Immediate support
Immediate support

Depression

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

Start a discussion

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 discussion

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 discussion

Sunnydays Husband with depression
  • replies: 1

My husband has always experienced levels of depression and anxiety however for the last 18 months has been at his worst. He’s pushed me away, has no interest in talking to me, ignores me at times, makes me feel like I’m an inconvenience when I talk t... View more

My husband has always experienced levels of depression and anxiety however for the last 18 months has been at his worst. He’s pushed me away, has no interest in talking to me, ignores me at times, makes me feel like I’m an inconvenience when I talk to him about everyday things, and doesn’t speak to me very well as a person in general. I’ve tried my best to support him however I can, but I can only deal with being treated this way for so long. He spoke to a psychologist for 5 sessions about 12 months ago and didn’t have a good experience. He said it made him feel worse and he won’t be speaking to a therapist again. I don’t see how things will Improve when he won’t seek help and they have been going this way for so long. I don’t want to leave him and I know what he is going through is horrible, but it’s also horrible for me and feel I don’t deserve to be treated this way. Is there a point where I say enough is enough. I hate that this has become the new normal and I just expect that he won’t be very nice to me.

Guest_10049 Re- feeling like just silly for wanting peace from people- who are over the top and negative
  • replies: 4

I just don't get what is so wrong with that as have put in the subject. Yeah the mood is not quite as bad as been in the past, just even recently with seriously suffering and struggling. Until recently but it doesn't mean it goes away. People's just ... View more

I just don't get what is so wrong with that as have put in the subject. Yeah the mood is not quite as bad as been in the past, just even recently with seriously suffering and struggling. Until recently but it doesn't mean it goes away. People's just insistence to be in my life and think will get something out of it at all. Like just whatsoever- won't be the case and is never going to be. The longer they just persist is pathetic really can't be hiding how pathetic that is. And the blunting of emotions of this medication weening down- terrific as well, also aha.......

Guest_10049 Re- feeling quite anxious about the future
  • replies: 12

Yeah just feeling quite anxious about the future, not something that can seem to manage. Even in spite of things doing there- just with meditations, some things like that. Anti anxiety tablets, medication and yeah just seem to think am doing what can... View more

Yeah just feeling quite anxious about the future, not something that can seem to manage. Even in spite of things doing there- just with meditations, some things like that. Anti anxiety tablets, medication and yeah just seem to think am doing what can control. And others' opinions dont matter- except for coming on here aha..... . But yeah anyway just seems to be going over "old ground"- will look into different options myself, adapt and adjust. Even with just given the "current situation" but yeah just difficult, tricky to switch off completely. Cos just a lot of things to do with this- just is around "communication' but yeah whatever aha.......

Blue_Fox2740 Alcoholic or enjoys a drink?!
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am 31yrs, and enjoyed a drink before I had kids and didn’t think anything of it.I currently have 2 kids, 2yrs 9 months, & 6 months. I haven’t worked in the last 6months and struggled with not drinking through my second pregnancy, (which I didn’... View more

Hi, I am 31yrs, and enjoyed a drink before I had kids and didn’t think anything of it.I currently have 2 kids, 2yrs 9 months, & 6 months. I haven’t worked in the last 6months and struggled with not drinking through my second pregnancy, (which I didn’t). i am also struggling identifying drinking too much and just relieving stress because I looking after kids most of the time while my husband works full time, which I find very stressful and irritating at times. It isn’t effecting the was I handle my kids, and I don’t drink when looking after them, but my husband isn’t liking me drink as much as I do when he is home due to his father being diagnosed with kidney cancer, again, 2 years ago. There is the fact that my husband would enjoy a smoke if I didn’t tell him he was t allowed and he compares that to me drinking. I would probably drink, (Rum & Coke), about 3 drinks a night, sometimes more sometimes not everyday, it varies.I’m just really confused at the moment because I’m not working and spending the with the kids 24/7 and my husband gets an outlet of going to work ,40hrs a week. I am a highly stressed, irritated and anxious person. I’m also finding it difficult because my husband doesn’t drink much and is working and I’m ‘stuck’ looking after the kids and we don’t know what hard each others job is/how each other really feels. I normally wouldn’t write in these things so, thanks for your comments and support in advance.

