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

All discussions

Rhiannon20 I can’t find tears anymore to cry
  • replies: 4

Before any of this I was really battling with my depression and anxiety and am gonna be starting up therapy soon but on the 9/10/17 I got the worst news of my life from my Dad that my Pop had been in a accident in Thailand the day before and was hit ... View more

Before any of this I was really battling with my depression and anxiety and am gonna be starting up therapy soon but on the 9/10/17 I got the worst news of my life from my Dad that my Pop had been in a accident in Thailand the day before and was hit by a car riding his bicycle..... he fought for 11 whole days and for those whole 11 days there was so so so so many tears shedded but then when I found out he couldn’t hold on any longer and passed away I was in shock, I couldn’t cry. I was actually out watching my friend sing when I had found out and she was just finishing up, I had ran off to the bathrooms just shaking so much she said she had never seen someone shake so much before but even then I couldn’t cry because I kept getting all these drunk people coming up to me at the same time to check if I was okay. I was glad I want alone and had my friend with me that day to comfort me. But the thing is I want to cry, I can feel every little bit of emotion going through me like I normally would when someone passes away but I just can’t find the tears anymore And now too busy worrying about my Aunty that is stuck over there still and can’t leave till all his medical bills are payed and if they aren’t payed they won’t let us get him cremated I have so many different emotions going through me right now. Is it normal to not cry when someone passes away? I want to cry tho I need to cry that’s the thing

smidgen I want to give up
  • replies: 22

I'm new here. Female, early 50's. I feel like a prisoner, hopeless. I don't want to try. It's too complicated. It's too hard. So tired. Don't know why I writing this. Maybe wondering if anyone has felt like me and escaped this prison. View more

I'm new here. Female, early 50's. I feel like a prisoner, hopeless. I don't want to try. It's too complicated. It's too hard. So tired. Don't know why I writing this. Maybe wondering if anyone has felt like me and escaped this prison.

sparkvark Can't be bothered
  • replies: 13

I lack drive and motivation. I don't know how to TRY anymore. Heating up leftovers feels like too much effort. Washing the dishes even once a week when I run out of clean ones feels like too much effort. Dragging myself through the work week ahead fe... View more

I lack drive and motivation. I don't know how to TRY anymore. Heating up leftovers feels like too much effort. Washing the dishes even once a week when I run out of clean ones feels like too much effort. Dragging myself through the work week ahead feels like far too much effort. I want a break from everything. Does it actually get better or do we just distract ourselves from the constant drag? I don't want to deal with starting the expensive (no one actually charges the medicare rate... more like $80+ on top of it) GP->test->psych appointment train again only to wind up with "keep on keeping on" and 'strategies' that anyone with an internet connection could find.

EON I need help
  • replies: 6

So I'm 18 and Ive just started uni this year and for the past 3 months Ive been feeling down all the time, I recently lost a friend during the first part of this year who was a neighbor who was in his 80s who I would help with chores and he would tea... View more

So I'm 18 and Ive just started uni this year and for the past 3 months Ive been feeling down all the time, I recently lost a friend during the first part of this year who was a neighbor who was in his 80s who I would help with chores and he would teach me about radio's (because he was a ham radio operator). I didn't realized how much it would effect me because I think this has piled on with the stress of uni. Recently Ive just been feeling get these waves of feeling really depressed and think about how I dont have anyone to really talk to and that no one really understands me. Normally it happens on the weekend and I would be able to push it aside by he week when I need to interact with my friends, but recently it crept over to the week and I think they are noticing because they told me I looked a bit off. I dont want to talk to my parents or friends about this because I feel they would treat me like I'm crazy. I just need someone to talk to to help me figure this out.

Lilybett Depression and Anxiety plus being unemployed
  • replies: 6

I'm nearly 20 and havent had a job since I was 17 due to my mental health. I have depression plus social anxiety and agoraphobia and haven't been able to go for a job as I am always so terrified but when I don't go for jobs I feel depressed because I... View more

I'm nearly 20 and havent had a job since I was 17 due to my mental health. I have depression plus social anxiety and agoraphobia and haven't been able to go for a job as I am always so terrified but when I don't go for jobs I feel depressed because I feel like a failure at life. I'm attending part time studying at the university and that is going well but I'm also on Centrelink for my mental health but they don't classify mental health as a long term condition and therefore I have to apply for jobs. I hate being put under pressure and feel nauseous whenever I have to deal with Centrelink now as I'm so scared they will tell me I just need to get over it. I already had a meeting with a nurse at the Centrelink who told me that she can cancel my doctors notes that say I can not work for the next 3 months if it continues to happen. It's not that I don't want to work/volunteer its just that some days I'm not reliable to come into work as my depression doesn't let me get out of bed but then other days my anxiety doesn't let me even catch a bus in fear of something happening that I cant control or help. Please somebody help me make sense of all this because I'm feeling like a failure and pathetic.

