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

Luke89 Battling depression for 12 months
  • replies: 4

Hi This is my first post on here so not really sure of what to write or whether I am posting in the right forum. From what I have read amongst the forums there are a lot of people a lot worse of than me but just feel so alone and miserable 99% of the... View more

Hi This is my first post on here so not really sure of what to write or whether I am posting in the right forum. From what I have read amongst the forums there are a lot of people a lot worse of than me but just feel so alone and miserable 99% of the time. Im 27, an electrician and run marathons for fun so would call myself a bit of a high achiever, which probably doesn't help my situation. It all started back when ex gf started working FIFO 12 months ago, (we had been together 6 months when she decided to start that .) Ever since I have just felt so alone and as though i am watching my family and friends live there lives happily and I am watching it all through a window and feeling like I am just treading water going nowhere. i know the relationship ending has had a big effect on my self esteem and feeling more alone that usual, but I have had these feelings a lot throughout my life and am just tired of the constant struggle. I think being a high achiever sort of person nothing I do ever feels satisfying or good enough to me - like a day spent around the house watching movies etc feels like a waste of a day. Guess the question I want to ask can anyone else out there relate to this???

patchie Self doubt after seeking help?
  • replies: 8

So I ended up reaching out to friends: telling them how I haven't been coping, feeling sick all the time and generally being destructive towards everything. It felt like I started something. But as soon as that time passed where I was honest I starte... View more

So I ended up reaching out to friends: telling them how I haven't been coping, feeling sick all the time and generally being destructive towards everything. It felt like I started something. But as soon as that time passed where I was honest I started regretting it? All I could think of was the troubles my friends are going through and how it's now my fault they're worried about me on top of everything else... I started bottling everything again and just telling everyone I was fine but that relief I had for a while was gone. Regardless I kept it up and sorted myself out to see a GP last week, was sent off for blood tests and given the mental health survey to do before my next app this Friday. I feel better for knowing I'm getting everything sorted. And obviously there is something wrong as my blood test results have come back with issues. But now it's just brought up more self doubt? I've had this constant weight on my chest since last week, and for two days after my appointment I just felt on edge about everything. On the weekend I was freaking out over a party, even tried to self sabotage and get out of it but my friends insisted and even helped me get ready and made me look amazing and for the first time in a while I had fun going out? I felt ok about things, even though little moments still unnerved me but generally I was ok... I even had some freelance work enquiries the last couple of days that have continued that moment of being ok. I suppose what I'm trying to get across is there times when you do feel ok? But there's like a shadow or something in the corner of your mind that is a reminder? I feel so confused about everything. I keep feeling on edge and worried that I'm just weak? That my months of feeling horrible about everything and crying or being self destructive are all just me being weak and stupid and just failing at life and adulthood... Am I lying to myself reaching out? Do I even deserve the help? I'm even more confused right now as I feel like I'm in this balancing act of saying I'm ok but then I'm worrying about this and getting upset? I know I need to talk about this with my GP and I know it will be a discussion this Friday but right now all I can keep thinking of is do I deserve this help and if I'm slightly ok for a little while does that mean I'm just being stupid about everything... But if I leave it or turn back now will I just make it all worse...

sparkvark It feels too hard to do anything
  • replies: 11

Everything seems stressful at the moment. Getting out of bed, buying groceries, preparing food, doing dishes, being at work, looking at anything factual, going to bed... Any time I have to expend any effort, it's like a giant wave of "please no, I ca... View more

Everything seems stressful at the moment. Getting out of bed, buying groceries, preparing food, doing dishes, being at work, looking at anything factual, going to bed... Any time I have to expend any effort, it's like a giant wave of "please no, I can't". I haven't been getting enough sleep thanks to the effort of going to bed, but I have been doing some exercise tied in with going to/from work. Right now I should be making dinner with the groceries that it took me 2 days to go out and get, but it feels impossible even though the kitchen is just a few metres away. I'm not sure if this is a depression or anxiety thing or what. I just really need to get a handle on it. It's not worth going to the GP and getting a psych referral, because I've heard that all before and know what I need to be doing but it's just too hard right now.

