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

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 chats on this Forum having 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

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

Lonewog89 Building up bring me down.
  • replies: 4

Hi life hasn’t been the best for the last few months. Seems like one little bad thing apon another have been compiling together. It’s all feeling to much now and I need vent it out before I fall of into the abyss. I don’t really have anybody I can’t ... View more

Hi life hasn’t been the best for the last few months. Seems like one little bad thing apon another have been compiling together. It’s all feeling to much now and I need vent it out before I fall of into the abyss. I don’t really have anybody I can’t talk openly at home as we have very different coping methods to what’s happening. - First of I found out my niece and nephews are moving two states away in October. I’ve been like a father to them since they where born 7 years ago. I don’t believe I will be seeing them much anymore and it’s killing me. - Second my one and only close friend I have hasn’t wanted to catch up a lot lately. Not to sure what has happened? - Third work has been super stressful, more than normal and money has been tight. - Forth one of my childhood friends is getting married in the next few weeks. We drifted apart but never had bad blood. He didn’t invite me to it even though I invited him to mine and he came. Was a bit of a kick in the guts as everyone else from our old friend group did. - My migraines have escalated because of stress and smoke from cane fires. I was in a chemist getting my script filled when I was ridiculed by the pharmacist in front of all the other shoppers. Saying all my migraines are my fault and lucky he’d give it to me. (BTW it isn’t painkillers) My doctor is happy with it and the pharmacist made me so feel so bad. Even before pressing the post button I feel better getting this off my chest. I’m on antidepressants which helps some, therapy doesn’t help me. Writing on here seems to help a little bit for me. My wife doesn’t like talking about these things. Her vault puts Fort Knox to shame but she is my one and only reson for living at the moment. Thank you for taking the time to read this. chris

Wantinghelp BFs sudden lapse back into depression
  • replies: 8

Hi, im wanting some advise. My partner is going through a tough time, and in the last couple of weeks Ive seen him take a massive downturn in his mental health. He had gone through depression a couple of years ago and nearly took his own life. Ive be... View more

Hi, im wanting some advise. My partner is going through a tough time, and in the last couple of weeks Ive seen him take a massive downturn in his mental health. He had gone through depression a couple of years ago and nearly took his own life. Ive been seeing some signs for awhile and this last week has had me very concerned. I also have anxiety so feeling the affects of this quite deeply. All of a sudden hes become easily aggitated and angry, given me the silent treatment and not telling me what Ive done wrong. We have been arguing a bit over his problems with communicating effectively. Hes neglecting all his responsibilities and is totally consumed with his fathers failing health, and is shutting out all other areas of his life. Unfortunately this is causing me more stress as Im now left with all financial responsibilities along with currently having to find a new place to live. He is in NZ at the moment with his parents so the distance is also adding pressure. As I have been so distressed this week in not being able to reach him, I emailed his mother expressing my concerns. They had seen him through his last bout of depression and felt they would know what to do. I didnt feel like I had any other option and needed to reach out to them for help. Unfortunately its angered him more and hes ended the relationship. Im doing what i can to cope but wondering if I did the right thing? I couldnt just not do something, and i know he wasnt asking for help. I dont believe in walking away from some one you love. I dont know what Im asking for...maybe some advise on how to handle this. Ive also not heard from his mother and I honestly thought we got on well with each other. Any advise you gave for me would at the very least help me make sense if all this. Thank you.

Goosey6 Am I okay?
  • replies: 1

So lately I’ve not been feeling okay. And I get that’s normal for depression blah blah. But it’s different. I’m in bed all the time, last night I was on the floor for an hour breaking down. I’m having major issues and it’s normal for a teen to go thr... View more

So lately I’ve not been feeling okay. And I get that’s normal for depression blah blah. But it’s different. I’m in bed all the time, last night I was on the floor for an hour breaking down. I’m having major issues and it’s normal for a teen to go through issues yes? But my depression is worse than it’s ever been. It’s getting in the way of everything. Work, study, my routine. I’m gaining weight like crazy, and this isn’t good for me. My medication I’m on have a side effect of weight gain. I was getting so good with my weight and now I’m huge again. I’m falling apart slowly. And I just can’t take it. people always say “it’s okay not to be okay” and this means so much to me. Yeah I’ve got a lot going on, but this simple sentence has put a lot of light in my dark mind lately. Stay safe friends -J

MyCatIsBlack The endless cycle
  • replies: 8

Hi all....I'm struggling with recurrent depressive episodes...i hv schizoaff and am fortunate my relapses are related more to mood than a psychotic relapse...I just find the recurring depression tiring, frustrating...it hinders my progress in career ... View more

Hi all....I'm struggling with recurrent depressive episodes...i hv schizoaff and am fortunate my relapses are related more to mood than a psychotic relapse...I just find the recurring depression tiring, frustrating...it hinders my progress in career and studies...I have always had self doubt but when I'm well, it doesn't affect me so much...But in my down periods it's almost as if it won't leave me alone and what I've learnt from CBT and ACT and meditation, yoga goes out the window and I'm consumed. I've been surviving/struggling/managing for about 15 years and recently started a mood stabiliser...I just wonder whether this cycle will ever stop or whether it's something that will always occur despite the meds (which have helped) and the psychology (which definitely are useful). I'm in the middle of a down period now and up titrating my mood stabiliser...Just wondering if this cycle of depression will ever go away or whether the more realistic expectation is that it'll probably come back, but will not be as bad ir frequent...thanks!

