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

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Sane_at_last Thankyou Beyond Blue
  • replies: 5

I have to say a huge thankyou , a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with severe depression , I was going through a marriage breakup , severe financial issues and away from my family , i did the beyond blue test online and knew I needed help , I mad... View more

I have to say a huge thankyou , a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with severe depression , I was going through a marriage breakup , severe financial issues and away from my family , i did the beyond blue test online and knew I needed help , I made Drs appointment took a week to get in and was thinking of cancelling the appointment as I couldn't see any way forward and thought about how I would end my life , but something made me do the test again and same result , so i kept the appointment , I was a mess , but the dr was great and I ended up at mental health where the staff were fantastic , now 2 years later with the help of these amazing people and anti depressants I'm in a much happier place , I've been weaned off the antidepressants and had my last tablet last week , feeling great and I totally urge people to get help , the amount of support I received from family and friends and even strangers was amazing , I never hid the fact that I needed antidepressants to survive . its a part of life for many people and nothing to be embarrassed about at all , I never knew there are so very many people out there that support you and help you get through it all . I am so very thankful for your help beyond blue without your tests I very much doubt I'd be here in such a happy place today , if I ever slip back to where I was 2 years ago , I would still go and get the help needed . Thankyou you saved my life

Cantthinkofadisplayname Unable to let go of it.
  • replies: 4

I decided to join a forum after reading the book The Buddha and the Borderline. I cant even describe how much I related to her. I am a self diagnosed borderline and I want to get better, I have been working at getting better for over a decade but I a... View more

I decided to join a forum after reading the book The Buddha and the Borderline. I cant even describe how much I related to her. I am a self diagnosed borderline and I want to get better, I have been working at getting better for over a decade but I am trapped when it comes to childhood memories. I believe if I could rid myself of them, Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind style, I could find balance and happiness. They pull me down. I cant let them go. They shape every aspect of my adult life. Im more than ready to move on and be the creator of my own life. To put the past abuses aside and grow from them. But Im trapped. In order to become a better person, I have to be self aware of my behaviour. And by doing this Ive been made aware that my behaviour is a reaction to an extreme prolonged childhood of abuse. I found that colored my entire personality. Its my identity. I have run from it, then tried to face it, then told myself over and over the reasons people do horrible things to kids and try to humanize them but Im still angry. I havent moved past that rage. I need advice on how to get rid of memories. Or how to tolerate them when they come at me and wont leave for days. I want to be Zen. I want peace. I want to be a person that I like without those harsh voices in my head screaming at me that I am completely worthless and to suck it up and everyone has problems but my anger is holding me back. How do you let go of something that was avoidable that ruined youre whole entire life, personality, thoughts, veiws of the world. How do you let go of extreme anxiety when you have to leave the house and trust that the world is safe(ish)? How do you snap yourself out of the deepest depression when even going to the toilet is exhausting? What do you do when you are desperately trying to get better and you have toxic people in your life telling you its a waste of time, you will never get better, you are delusional, worthless? I would love to cut them out of my life but cant. I dont say anything now and work in secret but how do I tune out all the words coming at me, telling me Im wasting my time. I feel like the reason they dont want me to get better is because they dont want to be exposed. I need to block over 30 years worth of critisism and hate and violence and words. Coming to terms with it and accepting it is fleeting. I feel differently about it day to day. But today I am angry so here I am. Thanks.

Casxx All new and too much
  • replies: 3

Hi Since I was 14 I have had mild anxiety and have been able to cope with counselling. However, recently my anxiety became crippling. Every morning I wake up earlier then my alarm feeling anxious. I have constant worrying all day and I feel so tired ... View more

Hi Since I was 14 I have had mild anxiety and have been able to cope with counselling. However, recently my anxiety became crippling. Every morning I wake up earlier then my alarm feeling anxious. I have constant worrying all day and I feel so tired all the time. I have been doing mindfulness meditation, eating healthy, taking walks when I can and journalling. I have an appointment with a physiologist, but that isn't for another 10 days. I went to the doctors who has put me on medication and found out that I also have depression. As I have some other symptoms like not enjoying anything, crying and feeling hopeless. It scares me so bad. Will I ever feel hope and happy again? Even now my family have come and visited me and I am here writing this so I don't cry in front of my niece and nephew instead of enjoying the time with them. I feel like I can't go a day without talking to someone about this, like beyond blue, headspace or even lifeline. I feel so scared, alone, tired and hopeless.

paranoid_android How to find a job when your mental health is in shreds
  • replies: 4

I've suffered from severe depression and anxiety for over 10 years. I have spent much of my life on welfare living day-to-day. I've given up on having a financially secure existence and see it as a joke now. That's not to say that I haven't been empl... View more

