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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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Elephant86 Buddahs path to enligtenment
  • replies: 3

I personally have been on this journey of buddism learning and understanding the concept and using it in my own life. I wanted to share some books that Ive read that has put me on this journey of personal and peacful discovery. I feel that the experi... View more

I personally have been on this journey of buddism learning and understanding the concept and using it in my own life. I wanted to share some books that Ive read that has put me on this journey of personal and peacful discovery. I feel that the experiences I have had with my mental health and in my life has led me to learn about each of the concepts in buddism. When I learnt about compassion I was volenteering in a soup kitchen serving coffee and meals to the underprivaleged. I feel I have also experienced compassion for others while doing my job at beyond blue. All of us at some point in our lives come across these concepts and they enter our lives in both a positive and sometimes a negative way. I would love to hear your story if you wish to share? My search for peace and acceptance of my condition took a long time and I still have to face the difficulties still. I want to give everyone on the platform hope that they can overcome there health issues like I have even though I know it is a different path for everyone. I learnt about compassion from my parents. There was a story of how when anyone would come to our house there is always is a warm beautiful meal for everyone no matter who you are. My mum and I love to cook curry and feed the family that is a beautiful form of compassion and love for everyone. One christmas we had 40 people at our place and I had to buy the biggest turkey I could find . We were making lasanga 10pm on enight. I did not mind because I was helpig my parents at christmas. I beleive compassion is love for community The way that the concept of acceptance entered my life was a bit unorthadox. I had had my bipolar episode and I was stuck at hme for a month reading books and waiting to get better from. I had to go on a journey of acceptance and forgivness for the struggles I was going through. At times with mental health and other health issues it is very hard to accept and come to peace and forgivness for your situation. We must realise we are not alone in our struggles with our health we all have the support of our family and friends. The second time I had to learn acceptance was when I was told I could acheive my car licence due to my epilepsy and I know there are many epileptics who struggle through a similar fait. I have grand Mal epilepsy with are earth shaking seizures and it doesn't happen as often anymore but I had to come to acceptance and forgivness of my condition and make peace with my health condition

Debedee86 So lost, sentimental and almost beyond blue
  • replies: 3

Just want some kind messages of hope, been struggling for years on my own after bad experiences with antidepressants years ago, partner has no time for me,have no friends, need some hope

Just want some kind messages of hope, been struggling for years on my own after bad experiences with antidepressants years ago, partner has no time for me,have no friends, need some hope

Joe_the_Innocent27 My life is Rock Bottom Suffering
  • replies: 1

About a decade ago I was destructive and suicidal because I had a deep infatuated lust for this girl that passed away and I also didn't believe in obtaining independence or future direction and financial security or finding relationship's, I could re... View more

About a decade ago I was destructive and suicidal because I had a deep infatuated lust for this girl that passed away and I also didn't believe in obtaining independence or future direction and financial security or finding relationship's, I could relate to this girl because the prior six years I was suffering and bullied during high school Fast forward I was wrongly diagnosed with Schizophrenia because of my prior decade suicidal behavior and I have been enforced on medication for the last eleven years, I ended up having a cholecystectomy and becoming a pre diabetic too as a brutal consequence of taking forced pharmaceuticals I get abused where I am emotionally, socially and psychologically disliking my father and my mother never wants to acknowledge the truth about him, It gets worse because if I forget to take my tablet despite not needing them my mother blames my feelings and she exaggerates my symptoms and conditions as adjugated and she gets all psychological that I am this way because I'm not taking my un needed medication I feel my sanity and free will is beneath the abuse of egotistical, un sympathetic doctors that don't have humility and a chance to be wrong about my tragic diagnosis. I'm also financially dependent on my father who I hate and have no work direction or work history at 28, I thought about becoming a dietician until I realized it's too challenging, Most entry job's are retail or factory misery and I wanted a good future, I can't afford to leave my parents but I want my own life and agenda tired of being beneath the wing and shadow of my toxic father It's my word against these societal respected doctors, I am the victim consistently suffering beneath un wanted and un needed pharmaceuticals and having my parents exaggerate my condition, I don't have Schizophrenia and can't improve my life either

raspberryropes Feeling empty and lonely - what can I do?
  • replies: 5

How do people deal with crippling lonliness and emptiness? Everyday I am reminded by the lack of social networks I have and feel it getting worse as I get older. Work is my only social outlet but it is extremely superficial. I am also in management s... View more

