Immediate support
Immediate support

Depression

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

Start a discussion

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 discussion

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 discussion

smile14 Need some advice
  • replies: 2

Hi, I’m 21 and have been struggling with depression for a year now. No one in my family or friends seem to understand what it is like and I feel like more of a burden when I tell them what’s going on cause they stress about it and change how they act... View more

Hi, I’m 21 and have been struggling with depression for a year now. No one in my family or friends seem to understand what it is like and I feel like more of a burden when I tell them what’s going on cause they stress about it and change how they act around me. I don’t feel I have anyone to talk to. I don’t always feel suicidal but sometimes I just don’t want to be able to think or feel so I take pills to put me to sleep. I don’t want to do that anymore and I just want to feel that my life is worth living. Any suggestions on how to feel a little more happy - please don’t tell me to go for a run cause I can hardly get out of bed. Thanks

42 lady Medication not helping
  • replies: 4

After more than 20 years on and off various antidepressants I have to face the reality-they no longer help, they make me feel worse. I am giving up. If I have 'treatment resistant-depression' it is because the medications have failed, not me, but it ... View more

After more than 20 years on and off various antidepressants I have to face the reality-they no longer help, they make me feel worse. I am giving up. If I have 'treatment resistant-depression' it is because the medications have failed, not me, but it feels like I have failed, just another thing to feel hopeless about.

skw2000hk Lost hope
  • replies: 3

I have been separated under one roof cause i dont have money to move out. Now my ex keep giving me lots of mental stress. I dont know who i can get help. She have lots of super and always said if i divroce. I will lose everything. We have been marria... View more

I have been separated under one roof cause i dont have money to move out. Now my ex keep giving me lots of mental stress. I dont know who i can get help. She have lots of super and always said if i divroce. I will lose everything. We have been marriage for over 35 years. I dont know what she told my son now he don't even return my call or texts. I felt very lonely and try to get help from my psychologist. Only i have to spent even more my pension. I really despite and depressed. I have suicide thoughts but since talking to my psychologist it has ease a bit. Every night i think of it i can't go to sleep. Sleep pill or whiskey is the only aids. I used to be cheerful and happy. Have my own hobby but now nothing can help.What should i do?

Redkettle Need some advice
  • replies: 7

I am after some advice.I have struggled with depression most of my life and have been taking amti depressants for years. I have had a rough few months, and it gets so bad that I can't even make it to work for days sometimes.I have good intentions and... View more

I am after some advice.I have struggled with depression most of my life and have been taking amti depressants for years. I have had a rough few months, and it gets so bad that I can't even make it to work for days sometimes.I have good intentions and insight into my behaviour, but the more work I miss the harder it is to go and face my workmates.I know that a lot of them will be angry and not understand, and I get it.It's like I can't bring myself to put on a brave face and make the effort. I just feel so lost and alone

CaryB Loneliness
  • replies: 4

Hi I don't know how to deal with this feeling of loneliness it is getting worse I don't feel like getting out of bed in the mornings.since my wife died 7 months ago I am having trouble dealing with it ... I get so lonely.I get so teary all the time.I... View more

Hi I don't know how to deal with this feeling of loneliness it is getting worse I don't feel like getting out of bed in the mornings.since my wife died 7 months ago I am having trouble dealing with it ... I get so lonely.I get so teary all the time.I just need some comfort but don't know how to achieve this.I have joined Probus which is good but doesn't take away the loneliness feeling.I just miss having someone to love and hold.Please help me I don't know what to docary

Jasmine92 Need to talk to people who are going through the same
  • replies: 1

Hi All, This is my first time posting here. I’ve been dealing with depression on and off since the end of 2015. I’ve been seeing a psychologist since 2016, but recently stopped seeing her as our last few sessions I have not been talking much. Current... View more

Hi All, This is my first time posting here. I’ve been dealing with depression on and off since the end of 2015. I’ve been seeing a psychologist since 2016, but recently stopped seeing her as our last few sessions I have not been talking much. Currently I am going through a depressive phase and this started since November of last year. I just turned 30 and I have been married for just over a year now. My husband and I started dating since 2017, he has experienced a fair share of my depressive episodes. Whilst he has been extremely patient, I do feel this time his patience is wearing thin and he doesn’t know what to do anymore. I feel terrible and it is clearly affecting him quite negatively. Today we were meant to meet with my friends for dinner, but I decided not to go earlier this afternoon. I’ve bailed on social events quite a lot since November and my husband gets extremely frustrated when I do this - which I completely understand. I feel like a disappointment that I can’t even show up to hang out with friends. I’m disappointing my friends, my husband also my family. I don’t know how to get out of this funk. I know a regular routine is required, but I’m paralysed by the thought of leaving this house or bumping into someone I know. I quit my job recently because it became too hard to just move and have an idea of what to do. It’s just all feeling hopeless right now and I can’t see a way out. I’ve managed to get an appointment with a psychiatrist as it feels like the antidepressants I’m on are not helping. The last time I saw my psychologist she said that I might have bipolar. Terrified of the whole trial and error process of anti-depressants/mood stabilisers, but right now I feel like I need to try it since nothing else is changing. I just wanted to come on here and speak with people who have gone through something similar - it’s hard to speak with my husband about this as he tells me I just need to get on with it. I know he means well - and I don’t disagree with his statement - but I’m just struggling to make simple decisions and complete simple tasks like house chores. I feel like I’ve completely lost who I am..again.

