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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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white knight Grumpy people- a mouse wheel
  • replies: 6

OK, I confess I'm grumpy. I've tried for many years to contain it without some success. So what leads to this? What can partners/family do to tolerate it? What can the grumpy bum do? Grumpy old man syndrome is real. It can come from no longer having ... View more

OK, I confess I'm grumpy. I've tried for many years to contain it without some success. So what leads to this? What can partners/family do to tolerate it? What can the grumpy bum do? Grumpy old man syndrome is real. It can come from no longer having the capacity to tolerate many things life throws at us. This can include- young people, chores, mishaps and things other people have opinions about eg religion, politics and behaviour. This intolerance leads to less ability to make friends especially joining them on adventures or gatherings. A grumpy person can expect others to think like them and that isn't being flexible. Grumpiness can be increased through mentally health issues and medication. Our partners suffer the most. From their perspective it's simple grumpiness and they resort to feeding the mouse wheel to keep your happy momentum going. A life of obligation is a life of fear. Reducing that fear is a grumpy person's obligation. The responsibility is on the grumpy party to take a deep breath, accept that life includes hurdles and when issues happen ask yourself "what is the worse case senario"? If the dog got off the leash and doesn't bite people, the worse case is getting exercise catching it. But if your partner made error and let the dog escape, the worse scenario is to damage your relationship by blame, when that error is one many make including you. So grumpiness can be a form of hypocrisy and asking ones self "do I expect perfection? Isn't error normal"? Is to minimalise your expectations to contain it. Eventually change of mind set/attitude means you'll laugh at events you once lost lost your temper about. It's not only important this transformation from grumpy to laughter, it should be your goal. Last week I slipped on spaghetti, a little my wife dropped and burst into laughter lying on the floor, then more laughter as our small dogs jumped on me (licking me with sauce) then my wife- stacks on the mill! Grumpiness is reducible. Life includes errors, errors prove you are indeed human. TonyWK

jesse6969 Talking to Doctor
  • replies: 2

I don't know what to tell the doc. i was previously seeing someone about my anger issues and relationship issues. Now i dont know how to tell a doc my true feelings do i even tell them basically only seeing him to get a recommended person to see. Bec... View more

I don't know what to tell the doc. i was previously seeing someone about my anger issues and relationship issues. Now i dont know how to tell a doc my true feelings do i even tell them basically only seeing him to get a recommended person to see. Because i think from anyone's outside view of me my life is perfect i have somewhere to live a family a wife who and a son but i just feel alone and worthless and that i shouldn't even try anymore

MelbourneDad Struggling with standard mid life issues?
  • replies: 5

hello I have never reached out to mental health support services before. So this post is my first ever attempt to do so. I have also booked a GP appointment for tomorrow to start the process of getting some professional help. I am not expecting any r... View more

hello I have never reached out to mental health support services before. So this post is my first ever attempt to do so. I have also booked a GP appointment for tomorrow to start the process of getting some professional help. I am not expecting any response to this post. But I need an avenue to just write out how I am feeling, and hence this post. I am 39 years old dad. My wife and I both have white-collar jobs, a hefty mortgage and two lovely kids in school. Over the last few months, I have been feeling depressed for a number of reasons: (a) While I have a good job, I don't know where it is leading me, (b) i feel I have been too focused on job, house work and family life and that I haven't invested any time on myself - whether it be taking a couple of hours off alone, or exercise, or keeping up with friends, (c) i am constantly worried about our financials due to mortgage and kids' school fees; (d) i don't have anyone to talk to (my wife wants to talk to me, but we rarely find time with all the things in our life. And like most men, i haven't invested in maintaining a good friend circle). In recent weeks, i have found myself getting angry at small things - which is adversely affecting my wife and at times my kids. I am ashamed about. What's surprising is that I know what's bothering me - but I still don't do anything about it. I need to: (a) change teams at work in order to work with people who watch my back, or get a different job, (b) I need to invest time in myself - perhaps join a gym or go on small hikes - in order to to just mentally time-out from the daily grind, (c) I need to see a professional to work through my mental health issues, (d) i need to get back into office and stop working from home all the time - as I need social interaction, (e) i need to reconnect with old friends, (f) i need to control my anger. Today I cried after my wife and kids left for their day and i was alone at home. But i have taken an hour out from work to sign up to beyond blue, book a GP appointment. Thanks to anyone who has read any of the above.

Scooteraus Bipolar
  • replies: 10

Today I have been diagnosed with bipolar. im not really sure where to go from here. The doctor gave me some pills but I'm not sure what to do or who to talk to. Do I tell people or keep it to myself?

Today I have been diagnosed with bipolar. im not really sure where to go from here. The doctor gave me some pills but I'm not sure what to do or who to talk to. Do I tell people or keep it to myself?

KyPy Lost-and drifting farther and farther away from who I was
  • replies: 1

Hi, bit of a background on me. I have been living overseas away from home for 7 years now. I came here pursuing education that I loved. However, after finishing my extensive education I feel.....lost. I've had a couple of jobs in the field, including... View more

Hi, bit of a background on me. I have been living overseas away from home for 7 years now. I came here pursuing education that I loved. However, after finishing my extensive education I feel.....lost. I've had a couple of jobs in the field, including one that I got let go from, and nothing feels right anymore. I feel lost...I used to be soo driven as to what to do, now I find myself indecisive as to what comes next, paralyzed at making the wrong decision and uncertain as to what I should pursue or dream for next. Seeing as I'm not finding my field of work as enjoyable as I thought it would be I am worried I just wasted nearly a decade of my life. I want to be happy, but find it harder and harder. My focus has diminished, and I find my thoughts scattered and often eat me alive. I think of a million things I should try or pursue, but never follow through. I feel like I've wasted soo much time. I don't know what to do. Hoping someone can talk to me about this. I'm not one to reach out, I'm usually the person with laser focus, but I find that person is further and further away every day.

