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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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Guest_28755086 Teen with anxiety and depression
  • replies: 4

Hi i have been really struggling with anxiety and depression i always feel sad but try to act happy because my mum thinks its not real i did get diagnosed but she said that the doctors are wrong. I feel so alone and don't know what to do.

Hi i have been really struggling with anxiety and depression i always feel sad but try to act happy because my mum thinks its not real i did get diagnosed but she said that the doctors are wrong. I feel so alone and don't know what to do.

Neve year 7 stress
  • replies: 2

I think I have deppresionIn year 4 I moved schools and it was great but when I went to high school my mental helth dropt and I started to get freaked out by things like cars passing, getting strest out by simple mistakes or tests and always feeling l... View more

I think I have deppresionIn year 4 I moved schools and it was great but when I went to high school my mental helth dropt and I started to get freaked out by things like cars passing, getting strest out by simple mistakes or tests and always feeling like I have no perpous or everythink is an effort.

Tam100 Broken family
  • replies: 2

I walked into our lounge room to find my husband consoling our 22 year old son who has been arrested for graffiti. My husband did all the talking and said our son feels terrible and is not in a good space mentally. My son also shared that he thinks h... View more

I walked into our lounge room to find my husband consoling our 22 year old son who has been arrested for graffiti. My husband did all the talking and said our son feels terrible and is not in a good space mentally. My son also shared that he thinks he may have Borderline Personality Disorder. On top of that, he has been caught using AI at Uni and is meant to have an interview about it tomorrow but will defer that because he is not in the right head space. I didn’t say much because I was letting it all sink in. My husband kept saying “I’ve told XXX we will support him and help him get legal advice” . My son went to his room before I could say anything. I honestly don’t know how I should respond. He has had mental health problems on and off since he was 15. He uses drugs and he has always been difficult to live with. We have another younger son who hates my eldest and they haven’t spoken for 5 years and we haven’t had any family celebrations together because of this. We also can’t leave them alone together in case they blow up so my husband and I have out our lives on hold for them. Their relationship has brought me to breaking point and now the graffiti thing feels like too much for me to cope with. How do I deal with my son - give him unconditional support? At the moment I don’t feel supportive. I feel I have nothing left but want to do the right thing.

Juno_11 Fighting the depression
  • replies: 4

Hi! I've been experiencing an intense period of depression that gets worsened by PMDD. Essentially what I'm wondering is if anyone has any tips on stopping the fight between my brain and myself (since it's essentially just... me)? I'm autistic, so I'... View more

Hi! I've been experiencing an intense period of depression that gets worsened by PMDD. Essentially what I'm wondering is if anyone has any tips on stopping the fight between my brain and myself (since it's essentially just... me)? I'm autistic, so I'm very much hyperfocused at the moment on finding answers to try and "solve" my depression, but I've already done a lot. I'm on a break from uni, am looking for a new job, and am getting involved in different social activities. But with all of my free time due to the break and no structure, I'm often alone with my thoughts, and get bored to the point of anger. I rely on my closest friends and family, but they're always busy to some extent. I used to be an introvert, and really enjoyed time to myself. Now, it's a burden, and it feels like I can't be alone with my thoughts, or else I'll get upset. I'm extremely restless, tired, and burned out. So, I'm wondering how I can accept what I'm going through, and stop fighting it? It seems like every time I try to accept it, or internalise positive messages, it just goes in one ear and out the other, or makes me more upset.

Casper im severly under motivated and im not sure what to do
  • replies: 2

hey, my name is casper. I was on this form a while ago talking about how im failing classes. I think its happening again, or well, is still happening. im a trans man in an all female catholic school and im in year 10. i have audhd, depression, gad, o... View more

hey, my name is casper. I was on this form a while ago talking about how im failing classes. I think its happening again, or well, is still happening. im a trans man in an all female catholic school and im in year 10. i have audhd, depression, gad, ocd, anemia, and im sure some others. i like to draw and i like anime, and i want to be a voice actor or a 3d animator. i was attempting to do my art assignment today and i was just so unmotivated to do it, and i realised that i havent been able to do any of my assignments, or study for my exams. yes, i have support, but i feel like i cant get anything down without being confused or just giving up entirely. even if its broken down into simple steps, its still hard to follow. i would do it at home, but i barely get any time to myself in my own home, so i like to cherish my free time. i feel like if i tell my parents, they will simply force me to do all the work in one go (thats what they have done before). not to mention my school situation sucks. on top of being transgender, i also like to openly express my interests in school (pins, keychains, etc) and its very important to me. However, being in a all girls school with teenagers ready to judge you without even talking to you... yeah. it sucks. i'm currently trying to change schools to an alterative school so it can support me better, but its a slow process, and i wont be able to transfer till next year. which means another term of work. i just feel like im being selfish and lazy, and im not sure what else to do. nothing seems to motivate me. if anyone can help, that would mean the world to me. thank you.

