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 chats on this Forum having 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

itsjustaj I'm trying to be better but today got the better of me.
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So today was hard.Work was stressful but I asked for help instead of trying to deal with everything myself. I had an anxiety attack, but spoke with my manager and let her know so I could take a walk and deal with it. So.. all good right?Until I got h... View more

So today was hard.Work was stressful but I asked for help instead of trying to deal with everything myself. I had an anxiety attack, but spoke with my manager and let her know so I could take a walk and deal with it. So.. all good right?Until I got home and my husband and I had a fight. I HATE conflict. I will usually back off and not say how I am feeling. This time I didn't back off. I told my husband not to swear at me or talk down to me. He just couldn't see my side of things. I don't want to get into the fight. That isn't the point of this post. But after he left to go his friends place I got so angry! I was walking into our bedroom and I picked up our wedding photo and threw it. The glass smashed and the moment I did it, I felt like an absolute idiot. Now I am sitting here crying over broken freaking glass and feeling like I ruined everything. I want to text my husband and beg him to forgive me and tell him it's all my fault and just make it all go away. This is what happens whenever I stand up for myself, nothing changes and I just end up feeling like crap. I just want to give up some days because no matter what I do, I am always the arsehole. That's what my stupid brain is telling me right nowTrying so hard not to spiral.I hope one day I can come to these forums and say that I am doing better

JacintaMarie Depressed about work
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Hi How are you? I'm an awful person, at times I think where I work the people are horrible.Well management are, but its just my head that's saying this. I can't seem to see anything good in them.I've tried but my head just thinks their stupid They ar... View more

Hi How are you? I'm an awful person, at times I think where I work the people are horrible.Well management are, but its just my head that's saying this. I can't seem to see anything good in them.I've tried but my head just thinks their stupid They are nice - just when their happy, when their stressed their horrible.My brain is stuffed I think - just stuffed & I've been reading mindfulness & everything to help me, but it doesn't work.Plus too, I can't talk to management, like a normal person, if I say something wrong, they get offended (though this is my brain that's telling me this)I'm just horrible- calling them stupid etc.

SilvaLady Depression
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Am not sure if I posted on this before. Is it normal to feel constantly stressed and depressed? I feel like that I don’t have control over my thoughts and emotions. I feel like that I am constantly on edge and my thoughts interfere with my daily life... View more

Am not sure if I posted on this before. Is it normal to feel constantly stressed and depressed? I feel like that I don’t have control over my thoughts and emotions. I feel like that I am constantly on edge and my thoughts interfere with my daily life. Doesn’t matter what I do, it makes me feel sad and down. Am seeing a psychologist once a week, but in between I’m feeling really sad. I’m not sure how to cope anymore. Thanks for reading. SilvaLady

Noone Depressed
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How do you like with a depressed alcoholic husband 

How do you like with a depressed alcoholic husband 

Guest_29956636 Just feel so lost
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I awake every morning feeling drained like I don't know what to do with my life feel so depressed over losing my kids and wife I was addicted to nearly every drugs and alcohol growing up grew up around domestic violence just wanna try get myself toge... View more

I awake every morning feeling drained like I don't know what to do with my life feel so depressed over losing my kids and wife I was addicted to nearly every drugs and alcohol growing up grew up around domestic violence just wanna try get myself together for my family

Guest_58645588 Older single mother
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Hi I am an older single mother of three and have spent the majority of the last decade in bed. I see the kids as being a demand on me that I can’t manage and the house a demand on me that I can’t manage. I don’t have any emotions no highs or lows. I ... View more

Hi I am an older single mother of three and have spent the majority of the last decade in bed. I see the kids as being a demand on me that I can’t manage and the house a demand on me that I can’t manage. I don’t have any emotions no highs or lows. I get up to feed the kids, I do the laundry, I take the kids places. I don’t feel any love inside. My mum told me she didn’t feel love either. My whole family are estranged I have been on and off antidepressants for years. I isolate from all my friends. I feel like I can’t wait for the kids to grow up and leave home so I can go and live in a van and be transient.

