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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: 0

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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melbournegirle I Feel Like I'm Living For Other People
  • replies: 5

I was diagnosed with depression about four years ago (although after extensive therapy suspect I suffered from it intermittently throughout my teens as well). I've been on medication pretty much for the last four years except for one particularly ill... View more

I was diagnosed with depression about four years ago (although after extensive therapy suspect I suffered from it intermittently throughout my teens as well). I've been on medication pretty much for the last four years except for one particularly ill-advised six month period where I decided I didn't need them anymore and luckily recognised the signs of an impending breakdown and went back on them. I have good times; times when I don't even think about depression and I'm as happy as the happiest person on earth. I have good reason to be happy: my family are amazing and have loved and supported me throughout, I have firm friends who have stuck by me thick and thin, a strong partner and a stable job in a shaky economy. Yet, lately I have just been feeling worse and worse. I attempted suicide a couple of times when I was first diagnosed, and since then have not considered it an option, because I wanted to live for myself and to beat this thing. Now, though, I've realised that I no longer have any desire to live for myself. I guess it's a good thing that I have these wonderful people around me to keep me here but life just...I'm not sure how to put it into words and make it make sense. I feel so sad it hurts, and like life is just passing me by, like I'm just a helpless spectator. I dropped out of uni last year because of my depression and after being one of the top students of my high school I'm now working in retail whilst my friends finish their studies and get "real" jobs. I met my partner at uni (we were both mature age students) and he is in his final year of studies, and if I hadn't continually failed and eventually dropped out, I would be right there beside him. I feel like a failure, and the pain of the sadness is sometimes unbearable. Sorry this has been so rambly. I guess I just needed to write this out and tell someone other than my psych what is going on. Thanks for reading.

Over-it-all A dark place.. i need help :(
  • replies: 4

hey guys, I've hit a depression all time low and i'm ready to give up and don't know what to do about it Work problems, money problems, about to be homeless problems, stuck in a bad situation as a carer for my mum, and to top it all off, my girl and ... View more

hey guys, I've hit a depression all time low and i'm ready to give up and don't know what to do about it Work problems, money problems, about to be homeless problems, stuck in a bad situation as a carer for my mum, and to top it all off, my girl and 4 yr old have left me for another man.. She was dazzled by a new guy with money and limosines and casinos and stolen away from me on the weekend. I'm ready for it all to be over.. life is just too hard.. i can't and don't want to deal with it anymore please talk to me. i'm desperate. I have no friends and it's a battle with my mind at the moment, which i'm quickly losing. help needed

La_Vie_en_rose That sinking feeling is coming back.
  • replies: 2

I've battled with depression for a few years now, and as much as I've made it "work" in my life. I can feel the sinking feeling slowly pulling me into the pit again. I know I shouldn't be like this, I have a good life. I have a job, a home, a partner... View more

I've battled with depression for a few years now, and as much as I've made it "work" in my life. I can feel the sinking feeling slowly pulling me into the pit again. I know I shouldn't be like this, I have a good life. I have a job, a home, a partner, and I live comfortably with the things I want. But the stress really really is starting to give me the blues. I came home from work in years today, all because I made myself stress about my boss coming in tomorrow (they're lovely btw). I didn't even tell my boyfriend, I just went and had a bath and cried to myself. I don't know what I'm really doing here, I just need help. Someone to talk to. I know I should talk to my boyfriend, but I feel like a burden. Why should he have to put up with my sook moods?

caroline_ Self hate
  • replies: 4

I've had a negative view of myself since I was a child. I assumed everyone hated me, and I always hated myself. Now I find it hard to believe people when they tell me nice things. At my last session my counsellor said that when I’m stressed, depresse... View more

I've had a negative view of myself since I was a child. I assumed everyone hated me, and I always hated myself. Now I find it hard to believe people when they tell me nice things. At my last session my counsellor said that when I’m stressed, depressed and anxious I revert back to what I knew as a child, what I believed about myself. She also said that I could have had PTSD from being bullied, but I don't know about that. Anyway, what I'm getting at... I have this final assignment and I'm having so much trouble completing it because I need to write about how I've fulfilled graduate teaching standards throughout my studies, which basically means I have to talk myself up and write about how amazing I am... but I can't because I don't believe it. I go into panic thinking about it because I feel like such a fraud. How can I do this? How do people learn to even like themselves and believe in themselves? Because I just can't no matter what anyone says.

Sarthom Falling.....
  • replies: 1

I can feel myself sliding further into a dark place. I find myself feeling depressed about depression if that is even possible. I'm quite at ease at home where I don't have to be social and put on my face of everything is right with the world. I feel... View more

I can feel myself sliding further into a dark place. I find myself feeling depressed about depression if that is even possible. I'm quite at ease at home where I don't have to be social and put on my face of everything is right with the world. I feel I have nothing to give at the moment and that is frustrating. I'm back to work next week and was hoping to have it all sorted by now. My sleeping pattern is beginning to be effected again. I'm having vivid dreams that wake me at all hours of the night and when I fall back into a sleep It returns. I never get anywhere and feel exhausted by the time morning arrives. I hate myself for feeling like this, but I'm having difficulties pulling myself out of it again. I can see it but I can't fix it which is even more frustrating. I feel I have to please everyone and if I don't then I'm letting them all down. I don't seem to have time for myself and when I sit down I'm dwelling on things that make me feel worse about myself. It's such a vicious circle. Is it just me or is this a common feeling others experience also?

