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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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Asqueroso Depression?? Physical or Emotional??
  • replies: 6

I'm brand new at this, just joined this forum out of confusion and fear of not knowing or understanding. As a regularly happy person, I am now trying to understand why I have been unhappy for a number of months now. I am one of those who believe that... View more

I'm brand new at this, just joined this forum out of confusion and fear of not knowing or understanding. As a regularly happy person, I am now trying to understand why I have been unhappy for a number of months now. I am one of those who believe that each individual person can heal themselves with the strength of their own minds. Cure their physical ailments without having to use prescribed drugs and heal their emotional problems by analysing their situation and effecting counter measures. After many years of adopting this way of thinking, I had to succumb to conventional methods and started using prescribed drugs to help me recover from a heart condition, thus putting a huge dent in my once strong personal beliefs. I find myself once again at the crossroads of my beliefs, inasmuch as I am battling with emotional problems which I cannot seem to control. I always thought that depression was purely an emotional issue, that you felt sad due to circumstances brought about by your own thoughts. I am not so sure about that now, thus the reason for this writing. I have always been able to control my emotions by analysing my feelings and understanding the "WHY". That has always worked for me, until now. I know the problems that I am facing, lack of work, limited income coming in and expenses that have to be serviced, uncertainty of future work, income, etc. I know that I am luckier than most men around, I have a wonderful wife who works and supports the household, is caring and totally supportive of me and a beautiful daughter who adores me. I am eating well and we are not starving, I have funds to fall back on, (little as they are), and am still able to meet most of my ongoing debts with the income my wife brings into the household. In short, I know a lot of people that do not have what I have. Yet, I cannot get out of the doldrums. I am now wondering if 'Depression' is in fact an emotional issue or is it in reality a medical or physical condition much like a cold virus or cancer or something that needs to be treated with a chemical drug. I know the problems I am facing and I know there are solutions to them. So why do I feel like this???

Fran_depressed The worst ever My First Ever Post
  • replies: 1

Last year my daughter had a son, left Australia permanently. We couldn't sell our house. Finally gave it away for nothing almost. Then I was ill a lot and on steroids. Then I was made redundant and we moved house in the same week. Didn't hit me befor... View more

Last year my daughter had a son, left Australia permanently. We couldn't sell our house. Finally gave it away for nothing almost. Then I was ill a lot and on steroids. Then I was made redundant and we moved house in the same week. Didn't hit me before Christmas. Now the blackest ever for the longest period. Medication has been increased by my nice kind doctor. Doesn't make any progress, just watch TV and sit at home applying for jobs. Kind husband who's bewildered. Sorry to moan.. so black.

Girl_Anachronism Transient.
  • replies: 7

If someone asked me "How are you?" that would be my honest answer right now. Transient. I feel like I am inbetween one place and the next,except I can't see what that next place is. I'm going somewherebut i don't know where I am going. Is this bad? I... View more

If someone asked me "How are you?" that would be my honest answer right now. Transient. I feel like I am inbetween one place and the next,except I can't see what that next place is. I'm going somewherebut i don't know where I am going. Is this bad? I know I'd prefer to know where I was going, to give me a goal to work towards so I could speed this up. I don't enjoy being in between. It makes me feel like there's no point making a home here, because I am going to be somewhere else and where I am right now isn't permanent. Lately I haven't felt anything. Like in my head I should be feeling something right now, but I can't. I can't feel anything, good or bad. It makes me wonder if there is real emotion there and my head is hiding it from me because it is too painful to feel right now. Like I open up a door and instead of finding answers, I just find a sudden deep black abyss. There should be something there, not a hole. Do I not know the answers? Or is my own head protecting me from them? If my head is protecting itself from them, then how could I trust myself. How can I trust what I think or feel at a given time because it might not be real, it might just be a smokescreen thrown up by a part of my head that thinks it knows better. Can I ever trust even simple things like I do like that movie or I don't like that show. These questions are the wind that blows up from the abyss, dark and cold as I stand there looking at it and feeling nothing. I don't know if this even makes any sense to anyone else. Maybe I am truly losing it right now. I don't even know if I feel bad right now. GA

iamsotired feel friends are tired of me
  • replies: 10

Who do I call when I feel as I do???? I tried last Friday night to call for help to online call.... no new ideas, just best intended suggestions that I had heard and tried before. So, when I feel as I do where do I turn???? For over 10 years I have b... View more

