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

Spam75 Cyclical Depression, anxiety and self loathing.
  • replies: 1

Turns out I have had an undiagnosed/misdiagnosed condition since my early teens. I am now in my mid 40's. This accumulated in a public breakdown at work about 6 month ago. What used to happen is whenever things got too much I would run away I would d... View more

Turns out I have had an undiagnosed/misdiagnosed condition since my early teens. I am now in my mid 40's. This accumulated in a public breakdown at work about 6 month ago. What used to happen is whenever things got too much I would run away I would do this by selling everything I owned that was not essential and move to a new area/town/state and start fresh. As I worked in hospitality this was not really a problem as the industry has an extremely high turnover rate and it has allowed me to travel and live All around Australia so a positive there in my book but does not address the deeper issue. So 8 years ago I met the worlds most understanding and greatest woman in the world and she even agreed to marry me. We bought a little farm in a beautiful area I got out of the toxic hospitality enviroment and got a job with stability and worked to make our farm everything we could want..and it is. So why do I feel the way I do? I know I am in a better position than a lot of other people I have no debt to speak of the mortgage is paid off I should be the most happy go lucky guy on the planet. So I have everything i could want i really do. Yet I still feel like this and it's awful So I feel guilty and ashamed feeling like this when I know there are people a lot worse of than me, which leads to self loathing because of my selfishness which runs back into guilt which makes me anxious about everything which leads to depression which leads back to guilt which leads back to self loathing. now i have read my post back it seems whiny and insignificant to other peoples problems and i feel guilty about posting

Kess Finding help
  • replies: 3

Hey there, Ive been fighting the fight for around 10 years now and im at the end of being able to carry it on and I need help.I looked over the website and the first suggestion was to see my GP, I have discussed this with him and he was not too inter... View more

Hey there, Ive been fighting the fight for around 10 years now and im at the end of being able to carry it on and I need help.I looked over the website and the first suggestion was to see my GP, I have discussed this with him and he was not too interested in going further with it, I think hes overworked or just an idiot, im not sure. I dont know what to do next, I have no job or money, so where do I go and who do I see for help?

Bel44 Insomnia and bowel issues
  • replies: 2

Dear all I have been trying to take some medicine to help with my depression. I have tried quite a few medicines but not for long. I now seem to have major issues with insomnia and also bowel problems. Can anyone give me some guidance as to how to im... View more

Dear all I have been trying to take some medicine to help with my depression. I have tried quite a few medicines but not for long. I now seem to have major issues with insomnia and also bowel problems. Can anyone give me some guidance as to how to improve my insomnia. Also how to look after my bowels. I am not taking medicine at the moment. Many thanks

MysticMarine Feeling constantly unfulfilled and depressed after socializing
  • replies: 4

I don't know where to start this but I need to vent as well as ask for advice. My social life is pretty good but very spaced in meaning I have a lot of friends but I don't have a group of friends just loads of mini groups or singular friends that I h... View more

I don't know where to start this but I need to vent as well as ask for advice. My social life is pretty good but very spaced in meaning I have a lot of friends but I don't have a group of friends just loads of mini groups or singular friends that I hang out with a lot however I just can't ever feel fulfilled no matter how hard I try to socialize and be productive. I just feel like I'm having a mid-life crisis but at a young age? I have to think about my career path, what I'm going to do, finding more friends with my interests, going to a new school, worrying about loosing people, and just a lot on my plate. I have a lot of my own friends as well as people I don't like going to my new school next year and those people have caused me a lot of mental health issues which I worry that they will approach me however I am going to do my best to avoid them but I still have doubts. I just get so tired in social situations easily and get depressed which I fear may have a huge toll next year and I don't know what to do. There's just so much going to happen and I don't know how it will play out. The best I can hope for is a friend group who just aren't "too" much and just are more chill and fun like the ones I have now.

xsmummy Sudden onset
  • replies: 3

After over 10 years of managing my depression unmedicated, this morning I woke up and out of no where it has hit me hard. Nothing in my life has changrd at all lately. All day I have struggled to fight back tears, anyone thay has talked to me I have ... View more

After over 10 years of managing my depression unmedicated, this morning I woke up and out of no where it has hit me hard. Nothing in my life has changrd at all lately. All day I have struggled to fight back tears, anyone thay has talked to me I have ripped their heads off, I've hardly eaten and I honestly think my husband and kids would be better off without me. I'm really not sure what I should do to try to feel myself again. I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow afternoon to discuss getting my medication again. Has anyone else had this sort sudden onset that has jist blindsided you? How did you cope?

shadowprince Tired and Lonely and Hopeless
  • replies: 2

Hey, So it's been really rough for me. I've just felt so alone. No one loves me or wants me. All of my friends are moving on or drifting apart, and a lot of those that are still around, I feel unwelcome. I don't feel like have any future. Everyone el... View more