shagz all alone
  • replies: 23

Hi. Just popped onto the web chat but they must be busy. I have no one to talk to. Sorry guys. I have had a bad GP apointment today. I just want someone to know I'm here. I'm fighting. I'm really sick today and its just difficult on your own sometime... View more

Hi. Just popped onto the web chat but they must be busy. I have no one to talk to. Sorry guys. I have had a bad GP apointment today. I just want someone to know I'm here. I'm fighting. I'm really sick today and its just difficult on your own sometimes. I may be unwanted, discarded, up against more than I can handle alone but I'm still here for now and I just want someone to know I'm doing my best. Really sorry about wasting time on here. Sure there's more important threads than this

Wandercharm What helps keep dreams alive?
  • replies: 3

A procedure I use to try and get my head in the right place to be more productive, is to spend time using life planning tools to analyse my values, strengths, and opportunities to help me come up with long and short-term goals for the future. As I ge... View more

A procedure I use to try and get my head in the right place to be more productive, is to spend time using life planning tools to analyse my values, strengths, and opportunities to help me come up with long and short-term goals for the future. As I get older these reassessments come to more and more of the same conclusions. My motivation has been very poor for quite some time. Despite the logic established behind following my life paths I am quite unproductive because I cannot believe with sufficient force that my goals are worthwhile, or that they are achievable. What are some skills you use, or logic you follow to fight Depression and believe in your dreams? Wandercharm.

willow89 Reality is hard.
  • replies: 3

I dont know what to say. I guess I feel uneasy in life. For years my moods have been all over the place; from overly happily and excited to ignorant, distant and cold. I have anxiety about communicating with people or what people think of me. I get s... View more

I dont know what to say. I guess I feel uneasy in life. For years my moods have been all over the place; from overly happily and excited to ignorant, distant and cold. I have anxiety about communicating with people or what people think of me. I get stressed when people invite me to events that I know I will have to attend or 'should' attend and then the whole time leading up to it Im stressed, anxious and distant that it effects my work. I have been sent home, called in sick, and managed to gain a group of haters because of my moods and "depressingness".. The worst part is I am fully aware of all my potential and how great I am at my job, but I am soo unmotivated with EVERYTHING in life that I just don't apply myself. Nothing seems important enough to try. Im not motivated by money and although I like my job I still would rather lay in bed all day instead. I struggle to focus my thoughts on the good in the world when my perspective only sees hate. Things like war, poverty, animal cruelty, technology, government deception. Things like this cross my mind everyday and I wish for death away from this place of hate and greed. I feel trapped in a society/culture that I don't agree with. This makes it hard to fit in and feel accepted. Having noone to speak to, noone to turn to, noone who thinks like me, I turn to myself and unfortunately I am a horrible person. I have nothing nice to say about myself, I always judge myself and think the worst and sometimes I think I hear people talking about me when I know they are not.. that sounds weird but its really Fkd-up. I have kept a diary for a very long time and before that in my teen years I wrote letter. This does help but I dont do it as often and all I ever seem to write is miserable stuff. I have companions whom I love. I have always had some type of substance in my life. At one point it was meth, ectasy, alcohol, and marijuana. Currently I smoke weed and have found this to be the most stabilizing of them all but i dont promote it at all, infact I would reccommend otherwise. Unfortunately for me it helps me feel less. Which is my way of coping at the moment.I will refuse medications or pharmaceuticals and the doctors as they have been nothing but failures to me in my past experiences. My beliefs apose this industry and the community rules apose me for speaking in depth on this. Any ideas for feeling importance in life for daily activities? Or how to want to get out of bed each day.

