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: 1

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

sparrowhawk Feeling bad about feeling bad?
  • replies: 2

Hi guys. I have had a low mood for several months following sustained emotional trauma. i and am getting support from my GP, psychologist and a good friend. I have a lot of negative self-talk and generally feel very lethargic and flat. People around ... View more

Hi guys. I have had a low mood for several months following sustained emotional trauma. i and am getting support from my GP, psychologist and a good friend. I have a lot of negative self-talk and generally feel very lethargic and flat. People around me sometimes notice and that tends to make me feel really guilty. I feel really bad about myself for feeling bad, though in reality I know it's not through my own fault, it just IS. Yesterday I apologised to my friend for being down and she challenged me on it - I know she was trying to help but it made me feel awkward and worse about myself. Do you guys go through similar feelings? How do you manage them?

Edward75 Here we go again..
  • replies: 2

Depression. How does that feeling manage to sneak in under the armour. I swear I got on top of it 2 years ago. The anxiety comes and goes as I have learned to look at it objectively. But this time it must have got away, bloody depression. It feels li... View more

Depression. How does that feeling manage to sneak in under the armour. I swear I got on top of it 2 years ago. The anxiety comes and goes as I have learned to look at it objectively. But this time it must have got away, bloody depression. It feels like it has been lurking most of my life. Like a monster my mum set on me for being such a horrible child. I want to pull it out of my gut but it feels like its melted black to my DNA. Its symbiotic. If I cut it off and scrape it free will I die without it? If anybody could see my inside they would run away. It is sickening, unlovable, a fraud. Stupid, dumb, not fit for anyone. Like a moronic animal born without a brain. Evil, toxic. A selfish, mean spirit closed off to the world.. But these are my mothers words that I learned by rote. So yeah, I am 44, completely single for 2 years. Realise how I treat partners by pushing them away..I get so scared. I know exactly what I do, so as soon as i find somebody who there is a possibly of something. I mean we have not even been on a a proper date I have emotionaly shut down. I know my patterns now so why not fast forward 12 months and just hurt me. She is better off without me. I know I would be. I guess I am not ready to open up properly, maybe I never will be. Anyway, feel better opening up. Actually thought I had tamed the black dog, but in a way my walls were just a little taller. Tonight I will remove the black monster from my gut. And scrape it free. Tomorrow I will visit my ageing mother & remember that she did not give this to me. It escaped from her. My poor mum, who did she get it from. I will never know. But I forgive her without excepting some of her behaviors. I can accept her love as it is with no expectations. And not pass on the bitterness, but just love to my wonderful daughter and everybody else in my life. If anybody reads this, I'm hoping I'm only as crazy as the rest of the world. I could delete it but maybe somebody can relate.. tomorrow is going to be better.

KJJ an Undiagnosed sleep disorder affected my mental heath
  • replies: 2

Hi, Just posting an update that I hope may be helpful for some. After worsening depression and fatigue I finally took a diagnostic sleep study as suggested by my psychiatrist. I am quite a petite female with normal BMI and don’t snore so was quite sc... View more

Hi, Just posting an update that I hope may be helpful for some. After worsening depression and fatigue I finally took a diagnostic sleep study as suggested by my psychiatrist. I am quite a petite female with normal BMI and don’t snore so was quite sceptical and even more surprised to be diagnosed with severe upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). Sleep apnea and UARS are apparently a common cause of treatment resistant depression and anxiety. After a few months I am finally used to my Cpap treatment and am finding my depression has improved significantly and energy levels have significantly increased. I feel as though I am coming back to life Although not a magic cure for everything I still need to watch for depression and anxiety triggers not related to my sleep disorder, things have improved significantly for me with Cpap treatment. I just wanted to share this so that anyone struggling might consider asking their GP or psychiatrist for a sleep study. You don’t have to necessarily be overweight or snore to have a sleep breathing disorder. My issues are related to having small jaw, mouth, and airways - leading to airway narrowing. Also make sure you get a sleep study that can detect RERAs and UARS not just AHI and Obstructive sleep apnea as just looking at the latter can miss other sleep breathing disorders that can cause mental health issues. Although I wish I discovered this earlier and wonder if my life had have been different if it had, I really hope that this can help someone else who is struggling.

august2001 I am struggling to deal with it.
  • replies: 2

Good Morning, I have never done this before and I am a little bit nervous to do it. I have known for a little while that I have depression but I have started feeling like I have anxiety and bipolar issues to and I don't know how to deal with it. I ha... View more

