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
Categories
Start a discussion

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 discussion

Geekymumma92 I’m new. Sorry if it doesn’t make sense.
  • replies: 7

I am depressed and it’s getting worse. I don’t feel appreciated for the things I do. If I do something wrong I will know about it but never for what I do right. An example I forgot to leave money for a lunch order and got yelled at. I work and have c... View more

I am depressed and it’s getting worse. I don’t feel appreciated for the things I do. If I do something wrong I will know about it but never for what I do right. An example I forgot to leave money for a lunch order and got yelled at. I work and have children. I run around and take care of everyone. Darkness is creeping over and I’m not seeing the light. I keep fighting for my kids. They need me. I cannot leave them. But I just want to cry all the time and curl up somewhere. I just want to feel loved and appreciated. I just want to feel like I mean something just not someone who is convenient to them.

Keetz Advice please
  • replies: 3

I feel empty an indont know why,it effects my moods I feel like everything is an effort I have low motivation an just this Huge feeling of emptiness inside. Can someone tell me why

I feel empty an indont know why,it effects my moods I feel like everything is an effort I have low motivation an just this Huge feeling of emptiness inside. Can someone tell me why

CharGrilledChar All is good in the end
  • replies: 5

If everything was alright after a family discussion, then why would Psychologists exist? If everything was cool after Psychology sessions, then why would there be Psychiatrists and medications? If everything was fine after Psychiatrist sessions and m... View more

If everything was alright after a family discussion, then why would Psychologists exist? If everything was cool after Psychology sessions, then why would there be Psychiatrists and medications? If everything was fine after Psychiatrist sessions and medications, why would there be other therapies available? I don't know.

Simrenee New & Feeling Alone
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, I’ve been diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety and been going to therapy for 2 years now. I feel as if I’m getting worse unfortunately and I’m leaning towards anti depressants although I’m a little uneasy with the thought of depending ... View more

Hey everyone, I’ve been diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety and been going to therapy for 2 years now. I feel as if I’m getting worse unfortunately and I’m leaning towards anti depressants although I’m a little uneasy with the thought of depending on medication for happiness. I’ve got many friends but all who know me as the strong one in the group and the one who always smiles. They don’t know what’s going on in my life and nobody really asks or cares to know. The only person in my life who cares about my illnesses is my boyfriend of 5 years but I’m starting to see it effect him so I’ve withdrawn from going to him for help. I’m feeling very alone and worthless. Will it ever get better, will the depression ever go away. I can live with anxiety but not depression.

Bluemoo7 Hi ,feeling lost
  • replies: 4

Hi ,I,m not new to the forums but haven't been on for a while now I,m feeling very low today ,and having a pity party with myself I can't seem to stop feeling like I'm fat old and stupid and this morning could have happily gone to sleep forever View more

Hi ,I,m not new to the forums but haven't been on for a while now I,m feeling very low today ,and having a pity party with myself I can't seem to stop feeling like I'm fat old and stupid and this morning could have happily gone to sleep forever

Spixx Can't find the strength!
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, not sure anyone will ever read this but lets see how I go. I think I've had depression on and off in my whole life but always seem to find a way to come out of it then years later it will come back. So today it came back. I do have heap... View more

Hey everyone, not sure anyone will ever read this but lets see how I go. I think I've had depression on and off in my whole life but always seem to find a way to come out of it then years later it will come back. So today it came back. I do have heaps going on in the last year, I lost 2 family members during covid and was unable to go and support my family during such a hard time and had to watch the funerals through my computer which I hated. My youngest son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (first in the family) and I sometime want to take that pain away from him and feel its not fair and that its all my fault no matter what anyone says. In 2 weeks we are scattering my grandmothers ashes and my partner wasn't going to come (is now) with me for emotional support because well kids come first and his kids have a basketball game on and I thought that this kinda situation would mean I would come first and he would be with me during this hard time. My car is about to die and I have like 50c in my saving account, I cant find a job that I want to do, so I'm forever studying till I find something. I just feel like a total failure all the time and feel like nothing I do is going to fix the bind I'm in. I feel like my world is falling apart and I have no 1 to communicate with. I never want to get out of bed even to take my kids to school, they are always having the day off cause I cant get outta bed, I eat everything in the house, then feel shit cause I have no money to get more food and if I do I eat that too. Just cant seem to find the strength to continue everyday. But I have to for my kids. I want to cry all the time, I want to hide, I want to break things, I want to break up with my partner just to run away. Not looking for answers, maybe a quick vent. I don't know anymore. Just wish that life wouldn't be so hard on me when I try all the time to do what's best for my kids and myself but bad things happen everyday and I feel like someone is playing with me to get me to give up. Like I'm being tested in some sick game like lets see how long till she cracks and ends it. And I find its not very fair when I'm a good person. Just been dealt a shit hand at life and I just keep failing. I should get up and go and pick up my children from school. If anyone did read this, sorry for my craziness. Bless.

