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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BeyondBlue Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started
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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?
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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
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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

Kewkie I need help
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Hi all. I guess i came on here to find help with my life. I just turned 36 a few days ago, and i feel like my life is falling apart. This new year has not gone well so far and its only feburary. I was recently rushed to hospital with a mystery illnes... View more

Hi all. I guess i came on here to find help with my life. I just turned 36 a few days ago, and i feel like my life is falling apart. This new year has not gone well so far and its only feburary. I was recently rushed to hospital with a mystery illness. It took 3 days to figure out what it was. Thankfully nothing serious. But the whole experience made me realise what a loner i actually am. I received many messages on fb of support. But not 1 visitor. When i was realsed i sat in my house alone for a week. I've always been very independant, which i do love but this experience has really reinforced what a looser i am. I'v done nothing in my life that I'mproud of. A high school drop out. Retail working looser. I hate discussing my feelings with strangers but I'm at the point of breaking. It's affecting my work life and my home life. I'm more withdrawn than I've ever been. I'm really good at hiding it but its getting harder and harder. I feel stuck. Theres nothing that anyone can do that will make my life magically better. Magic doesn't exist. Be real. My life sucks and i don't know what to do. I'm not diagnosed with anything. I won't even discuss this with my dr even though I've been struggling with depression for many years on and off.

SadDavo1337 Everything now seems so bleak
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This is going to sound silly but I have major health anxiety and am currently suffering a bad episode after having a CT scan last week and seeing the radiation/cancer risk associated that I’m terrified as in the space of a week I’ve gone from having ... View more

This is going to sound silly but I have major health anxiety and am currently suffering a bad episode after having a CT scan last week and seeing the radiation/cancer risk associated that I’m terrified as in the space of a week I’ve gone from having big dreams and wanting to do so much to just an empty shell. I don’t look forward to anything now because in my head it’s all pointless and I just look up videos about death and reality. What happens next, how to allay ones fears. What can I do about this? Does anyone else here feel this way?

Hooe Had enough
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My boyfriend has made me delete all social media stopped me from talking too my friends, he will no longer go too my mums or have anything too do with my children the other day i sat there for 7 hours while he drank with his friend and i had too wait... View more

My boyfriend has made me delete all social media stopped me from talking too my friends, he will no longer go too my mums or have anything too do with my children the other day i sat there for 7 hours while he drank with his friend and i had too wait for him, this wasn't the first. Hes currently all angry at me because i dont want too go out because i have tonsillitis he drinks daily i just feel like this guy is bringing me down and making my mental health worse

floz I think I'm a good nurse but nothing makes me happy anymore
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Hi, I'm new here and I don't even really know what I'm doing here. I think the title says most of what I'm thinking, I'm a 24y.o nurse and I'm pretty sure nursing is my calling but my personal struggles with depression are starting to effect my work ... View more

Hi, I'm new here and I don't even really know what I'm doing here. I think the title says most of what I'm thinking, I'm a 24y.o nurse and I'm pretty sure nursing is my calling but my personal struggles with depression are starting to effect my work as well as my personal life. I'm pretty sure it's only recently hit me that there is something wrong and I still don't really get it. I feel like I'm supposed to be immune to feeling these thoughts inside because of what I do. I can't keep blaming my unhappiness and negative thoughts on the shift work making me tired, my boss being condescending or the fact that I can't get out of the house except to go to work and reward myself with sugar for just finishing a shift - I don't have any weight problems but I know sugar isn't what my body needs and I end up feeling guilty for doing the one thing that makes me happy for a minute because I should be preaching health. I feel ridiculously lonely all of the time. I reward myself with the justification of staying in the house all day I didn't realise until now how socially isolated I am. I tell myself to get out of the house but there's often no friends I can think of asking to be with. I have one close friend but we don't talk about this stuff. The rest are aquaintences and I feel like I just annoy people anyway. I guess I want to know if there's anyone else in the medical profession feeling this. I feel like I should be better than this but sometimes it feels so deep that I wouln't know where to start even trying to make anything better.

Kassy Lost
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In 2016 i got depression really bad and i begun staying in my house a lot. Id forever be in my pyjamas in bed or in the house cleaning. i didnt care about myself. After a while i didnt speak to anyone. My friends became distant and i felt all alone. ... View more

In 2016 i got depression really bad and i begun staying in my house a lot. Id forever be in my pyjamas in bed or in the house cleaning. i didnt care about myself. After a while i didnt speak to anyone. My friends became distant and i felt all alone. I tried councelling but its almost impossible for me to speak about my emotions or my traumatic childhood. Its something ive been trying to forget my whole life. I have bad anxiety and all I find myself doing is shaking and crying. So i stopped going. The only thing that makes me want to keep trying is my partner and my dog. My partner hates the way I've become. I know he thinks im lazy and useless because he has said it a few times on my bad days. He says he doesnt mean it but i can just feel it. I dont know how these words make me sink so low. It feels like for every positive step i take there are two negative. Im just sinking deeper and deeper and cant even save myself anymore. Where should I go from here?

