Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

Pinned discussions

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: 1

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

All discussions

JamesS The year of feeling trapped...
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I wanted to post about how challenging this year has been, as is increasingly clear with some hindsight. Overall, its been an unrelenting set of largely unwanted circumstances which began with the bushfires and really took off after the cor... View more

Hi there, I wanted to post about how challenging this year has been, as is increasingly clear with some hindsight. Overall, its been an unrelenting set of largely unwanted circumstances which began with the bushfires and really took off after the coronavirus pandemic. I've nursed a failing relationship, have attempted to finish a phd, and am now looking to move interstate for a work opportunity. When I think about how hard this year has been I feel angry and depressed, and I can't help but blame the state of society. I know that everyone is having a tough time and by comparison I feel very grateful to have had opportunities in an objectively terrible time. But I feel stressed that my luck might run out, and that these hard times are not going away. Looking out into the world is simply nauseating however one looks at it these days. I'm wondering how other people are getting through this time ? Is there a solution that doesn't involve simply self distraction, and is instead framed through a holistic process of acceptance ? I find myself stressed and unable to find refuge in any thought of comforting future. Thank you

Balmbear I really just don't know what to do anymore.
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I have gone through a lot of rough things in my life. I grew up half deaf after having grommets, I got golden staph infection in my right ear causing me to be a burden on my family with constant pain, medical bills and hinderance in lear... View more

Hi everyone, I have gone through a lot of rough things in my life. I grew up half deaf after having grommets, I got golden staph infection in my right ear causing me to be a burden on my family with constant pain, medical bills and hinderance in learning. I wasn't able to get water in my ear, I didn't learn to swim, I couldn't make friends because I had blood and ooze leaking from my ear constantly. I turned to food as a source of happiness, eating whenever I felt sad, sneaking snacks to my room even as a young kid. and I have been obese for as long as I can remember and honestly don't think I'll ever have the motivation or will to see myself become anything but obese. My parents divorced when I was in kindergarten whilst also being used as a messenger of hate and bad words that I didn't know what they meant at the time and shortly after when I was in Year 2 my father started deteriorating as he had liver cancer, watching your dad wither away, vomiting blood and physically turning yellow; knowing that I can't do anything to help, just watching him die.. No friends, No Father and A Mother who treats me like shit. My brother was the only person I had. at younger ages he bullied me a lot but now as adults he's trying to be there because he wants me to be a present Uncle, but I can't get past the bullying and pain. Getting into high school, I was a smart kid but I had literally no motivation to do anything or plans for the future, I thankfully had made a friend, she's the most wonderful human being i can think of, she's been through her own personal hell but always made sure I was okay. Later on in high school we tried to date, but I realised I was gay and she fully understood and supported it. I stayed closeted until after highschool, my family was already abusive enough i didn't want that to be added on top. It's been 5 years since high school. I am in a Polyamorous relationship with 2 boyfriends, one who feels like an Emotional Minefield, the other feels cold and unapproachable at times. I Do my best to try and make them happy but it gets to a point where I am sacrificing too much. I am obese, no motivation, no true happiness- just the quick rush of winning an online game, I look back at everything and can count the few good things I have had happen to me quite easily, but it is extremely outweighed by all the negatives. I keep continuing the cycle of waking up, just existing, eating, crying and sleeping. What do I do, am I just being pessimistic?

nonscripta It's Always So Much
  • replies: 3

Hiya. Sorry if this ends up a long or confusing read. I'm kind of all over the place. I've been feeling really hopeless. I'm in my last years of school. Was diagnosed with anxiety in mid-late primary and depression in early secondary. I've been seein... View more

Hiya. Sorry if this ends up a long or confusing read. I'm kind of all over the place. I've been feeling really hopeless. I'm in my last years of school. Was diagnosed with anxiety in mid-late primary and depression in early secondary. I've been seeing a psychologist for a long time. But is there anything new for her to tell me? I have lots of little health issues; rarely serious but always stressful. As much as I do as my psych advises, I can't help how hopeless I feel about the state of the world. The climate is rising, covid won't be the last pandemic I see, world leaders are at each other's throats. It's all out of my hands. Advice is always the same. I know that's because it's the best advice that can be given. But after so many years, it starts to hurt. And I never got to live the years everyone calls their best. So what's left? Working for things I'll never be able to afford? It feels like there's so little to live for. Is all the emptiness worth the moments of happiness? I don't want to die. I'm not going to kill myself. But if I'm going to die anyway, I want it to be on my own terms, you know? I'm not sure what I want from this, honestly. Maybe just to vent. If you happen to have advice, or just a kind word, I'll be glad to hear it, though. Thanks for your time.

JoyceG Depression:(
  • replies: 4

Hey guys, hope everyone is doing well. I'm only writing this because I need to get it out I suppose. Struggling so bad lately, I have no one to talk too. I work 7 days a week just to keep my mind off things, I just don't know how to stop thinking of ... View more

Hey guys, hope everyone is doing well. I'm only writing this because I need to get it out I suppose. Struggling so bad lately, I have no one to talk too. I work 7 days a week just to keep my mind off things, I just don't know how to stop thinking of ending it. How do people stop...

