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: 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

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

Pale people shouldn't want to talk to me
  • replies: 1

Depression has made me an incredibly dull person. I don't really have hobbies or interests, because nothing interests me anymore. I never know what to say in a conversation; I just make it bad and awkward. I never really contact people for fear of be... View more

Depression has made me an incredibly dull person. I don't really have hobbies or interests, because nothing interests me anymore. I never know what to say in a conversation; I just make it bad and awkward. I never really contact people for fear of being a burden or annoyance in their lives. So why do people make the effort to text/call me? I legitimately do not understand?

Unicorn_Sparkles This is literally how dumb and stupid I am
  • replies: 10

It has been a nice day, so I decided to get out of the house, go for a drive and then on the way back, stopped at the local shops to see if either coles or woolies had caramilk, coz seriously, who doesn't love chocolate? Anyway, was literally in and ... View more

It has been a nice day, so I decided to get out of the house, go for a drive and then on the way back, stopped at the local shops to see if either coles or woolies had caramilk, coz seriously, who doesn't love chocolate? Anyway, was literally in and out within half an hour and now I've spent 2 hours looking for my stupid car and I ended up calling my parents coz I was so stressed out. All dad could do was laugh at me while I was telling him. He's on the way to the shops now, but I feel so dumb.

Mejo Never thought I'd ever be like this
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm new to this website, to this feeling, to this country...Came here almost 2 years ago full of motivation, thinking of a future, abandoning my career as a psychologist back home to pursue the dream my dad was trying to achieve before passing aw... View more

Hi, I'm new to this website, to this feeling, to this country...Came here almost 2 years ago full of motivation, thinking of a future, abandoning my career as a psychologist back home to pursue the dream my dad was trying to achieve before passing away, looking always forward. It turns out I've been almost 2 years doing nothing, in a job I never thought I'd be doing, alone, without friends, not even a relationship, soemthing which I've always been into since I'm a huge fan of loving, regardless the its implicit suffering. I've recently experienced something which opened an old wound. 10 years ago, Being humiliated (over trivial relationship issues) by the person I loved triggered a really particular anxiety in me...I've found so hard to have satisfactory sexual relationships, in cases I just...can't...oh gosh...this is so painful, stressful...depressive, humiliating ....not only I cope with anxiety but now the depression of thinking how I'm coming out of this....I wish I could meet someone special, but I feel I can't, I'm already shy + a sexual disorder or whatever it's called triggered by anxiety + seeing my dreams of meeting someone special or having a family destroyed....I can't even go to a party and behave as a regular 29yo guy because I'm even scared of meeting someone and have a one night stand....How did I get to this? how do I become what I used to be? I used to brag about being a tough guy, sensitive and empathetic to others, but strong wth my own emotions, now I'm broken to pieces, some may well say that's not that relevant but....Only guys can understand how important is that virility or manhood thing for us...I came here to honour my dad's memory, his dream of living somewhere else, I came here as a professional to keep studying and look for a future here...all I've found is loneliness and suffering. oh my, apart from studying, love is my passion and I've been deprived from it...I dont see a way out..I had never told this to anyone and is so embarassing and ...

akidwhoneedshelp Someone please help me :)
  • replies: 1

Hi all, Im 15 years old, sounds too young to be dealing with serious problems right? welp. I dunno. I have been diagnosed depression since about July 2018 and i was prescribed an SSRI. This was after I got into smoking pot at 14/15. I never really sm... View more

Hi all, Im 15 years old, sounds too young to be dealing with serious problems right? welp. I dunno. I have been diagnosed depression since about July 2018 and i was prescribed an SSRI. This was after I got into smoking pot at 14/15. I never really smoked that much and it was never a major problem but thats a point where i can say it started to go downhill a little faster than it had been for the 3/4 years prior to that. (even though i was so young i was always secretly upset, on the outside i was funn, crazy silly, crude and kind all at the same time. Anyway, i stopped smoking after being prescribed medication. In about april of 2019 i smoked for the first time in about 12 months. This didnt really affect me; i was still taking my medication but i really enjoyed myself. fast forward a month from then and my medication's dosage is increased. This seems to help for a bit. But i was having anxiety attacks everyday. Until about 4 weeks ago. I smoked marijuana again. Great time, however the next day was dreadful. It was an important day and i barely got through it. I smoked again a week later (this is during school holidays). Once again, no problem. skip two more weeks, my feelings are plummeting. Was this because of the pot? I cant say i know. God there is so much more i want to type. ok im getting off track but i feel i just need to get this all down: My two closest mates have also been dealing with depression since the start of 2019. Except the difference between them and me was that they were smoking pot every night for about 4 months. They never wanted to try and get me on it but it was sad seeing them deteriorate every day. Theyre situations are so much worse than mine. One's dad is dead, his oldest brother is a psycopath who ruined his family's lives before he grew up, his other oldest brother is a big time drug dealer (providing him with easy drugs). I just longed the feeling of numbness. i want to smoke so badly, i want to do all these drugs so badly because i dont see a future for myself. I have a dream but no motivation to follow it. there is so much more about me contributing to my total disatisfaction with life right now but 2500 characters can only explain so much. Thanks

