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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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jenny059 Lost and alone at 60
  • replies: 1

Hi new hereim divorced and renting I’m 60i have no means to get my own home I don’t have anything after divorce and very little superannuation my ex now has an inheritance and living very well my son just built a beautiful home with his wife and kids... View more

Hi new hereim divorced and renting I’m 60i have no means to get my own home I don’t have anything after divorce and very little superannuation my ex now has an inheritance and living very well my son just built a beautiful home with his wife and kids I’m happy for himmy brother just bought a brand new home around the corner from him financially very stableIt breaks my heart I’m in this position after losing the family home and only having my last pay cheque when it was sold. My ex used our mortgage as his atm so nothing left there.How do I find happiness and feel secure now. I live pay cheque to pay cheque I get so down and worry when I have to retire thank you

Succulent Queen Confidentiality and Crisis Line Experiences
  • replies: 2

Hi All,Would anyone be willing to share their experiences in talking with crisis helpline support? Maybe that very well known one that isn't Beyond Blue? I recently had an experience with a particular helpline that left me questioning confidentiality... View more

Hi All,Would anyone be willing to share their experiences in talking with crisis helpline support? Maybe that very well known one that isn't Beyond Blue? I recently had an experience with a particular helpline that left me questioning confidentiality.The operator knew which town I worked in without me telling her. I have called this number once a week in the lead up to Xmas as well as these last three weeks throughout January. I have named the town in at least one of these phone calls but not today, however the volunteer operator did name it. Her explanation was a staggered and vague few words about the computer telling her I was in Victoria. She could not tell me where she got the town's name from and referred me to the FAQ section of the helpline website to give feedback. At the time of the call I was in Melbourne which is 160k's away from that town so the computer could not have detected me as being in that town. Now... here's a point of truth to consider, the state of your mental health does not equate to a measure of your intellect. To equate mental health with what is normally assumed to be a limited intellect is a form of stigma. Stigma at work associated with mental health is part of the reason I rang the number and not something I wanted to experience from a helpline.The point of this post isn't to tear a service down or overstate it's worth. Its about sharing experiences as fairly and honestly as possible. I am grateful to be in the first world where I can call a non-judgemental stranger for free and talk about anything, now, I don't think I use that number again.What are your thoughts on confidentiality? Confidentiality can only be interpreted a single way in my view unless transparent variables are added to broaden its meaning which wasn't the case.First and foremost this post is about confidentiality. Confidentiality of any type that relates to mental health, mostly helplines.Confidentiality underlines the integrity of any health service. Confidentiality when maintained gives you confidence. In many personal relationships, confidentiality can also be described as trust. When you entrust sensitive information to a service you expect it to be upheld. This part of the benefit in calling a helpline. What are your experiences with confidentiality that is related to your mental health information verbal/documented/formal/informal - doesn't matter. Thanks

mcc Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
  • replies: 5

Hi, I am 26 years old and have been dealing with Bipolar Disorder for over 2 years now. I havent been in a depressive low like this probably since I was diagnosed. I have been doing everything right too like taking my meds and stayed off the alcohol ... View more

Hi, I am 26 years old and have been dealing with Bipolar Disorder for over 2 years now. I havent been in a depressive low like this probably since I was diagnosed. I have been doing everything right too like taking my meds and stayed off the alcohol but I am just not finding any hope and feels like I am never going to make it out. I have in the past and its what I am holding on to but its just a repeat cycle of up down up down and its getting the better of me. I struggle to get out and bed and leave my room. I put on a brave face when i do and rarely get asked if anything is wrong which is good because they dont know but also gives you this feeling of "they dont care". I am just not in a good way at all and just wondering if anyone has any tips or anything for keeping my mind busy and not having bad thoughts racing over and over? or tips to fall asleep because I am averaging about 3-4 hours maximum a night and that makes it tough too. This might not make much sense but I am typing this coming from not being in a good way right now. Absolutely any help at all would be amazing.Thank you.

