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
Jump to
Start a discussion

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: 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

All discussions

Start a discussion

Lemonysquash Struggling with depression and working in management
  • replies: 4

I don't even know whether this will help me at the moment but i think a part of me is trying to process my feelings. I work for a small business and the directors also happen to be my parents which in a lot of ways is fantastic. in others it can pres... View more

I don't even know whether this will help me at the moment but i think a part of me is trying to process my feelings. I work for a small business and the directors also happen to be my parents which in a lot of ways is fantastic. in others it can present challenges that you wouldn't normally deal with when working elsewhere. My family and i have alot of boundaries in place and treat work as work and when we leave then we talk as family. I have worked my backside off over the years with all of that in mind and have taken over my mothers role since she retired, managing the office admin side of things. One big issue i have however is that I have depression, PTSD and a huge issue with self worth. i guess i just want to see if there are other people out there who are managers or senior roles with mental health issues and how they manage to function in their roles appropriately? I feel like I cant do anything right and that I shouldnt be here doing this job even though i know i have the skills to do it. I feel like my mental health stops me being able to progress and work with others efficiently no matter how many strategies i try to employ

BG_95 Sleeping to avoid feeling
  • replies: 4

Hi guys. 28 year old. Complex PTSD. Mild anxiety and Major Depression. My whole life I’ve had an issue with sleep. My family and friends while I was in high school use to say I’d sleep my life away if I could. People still tell me now. I work up at 4... View more

Hi guys. 28 year old. Complex PTSD. Mild anxiety and Major Depression. My whole life I’ve had an issue with sleep. My family and friends while I was in high school use to say I’d sleep my life away if I could. People still tell me now. I work up at 4pm today and I’m still away now (12:54am) I’ve always had an issue with sleep. Sometimes I find it difficult to wind down others I can fall asleep just fine with a documentary or sleep noises playing in the back ground. I have depression episodes so bad at times go over my sick days at work and end up resigning. Every job I have had I’ve been spoken to about my days off. When I have these episodes all I want to do is sleep to avoid EVERYTHING. I’m on week 3 of 10mg antidepressants (my second go at antidepressants) and since November last year I’ve been sleeping 13-15 hours a day. I’m on uni holidays and haven’t started my new casual role yet as I’ve just moved town. I can’t go to work and focus on uni if all I want to do is sleep. Please. Can anybody help? Is there a diagnosis drs might be able to help me with maybe in regards to sleeping so much? I mean something has to be wrong because I’ve had it my whole life and I’m only noticing now that it’s so bad. Idk why it took me so long to realise I think I’ve always known but have just thought nobody would be able to help. I’ve tried to get into a night time routine and no screen time and reading ect. But no luck I still want to sleep a lot. Can anybody please shine some light on what might be going on or what I can do to help myself please

Karlas Coping with sadness that overcomes in waves
  • replies: 2

Coping with sadness that overcomes me in waves. I'm struggling to work through this, it makes me feel worthless and extremely sad.

Coping with sadness that overcomes me in waves. I'm struggling to work through this, it makes me feel worthless and extremely sad.

ellr Financial stress contributing to suicidal thoughts
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I’m a 25 year old woman who make about $1200-$1400 a fortnight and I’m in debt, behind in payments, been waiting for months for centrelink to give me a health care card and I’m just done. I pay $300 a week in rent, put $200 towards debt... View more

Hey everyone, I’m a 25 year old woman who make about $1200-$1400 a fortnight and I’m in debt, behind in payments, been waiting for months for centrelink to give me a health care card and I’m just done. I pay $300 a week in rent, put $200 towards debt and try live off the extra $100 -$200 for everything else and im just not coping. I was in an extremely abusive relationship for my mid to late teens which resulted in multiple long term injuries, I can’t afford an sort of doctor (pyschologist, psychiatrist, regular doctors or dentists). My health is getting worse and I need access to healthcare but centrelink keep messing me around. Just dont see why I keep trying to continue to fight anymore. Is this world even worth living in once I make it to the other side of this mental battle? I’m just so tired of having to fight to exist in this life. I don’t want to die, I just want peace. I want the stress to go. Anxiety to go. I need a break.