Hey, So it's been really rough for me. I've just felt so alone. No one loves me or wants me. All of my friends are moving on or drifting apart, and a lot of those that are still around, I feel unwelcome. I don't feel like have any future. Everyone else is off being able to do what they want to do and live their lives, but I'm stuck in the same spot that I've always been. I don't even care about what happens for me next year. I'm just really tired, to be honest

Newnico1 Tired lonely and feeling like giving up
  • replies: 3

I have battled my deppression anxiety and ptsd for years. Im 28 I have no qualifications no job and I feel like every day is a massive impossible mountain. My ptsd sends me into disassociation and dispair and my anxiety attacks and deppressive cycles... View more

I have battled my deppression anxiety and ptsd for years. Im 28 I have no qualifications no job and I feel like every day is a massive impossible mountain. My ptsd sends me into disassociation and dispair and my anxiety attacks and deppressive cycles are never ending. My day pretty much consists of trying to muster the courage to get out of bed and have breakfast. I also live in a supported residence which facilitates over 50 people in total though I dont think there are more than about 35 people living here currently. I am feeling the loneliness keenly this time of year as everyone is busy. My ndis worker is saying that I may have been misdiagnosed and is keen to see if bipolar might be what I am suffering as my moods fluctuate rapidly and with little to no warning!

Jamiex66 I feel worthless
  • replies: 2

Christmas is always tough for me, as I have no family and almost zero friends. It hurts seeing so many people having fun, joy and happiness, while I wallow in sadness. This year is especially bad, since I've been unemployed for over a year, and was o... View more

Christmas is always tough for me, as I have no family and almost zero friends. It hurts seeing so many people having fun, joy and happiness, while I wallow in sadness. This year is especially bad, since I've been unemployed for over a year, and was officially diagnosed with depression a few months back. My Mrs worked all day, and I tried to stay pose and happy to see her family this evening, but once she got home I broke down. I cried, and cried, and cried. I didn't want to feel trapped at her parents and I couldn't cope seeing people tonight. I know I should've been there to ensure she had a good time, but I felt more like a hindrance than a positive. So I stayed home. I feel so worthless, like such a waste of space and I have to hold everything in because it I voice my problems I just drag down others. Either they consider me to be negative, or someone who is always upset. Keeping everything in is exhausting, and the one time I speak out... I feel like I've let everyone down. I just don't know how to keep going like this, every day is so tough

ThelmaC Depressed at work or work making me depressed
  • replies: 3

I'm really struggling at work and feel trapped in a job that no longer offers me the stimulation and accomplishments I need for my mental health and career progression. I have a lot of family challenges and don't get much emotional support from home.... View more

I'm really struggling at work and feel trapped in a job that no longer offers me the stimulation and accomplishments I need for my mental health and career progression. I have a lot of family challenges and don't get much emotional support from home. I fell apart a bit earlier in the year as I couldn't sleep properly and even had a sleep study test done. I've been too long in my role and I have been searching for another job. I used to love it but my team leader (not line-manager) is a very rigid micro-manager and I am unable to thrive under that kind of leadership. We don't communicate well and since I've been reporting to someone else she doesn't talk to me directly unless she has to. I can't win her trust. I set myself very clear goals of what to accomplish this year to help me get another job where I can flourish. Unfortunately my role changed and throughout the year all my goals were unable to be met. As it wouldn't be clear for a while what my new responsibilities would be, I reduced my hours for several months and concentrated on networking and job applications. I felt great when I have an 'iron in the fire' but I haven't even had an interview and I am no longer in a good head space to look for work. After too many years in the same role my skill set doesn't suit what the market wants. I have therefore looked into PG Study as my workplace has a policy supporting this. This new focus is empowering and gives me hope. However, my line-manager has just urged me to consider delaying study because she's concerned that with my mental health issues it would be another layer that I couldn't cope with and they need me to be at full capacity next year. I'm gutted because she has been very supportive of me finding ways to get some breadth. Her attitude seemed to change after she spoke with our line manager. I am often sad at work. My morale is low. I'm sometimes very flat and avoid people and sometimes I've expressed frustration. I put effort into my work relationships but I've just been told I need to be careful how I present myself. I'm ashamed that I have made colleagues uncomfortable by crying at work. I don't know what to do. I am trying to do all the right things. I have good peer support, I see a psych, I take meds, I exercise, drink less, keep good social contact, work on my marriage, support my special needs kids and make time for myself and my hobbies. I am mostly happy away from work except for some issues with communicating with my husband.

Purple4 A positive thought
  • replies: 4

I saw this written on a picture the other day and wanted to share. If you rearrange the letters in Depression you will get - I pressed on Your current situation is NOT your final destination.

I saw this written on a picture the other day and wanted to share. If you rearrange the letters in Depression you will get - I pressed on Your current situation is NOT your final destination.