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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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Moshii too scared to try or too fed up to bother
  • replies: 2

i don't want to be living like this but i feel so trapped. i've suffered depression and anxiety in varying degrees since i was a teenager living in england with mum and her (now ex)husband. i went to a bit of counseling at the time until i wasn't all... View more

i don't want to be living like this but i feel so trapped. i've suffered depression and anxiety in varying degrees since i was a teenager living in england with mum and her (now ex)husband. i went to a bit of counseling at the time until i wasn't allowed to and eventually moved back to australia when i was older. recently i've had sessions with the MHP, but between only 10 a year and having difficulty in opening up to people, i feel it is beneficial but barely functions as a bandaid. over the last few years my partner has been struggling with his own problems and things have become very hard when he doesn't want to do anything at all and i'm either too scared to try or too fed up and frustrated to bother. i'm really struggling at this second now, and i don't really even know why i'm writing this or what i want just gonna stop now sorry

White_Rose I have places to go, people to see - yet I feel unwanted and unloved
  • replies: 14

Like heaps of other people I have depression. I have had very good help for at least six months and I thought I was managing my life. Suddenly I feel as though I am back to square one. Difficult to get out of bed, although I make myself do so. A perm... View more

Like heaps of other people I have depression. I have had very good help for at least six months and I thought I was managing my life. Suddenly I feel as though I am back to square one. Difficult to get out of bed, although I make myself do so. A permanent, or so it seems, ache in my chest, feeling totally alone and sad unmotivated to do anything without a huge effort. There is no reason for this. I have family who care about me and friends. I have places to go, people to see and things to do and yet I feel unwanted and unloved. How does this happen and how do I get out of this situation? Life is not good

MrsCam sick of feeling crap for no reason
  • replies: 10

my first ever post on this site and Id just like to say THIS CONDITION REALLY SUCKS!!! I am 35 years old and have "nothing to be depressed about". some days I feel quite good then others I just feel crap again... having my first session with a new co... View more

my first ever post on this site and Id just like to say THIS CONDITION REALLY SUCKS!!! I am 35 years old and have "nothing to be depressed about". some days I feel quite good then others I just feel crap again... having my first session with a new counsellor this week so hoping that will help a bit but I really dont even know what Im going to say... having my sessions via video link as I live in remote WA. have spoken to her once on the phone and somehow managed to give the impression that my husband and work colleagues are quite supportive of me but in reality they are just sick of me, they want me to get over it... I take my meds as required and make a point of getting some light exercise each day as these things are supposed to help. mostly I eat healthy as 18 months ago i had gastric sleeve surgery to help lose weight so getting the correct nutrition is especially important.. I know I am not as hard done by as many and I know that I basically have a good life but that logical thinking goes out the window when I am feeling so overwhelmingly low...

BeeGee Dysthymia - I'm newly diagnosed
  • replies: 5

Hi all Just thought I'd share a bit of my story. I'm a 47 year old guy with what most would consider a moderately "successful" life so far - married to a wonderful woman, three great kids, a solid career. But there's really been no enjoyment of life ... View more

Hi all Just thought I'd share a bit of my story. I'm a 47 year old guy with what most would consider a moderately "successful" life so far - married to a wonderful woman, three great kids, a solid career. But there's really been no enjoyment of life for as long as I can remember. It's not that I'm sad all the time - on the contrary, most of the time I feel nothing at all and find myself acting out feelings for the benefit of those around me. I know how to make the right faces and say the right things in social situations so that interpersonal interactions go well but really there's not much happening behind the face at an emotional level. I've struggled with anger most of my life but over the last four years have recognised where it comes from (people - especially my kids - thwarting my efforts to control situations) and have learnt to let go of the need to control... thanks to some excellent counsel from our church's pastor. All my life I've felt like an outsider - like everyone else knows some shared secret that nobody has ever told me, so I'm somehow left out. I don't mean that like it's some sort of conspiracy, it's more like when someone tells a joke that everyone else gets and laughs at, but you're missing some key piece of information to be able to get why it's funny. You might laugh along with everyone else, but you really don't get it. There's a shared understanding that you're missing and you don't even know what it is. I've been unable to really form fulfilling relationships with people. In talking to my wife since my diagnosis she often feels "shut out" of my life, which is awful, but I was unaware and even now I'm not sure what to do except to keep sharing my journey. The weird thing is that I was completely unaware that I was depressed. No clue. I thought this was normal, that going through the motions every day was as good as it gets; happiness and pleasure were for other people, and I just got to do my duties. I'd still be thinking that if it weren't for the fact that I'm studying at the moment and had a lecture 2 weeks ago on mood disorders. When the depression slide came up on the screen I was utterly horrified to find that it was me. A light went on! This is not normal! If this is an illness maybe it can be cured, like they say. So I made an appointment with a good GP (she rated my depression as 16 out of 13! Who knew?!). She started me on meds and referred me to a psychologist for CBT. Looking forward to brighter days ahead.

