Help! I don't know where to turn

[Oceanlover]

I live in a very remote town in WA. I've never reached out for help with my mental health but this time I just can't seem to get out of the black hole on my own. I have a beautiful life with a loving husband but inside me is a black hole that sucks all the positivity out of me. I can usually bring myself through but it's bern getting worse this year.

I can't find happiness, contentment, I'm worrying about small things, my confidence is slipping away, I'm becoming anti social, my motivation in work is zero, my brain feels all fuzzy and all i want to do is sleep or watch mind numbing tv shows. I must be a complete misery to live with for my poor husband and I just want to feel normal again.

I just don't know where to start with getting help in Australia and my remote town. I've worked in mental health services in the uk so I know where to look online but i feel I'm past self help. Can anyone recommend a service that provides video chat or something?

[BballJ]

Hi Oceanlover,

Firstly, welcome to the forums, well done for reaching out.

I can understand everything you are saying and how hard it all must be especially being in a remote town in W.A... Have you spoken to the Beyond Blue helpline, they can generally direct you to the best place for help given your location I imagine? I am unaware of video chat places but I am sure someone will have more info on that hopefully.

Have you even spoken to a local GP and see what services are on offer if any around your town or in a nearby town?

My best for you,

Jay

[geoff]

dear Oceanlover, I know how awful this feeling is when nothing seems to excite you, with all those that have given you happiness before, now won't even bring a smile to your face, it's terrible and I certainly feel for you, especially if you were someone that always loves this time of the year.
No one will be able to pull themselves out of any type of depression, although they believe they can feel better by overcoming their problems, and yes that can be true, but what it does for you is to only eliminate those surface problems, but it's those deep down problems which you may know of, but likely that they are something you don't know about which are the root of your problems.
I'm sure that your husband certainly worries about you, but he may not know what to do to help you, that's not his fault, because you're in the same position, and grabbing at straws about what to do.
There could be psychologists who will talk with you by email, that's OK, but it really needs to be face to face, because when you write a question or answer to the psych they won't be able to visualise how you react, or there maybe real concerns that you don't want to tell them ,but if you're there face to face, you could well and truly start to cry, but otherwise these are hidden.
Can you tell us how far away you are from a major town, because this is an urgent post that we want to stay in touch with you, so please don't leave the site, and look forward to a reply. Geoff. x

[White_Rose]

Hello Oceanlover

Thank you for writing in and welcome to Beyond Blue. People who live in remote areas have a rough time managing mental illness. It's very hard without even one mental health expert nearby. Jay has suggested contacting Beyond Blue, phone 1300 22 4636, available 24/7, which is a good start.

As Geoff has said, face to face counselling is the ideal situation but when this is not available we need to find another avenue of support.There are online courses and these may help you. Do you have a GP? That's the first step. Are you near enough to a larger town to make regular trips to talk to someone? I am wondering if you are close enough to travel say once a month to talk to someone, and have an email conversation for the rest of the month.

I will list a number of options that may be helpful but really the best start is to talk to your GP. He/she will know what is available locally, if indeed there is a mental health professional. Talking on this forum is good. We cannot offer counselling here but we can talk about our own experiences and strategies, which may help you to develop strategies. And we will give lots of support.

Beyond Blue has a chat line, see bottom of this page, which means you can chat in real time. This is one option.

SANE Australia, www.sane.org You get help via their phone line. I gather this is a similar set up to BB. Trustworthy information and a forum.

Suicide Call Back Service offer counselling via phone, video link and online. www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au I'm not sure if they offer these services to people in general or only to those at risk of suicide or who have lost someone through suicide. It's worth a try as their counsellors are good.

Mindspot also offers online counselling. www.mindspot.org.au Several people who write in here have found Mindspot very helpful.

Other organisations offer low or no cost counselling are Relationships Australia, Anglicare, Salvation Army, Lifeline. It's asking your GP about these as they seem to pop up in the most unlikely places, with the added bonus of reduced costs.

Browse this web site and send for the information you think will be most helpful. This is free, or you can download it to your computer.

Sorry I do not have more concrete help at the moment. Please talk to your doctor soon. You may find taking an antidepressant will help you with the worst aspects of your depression. Write in again and tell us what you have found available and we can talk some more.

Mary

[Kazzl]

Hi Oceanlover, you've had some good suggestions there to which I'll just add that the WA Mental Health Commission's website has some links to resources for people in remote areas, including an after hours telephone counselling service called Rural Link. Worth a try.

Very best wishes to you

Kaz

[Doolhof]

Hi Oceanlover,

I too welcome you to the community here at Beyond Blue. You have already received some wonderful replies.

I would just like to add that there are many sections to this forum You might like to have a look at the Social Zone section and join in with some of the casual chats that go on there.

There are topics from music to pets, hobbies to different games. This site has a large amount of information attached as well as others have mentioned.

For me, I find it beneficial to share how I am feeling and to ask for help when needed. The great thing is that you can connect to the forum anytime.

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

Oh yer, I love the ocean as well but it takes me 1 1/2 hours to get there!

[Oceanlover]

Thank you all so much for your replys. what a great forum this is! I don't have a GP but we do have a visiting Dr a few times a month. I haven't quite plucked up the courage to visit the Dr yet. My next step is to look at some of the links suggested and possibly look for a counselor that offers skype sessions.

Thank you all again. i will keep you posted

[Doolhof]

Hi Oceanlover,

My parents have to travel 60 kilometres to see a Dr. Sounds like you might have further than that to travel.

If you don't mind me asking, are you close to the beach or do yo just love the sea?

Have a look in your local council region, they may have a mental health support group as well. It is amazing what information you can gather from councils and phone books.

All the best to you!

Cheers for now from Mrs. D