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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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Earth Girl I think I might have a semi-serious problem
  • replies: 3

I recently found out that staring a lot/not blinking much can be a sign of anti-social personality disorder and I've heard a few people say that I stare at people. I don't think this is the only reason why I might have this disorder especially since ... View more

I recently found out that staring a lot/not blinking much can be a sign of anti-social personality disorder and I've heard a few people say that I stare at people. I don't think this is the only reason why I might have this disorder especially since my Auntie who is really sweet use to stare a lot and get distracted when talking to people easily (her mental health wasn't good), but also because I also recently read that a lot of the things I use to do could be considered anti-social such as often playing victim and snitching and dobbing on people (which I feel really bad about now). I didn't realize that doing those things were as bad as they are. The reason why I say I think I might have a semi-serious problem instead of a serious problem is because I use to think that anti-social people did extremely bad things such as going around unaliving innocent people all the time and really insane things like that. I would never try to unalive someone so I know my problem isn't as extreme as it could be. But I am still worried about it. I try to be a good person and do the right thing. I don't know how to get help with this particular thing plus, a lot of people who specialize in this field seem to talk really meanly about people with this problem instead of focusing on ways to help them that are honest but not mean. My current psychologist has helped me a lot with my vulnerable narcissism problem, and she doesn't even know that I have it (she says that I seem really lovely), but I don't know how to get help with possible ASD as well? Are narcissism and ASD sort of similar? While I am worried that I might have this problem, I am glad that it is not as bad as it could be because I know that I have some empathy at least and I don't want to physically harm anyone, especially people who haven't even done anything to me. I also definitely can experience genuine happiness, in fact, I often experience it and very easily (even if I just see a nice plant or animal or remember something nice or funny that happened, it makes me happy) and I've heard that some people with ASD don't experience happiness like that?

Nightstand I don't even know how to feel in all this....
  • replies: 1

August is coming up which means I'm going to be 22 soon.... And despite all that has come to past I've been coming back to celebrating alone... Again.. I know my message and story wouldn't reach the people I'd just wished I've gotten to share with...... View more

August is coming up which means I'm going to be 22 soon.... And despite all that has come to past I've been coming back to celebrating alone... Again.. I know my message and story wouldn't reach the people I'd just wished I've gotten to share with... But I've really been at a braking point on just feeling this hopeless in being the person I want to be... I know by the end of this I won't have the people who'd just stayed back for me.. but I can die smiling in understanding that all the love, compassion and acceptance I showed for the people I cared for.. has still led me to having to feel like this on my own.....

K2024 Just started on a new medication - when will the brain zaps stop?
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone! I've googled and googled, but all the info I find is about 'brain zaps when coming off medication'.I'm experiencing this while commencing the med. Wondering if anyone else has experienced the brain zaps while first starting out and if so... View more

Hi everyone! I've googled and googled, but all the info I find is about 'brain zaps when coming off medication'.I'm experiencing this while commencing the med. Wondering if anyone else has experienced the brain zaps while first starting out and if so, how long did it last please? (days? weeks?).... Thanks kindly

guest2046046 Feeling Depressed
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I am just new to the anonymous forum but I just wanted to get some advice from some strangers with a more objective point of view and vent a little. I am a high school student that is struggling with feelings of depression that more ofte... View more

Hi everyone, I am just new to the anonymous forum but I just wanted to get some advice from some strangers with a more objective point of view and vent a little. I am a high school student that is struggling with feelings of depression that more often comes than goes. I hate my high school and have practically no friends. I have tried sitting with so many different people but none of them seem that interested in being friends with me and I don't particularly click with any of them and I feel constantly lonely. I don't really have anyone to talk to about how I am feeling, which often makes me feel even more empty and depressed. I have been excluded from formal tables that I thought I would be able to sit at and have lots of assignments due as well as lots of exams coming up soon that I am dreading. Although I already have early entry into a uni, I just really do not have the motivation to study, so everything combined with exams I just don't want to do is horrible. I find myself thinking nothing is enjoyable anymore, and even when I go to go home from school, I find it quite pointless because nothing interests me or makes me feel relieved from leaving school (I used to like wasting time on youtube but now that doesn't even seem appealing anymore so nothing is), and I feel like I have no friends to talk to. I have a therapist and have medication but am unsure if this clearly is even helping. I have a fairly chill/ok job that often takes up some of my weekends and has a longer drive that takes a little while, and I feel obligated to be busy all the time to be successful I guess and the rest of my family is busy as well. I have now been offered a new job a bit closer to home. I am not sure what to do with this either, and I am going for an interview soon but unsure whether I am bothered to even work at a new job anymore, since everything already feels a bit overwhelming, but maybe if I take only one shift a week? (the job situation is simplified I have no characters left). This all seems insignificant, a bit like I shouldn't really be having problems and not feeling ok but honestly everything is really draining and I don't know what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on what to do?

Unsureperson98 What do I do, where do I go from here?
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, new to posting here still but I wanted to reach back out again. I am so stuck and unsure of my life right now. I've always had depression and bad anxiety throughout my life (I'm 27 now) but at the moment it's really affecting me the most... View more

Hi everyone, new to posting here still but I wanted to reach back out again. I am so stuck and unsure of my life right now. I've always had depression and bad anxiety throughout my life (I'm 27 now) but at the moment it's really affecting me the most. I'm in so much pain and unhappiness. I feel sick most of the time, unable to keep food down or feel hungry. I'm throwing up after eating half a meal and can't stomach anything else. I have this constant pain in my chest and nausea in my stomach.I get terrible sleep and can barely keep energy. I've also recently started feeling unhappy in my 7 year relationship. It feels like things have shifted and we arent connected anymore. I'm constantly thinking about where I stand and how my partner feels about me, that he will leave. My needs feel no longer met. We've talked about this and he has assured me it's not how he feels, that everything seems fine as always. I don't feel this in my gut though. I don't know if this is throwing me further into a spiral or if I am just freaking out for nothing. I have no energy and feel so sick that I've been calling out of work because I just don't have the energy or wellbeing to be there and do my job properly. I've started going to a psychologist and am looking forward to that assistance but I just can't beat this excruciating pain I feel all the time. How can I work past it and feel some comfort again? I don't know where to start or what I can do. I just don't want to keep feeling a painful feeling in my chest anymore. I wish I could turn a switch off in my head and it make me feel no more pain. I'm trying so many grounding techniques (walking, deep breaths, sitting in the pain, etc) but nothing helps. Any help?

