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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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

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HinBris22 Dear Diary - I'm Back on the Bipolar Express
  • replies: 1

Hi - I'm not really looking for support or a response. I just don't want to bother my loved ones, so here I am. I'm back on the bi-polar express, not looking after myself properly be it cleaning my teeth, showering regularly, cooking, or cleaning or ... View more

Hi - I'm not really looking for support or a response. I just don't want to bother my loved ones, so here I am. I'm back on the bi-polar express, not looking after myself properly be it cleaning my teeth, showering regularly, cooking, or cleaning or there lack of. I'm unproductive at work and I'm not a pleasant person to be around right now. It's easier to stay away from everyone... it's not you it's me. I feel like I'm letting everyone down, have had bouts of rage (not physical or in the presence of others), which I haven't experienced for about a decade. I seemed to have missed the high this time but now I'm teary, lower than low and flat. Yes, the old distressing thoughts has raised its ugly head too. Each time I tell myself never again, I'm not going through this again - yet here I am. I have a fantastic Psychiatrist and I'm changing meds slowly... which is very likely why I'm here right now but HOLY COW I can't express how much mental illness sucks. It's so very cruel and confusing each.and.every.time. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk x

Emlm My black dog is exhausting
  • replies: 4

Hi, so I’m pretty much at my wits end, probably why I’ve ended up back here because I feel like I can’t tell my family. It’s like the “here we go again”. i feel like I have done everything I can with this bout. I’m on the highest dosage of my meds th... View more

Hi, so I’m pretty much at my wits end, probably why I’ve ended up back here because I feel like I can’t tell my family. It’s like the “here we go again”. i feel like I have done everything I can with this bout. I’m on the highest dosage of my meds that even the pharmacist is shocked (I work in pharmacy) I have been looking into clinical trials because that’s the point I’m at. Even had the DNA testing for pharmacology. my husband, I love him, but he has anger issues. He supported me and both kids when I ended up having a 3 month stint in hospital mental health unit. But I feel like I’m walking on eggshells when he’s home (work away and is home weekends) I have spoken to him about his temper but I don’t think he sees it the same way. He breaks things when he’s mad and I retreat into myself. Sometimes I flee with my dog (black Labrador who I absolutely love as my “black dog dog”. He’s very old fashioned and is dead set against hitting a woman and has old school values. Kids can’t have elbows on the table ect. Durning my recovery from hospital back in 2019 I learnt to let go and address the bigger issues, even his mum backs me with that. My son who is now 16 amd daughter 14 are both arguing constantly. As soon as I finished work it starts. I just don’t no what to do anymore. I’ve gone from a 64kg kinda confident In myself to just under 100kg since hospital from all the different meds and the latest dosage increase… I don’t no who I am anymore. What I see in the mirror isn’t me. I am at the point where I want to stop taking my meds but I no it’ll end in self harm but I’m getting to the stage where I don’t care. I have only confined in one friend regarding my husband because everyone love him and so happy that I have him. Is it me and my black dog that are making me feel exhausted from depression or is it life. The life I have created for myself and wearing my mask. I feel like he doesn’t respect me, but is that just the depression. I’m exhausted. This is extremely exhausting and I just want to be me again. I no I need help but I don’t no what from anymore.

Idonthaveanicname Depression and anxiety - clear as mud
  • replies: 3

Hi, so it's obvious to me that I'm not well. But I don't have any close mates or friends that I feel comfortable talking to about it. Acquaintances more than anything. I feel like a terrible person most of the time, constantly anger with everything, ... View more

Hi, so it's obvious to me that I'm not well. But I don't have any close mates or friends that I feel comfortable talking to about it. Acquaintances more than anything. I feel like a terrible person most of the time, constantly anger with everything, almost full blown rage. I feel like I'm going to explode. This morning I dropped my child off at school in tears because I went off about how long it took the to get ready for school - which in turn has lead me to tears for the first time in I don't know how long. My wife seems to think poking fun at me is a sport, and I haven't worked in months. Work is out there, I just can't get off my bum and outside to do it. I'm hopeful that spilling a few things into the nether regions of the world wide web might make me somehow feel better. To be clear, I don't have any suicidal thoughts, more just how useless I am, and why the heck can't I snap out of it

Wharp3 How to manage my depression as well as my partners?
  • replies: 8

Hi. I'll try to keep this as brief as possible. So my partner and I have both being suffering from anxiety/depression for well over a decade now. Most recently, my partner has found out she has to have surgery/procedure and met with an anesthetist to... View more

Hi. I'll try to keep this as brief as possible. So my partner and I have both being suffering from anxiety/depression for well over a decade now. Most recently, my partner has found out she has to have surgery/procedure and met with an anesthetist today. While the surgery is minor and not life-threatening, my partner is very afraid as they are overweight so the risks of complications are higher under general anesthetic. This has made my partner and I both anxious and terrified, and now we are just numb. I am doing everything I can to snap out of this for my partner's sake so I can be strong for them and help them find the positive. But at this very stage, I feel absolutely lost and cannot snap out of the "what if things go wrong" thoughts racing in my mind. It's to the point where I am making them more miserable than the thought of the procedure itself. The procedure/surgery is minor and only takes 20-30 mins, and I know I'm probably blowing up this situation more than it is. I know deep down in my "sensible self" that they will be fine. I'm just so scared of losing my partner. I don't know what to do, how to think, what to say for both our sales. What can I do? How can I snap out of this and be there for my partner?

