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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geejay93 Decisions, decisions - need a second eye.
  • replies: 1

Think i hit a rut. Expectations were that life would (feel) pretty good at this age (25). Happy to get out of school and into the real world (no friends, bullied) and decided to pursue a career in hospo (made friends, mostly through alcohol and drugs... View more

Think i hit a rut. Expectations were that life would (feel) pretty good at this age (25). Happy to get out of school and into the real world (no friends, bullied) and decided to pursue a career in hospo (made friends, mostly through alcohol and drugs) I Left that environment after six years to choose a career in accounting. But 2.5 years in uni I have an accounting job but no time for hobbies (too much study) or enough time to work on my health then i would like. Overall i still no friends that i can rely on. Havent had gf in 3 years either! Assumed i would make many friends at uni but never happened lol. Many of my friends now engaged or have kids, while im in uni for 1.5 years left.. feels like im starting all over again.. end goal will be worth i know but right now im bored and lonely where i am? I also have no time for new hobbies and the only hobby i want to do is travel and meet new people Obviously not happy in current environment. And i need a change of some sort. And i feel sad most of the time. I dont see the point of staying in the same town working sleeping and studying if i dont have a social life or friends to truly share my time with. But uni! Its controlling my life. And i cant just quit it that would be silly. Moving to another city may require me to repeat 2-3 subjects. Study abroad i got rejected as marks werent high enough. Question: should I.. 1. Take a leave of absence from uni (6 months min) and travel abroad (something im passionate about) come back broke but alive because i did more than just exist and used time to work on personal development 2. Do what everyone else is telling me to do and ‘suck it up’ for a year and a half even though they cant understand how i feel I know the answer may seem obvious but this is a big decision and i just want the opinions of someone who had to alter their commitments for the greater good of self improvement and actual happiness before i just quit my accounting job, take time off uni and basically spend all my savings ($10k) to live somewhere new. Living in sydney australia can really take its toll as many want the aussie dream and / or the career ladder and its gets to you sometimes cause your outside the bubble.

MooRich94 Can Anyone tell me What the Point is?
  • replies: 1

What’s the point in wasting majority of life depressed, I mean I would love to be my old happy self again, who I was maybe about 9- 10 years ago. And I’ve tried, and I’ve kept trying but with no success. Why keep fighting - what is the point. I can’t... View more

What’s the point in wasting majority of life depressed, I mean I would love to be my old happy self again, who I was maybe about 9- 10 years ago. And I’ve tried, and I’ve kept trying but with no success. Why keep fighting - what is the point. I can’t even afford to go to a psychologist anymore, I can barely afford to renew my anti depressant script. Not that they did much anyway. All I do is cry and hate myself and it’s just so tiring. This year was supposed to be my year, but it’s gone absolutely awful thus far. Also I’m fairly positive I have binge eating disorder - which doesn’t help how much I absolutely detest myself. Each day I hate myself a little bit more and have less to look forward to in my life. I’m a full time uni student (again) with two jobs, no time for myself, pretty destitute each week I struggle to pay for necessities, that doesn’t stop me from wasting it on extra food to feed my fat hungry mouth.... my partner left me because my depression was “too draining” for him. So not only am I depressed, I am also unloveable. Again... what’s the point. I don’t know what I want to achieve from this post. I can’t afford help. I don’t have enough time for myself to get help anyway. Again - what’s the damn point. I’ve cried enough tears and I’ve thought enough thoughts. I am sick of it.

Blended_agony Marriage separation and blended family issues
  • replies: 10

I’m really struggling since my husband kicked me out for the second time and took away my keys to the house so I couldn’t return I hVe since moved out with my kids i have felt so broken since and I am so up and down with my mood when we were together... View more

I’m really struggling since my husband kicked me out for the second time and took away my keys to the house so I couldn’t return I hVe since moved out with my kids i have felt so broken since and I am so up and down with my mood when we were together I had a lot of issues with my step son who is 10 he would be so rude roll his eyes at me back chat me and talk to me like crap and I was constantly arguing with him and my husband would never say anything. I get like I had no support from him my step son just doesn’t like being told no plain and simple and would constantly lie about everything ! Everyday was a struggle and if it went on for too long I would start to be quite horrible towards him cause I’ve teached my limit and when I would finally crack it and say something to my husband about the way his son had been towards me he would just say well your speaking to him like crap so I’ve been letting him speak to you like it !!! This has been going on for so many years I even took him on with my other 3 kids in my home town for 18months as my husband couldn’t look after him cause of his work and his sister had left town I had 5 kids in the house to look after my 16yr old his 7yr old daughter his 10yr old son and our 3 yr old and 1 Yr old , he would come home sit on couch and be on his phone I felt like I had no support and got so stressed daily he tells me I’m getting big or putting on weight I ask him to stop he tells me he doesn’t care how much I put on he wouldn’t love me all the same he checks out the fit mums in front in me constantly talks about other woman r says he would like me to feel jealous cause that app would make me want him more if I want to go away for weekend to see my girlfriend back home he would crack it and make me feel bad cause he is left at home alone I’m trying to fix things but things just don’t seem to be getting any better apart he needs my help with his kids as his parents have gone up north now and I’m going straight back to being stressed with his son and he doesn’t say anything I’m crying all the time and I feel very aggressive I hVe been on medication for years and years I’ve decided before I was kicked out to try another drug cause I thought maybe it wasn’t working so dr put me on another medication now and I just feel quick to anger and I feel like I just cry all the time and am up and down constantly

