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
Jump to
Start a discussion

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

Start a discussion

love_of_baking Hard to control my emotions
  • replies: 1

I always just thought l was an emotional person which l didnt really see as much of a problem, l liked caring and having a heart. But now l feel its getting too much, if anything is a slight letdown or disappointment it affects me badly and l get so ... View more

I always just thought l was an emotional person which l didnt really see as much of a problem, l liked caring and having a heart. But now l feel its getting too much, if anything is a slight letdown or disappointment it affects me badly and l get so emotional and sometimes angry but I'm not angry I'm hurt, it just seems to come out as anger which is frustrating at times because l dont want to hurt the people around me. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and was seeing a psychologist for a few months bit l stopped going when l felt she knew too much and l started to feel judged. I was also on medication for about a year bit stopped that not long ago because l became pregnant. I don't know what I'm asking for and know no one can help me only l can do that. I guess I'm just looking for someone to listen and to get the strength to do something about the way I'm feeling again. I just want to be content with life. Thanks for reading

sallybrown Don't know who else to talk to
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I'm new here. Have had anxiety all my life, but depression is new to me. I'm struggling to gauge how serious it is and how to cope. Doing all the right things - I'm on a waiting list for a psychologist, have a doctor's appointment for next we... View more

Hi all, I'm new here. Have had anxiety all my life, but depression is new to me. I'm struggling to gauge how serious it is and how to cope. Doing all the right things - I'm on a waiting list for a psychologist, have a doctor's appointment for next week - but I just keep feeling worse and worse and I'm so lost right now with nobody I can talk to, because I'll either worry them or they won't understand. I think I just need to hear that it'll be okay? It started out this time as stress from a high pressure job. My mental health has deteriorated and now it all feels like a mess. I can't speak to my manager (who has previously been supportive) because my guilt and shame at not being able to cope is overwhelming. I've been in this job for a year and I feel like I deceived her at my interview by pretending I would be fine, only to fall apart. I can't quit because I can't imagine having to start a new job right now and I have a mortgage to pay. A day where I don't cry is a huge achievement right now. I've started having trouble sleeping which is rare for me, I'm more anxious, I'm back to hating myself. I feel hopeless and so mad at myself for not being able to cope with life like a "normal" person. Up until now I've still been able to do social things but that's getting too much for me now too. I've been limiting what I do for months because I'm very introverted and alone time has been important, but lately I've been lying to friends and saying I'm sick because it's just too hard to pretend I'm fine. I can't see any way of changing anything about my current situation, but I'm just so tired right now. Coping with life has never been more exhausting - and yet logically I know I'm lucky and it could be so much worse. I feel trapped and alone, and I guess I know it'll get better once I start getting help, but it doesn't feel that way. I just don't know what to do in the meantime.

Living57 4 walls, better to stay in than venture out
  • replies: 4

Today I really struggled. My depression seems to have reached maximum and then some. As I write this I'm lying in bed. It's dark and I can't even make out the walls or the door which suits me fine because the blackness just Echoes how I feel. Today I... View more

Today I really struggled. My depression seems to have reached maximum and then some. As I write this I'm lying in bed. It's dark and I can't even make out the walls or the door which suits me fine because the blackness just Echoes how I feel. Today I struggled all that I have in the past. I saw a documentary on television which was like watching my life in reality, its what I've been through as a child and it hurt. Was like somebody had read my inner core and put it out there for everyone to see. I just wanted to cry. Instead I went to my bed and laid there curled up sobbing silently knowing that there's nobody who really cares. I'm estranged from my son's. One daughter is in hospital very ill interstate and I cannot get to her finances don't allow it a failure on my part. My other daughter has two special needs children and is there fore me as the best she can be but I understand she needs to be there for her family first and foremost. My depression matches my room I'm lying in black and miserable. I tried some telephone counselling today as I cannot leave my house due to a fear of strangers after I had been assaulted about 18 months ago. I am struggling with basic supplies in the house and have no milk bread eggs butter fast running out of pantry Staples and too scared to go out and buy them and nobody in the area I live in to turn to to help me as I am just new here. I'm struggling to hold on and I know what it's like to go down that hell hole. I just don't want to be like this. I would like one day where I could have some semblance of normality. Some happiness. Something to look forward to. Not more of the same blackness embracing me. Surely there is more to life than this. I feel sometimes as if I'm just going through the motions and not actually living. I really don't know what to do. Being unable to leave the house means my social activities are limited. I try to read try to keep off the TV and internet and things that I know are unhelpful. I just don't know where to turn and I feel very alone. I see my doctor when I need to he's really good and I have a great relationship with him but he is now 45 minutes away and I am not changing doctors I cannot go through that hassle again and I have settled with him and he understands me. I do not know my neighbours having only been in this house 2 weeks. I am not aware of anybody who can help me and I just hate being this way. Surely there's more to life than this, at the end of the day this isn't living.

