Immediate support
Immediate support

Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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 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?
  • 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

All discussions

Start a discussion

Slottx Postnatal...want it to stop
  • replies: 3

I could not love my child more.. but i cry all the time. Im angry at my husband because no matter what he does i feel he doesnt truly understand what im going through. I know my hormones are running wild.. but i want to enjoy this time with my baby b... View more

I could not love my child more.. but i cry all the time. Im angry at my husband because no matter what he does i feel he doesnt truly understand what im going through. I know my hormones are running wild.. but i want to enjoy this time with my baby but im so sad all the time.. jelous my husband gets to go to work. When will this feeling stop? Sometimes it brings in anxity when he leaves to go to work because i know ill be emotional all day and sad... why is this so hard. How do i get a stubborn man to understand what im going through... so much to postnatal...

UpNDown [BPD] How do you know it's happening?
  • replies: 3

Thought I'd open up the discussion for anyone interested. Mostly for those of us who experience the highs and lows. Not limited to BPD issues but also anyone else who experiences different levels. For example, I get a cold chill and tingles everywher... View more

Thought I'd open up the discussion for anyone interested. Mostly for those of us who experience the highs and lows. Not limited to BPD issues but also anyone else who experiences different levels. For example, I get a cold chill and tingles everywhere when a low is coming on. It's like the life is draining out of me. That's when I can tell I'm about to hit a downward spiral. Then once this passes and I look back I can't help but feel some degree of shame (despite staying silent about it) by looking back and almost feeling stupid for feeling the way I was. I haven't worked out a fix for this one yet. The highs are easy to pick. I'm on my feet constantly with a fleet of huge plans and ideas. At work I'm busy, productive and firing off a thousand emails to various people almost being demanding in my approach. Work and socially I'm shooting my mouth off with near inappropriate things that fortunately haven't landed me into too much trouble. Although over time I've learned to try and control it and realise when it's happening so I step back, take a breath, read that email before hitting send and often end up deleting it instead knowing what's happening to me, biting my tongue before blurting out an opinion. How do some others feel when they are transitioning and what do they do to intervene themselves?

May_84 feeling broken
  • replies: 9

hi everyone, I am very new to this and I wanted to reach out and introduce myself. My name is May and I have been living with depression for the last 8 years. I probably had it for longer but I was diagnosed in 2009. I really thought I had gotten eve... View more

hi everyone, I am very new to this and I wanted to reach out and introduce myself. My name is May and I have been living with depression for the last 8 years. I probably had it for longer but I was diagnosed in 2009. I really thought I had gotten everything under control over the last two years but since I slowly weened myself off of anti-depressants I have had a bicycle accident which resulted in fractures that necessitated me taking time off work and needing to push my studies back (I am now very behind my full time studies and I have assignments and exam revision I am trying to do which has been incredibly stressful). I also feel very behind at work because I had to take a significant amount of time off and I didn't have much leave due to being relatively new with my employer. I think the injury and subsequent time off work and well feeling useless and isolated has not been very helpful. I haven't been able to exercise and my eating hasn't been great which I know would not be helping me right now. I have been finding myself feeling quick to anger and I feel like i am full of negative emotions (I've never been an angry person so this is a very new thing to feel anger as a response to stimuli that would never make me angry). I am so ashamed of how I am feeling and I have been hashing over my past mistakes and things I have done when I know I should have known better. Instead of forgiving myself, I am dragging myself over the coals and punishing myself for not being a better person. I am not proud of the person I have been at times in the past and although I have made many positive changes I am not allowing myself to forgive and move on. I even know that its not right and I should forgive myself but on the inside I don't feel worthy, It's like I keep punishing myself even though I would and have forgiven others for much worse. I look at myself as a person who lacks integrity a as a result of my past and I am struggling to reconcile that my future is all that matters. I just feel like I am in a really dark place and I am already dreading the fact that I have to go to work on Monday and put on a brave face when all I want to do is cry. I am sorry to share such a negative story but I didn't know where else to go. thank you everyone

Missberri why am i always miserable no matter what?
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I just wanted to post because I'm not having the best time lately.. I recently graduated with a uni degree, have moved to a new city and got a new proper career job and for some reason I'm just so unhappy. When I was living in my old cit... View more