Jules292 I can’t move past 2020
  • replies: 5

My calendar still sits on December 2020, my mother passed away on the 22nd. If I change my calendar then that moment in time will move on and I just can’t let it. I have not been able to debrief properly about what happened and more than likely won’t... View more

My calendar still sits on December 2020, my mother passed away on the 22nd. If I change my calendar then that moment in time will move on and I just can’t let it. I have not been able to debrief properly about what happened and more than likely won’t be able to. Everything that went on leading up to her death disgusts me and I need to talk to someone, someone that has better writing skills than I have, I want to write the letter to describe the events and then send it to everyone involved ie: the hospital, her specialists. They need to know how badly she was treated in her final days. I don’t want to write it myself as I believe it will be taken as my anger expressed, and then dispelled as an angry response to my grief, but they need to know! Or is it me trying to be vindictive and trying to get revenge from the disappointment of her passing? I don’t believe so, if the truth can’t be told then how can change begin? I was planning to get someone to put all the facts together to write an explanation for the letter and why her life was much more than the care she received. She passed so disappointed and yet so quietly, that was the person she was, I can’t help but miss her and grieve her loss every minute of every day. Everyone else seems to have moved on but I can’t, that’s why the letter is so important. Thanking you in advance for reading Jules x

Rikster First Post - All Over the Shop
  • replies: 2

Just a place to air some thoughts. Feeling like crap at present but no-one would know. I'm not manic, I'm not depressed but the void is there. Wouldn't mind spending a week in a PARC or similar but don't know how to express how I feel. Easy when you'... View more

Just a place to air some thoughts. Feeling like crap at present but no-one would know. I'm not manic, I'm not depressed but the void is there. Wouldn't mind spending a week in a PARC or similar but don't know how to express how I feel. Easy when you're really depressed because it's so obvious. Not so easy when I feel like I do and can put on a brave face in front of people. There have been a few triggers I must admit. I'm tired of living in a society where our leaders are not accountable for their actions. It's said that the standard you walk by is the one you're prepared to accept, but at the same time who is one person to fight the system? Think I'll go to bed and shut the world out for a few hours. Cheers!

faegirl I don't really feel anything anymore...why could this be?
  • replies: 36

Hi there, I'm not exactly too good at conveying my thoughts in a succinct manner, so I'm sorry if this get's confusing. As the title says I don't really feel anything anymore. I sort of walk around like some sort of robot, going through the motions, ... View more

Hi there, I'm not exactly too good at conveying my thoughts in a succinct manner, so I'm sorry if this get's confusing. As the title says I don't really feel anything anymore. I sort of walk around like some sort of robot, going through the motions, feigning happiness when I'm in my classes at uni and I don't know if this is normal? It's almost like my base mood is really quite low and flat, and that I feel empty as if there's nothing left in me. I don't genuinely feel happiness (only fleeting moments), I don't even feel sad a lot of the time, I just don't really feel anything. I'll admit, I've put myself through a lot of sleep deprivation due to studying which started maybe around year 12 (so I've done it on and off for about 3 years), and my diet hasn't been the best so that could be why I feel low on energy at times, but I have been working on sleeping more instead of staying up late to finish work. Despite this, my low / empty feelings persist, it feels more than just tiredness. I don't care for things anymore. Things don't give me any satisfaction, I don't get really upset over things anymore (aside from when I'm super stressed from uni and break down haha), I don't get really happy over anything either. Music, the one thing which I swore I could never live without, which used to make me feel good, is now starting to sound like noise in my ears to block out the world. I don't really know why I am this way. I used to put this "deadness" down to my personality, I've been this dry/kind of emotionless person for as long as I can remember, but I think lately it's gotten a little worse. I was always told as a child to "smile more" or to stop being pessimistic etc. but now I've kind of begun to wonder whether this is just my personality or if it is something more? At times, on top of my low mood I get hit with really dark periods where I lose all motivation, I don't talk to anyone (not that I have anyone aside from my family to talk to anyway), I don't do anything. I just sit in bed and watch crap on netflix or youtube to distract myself from the thoughts. I feel that I cry more easily nowadays (and I don't really know why because I don't feel extremely sad) and these periods have started happening more frequently as of late. I don't know if this is depression. I don't have any real reason to be depressed. Is it all in my head? I really have no idea anymore. Has anyone felt the same way before?

JamesS New city...
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I am struggling to sleep. I recently moved cities after being offered a dream job. Not long after, my relationship ended and I've been adjusting to being single. I've moved house, left my friends and family behind, and have started basically ... View more

Hi all, I am struggling to sleep. I recently moved cities after being offered a dream job. Not long after, my relationship ended and I've been adjusting to being single. I've moved house, left my friends and family behind, and have started basically a new life. At first I felt very positive with so much change, but it has started to dawn on me the enormity of the change and how isolated I am. I want to feel optimistic but I only feel anxiety and depression, which I hoped I had left behind. My biggest fear is that people secretly hate me, or are holding grudges against me. I really just want to find peace and happiness. Thanks guys