A_luc Hey, I'm new
  • replies: 5

Hello, I am brand new to beyond blue forums. I am a high school student and I have recently being diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I am to start going to a psychiatrist but the waiting line is so long that I wouldn't begin my sessions until Jan... View more

Hello, I am brand new to beyond blue forums. I am a high school student and I have recently being diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I am to start going to a psychiatrist but the waiting line is so long that I wouldn't begin my sessions until January. I have tried psychologists and therapists but they haven't worked. I sometimes urgently need to talk to someone because I feel as if i'm about to break down and just melt into the floor. It's hard because through out the day I am sometimes ok and I laugh with my friends but as soon as I get home there is this thick layer of loneliness that just spreads over me and I feel as though I have no one. I have an amazing single mum as my father left when I was very young and incredible friends but not even they can stop me from feeling so intensely alone. I just wanted to share a bit of my mental health story as this is a place of people that can hopefully understand and relate to what I am going through so I don't feel entirely insane

Guest5643 Why is everything so heavy
  • replies: 4

Hi I dont like my mind right now, stacking up problems thats so unneccessary. Wish that i could slow things down but there comfort in the panic. And i drive myself crazy thinking everythings about me, i drive myself crazy cause i cant escape the grav... View more

Hi I dont like my mind right now, stacking up problems thats so unneccessary. Wish that i could slow things down but there comfort in the panic. And i drive myself crazy thinking everythings about me, i drive myself crazy cause i cant escape the gravity. Im holding on why is everything so heavy, so much more than i can carry. I keep dragging around whats bringing me down if i just let go ill be set free. People think that im paranoid but im pretty sure the world is out to get me. Its not like i make the choice to let my mind stay so ### messy. Why is everything so heavy Lynne

Unicorn_Sparkles Do you ever get the feeling that you're too caring and nice and people take advantage of that?
  • replies: 4

I've recently hit rock bottom. It was a scary experience, as I'm sure most of you know when reaching that point. I still haven't been to see someone yet, like my GP or a psychologist, as I'm still trying to work out what's best for me, in terms of tr... View more

I've recently hit rock bottom. It was a scary experience, as I'm sure most of you know when reaching that point. I still haven't been to see someone yet, like my GP or a psychologist, as I'm still trying to work out what's best for me, in terms of treatment options, so I've been doing a lot of self reflection, which has been great and really therapeutic. Anyway, one of the issues that seems to keep coming up is people are like "hey, you're my friend, i care about you blah blah blah" or "hey, i need help with something, are you free?" It's like they're telling you what you want to hear for that moment, but in reality they don't really they don't? Almost like they think a quick catchup for coffee will do, but then don't make the effort to Check in with a message, even though you've already opened up about everything, so they should know, they say they know and understand, they've been through it themselves, but don't Check in to see how you are. Or when people ask me for help with something, it's only because they know I'll drop things to go and help that person for whatever reason, because they claim I'm a friend and I consider them a friend, but in all honesty they're only really using you for their own personal gain?

Ningerie I'm finding it very hard to stop eating.
  • replies: 3

I've had a recent crash back into major depression. I have been prescribed SNRIs. It helps when I feel 'bloody' aka cranky and irritated, but not enough to keep me from eating constantly. I have gained 10kg in a month. The compulsion to eat is so str... View more

I've had a recent crash back into major depression. I have been prescribed SNRIs. It helps when I feel 'bloody' aka cranky and irritated, but not enough to keep me from eating constantly. I have gained 10kg in a month. The compulsion to eat is so strong when I am at home, so I have been trying to get out of the house as much as I can. The trouble is, when I go out, I get cranky. It's a real problem. I'm running out of clothes that fit, my food bill has gone through the roof and my body is screaming. It's not like a binge, it's an overwhelming compulsion. I have told my psychologist and my Mental Health Nurse, but they don't seem to get it. What can I do?

The_Abyss When you last truly happy?
  • replies: 43

When were you last truly happy? I came across this question while doing some self-research on a couple of therapy techniques, and it stumped me. When was I last truly happy? I'm not just talking about when did you last feel joy, do something fun, lau... View more

When were you last truly happy? I came across this question while doing some self-research on a couple of therapy techniques, and it stumped me. When was I last truly happy? I'm not just talking about when did you last feel joy, do something fun, laughed, or had a smile on your face. When were you last TRULY happy? It may just be a manifestation of this crippling disease, but I truly don't remember. So, I thought I'd throw the question out to YOU - when were YOU last truly happy?