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

Black Bubblegum Was getting better but it's gone to crap in an instant
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I've posted in this group a few times, mostly during Covid lockdown times where I lost my job due to redundancy and the loneliness and isolation which I'll admit I didn't handle as well as I should have. But with some help from people on... View more

Hi everyone, I've posted in this group a few times, mostly during Covid lockdown times where I lost my job due to redundancy and the loneliness and isolation which I'll admit I didn't handle as well as I should have. But with some help from people on here plus family and talking things out, things really started feeling like they were turning around. But just as I start to feel happy in myself, another hit again. I had my most recent Covid jab around September last year and then finally it caught up with me in December, causing me to miss my oldest friends wedding. From there I just felt lethargic and I went for a blood test in March, everything came back great but they saw an anomaly, so I went for another blood test which I discussed the results yesterday, despite being in otherwise pretty good health for my age of 40, I now apparently have Type 1 diabetes. Apparently they have no idea how people get it as this is autoimmune not influenced by lifestyle or external factors, apparently I could've gotten it from my Covid vaccinations, or it could have been as a by product of Covid itself, either way it's now my problem. With everything going to crap in the world nowadays, from the cost of living to the diminished quality of life, I've really tried to be stoic and take it as it comes, even with this the few people I've told I've maintained a positive outlook saying I'll use this as an opportunity to be the healthiest I've ever been in spite of it and not to worry, but inside all I feel is yet another punch to the guts, more stinking bloody money down the hole and another thing that's going wrong in my life. At what point, is any of this worth continuing for? I know there's people that have it worse and I've always tried to maintain perspective, but this honestly just feels like another hit and another loss. I just want to have at least a little while where things don't go wrong, y'know? I don't feel like that's being greedy.

Silverstar87 Anxious and lonely
  • replies: 1

I moved to Australia 5 years ago and I had a very difficult time settling in. i used to work in a corporate back home and left all my family to be with my partner. I found it hard to get a job and slowly lost my identity and confidence. After a year ... View more

I moved to Australia 5 years ago and I had a very difficult time settling in. i used to work in a corporate back home and left all my family to be with my partner. I found it hard to get a job and slowly lost my identity and confidence. After a year - i started getting anxious and scared when meeting people. I started volunteering which helped me get a job and make friends and i was feeling better and now last year we had to relocate again. I am still trying to get a job but people seem hesitant to employ me and I am going through all the previous emotions. I feel worthless when i fail to clear an interview and now i get angry and depressed all the time. I feel resentful towards my partner who is having a good job and doesn't seem to understand how i feel. I have no friends and day by day i am retreating into my shell and feel very lonely and unwanted.

dubrovnik Depression
  • replies: 4

Hello I have written to this post before & I thank everybody who replied to my posts.Right now I am fed hopeless & don’t know what to do.I had a huge argument with my sister, she said some nasty comment to me, I told her off and this happened in publ... View more

Hello I have written to this post before & I thank everybody who replied to my posts.Right now I am fed hopeless & don’t know what to do.I had a huge argument with my sister, she said some nasty comment to me, I told her off and this happened in public, I was so embarrassed, everything was going well for a while, this escalated because I organised for a nurse to look after my mother who has the beginnings of dementia, the nurse is going to look after my mother three times a week, my mother is 81, I live on my own but I always visit my parents & help them when I am there. my sister accused me of being selfish, this was in a cafe in a shopping centre. I walked out of the cafe, I was too embarrassed to stay there.I felt so humiliated & I couldn’t stop crying.

Mike_346 Lacking courage to speak with GP
  • replies: 6

I am going through depression for a long time and was trying to manage it on self so far. However, lately I have been going through hard times. I tried to book an appointment with GP so many times but I didn't succeed because of lack of courage or fe... View more

I am going through depression for a long time and was trying to manage it on self so far. However, lately I have been going through hard times. I tried to book an appointment with GP so many times but I didn't succeed because of lack of courage or fear of my opinion being dismissed by the GP. I am terrible at story telling. I don't know where to start from. Lately, I am having trouble sleeping and experiencing some tremors. I know I need help but not sure if I will get appropriate support. I am terribly low of self esteem now.

white knight Grumpy people- a mouse wheel
  • replies: 6

OK, I confess I'm grumpy. I've tried for many years to contain it without some success. So what leads to this? What can partners/family do to tolerate it? What can the grumpy bum do? Grumpy old man syndrome is real. It can come from no longer having ... View more

OK, I confess I'm grumpy. I've tried for many years to contain it without some success. So what leads to this? What can partners/family do to tolerate it? What can the grumpy bum do? Grumpy old man syndrome is real. It can come from no longer having the capacity to tolerate many things life throws at us. This can include- young people, chores, mishaps and things other people have opinions about eg religion, politics and behaviour. This intolerance leads to less ability to make friends especially joining them on adventures or gatherings. A grumpy person can expect others to think like them and that isn't being flexible. Grumpiness can be increased through mentally health issues and medication. Our partners suffer the most. From their perspective it's simple grumpiness and they resort to feeding the mouse wheel to keep your happy momentum going. A life of obligation is a life of fear. Reducing that fear is a grumpy person's obligation. The responsibility is on the grumpy party to take a deep breath, accept that life includes hurdles and when issues happen ask yourself "what is the worse case senario"? If the dog got off the leash and doesn't bite people, the worse case is getting exercise catching it. But if your partner made error and let the dog escape, the worse scenario is to damage your relationship by blame, when that error is one many make including you. So grumpiness can be a form of hypocrisy and asking ones self "do I expect perfection? Isn't error normal"? Is to minimalise your expectations to contain it. Eventually change of mind set/attitude means you'll laugh at events you once lost lost your temper about. It's not only important this transformation from grumpy to laughter, it should be your goal. Last week I slipped on spaghetti, a little my wife dropped and burst into laughter lying on the floor, then more laughter as our small dogs jumped on me (licking me with sauce) then my wife- stacks on the mill! Grumpiness is reducible. Life includes errors, errors prove you are indeed human. TonyWK