kohakuro Partner Getting Professional Help and I Think I Should Too
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, This may be quite a jumbled post. I have been a roller coaster of emotions for the last four days and I just need help. My boyfriend of over a year went to the GP on the weekend for help with his depression *trigger*... years ago he trie... View more

Hi everyone, This may be quite a jumbled post. I have been a roller coaster of emotions for the last four days and I just need help. My boyfriend of over a year went to the GP on the weekend for help with his depression *trigger*... years ago he tried taking his life and he used to self-harm. I knew he’d never received professional help but I thought he had been managing alright. He wouldn’t tell me why he was going for the appointment, and I only discovered the day after when I’d left his house that he’d been given a prescription for antidepressants and has been booked in for psychological help. That night, once I left his (we still live with our parents), I broke down in tears. I haven’t had a break down like that in months. Please don’t get me wrong, I am so, so glad that he’s realised he needs help and is taking action. But it broke me. I guess I value communication - he’s always so on to me to communicate, yet couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me how bad he is mentally again. He freely discusses it in Facebook groups with our friends (how I’ve found out all this) but struggles with me. I can understand he may be embarrassed, I feel he doesn’t want me to worry, but the silly boy doesn’t know it makes me physically sick when I am this worried about him. He always wants to be the strong one for me, and never lets me help him. Onto me now.. two years ago my mum forced me into the GP to discuss my mental ‘issues’ that were causing me to ‘be lazy with schoolwork and have no motivation’. The doctor said after assessment I had moderate depression and referred me to a psychologist. Unfortunately she made things worse between me and my mum (who believed it was my fault I wasn’t listening to the psych and wasn’t better after a month) so I never went back. I just feel like I need some advice. Im much worse than I used to be. I ditch all of my worries about family, study, work and the future on him. I feel guilty and selfish for that. And I feel like I blame myself for him seeking professional help. He insists I don’t affect him in that way but I’d have to. And with him starting antidepressants, I am irrationally scared it’ll change him or make his depression worse. I don’t know why, but I can’t convince myself it’s okay. He wants me to get help as ‘I’m much worse than him’ (I have a lot of issues atm) but I’m scared. I’m 18 now, my parents can’t know. I don’t know if trying professional help again will be a better experience. But I need to help myself, to help him xx

Kel93 Don’t know what to do 😔
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I’m a 25 year old with 2 children an d currently suffereing postnatal depression (being treated for) my parter is 26 and about 2 weeks ago told me he no longer thinks he loves me or wants to be with me anymore and was going to leave(he e... View more

Hi everyone, I’m a 25 year old with 2 children an d currently suffereing postnatal depression (being treated for) my parter is 26 and about 2 weeks ago told me he no longer thinks he loves me or wants to be with me anymore and was going to leave(he ended up staying) he went to see a doctor who said he had depression and put him on medication since taking them he has been emotionless, unhappy, grumpy and not wanting to do anything. He was also having dreams of violence and harming/killing me which then turned into dreams of him cheating on me with multiple women, he is saying he wants to get the ‘spark’ and in love feeling back in our relationship but we are unsure how to do this but he also changes his mind everyday on things he wants and is saying he doesn’t even know what he wants with anything. Has anyone else experienced that same thing? What was your outcome?

