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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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

Now Unable to settle and overwired
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I guess many people have difficulty at Christmas and I feel for them, this year I am finding it harder to settle myself to get through it. Even now I have uneasiness sitting in the quiet, I hear birds, cars see trees and outside there is... View more

Hi everyone, I guess many people have difficulty at Christmas and I feel for them, this year I am finding it harder to settle myself to get through it. Even now I have uneasiness sitting in the quiet, I hear birds, cars see trees and outside there is a bit of a cool breeze. It has been a difficult year riding a roller coaster of emotions, anxiety and depression, and at the moment I think I am in heightened anxiety. This time of year has been hard since my mother passed when I was pregnant, my son is 11yrs old. The first Christmas without her my M.I.L manipulated my husband and said my Dad said something to her and I was caught in the middle trying to settle things it didn’t work, my husband took it out on me, my dad went back home a few days later and he didn’t say anything to her as, I confronted him, the day she was leaving, she said to me for what ever the discussion was, she knew how to get her way and manipulate, so in general I find it hard at Christmas, I make it nice for my son. I dread it myself. I have been through a lot since the passing of mum. My maternal family are deceased and I think I feel stuck where I am. My husband said to me earlier this year you haven’t been right since your mum died, he is right, but I had no support from him and still don’t, he has never understood anxiety and depression and never will, doesn’t believe in medication or psychologists. There is too much involvement from his mother and her involvement the last 2 years has been full on and continues. Mid way through the year I had discussions with my psychologist about leaving and when I think of this it eases me, what causes me anxiety is custody of my son. If it was me I could walk out. I do everything for my son, but in his eyes his dad is the best. My son does have special needs; level 1 autism; speech delay, cognitive processing issues and if he has a meltdown, my husband and MIL say oh he’s tired. He gets overwhelmed, they don’t get it. I would never turn my son against his dad. As my husband has spent so much time with his mother, in July this year she went away for 6 weeks, I thought we could reconnect but he spent all his time at hers renovating stuff and being up there was our family time, but my son and I didn’t go up there much either. My son wanted to go to the Gold Coast in January after Christmas which we are. I think my anxiety is more about being away with my husband as I really have nothing to talk about anymore. Any suggestions please.

Talitha93 Trying to fight these thoughts
  • replies: 3

Hi my name is Talitha, I have been battling these depressive thoughts for a few weeks now, some days I’m okay and I can get on with my day while other days these thoughts hit me like a brick. It’s so hard and challenging because I feel so alone in th... View more

Hi my name is Talitha, I have been battling these depressive thoughts for a few weeks now, some days I’m okay and I can get on with my day while other days these thoughts hit me like a brick. It’s so hard and challenging because I feel so alone in this world. I have a friend who I reach out to often but I feel bad because she has a lot going on herself and I feel like me constantly opening up to her is annoying her.. I’m going to have a huge operation in a few weeks and my mum hasn’t been on my side for the last three years. I feel so lost in such a big world and I don’t know what to do anymore. Nights I just want to run away..

fred2018 checking in as in a tired space
  • replies: 2

Think my medication is only doing a quarter of what its supposed to now , will see psychiatrist tommorow, ah the brain is great when its well hah but when its not. Anyways taking it a day at a time but its a struggle right now, in case people wonderi... View more

Think my medication is only doing a quarter of what its supposed to now , will see psychiatrist tommorow, ah the brain is great when its well hah but when its not. Anyways taking it a day at a time but its a struggle right now, in case people wondering yes I know the emergency numbers if need be thanks to all.

Tcoul05 I’m confused and need advice please
  • replies: 6

For the past few years I’ve felt very emotional numb. I haven’t felt happiness or sadness or anger or anything. I don’t know what to do and I’m scared to tell someone because I feel like they will say I’m being dramatic. I don’t know what to do or wh... View more

For the past few years I’ve felt very emotional numb. I haven’t felt happiness or sadness or anger or anything. I don’t know what to do and I’m scared to tell someone because I feel like they will say I’m being dramatic. I don’t know what to do or what it means and I’m so very confused. I’ve lost all interest in activities that I used to enjoy, I’ve hardly have any energy, I don’t have any disire to do anything.

Youre1 Giving up alcohol successfully
  • replies: 4

I am a 46 yo man who has struggled with severe depression for the last 12 years. I was drinking heavily for 10 of those years. I would drink a case of beer and some wine and whatever I could get my hands on and afford, not working meant I had to get ... View more

I am a 46 yo man who has struggled with severe depression for the last 12 years. I was drinking heavily for 10 of those years. I would drink a case of beer and some wine and whatever I could get my hands on and afford, not working meant I had to get the cheap stuff. It took 3 goes at detox at a hospital but in the end it was worth it. After the first two times I went for a few months and something triggered me off and the heavy drinking started again. I only woke up to get drunk and went back to sleep. A never ending cycle. I have been off any alcohol for just over 2 years now. My blood pressure has returned to normal, as well as all my blood tests including liver function. I used to wake up and vomit and then have a few drinks, again and again. I now don't think about drinking at all, I have simply put into my mind that if I do, the last 2 years would have been wasted. Its not easy, but now that I don't drink my depression is a little more manageable. I would recommend taking the leap and going for a detox in hospital. Its about 5 days of having nurses looking after you followed up with medication. I wish I had done it sooner. As they say 'never give up giving up'.

