Depression in Melbourne

ChrisMelbourne · ‎13-05-2015

Hi all,

my name is Chris I am 25 years old from overseas but I'm living in Melbourne the past 5 years.

i have basically had server depression for over a year, which I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I have totally changed my life around for the better and for the last couple of weeks I have been feeling the best I have felt in the past year. While I still have bouts of depression day to day, I am no where near how bad I was. I would like to meet up and talk with other people that have depression, that our going tru it or that have been try it. I have tried a support group but I didn't find it to helpful and the people there didn't want to open up or talk about it.

i just want people to know that we are not alone, and there is nothing wrong with us, I am looking to help who ever needs it and to Let people know that things will get better. I have been tru the worst year of my life and I did not think that I would ever feel any other way than depressed I tought that this was me for the rest of my life. The reason I am writing on here is because I don't have many friends here in Australia its just me and my girl here, and i got tru this with sheer will power and a fight for life. If I could help anyone out there I would or if u are looking for someone to talk to that knows how your feeing I'm here.

Jacko777 · ‎14-05-2015

Hi ChrisMelbourne,

Thanks so much for posting and welcome to the Beyond Blue forums.

Your story is inspiring and I have no doubt whatsoever that you would be a great supporter to others on this site. Lots of Aussies are experiencing what you have been through and you might just be a crucial link in someone's recovery.

So hang out with us, keep an eye on the posts and reply where you feel you can, no input is wasted. Good on you for getting involved and having the strength to give back to others.

Jacko

ChrisMelbourne · ‎14-05-2015

Thank you Jacko,

i will always try and help others and make them see that there is light at the end of the long tunnel, like I stated before I never tought I would even smile again and here I am finally getting back to my old self, the person I was before this disease took over my life for a whole year!

Anybody out there reading this, reach out to me and I will be there for you just to help and to speak to someone who knows how you are feeling. I went to 8 different gps, I went to a naturopath for 3 months, I went to speak to a physiologist, I went to the ER, I never gave up on my life I done absolutely everything I could to make my self better and heal my sole, the doctors were telling me that they were fed up with me calling them every day but I didn't care, it's my life at the end of the day, here I am now only feeing better the past couple of weeks and I now feel very strongly that mental health is not discussed and treated enough in Australia. Please reach out it u need some help

Jacko777 · ‎14-05-2015

Good on you mate.

It's a great message...NEVER GIVE UP! It's never too late.

The more steps we take, the closer we get to peace and happiness.

You are right, mental health is not talked about enough and that is why Beyond Blue and this site is so important, people are safe here to talk about everything. A lot of people come on to this site and only read, they don't post, so maybe you could make some more posts about your journey that will inspire others. It is great to see your passion for mental health and your care for others.

Jacko

Neil_1 · ‎14-05-2015

Hi there Chris

Like Jacko, I would like to wish you a warm welcome to Beyond Blue.

Oh man, that is a great story you’ve posted and it’s very pleasing to hear not only of your battle, but that you have come out on top but stemming from that, that you’d like to put ‘back into the community’ your support. And that is going to be so welcomed by all of us.

As Jacko mentioned, just hang around here on the different sites and check out different posters with the battles that they face – and from that, you’ll be able to pick out ones that you feel relate to you or that you have had experience with, and if you feel ok to do so, then yes, post a response back to them. It will be so valuable to have you on here – someone who has lived through the battle and has come out on top.

You may be able to bring along different options that you have used, etc to get to where you are now.

Just one other thing – you say it’s just you and your girl here, pretty much on your own. I guess this is something we can try to help you back with – in regard to hopefully getting you linked into groups or organisations where you can meet up with other folk. So being 25, not sure of your interests, etc, but if you can work through which ones you have, you never know what places there may be where you could possibly go to join up? I hope that kind of made sense.