MrsCam It must appear I'm being lazy but it's just too much effort
  • replies: 14

hubby & I are supposed to be going out socially this evening but I just dont feel like it... I manage to put on a happy face at work through the week but tonite it just feels like too much effort... I think hubby might b annoyed with me... I have not... View more

hubby & I are supposed to be going out socially this evening but I just dont feel like it... I manage to put on a happy face at work through the week but tonite it just feels like too much effort... I think hubby might b annoyed with me... I have not tried to stop him from going at all, in fact I have encouraged him to go which im pretty sure he will but I still feel like Im letting him down... I did no study or housework today even though I was supposed to do both... I know it appears to him that I am just being lazy but at the moment it is all just too much effort... I only got dressed today cos I wanted junk food so I needed to go to the shop, otherwise I wouldve stayed in my pjs all day... even now i am in my bed with my laptop even tho it is only 6:30pm... I know I probably should make the effort.....

butterfly2009 my partner cops alot of my down times
  • replies: 3

Hi all, i am new to this forum but am feeling tonight like I really needed to get some answers or some insight as to how I have been feeling.... I dont know if its depression... or not.. or anxiety... or not...I guess I have a bit if a long story but... View more

Hi all, i am new to this forum but am feeling tonight like I really needed to get some answers or some insight as to how I have been feeling.... I dont know if its depression... or not.. or anxiety... or not...I guess I have a bit if a long story but... I just feel empty all the time, I feel like i am not good at anything I attempt and then I feel like a failure when I think i should try something else to see if I am better at that ( I am talking about my job here) I am 27 and have pretty much started a new job every 1.5 to 2 years changing careers or changing companies, It seems like when the pressure gets too much I look for something else. I am not a lazy worker by any means i am more of a perfectionist if anything and i put alot of pressure on myself... i always have in everything i do. I am currently working for a man whos way of working involves putting alot of pressure on me and expects overtime to be worked to pretty much keep your job (its very wrong I know) he likes to pick at things and put you on the spot, i feel nervous as soon as I hear him walk in the door and feel giddy in the head sometimes at work when I know he is there and my heart races. ..... I feel the answer is to get another job but then i feel like a failure, like i am giving up when the times get tough once again.... I have a partner who I have been with for 8 years. He says he supports me and wants me to get another job but then tonight when I was discussing how I was feeling down because I have to go to work tomorrow he snapped at me and said it was so annoying talking about this all the time, that all I talk about is my boss and that I should be positive. My partner works away and I dont see him for 4 weeks at a time so we only talk on the phone... as soon as the conversation was over i burst into tears and cried for about 30mins... I just feel really unsupported i think. .... i lost my mum 5 years ago to breast cancer and I dont have her to speak to about alot of things i guess which makes venting harder.. my partner cops alot of my down times.... on top of all the work stress I am constantly thinking i am going to get breast cancer and cant get it out of my head. I dont have feelings of suicide or anything but I just feel like... I am .... useless... worthless... and now... annoying. I feel like ok, I cant talk to my partner about feeling down anymore because its annoying him... i dont know what else I have to talk about..... I dont know what makes me happy besides my dog... I know I have family and friends but its hard to see past the things that get me down most of the time. As I mentioned earlier my partner works away and you would think I would jump all over him the second I see him but I have lost interest in being intimate and am tired most of the time... I spent most of my long weekend lying on the lounge in and out of naps.... I dont know maybe I am just in a rut.... but I just wanted to see if anyone else can relate to this or if I am just being dramatic. I am feeling a little lost now I dont feel I can talk to my partner... Sorry for this very LONG post but i needed to get this out. Hope someone can help!

