Support
Support

Depression

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

Start a conversation

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 conversation

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 conversation

Porty Depression
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone my name is Rod I was first diagnosed with depression in 2012 after a series of traumatic events we have just sold our house and moved to regional Victoria to start a fresh life, but due to Covid and losing my job at the start of the year,... View more

Hi everyone my name is Rod I was first diagnosed with depression in 2012 after a series of traumatic events we have just sold our house and moved to regional Victoria to start a fresh life, but due to Covid and losing my job at the start of the year, the stress of selling and moving it’s come back hard I am on an antidepressant atm which has levelled me out to an extent but I really struggle to get out of bed in the mornings i really hate feeling like this and would appreciate any advice on how to get back on track

CBRITGuy I think I am suffering from depression
  • replies: 3

Hi all, First time poster, as have been looking through all of the resources on the site over the past 24 hours. I feel it is time to start to do something about my life and how I feel. I think I am suffering from depression. There are probably a lot... View more

Hi all, First time poster, as have been looking through all of the resources on the site over the past 24 hours. I feel it is time to start to do something about my life and how I feel. I think I am suffering from depression. There are probably a lot of reasons for it, things from the past that stick around in my mind and pop their head up from time to time. I have been to counselling (EAP) in the past to help with issues to do with accusing my partner of cheating (I have been cheated on in the past a few times and there was, and likely still is, lingering issues there). I likely, especially at this stage of how I am feeling, have an alcohol dependency. I have been drinking heavily for the past few weeks. I want to stop this dangerous cycle I am in. My partner is a Senior Manager at the same place I work, and early in the relationship she did not want anyone to know about it (which I could understand, it was a new relationship), however we got engaged and I thought that it might change as time went on. This has been a major sticking point, and trigger of the feelings of self-loathing, worthlessness I feel, even now. At 2 Christmas parties, whilst drunk, major arguments have happened, and at other times in the year. This has of course caused her to be upset, angry, and rightfully so. After the most recent one, I have now had to find somewhere else to live. This was because she wanted me to find somewhere to live. We actually started talking and trying to rebuild, but then an issue happened between my daughter and her son. My daughter does not want to live there anymore, and my partner feels upset that I actually found somewhere else to live, as we were trying to reconcile. However the incident with the kids made me think I needed to have a place where my daughter could feel safe. My daughter has gone to her mum's now for the second half of the holidays. I feel a little under pressure to go over there, as I have withdrawn into myself nearly completely with how I am feeling. That then upsets her and I feel even worse. I am looking at lots of different resources, online CBT, reading articles, and calling BeyondBlue, not to mention I feel I should see my GP and also will be using EAP again. It's just so damn hard sometimes. I don't really know what to do, but I know I need to get better.

EzT In need of help
  • replies: 6

Lately it feels like everything to getting too much, I’ve always been that type of person that’s always there for everyone around me but when I need help I push everyone around me away and completely shut down. I don’t want to be like that anymore bu... View more

Lately it feels like everything to getting too much, I’ve always been that type of person that’s always there for everyone around me but when I need help I push everyone around me away and completely shut down. I don’t want to be like that anymore but I don’t know how to fix it on my own. I just need someone to help me without feeling like a massive burden.

Ryleigh_19 Why does everyone annoy me
  • replies: 7

Feel like I can never be honest with anyone, I don’t know how to talk with normal people and wish I could, so carefree but yet they feel so ignorant. Depressions been getting bad, first month without seeing my mates and it’s not bad exactly but I kno... View more

Feel like I can never be honest with anyone, I don’t know how to talk with normal people and wish I could, so carefree but yet they feel so ignorant. Depressions been getting bad, first month without seeing my mates and it’s not bad exactly but I know I’m not gonna get better I don’t wanna be lonely but all my mates do is drugs and they feel so stupid.

Niks85 Thinking I want out
  • replies: 8

Hi to anyone willing to listen I haven't posted in a long time. I'm feeling very down lately and feeling a bit unhappily married because my husband although a great financial supporter is terrible at emotional support. Sometimes I find him controllin... View more

Hi to anyone willing to listen I haven't posted in a long time. I'm feeling very down lately and feeling a bit unhappily married because my husband although a great financial supporter is terrible at emotional support. Sometimes I find him controlling and occasionally he puts me down. Things were great once then covid hit and his company folded. Whats really got me down is he doesnt really want more kids we have a daughter who is 1 and I feel like im now grieving the baby I never had or will have. Today i actually thought about divorce which scares me. I love being a mum feeling so devastated. While its a thing of the past now I miss my best friend. My husband hated her and we are no longer friends because of it. Just so unhappy but we have a daughter now so I feel stuck. What do I do? Counseling wont work hes a closed book. I haven't worked for two years so im really stuck. So depressed

Dazzi Sounds
  • replies: 6

Hi Guys Im new to this site, but have suffered depression most of my adult life (im 49). I recently lost my nan who has played a huge part in my life, along with work stress and with the way the world is with covid the past 12 months has wrecked havo... View more

Hi Guys Im new to this site, but have suffered depression most of my adult life (im 49). I recently lost my nan who has played a huge part in my life, along with work stress and with the way the world is with covid the past 12 months has wrecked havoc with my depression. I imagine many people are in a similar boat to me. I stumbled across some sounds that i found soothing, ive always loved listening to rain of a night laying in bed and found it took some of the pain away and made me feel somewhat relaxed, so ive found some sounds and would listen to them at night. Stay safe, Stay OK most of all talk to those around you.

