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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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Jo3 Just heard sad news
  • replies: 3

I just heard some sad news that my husbands close friend to his mum has passed away. She was sick in hospital for 5 weeks. My husband spent a lot of time with this lady and her family when he was growing up., But it brings a lot of emotion to me at t... View more

I just heard some sad news that my husbands close friend to his mum has passed away. She was sick in hospital for 5 weeks. My husband spent a lot of time with this lady and her family when he was growing up., But it brings a lot of emotion to me at the moment because I'm thinking about her poor husband and 2 adult children and grandchildren. So I'm thinking what about my parents - what if something was to happen to them or one of them? God why am I even thinking like this, I feel so sad, I;m crying. (this is so selfish of me, i should be thinking of that poor family and not me) I'm sorry if this post sounds so wrong Jo

samlamb99 anger and resentment
  • replies: 1

I feel so resentful and jealous of people who have lots of friends and who seem to be out socialising and happy and bubbly, whilst at the moment I don't really have any friends or anyone who thinks I'm fun to be around... I spend so long on facebook ... View more

I feel so resentful and jealous of people who have lots of friends and who seem to be out socialising and happy and bubbly, whilst at the moment I don't really have any friends or anyone who thinks I'm fun to be around... I spend so long on facebook looking at everyone's happy photos and how popular and loved they are and i just compare that to me and feel worse and **** about myself but I don't know how to stop or how to make it better I've had depression my whole life and I am 22 years old and don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I've tried everything

Pete81 Pushed
  • replies: 10

Hi Im a 33 year old fella recently split from my wife and 2 boys all who i cherish. I have suffered from depression as long as I can remember as a kid always had low thought of yself as not good enough. Was always put down and always made work under ... View more

Hi Im a 33 year old fella recently split from my wife and 2 boys all who i cherish. I have suffered from depression as long as I can remember as a kid always had low thought of yself as not good enough. Was always put down and always made work under stupid threats against me and my cattle ( mad over Santa Gertrudis cattle probably the only thng that has got me through many of tough times) . I then got together with a long time school friend and married. My father passed away suddenly at home shortly after our marriage. After that we planned to move home and run the family farm together and bring our two sons up on my family farm making them the 5th generation to grow up in the house we currently live in. Then it all started to fall to bits the farm went to **** and the banks have been putting us under a lot of pressure to move on. I have not coped well since the death of my father we had a bit of a love hate relationship but still i miss him dearly. We decided we needed to expand the farm and borrowed a heap to start a dairy went well for the first 2 months and just couldnt get a start. Also we live in a very petty area and no one like to see people have a go so they start to talk and spread gossip before it has even happened and spread nasty stories just to get off on what they spread and see how far it gets. My wife and I had major troubles dealing with such gossip and i found it increasingly difficult to talk to her or explain things and had to talk to strangers about things going on anything for a vent i even resorted to chat lines to someone to vent to and just to talk to someone non judgmental. During this time I fell ill a lot and relied on my wife to help out more and more and then she felt i was doijng nothing around the place and then started to resent me and our relationship went downhill from there and will never be the same again she has told me on a number of ocassions that she is a wife not a carer like she ahs had to care for me while i have been sick so offen. For the last 20 odd years I have thought I'm not worth the air I breath and wished something would happen that i no longer be a burden to anyone. I still have a plan in place that I will carry out I feel the time is right to end it all. While i was away my wife annouced she was leaving me and just shattered me I was so tempted to just walk off the bridge in brisbane and never be seen or heard from again but I just had to see my boys again and see there smiles and hear there laugh one more time I have come close so many times but just cant follow through . We are now at the stage of auctioning our farm tuesday and moving on. I have been offered a job at Rolleston 7 hours away i love the country and the work but cant be that far from my boys and now my ex tells me she wont be able to bring the kids up that far cause she cant afford such a big trip just for them to see me which just gutted me the longest i spent a way is 3 night and i cry everytime i think of them at night don't think I can manage only seeing them a couple times a year. Just cant do it and basicaly dont wont try and live anymore i just have no fight left in me and it kills me for my boys to see me so weak and not caring. My ex tells me that many of husband has been through the same and doesnt see there kids all the time and i will get over it, but they are the only thing I live for if they were not here i would have been in a pine box long ago. Just feel very lost and afraid im going to end it shortly. My family has never meant so much to me Most if not all my close friends are too busy to try and talk to and I just cant tell them about me spliting because I break down when i try to tell them. So when i move all i will have is a ute and me swag , blue dog and me clothes to start a again. Something I never dreamed of doing and just dont think Im strong enough to do either. Thanks for the vent I'm sure I should have added more but that is the basic story.

