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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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apieceofmeismissing The Wrong Move
  • replies: 8

Hi all,I am new here and have never done this before but here goes. I have suffered from depression since my teen years where I did self harm a few times. I have been a loner all my life and as I got older found it harder to make new friends. My rela... View more

Hi all,I am new here and have never done this before but here goes. I have suffered from depression since my teen years where I did self harm a few times. I have been a loner all my life and as I got older found it harder to make new friends. My relationships were more for companionship as was my failed marriage. I have 3 children (1 which is estranged).I can’t count how many times I have moved since my separation and divorce. I moved to Melbourne 5 years ago to rent with my daughter while she saved for her own home and then after losing my job I decided to retire to Queensland. (I am 66 now). While I was working I saved a little for my future and made the move and this is when everything went to hell. My whole life just fell apart. This was The Wrong Move. Over the past few months I have fallen into a deep depression and its the worst I ever been, I feel lost, alone, worthless, hate myself, I have always made the wrong choices my whole life, I have no money, no life, can’t bring myself to go out besides shopping, I have difficulty making friends as I get anxious and suffer panic attacks. Lost all motivation to do the things I enjoy. I lay on the lounge and just watch tv and fall in and out of sleep. The only resolution to my depression is to move back to Melbourne where I can get to see my beautiful daughter again. Melbourne has more to offer me than where I am currently and I know I will be happiest there. Only problem is now I have no money to make the move and when I do I will have no home to go to. I have thought of share housing but the majority of people are young ones and most likely wouldn’t want an old person as myself living with them. I am looking at emergency housing but not sure how to do this. What do I do? How can I move and have somewhere to go, my daughter can’t take me in as she has no room and I will not place myself in the position of interrupting her life just for my own happiness. She supports my decision but at the same time worries about it. I have just seen my GP in regards to my depression as it’s taking over my life and he has put me on meds and I have to see him again tomorrow to discuss further. He gave me the K10 test to do and I have scored high. So to find my happiness once again I need to save enough money to go back, which will be agonisingly slow as I only receive centrelink payments. Any thoughts or help appreciated? This is not the full story….

troubles Advice needed
  • replies: 1

My son is a 28 year old male who I desperately need to get help for . 7 years ago he lost his best friend to suicide and since then he has left the house half a dozen times and only to go to his grandmothers . He is angry , depressed, sad , resentful... View more

My son is a 28 year old male who I desperately need to get help for . 7 years ago he lost his best friend to suicide and since then he has left the house half a dozen times and only to go to his grandmothers . He is angry , depressed, sad , resentful he is unhealthy and has extremely low self esteem.He sits at home day in day out on the couch obviously he doesn’t work He hasn’t seen his friends for years and years and they gave up on him . He can get aggressive with me and he has put on so much weight due to sitting all day which wouldn’t help his self esteem . He won’t speak to anyone he isolates himself from the world. He hates me and doesn’t want anything to do with me . He doesn’t think he has a problem and just gets angry if getting help is brought up . I don’t know what to do I am so worried for him , he’s such a lovely boy with his whole life ahead of him what can I do ?

asleep-aardvark I feel absent and apathetic
  • replies: 1

Hello I’m really not sure what to do, I feel like most of the time I’m not really alive. I’m going through motions, and detached from everyone and everything. I struggle to find motivation to do anything. Then the small rest of time, I feel like I’m ... View more

Hello I’m really not sure what to do, I feel like most of the time I’m not really alive. I’m going through motions, and detached from everyone and everything. I struggle to find motivation to do anything. Then the small rest of time, I feel like I’m overly invested. My emotions feel overwhelming - usually anxiety or sadness. Something seemingly small can set me off and I’m catastrophising and spiralling. I’ve tried therapy, but it didn’t help because as soon as I leave there’s a window of a few days where I remember about what we discussed. But then it’s like it never happened, it doesn’t occur to me that I can do an exercise or that I should try to do something different. So in the end it was just a huge waste of time. The same with relationships, it’s like I just don’t remember that people exist and I can talk to them. Or with anything really- I get a rush of energy and start something, but it never goes anywhere. I really don’t know what to do, because I’m clearly unhappy but I can’t seem to get any motivation or even remember to change anything. It feels so silly when I write it. A

Fairmaiden64 Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed
  • replies: 1

I am suffering from Perfectionist Procrastination due to burn out from my OCD. I can never meet what I have listed for myself anymore. A week's list turns into a year now. House and garden cleaning up mainly. I feel very angry at myself for doing thi... View more

