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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

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Guest_52029089 My Experience with Postpartum Depression
  • replies: 2

After the birth of my baby, I have been struggling with postpartum depression. I often feel very low, exhausted, and alone, and I have ongoing anxiety and mood changes. Even with support around me, I feel misunderstood and emotionally overwhelmed.

After the birth of my baby, I have been struggling with postpartum depression. I often feel very low, exhausted, and alone, and I have ongoing anxiety and mood changes. Even with support around me, I feel misunderstood and emotionally overwhelmed.

Earth Girl I have almost no genuine empathy
  • replies: 4

Note: Some people may find the horrible things I did very upsetting. People will be very disappointed. I didn't want to talk about this because my intentions were so bad. It may sound like I'm being hard on myself, but you'll see what I mean soon. A ... View more

Note: Some people may find the horrible things I did very upsetting. People will be very disappointed. I didn't want to talk about this because my intentions were so bad. It may sound like I'm being hard on myself, but you'll see what I mean soon. A girl I was friends with was always really kind to me and I barely even did anything for her. I probably don't even realize how much she supported me. I thought she and her guy friend were both very nice people, but I felt like I wanted to be acquaintances with them more than close friends because I wasn't really myself around them/couldn't talk to them like I was being myself (not because they did anything wrong), but I thought that if I told them this, it would hurt their feelings. I deleted them on Facebook. They asked me why. I told the girl that I just didn't feel a connection and she got really upset with me (she was hurt) and at the time I didn't understand why she reacted the way she did. The guy asked me in a separate message while saying things like "Um okay" which I thought at the time was talking down to me (this happened on Facebook) why I didn't feel a connection with her. Since I was mad at them for how I thought, they were talking to me, I said that the girl kind of bullied another girl in college (it wasn't anything major what she did. I was so much meaner myself) which is bad enough, but my intentions behind it made it truly f'ed up. *This is the part where I was being super horrible so just be prepared because it will be hard to read* I don't even want to say this but in the moment, I wanted for him and other people who knew her to be really disappointed in her (including people at her work) meaning that she would have lost her job and those are just the things that I remember. Even if he was meaning to be condescending, how does that make it okay for me to do that? Obviously since what she did was so minor, it wouldn't have caused these things to happen, but let's say if it somehow did, after she was always kind to me and never wronged me? I apologized to them, but they are still understandably really hurt. I know there's no way I could make this right because it was horrible, but is there anything I can do that would make her feel better at all? I want to apologize again because my first apology wasn't good enough. Could I ask her if I could help her with something? I don't know if it would be right to do that though? I can't believe how bad I was. I don't know how I could have done that.

Guest_10343 What is one small thing you managed to do today?
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone,I know that when the fog of depression rolls in, just existing can feel like running a marathon. We often beat ourselves up for not achieving "big" things, so I wanted to start a space where we can celebrate the very small things. What is... View more

Hi everyone,I know that when the fog of depression rolls in, just existing can feel like running a marathon. We often beat ourselves up for not achieving "big" things, so I wanted to start a space where we can celebrate the very small things. What is one tiny thing you managed to do today?It doesn't have to be big. It doesn't have to be productive. Maybe you brushed your teeth.Maybe you sat outside in the sun for 5 minutes.Maybe you just drank a glass of water.Maybe you simply got out of bed, even if you got back in later.

Guest_31217213 Depression: A long time coming
  • replies: 2

Hello. I am a new member of the Beyond Blue forum, so apologies for any mistakes made in this post.For about the last 3 months now, I haven't felt myself. Might sound vague, but for those 3 months I've been feeling more lonely, less upbeat and hopefu... View more

Hello. I am a new member of the Beyond Blue forum, so apologies for any mistakes made in this post.For about the last 3 months now, I haven't felt myself. Might sound vague, but for those 3 months I've been feeling more lonely, less upbeat and hopeful, and I haven't been "connecting" to other people. It's probably because I sit in what I believe to be a triangle of "Things that a lot of people don't really like", making me not want to really connect with new people (not just because it feels weird to walk up to someone and start talking!) in the probably high chance they hate it and become a new rival hater of me, ruining my popularity and decreasing the chances I get to connect to others and my self-confidence in making new connections. A snowballing of issues may seem overexagerated, but it's just what my mind believes is true.If anyone wishes to discuss this further, I'll (usually) be ready to continue. Thank you.

cadyxoxo I don't know what to do
  • replies: 3

I'm currently in my last year of school, and i should be happy as everything's going well, but I can't be its like nothing I do makes me feel happy anymore, apart from small times with my family, as sometimes I can't even be bothered to leave my room... View more

I'm currently in my last year of school, and i should be happy as everything's going well, but I can't be its like nothing I do makes me feel happy anymore, apart from small times with my family, as sometimes I can't even be bothered to leave my room to talk to them, even though it makes me happy. I struggle with simple needs, and its really getting annoying as i have all these plans i wanna do but when they come around, I'm not able to. And the truth is i have no reason to be unhappy i have a loving family alot of friends, and I'm in a relationship with someone who loves me, but it's hard to keep these relationships up. I don't know what to do, I can't reach out to them as they have worried over me since year six and now they believe i am better but im not, i really dont know what to do, i feel kinda pathetic being one here lol. If I tell them, they’ll probably send me back to therapy with the same family friend. They trust her completely, talk about how much she helped me, and I don’t know how to explain that she didn't i acted like she did so i could get out of it and i'm starting to regret it but she truly made me uncomfortable back then i didn't i could talk to my parents about this and i feel like i still cant. Sorry, any advice will be helpful sorry for venting lol.

bfic12 Lonely
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm Billy, 43 years old, are there any women who would like to have a chat?