Chris D I need to hear encouragement
  • replies: 12

Even though i have been told that i have given some inspirational msgs, i need them said to me please. As i cannot recognise them myself. I feel unappreciated, i feel i put out more than what comes back to me so it makes me feel very flat, very down ... View more

Even though i have been told that i have given some inspirational msgs, i need them said to me please. As i cannot recognise them myself. I feel unappreciated, i feel i put out more than what comes back to me so it makes me feel very flat, very down and lacking energy. I don't know why i bother trying to help people. If people want me to stay on here, be there for them and be there light for them, then i need alot of encouragement as i can't do it on my own. I fee llike i'm dragging a massive pile of boulders up a mountain and they are trying to pull me back down. I need to hear supporting msgs otherwise i can't be strong for people including myself, i can't give inspirational msgs to help others pick themselves up. I wonder sometimes who is going to pick me up when i'm down. I just feel so alone, lost in a dark cold forest. Kind Regards Chris

Suzbj My Beautiful Girls
  • replies: 6

To my beautiful daughter that I raised and my two beautiful daughters I gave up for adoption at birth (twins). I have never ever stopped loving all three of you and you are my world and my wish for happiness and all the best life can offer. I am so s... View more

To my beautiful daughter that I raised and my two beautiful daughters I gave up for adoption at birth (twins). I have never ever stopped loving all three of you and you are my world and my wish for happiness and all the best life can offer. I am so sorry I was not capable of "the white picket fence". I did the best I could and that is all I have. To my twin girls, I am so grateful for the magic life you have had with your parents. To my daughter that I raised, I cannot understand your lies about life with me. But you have your own reasons. I remember how much we laughed and how I always had your back. True. There wasn't much in material goods, but I loved you then and I will love you forever. That is all. Lots of love Suzie xx

metAL TIME TO MAKE THAT FIRST STEP (AGAIN!!!)
  • replies: 3

I have battled on and off with depression and anxiety for over 20 years.... I am currently in a beautiful relationship with a beautiful girl who also has a beautiful daughter (6yo).... but, still inside me something isnt right..... I am struggling to... View more

I have battled on and off with depression and anxiety for over 20 years.... I am currently in a beautiful relationship with a beautiful girl who also has a beautiful daughter (6yo).... but, still inside me something isnt right..... I am struggling to take that first step.... I am thinking of trying the Beyond Blue Web chat this afternoon after work..... is that a good place for me to start???

Jodee49 Why do I feel so alone and sad all the time and yet I'm not?
  • replies: 2

I have a wonderful husband and family, a secure job, no financial worries, a roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep in, an active social life, I take anti depressants and have done since 1996, and yet I feel so insecure and lonely if I'm not socialis... View more

I have a wonderful husband and family, a secure job, no financial worries, a roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep in, an active social life, I take anti depressants and have done since 1996, and yet I feel so insecure and lonely if I'm not socialising every minute of every day. I have a need to be busy - so that I don't overthink things and think depressing thoughts. I am having surgery in three weeks which I have chosen to have to improve my health and have recently gone back onto diabetes medication (type 2) which really upset me as I feel I have let myself down. Why do I beat myself up so much and let myself down time and time again. I'm intelligent, educated, motivated (at times) and yet feel sad and like crying and feel like I have no friends at times.... I've recently (6 mths ago) had my medication reviewed and have been on new meds which seemed to be working well...... Interested in replying to this thread and not already a member of our forums? Join up here. RELATED THREADS Why am I sad when my life is so good? Where do I begin? Prisoner to sadness I feel like it is getting worse every day Living with depression Internal sadness

yesterday I wish i could sum it up, i just can't….
  • replies: 2

Dont know where to start, Dont know where I am at with all of this, Just know, that one way or another this has to end. At some point it will end. When will that be? How will it come about? Will it be violent? Will it be peaceful? Have i smiled my la... View more

Dont know where to start, Dont know where I am at with all of this, Just know, that one way or another this has to end. At some point it will end. When will that be? How will it come about? Will it be violent? Will it be peaceful? Have i smiled my last genuine smile in this lifetime? Why am i even like this? I am physically fit, I am physically healthy, I have a wonderful loving family. What is it that has misfirings occurring almost continuously in my mind. Eleven years i have been on SSRI treatment, treading water, getting nowhere. Going nowhere, endlessly tethered to this sickened mind from which there has been little respite in well over a decade.

MikaelaB Unsure
  • replies: 2

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! My profile picture changed itself to someone I have never seen before, is that normal? How can you tell if you are definitely suffering with depression, as everyone is different because your emotions and feelings a... View more

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! My profile picture changed itself to someone I have never seen before, is that normal? How can you tell if you are definitely suffering with depression, as everyone is different because your emotions and feelings are unique?

Beckmonkey Advice Needed
  • replies: 1

My boyfriend and I were very happy for nearly 3 years together, and bit by bit he started to drift from me. When we talked about it, he admitted that he was depressed and refused to talk about it, dispite my trying to help him through it with my own ... View more

My boyfriend and I were very happy for nearly 3 years together, and bit by bit he started to drift from me. When we talked about it, he admitted that he was depressed and refused to talk about it, dispite my trying to help him through it with my own experiences of depression throughout my teens. We then broke up, because he didnt want to hurt me any more, and hoped that one day when he felt better we could try agian. After this he decided that us not talking or anything else ould be better for me because he wanted me to forget about us. I tried to convince him otherwise on all of this, but when he makes a choice its nearly impossible to change his mind. Fast forward a month and he has started talking to me agian, I asked why and he said he has missed talking to me. I still love him with all my heart, and I understand that he needs someone to talk to, and I am the closet person he has in his life. But, I dont know where this is going, or how to help him through this, and if there is ever a chance of us getting back together. So far he has taken my advice of going back to school and he is working towards his goals. But what now? I am so confused about all of this. Any advice or help that can be offered here would be great.

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