Leo Severe depression making me hate myself
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm 18 and struggling with severe depression, OCD, GAD and really bad social anxiety as a result of BDD. I have had bad anxiety for most of my life but it has gotten significantly worse these past two years, causing me to miss a lot of days of th... View more

Hi, I'm 18 and struggling with severe depression, OCD, GAD and really bad social anxiety as a result of BDD. I have had bad anxiety for most of my life but it has gotten significantly worse these past two years, causing me to miss a lot of days of the past school year. I am on medication and have been to so many psychologists and psychiatrists sessions and everyone keeps telling me it will get better but I have been suffering for so long. I can barely go outside without feeling like I'm going to die because I get bad paranoia about people staring at me. I hate myself and my body so much, I feel like a big disgusting creature dragging itself around. My psychologist says that I can't rely on my thoughts but throughout my childhood, family members and friends have called me fat along with other comments like 'you have elephant legs' and etc. So I just don't understand why multiple people would say that about me if it's not true. I avoid mirrors at all costs and feel sick for the rest of the day if I catch myself at a bad angle on a reflective surface. When I feel extra bad, I like to feel sorry for myself because it makes me feel a bit better, but some days I feel like I'm too disgusting to even feel sorry for myself. I feel like I'm suffocating and everyday it's harder to find a reason to continue because no matter what I do I'm still stuck as myself

Black Bubblegum Still trying but sinking (Type 1 diabetes, loss and the dual career and personal failures)
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, Have been in here before and the people here have been lovely. Last time I was here I had just been given a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. I tried to take it in stride but managing it is getting harder and harder every day, between the medicatio... View more

Hi guys, Have been in here before and the people here have been lovely. Last time I was here I had just been given a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. I tried to take it in stride but managing it is getting harder and harder every day, between the medication and trying to manage it, I've gone from a relatively fit and active bloke to having no energy, having dropped nearly 16kg and looking like a gaunt mess that I hate every time I look in the mirror. Feel like my life exists solely to have numbers of a CGM device so that my endocrinologist can tell himself that he's doing a good job. Then in early 2024, I had been supporting my parents and my Dad had a major surgery, trying to improve his quality of life which I am proud of him for doing, but he didn't recover from the surgery and he passed in March. Now it's just Mum and I and we help each other, I try to always be there for her but it's getting so hard. I feel like i'm letting everyone down and not being there enough. But at least I have my career right? Except no, the foreign management of the corporation I work for has decided to close the plant I work at so I'll be redundant in a few months. Not only am I losing the one anchor in my life but I get put under more financial pressure to boot. I've poured my soul into this job the last three years and felt like I was finally getting somewhere in my career. I took the step of contacting a GP and trying to discuss a mental health plan, which was a huge step for me, but he didn't seem interested. He dismissed my attempts to find someone to verbally help me, prescribed me medication and sent me on my way, which hasn't helped me to feel any better emotionally and now I feel even more lethargic to boot. My friends are largely distant, some of my oldest friends basically ignore me and I'm kinda at my wits end. I wouldn't do anything in a million years as long as Mum is around, but if she wasn't I don't think it'd even matter if I'd ceased to exist. I'm trying so damn hard, but every day it just feels like it's loss after loss, I'd like just one win every now and then y'know? I'm just not even sure why I'm here or anywhere anymore.

