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

helpingmyselfandothers First time poster, sharing my experience
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. My mental health challenges mainly started in 1-2 years ago and the worst of it lasted for at least half a year (Iam keeping the numbers vague to protect my own privacy). I had recently quit tafe, moved into a new house with my family at... View more

Hi everyone. My mental health challenges mainly started in 1-2 years ago and the worst of it lasted for at least half a year (Iam keeping the numbers vague to protect my own privacy). I had recently quit tafe, moved into a new house with my family at the time and this is when my issues started arising. I couldn't sleep in this new house, it was near the train line, however I believe there was other factors that caused the sleep problems. 1 week later i drove out to a bay and had a panic attack in my car, this was my first and only panic attack of my life. I was vegan at the time as I believed this was a healthy way to eat but I believe it may not be the way to go long-term. I was slowly losing my mind, I would constantly think about the train noise and how I cannot sleep, my brain fog, at times the brain fog would turn into feeling like my brain is being fried and imploding. I even acquired employment during this time but I was a complete and utter mess, I would break dishes etc, use the POS machine with inaccuracy and couldn't remember any new knowledge in this job. god damn it i was so messed up. I would look in the mirror and have thoughts that I look so tired. Things that helped me improved my mental health would be eating a balanced diet. I would caution vegan diets, feel free to continue however if you experience negative health effects while on a vegan diet please reconsider it, how is it ethical to not eat animals when you are damaging yourself in the process. Now I am not sure if I have self-esteem issues, this experience feels like it has damaged me psychologically in some way. I feel like I am less productive and less functional than other people who are able to maintain well paying jobs while the only job I have able to keep is a hospitality job. I am somewhat optimistic but pessimistic about my future at the same time. My girlfriend has moved in with me, I genuinely worry sometimes about the future, How will I able to work consistently and provide for her and potentially kids and even if she leaves me, how do I provide for myself if I constantly have a mindset that is avoidant to working and employment? I am trying to get back into working again after 3 months out. Iam grateful for what I have but sometimes I feel like I learn slower than most people, so Iam at a disadvantage. Some information may be missing so feel free to ask anything. I still respect the vegan point of view, I was one myself so don't take that too seriously.

kdoll87 Work related mental health incidents
  • replies: 3

Hello I am wanting to know if there are people who have had mental health incident/breakddown that were largely caused by work but never did anything about it with the employer (ie claimed workcover). If so, what were your reasons and do you regret y... View more

Hello I am wanting to know if there are people who have had mental health incident/breakddown that were largely caused by work but never did anything about it with the employer (ie claimed workcover). If so, what were your reasons and do you regret your decision? I'm 4 years post my incident where I was involuntarily admitted to the MHU which was mostly caused by my workplace however the seriousness of the condition/incident was sumwhat contributed to by pre-existing trauma from a previous workplace and having been succeptible to depression and anxiety in the past. I'm still at the workplace but we were taken over by another company and I have never moved on to a new job for a few reasons including still recovering from my incident, lack of confidence at the idea of transitioning to a new job and also I had a baby recently and have only recently returned to work part-time from maternity leave. Only recently I have been diagnosed with bi-polar and have ongoing psychiatric monitoring. Though I am currently stable I have only started to feel more like myself again in the last 6 months and I have returned to my uni studies to finally finish the last part of my degree. From a work perspective I still have lost alot of self-confidence even though my skills and experience are worth alot more then what I've accepted for myself in recent years. I sometimes feel angry at my current workplace for how they handled things and also the bullying and trauma I experienced at my previous workplace and how it got swept under the carpet. I don't know how to really move on except hopefully at some point I will have the confidence to find another job in a good company and get back into my desired career that I spent many years working towards, even if it was that job that gave me the most trauma.

