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

darkfoxau It's so hard to cope
  • replies: 3

I just feel like going for a long drive and forgetting about work the next day. Just piss off somewhere, lay down somewhere and just relax to forget about all the crap. I hate that it feels like I never have an outlet. I could post my woes on Faceboo... View more

I just feel like going for a long drive and forgetting about work the next day. Just piss off somewhere, lay down somewhere and just relax to forget about all the crap. I hate that it feels like I never have an outlet. I could post my woes on Facebook, but most of the people on my friends list don't care or don't understand. It's hard to try and get my point across to people. I think a lot of people think I'm acting angrily towards them for a personal reason but it really isn't. Just seems like people have just given up on me. Used to be a friendly individual, but things have changed. People are starting to resent me and it feels like I can't do anything to reverse that. Sometimes I try hard to be friendly towards people but it's never taken seriously. It's annoying because I try to so hard to treat other people with the same respect I expect, but barely get it. That's when I get annoyed and just think "Screw everything". I thought I was a relatively likable person, but it seems people are just staying clear of me for whatever reason. The only people that understand me truly are my parents and friends. All these issues are pointed towards work as well. I try so hard to please everybody and I get pissed off if something is hindering my ability to do a good job. Also just feels like no one truly cares about me and any sort of empathy towards me is either half assed or full of crap. People seem to think that I despise them, but it's only because I'm struggling with all these mental gymnastics going on. I hate it how people assume that you can cope with things perfectly without taking in consideration the crap you have to deal with in your head on a daily basis. Sometimes I wish people could read my mind and it would make my life so much easier. But at the same time, why does everyone seems to only care for themselves. Is that the way we are supposed to live? We're all in this together and I thought we all would try to make life a better experience for everybody. Everyone is truly self motivated and that pisses me off. I try my damn hardest to make people understand what I'm feeling but when I do, I get everything half assed with little emotion. Show me some damn respect like I've shown you. It feels like my superiors at work don't give a crap about me, even though I've put in blood, sweat and tears, while other employees get treated like royalty in comparison. I could go on forever, but any reply would be appreciated. Thank you.

RiverBend Forced holiday from work
  • replies: 2

I work as a kindy educator and have been under a lot of stress this year. I have a really challenging class who have lots of undiagnosed developmental concerns. The parents on the whole are needy, demanding and do my head in every day. I have told my... View more

I work as a kindy educator and have been under a lot of stress this year. I have a really challenging class who have lots of undiagnosed developmental concerns. The parents on the whole are needy, demanding and do my head in every day. I have told my managers so many times that the children and the parents are getting to me and they just say I should ignore it, not stress so much, not let it get to me etc. All the patronising cliches but no acknowledgement of what it's doing to me or offers to help in any real way. A week ago a group of parents began to criticise me publicly and described me as rude and unapproachable (this feels like the fallout of "ignoring them" as I was encouraged to do). My managers brought it up with me... they believe they were doing their job but it just felt like I'm being targeted by these parents and i don't know why they hate me so much. This week I've tried to move on and forget about it, but it started within 30 minutes on Monday. Parents complaining, children having meltdowns, staff numbers being low and just feeling like I'm on a knifes edge. A colleague complained to my managers that I'm so stressed and negative that it's uncomfortable for others. Called in to the office again. They suggested I take a week off to "have some me time" and "put myself first". I was so upset I couldn't even respond to half of what they were saying. I felt like I was in trouble for not coping. All I want (as childishas it seems) is for someone to just have my back and feel like they're seeing how sad I am. Instead it was like being scolded for not being happy enough. I've now had to explain to my partner that I'm off work and feel pathetic and useless. I love my job and care so much for these kids... but there is only so much I think I can take of being kicked when I'm down. I can't stop crying, I can't eat and I'm so exhausted I can hardly get up out of bed. I now have ten days without work where I'm supposed to do things that make me happy so I can come back and just... be great I guess. I don't even know where to start when I can't stomach the thought of ever going back. I feel such shame, guilt and despair that i can't even cope being a freaking kindy teacher. It shouldn't be this hard. I know I shouldn't be this stressed. But with another class like this one already lined up for next year, I can't see the light. How can i get past this?

unicornprincess29 Things keep getting worse...
  • replies: 26

Hi everyone, I've had depression and anxiety for about a year now, and the past few months I just feel like everything is getting worse and it's harder to keep fighting it. Initially it was just that I was having problems at uni... I failed a few sub... View more

