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: 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

spnnnmo things on my mind
  • replies: 2

i just really need to get some things off my mind. i wanted to use the chat service but it's past 12 am. so i guess this is like an online diary where people can feel free to respond 1. i helped this girl with a scholarship type thing a while ago. th... View more

i just really need to get some things off my mind. i wanted to use the chat service but it's past 12 am. so i guess this is like an online diary where people can feel free to respond 1. i helped this girl with a scholarship type thing a while ago. the situation was that she wouldn't have been able to get it if she hadn't asked me for help bc of deadline and availability issues. this girl and i used to be semi-close, then this year we just don't talk. she doesn't talk to me normally. and it seems like she only talked to me, acted friendly and tried to be nice when she needed to get something from me. and i hate myself for just being a stupid doormat and giving in to everyone's demands. idk in the moment i'm happy to be nice and help, but later, when i'm at home and reflecting, i get so angry. 2. this other girl and i go to the gym together. it's a pre-arrangement that we go twice a week. a few days ago, she texts me 2 minutes after our session starts and says that she can't go. i brought my things especially to school in preparation, and that was my plan. it was a part of my schedule. to cancel so abruptly with no explanation left me feeling like she broke my trust, idk it might sound dramatic but i'm trying not to be too specific in case she ever reads this and realises it sounds familiar, highly unlikely though i know. i didn't have any other plans for that time period and then i had to go make some plans. it's strange because in the past, if she or i had to cancel we would do so at least the day before and like at least say why we can't go and say sorry. and i texted her asking if she had something on and she didn't reply even though im pretty sure she usually would have by now. so yeah i also feel as though i just have trust issues in general in terms of friendship

Tomasjc What am I supposed to do?
  • replies: 3

I am a male in his 40s. Have been working around 12 years as a software developer and I have to say that I am grateful as I have it better off than most people because the job description pay bad an I am not exposed to the elements. I have suffered f... View more

I am a male in his 40s. Have been working around 12 years as a software developer and I have to say that I am grateful as I have it better off than most people because the job description pay bad an I am not exposed to the elements. I have suffered from depression, ocd, adhd, migraine, but I think those are just aspects of the same problem. I tried several medications and at this point I am somewhat stable. Unfortunately I love my partner, I find her very attractive but both of us take medication and out sex life is non existent.

Hope4betterdays I have no idea
  • replies: 1

I don't usually show my emotions or feelings. Depression has taken over the better part of my life for a while now I guess you could say it started a little over 4 years ago when my brother died. that was the first time I felt different. It's just we... View more

I don't usually show my emotions or feelings. Depression has taken over the better part of my life for a while now I guess you could say it started a little over 4 years ago when my brother died. that was the first time I felt different. It's just weird how one day out of nowhere someone can be taken from you, and then 2 years ago I lost my big sister. Since then I have tried to make everyone happy to the point where I don't even know how to make myself happy. I sacrifice everything for everyone and then they turn around and say "I never told you to do that". But when I'm not there for them "I never do anything for anyone". Some days just get harder with dealing with everyone's problems and trying to find solutions for them than most. and I guess today is one of those days. I just feel like there is so much to do in so little time, to the point where my memory gets a little foggy, after forgetting something the blame game starts and I turn out to be the winner every single time.

Blackthorn No will
  • replies: 2

I don't know what to do anymore. My mental health have been decreasing since my early teens (I am currently 20) and it isn't getting better, in fact over the past year it has gotten worse. I have been writing my thoughts down trying to at least get i... View more

I don't know what to do anymore. My mental health have been decreasing since my early teens (I am currently 20) and it isn't getting better, in fact over the past year it has gotten worse. I have been writing my thoughts down trying to at least get it out of my head but I don't feel better, everything just feels wrong, so wrong. I have gone to headspace a few time and though they are trying to help there is a lot of time between sessions, and a lot of negativity around myself and my life. I guess the best way to try and describe how I'm feeling is out of place, empty, alone, useless, exhausted, drained, unconnected just naming a few things. Nothing brings me joy, nothing makes me feel truly happy, I have no prospects for the future, I don't know where I'm going in life or what I'm doing. I feel I have no will to live, no reason to live, I stated before that I feel alone and unconnected, and I do to family and friends, but the only time I feel content is when I'm able to be alone, reading. Even though that makes no sense even in my own head I feel so alone but I like to be alone ?!? I'm drowning in my own thoughts and problems that aren't mine, I know I have a big heart and for most of my life everyone comes before me and now that I'm trying to focus on my I feel extremely guilty and selfish. Im having anxiety attacks at least 3 times a week and bad thought at least twice a day. I am either 'okay' or anxious or I can't do this or moody... I've been having a lot of mood swings and little things are triggering my anxiety and irritability. I don't want feel or be this way, but I don't even know who I am

16_12_18 help talking to parents about depression?
  • replies: 7

hi, i don’t know who to turn to anymore so i guess that’s why i’m here. i talked to my closest friends and asked for help about my depression and bad habits and accidently influenced them in doing so. i’ve tried explaining to my parents how i felt an... View more

hi, i don’t know who to turn to anymore so i guess that’s why i’m here. i talked to my closest friends and asked for help about my depression and bad habits and accidently influenced them in doing so. i’ve tried explaining to my parents how i felt and what i’m going through but they just tell me to “get it together”, or they mock me and tell me i’m just being useless and lazy. i’m just so sick of everything. i’ve stopped talking to people, i’ve been staying home a lot more rather than going to school and to be honest, im constantly on the verge of breaking down. i hate being around people because it makes me feel so much more out of place and alone. its a constant struggle just for me to leave the house. i don’t know what to do. i choke up trying to talk about my depression, it’s so impossible to talk because i feel like everybody just thinks i’m a moody teen or just ‘going through an attention seeking phase’. i don’t know who or how to ask for help, but i do know that i need it really bad. i guess i’m just asking for help on how to talk about it and ask for support after being rejected and made fun of so many times.

