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

TeaPlease Always feeling alone
  • replies: 2

Despite knowing the good intentions those around me have, I always feel alone and empty at the end of the day. Sometimes I feel jealous and spiteful of those who are loved and love others. It doesn't feel like I have that ability, that right. People ... View more

Despite knowing the good intentions those around me have, I always feel alone and empty at the end of the day. Sometimes I feel jealous and spiteful of those who are loved and love others. It doesn't feel like I have that ability, that right. People stray away from me all the time, I lose people and I gain them. But I'm never happy with anything I have and I don't know what to do by this point. My sadness goes beyond words and I've felt this way for as long as I can remember. What should I do?

Roverone Why does the depression change you so much?
  • replies: 3

Hi. This is my first post. My situation is that my wife of 33 years has told me she thinks that she wants to seperate and, although she loves and cares for me she feels no affection.I still adore her. I have had a breakdown and am on medication and i... View more

Hi. This is my first post. My situation is that my wife of 33 years has told me she thinks that she wants to seperate and, although she loves and cares for me she feels no affection.I still adore her. I have had a breakdown and am on medication and it only works half time. I have an appointment with a psychologist but not for another 2 weeks, but have been using all the material that I can get hold of. Yesterday I had a number of black out moments that my wife thought was sleep walking. I was talking to myself and gave her a massage in the middle of the night, none of which I remember. I did take a sedative as well and have had bad experiences with it in tbe past. Last night I read an email to a male friend that I have jealousy issues over and felt there was something going on. There wasn't. I immediately regretted what I did and told her about it. She has not reacted with anger but we havn't spoken any more about it. It has been 3 weeks since my breakdown and I have put a lot of things in place that I think will help but it just seems like I take 1 step forward and start to feel better and next thing I am back to where I started from, in tears and shaking etc. I have not been physically violent with her but I tend to not talk for weeks in the past. I hope to become a better person with treatment and address all of my past but I have never felt like this before. Any advice from people as to what I can do that has helped you out I would really appreciate. Thank you all in advance

Parabola I just need to vent
  • replies: 2

Hi all, This is my first post so I'm not sure if I am posting this in the right place, please let me know if I need to remove it. I woke up this morning and this is what I was feeling. I might be feeling down because this is the first Christmas that ... View more

Hi all, This is my first post so I'm not sure if I am posting this in the right place, please let me know if I need to remove it. I woke up this morning and this is what I was feeling. I might be feeling down because this is the first Christmas that I have spent without family. But these thoughts have been lingering in my mind for a lot of my life. Can anyone please point me in the right direction to help reconcile my thoughts. I think I might need help. Merry Christmas.

bluebertone If I can't work due to depression, can I get Centrelink help?
  • replies: 1

I have finally found a Doctor who has diagnosed me with major depression and anxiety and prescribed medication. My question is if I cant work or function to my work duties can I get finance help from a government funded department i.e Centrelink bene... View more

I have finally found a Doctor who has diagnosed me with major depression and anxiety and prescribed medication. My question is if I cant work or function to my work duties can I get finance help from a government funded department i.e Centrelink benefit and how much do I get and how do I apply and what is the process?

Jen65 Dont know what to do ?????
  • replies: 9

Hi, Ive decided on joining here for some help, advice as Im at a loss. I cant cope with day to day life I feel like I just exist. I cant handle any sort of pressure nor the question how are you today I just dont want to answer. Ive been to the doctor... View more

Hi, Ive decided on joining here for some help, advice as Im at a loss. I cant cope with day to day life I feel like I just exist. I cant handle any sort of pressure nor the question how are you today I just dont want to answer. Ive been to the doctor which took a lot of courage, after explaining the sleepless nights, the worrying, feeling like a failure, and all I got was a list fo questions to answer, told i have depression and told to take St. John Worts tablets which in turn gave me a reaction whereby my face swelled up and now its taken 5 days to recover from that. All I want to do is cry I don't know what to do, i don't want to see a therapist but I do want help. Im so jealous to see people happy I want to be like that and no matter how I try I just cant nothing makes me happy I want to go and see another doctor but the I dont want to go through those questions they ask again and again it makes me feel worse and stupid. I cant believe im even here typing this feel stupid doing this too but what do you do.

bencal Life expectancy
  • replies: 3

I have read that our life expectancy is shortened for Bipolar and Depression, an average of 12 years according to some studies. Has anyone been involved with any research into this. Would apprecite feed back...