Speeder Help
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I have been dating my girlfriend for 4 months now and just recently she has been diagnosed with depression. She has not entirely blocked me out of her life but has said she has no feelings for me or anyone atm. Being young and in love it hu... View more

Hi there, I have been dating my girlfriend for 4 months now and just recently she has been diagnosed with depression. She has not entirely blocked me out of her life but has said she has no feelings for me or anyone atm. Being young and in love it hurt to hear her say that and I don’t plan on leaving her ever. I try message her and it’s always a negative response like we’re no longer together but as her psychologist says it’s just her brain doing this. I have only ever been with her in person 1 time in the 4 months we’ve been dating which makes it so much more tough. She is on medication and does see a psychologist and now it’s gotten to the stage where she needs more help. I speak to her mum almost every night to ask how she is and she seems fine but when I’m talking through her mum. Her whole family knows we are still together and the depression is doing this to her but now I’m hurting just as much.

Rosalieemily Depression and my job?
  • replies: 5

Hi all, this is my first time here so I'm sorry of this is in the wrong place. ive had depression, anxiety and anorexia nervosa for about 10 years now with periods where it was under control and some where it was not. i just started a new childcare t... View more

Hi all, this is my first time here so I'm sorry of this is in the wrong place. ive had depression, anxiety and anorexia nervosa for about 10 years now with periods where it was under control and some where it was not. i just started a new childcare traineeship, I'm about 2 months in but I've already missed a lot of days due to "episodes". It's not the job cause if the issues, I love my job but it's getting to the point where I can't even cope with day to day living. I'm constantly in tears and in a panic. ive had a doctors certificate every time, but I had a meeting with my manager yesterday saying that head office wasn't happy with me and that I can't take anymore days off. i have a 3 monthly evaluation coming up in which I know there is a chance I'll get sacked. my boss is also been supportive and trying to communicate with head office what is going on, so if I leave I'll feel absolutely terrible about that. my question is, do I resign before they sack me and try and get better before I look for another job? advice will be much appreciated. thanks

whiteiphone123 How to deal with the extreme tiredness that comes with depression
  • replies: 4

hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has some tips as to how to deal with being tired all the time but not being able to sleep while living with depression. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has some tips as to how to deal with being tired all the time but not being able to sleep while living with depression. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Unbeliever Unbeliever's Undefined Depression Thread
  • replies: 20

Ok, so my first thread hit a hiccup. People were asking me questions, and I was trying to answer them, but by answering them I had to discuss things that were "outside" of the main thread topic and it was causing problems. I'm not the kind of person ... View more

Ok, so my first thread hit a hiccup. People were asking me questions, and I was trying to answer them, but by answering them I had to discuss things that were "outside" of the main thread topic and it was causing problems. I'm not the kind of person that likes to ignore people engaging with me, and continue on as if they were not there. But I was unable to think of a way around it (which for me is a novel experience... albiet a slightly frustrating one). Hence as you can see by the title I have created a thread that is undefined and therefore not bound or restricted in any way for people to discuss anything and everything their little hearts desire and enables me to respond without having to worry about derailing the topic. * Note that of course standard BB forum rules still apply... no swearing, insulting other contributers etc etc I added the word "depression" as the discussion should still basically revolve around the subject of depression/sadness/negative feelings and experiences etc. However, thoughts, perspectives, alternative POV's, theories, abstract ideas etc on depression are not only welcome... but EXTREMELY encouraged. And because I put my name on there, I think that should allow people to ask me whatever personal questions and I should be able to respond. So I'll do my best to answer any question directed at me. It is a bit of an experiment... let's see how it goes.

KevFromSydney Changing meds for BP disorder
  • replies: 2

This is my first post here. I was diagnosed with BP Type II at the age of 16 ( I’m aged 44 now ). I’ve been taking medication for most of that time ( only going off it a couple of times ). It’s been great for me except that it’s been damaging my kidn... View more

This is my first post here. I was diagnosed with BP Type II at the age of 16 ( I’m aged 44 now ). I’ve been taking medication for most of that time ( only going off it a couple of times ). It’s been great for me except that it’s been damaging my kidneys. My PD recently took me off it as my levels had become toxic ( 1.7 ). He’s put me on an alternative nstead. I’ve found that it’s great for sleeping ( now getting 9-10 hrs sleep per night ) but it makes me feel very dissociative and in a dream-like status the next day which I really hate. Was wondering if anyone else experienced similar reactions to medication and if they were able to do anything about it to help? Thanks!