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: 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

Leena1 Can't get anything done
  • replies: 1

For most of this year I have been sleeping alot during the day because of illness and other things as well. I live on my own in a rental unit. However since the beginning of last year I have slowly lost interest in the things I used to like and I hav... View more

For most of this year I have been sleeping alot during the day because of illness and other things as well. I live on my own in a rental unit. However since the beginning of last year I have slowly lost interest in the things I used to like and I have cried a lot and felt sick. I also dont want to do anything not even food shopping. I am on anti depressants but they may not be working. I am also unable to concentrate. Can anyone give me advice.

MatthewJ Depressed - Depression - Anxiety
  • replies: 5

I’m new to this so I don’t really know how to start or where to start. I’m just really depressed, I feel nothing, if I try to talk to anyone about how I’m feeling (parents, family, friends) no one takes me seriously, they have a certain perception of... View more

I’m new to this so I don’t really know how to start or where to start. I’m just really depressed, I feel nothing, if I try to talk to anyone about how I’m feeling (parents, family, friends) no one takes me seriously, they have a certain perception of me, they just look at me as the “young(21), healthy, relaxed beach loving, surfy”. So they think there can’t be anything wrong, but there’s more to me than all that, I may be a young dude, but I’m a human being after all. I just need someone to listen to me and not just brush aside the way I’m feeling because I’m young and what not. I tried to end it all, end my life. It didn work. Honestly all I want to do is to end it all, end all the anxiety, panic attacks, negative emotions, the stress, the anger, the depression. I honestly can’t deal with life anymore, I just want out, I want to end my life. I don’t even know why I’m on here, I feel like an idiot for writing all that. I just, I need help, I geuss, I dunno. M

LoveFlowers Depressed about work
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am feeling so lost and like a failure in my work life. In the last two years, I have had 5 different jobs all in different fields. Out of 5 jobs, I was made redundant from 3 and the other 2 didn’t work out either. The latest job I had was worki... View more

Hi, I am feeling so lost and like a failure in my work life. In the last two years, I have had 5 different jobs all in different fields. Out of 5 jobs, I was made redundant from 3 and the other 2 didn’t work out either. The latest job I had was working in a florist, which is my true passion and what I would like to do. Last Friday morning I came into work and was told that they didn’t have enough hours for me anymore and the boss had to let me go. I had only been working there for 2 months. I am very confused because my boss only hired a new girl about 2 weeks ago, and also hired someone else about a month ago. I don’t understand why I have been let go again when the boss is bringing on new people. I feel like a loser and a failure in my life. I always try to do my best at work and I feel that I have not succeeded in a career and I am falling behind my friends who are all happy in their jobs. Over the weekend I have felt very depressed and suffered low self esteem, I layed in bed all day on Saturday and Sunday crying in my room because I feel there is something wrong with me. is there anyone who can relate? Looking for some understanding or advice

HeatherB I think I might have high functioning depression
  • replies: 1

From a few google and youtube searches I think I have symptoms of HFD including low self esteem, difficulty making decisions ( I procrastinate a lot) and feeling hopeless. I have also completed the test in beyond blue and it came up with the possibil... View more

From a few google and youtube searches I think I have symptoms of HFD including low self esteem, difficulty making decisions ( I procrastinate a lot) and feeling hopeless. I have also completed the test in beyond blue and it came up with the possibility of moderate depression. I am 32 y/o female, cant find anything I am interested in e.g hobbies, don't appear to be attractive to Men (only ever had 2 men show an interest in me and then I pushed them away after 1-2 dates) and find it hard to make friends incl approaching people or starting a conversation (on the other hand when I am involved in a conversation have been known to monopolies it or appear to be a know it all). I have had these symptoms for as long as I can remember. Could I be depressed or am I just a boring and lazy person?

Boymumma90 Is it depression?
  • replies: 3

Hi, so I've not long been looking into depression after thinking I might have it somewhat. I just googled, 'can you have depression for no reason' and it turns out you can. I didn't want to actually phone someone to seek help because I feel like I do... View more

Hi, so I've not long been looking into depression after thinking I might have it somewhat. I just googled, 'can you have depression for no reason' and it turns out you can. I didn't want to actually phone someone to seek help because I feel like I don't have problems compared to others. Honestly I don't know what my problem is but I feel like everything is just starting to take its toll on me. My son is nearing 2.5 and I haven't really had a break since he was born - not a single night apart. My partner works FIFO so he's barely home and I'm on my own more often than not. I work four days a week but lately barely even want to get out of bed let alone go to work. I felt like I hit an all time low the other week, several times I'd had the thought of dying and it didn't bother me in the slightest. I don't really hang around any friends often and usually I'm okay with being on my own but I've felt flat out alone as of late. When I get into these moods I think if things I wouldn't normally - like how much I miss the big family gatherings we used to have as a kid (they stopped because families broke up) or I want to see my nanna who passed away some time ago. I just want to know what I can do to help myself please? I don't want it to worsen to point of medication, if it is depression.

