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: 0

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

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Vannnnn Supporting my partner with depresion
  • replies: 3

HiWhen I first met my partner everything was perfect the last 6 months he has had depression. I battled mental health myself about 2.5 years ago and some days I still suffer I’m still on medication from it. I still do counselling etc. This was from a... View more

HiWhen I first met my partner everything was perfect the last 6 months he has had depression. I battled mental health myself about 2.5 years ago and some days I still suffer I’m still on medication from it. I still do counselling etc. This was from a bad break up after 7 years and I pulled through. However my recent partner now works fifo as well as I work fifo. We cross over only every 5 weeks. When we are together everything is amazinghowever when he goes to work it is the complete opposite. He doesn’t want to speak to me, a lot of things I say trigger him even though it is just a normal conversation, he just wants to be left alone, he doesn’t want help he only wants to do it himself. He’s lost and when I ask what can I do for you in this moment his response is I don’t know. It makes it difficult for me to navigate when he doesn’t have any answers or want any support or help. Im putting more into the relationship then he is as obviously his mind his else where. He always tells me about he thinks about being on his own because it’s easier as he doesn’t have to worry about anyone else but himself or the pressure a relationship puts onto him. I’m at a cross roads and he knows I am here for him and support him. When he asks for space I respect it and he can go days without speaking even though we already do the 5 weeks apart. I’m at a crossroads. I feel like I’m loosing myself when all I want to do is make it easy for him

Katso Self loathing
  • replies: 7

I try to be happy but always compare myself - my looks my life with others. I have to get dressed virtually in dark- hate the way I look and menopause has only increased this with weight gain- I’m at the stage where I don’t want to go out- feel so lo... View more

I try to be happy but always compare myself - my looks my life with others. I have to get dressed virtually in dark- hate the way I look and menopause has only increased this with weight gain- I’m at the stage where I don’t want to go out- feel so lonely and always feel like everything I say is wrong so I stay at home which makes me kind of better - but then of course more lonely - I don’t want a counsellor to ask me to picture a leaf floating down a stream etc - it won’t help me - does anyone have good success with anything I’ve also found anti depressants not working so well

daryl_85 What’s going on with me
  • replies: 4

So I had a mental breakdown 2 years ago now been in and out of psychologist psychiatrist finding the right medication. Blah blah blah. Last time I wasn’t feeling fine I had community health tell me that I didn’t need anymore medication I just needed ... View more

So I had a mental breakdown 2 years ago now been in and out of psychologist psychiatrist finding the right medication. Blah blah blah. Last time I wasn’t feeling fine I had community health tell me that I didn’t need anymore medication I just needed dbt therapy which I’m on a waiting list. I still know somethings not right with me I’m always spacing out crying. what’s really going on????

Anthony83 Depression and cannabis use
  • replies: 52

Well a little about myself, im 33 years of age, male and live alone. I never really dealt with depression until a few years ago; well i did but nothing on this scale. Most the time before it was a once every now and then occurrence that i could snap ... View more

Well a little about myself, im 33 years of age, male and live alone. I never really dealt with depression until a few years ago; well i did but nothing on this scale. Most the time before it was a once every now and then occurrence that i could snap out of within the day or so. Issues i have now is there is no one left in my life, but thats just the start of it. See i used to smoke marijuana for many years and all was good, the only paranoia i developed was from trying to hide it from family (they are all against it and is the reason i stopped). The constant pressure of feeling like if they find out and would be disbanded from the family payed a toll, well it's happened without it anyway... My depression came on months to a year after quitting my full time marijuana use, i have smoked the odd few times after and it seems to make me feel better yet guilty about what my family thinks so i never continue. I have also been put on and off anti depressants over the past few years (non marijuana use) yet i always get really bad side effects so i work my way back off them. They never seem to help much at all, and make me wonder what they actually put in those medications we're blindly putting in our system. What i don't understand is Marijuana works for me, however it's obviously frowned apon by the public, my family and employers. Employers and family don't mind if i take anti depressents that cause more issues and horrific side effects, yet if i smoked weed the world is going to end. Which also leads to unemployment, fear of judgement and a sense of unworthiness. Im currently unemployed and struggling like never before with no assistance from anyone, im scared to end up homeless. I have bills and everyone asking for money yet never able to even get a job interview (obviously causing major depression). I have also done counseling last time i was on anti depressants, they all tend to say nothing is wrong with me and it's just lack of a job causing this. I only know one thing that works yet it leaves me feeling ashamed (not that it really matters anymore) but yeah. Well as i have no one to talk to anymore and running out of options i have decided to sign up. I still feel very doubtful that this will help but i have nothing to lose i guess.. PS i have also thought of moving to a country that have medicinal cannabis programs that also treat depression. I really don't like anti depressants, they are horrible