Madraykin Everyone around me seems to have such optimism and energy
  • replies: 1

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety about 4 months ago, although I should've probably been diagnosed 15 years ago (I'm 30, so half my life). It was a relief to know that there was something wrong with me, and that it wasn't just that I couldn... View more

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety about 4 months ago, although I should've probably been diagnosed 15 years ago (I'm 30, so half my life). It was a relief to know that there was something wrong with me, and that it wasn't just that I couldn't cope with life while everyone else could. Four months of therapy and medication, and I'm just as bad as ever. I've tried changing my diet, and exercising as well, but everything seems to be in vain. I thought once I had a diagnoses, my friends would try to be a little more patient with me. But it's been the opposite. One of them said that if I was on a downward spiral, that I shouldn't take them down with me. This was said in a group, and no-one stepped in. It was like they all just agreed. It was a complete contrast to a few years ago, when one of our friends found out they had a physical illness. Everyone said they'd do whatever they could for him. But with me, since it's "just all in my head" - it's like it doesn't count. I feel so alone. I live alone, I go to work (where I barely speak to anyone), I come home and go straight to bed. I just want to shut everything out and sleep. I've never been this unconfident, unsure of myself. I'm at that age where most of my social circle are getting married, having kids, doing well in their careers, getting promoted, going on amazing adventures. And I feel like I've just let life pass me by, being miserable and cooped up, too afraid of doing something wrong. I'm terrible in social situations but when I do speak to people, I trip over my words, forget common words, etc. Then in my head I go over and over and OVER what I did wrong and just want to avoid dealing with people at all. I don't like my job, so I tried to change careers into something else, but I've been told I'm terrible at it. I'm too afraid to try anything new because with most things, I do ok as a beginner, but when you get to the point where you should be starting to go up the learning curve, I drop back and flatline. I'm getting nowhere with therapy, and the meds aren't working. I'm tired, exhausted, and worried this will be my future until the end. Everyone around me seems to have such optimism and energy, I want that. I want to have a smile on my face, and wake up and actually want to get out of bed. I'm tired of crying on my drive home from work, and waking up with puffy eyes from crying all night. I'm upset that I've wasted most of my life not really living

ann_s For years I have actually WANTED to be diagnosed with depression
  • replies: 6

So here's a weird thing. For years I have actually WANTED to be diagnosed with depression. I have no idea why. It's not because I wanted to understand what was going on (partially yes), I think it's because I've always wanted to feel special in some ... View more

So here's a weird thing. For years I have actually WANTED to be diagnosed with depression. I have no idea why. It's not because I wanted to understand what was going on (partially yes), I think it's because I've always wanted to feel special in some way and not be like everyone else. So when I went to the doctor and she actually took me seriously I was a bit surprised but relieved. But then I've started looking online at stuff about bi-polar because it sounds much sexier than boring old depression. I also have deliberately not told (many) other people, but have secretly hoped they find out by accident and that this will somehow make what is going on far more serious/significant. Why the hell am I thinking like this? Is there something else wrong with me (you know I'm hoping everyone will say yes don't you... LOL). Anyway, would be interested to know if anyone else had thoughts like this. I really need to see a psychologist soon.... only a week away.

Starz Having trouble trusting my own head
  • replies: 5

so a bit of background (short I promise!). Just prior to being diagnosed with depression about 7 weeks ago I felt like the whole world was hurting me. Everyone and everything. I was hiding in my closet because that was the place I could go where only... View more

so a bit of background (short I promise!). Just prior to being diagnosed with depression about 7 weeks ago I felt like the whole world was hurting me. Everyone and everything. I was hiding in my closet because that was the place I could go where only my own thoughts were hurting me. It was so painful just to be me that all I could deal with was me. I was having a lot of issues with my partner because it felt like everything he was doing was mean and hurtful when in reality I was so delicate that anything was hurting me. After starting to take AD's this improved vastly, and for 5 weeks it went well, with one change in medication in there. 2 weeks ago I changed to a 3rd to try to alleviate some side effects. This last week has been a gradual slide back to where I was. But the thing is I didn't realise it until I was way down low again. It is making it hard to trust my own thoughts and reactions as I don't know if what I feel is real hurt or if it is magnified hurt. Does this make any sense? I am so lucky to have an amazingly supportive partner. But I am finding it hard at the moment, he asks how my head is and I honestly don't feel like I even know. I am questioning myself constantly. Dr has increased my dose of the 3rd AD to see if it was just the dose was too low, she tried an initial small dose to see if it would lesson side effects and I am on day 3 of increased dose. How do I ever trust how I feel?

Kozzie Why am I feeling like this
  • replies: 4

So confused ... I dont understand why Im feeling this way, all I know is that i am. Particularly bad today.

So confused ... I dont understand why Im feeling this way, all I know is that i am. Particularly bad today.

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