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

moody-_ahhhhh Uni and Poor Health
  • replies: 3

i feel uni is just a setup for people to get impostor syndrome, doubt themselves and burnout results take too long to be released so its hard to see progress and i feel so weak and incapable, some kind words and moral support would be appreciated

i feel uni is just a setup for people to get impostor syndrome, doubt themselves and burnout results take too long to be released so its hard to see progress and i feel so weak and incapable, some kind words and moral support would be appreciated

Zombie_s3r3nity i feel alone
  • replies: 5

Everybody thinks I'm lazy and useless I hate myself. I hate that I can't do the simple task of going to school for a full week. everyone just doesn't get me they would only care if I was dead. I'm really struggling but no one seems to actually care I... View more

Everybody thinks I'm lazy and useless I hate myself. I hate that I can't do the simple task of going to school for a full week. everyone just doesn't get me they would only care if I was dead. I'm really struggling but no one seems to actually care I'm only 14 and I know I shouldn't be feeling this way, but I don't know what to do. Every time I'm slightly upset people say ' I'm not allowed to be upset because everyone else in the world has bigger problems than me' they say I can talk to them, but they don't actually care they are just going to keep living their lives regardless of what I say they don't actually care no one does and I'm so tired. I just want someone who gets me someone who I can talk to that would actually care. I don't want to feel alone anymore.

SoloLeveller Depressive waves and I really need to vent...
  • replies: 1

I haven't posted in quite some time cause life is just breaking me down. but, depression is worse than life. I've suffered two massive betrayals of friendship that compare to a childhood trauma I wish I could forget. two long time friends (one 22 yrs... View more

I haven't posted in quite some time cause life is just breaking me down. but, depression is worse than life. I've suffered two massive betrayals of friendship that compare to a childhood trauma I wish I could forget. two long time friends (one 22 yrs long and the other 17 yrs long) which I had done so much with. friends I tried to encourage, tried to comfort, tried to work through mental issues with. now I'm here, one friend left who's is a great friend but he's also much younger than me. that just means our interests are very different and don't give either of us much to talk about with each other. I'm in my 40's and I'm also so tired of the thought of trying to make new friends. good thing about old friends are the stories we'd have and share whenever we hung out. I'm a carer for my mum which is very stressful but also very worth doing. my dad was a monstrous piece of filth that deserves to die by my hand. honestly, these days I can't keep myself stable or happy in any sense. every night I hope I don't wake up in the morning. I have constant suicidal thoughts run in head every day. I just don't act on them and try to focus on other things. not having those friends has disabled me to a certain extent. no one to understand me, no one to vent to, etc. but, would I try to forgive them? hell no! if they suddenly came to me with options of being friends again? also a hell no! as far as I'm concerned, life isn't worth living. never has been. but, my mum needs me just as much as I need her. I have two older siblings but they have their own lives to live. so, when they visit my mum and me we both try to keep things happy and positive (which is exhausting) but it is what it is. I'm also terrified with a life without my mum. might seem childish but that's the truth. she's always been there for us. always did her best with what she had. my plan was always this. if she was to suddenly pass away then I would follow soon after. that thought first hit me while I was in primary school. I became her carer cause my sister's always wanted to chase after a career and starting a family. so I thought "I'm not going to leave my mum alone" I couldn't. the things she suffered at the hands of my dad are just to disturbing to even type out. all that I have these day's is caring for my mum (which isn't a burden at all) and a crippling void of loneliness that just doesn't leave me be. I try to keep myself busy but it keeps eating away at me no matter how positive I try to be.

Dabullmeister Feeling completely alone
  • replies: 2

I have a some pretty rough years. I graduated uni in 2024 and couldn't get a job out of uni which left me isolated and made me feel worthless this sadly meant as well that I didn't keep in touch with a lot of the people I graduated with. Move to this... View more

I have a some pretty rough years. I graduated uni in 2024 and couldn't get a job out of uni which left me isolated and made me feel worthless this sadly meant as well that I didn't keep in touch with a lot of the people I graduated with. Move to this year I started a PhD and I am really enjoying it, it is really rewarding and fulfilling only problem is that it is still very isolating. Most days I have no one to talk to and I have no one to do anything with. Like I'm in my 20s I feel I should be doing stuff but I just don't have anyone to do anything with. Doesn't help I live an hour out of the city as well. It just is becoming too much and I can feel it start to effect my ability to do work.

edensgarden Job hunting stress
  • replies: 1

Haii all I needa vent so as of 2024 ive been volunteering its been really fun for the most part but I want some other jobs aswell to boost up my resume at first when i started applying it seemed to really boost my confidence fast forward to now I hav... View more

Haii all I needa vent so as of 2024 ive been volunteering its been really fun for the most part but I want some other jobs aswell to boost up my resume at first when i started applying it seemed to really boost my confidence fast forward to now I havent had any success with offers an its making me feel so defeated I dont wanna be 25 30 40 with just the volunteer role on my resume. some kind words would be nice

GMC7 I am struggling with life with anhedonia. I have been on med
  • replies: 2

After retiring unplanned due to burnout, I have been struggling everyday. On medication for 7 months, helps a little but I can’t enjoy anything anymore. Would like to chat to others suffering depression or similar symptoms.