Hi everyone, I just wanted to post because I'm not having the best time lately.. I recently graduated with a uni degree, have moved to a new city and got a new proper career job and for some reason I'm just so unhappy. When I was living in my old city with my parents I was unhappy too and I couldn't wait to move away and start a new job and a new life somewhere else and just be done with uni and studying all together. But, now that I'm here I feel horrible. My job was so draining even for the first week and I'm missing so many things about my old home. I just don't feel right and it feels awful. I just wonder if I'm ever going to feel okay, it's like no matter what I do I find something negative about it and I try to look at the positives but the negatives are so strong that it just does nothing.. I just wish I knew what to do.. I don't know if I'm following the right career path anymore and I don't know if this is why.. I hate the idea of sitting at a computer screen all day but this is what I'm doing and it feels so unfulfilling and like such a waste of time. I wish I could be helping people in some way but unfortunately that is not what I studied I don't know if i want to be in a big city or if I want to be somewhere quiet and peaceful like my old home.. I just feel so lost and confused and just wish I could feel happy for once and I'm not..

TrashLord I need help, but I'm really scared
  • replies: 5

So, I feel like I might be depressed and I have been feeling this way for a while and I've tried talking to my mum about it (No well on my behalf), and I've tried talking to my friends about it (But we are basically screwed up and it leads to nowhere... View more

So, I feel like I might be depressed and I have been feeling this way for a while and I've tried talking to my mum about it (No well on my behalf), and I've tried talking to my friends about it (But we are basically screwed up and it leads to nowhere). I really just need someone to talk to. I want to talk to someone to tell them how I feel without feeling guilty about talking about how I feel instead of talking to someone else, but I don't even know what I would say. I know I need to speak to someone, but I don't know what to say and every time I try and write something down, all the thoughts in my head just leave. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say, and I feel so guilty about this. I don't want to be a burden to the people around me, I just want to feel normal again. I don't know what to do.

Dhkm3939 Fallen into a back hole
  • replies: 2

I was doing well until I wasn't. Our Mum died suddenly 2 years ago in October and our Pop passed away a year ago. I terminated a pregnancy in my early 20's which haunts me everyday. I'm normally a very bubbly, happy person.. So to be feeling numb at ... View more

I was doing well until I wasn't. Our Mum died suddenly 2 years ago in October and our Pop passed away a year ago. I terminated a pregnancy in my early 20's which haunts me everyday. I'm normally a very bubbly, happy person.. So to be feeling numb at the moment, like I'm crazy, like I should just be able to get over it all. But this time, I can't. I've seen a doctor and he's increased my medication but I still don't feel any better and I just want to sleep. What is wrong with me

Fernz Past few months have been difficult
  • replies: 3

Hi So in June of this year I stopped taking my anti depressants. I was on and off for 3 years and I just wanted to get it out of my life. Ever since I stopped I've been gradually spiralling down. And I know that's what happens but I don't even catch ... View more

Hi So in June of this year I stopped taking my anti depressants. I was on and off for 3 years and I just wanted to get it out of my life. Ever since I stopped I've been gradually spiralling down. And I know that's what happens but I don't even catch myself most days. My approach for my anxiety, panic attacks, and depression was to meditate and breathe and that kinda stuff. This week I've been extra depressed. I just don't care about anything, I can't be bothered, I don't have energy to do anything. And it's definitely bringing me back to years ago when I was at my lowest point in my depression. And I haven't gotten better since. Like things have improved and whatever but I haven't changed overall. Anyway so the issue is I went on a bender (alcohol, drugs that I have never done before). And I cheated on my boyfriend. He and I have had issues with this in the past. But it came out of nowhere. I just wasnt thinking. I don't feel like myself. I don't have any enjoyment for anything. Its like the past few days I've transformed into someone else. Like someone has taken over my thoughts and actions and I've just been watching the entire time. I don't know why this started. I have been in a bit of a limbo stage because I recently graduated and now I'm just floating aimlessly until the next thing. But I don't know what I want. I'm just racked with guilt and shame and frustration. And now my boyfriend broke up with me, or taking a break, or whatever is happening. Which makes sense. I just want to be at peace. I don't know why I've been acting like this lately. It's out of character. It isn't me. I don't know what to say or think. I'm really upset that I ruined my relationship by doing stupid things. But it's like I just don't care. Deep down i do but it's easy to ignore it. I don't want to take medication again. I don't think it would help with this. Especially since I've come this far.

catej there is hope never give up
  • replies: 2

Depression – rearing its ugly head I think I have had depression since my mid twenties but seemed to manage having youth on my side, a good job, travelling overseas and a lovely family and friends. In my late twenties I had a long period where I suff... View more

