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: 1

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

Efb1234 I'm a bit lost
  • replies: 2

Hi, I have just gotten back from seeing my GP for a mental health care plan. After almost 2 years of what I believe is a relapse in my depression. This time though, I couldn't put on a brave face, I kept crying and shaking. He has referred to to an a... View more

Hi, I have just gotten back from seeing my GP for a mental health care plan. After almost 2 years of what I believe is a relapse in my depression. This time though, I couldn't put on a brave face, I kept crying and shaking. He has referred to to an affordable psychologist which is a month wait... I don't think I can deal with another month battling with myself. I'm at breaking point in my friendships and relationship. I just don't know what to do from here.

4321 Unmotivated and Crying
  • replies: 3

Hello, I can’t find any motivation and I can’t seem to stop crying. I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago but have been really good for the past 12 months even going off my medication. But I have felt a change the last couple of weeks. This... View more

Hello, I can’t find any motivation and I can’t seem to stop crying. I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago but have been really good for the past 12 months even going off my medication. But I have felt a change the last couple of weeks. This weekend is a long weekend and I had so many exciting plans and I don’t want to do anything except stay in bed. I then feel annoyed with myself and start crying for no reason. does anyone have any advise please? Thank you.

Lexi88 And so the climb begins
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone. This is my first time here posting. My depression has come to ahead and I need to start talking. Firstly - my current state: I'm 6 days out of gradually coming off antideppresants which I have been on for almost 10 years. Last night I sl... View more

Hi everyone. This is my first time here posting. My depression has come to ahead and I need to start talking. Firstly - my current state: I'm 6 days out of gradually coming off antideppresants which I have been on for almost 10 years. Last night I slept a total of four hours. I spent the night with all lights on, seeing things in the dark, crying and terrified to sleep for fear of vivid nightmares. My head is a fog and brain zaps are every few minutes. My head throbs for all the crying done followed by enhaustion and calm for 30 minutes. I'm scared that I don't have a deadline for withdrawals. When will it end? Will it get worse? I had to leave work today as I simply for fear that at any given moment I would explode in rage at someone or Biratnagar into uncontrollable sobbing. I feel sick thinking how on earth will I ever control myself? Is this the end of a burgeoning career? You cannot simply put work and life on hold - people depend on you. How can I possibly be so weak? I don't know if this is just withdrawals talking or I am still stuck in the hole that is depression and I worry how I will cope with life now that I have decided to look for other ways to handle my mental wellbeing rather than numbing myself with medicine. I don't know what my real feelings look like now. As a chronic over-anayliser prone to bouts of overwhelming sadness and anxiety, I feel like in at the start of a dark highway heading in a direction I'm unsure of, not knowing what's at the end. Where to start? How to begin to calm myself? To feel again? How to get up and take on a new day? I think perhaps I might like to speak with someone for guidance however my last time reaching out for help this way I felt intimidated and pressured to speak leaving me having a panic attack and running out of the building!

Flustered Feeling down
  • replies: 3

I often feel low and flat even though I have a great life. I cant understand why I feel this way. Very confused

I often feel low and flat even though I have a great life. I cant understand why I feel this way. Very confused

Zakhary Incredibly lonely masked by my video games
  • replies: 2

I’ve been in foster care my whole life and finally moved up to my grandparents when I turned 19 and finished high school, however the move to Bendigo has really stumped me. ive tried to make new friends by joining a volleyball team but just can’t, ev... View more

I’ve been in foster care my whole life and finally moved up to my grandparents when I turned 19 and finished high school, however the move to Bendigo has really stumped me. ive tried to make new friends by joining a volleyball team but just can’t, even trying to find a partner is hard enough... I’m 19 going on to 20 and this feeling of being alone is slowly starting to get under my skin and I don’t know what to do.

walpurti laughter therapy
  • replies: 5

I would be very interested to learn about personal experiences with laughter therapy. I know little about the subject although I do find when I watch movies that make me laugh it has a profound effect on my mood. I suspect there is a chemical reactio... View more

I would be very interested to learn about personal experiences with laughter therapy. I know little about the subject although I do find when I watch movies that make me laugh it has a profound effect on my mood. I suspect there is a chemical reaction in the brain but that is beyond my understanding. I am careful about the type of comedy I watch though as some has some rather dark undertones and/or self deprecating aspects that have the opposite affect ... speaking for myself.

startingnew Its been a little while
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone It has been quite a while since ive been here and im not really all that sure what to say. At the moment things arent so great and with many things upcoming im just taking things as each day comes. There have been some positives though an... View more

Hi everyone It has been quite a while since ive been here and im not really all that sure what to say. At the moment things arent so great and with many things upcoming im just taking things as each day comes. There have been some positives though and that keeps abit of light in the dark. Thank you to all who have and continue to support me through my mh journey.

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.