Taiji Seeking a support partner
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Hey so I posted this on the Young People space but figured it'd also be appropriate posting here as well. I'm a 22 year old guy living in Sydney whose been working through mental health stuff (depression, anxiety, potential ADHD) for the past year. I... View more

Hey so I posted this on the Young People space but figured it'd also be appropriate posting here as well. I'm a 22 year old guy living in Sydney whose been working through mental health stuff (depression, anxiety, potential ADHD) for the past year. I've recently wanted to start working on rebuilding my life by working on academic, fitness and general health goals. While I think there's a lot of merit in getting support through online spaces I think in person support will always be the gold standard. I don't think humans were made to deal with our problems alone so when I read on forums about people struggling to stay afloat I see it as partially a symptom of our modern way of living. So I've been looking for a support/accountability partner who also lives in Sydney where we can support each other with mental health, chatting about life stuff, holding each other accountable, gyming together etc. If anyone is also interested in finding a support partner and lives in Sydney feel free to reach out!

Goldee Getting things done
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I have had depression since I was 13, am now in my 50's, and I really struggle to get things done. This hasn't always been the case but since I left full-time work due to physical injuries five years ago I can't seem to finish anything. Now I work ca... View more

I have had depression since I was 13, am now in my 50's, and I really struggle to get things done. This hasn't always been the case but since I left full-time work due to physical injuries five years ago I can't seem to finish anything. Now I work casually and even though I have more than enough time to complete things, not much gets finished. If something is urgent it gets done, however, the rest of the stuff I have partly done gets pushed aside and rarely completed. Now there are piles of uncompleted tasks lying around everywhere. Instead of finishing off something I watch tv, watch YouTube videos or play computer games. I take medication which may explain some slowness but the piles of uncompleted tasks continues to grow and it's just getting worse. Any suggestions on how to overcome not getting things completed would be helpful.

Anon2852 Is life supposed to be this hard?
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Hello, I’m in my early 30’s work full-time as a chef and study full-time, so roughly 60-80 hours a week for study and work. Working as a chef is incredibly tiring and exhausting, my diet consists of mostly Red Bull, whisky, cigarettes and one meal a ... View more

Hello, I’m in my early 30’s work full-time as a chef and study full-time, so roughly 60-80 hours a week for study and work. Working as a chef is incredibly tiring and exhausting, my diet consists of mostly Red Bull, whisky, cigarettes and one meal a day. Sadly it’s not to my choosing, considering some days I work up to 14 hours straight (no break), if I had a choice I’d love to live a three meal day, work appropriate hours, with appropriate breaks. But sadly it’s not in the cards, due to ridiculously high rent and tafe payments. I live with my partner and cat, my partner works a 9-5 office job, and other than that she does very little. Maybe cooks once or twice a month, unfortunately all the domestic jobs fall on to me when I have time (cooking, cleaning, bills, budgeting, maintenance). The sad truth about being a chef is you learn to say yes to everything and if something upsets you, you never get to voice your opinion. It’s been my lifestyle for such a long time, I thought after all this pain and suffering something good would come of it. But the brutal life I’ve been living for the past 10 years is earning me just enough to pay the bills. Everyday is a struggle, and every night I’m terrified of what might/ will happen the next day.

Pr1964 Feeling alone
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Hi there, I’ve been struggling for a while with feeling like I have no one to that’s truly there for me that I can open up to. I work casually in hospitality so my hours are super sporadic, making it hard to organise things with people working 9-5. O... View more

Hi there, I’ve been struggling for a while with feeling like I have no one to that’s truly there for me that I can open up to. I work casually in hospitality so my hours are super sporadic, making it hard to organise things with people working 9-5. Over time, I’ve lost connections with my close friends, and my only time with people is often having drinks after work with coworkers. This is good to a degree, however I lack a true connection to anyone in my life, longing for someone that genuinely cares about me and I can be my true self around. How can I get out of this rut?