Maddie-7 Depression
  • replies: 2

I feel flat not badly depressed. I have been doing a few things to help myself. Written down a number of positives that relate to me.Positive thought I can do this repeat this to myself through the day.Positive activity. Going to ceramics, and mosaic... View more

I feel flat not badly depressed. I have been doing a few things to help myself. Written down a number of positives that relate to me.Positive thought I can do this repeat this to myself through the day.Positive activity. Going to ceramics, and mosaics. Talking and playing with my 3 dogs. Talking to a friend, my GP who is a friend. Talking to God and counting my blessings.Reading what I am interested in. Watching something on TV that I find funny and makes me smile. Seeing and talking to my daughter. Helping her with her mental health, as she gets depression too.Talking with my doctor and taking my medication, this is important as I have Bi Polar illness. Seeing my Psychologist. Having coffee with some friends once a month. Being part of a mental health support group and trying to help someone else. Having good sleep and doing mindful breathing. Going out to the heated pool once week. Doing some casual work. Plan my day and get two jobs done at home each day. I think I am working towards better health and I appreciate this forum. I hope these words might have helped someone else.Maddie7

Jade357 Feeling Lost
  • replies: 1

I have suffered with depression and anxiety in the past. Many days, it still affects me. Lately, I have been feeling so out of control of my own life. like I'm merely holding the reins and the wind is taking me in whatever direction it pleases. my ho... View more

I have suffered with depression and anxiety in the past. Many days, it still affects me. Lately, I have been feeling so out of control of my own life. like I'm merely holding the reins and the wind is taking me in whatever direction it pleases. my home as well as my workplace feel constantly insecure and unstable. everything else feels like its on the rocks. my relationship, though usually strong and sturdy feels rocky and on edge. my friendships slowly vanishing and growing further and further as I fall deeper into this grief and feeling of being lost. my family hanging on by a thread, constant worry and concern. how do I pull myself out of this sinking feeling and focus on the positives in my life and stop pushing everyone important to me away?how do I establish a life full of certainty and happiness without the impending feelings of guilt and shame?how can I put myself first when it feels like every step I take toward that is faced with two steps back in a form of a push? I really do want to pull myself out, like I have time after time and feel like myself again. I've tried exercise, I've tried breath work and meditation. I've tried alcohol and drugs. nothing seems to make a difference for longer than the during of the expertise or substance. how do you put positive and healthy processes into action and keep them going?consistency and self belief is what I lack.

Sosorry I am desperate for help
  • replies: 2

I am desperate for help with my depression, I am just holding on with my fingertips. Everything I do is wrong and I hurt everyone I love all I want to do lay down and go to sleep so I can't hurt anymore, the only thing that has stop me killing myself... View more

I am desperate for help with my depression, I am just holding on with my fingertips. Everything I do is wrong and I hurt everyone I love all I want to do lay down and go to sleep so I can't hurt anymore, the only thing that has stop me killing myself is my son. Have no one to talk to as they think only reason I feel this way is because as I am being silly

Bloo c: avpd - how to get diagnosed?
  • replies: 1

hello! I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon and self diagnose but i suspect i might have avpd, does anyone have any tips on how to go about getting a diagnosis or finding a therapist? thanks!

hello! I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon and self diagnose but i suspect i might have avpd, does anyone have any tips on how to go about getting a diagnosis or finding a therapist? thanks!

kadd Past haunts me
  • replies: 1

Hi there, not sure if this will help. For the last 20-30 years I have been dealing with depression/anxiety on and off. This is due to a situation when I was a child....and after that in my 20's. I was raped, I never came forward to anyone about it, c... View more

Hi there, not sure if this will help. For the last 20-30 years I have been dealing with depression/anxiety on and off. This is due to a situation when I was a child....and after that in my 20's. I was raped, I never came forward to anyone about it, consequently got pregnant and decided not to keep the baby. Alcohol was the only way I could keep the guilt at bay and forget things I did. Since then I have made extremely bad decisions, reckless, promiscuous and have been in trouble with the law and now I am 51. I have always been in relationships whereby I always pick the wrong man as that's all I think I am worth, the last man I was with was narccisstic and messed with my head when he felt like it...I am somewhat introverted and I live with my parents and they have had enough of my outbursts. I don't think they want to believe I am not well and it can be swept under the rug. I have tried antidepressants but they make me feel sick. I dont know the next step. I sometimes feel like just walking into the ocean and never coming back.

Sla24- Feeling lonely and depressed
  • replies: 1

I am feeling so depressed and lonely lately. My marriage hasn’t been very good for a long time now and my children are grown up, my Mum passed away over 3 years ago and I really only have 1 friend. We used to catchup every 2 weeks,and it was really g... View more

I am feeling so depressed and lonely lately. My marriage hasn’t been very good for a long time now and my children are grown up, my Mum passed away over 3 years ago and I really only have 1 friend. We used to catchup every 2 weeks,and it was really great, but lately we only get to catchup about once a month or sometimes not even that often. I know my friend is busy, but I am always the one who messages her first and I feel really hurt that I am always the one who is always making an effort to catchup and she doesn’t put any effort in. My first baby was stillborn and I have been constantly hurt by family, friends and inlaws in my past, and I am at that point in my life where I don’t know how much more I can take. I often wish that I would go to bed and not wake up, that way I would not have to feel so lonely and have to deal with all this hurt and heartache that I feel. Is there anyone else that feels like this?