I am suffering from Perfectionist Procrastination due to burn out from my OCD. I can never meet what I have listed for myself anymore. A week's list turns into a year now. House and garden cleaning up mainly. I feel very angry at myself for doing this everyday but I am so tired of things not going to plan due to lighting, weather, time constraints. Nothing I plan works out. I am always overwhelmed and know the cleaning won't be good enough, so I put it off endlessly. Then my depression and anxiety takes over. I wish I could just clean like other people

Crallop Work/Study Issues?
  • replies: 1

Sort of a rant?I have no idea what to do. I was thinking about copywriting but its pretty much becoming obsolete with AI. I bought a course for it, just for multiple different people to say "not to worry you, but I think that career is pretty much us... View more

Sort of a rant?I have no idea what to do. I was thinking about copywriting but its pretty much becoming obsolete with AI. I bought a course for it, just for multiple different people to say "not to worry you, but I think that career is pretty much useless at the moment". I tried an IT course just to fall down the same paralytic anxiety/depression that I just couldn't go into classes anymore, couldn't do my assignments, even though to me the course itself was easy. Same thing with when I tried a business course in marketing, then later a language course. All things I'm interested in but I just get stuck and I can't even explain it properly to anyone or even myself WHY I just can't do it. Its like everything in me shuts down when I try. Now I'm working in hospitality but I'm in physical pain after every shift, so much that its even difficult to ride home. I just want to work. I just want to do something that keeps me a functioning member of society. Thinking about doing nothing scares me, but trying to find something I can do is making me feel nauseous. I'm applying for admin positions in the hopes I won't be in pain but everyone needs experience or degrees. I feel so completely useless. I'm trying so damn hard but I'm just getting nowhere.Not to mention the relentless draining heat of Summer is back which is destroying the progress I've made over winter.I feel physically and mentally incapable of doing anything. What can I try? What do people like us do?

Loveanimals Compassion Fatigue?
  • replies: 9

For months now I have been supporting my frail Dad. I have also had my son to cope with. Dad had surgery two weeks ago and is doing really well. My son had drug issues but I am confident that after numerous doctors visits and counselling, he has over... View more

For months now I have been supporting my frail Dad. I have also had my son to cope with. Dad had surgery two weeks ago and is doing really well. My son had drug issues but I am confident that after numerous doctors visits and counselling, he has overcome. It has been an incredibly stressful year. I am so grateful that Dad andmy son are doing well. Howeve,r I am so distraught about everything. My friend has to rehome her beloved dog and I can't take him as he hates cats (obviously I have a dear cat). I can't stop crying. I love this dog (as I love all animals, dogs especially). I feel sick thinking he may well end up being put to sleep. I don't know what I can do. I feel totally useless and shattered. I care so much and it is such a hard thing being me.

masterm6 I can’t keep going
  • replies: 4

I’ve been struggling with depression caused by loneliness for half my life, and since I turned 30 it has gotten so much worse. The point where I can’t even get out of bed on the weekend and I just can’t stop thinking of ending it all. last week the p... View more

I’ve been struggling with depression caused by loneliness for half my life, and since I turned 30 it has gotten so much worse. The point where I can’t even get out of bed on the weekend and I just can’t stop thinking of ending it all. last week the people closest in my life decided to cut me out of theirs because they found some rants about my anger and frustrations about certain aspects on the world on reddit. now I feel like I have no one and it’s not a life I think I can live. I can’t sleep, can’t eat, I find no enjoy anything I do on my life. I see a therapist and have tried medication but nothing works. i just don’t know what to do

RedButterflyHearts Venting about being lost and sad
  • replies: 2

Just here to vent my feelings since I don’t think anyone understands me that well that I’m close to. I’ve just come out of a long term relationship. Months pass and out of the blue they thinks we should return to being friends- that I have not grown ... View more

Just here to vent my feelings since I don’t think anyone understands me that well that I’m close to. I’ve just come out of a long term relationship. Months pass and out of the blue they thinks we should return to being friends- that I have not grown or developed in the last few years and kept up with them. They’re older than me and naturally ahead in his life. Turns out theyve been hiding that they were reconsidering our engagement or even wanting me for months- but held it all in until I had met everyone they loves. this triggers my abandonment issues- I never use to have this issue- I’ve come to realise it was a thing post covid lockdown - due to isolation, rejection from others, being put down and being kicked out essentially by people I thought I trusted. it’s been a couple months and I hoped he would come back to me. I’m getting more and more of a sinking feeling he won’t. even though I know my worth and he won’t find anyone better than me. I still want them back But my heart breaks whenever I have to leave them or they doesn’t respond to me. Yet we agreed we would remain best friends. It doesn’t look like this separation even bothers them, yes they’ve been thinking about it for a long time so I guess they’ve done the processing. I shouldn’t tie my worth and happiness to one human. But I don’t think I could ever love, or trust, or be willing to be this raw and open to anyone else. i cry every night. I feel abandoned everyday not by them but by the world. The last few years have been tough and I no longer trust. no, cutting them out is not an option. im at a loss. this is not how I pictured my life to go. Everything was so perfect, more than perfect right up till the split. And now we are here.