BabySteps What can you Tell me?
  • replies: 3

I don't like how modern society Is very paganistic, and material, fake and superficial, but I understand loving quality and materialism too I don't like the feeling of everyone being condescending and undermining, and superior and arrogantly Intellig... View more

I don't like how modern society Is very paganistic, and material, fake and superficial, but I understand loving quality and materialism too I don't like the feeling of everyone being condescending and undermining, and superior and arrogantly Intelligent I don't like my "Millennial Generation", making you feel that your under Intelligent or Insane, for not wanting to go to University, when It's not for everyone, and when you have NO Interest, unless It was Nutrition or Psychology, but your supposed to be following what you WANT TO DO, and not what society condition's to do, otherwise you won't follow your own Interpersonal best happiness I don't like the feeling of everyone being sensitive and condensed In "Politic's" and Left Wing people hating Right Wing Traditionalist's, and seeing all Right Wing people as Far Right Wing TOXIC's through stigma I don't feel connected to my generation, because I don't hate every modernized musician, but I find their nothing and absolute amature next to prior generational muso's, they lack originality, and their more for the principle's, It's more for the rewards, money, and boast and attention, not as much for the music and the passion In comparison, I found all genre's and each artist was out standing as something different or to a equal deserving reason for admiration. I find everyone today Is a similarity and their all either copies, or not refreshing ( to me ) I find, I am absolutely not telling anyone what to do, or how to live, think or be, But I find more In America and globally, the LGBQT Is normalized, but when your retrospectively Interested In only Heterosexual people, because that's what you have always been, and always only will be, For me being first for the Bible, wanting to be that reflection, and feeling It's a fleet pursue and devotion outside the United State's, but being greatful for our country not having American excessive problem's, that most other countries, couldn't digest or would want I can see Australia, changing for the worst, since 2012, It has become more for global warming, and LGBQT, and mass Immigration and Paganism, and now It's all about Black Live's, and Women, and It's all so sensitive and straining, and how the LAW System biastly favour's women as ALWAYS Innocent I find everyone far more opinionated and Intrusive, and Insecure and self comparing I see were getting so many more food's, and that the Nutrition will change and eventually be like the U.S.A., and the Government will too

MC2 The supporter needs a bit of propping
  • replies: 38

Um evening all, It has been a while, I was on here a few years ago, and after some good advice I sort grief councilling and therapy for ptsd As part of this I was told to stop touching base he as it was affecting me. This helped me at the time and th... View more

Um evening all, It has been a while, I was on here a few years ago, and after some good advice I sort grief councilling and therapy for ptsd As part of this I was told to stop touching base he as it was affecting me. This helped me at the time and then I paid it forward so to speak. I supported my wife through post natal depression after our first son was born. I bought her family in to support her mental recovery while I shouldered the physical workload. I helped a colleague with mental health issues confront them and seek professional help even after in the throws he tried to get me sacked with false claims (something he recanted and apologised for) All of this while I struggled with the raw feelings of bringing a new son into a world where I had failed to protect my first and his mother. I am currently helping another friend through different portion of his life as well, and now I have manage to get talking to a pro, I have had to step back because it hurts to much. So why am I here.... Because through all this I have lost my close friends. I have nothing outside work/family. I've tried to build new friendships and get out there but I am still shouldering a large portion of the child caring and household work and working full time on compressed days. I continue to struggle with the past I know I will never come to peace with. Though I carry a lot of the childcare everyday I am constantly discriminated against"just the dad, you don't do enough." From childcare, to family and I rarely get support to push back from the wife who still struggles with her mental health. An example, a recent rare night out, a "friends wife" said to my face "Men are useless in parenting it is always up to the mother to do all the work" and as a white middle aged man I feel I can't even defend myself without being label a "__ist". My wife laughed and said "I know right". As I left to chase our child and bring him back. I tried to start some hobbies again only to be scammed out of what little money I had. Every time I raise an issue at work wether it is OH&S, workplace bullying of other staff or quality, I am thoroughly beaten down. I have lost two friends through sudden and unjust instances . I am so tired and I am lying here 1230 at night, in the spare bedroom so to not wake the wife, crying because I needed talk to someone.. and realised... I have no one in my contacts close enough I would trust to open up too. I would talk here before anyone I know. sorry. Mj P