Lunexy Feeling really overwhelmed with things
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone Dont need to go into a long history about my mental health. Its obvious why I'm here. And honestly I'm sick of being kicked while im already down for the past 3 years. Glandular fever and chronic fatigue in 2018. Still glandular fever eff... View more

Hi everyone Dont need to go into a long history about my mental health. Its obvious why I'm here. And honestly I'm sick of being kicked while im already down for the past 3 years. Glandular fever and chronic fatigue in 2018. Still glandular fever effects as well as chronic tonsilitis in 2019. Now 2020, severe anxiety disorder and depression resurgence from when I was a teenager, and a global pandemic happened. I have also been struggling since March with chronic bum fissures and constant irritation in my private parts. I'm a 21 year old lady and all these particularly intimate issues are getting me down the most... both issues are trying to be worked on but with no luck so far with treatments. I am just so so sad so often. Anxiety used to be my primary problem but with everything going on with my health ive been more depressed than ever. I also am struggling with chronic fatigue again, with no obvious cause apart from possible mental fatigue. The fatigue makes it really hard to just live and function and to cope with my other health issues. I just want to give up alot of the time. I feel like i should be grateful that i dont have a life threatening illness but what i do have has made me lose so much confidence in myself as well as getting me so down. Is there a way out? Will things get better?

itaintmyfault I'm lost
  • replies: 3

I'm so lost on what I'm doing. My phone has been taken away because I have been doing a lot of stupid things to try to get over my ex-boyfriend. I have lost my trust with my parents and I have been feeling unsafe in my house for many months now. My m... View more

I'm so lost on what I'm doing. My phone has been taken away because I have been doing a lot of stupid things to try to get over my ex-boyfriend. I have lost my trust with my parents and I have been feeling unsafe in my house for many months now. My mum doesn't understand mental health and she even have drinking problems which doesn't help me cope either. I haven't seen my psychologist since January which is when I was at what I thought was my lowest point but I'm now at my lowest and I feel trapped. I have only talked to my grandmother and uncle about how I feel because they understand me more than anyone in the world. I want to feel safe somewhere and I don't want to feel like rubbish anymore. I'm numb and I just don't know if I can stand it anymore. I'm not honestly sure what to do. My own sisters don't even care about my feelings.

destiny Withdrawing from medication.. help?
  • replies: 4

I have rapid cycling bipolar and have been medicated for the past 5 years. A couple months ago I had gastric sleeve surgery as a result of the weight increase from all the medication and their wonderful weight increasing side effects. My psychiatrist... View more

I have rapid cycling bipolar and have been medicated for the past 5 years. A couple months ago I had gastric sleeve surgery as a result of the weight increase from all the medication and their wonderful weight increasing side effects. My psychiatrist was aware of this, but however due to covid we haven't had an in person consult since feb. I've lost over 20kg very quickly and this caused me to have a manic episode, I assume because the medication didn't get altered in time, when he was told I was manic by my mother he lowered my medication. So a week later I had to go to the ER as I had a lot of uncontrolled movements in my face, arm and leg. ER dr thought I had developed tardive dyskinesia from my antipsychotics. I got an injection and sent on my way home. My psych and gp believes however I had developed Dystonia and came to the decision to stop all medication at once to stop the symptoms. I went the through the worst week of withdrawals, I don't even remember it. I'm at the end of week 2, the dystonia symptoms have totally stopped and I'm so miserable. I can't go back on anything just yet. I'm having such a hard time controlling my bipolar. I just need some tips, I have one more week to go before we try new medication. All I want to do is sleep, but I haven't slept properly since this began. I don't want to be around people because the moment I start socialising I start winding up and getting over excited and talking gibberish or I'm incredibly rude. I'm paranoid because I feel like everyone thinks I'm manic and are looking as me as if I'm crazy. I do know a lot of this is still side effects from stopping cold turkey.

mocha delight Day to day
  • replies: 20

Ok so I’m going to start a post where I’ll just going to check in when I feel like I want to with how I’m doing day to day. So Wednesday & yesterday mum was nitpicking at some symptoms/signs of depression I’ve been having again despite being on antid... View more

Ok so I’m going to start a post where I’ll just going to check in when I feel like I want to with how I’m doing day to day. So Wednesday & yesterday mum was nitpicking at some symptoms/signs of depression I’ve been having again despite being on antidepressants. I’ve also been experiencing feeling like I’ve had way to much sugar/coffee which I don’t and just today I had this quite big spurt of energy which I have no idea where it even came from & nor have I ever experienced something like that before.

fred2018 Cognitive Issues of Depression/Stress
  • replies: 4

Today was a very difficult day for me as I had to do probably my first working from home induction for a new job. My mood has been getting progressively worse the second half of this year but the irritability/low frustration tolerance/ brain fog have... View more

Today was a very difficult day for me as I had to do probably my first working from home induction for a new job. My mood has been getting progressively worse the second half of this year but the irritability/low frustration tolerance/ brain fog have been tricky to handle and today learning some pretty frustrating technology over zoom was quite the experience. Can someone direct me to any other threads about dealing with the cognitive issues connected to depression or bad stress/ anxiety im not sure whats to say the cause is yet. I question if its bad stress but the way I'm waking up of late makes me think its depression but will see my psych next week. Anyways at least Covid in Melbourne is going in the right direction so that with help people' mental overall. Cheers

GloomyFlight I don't know how to deal with this.
  • replies: 1

Hello I recently turned 25 and have been having trouble with getting my life on track. I've been dealing with anxiety and depression for since i was 15. I was a drop out and semi shut-in after stuff with school and received consoling from 18-21. I ha... View more

Hello I recently turned 25 and have been having trouble with getting my life on track. I've been dealing with anxiety and depression for since i was 15. I was a drop out and semi shut-in after stuff with school and received consoling from 18-21. I haven't been able to get a job and don't know what to do. I don't hold a driving licence I live in a country town we don't have a proper driving school and have been struggling to find any unskilled work. I recently completed a course with jobseeker program but even though I have completed the course I have not received a certification for it due to them having been audited. Apparently their parent company what doing dodgy paperwork which has resulted in everyone in the course having to come back and redo paperwork. I have been back to them 6 times over the last year trying to get the certification and have been told time after time that everything is finally done only to not receive the certification. I don't know what to do at this point. Its started to make me depressed and giving me anxiety.