Lake_meadows Ouch
  • replies: 6

So woke up this morning greated with Ive had enough I want out we need to talk. Not really the way to get a good response from somebody with BPD. a 53 yr old male who 18mnths ago was lying in a bed in ICU because he tried to take his own life. Now Ih... View more

So woke up this morning greated with Ive had enough I want out we need to talk. Not really the way to get a good response from somebody with BPD. a 53 yr old male who 18mnths ago was lying in a bed in ICU because he tried to take his own life. Now Ihave done said hurt lied cheated and a whole lot more none of which Im proud of. Two things it would appear im crap at life and reltionships .I do take my meds and see my therapist and I try so hard but because you dont agree or do something another way your told its your illness over and over.really not the best thing to tell BPD sufferer . Do I feel loved no abandoned yes all of what I have done I own my mistakes yes sorry yes . I dont relly know if i feel safe depressed alone and scared I cant be intermit feel that ships sailed struggle with food and binge eating so not exactly slim taught and terriffic with low self esteem and the libido of a house brick dont think medication helps with it either just want it to stop. At 50 ish its too hard no easier to deal with now than it was then.BPD sucks and most probaly one of the hardest to treat. Hard to hold it all in just keep living the lie.

ConfusionPersonified Bipolar and not sure where I fit in anymore
  • replies: 9

Hello I'm at a real low point now.Again.My life has never been easy&I'm described by old friends as the 'strongest' person they know.If they only knew. Over last few years I've turned into a terrible person.I moved countries with my husband&kids,I've... View more

Hello I'm at a real low point now.Again.My life has never been easy&I'm described by old friends as the 'strongest' person they know.If they only knew. Over last few years I've turned into a terrible person.I moved countries with my husband&kids,I've no family here (we're not close anyway),&my marriage broke down soon.It wasn't amicable,we both played our part & only recently are managing to get along with each other.Funnily enough he's the one I reach out to in my darkest hours as he's the only person who knows my personal torment. 3 years ago I was diagnosed with bipolar 2.I accepted the diagnosis immediately&dutifully took my medication for 2 years.I felt no different whatsoever,only40kgs heavier&more zombie-like but in terms of my behaviours nothing changed.I was still the binge-drinking lush I'd turned into previously& more self-destructive than ever. I weaned myself off the medication18mths ago while remaining on anti-depressants&somehow convinced myself I did not actually have bipolar, only bipolar 'tendencies'.I was just enlightened - how dare that psych label my personality as a mental illness just because I liked the odd shopping spree&was more spiritual than him! This reasoning remained through losing 2jobs, all of my friendships, any potential relationships&the loss of respect of probably everyone I know.Today,after a brutal weekend of drinking which I'm too ashamed to go into,I've walked out of my job as I know I can't do it anymore.Ironically I had been assisting people with mental illnesses find their way back into the community...what a phoney.I know it wasn't good for my own mental health to be the 'strong supportive' person I'm expected to me - I'd rather have my health than money. I'm posting because I've no idea what to do with myself anymore,so fed up of living this way.I'm aware I'm now in a downward spiral following hypermania and I'm just numb, nothing there.I desperately want to hold down a job like I'd always done but I don't know what I can actually offer anymore. I need to change but where to start?I already see a psych&will visit my GP to talk meds.But I need to stop feeding my anxiety with alcohol.I completely understand why drug addicts get to that point, that's where I'm headed.Self-hatred doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about myself, not in a self-pitying way.I'm just disgusted with what I am. Would love to hear from anyone who's come out the other end of this, or any help at all is much appreciated Thankyou x

David_In_SA Not coping well
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I am new to this group. I am 52 years old and have suffered from social anxiety and depression since I was a teenager. I have been on medication for most of that time. I do not have a partner or children. The last 6 years of my life have been... View more