How do people deal with crippling lonliness and emptiness? Everyday I am reminded by the lack of social networks I have and feel it getting worse as I get older. Work is my only social outlet but it is extremely superficial. I am also in management so there are additional boundaries around the nature of relationships at work. Saying this, I function incredibly well at work - work is not personal, I have an excellent work ethic and it allows me to be focused. Beyond work though, I am a mess and I feel nothing but emptiness. I have no family or friends. I was abandoned by various friends years ago whilst I was in abusive relationship and I never recovered from that. My family is also complicated and abusive so I've had to put up boundaries to protect myself and have no contact now. I am married but my husband has become tired of my depression and doesnt want to know me unless I have a smile on my face. I feel like I cant leave him because I will literally have no one. I have tried to make friends but I find it draining and requires so much emotional investment that I just dont have. I often leave these interactions in tears and need to sleep for hours just to recover. I have tried to seek help before but its been unhelpful. Most psychologists have said it must be very lonely being you but not said what I can really do about it. They've only just listened and validated. At this point I feel like I have effectively given up.

Joe_the_Innocent27 Plain misery
  • replies: 87

I have had a rough 12 years I was bullied in high school by about 8 people, from the ages of 12 - 18 I have been mis diagnosed with originally psychosis and than schizophrenia, and I was told to be kept on anti psychotic medications for life, for whe... View more

I have had a rough 12 years I was bullied in high school by about 8 people, from the ages of 12 - 18 I have been mis diagnosed with originally psychosis and than schizophrenia, and I was told to be kept on anti psychotic medications for life, for when I don't even have schizophrenia, I have contracted pre diabetes from past medications My mother is horrible 1) She treats me as a mental disability or retarded 2) She can't be disagreed with 3) She doesn't encourage my driving, despite having a license 4) She doesn't believe in the need for me to work occupations 5) She tells you to handle the world, when your confident and brave with your beliefs. She rejects you to face your problems, because you either have to be a beta cuck for her, or she abandons your support My father 1) His selfish and entitled 2) His arrogant and ignorant 3) His in communicative and absent 4) His controlling and wanting peace I am in a continuous cycle of a quarter life existential crisis. At the age of 27 I haven't had a entry job, or plan interest for further study, I am not a University academia or TAFE interested, I have to get a injection of 50 mg anti psychotic drug for no schizophrenia per month, I live with pre diabetes, my parents are unsupportive, and my brother is different than me I don't have the ability to handle the independence of living alone either, and don't want to be with strangers, or anyone besides a partner or my own competence

KNTK2022 Where to next?
  • replies: 6

My wife and I are parents of a 20yr old who is suffering from debilitating depression. It manifests in extreme fatigue, which results in 10hrs + of sleep every day. This means he misses out on the most active part of the day. He also suffers from som... View more

My wife and I are parents of a 20yr old who is suffering from debilitating depression. It manifests in extreme fatigue, which results in 10hrs + of sleep every day. This means he misses out on the most active part of the day. He also suffers from some anxiety which manifests in a reluctance to go out. He is actually quite physically strong, and fit as he is a CrossFit athlete. But good days when he might be able to do a workout and also work as a CrossFit trainer are rare. It's a daily struggle. He's started a course of medication that I have been led to understand is about artificially tweaking hormonal balances. I don't know the specifics. He hasn't shared the details and is reluctant to do so. We've tried GPs, and we've tried headspace. We've run up against a wall. We can't see much progress and for now, the medication is not having an impact. It might actually be that his situation has worsened since starting the medication. There's obviously more to this. But for now I'm hoping someone out there has had a similar experience to ours, and that they might be able to offer some tips about who we can see for help? We're on regional Queensland so our options locally may be somewhat limited. Or perhaps we have options but I just don't know what I should be looking for? My son desperately wants this to end. I can see the frustration, and then the resulting sadness when he realises its groundhog day again.

allyally school makes me sad
  • replies: 2

I am in year 12 and I feel so hopeless every time I have to do work. I feel so drained and I have no energy left for school. Maybe I am just lazy but I really feel depressed and suicidal when I have to do work. I don't want to do it, I want to feel o... View more

I am in year 12 and I feel so hopeless every time I have to do work. I feel so drained and I have no energy left for school. Maybe I am just lazy but I really feel depressed and suicidal when I have to do work. I don't want to do it, I want to feel okay. I leave all my work to the last minute and my teachers made me feel bad for not doing work in the holidays and I just can't take it anymore. Someone please help me.

