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: 0

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

dubrovnik Fed up, angry & unsupported
  • replies: 4

Hello i have written previously to this forum & had a lot of supportive and caring messages from people who really seemed to understand my situation.Thank you all for responding. My mother is suffering from vascular dementia, a nurse comes to care fo... View more

Hello i have written previously to this forum & had a lot of supportive and caring messages from people who really seemed to understand my situation.Thank you all for responding. My mother is suffering from vascular dementia, a nurse comes to care for her3 days a week, I work part time now & care for my mother on my days off.I took my mother to her doctor for her regular checkup mum has had problems standing up & getting up, she uses a walker & walking stick. I spoke to her doctor and told him that’s what has been happening, he referred her to get some tests done at a local clinic, ji have also organised a physiotherapist to come to my parents home twice a week to help them with their mobility.i told my sister that I took mum to visit her doctor, she had the audacity to call the doctor & ask him did I tell him about her problems with standing, mums doctor spoke to her and told her that that I told him everything.I asked her why she did that, she said that she didn’t believe that I told himabout mums current situation. she doubted me which made me very upset and angry, we got into an argument which left me really distraught.I am a very articulate & courteous woman who is very good at communicating but this makes me doubt myself I am feeling very down & don’t know what to do.

TheKingOfHearts What should I do?
  • replies: 1

Hey guys. I'm back again. and I’m now trialing more antidepressants not sure if I’ve mentioned it but I’ve tried a few medications that ended up giving me really bad anxiety and the other one extreme tiredness. so now I’m waiting to see the doctor to... View more

Hey guys. I'm back again. and I’m now trialing more antidepressants not sure if I’ve mentioned it but I’ve tried a few medications that ended up giving me really bad anxiety and the other one extreme tiredness. so now I’m waiting to see the doctor to change antidepressants. i also suffer from autism and schizophrenia because one mental disorder isn’t enough for one person apparently. and I’m really struggling with the problem of things never going to be okay or perfect. I find the idea of having a life less than what I want it to be extremely hard to deal with and it causes me a great deal of suffering. i see my cousin having this beautiful lavish life filled with three houses, cars for the entire family, three two week long vacations and expensive purses along with the trifecta of health, good looks and love and I am very jealous and envious of her. I want that, I want to experience the good life, a life of wealth and health. happiness in a word is wealthy to me. sure wealth doesn’t buy you happiness but it makes life a thousand times better. and the thing about me is I’m poor, I’m in poverty along with my mother, I hate having this broken down stuff, the fridge, the slow and weak, thin water etc i wish for a better life and it’s not just the wealth, it’s the health, her and all her kids have great health. buy I don’t, I’ve got mental and physical conditions. I’m sad all the time especially because of my lack of energy, the fact I cannot even get out of bed, shower, cook, clean, work etc I’m on the pension. i have no friends and no family besides my mother and those on Facebook. i have no lover and no past relationships, I’ve never had a boyfriend. And I’m over it all, I also especially hate my side effects the dry mouth, the hunger, the weight gain, the inability to enjoy a night out because I can’t drink. its terrible so I’ve come back seeking more advice. what should I do? I have asked for various advice before but all about bits and pieces now here is the whole story. what would you do in my situation? when things will never be perfect, when I will always be unhealthy and poor and chained to my meds like a slave to the medical community?

Ranga-1 At a crossroads
  • replies: 14

Hi, I'm in my fifties and for the past few years my husband has been chronically ill. For the past few years, it's been one thing after the other, insofar as his health is concerned. I work and study (hopefully complete my online degree this year or ... View more

Hi, I'm in my fifties and for the past few years my husband has been chronically ill. For the past few years, it's been one thing after the other, insofar as his health is concerned. I work and study (hopefully complete my online degree this year or early next year). I see a psychologist and am encouraging my husband to do the same. He cannot work and this depresses him, along with the health issues. I feel like we are heading in different directions (maybe because I"m busy and on a new career path). I find myself constantly resentful and irritated with him. I'm wondering if this is normal when dealing with spouse who is not firing on all cylinders. I have checked in with our two young adult sons and they tell me they're coping okay with their dad's issues, which makes me feel a bit better. I wonder about moving away from this area when I finish my degree because I think I would prefer a different working environment than what's on offer here. I could possibly get a rental and have our son move in - it would do him good to get away from this area because there's nothing here for him that he's interested in. He's studying at the moment two days a week, so it's good he's occupied. Any thoughts or support from this wonderful community would be appreciated.