Guest_13512758 Physical Illness and Mental Health
  • replies: 1

Does anyone else's mental health take a nosedive whenever they get physically ill? I'm asking as I'm currently stuck in bed with what I'm pretty sure is a bad flu, and it's caused my depression to really hit a low point. Obviously it's not the only f... View more

Does anyone else's mental health take a nosedive whenever they get physically ill? I'm asking as I'm currently stuck in bed with what I'm pretty sure is a bad flu, and it's caused my depression to really hit a low point. Obviously it's not the only factor- I'd been feeling emotionally down for a couple of weeks for a variety of reasons, however the last couple of days things have gotten much worse. Usually I'd try to fight it off by staying physically active and spending time around other people, however neither of those are really an option right now for obvious reasons. I also think that part of it is due to general hangups I have around my health. Obviously it's not my fault, these things happen. However I still find myself beating myself up over it, as if catching a common disease is somehow a moral judgement of my personhood. Does anyone else feel the same way, and have any advice to cope with it?

Mummac Worried Mum
  • replies: 2

I am very worried about our 24 yr old son. He lives with us as he just works 5mins down the road. We live in a rural area with basically no other men his age..town is 25mins away again with limited social opportunities. He has no friends just work ac... View more

I am very worried about our 24 yr old son. He lives with us as he just works 5mins down the road. We live in a rural area with basically no other men his age..town is 25mins away again with limited social opportunities. He has no friends just work acquaintances and his 3 siblings and all other family members are at least 3hrs away. Since covid lockdown he goes out only very occasionally..in last 10 months he has lost a lot of weight he is extremely skinny..he struggles to communicate and never smiles like he used to. He goes to the gym 3 times a week. I am not sure how to suggest to him that he might have depression and may need to talk with someone, and as he is basically otherwise healthy he has not been to a doctor in over 6 years and out here no doctors are taking on new patients.. just want to see him happy again but it is almost like he tries hard not to be. I am nearly certain he is not on any drugs and we are a Christian family...any suggestions would be helpful

Rye Confused on where to go
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I'm 20 years old and ever since I was a child I've struggled with a lack of motivation, and depressive thoughts. I'm not diagnosed with depression though I am diagnosed with generalised anxiety and PTSD. Plus I was told I shown symptoms of a ... View more

Hi all, I'm 20 years old and ever since I was a child I've struggled with a lack of motivation, and depressive thoughts. I'm not diagnosed with depression though I am diagnosed with generalised anxiety and PTSD. Plus I was told I shown symptoms of a personality disorder. I recently booked a doctors appointment in hopes that I'll be able to get a referral to a psychiatrist. I saw a psychologist in the past who helped me find ways to manage these feelings, though it feels like nothing I do helps me in the end. I know the methods in which to soothe myself but I can never apply them properly. And if I do, it only temporarily helps me. I'm at a war with my own brain, and I don't know how to stop it. I've never properly seen a psychiatrist, the only time being when I was admitted to hospital. I'd love a job to help get me out of the house, to earn some money and start building my future but my track record shows that i've left all of my jobs in the past for mental health reasons. I also need a job to even be able to afford seeing a psychiatrist which is another whole problem - I'd ask my mum for money, but we already are struggling for money at home.Everyone tells me they admire that I'm taking my time to heal but I DESPISE It. I don't feel like i'm healing and I want to do things that everyone else is doing I just cant. Something feels very lost inside of me.I know by even taking the step to make an appointment is admirable! But what happens when this sudden burst of care for myself and general motivation goes away again. It always has and then I fall back in to bad habits again. It's a really draining cycle of trying to get help, failing and falling back through the cracks.

Zachary_52 Making up for past mistakes
  • replies: 3

Guilt and/or a sense of not doing what I should have done has consumed my conscience for a few years now. I haven’t been present in life since that feeling showed up, it’s difficult to feel good and confident and engage in life when you feel responsi... View more

Guilt and/or a sense of not doing what I should have done has consumed my conscience for a few years now. I haven’t been present in life since that feeling showed up, it’s difficult to feel good and confident and engage in life when you feel responsible for bad things happening. I wish I had been more privy to what that guilt feeling was trying to tell me. I can put some blame on a lack of awareness but I still feel the guilt so I must’ve known I was doing something wrong, I did something against my code and I feel bad for it, I feel bad about the consequences. I wish I had acted on the guilt feeling instead of trying to sidestep it. I can’t change what has happened but maybe I can balance things out in another way. I guess that’s the only option I have.

Nightstand I just feel left behind...
  • replies: 2

I've been feeling like this for the better of 4-3 years now... growing up I really struggled in makeing a lot of long lasting friendships with my peers because of how different I was even then.. I tried to change into more like everyone so I can just... View more

I've been feeling like this for the better of 4-3 years now... growing up I really struggled in makeing a lot of long lasting friendships with my peers because of how different I was even then.. I tried to change into more like everyone so I can just feel accepted.... But now I'm just alone in everything I have to feel.