Jon77N How to make friends my age?
  • replies: 1

Hi iv been going through depression and lost my partner and daughter due to it I also haven’t had friends since 2017 im on medication so I get by but since my partner and daughter left 8 months ago now im starting to struggle with being lonely and wo... View more

Hi iv been going through depression and lost my partner and daughter due to it I also haven’t had friends since 2017 im on medication so I get by but since my partner and daughter left 8 months ago now im starting to struggle with being lonely and would like to know what people do or go to socialise iv never been big with going out but im willing to do and try anything to give everything a shot.

Snip_Sulfur I feel weird and may have the startings of bipolar
  • replies: 1

Recently I have been in a depressive slump. Bored out of my mind, lonely, upset, numb, essentially the works of what it means to be depressed. But I mean, just last week I was over the moon. I’m in the rehearsal stage of my first production ever, i m... View more

Recently I have been in a depressive slump. Bored out of my mind, lonely, upset, numb, essentially the works of what it means to be depressed. But I mean, just last week I was over the moon. I’m in the rehearsal stage of my first production ever, i moved rooms to something more roomy, I got to see a friend i hadn’t seen in a while and talk to teammates. The other night i was feeling like shit. I messaged that friend about whether they considered us friends. they wouldn’t give me an answer and it made me spiral a little. i flipped between laughing to numb and just was all over the place (this was late like 2am which may have contributed) but i hadn’t felt that desperate and just terrible in a long time. i also feel bad at coming to them when i have a problem because it isn’t their responsibility to help me. i feel like a burden and just overall selfish.

faireetay shopping addiction advice/ strategies 🛍️☺️🧚🏻‍♀️
  • replies: 4

Hello, I'm Tay 栗‍‍My mental illnesses are OCD/ schitoeffective and I also have autism and a little ADHD. I suffer from a shopping addiction. It's at its worst at the moment and has been growing since last year, fluctuating at times. I'm finding it... View more

Hello, I'm Tay 🧚🏻‍🙋🏼‍My mental illnesses are OCD/ schitoeffective and I also have autism and a little ADHD. I suffer from a shopping addiction. It's at its worst at the moment and has been growing since last year, fluctuating at times. I'm finding it makes me very sad, depressed and anxious all the time. Interrupting sleep too. I'm always making myself and loved ones sad by spending too much I can't afford and at risk of my partner leaving who doesn't feel financially secure. I am also very passionate about the planet which is strange for someone with this consumerism addiction however I'm hoping to be the person I want to be some day and help the planet more and do less consumerism and become more eco friendly. If anyone would like to share their addiction/ shopping addiction advice/ stories this is a space to do that id love to hear tips and such things thank you kindly

ABC01 Feel like I am not an Adult
  • replies: 36

Dear All, I am dealing with grief at the moment and it has made me face mortality and what that actually means. I am still working through that,but one thing has become crystal clear. I have always felt like I have been stuck at 16. Things happened a... View more

Dear All, I am dealing with grief at the moment and it has made me face mortality and what that actually means. I am still working through that,but one thing has become crystal clear. I have always felt like I have been stuck at 16. Things happened as a teenager and I wasn’t able to be your run of the mill teenager. As an adult I have faced many mental health challenges due to this. Mainly not feeling like an adequate “adult”. I have not been able to leave home, partly due to being a carer and partly because I couldn’t afford it. I can’t hold down a job due to my illness and never found a partner in life.I feel like a burden to my family who provide the roof over my head. But they are getting on in years and I know I can’t keep pushing these thoughts and realities aside as I have been able to do in the past. Or hoping they will just resolve themselves with time. They haven’t. The years do go by too fast. I am lost. I don’t know how to be an independent adult. I don’t have learned experience. I am scared that the time will come and I still won’t be ready to be an independent person. I don’t want to be a burden on any other member of my family. And when the times comes, I can’t stay where I live. It isn’t mine to keep. It makes me feel sick to my stomach with fear. I need help or direction. I don’t want to have to keep confronting these issues. I don’t know how people “do”, being a responsible adult. Especially in today’s world where things are alot more limited than when I younger.Thank you for listening.ABC01