Guest_10305 Wanting to taper off your antidepressants? Start here
  • replies: 2

I’m seeing a lot of posts on this forum from people who have attempted to taper off their antidepressants only to go through horrible discontinuation syndrome, and/or have to go back on their medication. If you’ve been on an antidepressant for a numb... View more

I’m seeing a lot of posts on this forum from people who have attempted to taper off their antidepressants only to go through horrible discontinuation syndrome, and/or have to go back on their medication. If you’ve been on an antidepressant for a number of years you can’t just taper off over a couple of weeks or months because your brain has now become dependent on that antidepressant and it needs time to learn to function without it. You should be thinking in terms of years. The vast majority of doctors are not aware of this and will tell you to taper off way too fast. If you go too fast, you are very likely to get discontinuation syndrome which is basically hell on earth. You want to try and avoid that at all costs. It is entirely possible to get off antidepressants and stay off them, and it is well worth doing, but you must do it slowly. I have been antidepressant free for nearly 3 years now and my life is better in so many ways, but it is not a quick or easy journey. If you can go into it realising that, and set yourself up for success with a proper tapering protocol, you’ll have an easier time of it. I wish I’d known these forums existed before I started to taper off my antidepressants. I hope this can help others. Please take care of yourselves

Christine-R The wall i built
  • replies: 1

The Wall I Build Weights are pressing, pulling me down,I am drowning, lost where no light is found.Darkness whispers, it seeps through my skin,Not sadness now—something deeper within. I push the world back, it feels safer this way,A wall of stone shi... View more

The Wall I Build Weights are pressing, pulling me down,I am drowning, lost where no light is found.Darkness whispers, it seeps through my skin,Not sadness now—something deeper within. I push the world back, it feels safer this way,A wall of stone shields the night from the day.I tell myself pain won’t reach me again,So I harden my heart, think only of gain. But love in others is salt on my wound,Their laughter feels cruel, their joy ill-tuned.I stand in shadows, brittle and weak,A broken soul the daylight won’t seek.I am tired of pain—always the same. My veins run heavy with, hatred and anger , a venomous thought . I push away love, for safety, for breath,Building strong walls that resemble my death. Yet somewhere inside, a flicker remains,A fragile ember beneath all the chains.Though darkness has worn me, and silence has grown,I dream of a place where I’m not alone.

Keeeks84 Natural antidepressants?
  • replies: 6

Hi Guys,Firstly, let me just say, I've been on and off this forum for years and even though I wish we all didn't have to be here...it's nice to know I'm not alone. Talking on here makes me feel like I can relate to people. I was telling a girl at wor... View more

Hi Guys,Firstly, let me just say, I've been on and off this forum for years and even though I wish we all didn't have to be here...it's nice to know I'm not alone. Talking on here makes me feel like I can relate to people. I was telling a girl at work about the forums and how it's not a 'you'll be fine, give it time' kind of thing. People actually help you.I've been struggling a lot over the last few months. I broke up with my boyfriend who I love and a week later, my Aunty passed away. I am seeing a hypnotherapist who has helped in some ways but I find I have days where I don't want to talk to anyone but at the same time, when I am alone, my brain does not shut up.I was thinking about antidepressants....but I'm hoping for something natural. I've tried St Johns Wort in the past but I don't think it helps me at all.Can anyone recommend anything?Thank you

Toad Life
  • replies: 1

(trigger warning for dugs, self harm, and mentions of suicide) I don't really know what to do with my life, or how to function anymore. I haven't cleaned my room in months (you can't even see the floor) and it's getting harder and harder to keep up w... View more

(trigger warning for dugs, self harm, and mentions of suicide) I don't really know what to do with my life, or how to function anymore. I haven't cleaned my room in months (you can't even see the floor) and it's getting harder and harder to keep up with assignments. My parents divorced a few years ago and my mum started spiralling and became depressed so I went to live with my dad for a few months. I later found out that she was and (I think) is using some type of drugs to cope (some kind that makes you productive?). Now I live half the time with each parent, and my mum is better I think, but our house still stinks from the mess and... I don't really know what's happening in the other area. My dad is OK but very distant and strict. A couple months ago his girlfriend moved in with us and brought her 3 kids, so the house is very cramped with 7 of us (I also have a little sister). My stepsister and younger stepbrother are nice, and I'm particularly close with the girl, but my older stepbrother is a bit, well I don't really know how to put this but a bad person, he has ADHD and I get that's a struggle, but I am autistic and (I think) I'm still a nice person. Our parents (dad+step-mum) started rationing food and he always takes food out of everyone else's boxes, so now we don't have enough to eat lunch at school. And he will have these outbursts in which he threatens to kill everyone, honestly his mum coddles him and he has way less chores and more allowance than the rest of us, but that is what it is. About a year ago I turned to self harm to deal with it all, well actually that's a lie, I don't really know why I do it, but I guess I'm just addicted now, I don't actually want to stop and I think that's what scares me, the only person I can really talk to is my stepsister because I know she wouldn't tell anyone. I've been really depressed lately and just don't have the energy to do anything. I have tried to KMS a couple times when I was younger (we don't talk about year 3) but there's no way I would do something like that again. I'm lacking motivation for school, which really sucks cause I pride myself on my grades. This is mainly just a rant, but if you have any advice on how to have energy I'm all ears!

_A_ Lovers or Flatmates
  • replies: 1

42 year old Male in a relationship rut? Partner of 12 years is present and says she is happy in relationship. But her actions speak differently. Her Physical intimacy - gone. No signs of spark or desireHer desire of (general 1v1 time) are goneI often... View more

42 year old Male in a relationship rut? Partner of 12 years is present and says she is happy in relationship. But her actions speak differently. Her Physical intimacy - gone. No signs of spark or desireHer desire of (general 1v1 time) are goneI often feel with everything (kids, work, homelife) I am last place in her eyes I feel like I give my all Physically and emotionally within the relationship. But no matter how many times I raise my issues (namely the above) I feel like they are ignored Life can be difficult, and issues exhasibated with everything life throws (and 2 x teenage kids) i get that. But am I being naive and is this 'house mate' feeling I've had now for a few years. Really the writing on the walls that I've been trying so hard to push past?