Good Morning, I have never done this before and I am a little bit nervous to do it. I have known for a little while that I have depression but I have started feeling like I have anxiety and bipolar issues to and I don't know how to deal with it. I have never told my doctor because I feel embarrassed and I struggle to tell my family and friends because also I feel really embarrassed. When I try to talk to my partner about it it makes me sad because he doesn't understand how I feel and he doesn't really believe in mental illnesses. At the moment I am really struggling to just get out of bed and to actually do work. I get home from work at 5:30 and sleep all the way until 7:30 in the morning because I don't want to get up. I have gained 15 kilos in 3 months because I am comfort eating. and I am ruining my realtiosnhips with my partner because I struggle to do day to day tasks. I get so incredibly angry every day. I will go from really happy to angry in about a minute. my mood swings are terrible and some days I really struggle just walking. which is terrible and I realise I really need help for that but also I have no one to talk to about it all. and I wish I just had a friend to talk to about this all but also I feel like they would think I am attention seeking. I just don't know how to feal with it and I wish I did because it is ruining everything around me and I want to be happy again. I don't understand why my partner doesn't car either. I think he thinks I am going through a stage but im not I feel as though I really am depressed and it makes me a terrible person to be around.

fred2018 Words of encouragement needed
  • replies: 3

I just did TMS for a pretty bad depression, only done one side so far but was told to wait 2 weeks for the brain to have a rest and then onto left side. The mood and irritability which can very often turn to anger is quite the task to manage gonna se... View more

I just did TMS for a pretty bad depression, only done one side so far but was told to wait 2 weeks for the brain to have a rest and then onto left side. The mood and irritability which can very often turn to anger is quite the task to manage gonna see doctor to see if anything can be done whilst i wait to do more tms and dealing with family members has been interesting of late hah. I'm just neeeding to some words of encouragement, prayers also welcome hah whatever you have. I'm both amazed ive dealt with this problem for so many years and just what the power of our brain chemistry when things are disrupted. Anyway cheers

SwansandSharksMan Seeing someone who bullied you at school is now successful
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone When I was a t school I was an ok student. I did ok in math. I struggled with English and science but was ok in Geography and Economics. My biggest problem was that I was a slow writer, so didn't always complete exams. I did not get into ... View more

Hi Everyone When I was a t school I was an ok student. I did ok in math. I struggled with English and science but was ok in Geography and Economics. My biggest problem was that I was a slow writer, so didn't always complete exams. I did not get into University, I went straight into the workforce. I did ok. I was a good worker. I like to think I still am. I also struggled at school because bullying affected my confidence and made me anxious, so wasn't able to concentrate. There was a guy, who I thought was a friend, but was forever teasing me. He used to embarass me in front of others. He was one of those people who couldn't say anything nice and he was not happy until he was winding someone up. He did it all the time for no reason and I just hated it. My problem was I was too scared to stand up to him because I lacked confidence to stand up for myself. Nowadays I see his name in a a few publications and occasionally drive past his office and he has become very successful. I don't mean to be jealous, but it just irks me because he has probably got successful by be mean, pushy and nasty. Myself, on the other hand, will never be able to be a manager. I have just always struggled to have authority. Even my children don't do as I ask them. It makes me feel so sad.

fadedreality Workplace bullying?
  • replies: 7

Hi all, I have spent a heap of time looking at definitions of workplace bullying but my insistence on giving people the benefit of the doubt means I just don’t know. I do know it is destroying my mental health so it ticks that box. Before I go any fu... View more

Hi all, I have spent a heap of time looking at definitions of workplace bullying but my insistence on giving people the benefit of the doubt means I just don’t know. I do know it is destroying my mental health so it ticks that box. Before I go any further I have no intention of making an official complaint I only hope to use it to get approval from my boss to apply for other jobs internally (hr requirement and she said no to me last year.) Another team leader has for a while now taken to coming down laughing really loudly to tell my team leader about every little mistake I make. Her newest response to him when he appears laughing is oh, what now. I hear this and I do not even sit next to her and I have music playing in my headphones all day, every day (I just upgraded to expensive noise cancelling ones so now all I hear is the laughter and I don’t hear the negative chat anymore) so you can imagine what everyone else who sits closer actually hears (a co-worker who had made remarks about having no idea how I work listening to music even started wearing earphones - she sits much closer to her.) For the record my workplace has a quality target of 95%. I have never dropped below this (mostly 98-100% every week) even though I am the newest person in the team. Actually when I look at the little tracker thing that tracks our every second of the day, my quality is often the best in the team (multiple people below 95% despite some having 10+ years experience) at worst it may drop to the second best in the team. 🤭 Yes even when I learn something brand new my quality stays consistent - speed drops off, but quality stays. I unfortunately help his team a lot (all day every day at the moment) and it appears he has his staff reporting to him with every mistake I make (not even one a day) - he would not know about them otherwise. The work I am helping his team with I only got trained in in December last year - the training has proved horrible where some things I just was not trained on at all (and questions seem hugely discouraged here) and other things it appears I was told one thing as fact but I should have been told multiple other things as well. I have recently told this to my team leader where she made some kind of remark about how that is a hard situation to be in. At no stage am I actually told about the errors so I just get to keep on making them, while he gets to keep on laughing and making fun of my so far away from actually bad work. Bullying or not?

