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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BeyondBlue Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started
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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?
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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
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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

Crybabyyxx Why do I feel so useless
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My mother is a bad person and she makes me feel like I’m stupid. She makes me feel like everything’s gone wrong because of me and she constantly tells me how much I over eat even though I’m a growing person. I try and try to make her happy but she al... View more

My mother is a bad person and she makes me feel like I’m stupid. She makes me feel like everything’s gone wrong because of me and she constantly tells me how much I over eat even though I’m a growing person. I try and try to make her happy but she always gets mad at me and says I’m better off sitting there, being useless. She doesn’t know how sad I am and I just lost my best friend. She told me it didn’t matter and that SHE only had 2-3 friends when she was my age. I need help, please help me

alexis123 I’ve never felt so alone
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I’ve been completely swallowed by my depression and anxiety. Haven’t seen friends in about 9 months, wallowing in my bed, I sleep, eat go to bed, my once social life crumbling between my hands. Scared to go out and let down my friends, pushing all my... View more

I’ve been completely swallowed by my depression and anxiety. Haven’t seen friends in about 9 months, wallowing in my bed, I sleep, eat go to bed, my once social life crumbling between my hands. Scared to go out and let down my friends, pushing all my friends and family away so if i ever were to disappear they wouldn’t be as affected it’d be easier for them. Found comfort in my depression, i’m so used to being sad that i don’t know how to be happy, an endless cycle of the same day over and over. I’ve wasted an whole year of being anxious and sad, constantly alone with my thoughts 24/7 with no one to talk to, i feel lonely, so damn lonely, i wish the pandemic never happened i’ve become so comfortable at home. I hate my body i hate my face i hate myself. I wish someone loved me.

Rodolfo Depress and tired
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Hi, 45 years old and have depression with PTSD. I recently been diagnosed but always had a feeling there was something wrong.last four weeks it has been really hard to the point I don’t want to live anymore as I feel I am a burden to my love ones!!15... View more

Hi, 45 years old and have depression with PTSD. I recently been diagnosed but always had a feeling there was something wrong.last four weeks it has been really hard to the point I don’t want to live anymore as I feel I am a burden to my love ones!!15 years ago I went through a roughly patch in my life and depression got me feeling like everything was my fault and tried to kills myself.Now I started to feel the same, voices in my head and thoughts keep bombarding my head!!Feeling lonely and sad…..

goldilocks Just Feeling Depressed.
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I am feeling depressed. An extended relative of mine blocked me on FB, because according to them, I cause drama in the family. I know for an absolute fact that this is not true. You know what is true though? The fact that I stand up for myself when m... View more

I am feeling depressed. An extended relative of mine blocked me on FB, because according to them, I cause drama in the family. I know for an absolute fact that this is not true. You know what is true though? The fact that I stand up for myself when my safety and rights are being taken advantage of. This particular individual refuses to accept my follow request on another form of social media, probably for the aforementioned reason. They hate me, I just know it. They are all about supporting people of the same gender, yet won't support me. I just don't need them. I don't want to write a letter to them or text them either, asking why they seem to think that I 'cause drama' in the family. I'm upset. I tried speaking with another relative about this, but they just dismissed how I felt.

Awatea MHCP
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Hello My brother suggers from depression, alcolhol misuse and he has just been diagnosed with MS which is drastically affecting work and health, He asked his Dr for a mental helath Care PLan but his Dr refused and said he could not get a MHCP as he w... View more

Hello My brother suggers from depression, alcolhol misuse and he has just been diagnosed with MS which is drastically affecting work and health, He asked his Dr for a mental helath Care PLan but his Dr refused and said he could not get a MHCP as he worked but he would refer him. This does not seem right.Donna

goldilocks Mum
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I am 24, and I really, really, really wish I had a mother figure in my life. This sounds rough, but I really don't care about my biological mother anymore, because she treats me so poorly now. Her niceness when I was growing up was all a facade. She'... View more

I am 24, and I really, really, really wish I had a mother figure in my life. This sounds rough, but I really don't care about my biological mother anymore, because she treats me so poorly now. Her niceness when I was growing up was all a facade. She's been diagnosed with PTSD and refuses to seek help for it. She often gambles on the pokies and drinks cartons of beer, usually starting on a Thursday night and well into the weekend. Her excuse? 'I was like this before I had you,' and 'I've worked for 8/9 hours today.' Mum started treating me differently when I came out to her as being attracted to an older, single man with a child of his own (who is considerably younger than me.) I recall exactly how I felt when telling her for the first time. I was incredibly anxious, sitting on the my bedroom floor at 19 years of age, with a bucket because I thought I was going to be sick I was that anxious. I expected the worst and that was exactly what I got - mum completely dismissing my feelings for this man. She still to this day dismisses them, five years down the track, and still to this day refuses to talk about him. Nobody in my family wants me to discuss him ever again. I want an emotional available mother, one that will sit with me and listen to me talk about my feelings and give me big hugs. I know it sounds cheesy but this is how I feel. I am a very loving person with a lot to give to people. I am not sure what else to write?

Shelley3000 Depression
  • replies: 7

I have depression and anxiety for the most part I am ok, but lately I am going through depression and I also have housing issues which I don't have any support for. I am still dealing with trauma and the lockdowns we have had for the past 3 yrs. Furt... View more

I have depression and anxiety for the most part I am ok, but lately I am going through depression and I also have housing issues which I don't have any support for. I am still dealing with trauma and the lockdowns we have had for the past 3 yrs. Furthermore, I see a psychologist, but It's once a month if that. I am so isolated that I am not sure if I can go on.

