Depression

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

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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: 1

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

All discussions

purpleg Work colleague argument
  • replies: 3

I have had an argument with a colleague. I am female, they are male. I work in a school environment. They turned on me after I called out to them to close a door and not to let students inside at lunchtime (as per procedures) . They raised their voic... View more

I have had an argument with a colleague. I am female, they are male. I work in a school environment. They turned on me after I called out to them to close a door and not to let students inside at lunchtime (as per procedures) . They raised their voice and said they don't like the way I talk to them, are sick of getting emails from me (I think I have sent two). I felt it was really nasty and unprofessional; also it felt one-sided (I don't recall saying much).They are a teacher, I am not. At the end of the tirade they said they were taking this to the Principal. Other colleagues heard the argument and have been supportive. I am not ok, won't be going to work tomorrow and not sure I want to go back.Would love some positive comments, I am feeling at an all time low.

Phoenix99 Nothing is interesting
  • replies: 3

For the past 4 years I have been in bed doing nothing and staring at the wall. I am not even interested in going on my phone or watching tv. Everything in life is boring. I am completely uninterested in everything in life. I only get out of bed if i ... View more

For the past 4 years I have been in bed doing nothing and staring at the wall. I am not even interested in going on my phone or watching tv. Everything in life is boring. I am completely uninterested in everything in life. I only get out of bed if i have to go somewhere such as work or an appointment. Then I go straight back to staring at the ceiling for the rest of the night. I am becoming suicidal. I used to take an antidepressant but it made it even worse so I stopped. Now I also have apathy since starting and stopping the antidepressant that has not gone away. Every time I go to do something I don't get anything out of what I am doing. No response in my brain. What is the point in doing it then? All I feel is bored no matter what I do.

Bula97 Depression & mental health
  • replies: 6

Hi everyoneSo from years on I've been experiencing depression and anxiety it's been going for a long time had treatments done but still wasn't enough I'm still struggling everyday in life and I feel lost alone coming past on here seeing post of other... View more

Hi everyoneSo from years on I've been experiencing depression and anxiety it's been going for a long time had treatments done but still wasn't enough I'm still struggling everyday in life and I feel lost alone coming past on here seeing post of other people and there experiences in there life's I just wanted to share mine I've gotta get new strategies in place and just really help my mental health to be better again and I know we can do all that too.

lil1205 Feeling buried
  • replies: 1

Sorry if this is a long post, but I feel like expressing this will at least do me some good mentally.(Put it out in the universe and all that) Since I was a teenager, I have felt like I struggle with my mental health. I lost half of my immediate fami... View more

Sorry if this is a long post, but I feel like expressing this will at least do me some good mentally.(Put it out in the universe and all that) Since I was a teenager, I have felt like I struggle with my mental health. I lost half of my immediate family members before my first birthday and puberty hit me hard hormonally, to the point that my mother had considered having me tested for Bipolar Disorder. As a teenager, I was not kind to myself mentally or physically but I got through it and grew. Upon pregnancy, my anxiety grew worse and did not ease very much after.I have always been prone to being irritable, over reacting, shutting myself off and putting myself last.Now as an adult in my 30's, I have a family of my own but each day is feeling like more of a struggle. I have family history of depression, so I am aware that genetically this is a possibility for me as well. At present, I feel like my brain is always going and I struggle to switch off unless I am distracted by something engaging like games. When I do switch off outside of this, I sometimes feel like the world is too much. (For example, If i have a slow day at work.)My life consists of full time work, a mortgage, family and the struggles of other close family members. I have had my anxiety grow and the feeling of hopelessness expand since my teens though. I know that I should be seeking the mental health sessions that we are lucky enough to have access to through medicare, but my worry is that it will cost money that i do not have or that i will be required to take time off work to attend, which i cannot do. My brain reminds me that I have felt this way for 2 decades (With therapy as a teen experienced) and that therapy is not really seeming like a realistic resolution long term. I know my life is not bad or harder than others and that more than likely, I have some chemical imbalance in my brain. Mentally, i feel like i handle things just fine but then body betrays that with things such as my eye twitching or feeling anxious at random or the desire to just cry and I feel like I'm 10 steps back. I personally feel that therapy long term may not resolve this. It was reinforced more so as I was prescribed an old antidepressant for my jaw clenching (New mouth guard had made it worse) and while it was only for 2 weeks, my brain felt lifted. I know I need to seek help and that most will agree that a long term solution is not medication. I worry that I will try to get help and just be told to come see them every fortnight indefinitely, to which all I can repeat is I had a random anxiety or depressive moment and that everything is fine but I don't feel it. I think in my mind, I just want a mental break from my brain and to just feel free and at peace for a bit. Thank you for letting me express myself on here.