Who do I call when I feel as I do???? I tried last Friday night to call for help to online call.... no new ideas, just best intended suggestions that I had heard and tried before. So, when I feel as I do where do I turn???? For over 10 years I have been calling different friends, but know I feel they are tired of my calls and don't understand why I am not feeling better.... nor do for that matter I feel Flat....................................................................................................................... and do not want to fall below flat any new suggestions or ideas or magic........................ please

Beetle Does BB create a " I am depression' add???
  • replies: 3

HI The " I am anxiety' add hits it on the head. Well done. Now I am hoping that " I am depression' and " I am bipolar will follow. Unless people will see/comprehend how it feels having those illnesses people wont go to the docs. I only went after stu... View more

HI The " I am anxiety' add hits it on the head. Well done. Now I am hoping that " I am depression' and " I am bipolar will follow. Unless people will see/comprehend how it feels having those illnesses people wont go to the docs. I only went after stumbling on BB's website realising that I am sick...... Beetle

Grunt There's no fixing this.
  • replies: 3

Hi All,It was about six months ago now when my "breakdown" occurred. It coincided with the end of a long term relationship with a woman I share I child with. The last 12 months of the relationship I watched her cheat on me with six different men. The... View more

Hi All,It was about six months ago now when my "breakdown" occurred. It coincided with the end of a long term relationship with a woman I share I child with. The last 12 months of the relationship I watched her cheat on me with six different men. The breakdown for me felt like a three day whirlwind spiral to absolute incompetence. A blubbering mess crying non-stop for three days straight struggling to remember what had happened the day before. I went to my Doctor who rushed me into a Psychologist who immediately called in the Mental Health team.I've been to the Doctors, I am on the medication. Talking didn't help me. I'm an educated guy, I have a Degree, when I tell the Psychologist something I can almost predict what she is going to feed back to me. I know the answers, surround yourself in friends and family, take it one day at a time, you've come so far. I'm 28, I've worked full-time and studied a full-time load pretty much through my entire 20s and now have the job I always dreamed of. Except it's exhausting, not the job ... the facade I put on each and every day to make it look like I actually care. The Doctors told me at the time of my "breakdown" that they were: "almost certain it's reactive depression as a result of the relationship breakup, that people with clinical depression are unable to be happy even though they have financial security, good jobs, healthy children etc". I have all of those things... yet ...I'm sure I am preaching to the choir here, it's just exhausting. There's no fixing it.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.

iamsotired writing random thoughts to try and distract myself from thoughts that crowd and demand my attention
  • replies: 7

I'm sitting here in the dark, writing random thoughts to try and distract myself from thoughts that crowd and demand my attention. I have so much I should be doing But I sit here in the dark help

I'm sitting here in the dark, writing random thoughts to try and distract myself from thoughts that crowd and demand my attention. I have so much I should be doing But I sit here in the dark help

iamsotired I feel as if I am the ball in a tennis match
  • replies: 13

I feel as if I am the ball in a tennis match i go from way on the negative to the net or just over and occasionally way to the positive side. But the positive side does not make me feel any better last Friday I was awarded 3rd place in an internation... View more

I feel as if I am the ball in a tennis match i go from way on the negative to the net or just over and occasionally way to the positive side. But the positive side does not make me feel any better last Friday I was awarded 3rd place in an international writing competition. Wow! well my brain tells me that is great, but I just feel nothing, flat.......... i take lots of medication, work hard at alternative activities that SHOULD generate some positive inner response ( cognitive therapy and all nothing seems to work... does anything work? it is all just tiring getting up and moving forward with no real enthusiasm

