Support
Support

Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

Start a conversation

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 conversation

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 conversation

Jasmine_R Felling sad
  • replies: 5

I always struggle the most at this time of the month my birthday is this Monday coming and I grew up in foster care bad homes I have no contact with my birth parents or my sis or what not cos they all did me wrong but when it comes to my birthday tim... View more

I always struggle the most at this time of the month my birthday is this Monday coming and I grew up in foster care bad homes I have no contact with my birth parents or my sis or what not cos they all did me wrong but when it comes to my birthday time I just get really sad lonely upset inside cos I do go out with my friends for mine but iv just always wanted to be normal and have a really birthday with my real family members but I never gotten that when it comes to this time I just fell cheated in this life cos I don’t have it makes me sad cry 🥺 comes to this time of the month I fell so alone in this world fell like no one loves me I just hat to get these feelings out I fell lonely

Franc_I Depression and anxiety
  • replies: 4

I’ve been depressed and anxious for most of my life, but right now it’s really bad. In addition I had chronic pain for the last 13 years. The strange thing is that there’s nothing wrong; in fact, our circumstances have improved recently. This doesn’t... View more

I’ve been depressed and anxious for most of my life, but right now it’s really bad. In addition I had chronic pain for the last 13 years. The strange thing is that there’s nothing wrong; in fact, our circumstances have improved recently. This doesn’t seem to matter to my depression, though. Over that past 35 years I have tried almost everything. Often the new drug, diet or exercise seems to work, but it never lasts. The only thing that really helps me is my current medication: my pain lessens and I feel great and confident. However, when it wears off around 3PM, the crash is so horrible, that I dare not take it anymore. I don’t think I have actually asked a question above, but I just wanted to share this.

Trebor77 So much therapy, so aware, still feel hopeless
  • replies: 9

Ok, my first post I know what’s ‘wrong’, I know my ‘story’, I know all the helping techniques and therapies and meds... I’ve tried them all... really committed to them... over 10 years I can’t break free... from my own head, my own thoughts... it fee... View more

Ok, my first post I know what’s ‘wrong’, I know my ‘story’, I know all the helping techniques and therapies and meds... I’ve tried them all... really committed to them... over 10 years I can’t break free... from my own head, my own thoughts... it feels selfish and self-centred... so many people are so much worse off than me... yet I feel like there is no reason and nothing to my life... even with four beautiful children... even with a good job... even with wanting, really wanting to get better it’s a disease, it’s ingrained and hard wired from my childhood... I wasnt abused... I was abandoned... always wanting someone to love me... unhealthily clinging to anyone in adulthood... putting up with so much mistreatment only to feel loved... not loving myself self love feels impossible to me, even self like using alcohol and drugs to escape the pain... to feel ok, if only for a fleeting moment, before feeling a million times worse im sober now, for quite some time... it feels worse i feel so unloveable, so broken, so hopeless i know everyone will say just hang on... do this... do that... put yourself out there, make friends, be mindful, try yoga, use SSRIs or SNRIs... it will get better... it takes months or years to rewire your brain... ive done all that... it doesn’t i don’t want sympathy, I don’t want someone to say I understand i want to know something that works... something that cuts through this hurt... this deep searing, tormenting hurt

Steambeaneriza Coping with new Bipolar
  • replies: 2

Hi so I've been depressed for about half my life but. Recent I've been experiencing what I thought could be Mani or hypomania in between periods of depression. But I didn't stress too much over it BC I just thought maybe I was starting to feel better... View more

Hi so I've been depressed for about half my life but. Recent I've been experiencing what I thought could be Mani or hypomania in between periods of depression. But I didn't stress too much over it BC I just thought maybe I was starting to feel better and was having some good days. But the a week ago I all of the sudden felt like I'd taken cocaine, I was so hyper and not thinking before talking and would get obsessed with any task I was doing or couldn't keep my mind on anything at all. I tried some slightly harder drugs for the first time (which I'm usually very against) and almost booked a holiday (and would have if my boyfriend was available to check dates with) I spent $700 over 2 days (which for me is huge) and after all that stuff I kinda realised what was going on and while I was still in an insanely good mood and super hyper, I was able to talk myself out of SOME of my impulsive behaviours. Anyway so I've still been feeling this way for a week and haven't slept in over 48 hours and have still been doing usme kinda weird stuff. So yeah idk this is a first for me.... And while it's been so much fun, I'm scared of the danger I'm putting myself in and the stigma that surround bipolar disorder (if that is what this is). Soooooo yeah can anyone who has been through this give me any tips or anything .... Or just a friend to vent to. (Btw I am going to see my go and psychologist about this next week)

Jettsett88 Depression is ruining my life
  • replies: 5

Hey I am new here, My depression is really winning right now. I am feeling numb and unmotivated. I got a major asssement due tomorrow and I've already had 4 extensions on it. Yet I still cannot do it. I am comfort eating and being lazy more than ever... View more

Hey I am new here, My depression is really winning right now. I am feeling numb and unmotivated. I got a major asssement due tomorrow and I've already had 4 extensions on it. Yet I still cannot do it. I am comfort eating and being lazy more than ever and it shows. Right now, I literally hate who I am physically and mentally. I am so tired of being a burden to my friends which is why I am here. If I didn't have kids who knows where I'd be...