SleepyRain Trouble sleeping
  • replies: 12

Hello everyone, It's nearly 3am as I'm posting this. I'm finding it hard to go back to sleep as I was woken up. In general I find it hard to sleep these days at night. I can sometimes nap during the day to catch up but yeh issues at night. The usual ... View more

Hello everyone, It's nearly 3am as I'm posting this. I'm finding it hard to go back to sleep as I was woken up. In general I find it hard to sleep these days at night. I can sometimes nap during the day to catch up but yeh issues at night. The usual too much on my mind, sometime I'm aware I'm thinking and sometimes I'm not. I just want all my problems to disappear or for myself to disappear. I know it's impossible. I've tried calming/relaxation exercises and staying away from 'screen' before heading off but nothing seems to work. Anyone got any ideas? I'm just tired of being tired and everything else I guess. Thanks,SleepyRain

Darcy2020 Coping with Depression
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I'm a 23 year old with chronic ADHD, anxiety and depression. I am currently experiencing the worst burn out of my life after months unpacking trauma in therapy. Turns out they weren't joking when they said trauma work gets worse before it g... View more

Hi there, I'm a 23 year old with chronic ADHD, anxiety and depression. I am currently experiencing the worst burn out of my life after months unpacking trauma in therapy. Turns out they weren't joking when they said trauma work gets worse before it gets better. I'm trying to hold on hope, and when I do manage to get a few hours of sleep and leave my room (I WFH) I can believe that things will be better on the other side. The issue is that I am in my final semester of uni with one month to go, and that month feels impossible. I have no motivation left, I can't concentrate and I just have nothing left in the tank. My doctor thinks I need anti-depressants but because of the side-effects I shouldn't start them until after exams, so I'm on my own there. I also don't have any support system where I am. I took longer to graduate than all my friends and they've all left now. My doctor asked me yesterday about a suicide plan and if there was anyone I could trust to go to and I had to answer that there wasn't. I have a few friends but they're all overseas and I've withdrawn from them almost entirely because I feel like a burden on them, so I hide how I'm feeling and end up feeling misunderstood. I also don't have anything to look forward to after graduation. I've been so depleted that i can't make any decisions about my future and part of me isn't fully convinced I'll make it there anyway. Basically I'm really struggling, and all I can do in this next month is just cope, survive and scrape through. If anyone is going through something similar, or has any tips on how to do that, how to pull through when you have nothing left to give, I would love to hear.

dwade3 Self-sabotage
  • replies: 1

Lately i've been having some pretty bad episodes. im sleeping later, not eating well. rewatching a childhood tv for the 1000th time. Ditching my hobbies because im tired and dont see any usefulness in doing it anymore. There's no sugarcoating that ri... View more

Lately i've been having some pretty bad episodes. im sleeping later, not eating well. rewatching a childhood tv for the 1000th time. Ditching my hobbies because im tired and dont see any usefulness in doing it anymore. There's no sugarcoating that right now, i am a loser, a bum whatever you want to call it. I'm so low, alone, tired of taking chances, because i end up miserable all over again. My depression is definitely a big factor in how badly im doing. But i've also been enabling it to, I've mad poor choice after poor choice. I also continuously lower my own expectations with my university work, because im mentally exhausted, when suddenly just scraping by is my new goal. I have an opportunity to go overseas for something amazing and yet im still sabotaging myself. So badly to the point, i think in my head that just killing myself is not only a good option but an ideal one , or weaponizing my depression and taking pity on myself will earn me a jail out of free card, because its easy.

