Support
Support

Depression

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

Start a conversation

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
Categories
Start a conversation

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 discussions in this section of the Forums have 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 conversation

Raisin_Toast Extra! Extra! Read all about my problems!
  • replies: 8

Hello, I've read quite a few posts on this forum and finally decided to make my own. I'm not really sure how to start this so why not here? I've struggled with depression and social anxiety for over 3 years now. I've seen therapists for about a year ... View more

Hello, I've read quite a few posts on this forum and finally decided to make my own. I'm not really sure how to start this so why not here? I've struggled with depression and social anxiety for over 3 years now. I've seen therapists for about a year and a half which have helped make things more bearable but, I still feel terrible mentally every day and it's been getting worse over the past months. I'm onto my fourth antidepressant now with little hope for the current one. Over the past few weeks, I've added onto this with nearly constant gender dysphoria. I've tried to do new things like writing, photography, competitive games and hanging out with friends- nothing really interests me anymore though. I barely leave the house anymore and do very little with my time which I can't imagine helps. I'm enrolled for uni next year to do an interesting course but I can't seem to care at all. I don't see the point in going on like this or how to get past this, I've beaten self-harm and suicidal urges in the past which I barely think about now. The only reason that I haven't killed myself in the past is that I still have hope for the future and don't want to waste a chance or devastate my family. I have lovely people around me but I still feel incredibly alone. I'm not sure what I think will happen by posting here but it can't hurt to try.

Sophia12 I've completely lost sight of who i am and who i want to be
  • replies: 5

Hello there, This is a first for me posting in one of these forums, but I guess I've been feeling like this for a while now. I had 2 sessions with a psychologist a few years ago and they sort of helped but i just feel like why would someone want to l... View more

Hello there, This is a first for me posting in one of these forums, but I guess I've been feeling like this for a while now. I had 2 sessions with a psychologist a few years ago and they sort of helped but i just feel like why would someone want to listen to all my drama and i stopped going, i changed around my life and my job but still am feeling unhappy and I don't know what to do. Is happiness something that is found or will I ever feel it because right now it doesnt feel like it. ive been with my partner for 7 years and i dont think i love him anymore, but what if i walk away and never find someone who wants to be with me. How does one figure out who they are and where they want to be in life with no understanding how to get there?

Louise_Dew Too sick to work. I need advice!
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I’m 22 and currently going through a dark time, the worst part is my life is lovely. I have a great boyfriend and family and friends who love me, but the problem is I feel being at work makes me so anxious, unmotivated and depressed. It’... View more

Hi everyone, I’m 22 and currently going through a dark time, the worst part is my life is lovely. I have a great boyfriend and family and friends who love me, but the problem is I feel being at work makes me so anxious, unmotivated and depressed. It’s past the point of just feeling shit at work, it’s really impacting me day to day and has for a while. I feel overwhelmed all the time and feel like I don’t have time to take care of myself. It’s been this way since I started working at 14 and gotten progressively worse. Has anyone had experience with Centrelink or know what process I would have to go through to be at least recognised as someone who may need support? I don’t expect to not work and get a disability pension, but if there is something like being able to work part time and given a small allowance additionally? Would really appreciate any help

16sundayz This song describes exactly how I feel
  • replies: 1

Love My Life By Robbie Williams Tether your soul to me I will never let go completely One day your hands will be Strong enough to hold me I might not be there for all your battles But you'll win them eventually I'll pray that I'm giving you all that ... View more

Love My Life By Robbie Williams Tether your soul to me I will never let go completely One day your hands will be Strong enough to hold me I might not be there for all your battles But you'll win them eventually I'll pray that I'm giving you all that matters So one day you'll say to me I love my life I am powerful I am beautiful I am free I love my life I am wonderful I am magical I am me I love my life I am not my mistakes And God knows I've made a few I started to question the angels And the answer they gave was you I cannot promise there won't be sadness I wish I could take it from you But you'll find the courage to face the madness And sing it because it's true I love my life I am powerful I am beautiful I am free I love my life I am wonderful I am magical I am me I love… Find the others With hearts Like yours Run far, run free I'm with you I love my life I am powerful I am beautiful I am free I love my life I am wonderful I am magical I am me I love my life I am powerful I am beautiful I am free I love my life I am wonderful I am magical I am me I love my life And finally I'm where I wanna be

bluegreyblack i mever had this mood swing i dont know what to do
  • replies: 1

my sentences are going to be bit wrong i realised when i try to correct them i end up convincing myself that everything is wrong i had extreme moodswingfor as long as i can remember to the point where i forget anger sadness and so on in a second but ... View more

my sentences are going to be bit wrong i realised when i try to correct them i end up convincing myself that everything is wrong i had extreme moodswingfor as long as i can remember to the point where i forget anger sadness and so on in a second but today i found a recipe i wrote down but havent made and i dont know how but it somehow triggered chain reaction and i cant get over this.. this feeling one sec im empty and useless then i cry my eyeball out im notin danger but is there a way to get over these i tried sweets and comedy but didnt work also in sorry if im posting on weong forum i wasnt sure which one this firs in

