the size of a thumb tack and unfortunately for her, I don't take too nicely when people make me feel that way. So I snapped at her at a friend's wedding a few years back and have now caused the circle of friends to completely exclude us (including my husband who they were friends with first) just over that one incident. I am really nervous about going to this wedding and seeing that girl and I don't know how I am cope with things. I get nervous whenever I see that group of friends and I am really worried about how I am going to feel when I have to be in the vicinity as these people that make me feel so horrible. If anyone has any suggestions on how to cope with it, please let me know. I am all ears!!

Teddas One step forward, 3 back
  • replies: 1

Every time l start feel to feel a bit "normal" some stupid little thing happens and the whole world caves in on me. I dont just end up back where l started but further back than that. I cant stop negative thoughts coming in as much as l really try. I... View more

Every time l start feel to feel a bit "normal" some stupid little thing happens and the whole world caves in on me. I dont just end up back where l started but further back than that. I cant stop negative thoughts coming in as much as l really try. I can only think of one way to stop hearing all these thoughts but until that is my only option l will keep fighting on but could really do with some help PLEASE !!!

jodes76 So not coping
  • replies: 4

Everything has gone wrong this year. I really don't know what to do. So many things I want to get off my chest but at same time I'm too scared of the outcome. Feel like I'm falling further down than ever, not sure if I want to climb back up View more

Everything has gone wrong this year. I really don't know what to do. So many things I want to get off my chest but at same time I'm too scared of the outcome. Feel like I'm falling further down than ever, not sure if I want to climb back up

Beetle Finaly woken up from Psycho coma......
  • replies: 4

HI I feel since I have been diagnosed and medicated I have woken up from a coma, a psycho coma.I am back to work again, and everything is so much easier. its like i am another me As JO I am also able to at least starting to accept my childhood abuse ... View more

HI I feel since I have been diagnosed and medicated I have woken up from a coma, a psycho coma.I am back to work again, and everything is so much easier. its like i am another me As JO I am also able to at least starting to accept my childhood abuse and realised I cant change the past. I have to accept it. As JO this has dramatically contributed to my healing process.thanks to this and the meds I feel like smiling is no efford anymore. everything is more natural and grounded.My emotions came finaly to a normal level and not every tiny little thing sent me into complete meltdown and worry. Why did I have to suffer for 30 years in this psycho coma before I found the way out? Anyone out there- if u think something is not right-see your doc. it can only get better. Even though im only for 6 weeks on drugs now and i am aware i could nosedive one day- i am so much better than before. I just wanted to share this and encourage people to seek help. End the suffering. Be brave seek help it can only get better.Beetle

Sad_Sack Over it!
  • replies: 3

My whole life I have suffered anxiety and depression but there was never any cause for it, just an imbalance or part of my personality. However in the last two years so many awful things have happened and I have dealt with them one by one, but they j... View more

My whole life I have suffered anxiety and depression but there was never any cause for it, just an imbalance or part of my personality. However in the last two years so many awful things have happened and I have dealt with them one by one, but they just keep coming and I just can't cope anymore. I feel like that depressed 15 year old again who wants to spend their whole life under the covers hiding from life, only now I have 2 kids who depend on me. In two years my cousin died, My best friends baby died in a tragic accident, my husband left me after moving us all interstate, found out he was cheating, he screwed me over financially and continues to do so to this day, in the last 6 weeks, I had to move suddenenly, lost my job and to top it all off my sister isn't talking to me. In the first 6 months after a break up people are so supportive and now 2 years on things are just as bad as ever and no one wants to talk about (which I totally understand by the way, because it is a boring bloody story). My Mum had to move in with me and my kids after I lost my job and everything just feels like the pits of hell. I am dreading Christmas, as I won't get to see my kids for half the day. I have cried about 6 times today already. I am having awful thoughts, and just wish the whole world would explode. I used to have a great life and now everything is stuffed and while I know that probably by this time next year things will be better it doesn't help. I thought that last year and here I am still a slave to my ex, trapped in this co parenting arrangement. Thankfully my kids re with their Dad tonight so I can have a complete mental breakdown.

Teddas Complicated life
  • replies: 5

I am 47 years old and kind of married. My wife and l live in separate rooms and she says as soon as the kids have gone she is too. Youngest is 11yo so still trying to live this crazy life for a while yet. She is the major money earner as l was a stay... View more

I am 47 years old and kind of married. My wife and l live in separate rooms and she says as soon as the kids have gone she is too. Youngest is 11yo so still trying to live this crazy life for a while yet. She is the major money earner as l was a stay at home Dad for 17years raising the kids. Turns out she thinks l did nothing and she blames me for everything. The kids are all with me but try not to play them off against her. About 4 years ago l got a part time gardening job that doesn't pay much but at least l dont have to beg her for money anymore. Through this job l met a lovely lady and we became great friends. She is divorced with kids and we got along great. one thing led to another and for the past 12 months it has been an amazing relationship. The she said, as she had stated at the start, that we are just friends and she is moving on so to speak. Well suffering depression as you all know it doesn't take much to start that downward spiral. I have been stuck in it now for a cpl of months. Every time l think l am coming good l drop further. My closest person to talk to in all these matters was my Mother who pasted away 18 months ago. My doctor says keep busy and the feelings for this woman will go but there are times when that isn't an option be it late at night when l would visit her ( my "wife" travels a lot with work ). I also have to see her at work 3 days a week. I know we started as friends but presumed we had gone way past that over time, she obviously didn't or for whatever reason got scared it was getting to serious, l dont know. I have had 3 really goods days after catching up with friend on the weekend and talking about life but went to work and saw her again today and got ignored. Ripped my guts out so left early and home to bed. I understand there is no logic in it. She is not interested in a relationship although l thought we had one but it seems to be a major tipping point for me to head to those dark places we all know. Snowballs on me, everything jumps on board, bad marriage, low paying job, nearly 50 and no money or future, hate being alone, Mum gone etc etc. then l am here, in bed not wanting to ever get up. I have been to the edge and back too many times now so am asking for your help. How can l get past this so l can concentrate on getting other things better? Am too old to be crying this much and feeling that even tho l have 4 wonderful children that l am stuffed. My kids keep me going everyday and l seriously wouldn't be here without them making me laugh. I look forward to hearing from someone

Lenie_code looking for a soft place to fall
  • replies: 7

Struggling to find a place where i can express myself without repercussions. I guess it's safe to say I am having a less than average day. Advice?

Struggling to find a place where i can express myself without repercussions. I guess it's safe to say I am having a less than average day. Advice?