My Mishy Just feel life isn't worth it anymore
  • replies: 3

I'm a 72 yo woman married to my partner for 30 years. Second time round for both of us. The last few months I've just felt so unmotivated even when I try, it's just not worth the effort. I'm in pain from arthritis most of the time and am having a ful... View more

I'm a 72 yo woman married to my partner for 30 years. Second time round for both of us. The last few months I've just felt so unmotivated even when I try, it's just not worth the effort. I'm in pain from arthritis most of the time and am having a full knee replacement soon. I sit in my chair most of the day and can't even be bothered to make the bed let alone anything else. My mind now constantly goes back to what my life could have been like if I'd been made feel loved and worthwhile by my father, but he constantly put me down and made me feel like I was totally unworthy of anyone decent to want me. I never thought I was good enough so I ended up marrying my first husband who was a mentally unstable alcoholic because that's all I thought I was worthy off. After 10 years of abuse and 2 children I feel gathered the strength to leave him. My 2nd husband was slightly better but also drank too much and had several affairs. I only really have stayed with him as it gave me and my kids security and a roof over our heads. I think this has come back to haunt me as nothing can make a difference now. I feel if I'd been shown love and affection growing up I would have blossomed into a much more confident woman and I'd have never let these type of men into my life. My brother was also very cruel to me, calling me an awful nickname that eventually everyone called me except my mother, but she didn't make them stop regardless of how humiliating it was to a 13 yo girl. His put downs have carried over to speaking nasty comments to my own children, now all adults, so I have removed him from my life too. I just wish I could feel some joy back in my life instead of this continuing feeling of emptiness and unhappiness.

Crum Felling as if life has no more road
  • replies: 3

Im 36 ryr old male how has a partner and 3 young boys living out of town on small property. Everything was as happy as we could be with our youngest child being sick from birth which has caused a lot of stress and worry to us all to then have 2yrs ag... View more

Im 36 ryr old male how has a partner and 3 young boys living out of town on small property. Everything was as happy as we could be with our youngest child being sick from birth which has caused a lot of stress and worry to us all to then have 2yrs ago my nextdoor neighbour/ relative had taken his own life to were l had found him. It was these last 2yrs of trying to keep a family together work 2jobs plus help out my relatives widow had all but brought me to my knee. Untill 2 months ago l found out l have end stage kidney failour. My hole life has been flipped and l have no direction we dont know how long l have left to live and lm scared of my children not having a father to grow up with.I dont know what path to take after the multipul fail surgerys and pain mentaly and physical. I am at the end of my road worthless sick and broken and still trying to hide the pain from my kids. With my life now been every 2day in hospital for treatment. No dignity left. With the feelings of being strong father and husband have been removed. And to alot of you guys out there know this feels like the end of life with no other way out. I need help to see a better future.

Chars2004 I'm finding it hard to keep going.
  • replies: 1

Hi, my pronouns are she/her. I'm 20 years old I'm really struggling to keep going with life and especially the how. In primary school I struggled a lot to regulate my emotions because of at the time- undiagnosed autism. There were also a few kids who... View more

Hi, my pronouns are she/her. I'm 20 years old I'm really struggling to keep going with life and especially the how. In primary school I struggled a lot to regulate my emotions because of at the time- undiagnosed autism. There were also a few kids who bullied me for my differences. Anyway long story short after primary school I started to school refuse, And from 14 I never went back to an in person school, I tried to finish high school online a few times but I always freaked out and cancelled it. Anyway I'v been depressed for a long time and have really struggled with pure o ocd and social anxiety as well. Tonight I felt so depressed. It's hard too put into words but I just feel like I failed at life. I have no friends haven't for years. I barley leave my family's home to go out anywhere. I keep trying to find something too study so I can move forward get a job ect. But I feel like I have no passion for anything career wise. I tried to start a photography course and then realize photography was never for me anyway. So then I think about just getting a job but most unskilled ones need you to socialize and customer service and I start panicking around people my age I don't know its so hard . So I feel stuck really stuck. Because I do want to move out and have my own space and eventually have friends and a girlfriend. And find other people to talk to who are also in the LGBTQIA+ community (I'm a lesbian). But it all feels so hard to just be able to do normal things like get a job. I've tried so much therapy but its not working. And just feel like I'm a failure and stuck. The only things besides my family that make me feel anything other then either numb or anxious is my passion for queer stories especially wlw stories, books shows, games etc. When i'm in a story I feel free. But I cant turn that into a job.So I just don't know what to do.If anyone here is/has been in a similar situation and has any advice and/or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you( and sorry for the bad grammar never fully learnt it but I'm trying to teah myself)