Hi everyone, I've had depression and anxiety for about a year now, and the past few months I just feel like everything is getting worse and it's harder to keep fighting it. Initially it was just that I was having problems at uni... I failed a few subjects last year and was on the verge of being kicked out, however I wasn't because they took my mental illnesses and things happening at the time into account. I am however a year behind my friends now, and I just feel like the cohort I'm in now is so unfriendly compared to mine. We were all so close last year, but my new one is just so segregated and no one seems to really have friends. I'm currently waiting for my results from last semester, and I'm really anxious about it, because if I failed again, I'm definitely getting excluded and I would have no idea what to do if that happened. I need this degree for the field I want to go in to, and it's one of those degrees where if you get excluded from one uni, you're basically guaranteed to not be accepted elsewhere either. There's nothing else I want to do with my life though except this, so I'm just really worried at the moment. Apart from this, I spent the majority of last year having problems with my BF's family, and I've spent the majority of this year having problems with my own. And every time I feel like I'm making progress with my family, it's one step forward, three steps back. I've been lucky though that my BF has been my absolute rock. However now the problems between my family and I are affecting my relationship with him, and things are going downhill very fast, and now I'm worried that we're going to end. I don't have many friends, and the one or two I do have, have really busy lives so I feel like I don't have many people to talk to at all. I feel really alone a lot of the time now, and as the bad things keep piling on, I just get more tired of trying to fight it. It's kind of like I feel like I make some progress, but then something else happens, and it undoes the work I put into trying to fight this, and now it's just exhausting. I haven't ever had suicidal or self harm thoughts, but I do sometimes wonder what's the point of all this pain.

Lonewonderer Change is hard
  • replies: 2

I've left my boyfriend of 25 years and now in a flat all alone,I'm lost and no one to talk to with no friends in this new town,my family think I'm crazy and unstable,but I'm very lonely and depressed I'm broke paying bills left behind from the house,... View more

I've left my boyfriend of 25 years and now in a flat all alone,I'm lost and no one to talk to with no friends in this new town,my family think I'm crazy and unstable,but I'm very lonely and depressed I'm broke paying bills left behind from the house,and now I am alone thinking of negative thoughts I don't know what to do

Janeie Troubles at Work
  • replies: 14

I'm struggling at work. my relationship with my boss has got under my skin so much that whenever I have to spend prolonged time with her I want to go to the bathroom and cry as soon as it's over. I feel like I have so much to give and so many ideas b... View more

I'm struggling at work. my relationship with my boss has got under my skin so much that whenever I have to spend prolonged time with her I want to go to the bathroom and cry as soon as it's over. I feel like I have so much to give and so many ideas but am shut down all the time. It's not like she's 'evil' she's just not in anyway interested in people, in developing them, challenging them, nurturing them in fact it's the opposite - we are cogs in a machine. i know it's my fault and I should look for another job but my confidence and resilience has taken a beating. I moved house recently and am still feeling very unsettled and am struggling so don't feel I could take another big change Plus I probably couldn't find a job anyway. I feel like I'm being miserable and unprofessional. But don't know how to approach the issue or snap out of it.

jay_dee497 Zoned out and feeling detached
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, This is my firdst post on here but thought it's the place to seek help and maybe get some feedback on my situation. At present I work in a technical job on the road and am able to work from home. I find myself isolated a fair bit which I... View more

Hi everyone, This is my firdst post on here but thought it's the place to seek help and maybe get some feedback on my situation. At present I work in a technical job on the road and am able to work from home. I find myself isolated a fair bit which I feel affects my relationships with people. I have suffered from depression since I was 17 (now 40) which I find has affected my relationships, even through I wasn't aware of it. Alot fo the time I feel confused and exhausted from daily anxiety. Feels like I'm always over tired where I feel uptight regulary even though I consider myself to be laid back. I really enjoy sociallising but don't seem to fit the mould at work, which I really domn't know what sort of job I am aligned to. I feel zoned out alot and disconnected from the world. My mind runs around in circles most of the day where it feels like I'm having a continuous mid-life crisis. Some times I may ose contact with people for a month or so and don't even realise it. I have trouble reading people at work in an office environment where I feel I am a different person to who I really am. I've lost my father recently, and this has added extra stress, along with dealing withmy brother who is recovering from a drug addiction and mental health issues which has putmuch strain on the family and myself. My mind feels foggy alot where I used to drink almost daily but have reduced it to 1-2 times per week over the last month to cut back. I think I've used alcohol to self medicate but I dont want to do that anymore, I want to enjoy life as it is. Wondering if anyone has any advice? I'm currently single and live alone in my own house.