Sueetties Are we more prone to depression in winter than summer ?
  • replies: 4

Hello, i haven’t been to this forum for awhile as I thought I had done enough work during my deepest dark days through counselling and exercises. but seems now I am slowly sliding into the deep rabbit hole again. Is it the weather? Winter triggers de... View more

Hello, i haven’t been to this forum for awhile as I thought I had done enough work during my deepest dark days through counselling and exercises. but seems now I am slowly sliding into the deep rabbit hole again. Is it the weather? Winter triggers depression more than summer or are we more prone to depression in winter? I was at around the same time last year when I first identified my mental health issue. Has anyone experienced similar things? How do you deal with it ? thank you

Stephanie285644 Loosing myself
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I'm not sure how important this is in relation to other cases but I wanted to reach out for some help. I was made redundant from my job last August (I was only 23 at the time, now 24). I have been in employed and unemployed since- about 2 mon... View more

Hi all, I'm not sure how important this is in relation to other cases but I wanted to reach out for some help. I was made redundant from my job last August (I was only 23 at the time, now 24). I have been in employed and unemployed since- about 2 months ago I took on a permanent job, out of desperation as I was unemployed at the time. I couldn't be any more unhappy in this current position. I am alone, isolated, feeling unchallenged and overall feeling lost with my overall self. I'm left at a desk for 8 hours a day with my own thoughts where every single day is Groundhog Day. Unfortunately I have attempted to reach out to management (who are interstate- all correspondence is via the telephone or email) and have been brushed off numerous times. My point being, since being made redundant I feel like I have lost all self worth and who I am as a person. I feel lost, dealing with constant rejection and knock backs is impacting me mentally and emotionally. I have been told I have changed as a person, I'm more negative and I'm not my bright self. I see it myself too. Its like I'm in a deep dark hole and I'm trying to jump out of it but it's getting deeper instead. I want a change, but I don't know where to start. I've lost all interest in life itself and where it's taking me even trying to figure out what sort of interests I have is a blank now but I want to change that. I want a chance to prove my self worth but getting knocked down time and time again has now influenced who I've become. If anyone can offer some sort of advise. It would be greatly appreciated.

glaceon Medication causing hunger?
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone. I am currently taking two SNRI medications once daily. I started the the first in November 2015 and the second in January 2017. The most prominent side effect for myself has been the intense hunger, cravings and uncontrollable binge eati... View more

Hi everyone. I am currently taking two SNRI medications once daily. I started the the first in November 2015 and the second in January 2017. The most prominent side effect for myself has been the intense hunger, cravings and uncontrollable binge eating. I crave carbs and anything sugary. White bread, doughnuts, biscuits, chocolate, potato chips and so on. While I'm eating these kinds of foods, I feel happy and energised. Shortly after I feel guilty and lethargic. And then the cycle resets. This has caused me to gain about 25kg (55lbs) in a relatively short time. I should probably mention this weight gain started immediately after I stopped smoking weed. I was smoking heavily every day from April 2017 to July 2017. (Approx 4 months) I didn't gain any weight. In fact, I actually lost weight. Is anyone else on a medication combination? If so. How do you manage your diet, weight and exercise? PS. I try to exercise at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. (Skipping rope) and I walk an average of 5,000 to 8,000 steps every day. I loathe exercise but I know it's good for me, so I do it. Thanks

Andrew_W Confused an feel alone
  • replies: 5

This is my first time on hear as only really looked in to beyond blue today as trying to find answers an opening up. I am a shy person that’s finds its hard to talk about my feeling face to face to people. I am married with two young beautiful boys w... View more

This is my first time on hear as only really looked in to beyond blue today as trying to find answers an opening up. I am a shy person that’s finds its hard to talk about my feeling face to face to people. I am married with two young beautiful boys who mean the world to me. I own my own business as a builder an am very successful in what I do as I am a very hard worker. That’s just the way I have been brought up. The problem is that unless I’m at work busting my arse an keeping busy I feel really down an have no motivation or energy. I’ve been like this now for a long time an I feel really guilty when I carnt give the boys or my wife the energy that I give to work. Please don’t take this the wrong way as I am not a bad person but I found having small amounts of drugs(meth) when I’m at my lowest point really helps me. Its like it just brings me out of that dark deep hole that I get stuck in. I now down deep that this is wrong but it make every happy when I’m happy. An that make me happy. It could be once every 2 month or 3 months but I no it’s not the right things to do. I’ve herd so many bad stories about anti depressants as I long term damage. Don’t get me wrong I now having the other is probably worse but it’s long time between. I guess I’m at the stage for some good advice as I don’t really want any drugs prescription or not. I am very strong headed when it comes to taking drugs so I no it’s not going to become a addicting as I have so much pride it my family an what I have accomplished in life. I actually feel beta just saying this on this page with out people looking down on me an making me feeling worthless. Thanks

fred2018 Dealing with people when depressed
  • replies: 3

Would love to hear of people's experiences navigating the difficulties of being more sensitive to criticism some pyschs call this interpersonal sensitivity when depressed/anxious/irritable , I sometimes find dealing with friends or family tricky.

Would love to hear of people's experiences navigating the difficulties of being more sensitive to criticism some pyschs call this interpersonal sensitivity when depressed/anxious/irritable , I sometimes find dealing with friends or family tricky.