After retiring unplanned due to burnout, I have been struggling everyday. On medication for 7 months, helps a little but I can’t enjoy anything anymore. Would like to chat to others suffering depression or similar symptoms.

Rob71 Overwhelmed
  • replies: 3

I am the sole provider for a beautiful family. As the step dad I feel overwhelmed by the responsibility and find myself getting frustrated by the tiniest things in family life. As a coping mechanism I have started to drink heavily in the evenings whi... View more

I am the sole provider for a beautiful family. As the step dad I feel overwhelmed by the responsibility and find myself getting frustrated by the tiniest things in family life. As a coping mechanism I have started to drink heavily in the evenings which makes my mood swings worse . I know I have to firstly stop the drinking and then also learn to find ways to relax and let the small issues wash over me. I don't want to push my partner and family away so need to find my way to resolve my issues which have now been going on for over 18 months. Any shared experiences or ideas to assist gratefully recieved.

Guest_02990944 School x Depression
  • replies: 3

My name is Ace, I am in year 7 at school, i am 12 yrs old, I do not know how long i have been depressed because I've always been good at hiding my emotions and putting them at the back of my mind, i always feel like I'm just a vessel waiting for a so... View more

My name is Ace, I am in year 7 at school, i am 12 yrs old, I do not know how long i have been depressed because I've always been good at hiding my emotions and putting them at the back of my mind, i always feel like I'm just a vessel waiting for a soul to enter, i feel so empty, the burnout, the thoughts of not wanting to be here, how it was hard to do anything, it's always seemed as if i was the only one like this but i relised how common it was, 1 in 7 Australians experience this it was only today when i relised just how common it was, if you dont already know may is mental heath moth so in house assembally a couple of people come up and talk about mental heath for the duration of may, there was stories about attempts, and more. Then today a yr 8 came up. talked about his depression. he seemed fine. thats when i relised. to most i seemed fine as well. but no one knew how deeply i was struggling, to do everyday things like shower, brush my teeth, etc. every night when i drown in my thoughts. i relised this was not something every one experienced but a lot did. i relised there were people, in my friendship group, in my class, heaps of people i could talk to i just never knew.

indigo22 Following the breadcrumbs to improve mental health
  • replies: 263

Hi everyone, The last few months have been somewhat confusing as I have discovered more about my mental / physical health and how it has all been connected. I had not put the pieces together, I am not sure why, it seems so obvious now. I have dealt w... View more

Hi everyone, The last few months have been somewhat confusing as I have discovered more about my mental / physical health and how it has all been connected. I had not put the pieces together, I am not sure why, it seems so obvious now. I have dealt with Dysthymia since about 12 and Major Depression since about 14 but was not diagnosed until my 40s and had no idea that had been the problem all along. I knew I wasn't like everyone else but thought I was just born that way. Back then mental health was not a subject that was openly discussed and the signs mostly went unrecognised and untreated. I had about 10 years of talk therapy with a social worker that helped immensely. I have had a sensitive digestive system for a good portion of my life, not so much that I sought treatment, just things like indigestion with certain foods, bloating and the like. I suppose I thought everyone had those types of issues. I have also had nervous system reactions over the past 15 years, like involuntary shaking in certain situations, that I had put down to getting older and being less resilient having been through a lot of difficult challenges. I have been seeing a psychotherapist who also does somatic work (turns out you were right mmmekitty, I did need some more help). The first session of somatic work, in this case EFT (tapping), brought up a deep and long standing belief that I did not deserve to be helped. The emotions were buried so deep that I was not even aware of them. After that session things went haywire physically for a few days and took some weeks to start to settle. Being the type of person who needs to have an understanding of what is happening and why, I have been reading many books on the symptoms I have had. That is when I began to join the dots about how interconnected by mental and physical health actually were. It has required a lot of processing on my part, and an acknowledgement of what I have been consciously unaware of, but it has been necessary to finding a way forward. This will be an ongoing journey as new symptoms show up that need to be looked at. I know now that there is a lot of unreleased trauma in my body that is a contributing factor in not healing mentally or physically and I know now what needs to be done to improve. There is only so much that the medical profession can do, I believe the rest of the responsibility lies with us in digging deeper to find the causes and the answers. In many ways, that in itself becomes empowering. Take care all.indigo

GMC7 Depression taking hold of my life
  • replies: 4

Have had many major changes in my life since August last year and have been severely depressed since. Been on medication but hasn’t helped much. I am not able to enjoy anything and desperately wanting to change things as this depression looks like ha... View more

Have had many major changes in my life since August last year and have been severely depressed since. Been on medication but hasn’t helped much. I am not able to enjoy anything and desperately wanting to change things as this depression looks like has taken hold of me. Would like to chat with others in similar situation

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