Riri Cross roads
  • replies: 17

I have been married for two years and known my husband for five. Im quiet independent with a secure attachment style his is more insecure and a little co dependent. My parents never approved and still don't. I have always had my own things in life an... View more

I have been married for two years and known my husband for five. Im quiet independent with a secure attachment style his is more insecure and a little co dependent. My parents never approved and still don't. I have always had my own things in life and been happy with work and family around me. I have lived in the big smoke my entire life and had strong connections and proximity to family. My partner does not have strong family connections and does not like city living especially as we are living in my mother's rental and due to that situation, my partner pushed for us to buy own own house, in a reginal town as a compromise, so an hours drive from my family. We have renovated our house for the last three years. Our stuff is in there, well half of it. I'm no longer feeling comfortable with the move due to how we have been lately. There is no intimacy or emotional connection between us and I don't feel I can be vulnerable around him most of the time. He does not validate my emotions or opinions and becomes upset at me. I have been seeing a counselor for 2 years. And we have tried couples counseling. I get upset quite a bit as I persist on my boundaries and at times this has ment leaving the house Renos and driving back in storms, pitch black and in tears. I'm worried that if I move there the behaviours may continue or become worse. He has depression and is not dealing with it but promises he will. He also suffers PTSD after a near death experience. His not a controlling person in actions but words seem it and often leave me confused and doubting my own feelings and perception. He says I need to change my perception and think of him in a generous way...when I try to explain that this leads to lack of intimacy he will deny any responsibility. He simply says I need to man up and move forward with my life. He tells me it's not healthy to be under my parents thumb and living in their place(rental). I'm feeling hurt and lonely. We don't have kids. I'm not sure if there is any point continuing with the marriage. He is a nice person but I feel we clash alot. I could leave now and move on with my old life quiet easily but if I move from where I am I feel it will be to hard to move back. He says he will try his hardest, but I'm not sure how when he can't hear what I'm saying. I can't simply flick a switch. I don't know if there is any hope.

Sparkle Any help is appreciated
  • replies: 1

I (19F) am diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I'm not really sure when it started but I remember getting suicidal thoughts in year 7 and realising something was wrong. I have high functioning depression so my parents never really noticed. My depr... View more

I (19F) am diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I'm not really sure when it started but I remember getting suicidal thoughts in year 7 and realising something was wrong. I have high functioning depression so my parents never really noticed. My depression got really bad two years ago and I remember multiple times actively planning suicide attempts. When I was younger, I remember my household was a mess where everyone was arguing every day. Currently, I'm doing a lot better as I only want to passively die instead of actively pursuing it. I know it's not that bad compared to some of the conditions that some people have but I have really bad chronic nausea and chronic stomach pain. All of these things combined with my parent's way of educating me (hitting me when I was younger - Asian household) has left me heavily scarred. My parents recently learned of my diagnoses in the last year and they've been trying to be supportive. I feel so incompetent because as a uni student, I get stressed a lot and am so scared of my depression getting worse again. My parent's ingrained in me when I was younger to never let anyone know you had a mental health problem because it would leave a black mark on your record. Last year, I followed the feedback of my parents and got a diagnosis of depression and anxiety from my GP and decided to meet a psychologist but I felt so uncomfortable the whole time. I've stopped going to those psychologist appointments since and have been self managing but I'm always so scared of my depression getting worse. I don't know what to do but I hate living my life this because I feel like I'm slowly falling apart. My mum always tells me that I should stop using my depression as an excuse for not being able to do things while my dad literally doesn't understand and always claims to be depressed. I don't feel like there's anyone I can talk to about my feelings in this household. I also feel like an asshole for this but I really don't like my dad touching me at all, which is really unfair to him since I let my mum hug me. I know it's not his fault but I'm scared of him since he was the one who did most of the hitting when I was younger. Every single time he touches me, I feel really uncomfortable. Both my mum and I have told him about my feelings and he says he will "try and not touch me as much as possible" but then still comes into my room at night to kiss me or randomly touch me or try and hug me (not in a sexual manner or anything).