PsychedelicFur Feeling like a total and utter failure..
  • replies: 5

It’s PF here again. I feel like a total and utter failure. I feel like the only thing I have ever accomplished is being in uni. I had extensive anxiety from my previous job. My anxiety got in the way. And I found it extremely overwhelming to deal wit... View more

It’s PF here again. I feel like a total and utter failure. I feel like the only thing I have ever accomplished is being in uni. I had extensive anxiety from my previous job. My anxiety got in the way. And I found it extremely overwhelming to deal with some of the work place mistreatment. I also found it difficult to hold down a job as well as do my studying. i can’t hold a relationship down. My last relationship; that I ended quite recently ago was because my partner would say manipulative things to me. AND I’m struggling to get my probationary license. I keep going for the test, passing stage one and then failing. I feel like such an utter failure and disappointment. I can’t hold down a job, or a relationship and I can’t get my probationary license. I have done extra extra hours of driving, way past the 120hrs. Driving in all conditions. I CAN drive and I have my own car. Although, everytime I get in the car with the instructor I get nervous and I despise the feeling of having someone examine my driving. it’s very debilitating. I have temporarily left social media, more specifically Facebook because that site was causing me to have severe anxiety and bad depression. I feel like such a BIG failure. I only have my university degree but semester one starts back, officially at the end of this month. I feel so crap about my accomplishments. I can’t keep a job, relationship and I CAN’T EVEN GET MY DRIVERS LICENSE. I feel pathetic

Jo999 Anyone claimed TPD for mental health?
  • replies: 2

Hello,I am thinking about claiming Total Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance through my superannuation for my mental health. I left work a few years ago and I am very unwell mentally. I have quite a lot of money there in my superannuation insurance,... View more

Hello,I am thinking about claiming Total Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance through my superannuation for my mental health. I left work a few years ago and I am very unwell mentally. I have quite a lot of money there in my superannuation insurance, but the thought of going through the process with the super funds makes me feel sick. I heard it is a tough process, very long, and insurance funds come after you and make life even more difficult. I have undergone many Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) in the past (due to a workers compensation situation - which was successful in my favour) and the IMEs are really awful. I'm not sure I can go through all that process again, but the money could make a big difference to my life (and to my children too). Has anyone claimed TPD and can you give some information about the process, what was involved and is it worth doing, or does it make your mental health worse?Thank you.

Bini7 Lonely
  • replies: 2

Hello i am 25 year old nursing international student with no family and friends here in Melbourne Australian.I feel really lonely and isolated.

Hello i am 25 year old nursing international student with no family and friends here in Melbourne Australian.I feel really lonely and isolated.

Elsye What is wrong with me?
  • replies: 6

I am a failure at everything. I don’t know how to do life. I’m almost 40, I’m not married, I haven’t even had a boyfriend since 2004. My family are super close with each other but not so much me. They all drop in on each other every day and hang out,... View more

I am a failure at everything. I don’t know how to do life. I’m almost 40, I’m not married, I haven’t even had a boyfriend since 2004. My family are super close with each other but not so much me. They all drop in on each other every day and hang out, but I’m never invited. I’ve brought this stuff up before a few times and they make an effort for a few weeks then just stop again. It’s always me calling them, or visiting them. I actually decided, I’m not going to call first as of New Year’s Day, to see what happened. Well it’s the 9th of Feb and I still haven’t heard from them. I have no friends. My career is going nowhere. In school I got HD’s yet my bosses have never seen my potential even though I always give 200%. Whenever I leave and get a new job the new employer doesn’t see my potential either and offer me a more junior position with less pay so I’m literally going backwards. I’ve been in therapy since my late teens, but my situation hasn’t improved. I just don’t know what to do. I feel as if I’ve missed the boat on the career and a husband and kids, and I’m so lonely and sad that I feel physical pain. Is this really the point of life? Just to trudge through one miserable day at a time? The thing is I’ll never have what I want, it’s now all too late. at best I’ll be a really old mum with no support network and my kids wouldn’t be close with their cousins who’d be years ahead of them in age etc, and I’ll always be junior for my age career wise.there’s this thing women do where they make you feel so inferior if they’re married/have kids and you don’t. So I just spend my whole life feeling inferior. People have taken to saying to my face patronising things like “you’ll find someone someday” when I didn’t ask, or worse, “if you were going to be married and have kids you’d have done it by now”, or my personal favourite, “I’d die if I was still single at your age”. I think I’m a nice person. Im intelligent, I’m driven, I’m caring and generous, I just don’t understand why I can’t find a relationship or even friends, or succeed at work. Who doesn’t have friends?? The only negative is I’m fat which seems to be a dealbreaker for men. I didn’t used to be but 20 years of comfort eating just to get through the night will do that to you I guess. What can I do?