Lost_Lass Hello from me the possible and impossible, the here and the not here, the completely incomplete
  • replies: 2

Hi, I hope that within these pages there may be people like me; others who understand the tumultuous confusion of life or the haphazard attempts at living. Do you know who you are? I don't. Do you jump when a stranger stares at you from a mirror? I d... View more

Hi, I hope that within these pages there may be people like me; others who understand the tumultuous confusion of life or the haphazard attempts at living. Do you know who you are? I don't. Do you jump when a stranger stares at you from a mirror? I do. Are you everything and anything and at the same time nothing? Is life a pure charge of emotion, followed by emotion then yet more emotion? A train wreck. A mangled mess of anxiety, depression, identity distortion, hyper vigilance, paranoia, ideations, plans and isolation? Do you hide from the world afraid of your illness unsure where the boundary of person and mental health issue is? Do you fear yourself? Have you learned to trust nothing and no-one including you? Can you see yourself always being alone because you believe you stuff everything up and are incapable of a relationship? Do you push everyone away so as not to be hurt any more or to hurt others? I am BPD and C-PTSD and live in isolation in a rural community. Re-reading this I have done it again - described myself as my disorders as though they are all that I am. I am unsure if there is a road to happiness and a fulfilling life but I am trying to find one.

Sadmum96 Self value
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, this is really hard to explain but I’m going to be trying my best. When i think about myself, i sort of struggle to view myself as a person if that makes sense? It’s like I’ve gone through so much that my brain just shut off the self awarene... View more

Hi guys, this is really hard to explain but I’m going to be trying my best. When i think about myself, i sort of struggle to view myself as a person if that makes sense? It’s like I’ve gone through so much that my brain just shut off the self awareness aspect. I don’t know if I’ve explained that right. It also has an affect on relationships that i try to have. I cannot fathom why anyone would have feelings for me, not just because i have low self worth but because it just doesn’t compute in my head. I struggle to show my family affection although i am getting better at that

ZiggOh Recently came off medication- now depressed?
  • replies: 2

Hi all, About 6 weeks ago, I came off an antidepressant which I was on for anxiety. Now I am 6-weeks into being on no medication, I feel like my anxiety is okay (except for my excessive worrying!) and I feel more depressed I think? Is this normal? Sh... View more

Hi all, About 6 weeks ago, I came off an antidepressant which I was on for anxiety. Now I am 6-weeks into being on no medication, I feel like my anxiety is okay (except for my excessive worrying!) and I feel more depressed I think? Is this normal? Should I maybe wait a few weeks to see if my mood lifts before starting a new anti-depressant? I didnt like my other one because of side effects and I have actually even brought the new one but I am reluctant to start it. I fee like my mood is very low, I am avoiding work, I feel feeling guilty about not going to work, I am worrying about anything, and I feel like I am avoiding all positive ways of coping (never consistent with professional help, always cancel appointments at the last minute, I like yoga but never go for some reason). I am also feeling anti social and the only person I want to see is my boyfriend and no one else. I also hate my job. Sorry I am now rambling but I hope someone can comment on this Zig

Argh  help needed - but not enough to warrant the CATT Team
  • replies: 1

Please help me. I suffer from major depressive disorder. I've been on the maximum dose of my anti depressant for many years now and it's at the point of no longer coming close to helping me. I have a referral to see a psychiatrist but they don't make... View more

Please help me. I suffer from major depressive disorder. I've been on the maximum dose of my anti depressant for many years now and it's at the point of no longer coming close to helping me. I have a referral to see a psychiatrist but they don't make urgent appointments and he is away sick and they can't event give me an ETA on an appointment. I feel this is URGENT. I am NOT coping with my life at all. I don't want to kill myself, but I simply can't go on like this any longer. Is there a way to get the help I need? I believe that because I'm not about to self harm and I'm not technically suicidal the CATT team aren't really the answer...so what's the middle ground?? PLEASE help me

Hopefully_me Lonely single mummy
  • replies: 6

Im a single mother and i am extremely lonely. I try my hardest to be a good parent but I do spend most of my time in bed. I cry all the time and think horrible thoughts and tell myself all the time how pathetic and disgusting I am and that no one wil... View more

Im a single mother and i am extremely lonely. I try my hardest to be a good parent but I do spend most of my time in bed. I cry all the time and think horrible thoughts and tell myself all the time how pathetic and disgusting I am and that no one will ever love me. Ive always had terrible anxiety but my depression is getting worse. My daughter is sick of me crying. I don't want to be here anymore.

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map