Allanroycamm I am Australian but no one believes
  • replies: 1

Thus is a thing from childhood. All y family and grand and great parents ozzies. I have never felt that. Was the outside one. So I travel a lot and always back home my home Australia town. I get depress every time .Not that they ask where I am from. ... View more

Thus is a thing from childhood. All y family and grand and great parents ozzies. I have never felt that. Was the outside one. So I travel a lot and always back home my home Australia town. I get depress every time .Not that they ask where I am from. But they never believe me .Yes i born and mother and father both grandparents and exxx... Australia my home. But I feel better.out of it and no depression

Jazzy50 new post
  • replies: 2

Today I feel depressed finding out I will lose another friend to cancer I hate the thought my friend has to suffer a slow horrible death I try to stay strong I do tend to feel bad because we lost contact for many years I don't think I am ready to los... View more

Today I feel depressed finding out I will lose another friend to cancer I hate the thought my friend has to suffer a slow horrible death I try to stay strong I do tend to feel bad because we lost contact for many years I don't think I am ready to lose her yet

Guest_04394824 How do I cope
  • replies: 2

I'm 55 and feeling very depressed, my emotions are everywhere I'm trying hard to deal with it, but I know that I've contributed to this state aswellI'm reaching out

I'm 55 and feeling very depressed, my emotions are everywhere I'm trying hard to deal with it, but I know that I've contributed to this state aswellI'm reaching out

Guest_02113224 i dont know how to explain
  • replies: 1

i dont know whats wrong with me but i feel like everyone around me is sick of me, im even sick of myself, im getting stupid and i overthink too much, which causes me to mess up what im doing. for example i even overthought bringing pushbikes into the... View more

i dont know whats wrong with me but i feel like everyone around me is sick of me, im even sick of myself, im getting stupid and i overthink too much, which causes me to mess up what im doing. for example i even overthought bringing pushbikes into the house, people around me get mad because of it, and im a bit of a crybaby in the sense i let everything bottle up and so when the straw breaks the camels back it seems like i cry over small stuff. somebody close to me got angry because i said i cant stop overthinking, they said 'just dont think' but its not that easy because if i didnt think id still mess up and theyd be even angrier and i cant stop thinking, theres no winning and i feel hopeless and everyone just wants to get rid of me it feels like. ive been told i act like a child and i cry when things get too hard. i dont know how to change myself, i want to be the opposite of what i am now, i want to be confident and i want to be able to control my emotions, im too emotional and i can tell i make everyone around me lives' a little bit less bareable.

BabySteps I see the world for what it really is.
  • replies: 17

I have to accept that after my mothers gone, That I only will have my twin brother and that everyone else is vain and brief. I know that no one cares but also that the world is socially superficial and in general your made to feel like a second class... View more

I have to accept that after my mothers gone, That I only will have my twin brother and that everyone else is vain and brief. I know that no one cares but also that the world is socially superficial and in general your made to feel like a second class citizen if your under certain diagnoses. I absolutely can't live in a world if I can't be genuine or authentic. If anyone tells me what to think. I can't exist in a seemingly vain, fake world. I hate living in a world where you can't truthfully be confident with being who you are. Everyone is fully embracing the current decade or the way things are, People bully you for any reason and you can't choose the generation your from or anything else. I am tired of being who I am and made to feel wither I'm weird, not only did I not ask for the opinion of anyone else but I don't want to be generic or defined by anyone else. I had to miss out on my dreams to pursue identity and chase my interests & I blame the degeneracy and insecurity of potential people in society as one huge factor. It's also mixed with being discriminated and defined beneath a psychiatry diagnosis that I don't agree with and also my suffering during high school. I had all that on top of my own under confidence and insecurities. I hate how the world has always made people feel less valuable than celebrities just because their financially rich and with global popularity, regardless of what kind of person that famous individual is inside or what their reputation is. A regular person can't be confrontational because if their regular their not being sane.