ChuckD I'm a mess atm.
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm reaching out for help and some direction. As my title states I am a mess atm. I have never felt so low. Every waking moment I am in my own dark negative thoughts. And the negativity is all consuming. Furthermore, I am in tears multiple times ... View more

Hi, I'm reaching out for help and some direction. As my title states I am a mess atm. I have never felt so low. Every waking moment I am in my own dark negative thoughts. And the negativity is all consuming. Furthermore, I am in tears multiple times a day. For example, it's almost lunch time and I've counted 8 desperate times where I am overwhelmed. I did the depression test on this sight and I got 40 which it tells me is high. I don't know what to do....

blueocean123 cant get out of depression
  • replies: 3

Hi Im new. my details: came from oversea(born and grown in city) 10 years ago lived on farm with partner for 6.5years and got 2 children separated 2 years ago (due to partner's financial issue and my depression) single mother of 2, still in same town... View more

Hi Im new. my details: came from oversea(born and grown in city) 10 years ago lived on farm with partner for 6.5years and got 2 children separated 2 years ago (due to partner's financial issue and my depression) single mother of 2, still in same town for children no family, no friend here (It is scared to meet new people) I cant tell my family about my mental condition.(I dont want to make my family sad or worry) staying home all the time nothing makes me happy (other than my kids) taking anti depression for 6 months (It's got much better but I still cant get out of it) I want to get a job but I can't (no motivation, no confidence) I know meds won't solve everything, I have to face myself but I cant. I wasnt like this before, I dont know what to do. Does anyone know how to get over depression? Or can't I do that untill I go back to my country?

B-xo Don’t know what to do anymore
  • replies: 3

I have a almost 2 year old and a 4 month old I was doing so well but with no support and my partner not coming home from work and just taking them for an hour at least once a week I have crashed and burned I begged my partner for a break and I told h... View more

I have a almost 2 year old and a 4 month old I was doing so well but with no support and my partner not coming home from work and just taking them for an hour at least once a week I have crashed and burned I begged my partner for a break and I told him I felt like I was getting bad possibly PND and if I didn’t get a break it would probably get worse 2 months of asking and I’m at that point I’m getting angry over the tiniest things I despise my partner and even more so now that I’ve Confided in him and told him how I’m truely feeling and it’s like he’s ignoring it or just not interested in taking it in because everyday he tells me how sad and in a bad mood I always am in and constantly makes me feel bad for how I am feeling but all I wanted was some support. I don’t have any support and I feel like I’m losing control and I don’t want to be here anymore. I can’t understand how someone can know and be told how down and depressed someone is but just keep making them feel worse and worse. I just don’t know what to I feel so alone and I feel like he just doesn’t care about me at all

Ellen_o I'm new here. This is my ramble.
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone. I joined in 2018 but I can't remember so I'm starting fresh. I'm anxious about reaching out so please bear with me. Hi, I'm 21 years old. I have decided to post as I feel I don't know what else to do at this point. I was diagnosed with G... View more

Hi everyone. I joined in 2018 but I can't remember so I'm starting fresh. I'm anxious about reaching out so please bear with me. Hi, I'm 21 years old. I have decided to post as I feel I don't know what else to do at this point. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in 2017 as well as abandonment issues ( but I don't believe that was a real diagnose) Last year my mum and I moved from our house of 13 years, she moved in with her partner of 5 years and I was moved into a small cottage next door (on the same block) The move has been hard on me. At the moment I feel like I have depression. I'm low all the time, I don't have much energy, I have lost interest in the things I used to like doing, I often can't get out of bed, I find it hard to do day to day tasks, I have had this feeling once before after I left school. Before my bother left home about 3-4 years ago he had serious depression and it was hard my mum and I (and obviously my brother) I don't feel comfortable telling my mum, ever since the move I have felt like its been difficult to tell her how I feel. Whenever I do see her, I mask my emotions and it's getting exhausting to hide. My mum and I also believe I am somewhere on the spectrum and have been since birth or a very young age This also has been hard to process. I have been on medication before and seen a few therapists. going to therapy worked when I was a kid and again when I was 17 but not anymore and I have no interest in doing it again. I would possibly consider group therapy even those I have social anxiety. I just hate the thought of meeting someone new and always having to go over my so far life story plus I don't get talking about your feelings to a stranger (I also hate talking about my self). I'm sure its worked for many people and I'm happy it's helped them. I'm also not to keen on going back on medication. I had bad side effects last time. I don't have anyone I can talk to since I have no friends. I left school at a young age. The last time I think I had a conversation with someone my age was at least 2 years ago. I just want to know that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I think I just need a connection. I'm sorry, I hope I've made sense. I've re-written this so many times. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Azza12 Don't know what to do
  • replies: 4

I don't know what to do in my life to find happiness it feels like every time I try I fail

I don't know what to do in my life to find happiness it feels like every time I try I fail