Broodie-moody Angry and Tired
  • replies: 2

All the time I feel so angry and so tired. I’m angry because I’ve had so much therapy, tried so many meds yet I can’t seem to keep my house clean consistently, brush my teeth twice a day, shower every day or have any sort of productive routine. I wan... View more

All the time I feel so angry and so tired. I’m angry because I’ve had so much therapy, tried so many meds yet I can’t seem to keep my house clean consistently, brush my teeth twice a day, shower every day or have any sort of productive routine. I want to exercise and lose weight and feel better but all I seem to do is fall on the couch and watch shows to numb myself. I’m so exhausted all the time. Yesterday I got so angry because I had to go meet someone but I wasn’t up to travelling that I wanted to bash my head against the wall and scream and kick and punch things. I didn’t but keeping it all contained was difficult, so I just cried and tried to breathe. I’m so overwhelmed, I just started a new job and there are quite a few things going on in my life but I feel so hugely inadequate and so lonely. I find it so difficult to have friends so I have isolated myself and only have family and one or two friends I see infrequently. I know that I have to have less going on in my life, that I can’t deal with as much as other people might be able to because of my chronic depression. But society doesn’t care. And I still want to achieve something in my life, and make my life better. I just wanted to share somewhere where I could be understood. But I’m angry that I’m tired and I’m tired of feeling angry and sad. I’m reluctant to go back to therapy because the last session I had with a (expensive) psychiatrist didn’t go particularly well.

ConSamuel ConSamuel
  • replies: 5

Hi, I’m Con. Times are tough right now. I moved to NSW from Adelaide to be closer to mum who has dementia. Imreally struggling because I only have acquaintances here and no real friends yet. I'm very prone to bouts of anxiety and depression. My siste... View more

Hi, I’m Con. Times are tough right now. I moved to NSW from Adelaide to be closer to mum who has dementia. Imreally struggling because I only have acquaintances here and no real friends yet. I'm very prone to bouts of anxiety and depression. My sisters live 4-6 hours north and south and don’t have much to do with mum and me, so I reached out to Beyond Blue. My counsellor was a great help today at BB and I decided to get onto this forum. I need friends and support even just someone to swap notes and debrief with. So many feelings going through my mind with little support and I feel stuck.blessings,Con

white knight Do you feel valued? Roll your snowball
  • replies: 5

Ever been in awe of some people as they display ultimate confidence? I do, especially those that can stand on a stage and give a speech about their experiences. Jordan Peterson a professor and Maharaji Prem Rawat are two that come to mind. I've often... View more

Ever been in awe of some people as they display ultimate confidence? I do, especially those that can stand on a stage and give a speech about their experiences. Jordan Peterson a professor and Maharaji Prem Rawat are two that come to mind. I've often wondered what the secret is and how someone on the other end of the scale cant reach those heights. What is that secret? because it certainly isnt advertised, it's like one either has it or doesnt have it.. Well I think I now know why.To achieve that confidence isnt usually a development in the womb, no, its more likely three things- being raised in a manner that allows them to be confident, IQ level that allows them the capacity to think efficiently (genetics) and expertise in field/s. Their development becomes a snowball as they begin to receive praise from their friends, peers and teachers resulting in excellent marks in school But there is one thing left they have, all of these people have self value. All of the above areas of assistance has, during that snowballing development made it easier for them to value their abilities. Constant taps on the back "you did well" and "the sky is the limit" is not given to a child with low grades or if given is hasnt been given often enough. Imagine a 10yo child getting low grades all the time, it would be unusual for a parent to praise them for basically failing a grade. "You did well Johnny even though you failed and have to do year 5 again"... just doesnt happen. So that "snowball" stops. I'm not blaming parents or teachers, I'm seeking the remedy as an adult that hasnt developed confidence for what ever reason and the best avenue of self treatment to get it. So, confidence imo can best be achieved with self praise. Yes, it would be ideal to ask for others to give you praise, compliments but then you are reliant for them to supply that and that is not dependable. When you finish any task mumble to yourself any positive comment. "you did ok today by servicing the car" but adding to that avoid saying "you didnt rotate the tyres, idiot". Instead "I'll rotate the tyres when I get an opportunity". When done often enough it can transform your self esteem The final method of raising confidence is actually your defence mechanism. Our loved ones and friends can be the big tree that stops the snowball from gathering speed. Take action if you have a tree in your path. Distance/avoidance could be the answer or warnings. You are entitled to be the biggest snowball you can be.TonyWK