Bibbetyboo Nowhere woman
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I am heading towards my 40th birthday. I have a 2 year old and can't get him into daycare within 40 minutes of home for at least another year unless a place pops up. He was in but the centre suddenly shut leaving us stranded with little hope for a pl... View more

I am heading towards my 40th birthday. I have a 2 year old and can't get him into daycare within 40 minutes of home for at least another year unless a place pops up. He was in but the centre suddenly shut leaving us stranded with little hope for a placement until he's 4.My ex partner and I have irreconcilable differences. I have been trying to work with him as a co-parent for the last 10 months but he's extremely disorganised and often manipulative and unreliable. He attempts advances on me constantly and other woman but when i push back he stonewalls us both and becomes very difficult. Without daycare I am unable to work or study and there are jobs everywhere looking for anyone i feel so strangulated and voiceless.Family is 45 minutes away I have no car and I am currently choking myself financially to save $400 a fn to get a car, also with no license and even a car is going to be difficult to manage.Employment services said that I am buggered and the chance of me finding work are little.I have no hope while the television blurts constantly about how many jobs there are and I have no steps possible in which to get one. Even if his father took him and I worked full time it would be at a loss to the family financially and i would never see him.I try every single day to just focus and be with my son, but the feeling of no future never goes away.Ive never in my life had anyone say I would be a good anything, not even my own mother who told me I couldn't even be a waitress. I have talents, I like to cook and grow things but I cant be a chef because of the hours and cant be a waitress anymore because of the low pay and hours. Work from home is my best option, but how with a 2 yr old and no help?I'm going to be on the pension forever because there is no way out and I have no idea how I will support my son as his father is older and wont live to see his 20th birthday. I have no inheritance and my family are cold. Obviously I have made some dud decisions in life but I never felt I knew why I was here and never had a dream to be this or that or have this husband or whatever, I have never wanted anything not a ring or the latest iphone or car or a house.. none of that was inspiring, and I am just not wired to compete.Everyone else clicked somewhere and I never did or wil

Jessksch Someone bought a bunny at our pet shop, now giving it away on facebook...I am so damn upset!
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I love my job so much, I love helping people with their pets and their issues. However, I am so upset at the moment. We had bunnies in our pet shop, we treated them with royalty. I even used my own money to spoil them with snacks, toys...when it was ... View more

I love my job so much, I love helping people with their pets and their issues. However, I am so upset at the moment. We had bunnies in our pet shop, we treated them with royalty. I even used my own money to spoil them with snacks, toys...when it was quiet I would give them so much love and cry a little when they were adpoted because I was so happy if they went to a good home. Now, we had one last bunny and this woman bought him and now a coworker found out on facebook they were talking bad about our store, that he was in a small cage and suffered... and wants to give him away to someone else! How is this good for the poor thing?! When I saw it my heart sank, how people can be so selfish... I can't stop thinking about it, obsessing...I quit my full time job for this job because I had a nervous break down before and needed to find a more relaxing environment. Now this happens and I am falling appart. I wanted to save money to continue to do a course I dreamed of, and the more I see these people talking bad about us and misstreating our bunny like this. He will have anxieties not having a stable home, moving around will stress him out... I have work tomorrow and have been having trouble with my mental health lately moreso, now this happened and I feel like I'm loosing it. I'm scared I will snap, get angry at the next stupid customer and be filmed and never get a job again... anxiety and depression are through the roof.

frog93 29 y/o virgin who failed at everything in life, I feel like giving up
  • replies: 21

Hi, it's my first post, sorry if it's in the wrong place. I really need help, please. I've been depressed for so long, every day I feel so much regret and sadness that it hurts physically in my chest. I can't keep living like this. Even though I'm al... View more

Hi, it's my first post, sorry if it's in the wrong place. I really need help, please. I've been depressed for so long, every day I feel so much regret and sadness that it hurts physically in my chest. I can't keep living like this. Even though I'm almost 30 I haven't achieved anything at all with my life. I'm worthless and a loser and I don't deserve to be alive. I still live with my mother, no job, no experience, no education beyond high school, no relationship. It's a long story... I was abused as a child / teenager and was traumatised, for over 10 years I've been crippled by anxiety and depression. This year I finally tried to get help, I was on medication and have talked to two psychologists, I've made progress in some ways but I know it's never going to "fix" me. I know I need to get a job and move out, I know that should be the priority. But please, I just want to know how to deal with the regret, especially around relationships and being a virgin... I've missed out on so much. I'm never going to get to experience so many things that other young people do. It feels like my life is utterly pointless from here and I shouldn't even bother trying. I've missed out on the best part of life already, even if I somehow fixed everything from here, I can never get that time back and it will never be the same. It's so painful and it makes me not want to be here anymore. Not only that but the older you get the harder it is to meet people, it's most likely I'll die a virgin and never experience love. Maybe worst of all is how I always compare myself to others now, which I know is bad but I can't help it. I'm the oldest of the grandchildren in my family, and yet I'm the only one who doesn't have a relationship. My sisters and cousins all have partners, all before me, some of them are over 10 years younger than me, it's so depressing. Also seeing couples together everywhere I go makes me cry, it hurts, I just want to be like them. Being alone your whole life and being a virgin at my age is just so shameful. Please, how can I stop feeling this way?