Support
Support

Depression

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

Start a conversation

FAQ

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

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

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

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a conversation

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

Start a conversation

SadUnicorn Burnout? Brain fog? Just crazy?
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I've been struggling with life for the last 12 months. There has been a lot happening in my life, but I feel like I should be getting "better", but instead I feel worse. For context I am diagnosed with ADHD (medicated) and take anti depr... View more

Hi everyone, I've been struggling with life for the last 12 months. There has been a lot happening in my life, but I feel like I should be getting "better", but instead I feel worse. For context I am diagnosed with ADHD (medicated) and take anti depressants. I have developed a bad attitude and I feel terrible about it. For example I have lost interest in my job to the point I'll do my hobbies during my working hours and not seem to care about the consequences. I love my family and friends, but I don't want to do any social activities or respond to their messages. It's not because I don't care it's because I feel so tired and have zero interest in leaving my space. I used to respond with enthusiasm, but now it's usually one word answers so they know I haven't been abducted by aliens. I have a wonderful partner who I adore and I feel awful because I barely see them. It's because I feel so exhausted and overwhelmed. I seem to be struggling with focus and attention. I used to be able to comprehend complex tasks, but now I find it difficult and overwhelming. My short term memory is terrible and I feel like I can't understand basic things anymore. I have to really really focus before my brain will go "okay, we can do this". Do I have early on set dementia? What is wrong with me? Will I ever feel like myself again? I feel incredibly sad and vulnerable sharing this post. I have spoken to my psychiatrist about this and she says it sounds like burn out from stress, but I don't know if I agree. I am aware that I should be eating better, following a sleep schedule, doing exercise, social things, seeing a psych, doctor etc etc. The thing is I have done these and I still feel the same. My mind knows what I should be doing, but I just don't care enough to do them or I don't have the energy.

Guest_43478557 Feeling Hopeless
  • replies: 2

Lately I’ve been feeling really hopeless. Im tired all the time. I stress about every little thing. I’m trying my best to stay afloat. I run and hit the gym. I try to stay as hopeful as I can but I just feel like I’m drowning. Does anyone have any ad... View more

Lately I’ve been feeling really hopeless. Im tired all the time. I stress about every little thing. I’m trying my best to stay afloat. I run and hit the gym. I try to stay as hopeful as I can but I just feel like I’m drowning. Does anyone have any advice?

RoyBerlin Need help transforming my life
  • replies: 3

I've recently turned 40, and I been in a job/industry that I am no longer happy with. My options seem to limited as I have a criminal conviction from a few years back. Every employer seems to want a history check, and I understand that if I was an em... View more

I've recently turned 40, and I been in a job/industry that I am no longer happy with. My options seem to limited as I have a criminal conviction from a few years back. Every employer seems to want a history check, and I understand that if I was an employer with a choice, I would hire the one without the conviction. I've been with my current company long before I got into trouble, and my employer is aware of it and is happy to keep me employed. However, since I work alone, and live alone, I'm finding it difficult to meet people and improve myself. The consequences of my actions nearly 8 years ago are very much now becoming a reality. It's giving me severe depression and I feel like I can't move out of this job where I have no future. It's quite overwhelming. Any advice I would appreciate.

foxythepirate01 Confused?
  • replies: 3

Hi I’m just looking for some advice and to get this off my chest, not exactly sure if this is the right place to put it or the right way to write this but this is as much as i can remember. September 2025My mate Shaun had a birthday party. I arrived ... View more

Hi I’m just looking for some advice and to get this off my chest, not exactly sure if this is the right place to put it or the right way to write this but this is as much as i can remember. September 2025My mate Shaun had a birthday party. I arrived late when everyone had already been drinking. I started talking to a girl named Connie, and we ended up getting together. We weren’t very close and argued a lot. She had mental health struggles, and I didn’t handle them well. We eventually broke up. I felt upset but not suicidal. During that time, I spoke a lot to her friend Maddie, who supported me. October–November 2025Maddie and I became very close and best friends. I developed feelings for her, told her, and we started a relationship. It felt genuine and supportive, unlike my previous one. We spent a lot of time talking and helped each other, especially when she was overthinking. December 2025We started seeing each other outside of school, often secretly. After her dad found out, she was grounded. Around this time, I began feeling depressed, numb, and had frequent suicidal thoughts, though I didn’t act on them. January 2026Her parents forced us to break up and didn’t want us talking. We stayed in contact briefly, but it was confusing because she sometimes acted like we were still together. My mental health worsened, and I kept breaking down. I asked for space, but she kept contacting me, which made things worse, so I cut her off completely. February 2026We had no contact. I found out Shaun and Maddie were talking behind my back. This hurt a lot, especially because they dismissed my feelings and told me to “get over it.” I felt confused and didn’t know what to do. December 2025 to February 2026During this time, I had daily suicidal thoughts and made several attempts but didn’t go through with them. March 2026I’ve distanced myself from my mates and taken time alone to get space. I still feel confused about my emotions and who I am, but I’m trying to cope, find comfort in small things, and take things one day at a time. I just don’t know if it’s the right thing to do because my mates are trying to get me to talk to Shaun again and I just can’t bring myself to do it. Everyday is blurring together it feels like. Close to giving up man I’m sorry

