Depression

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

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

Pinned discussions

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

ellr Financial stress contributing to suicidal thoughts
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I’m a 25 year old woman who make about $1200-$1400 a fortnight and I’m in debt, behind in payments, been waiting for months for centrelink to give me a health care card and I’m just done. I pay $300 a week in rent, put $200 towards debt... View more

Hey everyone, I’m a 25 year old woman who make about $1200-$1400 a fortnight and I’m in debt, behind in payments, been waiting for months for centrelink to give me a health care card and I’m just done. I pay $300 a week in rent, put $200 towards debt and try live off the extra $100 -$200 for everything else and im just not coping. I was in an extremely abusive relationship for my mid to late teens which resulted in multiple long term injuries, I can’t afford an sort of doctor (pyschologist, psychiatrist, regular doctors or dentists). My health is getting worse and I need access to healthcare but centrelink keep messing me around. Just dont see why I keep trying to continue to fight anymore. Is this world even worth living in once I make it to the other side of this mental battle? I’m just so tired of having to fight to exist in this life. I don’t want to die, I just want peace. I want the stress to go. Anxiety to go. I need a break.

Maddie-7 Depression
  • replies: 2

I feel flat not badly depressed. I have been doing a few things to help myself. Written down a number of positives that relate to me.Positive thought I can do this repeat this to myself through the day.Positive activity. Going to ceramics, and mosaic... View more

I feel flat not badly depressed. I have been doing a few things to help myself. Written down a number of positives that relate to me.Positive thought I can do this repeat this to myself through the day.Positive activity. Going to ceramics, and mosaics. Talking and playing with my 3 dogs. Talking to a friend, my GP who is a friend. Talking to God and counting my blessings.Reading what I am interested in. Watching something on TV that I find funny and makes me smile. Seeing and talking to my daughter. Helping her with her mental health, as she gets depression too.Talking with my doctor and taking my medication, this is important as I have Bi Polar illness. Seeing my Psychologist. Having coffee with some friends once a month. Being part of a mental health support group and trying to help someone else. Having good sleep and doing mindful breathing. Going out to the heated pool once week. Doing some casual work. Plan my day and get two jobs done at home each day. I think I am working towards better health and I appreciate this forum. I hope these words might have helped someone else.Maddie7

Jade357 Feeling Lost
  • replies: 1

I have suffered with depression and anxiety in the past. Many days, it still affects me. Lately, I have been feeling so out of control of my own life. like I'm merely holding the reins and the wind is taking me in whatever direction it pleases. my ho... View more

I have suffered with depression and anxiety in the past. Many days, it still affects me. Lately, I have been feeling so out of control of my own life. like I'm merely holding the reins and the wind is taking me in whatever direction it pleases. my home as well as my workplace feel constantly insecure and unstable. everything else feels like its on the rocks. my relationship, though usually strong and sturdy feels rocky and on edge. my friendships slowly vanishing and growing further and further as I fall deeper into this grief and feeling of being lost. my family hanging on by a thread, constant worry and concern. how do I pull myself out of this sinking feeling and focus on the positives in my life and stop pushing everyone important to me away?how do I establish a life full of certainty and happiness without the impending feelings of guilt and shame?how can I put myself first when it feels like every step I take toward that is faced with two steps back in a form of a push? I really do want to pull myself out, like I have time after time and feel like myself again. I've tried exercise, I've tried breath work and meditation. I've tried alcohol and drugs. nothing seems to make a difference for longer than the during of the expertise or substance. how do you put positive and healthy processes into action and keep them going?consistency and self belief is what I lack.

Sosorry I am desperate for help
  • replies: 2

I am desperate for help with my depression, I am just holding on with my fingertips. Everything I do is wrong and I hurt everyone I love all I want to do lay down and go to sleep so I can't hurt anymore, the only thing that has stop me killing myself... View more

I am desperate for help with my depression, I am just holding on with my fingertips. Everything I do is wrong and I hurt everyone I love all I want to do lay down and go to sleep so I can't hurt anymore, the only thing that has stop me killing myself is my son. Have no one to talk to as they think only reason I feel this way is because as I am being silly

Bloo c: avpd - how to get diagnosed?
  • replies: 1

hello! I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon and self diagnose but i suspect i might have avpd, does anyone have any tips on how to go about getting a diagnosis or finding a therapist? thanks!

hello! I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon and self diagnose but i suspect i might have avpd, does anyone have any tips on how to go about getting a diagnosis or finding a therapist? thanks!

kadd Past haunts me
  • replies: 1

Hi there, not sure if this will help. For the last 20-30 years I have been dealing with depression/anxiety on and off. This is due to a situation when I was a child....and after that in my 20's. I was raped, I never came forward to anyone about it, c... View more

