Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Hopeful4life Life straight after high school.
  • replies: 0

I just recently finished high school over 6 months ago and ever since I’ve had this dreadful mindset where everything I do feels pointless now. High school was rough for me as I dealt with bullying so I always assumed after high school I’d feel amazi... View more

I just recently finished high school over 6 months ago and ever since I’ve had this dreadful mindset where everything I do feels pointless now. High school was rough for me as I dealt with bullying so I always assumed after high school I’d feel amazing because I would be away from it. But it’s been 6 months and I have no motivation, going to work feels more challenging than it used to and hanging out with friends feels like a chore. I start university next year which I worked really hard to get into but I’m scared that in the next 5 months this mindset will worsen and I’ll carry this sadness with me to university. I just wanted to see if anyone else felt like this after finishing high school and what they did to come out of this mindset? Have a beautiful day

ELTee Medically Terminated from work
  • replies: 0

Hi, I had lung cancer surgery earlier this year. Recovery was going well and they got all the cancer. I returned to work and was working from home. My employer, who I have been with for over 30 years, decided I needed an independent medical assessmen... View more

Hi, I had lung cancer surgery earlier this year. Recovery was going well and they got all the cancer. I returned to work and was working from home. My employer, who I have been with for over 30 years, decided I needed an independent medical assessment. This ended up in me completing tasks, with an Exercise Physiologist, none of which were related to my job. I actually injured myself further. Now they have terminated me. I have suffered depression & anxiety for years, but this is next level. I'm finding it hard to function. I just want to hide from the world. I am totally devastated this has happened. Yes I have a lawyer and have lodged claims through WorkSafe. Its this hollow feeling of nothing, clearly I was just a number, they don't seem to care. I can do my job still. They decided I couldn't. I just needed to vent, so fed up with crying & panic attacks. Has anyone else been through this? I've lost my identity and right now I don't know who I am or even how to exist.Thanks for reading xx

Mario_Sonic I Feel Sad And Need Some Comfort
  • replies: 4

Hey everyone. Liam here. So this week has been pretty good. My birthday was on Wednesday, I got some pretty good gifts and I even enjoyed some KFC while I was out with my Friday group. But that’s where the happiness comes to an end. Even though I had... View more

Hey everyone. Liam here. So this week has been pretty good. My birthday was on Wednesday, I got some pretty good gifts and I even enjoyed some KFC while I was out with my Friday group. But that’s where the happiness comes to an end. Even though I had a good week this week, part of me is still feeling sad…I don’t know what is going on…I seem to think I’m fine one minute and then the next minute I’m just bawling my eyes out…I know it’s a lot to ask for someone like me but…can you guys please comfort me right now… *Crying* -Liam

Guest_13738758 Relationship breakdown
  • replies: 1

It’s really hard finding the right words to describe all of this, basically my relationship is breaking down I’m exhausted, the communication is gone it’s either one screaming at the other but no one is listening we’re both unheard and it’s completel... View more

It’s really hard finding the right words to describe all of this, basically my relationship is breaking down I’m exhausted, the communication is gone it’s either one screaming at the other but no one is listening we’re both unheard and it’s completely chaos, desperate to not damage each other it seems to be the only thing we do we are both wanting to be heard but not willing to listen and I’m scared if we continue we’ll do permanent damage to each other I dealt with a lot of abuse early on and held onto the hurt over the years and used it as fuel in every argument. It damaged him brutally but it was a by product of his entail abuse in the first place now a few years later his doing the exact same thing I did were on a crash course to heartbreak and I can’t stop it i don’t know what to do anymore

Emotions26 Do not feed the monster
  • replies: 150

I am struggling to understand this website and find my way aroundI have replied to some peopleI think that two champions replied to my first two postsI do not know where they are now I have supported several posts of othersI have replied to one perso... View more

I am struggling to understand this website and find my way aroundI have replied to some peopleI think that two champions replied to my first two postsI do not know where they are now I have supported several posts of othersI have replied to one person I think today I am resonating with several posts in different areas but cannot remember where they are I am literally lost within this website as well as within myself I am working very hard at keeping the dreaded "D" at bay which I have battled with too many times.I have had this since young apparentlyI have had large gaps of time where I am mostly symptom free I think The monster is the dreaded "d"It is also a relative whom I have had to relinquish her hold over me.I have only learnt about this stuff recently so struggle talking about it. So I think of do not feed the monster as in do not think of her. Or do not feel guilty or upset or worry or a thousand other things Also do not feed the dreaded "d" as it lurks waiting I will not find this piece again

Rusty Burning out
  • replies: 4

Although good things are happening in my life, I’m just getting so tired of going through the whole effort. I feel like I have burnt out. I just have no one to help me through these tough times. Im not really sure how to slow down or be kind to mysel... View more

Although good things are happening in my life, I’m just getting so tired of going through the whole effort. I feel like I have burnt out. I just have no one to help me through these tough times. Im not really sure how to slow down or be kind to myself. I’m unable to find any groups of interest in my community and the groups I volunteer with are great fun but I just can’t seem to connect with people. I’m just so emotional worn out l.

