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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: 0

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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Jo999 Anyone claimed TPD for mental health?
  • replies: 2

Hello,I am thinking about claiming Total Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance through my superannuation for my mental health. I left work a few years ago and I am very unwell mentally. I have quite a lot of money there in my superannuation insurance,... View more

Hello,I am thinking about claiming Total Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance through my superannuation for my mental health. I left work a few years ago and I am very unwell mentally. I have quite a lot of money there in my superannuation insurance, but the thought of going through the process with the super funds makes me feel sick. I heard it is a tough process, very long, and insurance funds come after you and make life even more difficult. I have undergone many Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) in the past (due to a workers compensation situation - which was successful in my favour) and the IMEs are really awful. I'm not sure I can go through all that process again, but the money could make a big difference to my life (and to my children too). Has anyone claimed TPD and can you give some information about the process, what was involved and is it worth doing, or does it make your mental health worse?Thank you.

Bini7 Lonely
  • replies: 2

Hello i am 25 year old nursing international student with no family and friends here in Melbourne Australian.I feel really lonely and isolated.

Hello i am 25 year old nursing international student with no family and friends here in Melbourne Australian.I feel really lonely and isolated.

Elsye What is wrong with me?
  • replies: 6

I am a failure at everything. I don’t know how to do life. I’m almost 40, I’m not married, I haven’t even had a boyfriend since 2004. My family are super close with each other but not so much me. They all drop in on each other every day and hang out,... View more

I am a failure at everything. I don’t know how to do life. I’m almost 40, I’m not married, I haven’t even had a boyfriend since 2004. My family are super close with each other but not so much me. They all drop in on each other every day and hang out, but I’m never invited. I’ve brought this stuff up before a few times and they make an effort for a few weeks then just stop again. It’s always me calling them, or visiting them. I actually decided, I’m not going to call first as of New Year’s Day, to see what happened. Well it’s the 9th of Feb and I still haven’t heard from them. I have no friends. My career is going nowhere. In school I got HD’s yet my bosses have never seen my potential even though I always give 200%. Whenever I leave and get a new job the new employer doesn’t see my potential either and offer me a more junior position with less pay so I’m literally going backwards. I’ve been in therapy since my late teens, but my situation hasn’t improved. I just don’t know what to do. I feel as if I’ve missed the boat on the career and a husband and kids, and I’m so lonely and sad that I feel physical pain. Is this really the point of life? Just to trudge through one miserable day at a time? The thing is I’ll never have what I want, it’s now all too late. at best I’ll be a really old mum with no support network and my kids wouldn’t be close with their cousins who’d be years ahead of them in age etc, and I’ll always be junior for my age career wise.there’s this thing women do where they make you feel so inferior if they’re married/have kids and you don’t. So I just spend my whole life feeling inferior. People have taken to saying to my face patronising things like “you’ll find someone someday” when I didn’t ask, or worse, “if you were going to be married and have kids you’d have done it by now”, or my personal favourite, “I’d die if I was still single at your age”. I think I’m a nice person. Im intelligent, I’m driven, I’m caring and generous, I just don’t understand why I can’t find a relationship or even friends, or succeed at work. Who doesn’t have friends?? The only negative is I’m fat which seems to be a dealbreaker for men. I didn’t used to be but 20 years of comfort eating just to get through the night will do that to you I guess. What can I do?

Aree Blue sea
  • replies: 2

I have been feeling very low with anxiety and melancholy. I worry unnecessarily but can't seem to help myself. I have a good life with a loving and supportive family. There is no reason for these feelings but I just feel so flat and self absorbed. I ... View more

I have been feeling very low with anxiety and melancholy. I worry unnecessarily but can't seem to help myself. I have a good life with a loving and supportive family. There is no reason for these feelings but I just feel so flat and self absorbed. I try to live in the moment but do not have the faith to let things go and see where it takes me. I feel useless and self critical. I am irritable and feel unhappy. I try to wake up happy but I force myself to get going even though I feel a dark cloud above me. when I am with friends I feel inadequate mentally and physically. I have spoken to a counsellor and have relied on my husband who has been so patient and supportive but I am at the stage where I believe that no one can really help me. It seems to difficult for someone to really understand how I feel. I just want to feel better and do not understand why I can't. I was taking medication with the guidance of my GP which I reduced as I would like to get off it which the GP supports. I have not felt much better in the time I have used this drug. I guess I don't know what to do or who to talk to. I hope you may have some guidance for me. From Aree

amy85 Want to get out of this hole
  • replies: 2

I’m a Mum of 2 and wife. Ever since New Year’s Day I’ve been in such a funk and these periods come every now and then but this one feels like it’s been going a long time. I don’t feel like my anti depressants are working but it takes so long to wean ... View more

I’m a Mum of 2 and wife. Ever since New Year’s Day I’ve been in such a funk and these periods come every now and then but this one feels like it’s been going a long time. I don’t feel like my anti depressants are working but it takes so long to wean off and start new ones, I have no motivation & get up & go. If it wasn’t for my children, I’m not sure if I’d be here. I can’t find any joy in life. I don’t know how to get better & feel like my husband doesn’t understand, he just tells me to snap out of it. I feel like I’m a shell of a human being just floating through life not actually living

Guest_2223 Bi polar
  • replies: 1

Hi there my name is tash I am mother of 4 boys before I came a parent I was ok with everything that was going on then I had my first baby and I got Depression anxiety everything everything's just felt like it was falling apart it was falling apart th... View more