Asdfghjkl1 idk
  • replies: 3

I think that i'm bipolar and i don't know what to do. Mid way through last year my family caught on that i was feeling really bad about myself and not wanting to do anything so I went to a counsellor and they said that it was most likely that i was d... View more

I think that i'm bipolar and i don't know what to do. Mid way through last year my family caught on that i was feeling really bad about myself and not wanting to do anything so I went to a counsellor and they said that it was most likely that i was dealing with depression and sent me to go to a therapist. Others things came up and i ended up not going. I felt bad like this for a while but then I just started feeling a lot better, more energetic and generally happy. I never though much of it and just assumed that it was just because it was something that had happened and I had gotten over it. I made a lot of commitments to partaking in sport and other activities during this time and was basically ready to do anything. Then later on that year i was hit with another phase of depression once again feeling terrible as well as not wanting to go outside at all or spend time with others and therefore braking the commitments I had previously made and been confident I would fulfil. During this time I was extremely lazy and unmotivated, causing failure in most aspects of my life. I felt worthless and went through a period of contemplating suicide and self harm. Over the past month I have been really energetic after feeling blue before and into quarantine. For a while I have had a feeling that I had had bipolar or some similar issue but today when i lashed out at those around me for no apparent reason i am realising that there is definitely something going on and I need to stop it before I hurt someone or myself. Looking back on it I can't count the amount of similar situations where i have just lost control of my mood and unnecessarily attacked someone verbally. I feel lost and am unsure on what to do. I found these forums whilst learning about mental health at school. Hopefully i did this right

Monash Live alone
  • replies: 16

I have no idea what these forums are all about. I have nothing in common with anybody here. I never went to uni. Never ran a business. Never been a manager. Highest salary I ever had was 50 thou. I never married or had kids. I live alone, don't have ... View more

I have no idea what these forums are all about. I have nothing in common with anybody here. I never went to uni. Never ran a business. Never been a manager. Highest salary I ever had was 50 thou. I never married or had kids. I live alone, don't have many friends (only 4 good friends including my sister). I've never been overseas. The last sexual relationship I had was in 1987. I can't make things or play music or anything. I am a 65 y/o man. I sometimes try things to fit-in and then fool myself into thinking I actually belong but sooner than later I realise I don't and then have to pull out. Please don't tell me to take up bowls or ballroom dancing.

Spd Depressed
  • replies: 23

I don't have family or friends to speak to, so I thought I'd give this a go.

I don't have family or friends to speak to, so I thought I'd give this a go.

lodo 29 and still living with parents and depressed.
  • replies: 9

I am a 29 years old male, single, turning 30 this year and I still live with my parents. I have a full time job. Been working at that job for 4+ years (I’m an office clerk), but I don’t make enough to be able to afford rent. I’ve recently completed a... View more

I am a 29 years old male, single, turning 30 this year and I still live with my parents. I have a full time job. Been working at that job for 4+ years (I’m an office clerk), but I don’t make enough to be able to afford rent. I’ve recently completed a Certificate III in IT from TAFE, and I’m in the process of trying to find a better job in IT. I’ve been trying to find a new job in IT for the last 6 months but haven’t had any success, due to a lack of experience in the IT field. Seriously, it’s infuriating and embarrassing for me. My parents keep telling me that its OK for me to stay at home with them, and as far as I know they don’t seem very interested in helping me become more self-sufficient, so I’ve been taking steps to achieve my goal of being self-sufficient by myself (by learning to cook my own meals, manage my own finances etc.) but my mother keeps cooking food for me even though I tell her that I would like to try and learn to cook by myself. Don’t get me wrong I love my parents and I’m not blaming them for my predicament, but they seem to have a “helicopter parents” vibe to them. I almost feel like running away to a Homeless Shelter or something just to leave my parents’ house. What’s your advice?

AirJordanFan93 Feeling Really Depressed Again
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone this is my first post on here in a long time. Im really struggling with my depression at the moment. I have been dealing with it on/off for years now but I am currently having my worst bout since the start of 2016. I think it might be eve... View more

Hi everyone this is my first post on here in a long time. Im really struggling with my depression at the moment. I have been dealing with it on/off for years now but I am currently having my worst bout since the start of 2016. I think it might be everything that is going on in the world at the moment just hitting me all at once as well as my personal issues. I am very much in a position where I am just really struggling with day to day life and see no purpose in it anymore. I broke down in the toilets at work today its the first time its happened in the near 6 years I have been at my current job but even that I can't deal with anymore. Honestly all I want to do is sleep since its basically the only thing that gives me any sort of joy at the moment and everything else is just a huge chore. Even after I got home from work this evening I went into my room and cried my eyes out again 2nd time that has happened in the space of a week. I should note I have had a change in duties recently and I am really struggling to deal with it and really don't know how to address it at work but I think its a massive reason that kick started my depression this past week. I find it really hard to open up to people in person but find it much easier to open up on forums and threads like this. Sorry if this got a little too personal I just needed somewhere to vent since I even struggle to open up to my parents with whom I still live with and if I do I would probably just break down in tears again.

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map