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
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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

Start a discussion

Leleina Triggers
  • replies: 2

I don't know where to begin... I just feel low. I met someone in social media, we spent an amount of time chatting and then it stopped. He wasn't well too. Triggering along with other triggers like my parents being here and my mother has started one ... View more

I don't know where to begin... I just feel low. I met someone in social media, we spent an amount of time chatting and then it stopped. He wasn't well too. Triggering along with other triggers like my parents being here and my mother has started one of her moods again, nagging incessantly, and then hurting me with her words. I'm doing my best to let go and let it slide. But when she was emotionally abusing me in the presence of my youngest, it broke me. I could see this is what intergenerational trauma looks like. My father, he doesn't say much now but what can he say? He's traumatised me enough. I'm trying to heal to a better place but these triggers keep coming back and it feels so overwhelming having thus whirlwind of emotions yet nothing seems real. If you know what I mean... but I'm hurting and this hurt is real. Pained x

chinnychungus I'm not sure what to do
  • replies: 2

I'm not sure what to do. My depression is eating away at me and I have absolutely no motivation or drive to do anything except scrape by my uni work and do my rostered shifts at work every week. I have seemingly no interests in my hobbies and struggl... View more

I'm not sure what to do. My depression is eating away at me and I have absolutely no motivation or drive to do anything except scrape by my uni work and do my rostered shifts at work every week. I have seemingly no interests in my hobbies and struggle to really do anything but lay in bed and contemplate everything if I'm not working or at uni. My anxiety has also been really bad the last few weeks and I feel like I want to go see someone to speak to about it. But it's daunting for me and I'm just not sure overall. It's become really frustrating because I want to be able to do stuff but I just cannot bring myself to do it, I cannot bring myself to do anything and I just want to feel better and be better and be able to do stuff.

Edna Average Taking a month off from work
  • replies: 7

Hi there, Has anyone taken a month or more off work and successfully transitioned back? Background is that I had a traumatic experience at work with a colleague making false allegations and the company not backing me sufficiently. I was completely cl... View more

Hi there, Has anyone taken a month or more off work and successfully transitioned back? Background is that I had a traumatic experience at work with a colleague making false allegations and the company not backing me sufficiently. I was completely cleared through a formal investigation. However, six months later am still struggling with anxiety and depression as the colleague is still elsewhere in the organisation and undermining me. I’ve developed insomnia and started having dark thoughts. I know I probably need time off but am worried about the stigma. Any words of encouragement and better still, examples of where this has helped turn your life around? I want to change jobs but am too burned out to perform in an interview right now.

Happiness_I_Miss_You Where can I find real support? I’m so so so tired of this
  • replies: 2

20yrs on meds, diff therapies, being fobbed off by doctors, being misdiagnosed over and over again. Not being listened to. Being told the way I’m feeling is “normal”. Losing friends, becoming a bad mother, withdrawing from everyone, cutting my shifts... View more

20yrs on meds, diff therapies, being fobbed off by doctors, being misdiagnosed over and over again. Not being listened to. Being told the way I’m feeling is “normal”. Losing friends, becoming a bad mother, withdrawing from everyone, cutting my shifts more and more at work, more sick days, more break downs at work, more breakdowns when it comes to parenting, complaining all the time, staying in bed for weeks on end, never ever being able to leave the house as I cannot even shower. Being ignored over and over again when I beg beg beg beg beg for help and still I’m like this. I don’t want to keep living this way. I don’t want to die. I just want to live and be able to have some quality of life. There are no psychs with open books in my area, my long standing GP forgets my history and repeats the same things. I’m over it. Where do I find someone who will really listen? I spend days and nights doing my own research for treatment and the doctors never want to listen to me. Why can’t we advocate for ourselves and be heard?

Daliah I feel sad and alone despite being so loved.
  • replies: 2

I don’t know why but I feel so alone despite being loved. I have so much love to hand out to everyone in my life but when it comes back, I don’t know what to do. There is nothing bad in my life to make me feel like I do and yet, here I am feeling it ... View more

I don’t know why but I feel so alone despite being loved. I have so much love to hand out to everyone in my life but when it comes back, I don’t know what to do. There is nothing bad in my life to make me feel like I do and yet, here I am feeling it so intensely. It always makes me feel like there’s something wrong with me.

