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

GrievingGirl Relationship ended 12 hours later lost my best friend (cat)
  • replies: 2

I’m struggling a lot. My boyfriend and I ended out three year relationship (amicably) on Sunday. We just weren’t the one for each other. Regardless he was my best friend and the one I always sought support and comfort from. I left at 9pm Sunday night... View more

I’m struggling a lot. My boyfriend and I ended out three year relationship (amicably) on Sunday. We just weren’t the one for each other. Regardless he was my best friend and the one I always sought support and comfort from. I left at 9pm Sunday night. 9am Monday morning, 12 hours later, I took my precious 10 year old cat to the vet for a check up. I only recused her two months prior but she was a shining life changing beacon and lit up my whole life. 10 minutes into the appointment the vet told me she had aggressive cancer, was in significant pain and suffering, and there was nothing to be done for her. It was completely unexpected. I held her in my arms while she took her last breath and let her go that morning. I knew my boyfriend and I would break up that weekend. We had both planned it and wanted to spend quality time together to just enjoy the good parts before we went out separate ways. I had no idea my little cat was unwell and I would have to end her life that morning. It was 12 hours only after breaking up. It hurts because if it has been 12 hours earlier my best friend would have been there with me and comforted me and supported me through the grief. But we broke up so he’s not. I told him what had happened and he was sorry but didn’t want to be involved or change things. Im struggling ALOT to just function. Eating, drinking, using the toilet, sleeping, socialising, thinking. Life just seems completely and utterly impossible. I don’t have a lot of friends and don’t have family aside from my mum, who lives interstate. She’s helping as just as she can but I’m just so lost and feel alone in this grief. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be grieving, my beautiful cat who was my family, or the loss of my relationship. I don’t really know what to expect here. Am i overreacting and being too dramatic?

Imtrying Do I even want to be happy?
  • replies: 4

I think I’m numb. I don’t even know. I used to be really depressed and I’m not sure if this is just a different form of depression or I’m no longer depressed and I just don’t know. I don’t even think I want to get better. I’m comfortable being depres... View more

I think I’m numb. I don’t even know. I used to be really depressed and I’m not sure if this is just a different form of depression or I’m no longer depressed and I just don’t know. I don’t even think I want to get better. I’m comfortable being depressed. I just need someone to tell me what it feels like to be happy or mentally healthy because I could be there. I just have some questions so could someone please reply? Also I’m 16 and started feeling depressed when I was like 13 and got diagnosed and everything but that was a while ago.

PeterBR Work place bulling
  • replies: 3

I have been with a company for almost ten years. Over the last 2 years I just feel like that are doing their best to get rid of me. They have even gone as far as making up lies and aligations against me. I was stood down for this but have proved them... View more

I have been with a company for almost ten years. Over the last 2 years I just feel like that are doing their best to get rid of me. They have even gone as far as making up lies and aligations against me. I was stood down for this but have proved them wrong. I am now off on stress leave and don't want to go back because it's not going to stop. My other concern is if I leave now I will loose my long service leave. I have asked every one I can think of about this but nobody can give me an answer. So do I go back for 2 months to complete my 10 years knowing they will try find something to get me fired or do I walk away now and loose my long service leave. Knowing this makes me even more stressed and anxious and worried which is not good. Any help would be great, thanks.

onedad Need help coping while working away from family for an extended time
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone I am currently in the middle east, away from everyone/thing i know and love. Working 6 days a week on a project in this part of the world i am finding myself feeling so along and missing my 3 year old boy and wife to the point i break dow... View more

Hi everyone I am currently in the middle east, away from everyone/thing i know and love. Working 6 days a week on a project in this part of the world i am finding myself feeling so along and missing my 3 year old boy and wife to the point i break down and cry most nights when im alone. I usually try to stay up till 11pm here to catch them in their morning routine.and for those 5.5 hours after work i usually walk somewhere with some work colleges grab a bite to eat and return to the hotel. i try to work out a bit to help pass tim and release some natural endorphins... Nothing is working currently... i have only been here 5 days and have another 33 to go.. i have little to no support, and really need some help to cope Thanks

learningtosmileagain Is this a normal part of depression?
  • replies: 2

I've been dealing with GAD and health anxiety for about 12 years, (I'm a 21 year old male). As a 9 year old, I would make my parents take me to the doctor at least once a week to confirm that I didn't have meningococcal, and throughout my teen years ... View more