Hi there my name is tash I am mother of 4 boys before I came a parent I was ok with everything that was going on then I had my first baby and I got Depression anxiety everything everything's just felt like it was falling apart it was falling apart then I had my 2nd baby 2nd and things got worse And then I had my then I had my 3rd and I lost it After losing my baby girl I felt I wasn't a good mum so I went back to my doctor It asked him to put me on medication and then I felt pregnant again then I felt pregnant again and things got really really bad things got really really bad I felt after losing my bag after losing my baby girl I wasn't a good mum a good man and if I bring this baby into this world what will he think of me After a while things started to get back on track I had a lovely fiance Then we decided that we'll try again for another baby in for another baby we've got pregnant we've had the baby I watched all my boys grow upAfter 17 years being together we got married brought house and then I found a friend who need to a house so we gave her our living area but thing are starting to get bad we have fights she tell me what to do and I feel like my bi polar is coming back because it not just fighting with my friend or my family I am now fighting with my sister who been there for me a long time and it hurt when we fight I am getting no help at all

Reventon Does it usually get worse before it gets better?
  • replies: 2

Apologies up front - I tend to be verbose at the best of times and currently my thoughts aren't as focused as usual. I've got some actual questions in this post, but also my brain just wants me to get some of this out. Sorry if it's in the wrong foru... View more

Apologies up front - I tend to be verbose at the best of times and currently my thoughts aren't as focused as usual. I've got some actual questions in this post, but also my brain just wants me to get some of this out. Sorry if it's in the wrong forum too. Some background: I've had depression and anxiety pretty solidly since I was 13, and now I'm 39. I've done various forms of therapy but have never been on medication. It probably would have been worth pushing through my avoidance of SSRIs (and other options) as I made the choice to self-medicate with alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine for a number of years. What can I say, the risk of erectile dysfunction just scares the shit out of me. I've traced back the cause of a lot of my mental health challenges to growing up in a remarkably emotionally unstable household, also to being molested by a priest at 12 years old and not feeling like it was safe or ok for me to talk about this.My dad is an alcoholic from a broken home who tries his best but struggles with emotional conversations. My mother (also an alcoholic, probably anorexic most of her life) has never been officially diagnosed but demonstrates a lot of the behavioral hallmarks of borderline personality disorder with narcissistic tendencies.She was also molested by a family friend as a child, hence why I never felt like it was safe or ok for me to talk. She introduced my abuser to our house and celebrated his birthday with him pretty warmly right before he died. I've always been worried the guilt she felt would drive her from gaslighting us and threatening suicide to actually doing it. Anyway, I guess I recently had a bit of a breakthrough talking about the abuse with my older sister. In some ways that's been good and has me feeling lighter, in others I feel totally lost and adrift. I still feel really guilty about identifying it and asking for help... a lot of people have had it way worse than me. I know that comparing childhood trauma isn't supposed to be a contest, but I still feel awful about asking for help. The apologies in the first sentence were probably a dead giveaway, right? Since the conversation, there's been a pervasive sense of feeling tired, overly emotional, disconnected, and confused. I'm normally sharp and precise in my thoughts and now I'm anything but. This make sense to anyone? Any advice?

rorysmith Feel like a stuff up
  • replies: 3

I'm 21 living in Aus and I can't help to think I'm a failure. I've felt like this since I've graduated high school as I've found it hard to progress through university, but I've always been pretty contempt with that fact. In November I started talkin... View more

I'm 21 living in Aus and I can't help to think I'm a failure. I've felt like this since I've graduated high school as I've found it hard to progress through university, but I've always been pretty contempt with that fact. In November I started talking to a girl and I thought we really clicked, we had met up a bunch of times and we talked everyday for 3 months now. But for some reason I was so insecure I managed to push her away, I'd always ask to see her and ask what she wanted from this and I said I didn't want to waste my time with someone who wasn't ready for a relationship. I think this insecurity stems from the fact that I never really think I've been loved by anyone apart from my mother. A couple of weeks ago this girl told me that she doesn't want to do this anymore and that I f_ked this up, which at the time I couldn't believe but now all I can think of is to blame myself and it's really f_king with my mental health. I hate myself for pushing away one of the best things in my life, and for the past 2 weeks I've been crying myself to sleep every night. I want things to get better but I don't really know how, I haven't been eating properly and I try and sleep all the time so I can get my mind off it but it's driving me crazy. I've been looking online and I've seen antidepressants as an option and I was wondering if anyone thought that could help in my case.

x_terminator2304 I don't know what to do about my mental health
  • replies: 2

I don't know what to do. I am currently undertaking the IB system in year 12. I go to boarding school in a different state from where I live, so I'm pretty isolated from family and out-of-school friends. In year 10 I started seeing a councillor for g... View more

I don't know what to do. I am currently undertaking the IB system in year 12. I go to boarding school in a different state from where I live, so I'm pretty isolated from family and out-of-school friends. In year 10 I started seeing a councillor for generalised anxiety, depression (Dysthymia and Cyclothymia) and OCD. I went on anti-depressants at the end of year 10 but have recently stopped taking it due to side effects. I have struggled with body image my whole life, and the weight gain because of anti-depressants despite doing exercise during the week has actually worsened my depression and struggling self-esteem. My school has recently introduced a new set of rules that requires us to both wake up early and hand our phones in for the entirety of each school day. As someone who also struggles with insomnia, the small amount of sleep I get each night makes me very emotional and exhausted during the day, and it's more difficult to manage now that my communication with my family has been cut off. The stress of year 12 work, combined with all other mental health factors and school situation, has caused my mental health to become the worst it's ever been, and I have multiple mental breakdowns over the course of each day. If I tell my parents they will put me back on anti-depressants, and if I tell anyone at school they will send me home and I don't want to sacrifice my year 12 marks. I also don't want to see a school councillor because missing classes every week will put me very behind in work. I know that year 12 is hard on everyone, but I am mentally struggling to get through each day. Does anyone have any solutions for how to make it all easier?