Earth Girl I hate them SO much
  • replies: 2

A lot of people don't seem to understand that some parents have.. extreme layers. When I try to talk to people about my parents, they say things like "It may just seem that way" "They seem really nice", but they have only seen them when they are bein... View more

A lot of people don't seem to understand that some parents have.. extreme layers. When I try to talk to people about my parents, they say things like "It may just seem that way" "They seem really nice", but they have only seen them when they are being nice. This morning, I feel really mad at them (more so than usual). I can feel the anger in my heart and I'm doing deep breathing right now because I am pissed. My sisters sometimes can see that they are bad and other times they tell me that they are nice, but my parents are a lot nicer to them than they are to me. Even when they aren't nice to them, they still aren't as mean to them as they are towards me. Last year, my younger sister got treated the same way they treat me over the phone (my Dad saying "hi" then saying "I have another phone call so bye" - that's literally all he said) and my Mum talking AT her instead of TO her. She talked to me about it and was crying. I felt really bad, but at least she could temporarily see it through my perspective because they have treated me like that since I was in Primary school. They ignore me and obviously I don't mean that they don't say things like good morning to me or they bump into me without noticing, they do, but that's it, that's pretty much all they do unless other people are around. When they are mean to me, I very nicely explain the problem to them and they usually get pissed, I remain nice, they still continue being mean and after a while I can not take it anymore and then they say "Well, just be nice and I will listen" I was nice to you for ages! My Mum:* Gets furious when someone doesn't listen or interrupts her even though she is the worst listener and most interruptive person.* Lies without realizing she's lying.* Forgets mean things she did and when I bring it up nicely, she gets mad.* Has to say practically everything out loud.* Tells everyone everything even when I specifically ask her not to.* Gives the silent treatment when you haven't even done anything wrong.Etc Dad:* Tells Mum and I that we need to be more tolerant even though he gets mad so easily. * Was kind of violent when I was younger and I'm scared to speak up because I am worried he might slap me (I'm serious).* Tries to make my Mum think she hates woman even though he hates woman.Etc. They put words into my mouth and break my trust all the time (not that I trust them anymore).They are VERY temperamental. They literally talk about how they "deserve" better children. I keep my mouth shut.

Guest_10343 Do you ever have “good hours” instead of good days?
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I’ve been thinking about something recently and wondered if anyone else experiences this.People often talk about having good days or bad days when dealing with depression, but lately I’ve noticed mine feels more like good hours and bad h... View more

Hi everyone, I’ve been thinking about something recently and wondered if anyone else experiences this.People often talk about having good days or bad days when dealing with depression, but lately I’ve noticed mine feels more like good hours and bad hours instead. For example, I might wake up feeling really heavy and unmotivated, then sometime in the afternoon there’s a short window where I feel a bit lighter and more like myself. I might get a few small things done, or just feel a bit more present. But then later in the evening the low feeling can come back again. It sometimes makes it hard to understand my own mood because it changes within the same day.I’ve started trying to use those “lighter hours” for small things like going for a short walk, tidying something small, or just stepping outside for a bit of fresh air. I was curious if anyone else experiences something similar.Do your moods shift throughout the day like that?If you do get those small windows where things feel a bit lighter, what do you usually do with them? Really appreciate having a place like this where people can talk openly. Take care everyone.

Guest_46187476 Suicidal thoughts
  • replies: 2

im a teenage boy i dont want to give my exact age bit im in the range of 15-17 i have been struggling with depression and have been suicidal for a while now. I’ve been struggling with depression for a good year now it just feels like everything has b... View more

im a teenage boy i dont want to give my exact age bit im in the range of 15-17 i have been struggling with depression and have been suicidal for a while now. I’ve been struggling with depression for a good year now it just feels like everything has been getting heavier and it won’t stop. I feel I need friends thay understand this most my friends can not understand this at all. I just don’t know where to look or where to go. Nothing helps I’ve tried everything. im open to suggestions and thank you for reading this is my best option right now

Earth Girl Was trying to defend someone, but they think I went behind their back
  • replies: 4

"Lousia" and I were talking about people who we didn't get along with (a and b). I thought that if I explained more of the story to "Janet" that she would be able to see it through L's pov because she sided so much with a and b. I told her not to tel... View more