I've been dealing with GAD and health anxiety for about 12 years, (I'm a 21 year old male). As a 9 year old, I would make my parents take me to the doctor at least once a week to confirm that I didn't have meningococcal, and throughout my teen years I was convinced that I had three different types of cancer, HIV, and Lyme disease. I generally do a good job of seeking help, I see a psychologist once a fortnight and I regularly talk to my family about my mental health. I am more anxious than depressed most of the time. I've had periods of depression throughout my life, but I would never say that I've experienced it to the extent that other people have. I'm wondering if depression is what I'm experiencing now, and hoping that someone on here can reassure me that what I'm feeling is a normal part of depression. I usually have a pretty easy time describing how I feel, and discussing my feelings with people. However, lately, I don't feel as able to do this. I feel this overwhelming sense of numbness, lack of interest in people and things that I usually care about, and a sense of impending doom. I feel like sleeping all day, I don't want to be around anybody and don't feel like things will ever get better. I don't feel like I am able to articulate how I feel to people, there are no really strong emotions, it just feels like an internal pit of emptiness. I don't know how to describe it any better than that. I wonder if this is depression, I feel a little bit sad, but more than anything I just feel hopeless/helpless, like I don't care about anything anymore, and that my quality of life will never improve. Has anyone ever experienced this, do you think it is depression? If so, do you have any tips on feeling better? Any responses are valued, I just don't really have anyone that can relate to me in terms of dealing with depression and anxiety, so I thought I would try to get some responses on this forum. Thank you, and to anyone reading this that feels similar or has experienced anxiety, I hope you feel better soon and know that you have a friend in me.

Alyca Is this really depression or something else, what should I do?
  • replies: 3

I seriously can't tell anymore. I have this constant emptiness(maybe vulnerbility) and anxious feeling gnawing at me. It might alleviate some time, but it will grow back. I don't dare to go to sleep unless I'm tired enough to fall asleep in a manner ... View more

I seriously can't tell anymore. I have this constant emptiness(maybe vulnerbility) and anxious feeling gnawing at me. It might alleviate some time, but it will grow back. I don't dare to go to sleep unless I'm tired enough to fall asleep in a manner of seconds, or go quiet and do any quality works even if I really want to. I had to always watching something or forcing my mind both not to think and not to stop at the same time (Like watching TV), or the darkness and emptiness will find its way and seep in, making me feel anxious, scared, cold and meaningless. The smallest thing can set me off, and I'm constantly sensing and worrying about things that can go wrong, feeling I'm not prepared for such accidents or mishaps, no matter how slim the chances are. In fact I can't tell whether the chances are small or not, after all there is something called Murphy's Law. And this renders all my efforts, as everything, as long as it can go wrong, will go wrong. How can anyone make anything absolutely perfect? So it's always there, this gnawing voice, this very deep level of emptiness, powerless, and this angst, I can't even know the reason because anything can lead to that. In this case living alone is burdensome, for the future to me is not something to be looking forward to but something to be feared. I tried to talk to the family, none of them understand what I was saying, for they don't have the same problem. So all they can say is stop worrying, or you are worry about nothing. Does anyone here know about this kind of situation? Please share if there is a cure for that.

Bam2317 Marriage separation
  • replies: 1

Hi, recently my wife and i separated. We had been together for almost 9 years and married for 7 years. Im finding it hard to cope with the separation, i dont feel like doing the things i love to do, i dont feel like eating, i dont feel happy only sad... View more

Hi, recently my wife and i separated. We had been together for almost 9 years and married for 7 years. Im finding it hard to cope with the separation, i dont feel like doing the things i love to do, i dont feel like eating, i dont feel happy only sad, i get frustrated and anger with every thing and ever one and im also having negative thoughts like no one cares about me etc. We are currently still living in the same house and i wanted to leave but theres kids involved. Any advice will help

garysdash SELF HELP TIPS FOR DEPRESSION
  • replies: 0

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

hannahj I'm a terrible person
  • replies: 2

I am a really terrible person I've been hiding it because otherwise if I don't no one would like me and I would feel lonely I was pretending that I love everyone and I understand everything But I am a very pessimistic person who would never agree wit... View more

I am a really terrible person I've been hiding it because otherwise if I don't no one would like me and I would feel lonely I was pretending that I love everyone and I understand everything But I am a very pessimistic person who would never agree with anyone I don't like myself being this way but I'm just too tired to change it I don't know why the chat is unavailable when it's 11pm maybe they blocked me

mate01 Is this depression?
  • replies: 4

So I've been thinking for a little bit that I might have depression, but I was unsure, so I didn't say anything to anyone. Now, people around me have noticed things about me that I see as well. So here is a list (kind of matched up with a symptom lis... View more

So I've been thinking for a little bit that I might have depression, but I was unsure, so I didn't say anything to anyone. Now, people around me have noticed things about me that I see as well. So here is a list (kind of matched up with a symptom list): - I lack motivation for just about anything, except for the things that make me happy - I create roadblocks for a majority of tasks and opportunities - I go through different emotions throughout the day (e.g. I'm not sad for all the day) - Rumination (can be about literally anything, often ends in a feeling of worthlessness) - Am quite tired or worn out (could just be school as I am in year 12) I also did an online test which stated that I fell into the category of moderate depression, but I know that they are only a guide. What do you guys think? It's really playing on my mind and I need to do something about it