Vannnnn Supporting my partner with depresion
  • replies: 3

HiWhen I first met my partner everything was perfect the last 6 months he has had depression. I battled mental health myself about 2.5 years ago and some days I still suffer I’m still on medication from it. I still do counselling etc. This was from a... View more

HiWhen I first met my partner everything was perfect the last 6 months he has had depression. I battled mental health myself about 2.5 years ago and some days I still suffer I’m still on medication from it. I still do counselling etc. This was from a bad break up after 7 years and I pulled through. However my recent partner now works fifo as well as I work fifo. We cross over only every 5 weeks. When we are together everything is amazinghowever when he goes to work it is the complete opposite. He doesn’t want to speak to me, a lot of things I say trigger him even though it is just a normal conversation, he just wants to be left alone, he doesn’t want help he only wants to do it himself. He’s lost and when I ask what can I do for you in this moment his response is I don’t know. It makes it difficult for me to navigate when he doesn’t have any answers or want any support or help. Im putting more into the relationship then he is as obviously his mind his else where. He always tells me about he thinks about being on his own because it’s easier as he doesn’t have to worry about anyone else but himself or the pressure a relationship puts onto him. I’m at a cross roads and he knows I am here for him and support him. When he asks for space I respect it and he can go days without speaking even though we already do the 5 weeks apart. I’m at a crossroads. I feel like I’m loosing myself when all I want to do is make it easy for him

Katso Self loathing
  • replies: 7

I try to be happy but always compare myself - my looks my life with others. I have to get dressed virtually in dark- hate the way I look and menopause has only increased this with weight gain- I’m at the stage where I don’t want to go out- feel so lo... View more

I try to be happy but always compare myself - my looks my life with others. I have to get dressed virtually in dark- hate the way I look and menopause has only increased this with weight gain- I’m at the stage where I don’t want to go out- feel so lonely and always feel like everything I say is wrong so I stay at home which makes me kind of better - but then of course more lonely - I don’t want a counsellor to ask me to picture a leaf floating down a stream etc - it won’t help me - does anyone have good success with anything I’ve also found anti depressants not working so well

daryl_85 What’s going on with me
  • replies: 4

So I had a mental breakdown 2 years ago now been in and out of psychologist psychiatrist finding the right medication. Blah blah blah. Last time I wasn’t feeling fine I had community health tell me that I didn’t need anymore medication I just needed ... View more

So I had a mental breakdown 2 years ago now been in and out of psychologist psychiatrist finding the right medication. Blah blah blah. Last time I wasn’t feeling fine I had community health tell me that I didn’t need anymore medication I just needed dbt therapy which I’m on a waiting list. I still know somethings not right with me I’m always spacing out crying. what’s really going on????

Anthony83 Depression and cannabis use
  • replies: 52

Well a little about myself, im 33 years of age, male and live alone. I never really dealt with depression until a few years ago; well i did but nothing on this scale. Most the time before it was a once every now and then occurrence that i could snap ... View more

Well a little about myself, im 33 years of age, male and live alone. I never really dealt with depression until a few years ago; well i did but nothing on this scale. Most the time before it was a once every now and then occurrence that i could snap out of within the day or so. Issues i have now is there is no one left in my life, but thats just the start of it. See i used to smoke marijuana for many years and all was good, the only paranoia i developed was from trying to hide it from family (they are all against it and is the reason i stopped). The constant pressure of feeling like if they find out and would be disbanded from the family payed a toll, well it's happened without it anyway... My depression came on months to a year after quitting my full time marijuana use, i have smoked the odd few times after and it seems to make me feel better yet guilty about what my family thinks so i never continue. I have also been put on and off anti depressants over the past few years (non marijuana use) yet i always get really bad side effects so i work my way back off them. They never seem to help much at all, and make me wonder what they actually put in those medications we're blindly putting in our system. What i don't understand is Marijuana works for me, however it's obviously frowned apon by the public, my family and employers. Employers and family don't mind if i take anti depressents that cause more issues and horrific side effects, yet if i smoked weed the world is going to end. Which also leads to unemployment, fear of judgement and a sense of unworthiness. Im currently unemployed and struggling like never before with no assistance from anyone, im scared to end up homeless. I have bills and everyone asking for money yet never able to even get a job interview (obviously causing major depression). I have also done counseling last time i was on anti depressants, they all tend to say nothing is wrong with me and it's just lack of a job causing this. I only know one thing that works yet it leaves me feeling ashamed (not that it really matters anymore) but yeah. Well as i have no one to talk to anymore and running out of options i have decided to sign up. I still feel very doubtful that this will help but i have nothing to lose i guess.. PS i have also thought of moving to a country that have medicinal cannabis programs that also treat depression. I really don't like anti depressants, they are horrible

Miss_Anonymous Having an off day, can you help?
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, Hope you are feeling better than I am. Today I woke up just feeling really depressed. I slept relatively well but have just been feeling low all day. I haven't managed to get much work done because I'm finding it hard to concentrate on a... View more