Aliza221 Depressed with life and no motivation to move on
  • replies: 4

Hmm... where should i even begin. This is a first for me, I've spoken with a few people in my life before but my circle isn't the best. My whole life i tried to help everyone i can, all i ever got in return was betrayal. I was a completely different ... View more

Hmm... where should i even begin. This is a first for me, I've spoken with a few people in my life before but my circle isn't the best. My whole life i tried to help everyone i can, all i ever got in return was betrayal. I was a completely different person in 2014 and now i feel like a miserable lonely vessel. I am thankful to have a roof over my head and parents and brothers; even though inside i don't like my brothers choices. I won't act like i am the only one who had tragedy in life but i feel every year is getting worse for me. I don't even want to leave my room or speak with a single person. Most times i am forced to speak and often i find myself just starring somewhere else or in my own world rather than speaking to someone. I have been cheated and used my whole life, I've done a lot of dark things i am not proud of (No drugs), and unfortunately those were the times i was the most alive. I tried to do good, get a job, make my parents happy and try to be the son they wanted, since my brothers all failed, and improve my own life before i become a criminal and what happened? I am just depressed now. I feel worthless and like a slave working a 9to5, I've drilled it into me that i am a slave which is stupid, but for the life of me i cannot remove that thought. My father almost died and permanently changed him in 2015, my brother almost died and both his legs snapped in 2016, my best friend and the biggest impact on my life died in my arms --My dog-- in 2017, my brother went to prison in 2018 and now my only best friend is in prison this year. This depression has ruined me and i fear i cant break away. I don't know if anyone will respond but i just wanted to write this somewhere. Also every job i ever did have i just hated. I hated so much my life felt so miserable and empty inside. My smiles were always fake, until i got to my room and locked my door to be myself. I am afraid to get another job that i haven't worked for two years, i can't deal with anymore depression and anxiety, i just can't. I haven't went to the doctors, i know many people who changed for the worse once they got on the doctors prescriptions. I don't know how this will sound to another person reading, but it is what it is....this life holds no value in my eyes. Money has ruined everyone i love and the thought of it disgusts me and the fact i have to slave to earn it just to live kills me inside. I am just all over the place with these thoughts and depression. Yearly it grows worse.

Hiking_Eeyore Redundancy, narcissistic mother & Depression
  • replies: 2

I am struggling with this fight against depression which began when I was 16. I am now 27. I like to think of myself as strong as I keep going despite everything but I am just so tired of feeling low daily. I do not wish to take antidepressants as I ... View more

I am struggling with this fight against depression which began when I was 16. I am now 27. I like to think of myself as strong as I keep going despite everything but I am just so tired of feeling low daily. I do not wish to take antidepressants as I was prescribed these from 16 to early 20s with little help and many side effects. I try to manage naturally with my lifestyle. This year I cut contact with my narcissistic mother which has been good for me while being one of the most difficult things I have done. Serving her needs and putting up with her abuse for so many years now has me lost. I came home to one of my little dogs passed away in Jan, my other dog was sitting next to her barking, I have trouble getting the image out of my head and missing her. I moved in with my boyfriend who is my first ever partner in Feb. He is very loving and supportive, I am so fortunate to have found him. I have found it difficult breaking down constantly in front of him as I have always dealt with this is isolation. I feel embarrassed crying constantly and don't want to bring him down. I was made redundant in March from my full time property management job which I never liked and it paid poorly. I have kept myself busy with work over these last few years, often with burnout. I lived by myself with my 2 dogs and am used to being independent. I ran out of money 3 weeks ago. Centrelink has declined my request for support. I cannot gain citizenship being a New Zealander, I have lived here 11 years as my father brought us here for his work. He passed away 5 years ago from a heart attack at 56 years of age. Grief doesn't go away I just made space for it. My partner is paying the rent with his Centrelink benefit. Jobs are hard to come by with the amount of people applying. I am applying daily but am feeling really hopeless and useless not contributing. I have been thinking about seeing a psychologist again but it is so difficult to action this, I have been through many before. I have been pushing myself to get out walking daily, writing to heal from my mother's abuse and a lot of repressed emotions came up last month. I have trouble focusing on my interests and go numb at times. I don't have any close friends. Any advice would be appreciated lovely people. Thank you.