furey What do you do when you've already tried everything?
  • replies: 6

Everyone always says it's so easy to get help - well, not in my experience. It seems to me the only way you actually get help is if you actually do something drastic. But that's not what this is about. So, you've ended up in hospital. You've seen the... View more

Everyone always says it's so easy to get help - well, not in my experience. It seems to me the only way you actually get help is if you actually do something drastic. But that's not what this is about. So, you've ended up in hospital. You've seen the doctors, done the therapy, and now...you're exactly where you were before, except now, there isn't any illusion of help and getting better. Now you know that you've tried and it didn't work. What are you supposed to do?

bbree Today was a bad day
  • replies: 7

I'm new beyond blue! I was hoping this could be a place where I could share experiences with people in a similar situation than myself. I suffer from depression. I see a doctor once a fortnight and go to mindfullness meditation classes. I was recentl... View more

I'm new beyond blue! I was hoping this could be a place where I could share experiences with people in a similar situation than myself. I suffer from depression. I see a doctor once a fortnight and go to mindfullness meditation classes. I was recently on medication but decided to try a drug-free method of taking herbal vitamins that are supposed to assist with depression symptoms! Sounds like I'm doing everything right but alas, I'm still depressed. Today was a bad day, first one I've had in a while, which is probably the only positive thing I can take from this experience. Some days are better than others. Today was not one of the better days. The thing is, nothing in particular happened for me to be feeling so down and sad, I think that's what annoys me most... I was at work and I was overwhelmed with all that had to be done and didn't feel I was getting support from other colleagues. I had people coming up and asking me questions and I was just not in the mood. I couldn't be bothered putting a smile on my face and being nice to people. When I get stressed, it's like a wave of negative thoughts that wash over me... I'm not good enough, why am I here, I don't want to do this anymore, I keep making mistakes, why can't I just be happy... When I'm feeling down I find it really hard to overcome the negative thoughts and start to think positively. My partner is always trying to turn my day around and I love him for it, he tells me to replace every negative thought with a positive one, but for some reason I don't think it's that easy. Does anyone else find this? I try, I really do. I'm doing everything right to try and make myself happy but nothing seems to be working and I don't think there is anyone that understands how I feel. I'd love to have some feedback or advice on how other people cope or are coping and just to know that I'm not the only person out there who is feeling like this!

PrvtWoft What do I do ?
  • replies: 1

I have been battling depression with little success for about 5 years. (When I lost my last full time job). Since then I have been hired a few times but only lasted a matter of days and either walked off the job or had what I think are anxiety (or an... View more

I have been battling depression with little success for about 5 years. (When I lost my last full time job). Since then I have been hired a few times but only lasted a matter of days and either walked off the job or had what I think are anxiety (or anger related) attacks which have landed me in bad situations. Through all this I have been in hospital a few times and mental wards about 5 times now. I cannot seem to stay positive about anything for more than a week or so and ponder suicide nearly every second day. I have thought about my future which seems grim. I have no job, no friends, no brothers or sisters and the rest of the family is ageing. I will be truly alone sooner or later. The only future I can see for myself is some unemployed bum who lives on the streets because his family is gone and he knows no one else and cant land a job. I thought id try something else so I have enrolled in study and am in my second week. It is not going as well as I thought it would. I have already had multiple arguments with teachers. I have already missed three classes and am getting letters from my lecturers about this. As soon as I get panicked by this all I can think about is running away, killing myself etc. Then I think of the other side of things and try to cheer myself up.. sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt… WHAT if I do get a job. A nine to five job in some office doing something I hate for the rest of my life. This sounds even more depressing than the alternative. I really don’t know what to do, because every alternative seems just as depressing to me.

Sarthom Only me!
  • replies: 2

After a short battle, with short i mean 2yrs, with depression and finally feeling on top of things, I was beginning to function as a human being, basically I was feeling good! I went back to my GP for a medication review where we decided to reduce th... View more

After a short battle, with short i mean 2yrs, with depression and finally feeling on top of things, I was beginning to function as a human being, basically I was feeling good! I went back to my GP for a medication review where we decided to reduce the dose, which I was ecstatic about. I was invincible nothing was going to stop me now..... Well that's what I thought! 3 weeks in and I was hit with a ten tonne truck and driven into the ground and couldn't tolerate or function in daily schedules. The tears turned on and I couldn't turn them off I knew something wasn't right. To make matters worse I began having a reality check and felt like failure all over again. I couldn't be happy without medication. What sort of person was I if I couldn't be happy or function with out medication. Along with this feelings it also bought feelings of anger and frustration. To tell you the truth I was p*%#*# off! i wanted to scream out the anger but didn't know what to scream I knew I was angry but also knew not many would understand my despair. So I continued to disintegrate to a point where I wanted to lock myself away as I knew I couldn't cope with dealing with others. I felt sick, dizzy heavy headed to name a few oh and on the verge of tears when ever anyone wanted to speak with me. Back to the GP I went as I knew he would put me on the right track. After my visit and a long reassuring chat, I couldn't shake the numbness I felt once again I didn't know whether it was because I wasn't in control or the reality of possibly being medicated for the rest of my life! The tears continued too flow much to my disgust, my eyes were puffy and I look like shift to put it mildly! How many more times can I keep fighting this? I'm scared there is going to come a time when I say enough is enough, where I haven't got the strength to fight anymore. I saw a tree on the side of a tree the other day in a way I haven't done for at least 18 months. All in all my journey continues and I continue to fight the black dog, for now I am being patient and hoping the medication takes this new found pain and numbness away. Hopefully then I can deal rationally with my thoughts and deal with the future in a different light. I am trying to be positive but its taking all my energy at this point of time. yours truly frustrated