Rainbow97 Hi again
  • replies: 1

Well I first posted here when I was about 16 and feeling alone, I am now 24 . I don’t have my old account but I wish I could see my old post and just give myself the hug I needed . back then I didn’t fully understand what I was going through . I avoi... View more

Well I first posted here when I was about 16 and feeling alone, I am now 24 . I don’t have my old account but I wish I could see my old post and just give myself the hug I needed . back then I didn’t fully understand what I was going through . I avoided all situations that made me uncomfortable . Yep that’s right school camp , birthday parties you name it . I found it debilitating to be around large groups of people . I know now it was probably some form of anxiety but I definitely did not have the support I needed back then and I found it extremely difficult to form connections with people. I was the weird kid that didn’t talk . I dropped out of dancing because I didn’t talk to anyone and found it really embarrassing when the teacher told us to pick a partner and I was the odd one out . never fully understanding why I couldn’t make friends . Grade 12 home groups changed in my last year of schooling . I spent every morning so anxious leading up to it as I knew there was a certain time period where we were given the chance to just chat and laugh with the other people in our home group . But I had no friends because I couldn’t talk . I don’t want to reveal too many facts as I fear someone will recognise me .. hey probably a bit of anxiety . But let’s just say growing up I was living in a bit of a shadow and my parents weren’t there for me when I needed them even when I tried to tell them I was struggling . im 24 now . Saved up for my own home to escape the suffocating lifestyle at home . Made myself bankrupt so had to move away and rent out my place to save money for a bit of time . Had an emotionally abusive relationship where I was called stupid , idiot , immature . Oh I believed those things before he came along but with him saying it has just made it that much believable . Feeling like a failure of uni and overall life. Seen the psychologist yesterday but just feeling so done with life today .

Jojochiu Am I gonna be depressed for the rest of my life
  • replies: 10

I can’t feel happy no matter how. The sarcastic thing is that I think I already have everything people could ask for including a loving family, lovely children, loving husband, a good job and no financial stress. What more can I ask for? I should be ... View more

I can’t feel happy no matter how. The sarcastic thing is that I think I already have everything people could ask for including a loving family, lovely children, loving husband, a good job and no financial stress. What more can I ask for? I should be the last person in this world getting depressed. But I just don’t feel happy. When I go to work, I cry for the work stress. When I stay home to look after my children, I kick myself for being useless, not making use of my degree and not bringing income to the family etc. I can’t throw myself into anything to feel happy (except for my children, but I know I can’t rely on them to be happy because one day they will leave the nest). I am an introvert and not easy to open up myself to anything and anyone. I am only 40 year old, am I gonna be like this for the rest of my life?

Elsie77 It's been over 20 years since my diagnosis...
  • replies: 18

I still feel the same overwhelming full body mental pain. It is so familiar now. I'm just more comfortable and accepting of it I guess. I feel it now till it passes or I just seem to get on the next day or push it into the background. It is still the... View more

I still feel the same overwhelming full body mental pain. It is so familiar now. I'm just more comfortable and accepting of it I guess. I feel it now till it passes or I just seem to get on the next day or push it into the background. It is still there though. I let myself feel it when I have the luxury or maybe I have the control now to decide to let it have it's moment. I use anti anxiety meds to push it away when I need to. It's okay until a life event happens and then I have less control. I listened to the podcast "No feeling is final" today which reminded me of everything I've been through. I needed an online chat but they close at midnight so I'm here. I think I have to accept this is my life. I guess I've become pretty good at dealing with that. That full body pain still gets me. Does anyone know what I mean? I remember this feeling as young as primary school but was diagnosed at age 19. Im 44 now. Wow that's a long time. It is amazing that I am still here and working and seeming normal (hopefuly) in my daily life mostly. I haven't thought about my years in mental hospital for some time but felt like talking about it again if anyone out there is listening. I feel like confessimg thay I m not "cured" I am still mentaly unwell. Just a practised expert at hiding.

Billy_bat Sick of the run around!!!
  • replies: 1

I call the mental health line, they say go to the dr, i go to the dr, they say go to a psychologist, i go to a psychologist, they say go to a psychiatrist. I cant afford a psychiatrist. I online chat with beyond blue, they say new access is not avail... View more

I call the mental health line, they say go to the dr, i go to the dr, they say go to a psychologist, i go to a psychologist, they say go to a psychiatrist. I cant afford a psychiatrist. I online chat with beyond blue, they say new access is not available to me, have you seen a dr. They send me MIND details, i fill out that form..... reaching out is bloody hard, at what point does anyone actually say YES, i can help you. Ffs, i am desperate.