StevoP Yep look this guy is giving me a lot of grief
  • replies: 1

Guy is just bringing me down, have no clue what to do. Affecting clearly my entire sort of health situation- with the physical and mental side of things. Dunno how to shake him though or to just shake the situation in general, like he is relentless a... View more

Guy is just bringing me down, have no clue what to do. Affecting clearly my entire sort of health situation- with the physical and mental side of things. Dunno how to shake him though or to just shake the situation in general, like he is relentless and just never gives up in his relentless attacks and/or negativity on me. Well towards me really like it just doesnt end, has made me like quite angry and like frustrated with him as well

StevoP New post- I dont know why Ive said that
  • replies: 3

But yep depression, low mood incredibly strong. Just hate myself yep anyway if there r Liverpool fans out there on here- be with me tonight whatever ur time is at kick off. 3am over here for me in WA but 4:30am for middle states and 5am for Eastern s... View more

But yep depression, low mood incredibly strong. Just hate myself yep anyway if there r Liverpool fans out there on here- be with me tonight whatever ur time is at kick off. 3am over here for me in WA but 4:30am for middle states and 5am for Eastern states. Anyway yep those r incredibly strong but yep it is what it is

a_of_n Where to start
  • replies: 2

Hi , Im into my ninth year of depression It started from a marriage breakdown, which tends to destroy the family unit, a few chronic health issues and massive financial loss on the unfinished family home due to the breakdown I think I was always head... View more

Hi , Im into my ninth year of depression It started from a marriage breakdown, which tends to destroy the family unit, a few chronic health issues and massive financial loss on the unfinished family home due to the breakdown I think I was always headed this way as I suffered from massive anxiety my whole life (I thought it was normal as I was very introverted) and mum and dad both suffered mental problems . My brother suicided in his late twenties Over the last nine years Ive lost track of different specialists and phycs Ive seen ,I know the early years my GP would set up 14 visits with specialists then it dropped back to 10 visits a year with medicare changes so a lot of visits Ive been on so many meds ,none work for me due to side effects ,so currently on none and totally over phyc visits ,I know what they,re going to say before they do Both mum and dad lived long lives ,happily married but both died unexpectedly 11 weeks apart just on 12 months back which has been harder to deal with than I would of ever thought possible I don't really sleep ,I haven't for 9 years ,I workout and look after my diet and health as best as I can but the head is a mess when I do get sleep in bits and pieces Im usually dreaming in dark places ,so often I wake in a hell of a state I used to think to myself that this state my head is permanently in is like being dreadfully homesick for a place and people that don't exist ,but not just normal homesickness ,life threatening Ive so many times been in an incredibly dark place and thought thru what my brother must of been feeling but I have this couple of daughters that enter my mind and that brings me back .. anyway these days ,I live alone ,I don't socialise at all ,the way I am, no more relationships seem possible ,Im so introverted and messed up with anxiety and depression ,I was put on a pension years back with this so outings are few Now heres the big thing over the years Ive realized Ive become an expert ,no one knows about my condition ,My daughters don't know ,family and friends .Sure they know Im introverted ,that's just me and they know Im not the happiest person in the world but if they knew the truth ,wow ...........My daughters would not leave me alone ever if they knew and with that no one knows to keep that safe. So this forum maybe just what I need ,as hard as it is to describe this condition .

Cookie_cookie Managing your mind
  • replies: 1

How to people mange when life if great, work family and friends but there thoughts and mind just seem to be the opposite?

How to people mange when life if great, work family and friends but there thoughts and mind just seem to be the opposite?

Rod_NR93 Worn out by illness
  • replies: 3

I'm not doing too well. I had been feeling much better this year despite some ups and downs along the way, largely due to getting me my medication right. I have been sick for four months with a sore throat and bouts of 'flu' along the way. I'm just g... View more

I'm not doing too well. I had been feeling much better this year despite some ups and downs along the way, largely due to getting me my medication right. I have been sick for four months with a sore throat and bouts of 'flu' along the way. I'm just getting over my latest bout. I've had blood tests and a CT scan and all they have shown is I have inflammation. I am starting to feel worn out again mentally and I suspect my physical illness (including the inflammation) is a huge factor. My old obsessive anxiety is back, I'm feeling grief again re my failed marriage, and I'm otherwise mentally flat. I'm really over being sick and yes I could go back to my doctor all he will say is I have a viral infection. I don't know what I'm asking for in response to this post. I can't think clearly.