Hi, I'm Billy, 43 years old, are there any women who would like to have a chat?

Guest_44228154 My life is failing and falling apart
  • replies: 2

I am going through a lot and by wife is always yelling next to me because I am a failure. Since I was a kid, my mom called me failure and I do not want to ask from my wife and we argued top of our lungs. Later I overthink and realized that I am a fai... View more

I am going through a lot and by wife is always yelling next to me because I am a failure. Since I was a kid, my mom called me failure and I do not want to ask from my wife and we argued top of our lungs. Later I overthink and realized that I am a failure I am always as failure. End of the day I feel like that way. Recently, I have completed and exam and failed but wife kept telling me how many times have you failed that exam and yet you cannot pass. I felt insecure and yelled at her . I lover her so much. but when she talks like that I felt like I am insecure. I have ego to understand that I am a failure . I am a looser . everything is not going my way. what should I do? I feel to harm myself but no confidence for that

Jjjppp My entire life is wasted
  • replies: 3

I feel that my entire life has been wasted. I did not experience my youth at all. Now I am 30 and I see no reason to pursue anything ever again. I never moved out of home, I have never had a real job, I have never had the bravery to have passion for ... View more

I feel that my entire life has been wasted. I did not experience my youth at all. Now I am 30 and I see no reason to pursue anything ever again. I never moved out of home, I have never had a real job, I have never had the bravery to have passion for anything, I have never had any joy in socialising and I have never been in a relationship. It is not just that I feel it is difficult to move forward. I think it is completely meaningless. The loss of my youth passing me by without being present is so devastating. I feel i can never be whole. I beleive I can never come to terms with the loss and feel content. I will always look at myself as the pathetic loser who did not participate in my 20s. I do not know how to ever find meaning in my life now that it is gone. It occupies every moment of thought for me. I naively cling to wanting some recompense for the lost time. I just want some meaning to come from something that feels so meaningless. I don't know what to do to ever feel like I can have value.

EmbarrassedEmu Morbidly obese and need help
  • replies: 2

I’m 162 cm and my starting weight was 104.7 kg. I started my weight loss journey on 1 jan 2026 but to be honest I’ve only been seriously doing it for the past 1.5 weeks. My BMI has me sitting at the top end of morbidly obese and it makes me so embarr... View more

I’m 162 cm and my starting weight was 104.7 kg. I started my weight loss journey on 1 jan 2026 but to be honest I’ve only been seriously doing it for the past 1.5 weeks. My BMI has me sitting at the top end of morbidly obese and it makes me so embarrassed and sad to know this. I’ve tried doing some research online about how to do this weight loss journey. I’ve significantly increased my protein intake, reduced carbs and fats. I’m also trying to do a calorie deficit but don’t know how to work out what I should be aiming for when it comes to calories a day. This morning I weighed myself and scales showed 102.2 - so I’ve lost 2.5 kilos in a 1.5 weeks. I’ve read you should stick to 0.5-1 kg a week. This is going to sound stupid but I’m concerned I’m losing it too quickly and will end up with a lot of loss skin at the end (I know I will have loose skin and it scares me so trying to limit it). I’ve been morbidly obese for over 10 years and I just decided I wanted to be around for my kid for a long time to come. I’m 52 years old. I want to eventually get to 70kg but my first aim is 95kg (figure if I set small goals they will be more motivation on my end). My questions are: 1. ⁠is losing 2 kg a week too much?2. ⁠how to I calculate a correct calorie goal?3. ⁠I have significantly increased my protein intake (by a lot), how do I know if I’m getting enough to help with weight loss?4. ⁠I have a knee issue whereby I cannot bend or straighten the knee much so it limits my exercise options. I try walking but can’t do a lot because the calf hurts a lot because of the way I walk. What other options can I do to help with weight loss? I’m embarrassed at myself and the weigh I look in the mirror. I avoid relationships, and I’ve come here online because I am too embarrassed and scared to speak to my GP. I’m scared that if I do lose a significant amount of weight that people will notice and I don’t want them to notice (I don’t like attention). Please help this chick out

Nitz Social anxiety stops me exercising
  • replies: 9

I can’t begin to go exercise. I’m obese and in my 50’s but can’t stand being by myself because it exacerbates self consciousness (people are staring and judging me because I’m fat single, old, and female).what might I do? Any advice getting past this... View more

I can’t begin to go exercise. I’m obese and in my 50’s but can’t stand being by myself because it exacerbates self consciousness (people are staring and judging me because I’m fat single, old, and female).what might I do? Any advice getting past this road block would be welcome (Ialso have long term Depression, no longer suicidal thanks to meds)…..

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