Shaunyy30 Feeling depressed and my life not being Where it should be now
  • replies: 3

Hi am Shaun am 29 years old and am feeling a bit down manly because I’ve recently split with my partner and I feel like my life is going no where

Hi am Shaun am 29 years old and am feeling a bit down manly because I’ve recently split with my partner and I feel like my life is going no where

spontaneous sunflower I want to start living but I don't know how
  • replies: 22

I have been struggling with depression and anxiety for a number of years now. I’ve been seeing a psychologist since I was diagnosed and I’ve sought help on these forums. Both have been helpful; some aspects of my mental health have improved and some ... View more

I have been struggling with depression and anxiety for a number of years now. I’ve been seeing a psychologist since I was diagnosed and I’ve sought help on these forums. Both have been helpful; some aspects of my mental health have improved and some haven’t. I’d say the main thing getting help has done is made me understand my feelings better and stop me from causing serious harm to myself. But I’m yet to see some real improvement and I’m starting to feel hopeless. I feel like I’m losing everything and I didn’t even have much to begin with. I left high school because of my struggles. I completed a one-year TAFE course but have yet to do anything with it. I’m 19 and I’ve never had a job because of my anxiety. I’ve been trying to apply for jobs and have even been to a couple job interviews but the whole process is just nauseating and I’m so inept at the whole thing. All my friends are going on with their uni degrees, working and earning/saving money, getting their licenses, etc. I have none of that because of my anxiety and depression. Everyday I feel myself falling behind my friends and drifting away from them. All of this boils down to the stark realisation that I don’t really know who I am or what I want. I feel like I’ve spent my whole life so far trying to work this out. I’ve always been quite self-analytical and philosophical. Maybe that’s my ultimate issue. I can’t just do things (like most functioning adults do), I need to almost feel like it’s my purpose to do whatever the thing is. But I’ve never really felt like that, I feel like an imposter and out of place in most situations. It scares me that I’m almost 20 and I have no work experience, no savings, no prospects. I know I don’t need to have everything figured out but I honestly have nothing figured out. Life just isn’t very fun and I don’t think I’m a fun person to be around anymore but I’m not sure how to change any of this. I look back on my life so far and I don't feel I was even there for most of it, like even in the good memories I'm in disbelief that it was even real. Maybe I'm just thinking this because right now I'm nowhere near "happy" or "okay"... I don't know. I just feel like I haven't lived and I want to but I don't even know how to start. I feel like my whole life is just being eaten away by my depression, anxiety and internal battles.

McKnzie Depression and past trauma
  • replies: 2

First time posting here - I've battled depression and anxiety since my childhood. It haunts me and I wish I didn't have it. Started acupunture treatment for other issues and he instantly picked up on my depression. I took the hit pretty hard as I hav... View more

First time posting here - I've battled depression and anxiety since my childhood. It haunts me and I wish I didn't have it. Started acupunture treatment for other issues and he instantly picked up on my depression. I took the hit pretty hard as I have tried to heal myself without medication for a while. Each time I go, he always asks, how's the heaviness...I sometimes wish people realise how hard it is to not have that heaviness carrying it around... past trauma, anxiety, it's just part of my mechanics, and I try and not let it get me but gosh it's hard deal some days - if only people really knew the happiest of people, have the saddest of eyes if only they truly looked

oz_robbo caught in a cycle
  • replies: 7

Not sure how to break the cycle of depression, negative/destructive thoughts. the catastrophizing. just made some changes in my life to make it better. moved towns/states. change in relationship. change of workplace, same employer. just found a new c... View more

Not sure how to break the cycle of depression, negative/destructive thoughts. the catastrophizing. just made some changes in my life to make it better. moved towns/states. change in relationship. change of workplace, same employer. just found a new councillor, only had the one visit, seems quite good. Need some advice on how to help break the cycle, just so alone, slowly meeting people and getting out and about. just feel so empty with no one to turn too. just so confused and overwhelmed at times. 2500 characters isn't enough room to type it all out lol

Mumma_Ky This really never ends, does it?
  • replies: 5

This is never going to end,is it. Im doing everything that I can think of to help myself manage my symptoms of depression and anxiety, I’m seeing a psychologist..I have a toolbox full of cbt tools, I’m aware of how I’m feeling and things that trigger... View more

This is never going to end,is it. Im doing everything that I can think of to help myself manage my symptoms of depression and anxiety, I’m seeing a psychologist..I have a toolbox full of cbt tools, I’m aware of how I’m feeling and things that trigger me and I’m on antidepressants. It’s been 3 years since I developed depression and 16years since I’ve been conscious of my anxiety. I just want to take myself away and not have to speak or interact with anyone, maybe I just don’t get to be better than this. Maybe it’s ok to stop trying to work this out, because to be honest, it’s exhausting and I’m tired of it. Other people live solitary lives, are they just brave enough to be themselves, I just think that’s where I’m at now. I force myself to go to work, pharmacy, and it’s destroying my head. Im not financially secure enough to give up work, and up until now I never wanted to, but I really struggle to get myself in there. I feel like I’m on a never ending cycle of feeling bad, getting help,feeling better, feeling worse etc. I don’t believe anymore that I can get better...I think this is it. I have lost my happy thoughts. I have lost hope.