Hopeyqwe Feeling sad everyday for different reasons.
  • replies: 4

Have you ever felt like your brain is just finding reasons to cry everyday? I remember the last time I had felt like this. It was in year 12, finishing school, where I was striving hard to get the right marks to get into an overseas university. And t... View more

Have you ever felt like your brain is just finding reasons to cry everyday? I remember the last time I had felt like this. It was in year 12, finishing school, where I was striving hard to get the right marks to get into an overseas university. And the stress was coming from the fact that I had really messed up in the past two years academically, and my confidence was shattered. I was surviving ONLY by the confidence and support of my family. And I can't tell you how much they took in to help me touch my dreams. Fast forward to uni. I got to where I wanted to be. I got to the degree I wanted. I was studying. Making new friends. New Culture. Staying with my sister after 7 years. It was tough, no way am I gonna deny that. But I was happy, on a daily basis. I have vivid memories of walking out of the house every morning towards uni with a cool smile and fresh deep breaths, even if I had a hundred things to do that day. Even with the worst stress of my exams, I was still happy afterwards. I remember actually realising and telling myself that my life feels better than before. Now it doesn't feel that way anymore. First of all, I think my loss of routine due to COVID has affected me more than I thought it would. But I think its more than that. I have this really shit gut feeling that I am not happy, on a general basis. And I can't exactly pinpoint why. Most of the times its about how I am not as accomplished in life as I thought I should be by now, and seeing all my peers race ahead... I know the grass looks greener on the other side, but I can't help looking at them. Another huge factor is my weight. I just can't seem to get rid of it and believe me I have tried a HUNDRED TIMES. I have been crying almost everyday for weeks now. it's just SOMETHING or the other. One day its an argument with my sister. Next day I am feeling lonely. Next day I feel guilty for procrastinating. Next day I feel shit for eating mindlessly. It's always something or the other. It is definitely affecting my motivation. I am still proactive enough to say, "Nope. Don't give up, you got this, you are strong you are amazing and you just have to focus on your goals", but I am pretty sure a lot of the times I am procrastinating because I don't want to face my problems. And I have been told several times that I am an overthinker and overanalyser. Does this seem like an overthinker's muse? Maybe because I am at home all day and somehow this monotonous living is getting to my head?

KC12 Feeling trapped and depression is getting worse
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I have suffered from depression and anxiety for the last three years. I moved here from Spain to be with my partner and it has been extremely difficult for me to be so far away from my family which has probably triggered the depression. I hav... View more

Hi all, I have suffered from depression and anxiety for the last three years. I moved here from Spain to be with my partner and it has been extremely difficult for me to be so far away from my family which has probably triggered the depression. I have also struggled to find my place here but I was lucky enough to have a job and find some friends which have helped but with the COVID 19 situation I lost my job and I have barely had any social interaction. My intention was to go back home in Christmas time before all of this happened and it has been very hard for me to be away from my family during this challenging time especially knowing what they have gone through. All I want is to be able to see my family this year and all I keep hearing in the news, articles, social media etc it's that they won't let people out of Australia until next year. I am Permanent Resident here but still, I am a citizen of another country and the thought of not being able to leave for so long is continuously in my head and making my anxiety and depression get worse every day. I try not to think about it but it has become very difficult to focus on anything else especially being unemployed and alone all day.

Anonymous997 Moved for work, feeling very alone
  • replies: 1

So I’ve moved quite far from home for work. This job should be my dream job and I should be happy. I put in so much effort at uni, and the recruitment process for this industry is extremely competitive. I’m a few weeks in and I hate it. I feel like I... View more

So I’ve moved quite far from home for work. This job should be my dream job and I should be happy. I put in so much effort at uni, and the recruitment process for this industry is extremely competitive. I’m a few weeks in and I hate it. I feel like I wasted 4 years of my life doing a degree, which now makes me feel so depressed and lost. I’ve also gained weight because I don’t feel like cooking (something I used to love), I haven’t been exercising because I don’t want to go outside here (I used to run outdoors 5 days a week). On my days off I just sit at home eating or sleeping. I don’t even watch Netflix or anything. I tried antidepressants however they all made me extremely nauseous, which made me feel worse. I feel like my life circumstances are contributing to my head space at the moment so I’m not sure if seeking medical help is even the right move. A dr can’t fix my job or where I live. sorry this post is a bit of a mess but I just feel so lost and alone.