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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 chats on this Forum having 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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white knight Bipolar emotional freeze
  • replies: 5

I've had this since I was 12yo... 55 years. Under trauma or during an argument when you feel like you are being lectured perhaps I completely shut down. If I can get out any words it might be "cant talk now". Bipolar people read emotions whereas othe... View more

I've had this since I was 12yo... 55 years. Under trauma or during an argument when you feel like you are being lectured perhaps I completely shut down. If I can get out any words it might be "cant talk now". Bipolar people read emotions whereas others go by content of their words mostly. We read peoples emotional connection, facial features with the slightest movement. But the bipolar emotional freeze is something I just learned about a few days ago and was unaware it was from bipolar as I have a few other illnesses. What can a partner do when one goes into this state? Well that state is an extremely deep place to be, it is not dissimilar to grief... sometimes I've likened it to shock, frozen for about 20-40 minutes. So why is it an important topic? As I've had these maybe 6 times a year thats over 300 total, I believe it is not a safe condition to be in. Recently at the end of such a state I immediately walked into my clinic and sought help. That resulted in a new mental health plan and assistance. It's what we all should do- without fail, seek help. Conflict is more common between bipolar people due to this method of reading emotional reactions but we are also deeply sensitive, in fact everything we do is "deep". I havent met a shallow bipolar person yet. This means that people without bipolar operate their mind differently to bipolar and its the reason bipolars find conflict hard to avoid, resolve, make sense of and we feel alone developing a desire to become a hermit. In my thread "Want to be a hermit" it depicts several times I went up to the mountains with an unhealthy mind only to return when my mind was more rational. My thinking on the way up was high emotion, rejection, confusion and unhealthy, unsafe... on the way down 5 days later my mind was more rational, I could tolerate human contact and was eager to return to work and save money... total opposites. I'll leave the rest of the analogy to the experts. Hypomania/depression swings/freezing, lots to learn if you or a loved one has bipolar. The only advice I'd give is to remain calm with a bipolar in a "freeze", touch his arm to give him/her comfort and support and after 15 minutes tell them you will make a cuppa. Keep one eye on them if they leave the area... follow at a distance for a while then approach and hug. When in a freeze thats what I'd like. If it gets worse call lifeline on 131114 TonyWK

scaevitas Failure
  • replies: 4

Hello, it’s Scaevitas. I am a medical student and I am halfway through my degree. Unfortunately I marginally failed a component of an assessment (by 0.03) which is needed to progress to the next year. I was struggling with depression and I also have ... View more

Hello, it’s Scaevitas. I am a medical student and I am halfway through my degree. Unfortunately I marginally failed a component of an assessment (by 0.03) which is needed to progress to the next year. I was struggling with depression and I also have around 9 other chronic illnesses. I did not seek help when I needed it most and have not taken responsibility for my own health and academic performance. I am currently repeating the year at medical school, and I have two months until a similar exam. I am an utter failure. I am still coming to terms with having to repeat a year of medical school. This is very stressful as I have to make new friends and do everything again. For the first few weeks of semester, I was struggling with active suicidal ideation and recently, I have had passive suicidal ideation. I often want to escape from reality and I have spent a lot my time indulging in TV and movie streaming services to distract myself from my situation. This however, is not sustainable. Some other context about my life: I come from an extremely academic medical family where failure like this is unheard of. Many times throughout my childhood, my parents have said, “how are you my child” in regards to my intelligence, or, “how did I give birth to such a stupid person.” I have also never been in a situation like this and I have also lost friends because I am repeating the year. The university has also been very condescending, apathetic and unsupportive during this time. I am not sure how I can go on.

Guest_1282 Life is relentless is just hard to get anywhere
  • replies: 6

Yeah just feel like I keep pushing but after all the effort- no one even gets off my back. I dont care for people noticing the effort, thats fine got thick skin enough to deal with that. But the fact people keep making it worse and think they can "ca... View more

Yeah just feel like I keep pushing but after all the effort- no one even gets off my back. I dont care for people noticing the effort, thats fine got thick skin enough to deal with that. But the fact people keep making it worse and think they can "care" by doing that is just an absolute joke. Is just doing my head in and causing me stress everyday. With everything, down to like every thought I have anyway this is half depression. Half difficult emotions sort of discussion but thought Id put it in here anyway

Violet_falls I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel
  • replies: 2

I'm acknowledging that I'm not actually ok and I feel very low and I'm so sad inside. I keep telling everybody I'm fine, I dont want loved ones to worry about me. But pretending I'm fine is not the same as actually being fine I've realised. It's been... View more

I'm acknowledging that I'm not actually ok and I feel very low and I'm so sad inside. I keep telling everybody I'm fine, I dont want loved ones to worry about me. But pretending I'm fine is not the same as actually being fine I've realised. It's been almost 12 months since separation with my husband and I thought I would be feeling better by now as some time has passed and I have tried to get on with things. Life is very difficult now on my own with the kids and I'm still carrying a heavy heart from the end of a marriage, disappointment, grief, stress, worry, sadness, dv trauma from the marriage and some financial hardships now. So I find it difficult alot of the time to want to or be able to do small tasks around the home. I'm not sleeping or eating. I avoid crowds and social settings now. I just want to be alone alot. I also feel like I don't have time to fall apart or sink any lower because I have young children that depend on me and I have to go to work and I have to keep moving and functioning. But I just don't feel ok and im struggling internally. Anxiety has severely heightened for me this week due to an incident involving myself that has caused me mortification and I feel like I'm at absolute rock bottom inside at this point.