Hi all, I am new to this group. I am 52 years old and have suffered from social anxiety and depression since I was a teenager. I have been on medication for most of that time. I do not have a partner or children. The last 6 years of my life have been crap. My sister has been diagnosed with cancer 4 times during that time, with the most recent diagnosis being a couple of days ago. She has been told it is terminal this time. Also, my step father died from cancer 3 years ago. And to top things off, I was made redundant 4 years ago and have been unable to find work since then, as nobody wants to employ someone of my age and with my health issues. I am not eligible for any government support as I am living off my redundancy pay. I feel miserable most of the time and really have no idea how to feel better. Seeing a psychologist is not an option as I can't afford it and have not found them particularly helpful in the past. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Crux Downward progression
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am new to this here just signed up to read others posts and felt inspired?to post my situation. Quick back story, now 32, I was abused as a child (aged 4 to about 9/I 0 years old ) physically and verbally *Chronic alcoholic from 13-30 (almost 2... View more

Hi, I am new to this here just signed up to read others posts and felt inspired?to post my situation. Quick back story, now 32, I was abused as a child (aged 4 to about 9/I 0 years old ) physically and verbally *Chronic alcoholic from 13-30 (almost 2 years sober) *diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety and paranoia *night terrors /panic attacks /hallucinations /feel like I'm dying /can't sleep & wake up constantly thinking I'll be murdered while I sleep *chronic migraines (generally everyday /at least every 2nd guaranteed) became chronic several months ago, upgraded from monthly or so. On zomig for that. *Ticks- eye, shoulder and neck movements, have to keep remembering to untense face/expression *tinnitus - really high pitch 24/7 can't think about it too much I quit alcohol because I didn't want to lose my partner and our few years old son. (yes was very hard to do but I don't think about it anymore) but since being sober my depression keeps growing . I'm becoming manic, sometimes crying in the car park at work feeling sick in my stomach /butterflies. Empty but for the Overwhelming sense of dread, imminent danger. Stressing about people looking at me cripples me. Lost jobs over this. Some days I feel like I'm high on good vibes, feel powerful and resigned to life. Almost like in a state of nirvana, it's amazing actually. But those days are so rare it's mainly black. Some days the sadness is lesser but never gone. I was on medication for about a year w/no affect so they put it up and everything went horrible so I stopped. Another medication, nothing, some other ssri can't remember made it all worse. Anyone been through similar stuff like this and found their way through ? I'd love to hear about it. Thanks for reading

EspressoAndDepresso College / University - Depression and Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi there. A little about me: I'm 20 years old and in my last year of my university degree which I now no longer know if I want to do. I am a residential staff member meaning I am an RA for a floor in the dorms on campus of roughly 20 people - their s... View more

Hi there. A little about me: I'm 20 years old and in my last year of my university degree which I now no longer know if I want to do. I am a residential staff member meaning I am an RA for a floor in the dorms on campus of roughly 20 people - their support network. I have seen a few counsellors / psychologists in my time and have had depression since I was 12 years old - diagnosed officially at 15. This year I have suffered so many depressive relapses and seen my uni counsellor every second week, however I still get panic attacks and constantly have the trembles of anxiety when I am alone in my room at night. My depression keeps me awake, keeps me from waking up when I do sleep, and forces me home from any non-compulsory classes. I am also new to boys - my mental state was too shaky to engage in anything remotely intimate throughout the stages when you're supposed to so now I am left behind and am too nervous to do anything which caused me to lose the guy of my dreams recently. I don't really enjoy any activities, I don't feel good enough for anyone to be friends with me, I do not feel worthy of my RA role, and I feel that I annoy everyone around me. It is getting very difficult, even with tools from the counsellors, to keep going and talking myself through every depressive phase that it is just that - a phase - and it will end. End.. just for another phase to come. I am on medication and it works but i guess not enough to stop me from thinking about a way out yknow. However, I do not believe in suicide as such as it would do far too much harm to my family and I do not wish that pain on them as I have seen them through their parents dying etc. It just sucks because I want to die but I can't and I don't really want to die but I already feel dead. Suggestions?