Miss_Anonymous Having an off day, can you help?
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, Hope you are feeling better than I am. Today I woke up just feeling really depressed. I slept relatively well but have just been feeling low all day. I haven't managed to get much work done because I'm finding it hard to concentrate on a... View more

Hi everyone, Hope you are feeling better than I am. Today I woke up just feeling really depressed. I slept relatively well but have just been feeling low all day. I haven't managed to get much work done because I'm finding it hard to concentrate on anything besides my low mood. I don't even really know what I feel sad about. There is one thing that springs to mind - I have worked for the last two and a bit years with my lovely manager, M, who is leaving next week. She has been really kind to me - believed in my abilities, gave me opportunities to develop my skills and given me lots of emotional support when I needed it, and is a really all round lovely person and a fantastic role model. I will really miss her when she goes. But I have known she is leaving for about three months, so I have had plenty of time to deal with it, and there's no reason I would be sad about that today compared to another day. Apart from that I am a bit directionless with my career and in life in general. I have been in my job for four years, stayed in part becuase of this manager and in part becuase i don't know where else i would go - this job was my dream job when i got it and i'm just not sure what else i want to do. Even though my manager thinks I can be a supervisor (which would be a promotion) I'm not so sure I can do it well or want to do it. It would involve taking on more responsiblity/stress which i don't want to do. It would involve emotional intelligence which i've tried hard to learn, but found difficult. Do you find emotional intelligence can be learned? People say it can, but my experience is that i have not made much progress, and i feel despondent about that. I am quite tired after the pandemic and several years of working hard at my job, I think I just want an easy life for a while. I had a good Christmas and when I came back to work on 3 Jan I felt refreshed, interested and enthusiastic about life and my job. But for a period of 3-4 months late last year I was really struggling - feeling apathetic, disinterested in everyone and everything and unmotivated. I had lots of leave but nothing seemed to shift my mood. I thought i was having a mid life crisis or was depressed. Then over Christmas I felt better. I got back in to reading, socialised with family and friends and took time away from the city where I work and got out of the work headspace for a while. Now it feels like the blues are back, and I'm a bit worried. I know I can't rely on M to support me as she is acting in a senior role and will be very busy. I don't really have anyone else I can turn to. What are your tips for feelling better when you've got the blues? What should I do? Thank you for reading my post, I look forward to your replies. Thank you!

Larra Struggling
  • replies: 1

Anyone else really just struggling?? feeling misunderstood? Constantly being asked what’s wrong when clearly I’m dealing with depression and being so sick and tired of constantly saying, “it’s a part of my condition”. I feel like something tragic has... View more

Anyone else really just struggling?? feeling misunderstood? Constantly being asked what’s wrong when clearly I’m dealing with depression and being so sick and tired of constantly saying, “it’s a part of my condition”. I feel like something tragic has to happen just to be understood. I’m so lost. So depressed. And at the same time, trying to get on my life, like no one just gets it.

Albert_247 So upsetting...
  • replies: 106

My life has been pretty rough, I mean I was bullied all during high school from 13 to 18, I didn't like my father's difference entirely, my diagnosis mis conception happened at 19 and I've been kept on meds for the last 9 years. I'm beneath this imag... View more