Mares73 No hope this week
  • replies: 24

Hi all i think I was about to go for my appt to see the Acute Team Pysch when I past wrote. He turned out to be yeRs young & arrogant. I think I was more self aware than he was used to so he tried to criticise the meds I'm on but then saying he can't... View more

Hi all i think I was about to go for my appt to see the Acute Team Pysch when I past wrote. He turned out to be yeRs young & arrogant. I think I was more self aware than he was used to so he tried to criticise the meds I'm on but then saying he can't sdp, change or recommend anything-as long as I went suicidal he was going to ph & refer me bk to my own private pysch. I was supposed to see her last Thursday but I hadn't slept for 41 hours & I couldn't go-I couldn't think straight & I knew I needed to be able to lake things in when I saw her. So now I have appt for mon 10 Feb but cancellations usually come up so I should see her this week. Several people have said just to stop taking the stimulant med as it's been a drastic decline last 2 wks. This wkend meant to be going down coast to stay for my husbands friends wedding. But as I keep telling him I'm not in a state to go to a wedding with no one I know & I'm not even looking forward to going away as home is my safety net comfort zone. My mind & thoughts are scattered, I can't concentrate or remember things. Even my mum is saying I don't talk like me-I'm unclear, finding communication difficult. She is concerned at my mental state as she's never seen me so unwell. She says to just tell my husband I can't go-he can still go, but he'd be so mad at me. I'm just feeling alone & had hoped to have advice/changes by now. But I may try lower dosages of the stimulant because someone like me who is generally always anxious-what benefit for me is there in taking a stimulant. Anxious, down, lost & feeling it's all too overwhelming. Anyway to sum up I feel awful. Exhausted beyond words. So my dear friends I'm wondering how you all are & I carry you in my heart. Lve Mares x

Saddened Overwhelmed, but I barely leave the house.
  • replies: 3

Thank you for opening my post.I'm 20, female and living in SA with my mother. I have depression, severe anxiety and agoraphobia. I've become very numb, not because of my medications but because of my mind. I can feel my body is physically reacting mo... View more

Thank you for opening my post.I'm 20, female and living in SA with my mother. I have depression, severe anxiety and agoraphobia. I've become very numb, not because of my medications but because of my mind. I can feel my body is physically reacting more than ever now and it scares me. I have a wonderful boyfriend but I can't even go on a date with him because I get too scared leading up to leaving the house and if I do leave, the whole time I can't stop looking over my shoulder and looking around and my heart rate goes crazy and I can't think, can't get comfortable, and I don't want anybody to see me or look at me. Today for the first time in 8 months I went out and had coffee at a coffee shop with a good friend of mine, who knew I had these disorders. I tried my hardest to calm myself down and be relaxed and the best I could do was seem stressed, it was awful for me inside myself though, and leading up to knowing I was going to do this was awful. My friend hadn't seen me like this before because I only see her at my house or hers, inside small spaces, a familiar safe area. Once she saw I wasn't my normal self she started treating me different, and got very annoyed that I wasn't my usual self. She wouldn't smile or make conversation with me and it made me feel so guilty and horrible and alone. I tried to explain to her again what having agoraphobia means and she just seemed really put out, I even apologised for my condition to try and make her feel okay and she just laughed. I am very saddened by this experience. When I got home I laid in bed like I always do and thought about hurting myself but I felt so heavy I couldn't move. I fell asleep, like I always do, and then woke up, and lay here, like I always do. If you have read this far, thank you.Yesterday my dad got in contact with me and said he's leaving for england on sunday and won't be back for two years. He's given me an hour to see him on saturday before he leaves. I never see him, I miss him, but he doesn't care about me. Even my mother and my sister tell me this. What if he dies while he's away? Tomorrow is the last few minutes I might ever spend with him. I'm sad.

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