Penny_ Spaced out!
  • replies: 2

I've seen 3 different doctors and they all said I am suffering from vertigo, but I'm not too sure about this. I feel really spaced out, dizzy, disconnected (like there is a glass wall in front of me), head fog, my memory and general concentration/foc... View more

I've seen 3 different doctors and they all said I am suffering from vertigo, but I'm not too sure about this. I feel really spaced out, dizzy, disconnected (like there is a glass wall in front of me), head fog, my memory and general concentration/focus is terrible, headaches and fatigue and my emotions feel numb. I've had every test you can think of and it's all normal. Can this be an episode of depression? I had a very bad episode of depression about 6 years ago but this feels different. It's a very weird and uncomfortable feeling.

teaBee Everything feels kind of heavy
  • replies: 14

It’s hard to feel happy anymore. Even when I do something in my head whispers bad thoughts to me. Right now my life is so perfect. It’s honestly the best it’s ever been. I have a loving boyfriend and an amazing job. And in some moments I can see how ... View more

It’s hard to feel happy anymore. Even when I do something in my head whispers bad thoughts to me. Right now my life is so perfect. It’s honestly the best it’s ever been. I have a loving boyfriend and an amazing job. And in some moments I can see how lucky I am. But then it fades and those happy feelings feel so distant. I’ve struggled a lot with urges of self harm, but I’m really good at not acting on it so that’s a positive. But it feels like it’s always sitting there with me, the urges. They feel so heavy. I’m on medication and it helped for a while. I don’t think it’s working anymore. I don’t know what to do with the heaviness and it feels like it’s getting worse.

Jangles_-13 I feel like such a bad person
  • replies: 2

Five years ago I sent some flirty messages on Snapchat to other women and told my partner because I felt so horrible,I told her every detail and she got mad but forgave me and said we could move past it which we did,now five years later I have severe... View more

Five years ago I sent some flirty messages on Snapchat to other women and told my partner because I felt so horrible,I told her every detail and she got mad but forgave me and said we could move past it which we did,now five years later I have severe ocd that’s convincing me the messages will resurface and my partner will leave me even though I have told her,I feel like the worst partner and person ever I have been suffering like this for over a year and can’t seem to forgive myself or enjoy my relationship in fear of losing her any help would be much appreciated

MW68 Life-long depression, coming off long-term high-dose medication ~
  • replies: 3

I am 50 with pretty much a life-long history of chronic depression that went undiagnosed until around the early-'00s when I was prescribed medication. This was boosted to higher dosages over the years. I eventually decreased the dosage myself. Last y... View more

I am 50 with pretty much a life-long history of chronic depression that went undiagnosed until around the early-'00s when I was prescribed medication. This was boosted to higher dosages over the years. I eventually decreased the dosage myself. Last year I knocked it back even lower, then started taking it every alternate day, then every 3rd, then early on this year I stopped completely. I did all this by myself without any medical supervision. So I have been ~6 months or so free of any anti-depressant medication but I am still suffering real bad. Constant suicidal/death thoughts, constant bleak depressive moods, constant stress & anxiety, etc. I feel I am in a heaps worse place than I was when I first started on the damn things. I guess I would like to hear from others in similar situations, who have withdrawn from long-term anti-depressant medication. After 6 months should I still be consumed by this mental turmoil? Is it possible that long-term use of this pill has left me permanently damaged and I should just accept that this is the way I am from here on? The very last thing I want is to go back onto it. If I did that, I would be hating myself. So it's a no-win situation, really. I feel I am without any help whatsoever. I've been through GPs, counsellors, psychs, case workers. Sure, having someone to chat to helps a bit, but this crap isn't going away. I'm trying my hardest to shake this thing but I'm not getting anywhere. On bad days I am house-bound, unable to go to the shops or anything. It's almost like an altered state of consciousness. I guess I am really desperate here, and just reaching out to see if anyone here is in a similar situation. Do I have any legal recourse? I mean, if this medication has actually damaged me somehow, what are my options there?

Malen The costs of being sick is getting too much to bare
  • replies: 1

Along with a number MH issues I have a range of GH issues. On on numerous amounts of medication. I have regular GP visits and specialist appointments for severe chronic pain. I've had 4 procedures this year. Also have seen a Psychiatrist with review ... View more

Along with a number MH issues I have a range of GH issues. On on numerous amounts of medication. I have regular GP visits and specialist appointments for severe chronic pain. I've had 4 procedures this year. Also have seen a Psychiatrist with review to see a Psychologist. Officially I work fulltime, but Im on reduced hours due to ulnar nerve entrapment, though just at the moment im on income protection. When Im working Im off a fair bit for doctors appointments. My pain medication can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 60 days in effectiveness. Im off for specialists a bit either for appointments or procedures, now there will be more specialist with the addition of psychologist and psychiatrist. Procedures take up at least a day, sometimes a day or two for recovery. Of course there is time off for the actual illness, some days the pain was more than I can cope with and be at work as well. So you have time off, which ticks my parents off, they think I take too much time off while not understanding my pain level. Im normally on reduced hours due to Ulnar Nerve Entrapment, Im currently on Income Protection. I had a spinal procedure which fixed one problem and highlighted another, which is more painful than the first. Dad asked when I was going back to work (there is more than just the spinal stuff). I dont know how I am going to handle work with the pain. I dont earn heaps, Im on good money for the hours I do but not the hours to make good money. Somehow I have to afford life and all my medical costs. Medications etc. My parents seem to believe that I should just be able to afford this. They dont get the amount of money all this cost.