RedLotus Girlfriend in a depressive episode and has restricted contact with me but says she still loves me
  • replies: 1

My GF (23) and I (23m) have been dating for a couple of months now. She has diagnosed depression, schizophrenia, bipolar 1, ADHD, PTSD, DID (Not severe) . We live an hour apart, she is on medication and goes to therapy. In other words she actively wo... View more

My GF (23) and I (23m) have been dating for a couple of months now. She has diagnosed depression, schizophrenia, bipolar 1, ADHD, PTSD, DID (Not severe) . We live an hour apart, she is on medication and goes to therapy. In other words she actively works to better herself.She has restricted contacted with me (No messages and calls) and has notified me that this is because of her mental health. She currently feels nothing and does not want to unjustly hurt me (emotionally) as she is very irritable as well.While in this state, she mustered up enough courage to see me after 2 weeks and to tell me what was happening (Prior to this, I had thought she just lost feelings/ distanced herself. She had not let me know what was happening.) She told me she loved me and that if I wanted to leave, I could and she would understand. I chose to stay. She also does not see me as someone to emotionally depend on and she uses her brother for that, who she has been staying with for the last 2 weeks.I'm not here to question my decision. I'm also not looking to 'save' her or any of that (As much as I want to I know its up to her). I want to ask a question about how people in depression perceive their partner while going through depressive episodes.We both have Instagram. I post stories quite frequently. Firstly, if I was to continue posting stories, it would seem as if her mental state doesn't worry me much even though it does greatly. Would it be better to withhold posting for now, or should I continue so it shows I'm still well and normal so she won't have to worry about me. Would she even care at all either way in this state?Another thing im confused about is, when she did meet me today, she was very affectionate and loving, like before her episode. But when I asked her if she would like to stay hang out for the rest of the day, or to plan another day to be together, she declined as if she did not want to see me. So I am assuming she needs space (She still doesn't reply to my messages even after). In this case, what would be the best way to support her? I have already asked her this question, and she says she doesn't know. Those of you who still love your partner, but don't want to see them, what did they do (if anything) to help you from afar. Thanks

randomxx Does the world and life never ending change bring you down ?
  • replies: 2

Hi BB and all.Everything changes soooo much , so often, so fast, especially now it's never ending with technology , and what we're seeing now and have over the last 20yrs in that department alone, hasn't even begun.That one area alone will travel fas... View more

Hi BB and all.Everything changes soooo much , so often, so fast, especially now it's never ending with technology , and what we're seeing now and have over the last 20yrs in that department alone, hasn't even begun.That one area alone will travel faster than light from here on now, and that will get faster too, ea yr it will all get and change faster and faster, especially with AI coming onto the scene. And all the stressors that come with it all. lt's suppose to make life better and easier but it's fact people are more stressed now than ever in history.You buy a computer have it 2 yrs spend half of that getting it doing as it's told and then updates come and you've gotta go through it all again, and again and again. Same with everything. Nothing just shuts up and just works until you need a new one now, the bs with it along the way never ends.Update this you need that this is new now you gotta get this to work it websites change non stop and they ruin them and just make them more complicated every time they touch anything.l've had my phone 7yrs, prob should get a new one it's gonna clap out soon l'd guess but l dread the thought. My new computer just bloody wares me out non stop with all it's rubbish and demands. But there's so much more.Loved ones change and parents pass or get sick. Couples on family or friends that were youngAll the terrible troubles in the world, the heartbreaking destruction and human lives, whole countries. Climate change will move as fast as technology now, they have no bloody idea how fast it will move from here and there's no way the world will be able to completely change fast enough to avoid it. Where l moved to 7yrs ago has completely different weather already to when l got here.That's happening everywhere,most just haven't twigged yet.lce is melting, storms are totally different , rainfalls moved. A beautiful tree you've admired and loved for yrs is gone and there's a housing estate sitting there, on and on and on. And , selfishly in a way l guess too but your happy place changes so much too. Bands you grew up with are getting too old to play any more, if they even are. We lost Bowie , Pink Floyds soul bending guitar and sounds, he won't be able to play for much longer now , even Alice Coopers days are numbered amazing he's even still performing really, Stones - same, thank God Nick Cave at least should be around for awhile yet, we lost inxs, even ACDC have gotten old- l say them at school, now they're old. lt's all too much.rx