Destiny_Driver I'm new to BB
  • replies: 6

Thought I'd better do an intro post. I'm a 50ish female who has battled depression for most of my life. Over the years I've had numerous psychiatrists and psychologists - none helped much. Medication makes me feel like I'm living in a bubble OR doesn... View more

Thought I'd better do an intro post. I'm a 50ish female who has battled depression for most of my life. Over the years I've had numerous psychiatrists and psychologists - none helped much. Medication makes me feel like I'm living in a bubble OR doesn't appear to do anything. I just can't win! Most people are unaware of my depression - I've become a master at masking my feelings. The only ones who know me well are my animals. I've moved house from the city to a rural idyll to better accommodate my animals - I have horses and dogs. I've also just started seeing a new counsellor and she has given me some hope..... I'm sorry if I'm rambling on.......... today is not one of my better days

interloper Running out of ideas
  • replies: 9

I am getting desperate and have no idea what to do. My issue has been built up over 15-20 years of growing up and ruminating as an adult. I want to proven wrong but unfortunately it never happens. It is my belief that life is completely devoid of mea... View more

I am getting desperate and have no idea what to do. My issue has been built up over 15-20 years of growing up and ruminating as an adult. I want to proven wrong but unfortunately it never happens. It is my belief that life is completely devoid of meaning. Objectively, there can literally not be meaning to anyone's life because there is no way to have lasting or significant impact. It is simply an issue of not having a viable option available. Subjectively, people can create their own meaning, but it is false and empty. Subjective meaning is an oxymoron because what I find meaningful may be completely meaningless to every other person, which by any measure is meaningless. Anyway, I have raised this with friends and family and they simply shrug and make platitudes about their meaningless life and that they enjoy it. I am sick of feeling bleak and listless. I have sought help but nothing has worked. I live in a regional town and options are limited. I have seen a few gps but they are stretched and it doesn't seem like the forum to discuss big ideas. I have seen a psych who after two sessions could only offer the advice of writing a "gratitude list" and to find hobbies. She simply didn't understand the depth of what I was trying to tell her and that I was a "bit upset about life". I saw a councillor who literally told me he couldn't help me and to not come back. I am out of options in my local area. I also tried some meds but they made me feel worse. I feel even worse now and that I am spiralling out of control because I don't even have the hope that treatment can help. I've had blood tests (nothing to pin this on), I eat healthily, exercise regularly, am in a stable relationship, have stable employment, no financial issues, etc. My issue is the belief that life doesn't matter and don't care anymore. I actually think there isn't anything defective in my belief, but don't want to be sad about life anymore. I feel like I've woken up, seen the truth, and cannot unsee it. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Kann So scared of rejection, depression kicks in.
  • replies: 7

Hi, I'm new here. My biggest worry at the moment is that I'm so scared of rejection I'm fearing I'm driving my partner away. They also suffer depression. I want to support them and try the brave face. Unfortunately I'm so overcome with fear and watch... View more

Hi, I'm new here. My biggest worry at the moment is that I'm so scared of rejection I'm fearing I'm driving my partner away. They also suffer depression. I want to support them and try the brave face. Unfortunately I'm so overcome with fear and watching everything I say and do I feel like I'm sinking. I don't want to feel this way. Any suggestions welcomed.

lulucauli Been crying for 3 days
  • replies: 6

that feeling comes back again after i felt better for the last 2 years. Loneliness and desperation. I'm 35 yo female and have no friends, no partner and no children now. After I talked to guy I was dating for the recent one year, I feel desperate aga... View more

that feeling comes back again after i felt better for the last 2 years. Loneliness and desperation. I'm 35 yo female and have no friends, no partner and no children now. After I talked to guy I was dating for the recent one year, I feel desperate again. He is not willing to buy a property with me and move forward. All my married friends are working together for a better life. But i have no one to rely on. Bank will only lend me 300k ish, which is not enough to buy property here. I have been covered with tears this week, can't stop crying.