Neil

ChrisMelbourne · ‎14-05-2015

Hi mate,

yes it's just me and my girl here were both from Ireland but came here together for a better life 5 years ago, then all of a sudden out of no where I was struck with severe depression for the past year, while my girl has been my rock it was also a really bad year for her to have to watch me go tru depression. When I was at the lowest point of my sickness I did find one place very helpful, I called a lot of support/ help lines and one that took me in to talk with them every day was the crisis team at the alfread hospital, when I called they said I will need a referral from a gp but at that stage I hadn't found a good gp here that knew enough about what I was going tru, so the lady on the phone took a liking to me and told me to come see her, I went to the hospital every day for 2 months just to talk with them and I have to say they helped me. There was days I couldn't even dress my self to go to the hospital but from sheer Will power and determanation I pushed foward and still went every day. With being a man, when I first got sick I felt embarrased with having depression but my ego went out the window and I did not care because I just wanted to get better for the sake of my family and my girl. A lot of doctors were just telling me to go home to my own country but I did not want to do that I wanted to get better here as this is where I have had my happiest moments and also my lowest moments. I live in Melbourne City I went to 2 different support groups but didn't get much back from them as people there were very sick and did not want to talk so I was the only one sharing my story the couple of times I went and I felt like a fish out of water. I now want to give back to anyone who needs help, because I know what it like to feel so low that all u want to do is give up, I'm so glad that I didnt I'm so glad that I fought this for a hole year and I finally feel like I'm winning this fight, I'm not 100% there yet but I know I will be. I want people to know that they are not alone, it was different for me with being from over seas I did not have anyone to talk to apart from the crisis team, so I now feel like it's my duty to help others and give back. I can tell people different copein methods that I have used for the past year, also diet and exercise plays a major role. If anyone is reading this I will talk with you and help u tru what ever you are going tru and I might not be a professional but I have been there and I know how it feels.

good day

Neil_1 · ‎15-05-2015

Hi there Chris

Thanx again for your latest response.

You’ve described so much and it really shows out what a determined and full of fight young man you are – and I’m assuming that you’re a young man. 🙂

Ps: just gotta add, that my most favourite accent in the world is the Irish accent – so it’s kind of a bit disappointing that I cannot hear you via this method – I’ll survive I’m sure. Hmmm, maybe the lady from the hospital has the same thoughts on the accent as well, which is why she may have fast-tracked you and took you under her wing; perhaps? Damn lovely of her to do that anyway.

I’ve also gotta say that that would have taken a huge effort (well personally speaking) to go to support groups to open up and talk – and I can kind of understand to a degree why others there didn’t open up much. But it’s all a bit confusing though – cause if you consider yourself going along to a support group, surely one of the aspects of it, would be TO open up and talk about what you experience, so makes me wonder why the others who were there, weren’t into sharing?

May I ask if you work or volunteer or anything like that?

You also mentioned about keeping fit or exercise – which is a huge thing I believe that can help an individual better cope with their illness – I gym it 5 days a week and am now into cycling as well. What exercise kinds of things do you get out and do and enjoy?

This is where I’m angling for the possibility of meeting up with ‘other people’ who do those kinds of activities – and you never know, what friendships or at least acquaintances could be formed from doing that.

So with the work side of things or exercising/sports activities, there’s always chances of meeting up with other people – as you mentioned that it’s just you and your girl here.

I’ve also gotta ask, being from Ireland, are you into Gaelic footy at all? And stemming from that, being in Melbourne for 5 years, have you been lured into the awesomeness that is AFL football?

Kind regards

Neil

ChrisMelbourne · ‎15-05-2015

Yes people seem to love the Irish accent, that's the ones that can understand me propley lol, I'm a full time tradie and I do solid plastering. I have today just called some places to offer support to people and to help people because I know that when I was very sick I did not have much people to reach out to or talk to. I am willing to try and help anyone that is suffering. I don't think mental health is spoke about enough wich is such a shame. I do understand it's hard for people to open up and talk but I also think it is harder to suffer in silence. Unfortunately depression runs in my family and my father comited suicde due to his illness wich made me even more determined to beat this. I work out every night I do cardio and some weight lifting, I also swim a lot and go for runs on the beach, I found acupuncture helps aswell and I totally flipped my diet around to gluten free and mostly green. It is a combination of all these things along with medication that helped me. We only have one life and it should be filled with happiness and peace. I was so sick the past year that I found even the most simplest things unbearable, but I pulled tru and want people to know that they can to. I also tried mindfulness but that wasn't so easy, I also went to the library and got every single book on depression and anxiety and I red them cover to cover.

Jacko777 · ‎15-05-2015

'I pulled through and want people to know that they can too'

There ChrisMelbourne you have a focused passion that will last you a lifetime, it is all yours and nothing can touch it. Your offers of support are tremendous, your service will be highly regarded by others and by your self.

Jack

ChrisMelbourne · ‎15-05-2015

Thank you jacko,

i am checking this forum every couple of hours when I get a chance & to let people know that they are not alone in this battle.

i hope people reach out to me so I can help them In some way!