Tears1963 MY Life
  • replies: 3

I m a 55 year old caring for a 26 year old my daughter Rachel and she has Bipolar disorder plus Anxiety it hurts everyday cause I have Depression as well. And its like no one else understands us 2 funny people .

I m a 55 year old caring for a 26 year old my daughter Rachel and she has Bipolar disorder plus Anxiety it hurts everyday cause I have Depression as well. And its like no one else understands us 2 funny people .

froggy43 depression and lack of work
  • replies: 2

Hello i,m not sure whats going on with my inner self so need so help to understand how i,m feeling i,m 43 yrs old female who has worked my whole life no children and am married to a kind man and is my best friend,about 7 months ago I left my job to w... View more

Hello i,m not sure whats going on with my inner self so need so help to understand how i,m feeling i,m 43 yrs old female who has worked my whole life no children and am married to a kind man and is my best friend,about 7 months ago I left my job to work in a remote area with my husband this is something we have both done before but before I left I express I was not keen on this area do to it own problems but my husband told me he could do it without me so off we went and it lasted about a month and we were back home again. since then my husband has his own business and is busy but i can not find work the area we live in is not the easiest place to fine work and its really getting me down , i live in a rural area and some days only see my husband i have no friends down here because we have always moved around for work which seemed to suit and which I have no problem doing again with no children and use both having trades(i,m a hairdresser) theirs normally no problems,but my problem is my husband does not want to leave know and says i,m being selfish we have so much but i,m still unhappy am I being selfish?

DSPicableMe Lost in DSP
  • replies: 18

I've never been on these forums before, so I'll introduce myself, I'm 34 and about to have my 35 birthday. My mum has terminal lung cancer and will be dead in a matter of months according to doctors. I suffer sever sleep aponea, ADD, chronic depressi... View more

I've never been on these forums before, so I'll introduce myself, I'm 34 and about to have my 35 birthday. My mum has terminal lung cancer and will be dead in a matter of months according to doctors. I suffer sever sleep aponea, ADD, chronic depression and anxiety. Years ago, back before they shook up the DSP rules, I was doing consecutive WFD programs one after another. This was after leaving a job I was good at becasue my family was moving state. Over the course of these programs I became very depressed because of the futile activities people are requried to do. Eventually I broke, and got put on DSP. From then on I was put on and rejected from almost every job network because of the 'funding' related requirements, and not being helped with actually getting work or work experience. I could search for jobs on my own, but was usually rejected after a time for lack of experience. I've got two Cert IVs in IT, the newest which is 4 years old, yet I am so desperate for work that I apply for anything despite my level of education. Nothing helps, I've been trying 7 years and nothing helps. I was put on medication some time ago which allows me to function at 80% of any other employee, but now centrelink has reduced my capacity to work and I can't tell them I'm able to because a) the medication isn't PBS covered, and I'm allergic to what is b) if I lost DSP I would lose the medication and be unable to cope up too and if I got a job because it's what gives me the ability to function at 80%. In a few months I will only have my sister, other than that I will be completely alone, my other closest friend online also has cancer and she will be gone soon too. I know this sounds trivial, but at my age there is no real assistance, no help, I've been put on the scrap heap of society and if I only had a chance I feel I could get off it. It feels like life is becoming completely meaningless, and I'm about to be hit with a tidle wave of loss, and I just wish it would stop/slow down so there was more time to fix things. So..... Anyway....... that's me... Anyone else on DSP that really wants to join the real world but has been sidelined with no assistance?

HereIam 25, male, completely lost with career direction and life.
  • replies: 6

I feel like I've missed the boat. Everyone I grew up with has their shit together and I'm still living at home trying to find entry level jobs to apply for. I've worked as a security guard, a bush regenerator, a door to door sales person, a housekeep... View more

I feel like I've missed the boat. Everyone I grew up with has their shit together and I'm still living at home trying to find entry level jobs to apply for. I've worked as a security guard, a bush regenerator, a door to door sales person, a housekeeping attendant, and have also completed a handful of useless short courses. Nothing, and I mean literally nothing has ever drawn me in, sparked my interest, ignited a flame, in regards to wanting to pursue it. I absolutely dreaded every moment of the jobs I listed above and quit after 3-4 months each. As a result I have had varying periods of stability throughout my life so far and it causes so much god damn uncertainty and anxiety it ain't funny. I am a highly orderly and self reliant person and my current life position is making me very low, lower than I have ever felt before. Living at home with my parents, no income or savings, no close friends, dwindling happiness, no direction, just.. nothing going on in the mind. People ask me what I am interested in or what I want to do, and I honestly say I don't know and am given strange looks as though I am lying or looking for pity. But the truth is I.. just don't know. I never feel like I fit in anywhere I work and often feel that people perceive me as angry/tired/arrogant due to my basic nature of being very reserved and content. I open up around some people and especially when I am alone I enjoy singing along to music or playing my instruments while having a few quiet drinks. But everywhere I have been this far in life seems to reject that sort of approach. It's all extroverted and in your face. My parents are afraid for me lately as I am of myself too. Not in a serious "wanting to check out" sense, just that this all feels like shit just got very real very quick. I recently quit another job after 5 weeks. I was working aged care but genuinely felt it wasn't suited to me into the future so decided to pull the plug. Very confronting and challenging work, requiring a dedicated people person, which I can't offer at the moment. I've lost some other points I had on my mind sorry everyone. If anyone out there in this large community has any advice to offer me please don't hold back, I need all and any of it I can get. Thanks.