Hi everyone, Hope you are feeling better than I am. Today I woke up just feeling really depressed. I slept relatively well but have just been feeling low all day. I haven't managed to get much work done because I'm finding it hard to concentrate on anything besides my low mood. I don't even really know what I feel sad about. There is one thing that springs to mind - I have worked for the last two and a bit years with my lovely manager, M, who is leaving next week. She has been really kind to me - believed in my abilities, gave me opportunities to develop my skills and given me lots of emotional support when I needed it, and is a really all round lovely person and a fantastic role model. I will really miss her when she goes. But I have known she is leaving for about three months, so I have had plenty of time to deal with it, and there's no reason I would be sad about that today compared to another day. Apart from that I am a bit directionless with my career and in life in general. I have been in my job for four years, stayed in part becuase of this manager and in part becuase i don't know where else i would go - this job was my dream job when i got it and i'm just not sure what else i want to do. Even though my manager thinks I can be a supervisor (which would be a promotion) I'm not so sure I can do it well or want to do it. It would involve taking on more responsiblity/stress which i don't want to do. It would involve emotional intelligence which i've tried hard to learn, but found difficult. Do you find emotional intelligence can be learned? People say it can, but my experience is that i have not made much progress, and i feel despondent about that. I am quite tired after the pandemic and several years of working hard at my job, I think I just want an easy life for a while. I had a good Christmas and when I came back to work on 3 Jan I felt refreshed, interested and enthusiastic about life and my job. But for a period of 3-4 months late last year I was really struggling - feeling apathetic, disinterested in everyone and everything and unmotivated. I had lots of leave but nothing seemed to shift my mood. I thought i was having a mid life crisis or was depressed. Then over Christmas I felt better. I got back in to reading, socialised with family and friends and took time away from the city where I work and got out of the work headspace for a while. Now it feels like the blues are back, and I'm a bit worried. I know I can't rely on M to support me as she is acting in a senior role and will be very busy. I don't really have anyone else I can turn to. What are your tips for feelling better when you've got the blues? What should I do? Thank you for reading my post, I look forward to your replies. Thank you!

Larra Struggling
  • replies: 1

Anyone else really just struggling?? feeling misunderstood? Constantly being asked what’s wrong when clearly I’m dealing with depression and being so sick and tired of constantly saying, “it’s a part of my condition”. I feel like something tragic has... View more

Anyone else really just struggling?? feeling misunderstood? Constantly being asked what’s wrong when clearly I’m dealing with depression and being so sick and tired of constantly saying, “it’s a part of my condition”. I feel like something tragic has to happen just to be understood. I’m so lost. So depressed. And at the same time, trying to get on my life, like no one just gets it.

Albert_247 So upsetting...
  • replies: 106

My life has been pretty rough, I mean I was bullied all during high school from 13 to 18, I didn't like my father's difference entirely, my diagnosis mis conception happened at 19 and I've been kept on meds for the last 9 years. I'm beneath this imag... View more

My life has been pretty rough, I mean I was bullied all during high school from 13 to 18, I didn't like my father's difference entirely, my diagnosis mis conception happened at 19 and I've been kept on meds for the last 9 years. I'm beneath this image of having a disability when I don't agree with my diagnosis, It's too unique and unbelievable to explain to anyone so I'm treated as indenyl or lacking insight. The health issues were 22 & 25, Then I had no driving independence till 26 because I didn't have any parents to learn with, plus hated all my driving teachers. I only could drive through having Centrelink, I never could advance my life without having any sense for which suitable jobs I would want to work, I never had vacancies with so much immigration and competition with society and with fresh high school kids wanting jobs too. I never wanted to be a apprentice or go to University, even with a interest in Nutrition I'm just not the study personality. I only had help to write the resume & cover letters after going through useless job recruiters but they are not much guarantee to get anyone payed employment. I never had a new group of mateship after leaving high school and I've had no experience with girls as friends or even socially or on a intimate level. I'm complete incel unfortunately with me, but I wouldn't feel like un able to speak to them, unless their really attractive. I had a dream to become a hobbyist musician, though I just had all that with high school, my dad and my mental health drama to deal with, while not having women, work, and a regular life it all ruined my confidence to do it since 14. Don't feel like my parents are on that journey or understanding to chase dreams, they played life more passive and safe and their a whole different personality to me. Now I feel like I'm failing at life or like a ugly man child and everything always felt out of my control, or that thing's couldn't be better given the circumstance.