jesse6969 Talking to Doctor
  • replies: 2

I don't know what to tell the doc. i was previously seeing someone about my anger issues and relationship issues. Now i dont know how to tell a doc my true feelings do i even tell them basically only seeing him to get a recommended person to see. Bec... View more

I don't know what to tell the doc. i was previously seeing someone about my anger issues and relationship issues. Now i dont know how to tell a doc my true feelings do i even tell them basically only seeing him to get a recommended person to see. Because i think from anyone's outside view of me my life is perfect i have somewhere to live a family a wife who and a son but i just feel alone and worthless and that i shouldn't even try anymore

MelbourneDad Struggling with standard mid life issues?
  • replies: 5

hello I have never reached out to mental health support services before. So this post is my first ever attempt to do so. I have also booked a GP appointment for tomorrow to start the process of getting some professional help. I am not expecting any r... View more

hello I have never reached out to mental health support services before. So this post is my first ever attempt to do so. I have also booked a GP appointment for tomorrow to start the process of getting some professional help. I am not expecting any response to this post. But I need an avenue to just write out how I am feeling, and hence this post. I am 39 years old dad. My wife and I both have white-collar jobs, a hefty mortgage and two lovely kids in school. Over the last few months, I have been feeling depressed for a number of reasons: (a) While I have a good job, I don't know where it is leading me, (b) i feel I have been too focused on job, house work and family life and that I haven't invested any time on myself - whether it be taking a couple of hours off alone, or exercise, or keeping up with friends, (c) i am constantly worried about our financials due to mortgage and kids' school fees; (d) i don't have anyone to talk to (my wife wants to talk to me, but we rarely find time with all the things in our life. And like most men, i haven't invested in maintaining a good friend circle). In recent weeks, i have found myself getting angry at small things - which is adversely affecting my wife and at times my kids. I am ashamed about. What's surprising is that I know what's bothering me - but I still don't do anything about it. I need to: (a) change teams at work in order to work with people who watch my back, or get a different job, (b) I need to invest time in myself - perhaps join a gym or go on small hikes - in order to to just mentally time-out from the daily grind, (c) I need to see a professional to work through my mental health issues, (d) i need to get back into office and stop working from home all the time - as I need social interaction, (e) i need to reconnect with old friends, (f) i need to control my anger. Today I cried after my wife and kids left for their day and i was alone at home. But i have taken an hour out from work to sign up to beyond blue, book a GP appointment. Thanks to anyone who has read any of the above.

Scooteraus Bipolar
  • replies: 10

Today I have been diagnosed with bipolar. im not really sure where to go from here. The doctor gave me some pills but I'm not sure what to do or who to talk to. Do I tell people or keep it to myself?

Today I have been diagnosed with bipolar. im not really sure where to go from here. The doctor gave me some pills but I'm not sure what to do or who to talk to. Do I tell people or keep it to myself?

KyPy Lost-and drifting farther and farther away from who I was
  • replies: 1

Hi, bit of a background on me. I have been living overseas away from home for 7 years now. I came here pursuing education that I loved. However, after finishing my extensive education I feel.....lost. I've had a couple of jobs in the field, including... View more

Hi, bit of a background on me. I have been living overseas away from home for 7 years now. I came here pursuing education that I loved. However, after finishing my extensive education I feel.....lost. I've had a couple of jobs in the field, including one that I got let go from, and nothing feels right anymore. I feel lost...I used to be soo driven as to what to do, now I find myself indecisive as to what comes next, paralyzed at making the wrong decision and uncertain as to what I should pursue or dream for next. Seeing as I'm not finding my field of work as enjoyable as I thought it would be I am worried I just wasted nearly a decade of my life. I want to be happy, but find it harder and harder. My focus has diminished, and I find my thoughts scattered and often eat me alive. I think of a million things I should try or pursue, but never follow through. I feel like I've wasted soo much time. I don't know what to do. Hoping someone can talk to me about this. I'm not one to reach out, I'm usually the person with laser focus, but I find that person is further and further away every day.

Penny_ Spaced out!
  • replies: 2

I've seen 3 different doctors and they all said I am suffering from vertigo, but I'm not too sure about this. I feel really spaced out, dizzy, disconnected (like there is a glass wall in front of me), head fog, my memory and general concentration/foc... View more

I've seen 3 different doctors and they all said I am suffering from vertigo, but I'm not too sure about this. I feel really spaced out, dizzy, disconnected (like there is a glass wall in front of me), head fog, my memory and general concentration/focus is terrible, headaches and fatigue and my emotions feel numb. I've had every test you can think of and it's all normal. Can this be an episode of depression? I had a very bad episode of depression about 6 years ago but this feels different. It's a very weird and uncomfortable feeling.

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