I have read that our life expectancy is shortened for Bipolar and Depression, an average of 12 years according to some studies. Has anyone been involved with any research into this. Would apprecite feed back...

9pmto3am Im at a crossroad
  • replies: 11

ive never reached out for help in my life and as far as most people know im fine, but i havent been fine in years. i dont know how to explain my constant sadness. the amount of times ive rewrote this is incredible. i want to give up on writing this b... View more

ive never reached out for help in my life and as far as most people know im fine, but i havent been fine in years. i dont know how to explain my constant sadness. the amount of times ive rewrote this is incredible. i want to give up on writing this but im really pushing myself to make a change and this is just my attempt to just say im really not doing well, im feeling very emotional right now and it feels really great to be able to say that im not okay and to get this out of my head even if its just some silly forum. thank you

Cleodams In a box
  • replies: 1

I don't know where else to turn. I'm stuck. I thought I was in love, but now I'm not sure. I left everything behind to be with him, friends, family. Now the passions gone and now I'm just scared. I'm 18, I work in fast food, I just left my dads, just... View more

I don't know where else to turn. I'm stuck. I thought I was in love, but now I'm not sure. I left everything behind to be with him, friends, family. Now the passions gone and now I'm just scared. I'm 18, I work in fast food, I just left my dads, just graduated. I don't know what I'm doing. I shouldn't have left home. I resent him for asking me to live with him. Everything he says makes me so angry now. But then my coldness gets too much, he cries and I feel like I'm in love again. What is wrong with me? I swear I love him it's just not constant. This doesn't feel right. It's not fair to him. I want to be better to him. But I get so angry. I hate myself for it, and he hates himself for it too. The medication isn't helping I still feel wrong. Please tell me what to do. I need him. I don't want to keep hurting him. I'm sorry.

Hanemcass No meds decision for bi polar. Anyone else going down this path?
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone. First post and looking for a forum I can get some idea on how people are coping with choosing not to take mood stabilising meds. I have Bipolar 2 and decided I don't want to take meds. Quick history - After twenty years on an antidepress... View more

Hi everyone. First post and looking for a forum I can get some idea on how people are coping with choosing not to take mood stabilising meds. I have Bipolar 2 and decided I don't want to take meds. Quick history - After twenty years on an antidepressant for OCD I decided to come off them and see how I would cope. Three months into no meds, numerous moods swings of hypermania and depression I have been diagnosed as BP2. It's been an exhausting period getting use to these changes but I want to try to do this with out meds. I have a wonderful husband who supports me and a close friend I can be totally truthful with. Their support comes with no judgement and is a safe place for me to swing about through theses moods like a monkey on a branch. I am seeing a psychologist fortnightly, refuse to go back to the psychiatrist who treated me like an idiot and a GP who is supportive of my decision to go med free, although I don't go to see her that often. I write A LOT and my journal is my mood diary. Scary at times to read over how the shifts effect me but my mantra these days is "it is what it is". I try to visualise middle ground when I feel my moods lifting too high or plunging too low. So far the swings are manageable but not without my team. I am ultra aware not to fatigue them but not being in control of the changes scares me it could happen.

digit_ Work depression?
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone. I'm really struggling with work depression. When I'm unemployed I'm so depressed and want a job so bad! Now I have a job, and before going I am so depressed, unmotivated and nearly just stay home and risk losing to job. Like it's really... View more

Hey everyone. I'm really struggling with work depression. When I'm unemployed I'm so depressed and want a job so bad! Now I have a job, and before going I am so depressed, unmotivated and nearly just stay home and risk losing to job. Like it's really bad and I end up going and after the first hour I start feeling a little better but what I'm struggling with is The before part. Everyone else in the world works for a living and I feel so pathetic feeling this way. My last job I felt the same and I left without notice and never went back because that's how bad it was. Everyone is really nice and welcoming at work, there is nothing wrong at work that makes me not want to go, can anyone shed some light on why I'm feeling this way and tips to improve this feeling? Thanks xx