TRese It’s The Lies I Tell Myself
  • replies: 16

Hi, I'm new here because I can’t continue lying to myself about how depression and anxiety are really affecting my life. I’ll say things like “I’m an introvert, so I don’t really like socialising because I actually enjoy my own company” or “I’m very ... View more

Hi, I'm new here because I can’t continue lying to myself about how depression and anxiety are really affecting my life. I’ll say things like “I’m an introvert, so I don’t really like socialising because I actually enjoy my own company” or “I’m very independent, so I need my own space and freedom” but the honest truth is, I’m afraid of being vulnerable and getting hurt, so I push everyone away first - family, friends, colleagues and partners. I’m no different to anyone else, I have shame, guilt, insecurities, trust issues, trauma, confidence issues, anger etc. but these things drive me to isolate myself excessively (in more ways than one). My greatest desire and greatest fear are the same thing; letting people see the real me (as I truly am). The side of me that the world sees, is the version I’ve created, so that the real me can stay hidden (safe from harm) but I’m honestly so lonely - it was a struggle to even write “I’m lonely” because until now, I’d lied to myself so much, that I convinced myself that I’m 100% content (and or happy) with being alone (even for the rest of my life). I want to challenge the lies and beliefs that are holding me back (no longer serving me) and this post is the first (honest) step in the right direction.

TishaCat Stigma of Depression/Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi, Im new on here, & actually feel really strange posting about something so personal. I wanted to talk about how as someone who has battled depression since I was a young adult, the pressure to be "normal" from family, & how they cannot see it as a... View more

Hi, Im new on here, & actually feel really strange posting about something so personal. I wanted to talk about how as someone who has battled depression since I was a young adult, the pressure to be "normal" from family, & how they cannot see it as a "real" illness, they say things like : its all in your head, just get on with it, don't be so negative etc. I also find myself to be my biggest judge too, its not a "physical" condition, so what gives me the right to usurp those with "real" problems. ( My parents were in the war & a concentration camp so therefore they experienced real hardship & in this era of wealth cannot see how anyone can be depressed) And wanting to push myself to get moving, go on do something you lazy woman goes the inner chatter (or worse) & feeling worse. Your thoughts are appreciated.

AlexDeLoser depression or sadness? being positive or being realistic?
  • replies: 9

Hey everyone, I just wanted some input on my thoughts on the topics of mental health. First i'd like to say- its probably a little ironic that I'm asking for objective answers when this is a support network, but anyway. Is it really depression that a... View more

Hey everyone, I just wanted some input on my thoughts on the topics of mental health. First i'd like to say- its probably a little ironic that I'm asking for objective answers when this is a support network, but anyway. Is it really depression that a lot of us are feeling? Being intellectually impaired, having no talent, no friends or even good relationships with family. I mean, i'm not in denial that depression exist, and from my understanding, they are chemical/hormonal imbalances in the brain making you predisposed to be more likely sad. Regardless, I don't believe an absence of being predisposed to being sad will make you not sad if you're life has no reason for happiness. Is it really being negative, or being realistic? I've heard almost everyone say, or at least imply ''you can't be bad at everything; you've got to be good at something. there is a place in the world for everyone!''. I can't even argue with this, logic is completely thrown out of the window. People want to believe in world of equity, believing that everyone has a place in the world, but is that really true? Do starving children in developing countries have a place in this world?And, as these injustices exists in other places of the world, why does it seem that they can't exist in developed societies? It's almost like- because of the fact you're living in a developed country, you're expected to be intelligent, good at things and meet standards and social expectations. Sorry everyone, I don't intend to sound mean or bad or anything like that. I'm just really tired of people being illogical and evasive. I'm the type of person who'd rather acknowledge my problems first, then see what I can do from there as appose to deny them as problems. Furthermore, I hope someone responds to this. Thanks everyone for at least reading to this point