Mario_Sonic Emotional Breakdowns
  • replies: 46

Hey guys, it’s Liam…so last Monday, I don’t know what happened but I was just feeling severely down…this caused me to suffer from a severe emotional breakdown, something which I’m all too familiar with considering the breakdowns I’ve had in the past…... View more

Hey guys, it’s Liam…so last Monday, I don’t know what happened but I was just feeling severely down…this caused me to suffer from a severe emotional breakdown, something which I’m all too familiar with considering the breakdowns I’ve had in the past…If you’re wondering how these breakdowns occur, they occur when I get overwhelmed emotionally, and then I just…start crying…my question is…what exactly can I call these things I have instead of emotional breakdowns? Also I have suffered severely because of these breakdowns…especially at school, one of the SSOs, he believed I was faking them to get out of doing work, but I was only having these breakdowns because the workload was too hard for me…that was when I was 17…I’m now 20…I feel like I can’t be emotional or cry… *Crying* Liam

KikiLesnik Depression and isolation
  • replies: 2

I was hospitalized 2 times for depression and it lasted for months and no one even visited. I'm the loneliest creature in the world.

I was hospitalized 2 times for depression and it lasted for months and no one even visited. I'm the loneliest creature in the world.

Louise__ Homeless and hopeless
  • replies: 2

I have no idea what to do. The journey is too long to write it all and the crux of it is that I’ve lost all of my family and friends, my relationship, and my home, I have no money, and I don’t know what to do. I got a hotel for tonight instead of sle... View more

I have no idea what to do. The journey is too long to write it all and the crux of it is that I’ve lost all of my family and friends, my relationship, and my home, I have no money, and I don’t know what to do. I got a hotel for tonight instead of sleeping in my car, but I haven’t been able to leave the bed since I checked in. I can’t eat, and every time I sleep I wake up with electric bolts of anxiety through my body. I feel sick constantly. i feel like a weak human who isn’t able to find my place in the world. I don’t even understand who I am. I’m a 30 year old woman, I moved to Australia from the UK for a better life. How I was treated as a kid means there’s so many layers and I’ve felt empty my entire life. I found someone and fell in love and I ruined it. I hate feeling sorry for myself and I hate that I cannot physically move from this bed. I hate that I’ve hurt people around me by trying to do what I thought was right, because I’m always wrong. am I stupid, or just so messed up from childhood that I’ll never be able to function as a normal human being? Why do I never feel good enough? And why don’t I look after myself and my body when I feel low? I’m fully aware that not eating for days or moving my body, or doing anything at all is so unhealthy for me and my body feels like it’s deteriorating. But I’m stuck in this paralysis where I can’t make any decisions or look after myself. The heaviness of everything is too much. I just want to feel better. I just want to know what my next step is when I wake up tomorrow and find myself back in my car with nowhere to go and no one to talk to. In terms of health: I’m losing my sight. next week I’ll find out the results of my brain MRI. Maybe it’ll be nothing, or maybe it’ll be a tumour, or MS. I have nerve degeneration behind my eyes and I’ve lost 6% of my vision. I’m worried, but worse, I’m going to be going alone. I'm in so much emotional pain and feel like I’m completely frozen and not able to make decisions. I can go and find a house share, I work part time so I can afford a room somewhere. But I have no idea on the location and I’m scared of starting again. I just want life to be easy. I want to be loved and feel connection and not constantly feel so alone.

Mood_Swinger Feeling rather flat lately
  • replies: 1

I've realised I'm feeling quite flat lately and I think depression has been creeping slowly back in. I have a long history of mental health issues with a diagnosis of Bipolar II back in 2011. Medicated since, I've had plenty of hospitalisations over ... View more

I've realised I'm feeling quite flat lately and I think depression has been creeping slowly back in. I have a long history of mental health issues with a diagnosis of Bipolar II back in 2011. Medicated since, I've had plenty of hospitalisations over the years but have been stable for the past 5 or so. I recently started reducing some of my medications with my Pyschiatrist and was going fine but have noticed symptoms coming back. Tiredness, apathy, loss of apetite, inability to concentrate, slowed speech etc just to name a few. I see him in a couple if weeks again so of coyrse I'll bring it up. I'm hoping it passes but would love suggestions if anyone has been in a similar situation as to what they do to bring themselves out of these "slumps". I don't want to go back on more medication and my life is going great otherwise. I have no "reason" to be depressed.