Possum_Magic1 I think I'm finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel
  • replies: 4

Hi Everyone I'm new to the site, but not to depression. I had an episode over 20years ago and have been well since then until May this year. I can assure you I was totally amazed that I was once again heading into a darkness I never thought I would s... View more

Hi Everyone I'm new to the site, but not to depression. I had an episode over 20years ago and have been well since then until May this year. I can assure you I was totally amazed that I was once again heading into a darkness I never thought I would see again. This episode has been nowhere near as bad as my first one but debilitating to say the least. Different time in my life with 2 teenage children to worry about , and not letting on that I'm not 100%. I can't tell them.....they would be devastated. I am lucky enough to still have the same loving and supportive man in my life that was there for the first episode. I have hated every minute of this episode and can't wait for it to be over. I have been counting down the days weeks and months! Finally I am into my 9th week of medication and I'm starting to lift. Fingers crossed this continues to be the case. To those that are struggling , be rest assured there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep pushing and trying everyday no matter how hard it is. Set just one goal everyday and achieve it. All those years ago when I became well after my depression, I felt grateful that I have suffered. It made me a better person, more compassionate , caring as well as patient. May whatever demons you are fighting start to lift. May you see the Sun in the sunshine and may you be well.

lobbymusic Being honest
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I'm relatively new to these forums as a poster, so hello :). In short, the last few years have been trial after trial and I suppose I reached breaking point a few days ago. It was as though all the little coping mechanisms I had clung onto ju... View more

Hi all, I'm relatively new to these forums as a poster, so hello :). In short, the last few years have been trial after trial and I suppose I reached breaking point a few days ago. It was as though all the little coping mechanisms I had clung onto just slipped out of my fingers. I found myself breaking down on my drive home, yelling at my boyfriend over the phone through a stream of tears and snot. Not my most glamorous moment, for sure. Truth is, this can be a lonely and isolating disease. Some years ago, I fractured my ankle - it seemed the whole world was willing to help and be accommodating of my newfound disability. Depression/anxiety are infinitely worse but the support seems to become so much scarcer. No one wants to hear it and the advice is often patronising and dismissive. You feel like you are burdening people so you don't say anything - and when you do open up, you realise the ears you had hoped would be there turn away. 'I don't know what to do or how to help'. I'm here because...I just needed to be around people who get it, even if it's just virtual. The people in my life can relate to depression about as well as I can relate to Iron Man and sometimes being looked at like an alien isn't the best feeling. As abnornal as this disease feels, I know it's also a 'normal' reaction when you feel like you're sinking, when problems and frustrations and obligations build up so much they make the Great Wall of China seem like a little child proof gate. The hard part is climbing out, especially when you feel like your legs have been cut off at the knees. I know there's always hope - some light at the end of the tunnel that isn't yet visible.

Out_the_window Comfort foods killing me... ( depression)
  • replies: 9

Lately ive noticed that my depression could be killing me.. With yummy foods.. And that is no joke. Ive stacked on the weight since my family passed away. And i dont seem to care. Reaching for a packet of C'Cs or nervously pigging on a packet of bick... View more

Lately ive noticed that my depression could be killing me.. With yummy foods.. And that is no joke. Ive stacked on the weight since my family passed away. And i dont seem to care. Reaching for a packet of C'Cs or nervously pigging on a packet of bickies during a footy game is inevitable. I seem to treat it as normal. Am in the mid to high 90 kgs. And dont fit into my favourite clothes. I have a huge double chin. And i constantly laugh at it. A doctor said... IT WILL KILL YOU... i said YEP. And didnt stop my ways. What can i do???? Its linked to my depression. Since my families death. . Cheers.. Wayno.

Lightfeathers Running nowhere
  • replies: 3

Hi there im young but have suffered with depression for more than 10 years right now I'm at a stand still were everything is happening and I'm just going along for the ride unwillingly. i have desicions that need to be made, but I feel so lost, so us... View more

Hi there im young but have suffered with depression for more than 10 years right now I'm at a stand still were everything is happening and I'm just going along for the ride unwillingly. i have desicions that need to be made, but I feel so lost, so useless and have no hope. I have amazing support from those around me, but it just doesn't seem to be enough anymore. iv seen many councellors and psychologists over the years to the point that I inform the qualified and they don't have much to feed me. Im not saying there not good, I'm great full for their knowledge but I feel like it's now a broken recored. i feel iv exhausted my options on therapy. I know that many things factor into creating a good wellbeing I'm Trying to balance this, but something's lacking