PurpleOcean Defining self-worth
  • replies: 8

I can't seem to figure out how to define my self-worth outside of other people or other things. By myself, I keep feeling like I don't have any inherent worth. I constantly feel I need to achieve things, get things done, or be productive or helpful t... View more

I can't seem to figure out how to define my self-worth outside of other people or other things. By myself, I keep feeling like I don't have any inherent worth. I constantly feel I need to achieve things, get things done, or be productive or helpful to other people to be deserving of love or even of life. Objectively, I know this is unhealthy because it makes me lose self-esteem and faith in myself pretty quickly whenever I inevitably trip up or don't excel at something. But for as long as I can remember, this has been how I define myself and understand my worth as a human being. I have never been taught to think about myself in any different way, and I have no idea where to start. I am always terrified of failure because of this, and each time I make a mistake I am extremely hard on myself, even while acknowledging this is unfair and not helpful. In a way, this makes it worse, because now I am hard on myself because I am hard on myself. It's a never-ending cycle that makes me exhausted. I hope someone out there can understand this and let me know I'm not going crazy.

Sunny69 Protracted Withdrawal
  • replies: 1

Hi all, anyone else going through protracted withdrawal? The last 8 months has been tough. First 4 were fine then...bam anxiety & insomnia hit me head on I'm looking for some support & to share what I've tried.

Hi all, anyone else going through protracted withdrawal? The last 8 months has been tough. First 4 were fine then...bam anxiety & insomnia hit me head on I'm looking for some support & to share what I've tried.

protracted44 Partners
  • replies: 2

Hi- i am suffering from long term protracted withdrawal and this comes in waves and up and downs. I have the most loving supportive partner and really can find any support for them. Its great that we are supported but how can i make sure my partner i... View more

Hi- i am suffering from long term protracted withdrawal and this comes in waves and up and downs. I have the most loving supportive partner and really can find any support for them. Its great that we are supported but how can i make sure my partner is getting support so it doesnt get too much for them?

idk_what_to_put_here Why do I hate myself so much
  • replies: 3

you know the scariest thought to me is the fact i have to spend the rest of my life with myself. a person i couldnt hate any more a person i can even look at, talk about, think about and obiously be a part of. I hate everything about me EVERYTHING. a... View more

you know the scariest thought to me is the fact i have to spend the rest of my life with myself. a person i couldnt hate any more a person i can even look at, talk about, think about and obiously be a part of. I hate everything about me EVERYTHING. and i dont know what to do is so exhausting i jsut feel drained and hopeless and im nearing the point i just give up. how can i expect anyone else to love me let alone like me when i cant even like myself when im the one person in the whole world who really should. i just crave the feeling of happiness so much and i can never seem to get there no matter what i do. i jsut want to be normal. i jsut want to accpet myself and be able to live a somewhat decent life its so unfair why i did have to be stuck with myself and with these awful thoughts what did i do to deserve this. ive already wasted so much of my life i dont want to wast anymore. please i need help!

Coby_ Struggling with lack of motivation
  • replies: 5

Hi, over the past few years I have begun to struggle a lot with gaining motivation to do anything regardless of how big or small or taxing the task or activity is. I've started to reach the point where I no longer enjoy doing things I used to go out ... View more

Hi, over the past few years I have begun to struggle a lot with gaining motivation to do anything regardless of how big or small or taxing the task or activity is. I've started to reach the point where I no longer enjoy doing things I used to go out of my way to do, and spent a large chunk of my free time doing. I have goals and aspirations in life but I'm just never able to get up and work towards them or do the things I know I have to to achieve them. I'll occasionally have little bursts where I am up and about and do a few things here and there but that never lasts for long. I'm not sure if this is just a case of me being lazy as I've been told when I've tried to speak about it in the past or if anyone else has experienced it, so I'm not even really sure I'm looking in the right place for help but this is the only place I could think of outside of the people surrounding me. Never really had any issues in the past with mental health before this so maybe its something separate but any help or ideas would be appreciated, I'm really just sick of feeling this way and not seeing any way to escape the loop.

itsbyaxl i am having a big depressive episode and i need help
  • replies: 1

i was diagnosed with depression and anxiety when i was in my early teens and turned 18 just last year. i have been really struggling but recently it’s gotten very bad. i have drifted away from my high school friends so i currently don’t have any frie... View more

i was diagnosed with depression and anxiety when i was in my early teens and turned 18 just last year. i have been really struggling but recently it’s gotten very bad. i have drifted away from my high school friends so i currently don’t have any friends other than my boyfriend who i have been seeing for a few months. I want to be able to talk to someone about how i feel but my parents and i have a struggling relationship so it’s hard for me to talk to them about my feelings and i don’t want to feel like a burden to my boyfriend. i have a therapist but i haven’t been motivated enough to make a session with him and even if i did i already struggle opening up to him.i’ve just been stuck in my room for the past few month’s completely unmotivated to do anything. i’ve also been forgetting to take my meds or just missing them because i’ve been asleep. i occasionally have suicidal thoughts but no intention to act on them. and they pass by quickly. i cry almost daily. i want to talk to somone about this but. i just cant. showing my feelings is so hard for me. i just want to not feel sad anymore. i want to have some sort of goal in life but i’m completely lost