Sandy24 Relationship struggles
  • replies: 2

I'll start off by saying I never expected to be here. I have always been an incredibly optmistic positive person. However in the past eighteen months this has not been in the case. I have become withdrawn, fatigued and regularly pull away from those ... View more

I'll start off by saying I never expected to be here. I have always been an incredibly optmistic positive person. However in the past eighteen months this has not been in the case. I have become withdrawn, fatigued and regularly pull away from those around me. I confided in my best friend earlier in the year. Initially she was very supportive. We had regular coffees and discussions as to how she could help. We also work together, which when surrounded by a large group is when I feel at my worst. In recent weeks I believe this has weighed upon her heavily, she has blamed herself for her negativity when we talk and now we talk very little only discussing the most mundane of topics at limited times. She has now become very frustrated when I withdraw or don't greet her with the enthusiasm I once did. This has resulted in me being described as a bit of a shit bloke because of it.She is a quite blunt indivdual and tells it as it is which normally i do appreciate but not so much in recent times. I have few friends I truly would hang onto if I could, but at the same time I do understand her difficulties based on how I have been recently compared to what would be considered my normal personality. I try to be an open individual and have made attempts to air our grievances (as I have now become frustrated with her frustration) but these offers have been rejected. I have almost become anxious over this relationship and no longer know how to approach this situation or even if I should to keep the friendship together. Has anyone had any experience with this and if so what was the result?

Rebeccaxo Lonely depressed and cant stop crying
  • replies: 4

I feel so lonely. I have nobody here in Australia anymore. All my “Friends” are my boyfriend’s friends. This weekend it really made me realise how alone I am. Myself and my boyfriend are constantly arguing at the moment because I feel like he is bein... View more

I feel so lonely. I have nobody here in Australia anymore. All my “Friends” are my boyfriend’s friends. This weekend it really made me realise how alone I am. Myself and my boyfriend are constantly arguing at the moment because I feel like he is being distant. Its just not the same at the moment between us. I feel like I am always walking on egg shells and the past 7 days I have cried myself to sleep most nights. I hate it when he shouts but then he says its my fault and never takes responsibility for his actions. He makes me believe I am mental which I think he is right and I am. I hate to cry in front of him because he just calls me a drama queen and doesn’t comfort me. It hurts even more that I am so anxious and exhausted for all the negativity and when I cry next to him in bed he just ignores me, how can you see the person that you ‘love’ struggle so much. It is absolutely draining me. I have nobody to turn to or talk to about anything in my life and I can’t just get away to see a friend because I don’t have any. I have suffered with severe depression before I moved to Australia 2 years ago and even though I am not as bad as I was I suffer daily still with anxiety and bad thoughts. This weekend I have been in a very dark place, the worst since I have been over here. I don’t want to watch tv, sleep, eat, speak or do anything and just find myself staring at the wall or floor for hours. I just don’t really know what to do, does anyone have any advice? I think I should have some counselling but its so expensive here I think and because I am not a permanent resident I don’t think I can get it. Any support is appreciated

Lily78 When depression kicks in
  • replies: 6

Hi I am new to this forum. Over the last few weeks I have taken time off work as I have fallen into a depression. Sadly a job in a sector I enjoy, however due to contracts in the public sector my contract ends in a few weeks time. Although I have enj... View more

Hi I am new to this forum. Over the last few weeks I have taken time off work as I have fallen into a depression. Sadly a job in a sector I enjoy, however due to contracts in the public sector my contract ends in a few weeks time. Although I have enjoyed the work office politics always seems to appear and my acting manager for some reason has caused me a bit of extra stress which I feel was unnecessary however it got the better of me and did contribute to some time off. Struggling with what appear to be depression. A lack of support doesn't help however I always try to push through. It feels like it has finally got the better off me and everything is out of control. I feel like such a mess, unsure of how to get out of this hole I keep sinking back into. Money is not everything but mortgages and the cost of living is causing me so much stress as I can't afford to stop working. At what price though does the cost of my health and wellbeing continually win over money? I have always worked unless I have taken leave or mental health days. I have never felt so unhappy and are at a crossroads now as to just finish up now knowing it ends in three weeks anyway. I don't think I could get any more down and going there increases my anxiety levels. I have recently cut out benzo use which I realised with the help of a good psych were just a mask to help me cope or ignore the real issues. Does any of this resonate with anyone here?

Quivz Anything Else
  • replies: 3

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety several years ago (six maybe?). I had trouble maintaining employment. Its now been twelve years since i've been able to stay employed for more than a month. It has been six years since i was last employed a... View more

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety several years ago (six maybe?). I had trouble maintaining employment. Its now been twelve years since i've been able to stay employed for more than a month. It has been six years since i was last employed at all. I have been through 4 therapists and 5 or 6 medications and i'm worse than when i started. I've lost the ability to care about anything. I have been unable to maintain my treatments for any other conditions. I cant meet centrelink requirements and cant be bothered even trying to do so. My only motivation to get better is so that i'm not a burden on my parents any longer and even that barely registers as an issue. It took me a year to get enough motivation to make a doctors appointment. But i now have one in two weeks time. What should i do at that appointment? Get another therapist to tell me about CBT and mindfulness even though it doesnt help me? Get another prescription that zonks me out and doesn't help with my motivation? I only made the appointment because its all i can think to do, but no treatment has had any effect so far. Is there something else i should be asking for?

JamieBall1988 I just want happiness again.
  • replies: 1

For the past year or so I can not remember feeling happy or finding any joy in anything. I can not remember what I used to find enjoyable and all I want is to be alone. when talking to people I don't take in what they say and just want to be alone. I... View more

For the past year or so I can not remember feeling happy or finding any joy in anything. I can not remember what I used to find enjoyable and all I want is to be alone. when talking to people I don't take in what they say and just want to be alone. I am scared that I will never feel happiness again and will live my life feeling numb and distant from people, including my wife and daughter