"Lousia" and I were talking about people who we didn't get along with (a and b). I thought that if I explained more of the story to "Janet" that she would be able to see it through L's pov because she sided so much with a and b. I told her not to tell anyone and she said okay so I told her something that Louisa told me that happened and I thought Janet would think, okay, I can see why Louisa would be annoyed, but instead she just went "So what?!" She seemed kind of like she wanted to talk to people who were connected to me, Louisa and her about it because she brought them up, but I thought, surely she won't, she even said she wouldn't. A few months later, I messaged Louisa on Facebook and she left me on read and logged out. I wasn't sure what to think because I didn't know what that meant back then so I wasn't sure if things were okay or not. Later on, I saw on a site where people talk about me that she said that I betrayed her and I was thinking, what? How did I betray her?? I read some more things that she said about me on there and then I realized she must have meant what I said to Janet and Janet obviously told the people or one of the people about it and they then told Louisa. She also said a lot of things about how ugly I look and those were the mild things she said. Her Dad who is at least 70 now also said lots of mean things on there about me (mature). They also talked about how I judge people based on star signs (I was one of those cringey "I'm a cancer" people, but I stopped doing it one day when I was 26 because I realized how dumb it was). He says a lot of just as stupid things at his age that I don't talk about, but anyway... I asked Janet if she told anyone about what I told her and she got really mad and said she didn't, but she has a horrible memory and she talks about me to other people all the time and quickly forgets all about it so I'm certain she did. I don't know what to do about this. All this happened several years ago, but they are still talking about it on that site (both her and her parents). I also deleted Facebook several years ago so I can't reach out to her on there. She's telling everyone that I betrayed her when I wasn't meaning to do that. I know it wasn't a wise idea now anyway and I shouldn't have said anything because even if Janet could see it from her pov, it could still get messy and Louisa wouldn't have wanted me to tell her anyway, but I wasn't meaning any harm. I don't know what J said or what others said to L.

Roses_191 I'm the worst daughter ever! Im a fool!
  • replies: 1

I feel so sick 冷 and depressed I have so much finicancial stress, I dont even know how im going to eat this week. Im just survinging on handouts from family but my dad dosent give enough money for food for the week. I stomped and my knee hurts and it... View more

I feel so sick 🤮 and depressed I have so much finicancial stress, I dont even know how im going to eat this week. Im just survinging on handouts from family but my dad dosent give enough money for food for the week. I stomped and my knee hurts and it cracked and now ive got this painful feeling im the knee. Im really hating life. Ive been crying last night and still today..I feel too stressed. I feel like im the wrost person you can ever meet. I have the wrost tantrums and I dont respect my mum, I dont even help her. Im useless, and I feel like life keeps getting worser and worser. My friends dont even text me, its always me. When I go to social events, im the one that always goes up to people, and in rare cases they come up to me. I feel crappy. I dont know if im liked as much as I was when I was younger. I am struggling so much, more than ever. I have the wrost diagnosis which is psychosis which is the closest to schizophrenia but it basically is schizophrenia. I dont even have a grade 10 certificate, and Im getting kicked out of grade 12, but its still being decided. I have all this stress, and if I dont get to do grade 12, i'm on my own. Im getting kicked out of the house, because Ive wasted every opportunity. I went to a private school and skipped the whole of year 10 due to the voices and bullying and religous belifies. I can't with life anymore, Ive never felt so depressed. I wasn't even this depressed when I skipped school. I can't follow instructions so thats why the school is kicking me out. But the feedback they given me from the work are adjustments, for one of them they wanted me to fit all the information onto 2 pages when I fited the info into 3 pages, but the instructions dont say that on the course. I will be at the meeting with all the teachers, cymhs and my mum to discuss what the options are for year 12 or if I will get a job. Have no idea what my purpose is as I can't get it together and I'm a christian but I dont seem like one . #schizophrenic #lazybum #worstdayever #deadintheinside #depressed

Guest_10343 Does anyone else feel mentally exhausted even on “normal” days?
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I’ve been reading through a lot of discussions here recently and I really appreciate how open people are about their experiences. After posting here the other day and seeing the thoughtful replies, it made me feel a bit more comfortable ... View more

Hi everyone, I’ve been reading through a lot of discussions here recently and I really appreciate how open people are about their experiences. After posting here the other day and seeing the thoughtful replies, it made me feel a bit more comfortable sharing again. Something I’ve been noticing lately is this constant mental exhaustion, even on days when nothing particularly stressful happens. It’s not always intense sadness - sometimes it’s more like my brain just feels drained all the time. Even simple decisions can feel like too much. Things like deciding what to cook, replying to messages, or planning the next day suddenly feel overwhelming. On the outside everything probably looks normal, but internally it feels like I’m running on very low battery. I’ve been trying a few small things to manage it - short walks, stepping away from screens for a bit, and occasionally talking things through with someone. During a rough week recently I also tried a quick telehealth chat with a GP (I ended up trying Hola Health once and also looked at a couple of other online options). It helped a little just being able to talk things through without having to organise a full clinic visit. It didn’t magically fix anything, but it did remind me that sometimes just talking things out can take a bit of pressure off. I’m curious if others here experience this kind of quiet mental exhaustion too.Does your mind feel tired even when you haven’t done much physically?What small things help you recharge when you’re feeling mentally drained? Really appreciate this space and the conversations here. Take care everyone.

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map