Depression – rearing its ugly head I think I have had depression since my mid twenties but seemed to manage having youth on my side, a good job, travelling overseas and a lovely family and friends. In my late twenties I had a long period where I suffered, anxiety and not being able to cope with every day life, driving recklessly in the car and not really caring one way or another. I was on anti-depressants and whilst this helped me get better, I did have some under-lying issues and a quick temper. I ended up quitting and after a holiday to Hawaii I went home and went about setting up my own business. It was very costly and trying but on the first day of trading I ended up with a good business and loved the independence and freedom it gave me. My former boss felt very threatened so he complained to the council and I had to apply for a permit, in the end it was granted minus not being to have clients around. I still had them around but was The worst period of my depression was in Dec 2016 when I did a contract 2 week role in Cairns looking after a permanent letting building, it was an absolute disaster and I ended up walking out after week one as it was untenable. I avoided everyone. Did not want to go out, down the street nothing. I tried to work again at 2 more resorts and they fell through as I was still not myself. I was so anxious everything was an effort. My mum suffered dearly because of my depression. I couldn’t cook, clean or even read a magazine. I kept on watching movies over and over, staying still in bed, not washing or cleaning my teeth for 2-3 days. It was horrendous nothing like this had ever happened so severely like this before. It went on until the end of April, finally I was up to working again and within 2 days had a job 2 days a week and then 3 days a week. I never thought I would get out of this black hole. Eventually I did and realised I will be ok. I started being kind to myself, buying some new clothes, booking a holiday, getting in touch with friends again. I know how you feel, never never give up. There is always hope.

EchoingVoice Zombie mornings and clouded consciousness?
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I'll be brief: Primary issue: I often wake up zombified in the mornings. I experience a lack of energy and motivation & often find my self vegging out until the early afternoon. Sometimes I feel like I have a cloud in my head. Struggle to be ... View more

Hi all, I'll be brief: Primary issue: I often wake up zombified in the mornings. I experience a lack of energy and motivation & often find my self vegging out until the early afternoon. Sometimes I feel like I have a cloud in my head. Struggle to be fully engaged in the activities I take part in - consequently simple and dull tasks can often be difficult/irritating to get through. When I'm put under stress for an extended period of time (especially at work), I've found I often get scatter brained - and there has been instances where my mind has been so fatigued I've experienced a kind of 'concentration shut down' - were tasks that would take me a few seconds begin to take over 5 minutes (i.e like sending a short email). Attempted solutions: -Seen GP. Sleep study done with sleep specialist- no serious diagnosis. -MRI done and is clean. -Have attempted morning excercise, which has sometimes proved effective, but other times has had little effect (often getting out of bed and doing sport feels impossible) -Meditation & Diary - few times a week - helps but not so much with fatigue/consciousness issue. -Coffee - works for 1hr but then I tend to crash - typically try to stay away from it but the caffeine is often necessary to maintain the standard required at work. -Goal setting/task management - I've made attempts to write out tasks and set goals, which helps with the 'must-do' weekly activities - but I simply don't have the level of interest or engagement required to commit to a self-set long term Goal on a daily basis. The issue largely began last year when: -Father passed away -Had to manage an estate which I was largely unprepared for -promoted at work which meant an large increase in responsiblity (and stress) -Had to move homes (went from managing a share home to living with my mother) -falling out with long term friend/partner While it's been a trying time and I've undoubtedly experienced bouts of depression along with grief - I've refused to engage in suicidal ideation and feel a strong sense of wanting to improve myself and my situation to the best of my ability. Once again my primary concern is my capacity for conscious attention and my ability to be motivated enough to follow through on achieving longer term goals. While I'm certain that last year's events are strongly related to this issue and that depression may be one of the underlying causes for it, I also can't help but shake off the feeling that it may be physiological in nature.

Pasha1234 Can I just get it together?
  • replies: 12

Hi, i am new here and I am struggling. I have a great life but 2 years ago I got to a breaking point and saw a doctor and then a psychologist. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and I felt isolated. Ever time I went he would give me titles o... View more

Hi, i am new here and I am struggling. I have a great life but 2 years ago I got to a breaking point and saw a doctor and then a psychologist. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and I felt isolated. Ever time I went he would give me titles of books to read which I couldn't find the motivation to read and in the end I stopped going. flash forward 2 years and I am struggling, I feel numb. I lost it at work and embarrassed myself and said some horrible things about people I like and about a job I used to like. i feel constantly stressed and part of that comes down to keeping my mask on laughing at the right times and trying to keep calm and carry on. i opened up to my partner and told him how I felt and he was great. i made an appointment to see a gp and cancelled it in the morning and I don't know why? i know I need help, I know I want to feel better but I have no motivation to do so. i just feel so lost and unmotivated and flat.