Macca247 Bipolar and Cheating (Advice)
  • replies: 6

Hey Guys, I am after some advice off people who have experienced bipolar and cheating issues. There is a long story around my Bipolar diagnosis but cheating multiple times over an 11 year relationship was the catalyst that got me in front of a therap... View more

Hey Guys, I am after some advice off people who have experienced bipolar and cheating issues. There is a long story around my Bipolar diagnosis but cheating multiple times over an 11 year relationship was the catalyst that got me in front of a therapist and therefore Im 33 and been diagnosed with Bipolar Dec Last year. I have been working on everything to help since last year, weekly therapy sessions and medication I still have episodes where frantically talk to other people and sometimes cheat. I will go periods where I don't even think about it (6 months) but then all of a sudden i find myself falling down the rabbit hole and it feels to good to crawl back out of. My (sort of ex) partner of 11 years and I live seperate we still share hope that we can have a relationship and this is why I need your help. I cant see or feel that I will be able to stop these actions and if this is the case I would prefer to end the relationship as I have already put her through to much pain and don't want to put her through anymore. My questions are: Will this always be a problem due to my diagnosis or does it go away ever? I am taking medication, therapy and it still happens I don't know what else to do? Any help / advice would be great Adam

mish_kebab Difficulty at work because depression, or depressed because difficulty at work?
  • replies: 2

Hi all, This is very hard to type. I don't know what I'm doing, but I also don't know what else to do. I have a meeting with my boss tomorrow morning to discuss, and waiting for a call-back from a psychologists office, as well as an appointment to se... View more

Hi all, This is very hard to type. I don't know what I'm doing, but I also don't know what else to do. I have a meeting with my boss tomorrow morning to discuss, and waiting for a call-back from a psychologists office, as well as an appointment to set up a mental health care plan on Wednesday. At the moment, I'm suffering because my responsibilities at work kicked up a notch around August last year and they've progressively gotten more intense. I also started some counselling around that time, which also got a bit intense pretty quickly. I've had a history of depression in the past, all managed while maintaining my career, but I am beginning to feel like this time might be the time where I need to jettison my career and go back to something more simple. I don't know what the chicken or the egg is here, whether it's the increased responsibility at work or maybe this is just a relapse because of the things I've been talking about in counselling? A lot of family of origin stuff has come up. Corporal punishment = fear of making mistakes, bullying = body shame issues, parental incarceration in teenage years = parentification/emotional incest by other parent, moved around schools often = always an outsider in school, social skills issues. I do not think highly of myself, let's say that. The new GP who I went and saw about my mental state today has asked me to take a couple of days off of work, and find a psychologist to see instead of a counsellor as they might be able to be more structured in their approach, but it leaves me without knowing how I get through the next few days/weeks, etc. at work. I called my dad, in tears, and asked him if I could move in with him for a bit; just in case the talk with my boss tomorrow doesn't go in a way where I feel supported enough to continue working here. He said of course, and that I didn't even need to ask. But, losing my job, moving and figuring out how my relationship works while I live 2 hours away from where I do now is something that needs to be taken into account. On top of this, my partner who I would normally talk to about all this is currently in the middle of an assignment for a job application and they're doing so well on it today that I don't want to lump this on them. Today is not a very good day. Does anyone have some perspective for me? Gosh I'd really like some.

S89 Needing help
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I'm new here but I just don't know where else to turn too. I have had depression and anxiety for ~3 years the therapist I have been seeing has said it is mostly due to work burn out as I used to do some serious hours. After successfully... View more

Hey everyone, I'm new here but I just don't know where else to turn too. I have had depression and anxiety for ~3 years the therapist I have been seeing has said it is mostly due to work burn out as I used to do some serious hours. After successfully getting my self back on track, all this covid stuff really impacted me. So much so I stepped down from work (I'm in Vic and considered essential) I applied for job seeker as of November, how ever my last boss had always said there is a position for me once I was up to it, they called me weekly to check up on me and offer assistance which seemed annoying at the time but really helped. Anyway due to this work related stuff we had planned for me to come back slowly as part time to ease in to it, how ever to stay on job seeker I need to apply for jobs each week. I have explained my situation to many people at centrelink and the only response has been apply for jobs and don't accept them. I don't want to do this, I have been a manager and I hated this happening too me, but constantly arguing this point has set back my mental health in a big way and I feel like I will have to go back to full time work before I am ready. One last detail I spoke to my GP about a centrelink certificate and she will only do it for a week at a time, I live an hour away from my GP as I'm one of those guys who finds it hard to open up to new drs etc. Has anyone been able to deal with centrelink in this way before?

Maggie_ Lonely and homesick
  • replies: 2

I emigrated to Australia 7 years ago and had my first child here October 2019. My parents were going to visit after the birth but I told them not to worry as I planned on going back to the UK for a visit in May 2020 so that everyone can meet our baby... View more

I emigrated to Australia 7 years ago and had my first child here October 2019. My parents were going to visit after the birth but I told them not to worry as I planned on going back to the UK for a visit in May 2020 so that everyone can meet our baby. Both mine and my husband's families are in the UK - we have zero family in Australia. Anyway covid hit and now fast forward 14 months and our families still haven't met our daughter. I'm heartbroken by this and feel so completely homesick and lonely here. What hasn't helped is that my friends in Australia seemed to hardly contact or visit me once i had a baby and I tried making new mum friends but most of the time they're busy as it seems everyone else has extended family here (or very close friends) but us! I feel like everyone else has a big support network and I have no one. I don't think I'd want to move back to the UK as I think my daughter will have a better life here but I just worry I'll always feel lonely and homesick. I desperately miss my parents and sisters. I think about how much more enjoyable my maternity leave would have been if I was around them rather than here alone with no family or friends. Does anyone else here suffer from severe homesickness? What do you find helps? Thank you

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map