Bluebird987 First major relapse
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Since coming back from a getaway with friends, I have been slowly progressing towards a relapse. I've been feeling numb and empty in the meantime and today it all came up. I've been able to go on with my life, but today it was difficult enough to mak... View more

Since coming back from a getaway with friends, I have been slowly progressing towards a relapse. I've been feeling numb and empty in the meantime and today it all came up. I've been able to go on with my life, but today it was difficult enough to make it out of bed. I've suffered with maj. depression for a while now and I've been seeing someone about it. I have a appointment tomorrow, but I still feel so guilty about this relapse. It's the first time it has happened to me. I knew that eventually this would happen but even expecting it didn't make me as prepared as I would have liked to be. I just need for some guidance and advice here. Anything really. About how to go forward following this relapse and what to expect for the short and long term future.

Kitten0 Here goes nothing
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I am 25, moved out of home 6 years ago, in a relationship for 5 years, been in my same job for 6 years, lived in the same place for 9 years. My emotions always seem to go the same way every morning. Wake up sad, go to work sad, have breakfast, happy ... View more

I am 25, moved out of home 6 years ago, in a relationship for 5 years, been in my same job for 6 years, lived in the same place for 9 years. My emotions always seem to go the same way every morning. Wake up sad, go to work sad, have breakfast, happy for 10 minutes, stressed throughout the day and angry as soon as I get home, and that is even if I get home on time. My sibling has 3 kids, I have none of my own. I try to help her as much as I can but feel like I can never say no to them. I said no once and my sibling didn't talk to me for a day before trying to convince me to leave my partner at home to come and see them. I feel for my partner. I feel for my mum, always at work and when she comes home, she has no time to spend with anyone as she is FIFO and misses a lot. I can't make any friends as I consider myself to be "weird" or "awkward". I say things, instantly regret them. I do things, instantly wish I was at home in my room. I can't help but want something to happen to me, you know, like a car crash, illness, have a child (my partner isn't ready yet), move country, something HUGE! something to make me feel something other than sadness all the time. Then I reconsider and tell myself that's crazy and I shouldn't think like that. But the thoughts creep back in. I am stuck. I am lost and I don't know how to move forward. Talking helps, but not every time, I just want to cry, and for no reason. Thanks for listening.

Lindz81 I constantly feel worthless and I don't know what to do.
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Hi I am not sure exactly why I am writing this. Or if it is just going to be more screaming into the void. But it never seems to get better. Meidcation or therapy don't seem to make any difference whether I am using them or not. Maybe it's knowing th... View more

Hi I am not sure exactly why I am writing this. Or if it is just going to be more screaming into the void. But it never seems to get better. Meidcation or therapy don't seem to make any difference whether I am using them or not. Maybe it's knowing that no matter what I do I am always going to be the same person, and that person is never going to be good enough no matter what. I am always going to be dumber, uglier or slower than everyone else. Which is why I'm going to be stuck in retail till I'm 90. I don't know how to accept myself because there is nothing I can accept. I have never been able to do anything on my own without help, whether I've asked for it or not. I have always needed extra tutoring, more time than every one else to understand, more likely to make a mistake, over and over again. Every time I try and do something different, I hit the same wall, just to be told I am too stupid or tha my ambitions exceed my abilities. I am more of a burdan than anything else. I just feel completely worhtless all the time.

IllGoToTexas Do only rich people get quality treatment?
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I’ve become unemployed, part of the reason my depression worsened, and can no longer afford my psychiatrist, who charges over $150 for 30 minutes. My medication is no longer allowing me to cope so now Im unable to find a new med. He also said I need ... View more

I’ve become unemployed, part of the reason my depression worsened, and can no longer afford my psychiatrist, who charges over $150 for 30 minutes. My medication is no longer allowing me to cope so now Im unable to find a new med. He also said I need inpatient treatment which requires an upgrade to my private health insurance or I’ll be out of pocket around $3500. is psychiatric treatment for the rich in Australia?

Spl spl Suddenly feeling these huge emotions
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Heya, I've posted on this site before but the topic had nothing to do with what I'm about to talk about here, so I decided to start a new thread. Most of the time I'm a pretty apathetic person. I find it hard to empathize with what others are feeling... View more

Heya, I've posted on this site before but the topic had nothing to do with what I'm about to talk about here, so I decided to start a new thread. Most of the time I'm a pretty apathetic person. I find it hard to empathize with what others are feeling on anything below the surface level. With my own emotions even, it was like they were far less dramatic than what other people around me were feeling. Obviously, it's because of depression. When I'm depressed, it's less me crying all the time and more like an extreme haze of apathy. But these past two weeks things have changed and I'm just wondering what's going on. So yeah it started with me telling my suicidal sister to kill herself. Which was damn weird because I said it out of nowhere and something I regret for sure. It was like I reached peak apathy and graduated into a grade-a assholeness. I was just saying things left and right with way less of a filter because empathy was just not there at all. That was around two weeks ago. Don't worry, I apologized and she said it's okay but that was just a really weird situation because normally we have a great relationship and I felt Nothing for that entire week. And then this week, I suddenly start crying and stuff! For the first time in months. What the heck. It was like a 180 and now I'm just in a state of perpetual panic because of all these ~emotions~ and I cried so many times yesterday and today. All of my emotions have been magnified it's so weird. Like if I'm scrolling on twitter and see something funny I actually smile! What! But it has its demerits as well since I was feeling extremely anxious today and then a freaking job offer called me on the phone and I denied like an idiot because I was panicking and could barely formulate thought. Its been a strange February so far. Does anyone here relate or have an idea of what I'm talking about? If not thanks for listening anyway. TL;DR Help my apathetic self is suddenly feeling emotions and its super freaky