Alex_h Seeking advice
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, I’m 23 year old male and I think I’m going through depression and am seeking advice. About 11 months ago I was taking a hair loss drug. I reacted pretty badly to the drug and it has completely messed up my hormones and endocrine system. ... View more

Hi everyone, I’m 23 year old male and I think I’m going through depression and am seeking advice. About 11 months ago I was taking a hair loss drug. I reacted pretty badly to the drug and it has completely messed up my hormones and endocrine system. I have been really sick for the last 11 months as a result. I am working with an endocrinologist who has managed to restore my testosterone levels, and do feel physically better now. But the ordeal has left me scarred and has had a huge impact on my life. Before this ordeal, I was energetic and motivated, I was really into health and fitness, loved camping, snowboarding, 4wding. However, now I have lost all aspiration, am hopeless and do not find enjoyment in the things I once did. All I want to do is spend all day in bed under the covers and eat junk food - a full 180 to how I once was. I recently moved to a different city, so have very little friends and family here. I thought I would get better once my hormones were fixed, but I still have no interest in socialising and meeting people. I work a stressful and high demand job. I love what I do and love the people there, however waking up every morning to go to work is a struggle at the moment and I am contemplating quitting. I want to work, but the day by day is just a struggle at the moment. I have not told anyone, not even family about what I’m going through. I don’t want my parents to worry. How do I get my life back on track. I am considering antidepressants at this point to help get me on the road to recovery so I can rebuild my life. Current symptoms include: - Fatigue and tiredness - oversleeping - overeating and weight gain - brainfog - sad mood - hopelessness - isolating from friends and family - low libido really appreciate any advice anyone can give, thank you

Shyer000 Depression and Suicide Thoughts
  • replies: 3

Hi I am Shyer000 and I’m concerned that I may have depression but I’m not sure? I am only young but old enough to understand this as I am a teenager. I have taken online tests and they all resulted in high but I don’t want to see a doctor and I’m not... View more

Hi I am Shyer000 and I’m concerned that I may have depression but I’m not sure? I am only young but old enough to understand this as I am a teenager. I have taken online tests and they all resulted in high but I don’t want to see a doctor and I’m not sure how to tell my Mum that I think this is happening. A couple weeks ago I felt really alone in this world and I shouted at my brother and sister (who were laughing at me) whatever you think it’s funny that I want to kill myself! My sister told my mum the other night and she was upset because I close friend of hers had just attempted to commit suicide which didn’t help the fact that I felt so alone and unwanted. I’m not sure I want to ring anyone yet but I’m up for texting. Can anyone give me any advice on what to do?

CourtneyJ Monday mornings
  • replies: 1

Hi all 32 GAD and depression suffererer here. I just need to share my feelings right now. Every Monday morning when I wake up I have a moment of pure honesty. Where all my normal walls are stripped away, I have nothing to hide behind and feel ALL my ... View more

Hi all 32 GAD and depression suffererer here. I just need to share my feelings right now. Every Monday morning when I wake up I have a moment of pure honesty. Where all my normal walls are stripped away, I have nothing to hide behind and feel ALL my pain. All the hopelessness. Feelings of being a failure, pathetic, a loser, ugly, not good enough. Now I think it's important to "sit" with these feelings and actually "feel" them in order to learn. But of course it only takes a few minutes before life takes over and the feelings get buried again. In this case I feel like my coping mechanisms that I've developed over many years to live a normal and productive life are working against me. In writing this I'm not looking for resources/advice to help to resolve these negative feelings (I know how to do that). I guess I'm hoping that I'm not alone in experiencing this?

mackayandchill Feeling hopeless
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, first time ever posting on this forum. This feels weird to do because I don't like sharing my problems with other people, but at least it's anonymous. Basically, I've been feeling hopeless. All I want to do is get out of the present, and... View more

Hi everyone, first time ever posting on this forum. This feels weird to do because I don't like sharing my problems with other people, but at least it's anonymous. Basically, I've been feeling hopeless. All I want to do is get out of the present, and into the future, but I don't know what I'm going to do once I get out of high school. The last thing I want to do is work behind a desk all day, because I could never see myself fitting in there. Problem is, I don't know if I have enough money or talent for what I really want to do. So the future looks bleak, and the present is just as bad. I have little to no social life (despite my best efforts), no commitments to anyone or anything outside of family, and grades are pretty average. It's a horrible feeling to know that you are destined to fail, and that it won't get any better when you leave school. Thanks for reading

Brof Why is my BPD affecting me being able to hold a job
  • replies: 4

Hi so I recently got a job I quite enjoyed for about a month and then the second month felt like everything was an effort, I started getting anxiety attacks with the thought about working. These attacks would happen 2 days before I had to work. Yeste... View more

Hi so I recently got a job I quite enjoyed for about a month and then the second month felt like everything was an effort, I started getting anxiety attacks with the thought about working. These attacks would happen 2 days before I had to work. Yesterday I pulled up my drive way and broke down 1 hour before I had to work my mum saw me and called my boss saying I couldn’t come in anymore. Since then I have been extremely depressed and felt hopeless I’ve never been able to hold down a friend or a job without fearing I would lose it or just wanting to give up so it would make my life easier. Can someone tell me if this is normal and what I should do, perhaps share similar experiences or guide me?