I've suffered from severe depression and anxiety for over 10 years. I have spent much of my life on welfare living day-to-day. I've given up on having a financially secure existence and see it as a joke now. That's not to say that I haven't been employed. I've worked mostly in call centers that are, for lack of a better term, soul-crushing environments. Demanding KPI requirements (often impossible) and job insecurity would have had a massive impact on my mental health, more so than I gave credit for at the time. I've been poor for so long that I've just become used to precariatism and I think I underestimate the impact my financial situation has on my anxiety. I've been taking steps to improve my life but have hit a roadblock in terms of what I can achieve within the limits of my financial situation. I'm currently studying at University but most of the students in my degree are significantly younger than me and they don't really socialise. Uni also doesn't pay. I want a job; not just for the money but also for somewhere to go and to be part of a group. I need the structure, I need the socialisation. My experiences with employment have been so negative, my brain has wired itself to be extremely pessimistic when it comes to jobseeking. It also doesn't help when there are seemingly no jobs anywhere suitable for me. Everything on seek.com etc is call centers, sales, hospitality or requires previous experience or transport. I don't drive and my only experience is in a field I would rather not re-enter (call centers). I'm 33 now and it is very difficult to compete with hundreds of thousands of more well-adjusted younger people all fighting in a job market where there are not enough jobs in the first place. I guess what I am getting at is I am wondering what options I have? My studies are my priority and I'm not looking for a job that is going to demand my complete devotion to the company. I just want something I can rock up to, do the job then go home. I need something that is low-stress, not because it's easy but because my brain literally cannot cope with that stress anymore. Something that I can do part-time or casual around my university schedule. Not having a job is slowly killing me. I want to work but have no idea how. Are there any places that exist that can help me find what I am looking for? Job providers don't assist you unless you are an active jobseeker on Newstart. They also don't really have an appreciation for mental health.

David Nobody Sadness or Depression
  • replies: 4

My thoughts When you are sad, some memories can make you happy When you are depressed, memories just make you sad Sadness brings tears, but then they go away Depression brings tears, they stay and everything else goes away If you are sad, friends can... View more

My thoughts When you are sad, some memories can make you happy When you are depressed, memories just make you sad Sadness brings tears, but then they go away Depression brings tears, they stay and everything else goes away If you are sad, friends can help If you are depressed, what friends? Sadness doesn’t affect your memory Depression just makes you stupid You are sad for a specific reason You are depressed for no reason at all Sadness passes and is forgotten Depression stays forever, and is remembered forever People provide comfort for free when you are sad Depression costs money Empathy is easy for sadness Pity is easy for depression Everyone gets sad Only you are depressed The hard part is getting “people” to understand.

mr_magoo fearof change
  • replies: 3

I have a fear of change how can i control it At the moment i am too scared to do anything.Its like i don't want to help myself does anyone have similar issues and how do you deal with them

I have a fear of change how can i control it At the moment i am too scared to do anything.Its like i don't want to help myself does anyone have similar issues and how do you deal with them

Kim40 A strange town alone ,no friends
  • replies: 2

I'm 47 years old and left my partner two years ago,after 22 years and moved to a new town ,I'm not social ,and I can't make friends I live alone and don't have contact with anyone I'm scared to go out and shopping is a nightmare cause I'm paranoid pe... View more

I'm 47 years old and left my partner two years ago,after 22 years and moved to a new town ,I'm not social ,and I can't make friends I live alone and don't have contact with anyone I'm scared to go out and shopping is a nightmare cause I'm paranoid people are looking at me,I'm very lonely now

Tolpo Work injury
  • replies: 4

Been off work stuck in the house for 12 months and recently reinjured myself at rehab and it looks like along long time before I recover if at all living on painkillers my doctor I call the Google doctor he just googles everything I don’t want to eve... View more

Been off work stuck in the house for 12 months and recently reinjured myself at rehab and it looks like along long time before I recover if at all living on painkillers my doctor I call the Google doctor he just googles everything I don’t want to even talk to him about my depression I just need to vent to someone as my thoughts are notgood ones

Phnx2405 WHEN THE DARKNESS COMES CALLING
  • replies: 2

Even on days of clear blue, beautiful skies; the darkness comes calling The inner monolog is so loud you cannot hear the outside world The inane whispers and screams alike, drowning and falling Lost in the self contained chaos with little to no wisdo... View more

Even on days of clear blue, beautiful skies; the darkness comes calling The inner monolog is so loud you cannot hear the outside world The inane whispers and screams alike, drowning and falling Lost in the self contained chaos with little to no wisdoms of pearl No suicidal thought is spared No more tears left to shed When the darkness comes calling Break down after a long day of trying to hold it together Every scar, a seam that was slowly unraveling with anxiety tugging at loose threads Crying in a heap, not a grey cloud above Better off dead, better off dead No suicidal thought spared No more tears left to shed When the darkness comes calling No time like the present standing still No more blood left to spill When the darkness comes calling Broken and beaten Life is so fleeting Pulling myself apart but not yet given up Scratching and clawing Begging for relief Pounding of this beautifully broken heart My tears have dusted over like antiquities of pain Wounds grown over like tumours of tainted memories One more incision is only a bad decision away One more knot is not enough to choke away the misery Even on days of clear blue, beautiful skies; the darkness comes calling And even at my strongest I struggle to not say goodbye It’s hard to keep ignoring when each call could be the end No suicidal thought is spare, no more tears left to shed…

Jen_Verona I've never felt so shattered
  • replies: 3

Hi. I've never reached out like this, but for the last while (could be weeks, could be months, I don't know anymore) I've felt just destroyed. Shattered. On the outside I look fine, but almost every time I get a moment of privacy I break down and eit... View more

Hi. I've never reached out like this, but for the last while (could be weeks, could be months, I don't know anymore) I've felt just destroyed. Shattered. On the outside I look fine, but almost every time I get a moment of privacy I break down and either cry or have a panic attack. I've seen a psychologist about the panic but not about the other side of it. It's a crushing feeling in my chest and throat that never goes away. It makes me snappy and distant at my friends/family and I'm afraid of losing them if this keeps going, so I work really hard to hide this constant, soul-sapping feeling from those around me. I've never felt this low before, never been diagnosed with depression (only social anxiety and mild panic), and am looking for any advice. Thanks.