Hi there, not sure if this will help. For the last 20-30 years I have been dealing with depression/anxiety on and off. This is due to a situation when I was a child....and after that in my 20's. I was raped, I never came forward to anyone about it, consequently got pregnant and decided not to keep the baby. Alcohol was the only way I could keep the guilt at bay and forget things I did. Since then I have made extremely bad decisions, reckless, promiscuous and have been in trouble with the law and now I am 51. I have always been in relationships whereby I always pick the wrong man as that's all I think I am worth, the last man I was with was narccisstic and messed with my head when he felt like it...I am somewhat introverted and I live with my parents and they have had enough of my outbursts. I don't think they want to believe I am not well and it can be swept under the rug. I have tried antidepressants but they make me feel sick. I dont know the next step. I sometimes feel like just walking into the ocean and never coming back.

Sla24- Feeling lonely and depressed
  • replies: 1

I am feeling so depressed and lonely lately. My marriage hasn’t been very good for a long time now and my children are grown up, my Mum passed away over 3 years ago and I really only have 1 friend. We used to catchup every 2 weeks,and it was really g... View more

I am feeling so depressed and lonely lately. My marriage hasn’t been very good for a long time now and my children are grown up, my Mum passed away over 3 years ago and I really only have 1 friend. We used to catchup every 2 weeks,and it was really great, but lately we only get to catchup about once a month or sometimes not even that often. I know my friend is busy, but I am always the one who messages her first and I feel really hurt that I am always the one who is always making an effort to catchup and she doesn’t put any effort in. My first baby was stillborn and I have been constantly hurt by family, friends and inlaws in my past, and I am at that point in my life where I don’t know how much more I can take. I often wish that I would go to bed and not wake up, that way I would not have to feel so lonely and have to deal with all this hurt and heartache that I feel. Is there anyone else that feels like this?

KeepCool99 Newly diagnosed
  • replies: 3

HeySo as title says newly diagnosed just couple of days ago. I had guessed it in back of my head for a while now but just kept trying to shrug it off. It's hard but I guess everyone else here knows that as well. Cheers.

HeySo as title says newly diagnosed just couple of days ago. I had guessed it in back of my head for a while now but just kept trying to shrug it off. It's hard but I guess everyone else here knows that as well. Cheers.

William_Chen2142 Playing a fake character in order to maintain friendship
  • replies: 2

From childhood onwards I have managed to deal with what used to be an asocial attitude of mine by essentially becoming somewhat of a people's pleaser. Not in the sense of actively going out of my way to present the certain princess with an expensive ... View more

From childhood onwards I have managed to deal with what used to be an asocial attitude of mine by essentially becoming somewhat of a people's pleaser. Not in the sense of actively going out of my way to present the certain princess with an expensive diamond ring out of the blue, but more so catering to the religious and political views of those who I am surrounded by and occasionally affiliate myself with. Do note that here when I refer to those whose community I am part of, only a small percentage of those are people who I can call friends since we rely on one another for casual or personal comfort. But it's absolutely having a detrimental affect on my productivity and overall productive and in worst case scenarios, livelihood morale. I have found that as I start to draw a line between me and my community once religious and political conversations were brought up which drastically contradicted that of what is actually correct, only then I did truly realise that the whole time I was living a double life, a completely fake persona. Every single time I was dragged into such conversations, I would always just stay completely silent. I had no courage to speak up because I know I would be ostracised if I did due to diagreements on such sensitive topics. However while my attitude towards such topics were fake, all the times we have spent bonding together were not and that is what in retrospect I would refer to as "an ignited match stick splintered into one's heart". But now that works related to such topics have become somewhat of a profession for me, it is now more of a critical time than ever for me to find somebody who truly gets me. Not just as an acquaintance, but someone I can generally just love. Further discretion is advised here, because the following event is highly sensitive. Just two nights ago I have in the peak of my loneliness dreamed of going on a jog and picnic with an imaginary Woman. Although produced in an artificial environment, the happiness and fulfillment I have felt that instance in my own labyrinth was never matched before. When I did wake up, I immediately without thought went to fix up my room in preparation for a visit, only to realise it was all fake. Ever since then my performance at my projects and my emotions have been going DOWN a consistent spiral. I have actually for the first time thought about whether it was worth going through all this or if it is better to from now on isolate myself and let my emotions take full control.

IneedHelp_1234 I’m depressed
  • replies: 1

Hi i have been struggling with depression for 7 months now and its really hard for me to cope i have had two family members die last year and the year before that i had a family member go to hospital with a serious injury and i have lots of friends t... View more

Hi i have been struggling with depression for 7 months now and its really hard for me to cope i have had two family members die last year and the year before that i had a family member go to hospital with a serious injury and i have lots of friends that turned out to be not good friends and every night i cry thinking about everything