My life has been pretty rough, I mean I was bullied all during high school from 13 to 18, I didn't like my father's difference entirely, my diagnosis mis conception happened at 19 and I've been kept on meds for the last 9 years. I'm beneath this image of having a disability when I don't agree with my diagnosis, It's too unique and unbelievable to explain to anyone so I'm treated as indenyl or lacking insight. The health issues were 22 & 25, Then I had no driving independence till 26 because I didn't have any parents to learn with, plus hated all my driving teachers. I only could drive through having Centrelink, I never could advance my life without having any sense for which suitable jobs I would want to work, I never had vacancies with so much immigration and competition with society and with fresh high school kids wanting jobs too. I never wanted to be a apprentice or go to University, even with a interest in Nutrition I'm just not the study personality. I only had help to write the resume & cover letters after going through useless job recruiters but they are not much guarantee to get anyone payed employment. I never had a new group of mateship after leaving high school and I've had no experience with girls as friends or even socially or on a intimate level. I'm complete incel unfortunately with me, but I wouldn't feel like un able to speak to them, unless their really attractive. I had a dream to become a hobbyist musician, though I just had all that with high school, my dad and my mental health drama to deal with, while not having women, work, and a regular life it all ruined my confidence to do it since 14. Don't feel like my parents are on that journey or understanding to chase dreams, they played life more passive and safe and their a whole different personality to me. Now I feel like I'm failing at life or like a ugly man child and everything always felt out of my control, or that thing's couldn't be better given the circumstance.

struggling_infj I feel like I don’t matter.
  • replies: 5

I have not been feeling great lately. I have always struggled with thoughts of never being good enough. But it’s been very rough lately and I’m struggling to get through it and I don’t have anyone who truly understands where I am coming from. soon my... View more

I have not been feeling great lately. I have always struggled with thoughts of never being good enough. But it’s been very rough lately and I’m struggling to get through it and I don’t have anyone who truly understands where I am coming from. soon my sister will be having a baby. Which is great and I’m exited to meet them and play with them. But as you can imagine that’s all we talk about. And nothing else is really talked about with the family around. But I also want to share my own news and what I have been up to like getting a new job. But I feel so uncomfortable bringing up my news even though I want to share it and just feel so unimportant that I don’t even bother. I feel like that if they really were interested in me and what I was up to, then they would ask. But they barely ever do. I always listen in silence about every little aspect of what’s happening with them but they never ask me how I’m actually going. And this is most of my family. My dad and sister and her husband. I barely feel welcome in my own home. but lately it’s been extra hard cause I have lots of issues with my dad but he just dictates what will happen and that I will be completely kicked out of my room so the baby has a room without even asking me if that ok. Or taking up space in my cupboards for his stuff that he can’t fit in his cupboards cause they are filled with rubbish and he is too lazy to clear them out. And never listens to me and makes me feel like I don’t exist even more now with the baby coming along. Like I don’t even matter. Even if I was there or not. No one would notice. My mum is great but mostly when I am just with her. If others are around they basically become the focus. So I just sit there silently. And I definitely don’t want to be the centre of attention or anything. Or have lots to say. But it would be nice to be asked how I really am. And have the same interest given to me as I do with everyone else. Or just wanting to spend time with me but most other people want to just waste time watching tv or when I do talk, I’m told I don’t shut up when that the reason I visit is to talk and catch up. I feel very alone in my feelings and whenever I tell people they just say that it sucks and that’s about it. No one is able to help me to feel better. I just sit with the feeling by myself. Some of that feeling is from my dad just being unwilling to listen and be considerate and the other half is developed trust issues from previous experience of people just being focused on their own things and not know what to do with me. And I know it’s not their job to fix me. I just need some one to listen.

Lost my identity No motivation
  • replies: 1

I moved from New South Wales to ACT 7 months ago. Started a new job to be closer to family. Now I find myself an absolutely no motivation. I work sleep and sit on the lounge. I don't know how to get my motivation back

I moved from New South Wales to ACT 7 months ago. Started a new job to be closer to family. Now I find myself an absolutely no motivation. I work sleep and sit on the lounge. I don't know how to get my motivation back

Angelic_raiin Feeling sad and worthless
  • replies: 7

Hey all! First time posting and a little nervous. Lately life has been tough mentally for me. I just know that I can't do anything right all the time. I'm definitely very lucky and feel like I shouldn't feel like this but I probably cry every time I'... View more

Hey all! First time posting and a little nervous. Lately life has been tough mentally for me. I just know that I can't do anything right all the time. I'm definitely very lucky and feel like I shouldn't feel like this but I probably cry every time I'm alone because I hate being seen as weak and having people talk to me about feelings. I feel like a burden and unlikeable. I just look at people who are happy and wish I could be happy like them but deep down I really can't remember the last time I was truly happy. I have hobbies that make me happy but then I have to come back to the real world and face my life. Thanks to anyone that read this, its probably not as important as other people here but I needed somewhere to get my feelings without feeling scared of judgement.