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

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: 1

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

Start a discussion

Cucuboth Here We Go Again
  • replies: 49

So, here we go again. In to yet another year. Another year that starts like the last one ended. And the one before that. And before that. And continue that another 25+ times. Had another Christmas alone. And another New Year's Eve. My therapist said ... View more

So, here we go again. In to yet another year. Another year that starts like the last one ended. And the one before that. And before that. And continue that another 25+ times. Had another Christmas alone. And another New Year's Eve. My therapist said to try and get my family involved in some form of physical contact ... a hug for instance. But no. They don't want to. So that's that door shut. Again. And they are the only people in my life. I've been writing to another online forum as well as this one, but, it's not doing much good. A lot of same old cliched 'advice' that I have tried to death already. A few that say "message me if you want to talk", so I do, and never hear from them again. Not that any are in Australia anyway. The feeling of isolation is just .... it's like I am being choked. Slowly. I called Lifeline yet again, and yet again got the same disinterest. Yay Lifeline ... way to make someone feel even more worthless. It's going to be another year of the same thing. There's no more hope to hold on to. Just like there's nobody who will hold me. Maybe there is some kind of symmetry in that, I don't know. I can't do this on my own, and yet there is nobody who wants to help. There's only so many times you can 'put yourself out there' again. And again. And again. Only so many hobbies you can have. Only so many times you can ignore it, focus on something else and hope that it will happen 'someday when you least expect it'. Because it never does. I'm just expected to shut up and be happy alone. To be happy, lonely. And I just can't do that.

Depressed24 My story
  • replies: 10

Hi to all I m new here sadly I got bipolar type 1 and schizophrenia . I m after friends cause I get lonely can anyone help me make or find friends who will accept me and who wont abandon me you know .

Hi to all I m new here sadly I got bipolar type 1 and schizophrenia . I m after friends cause I get lonely can anyone help me make or find friends who will accept me and who wont abandon me you know .

wolfee81 36, alone, unloved and ready to give up
  • replies: 7

I write this knowing that there are far more people worse off than me - but I can't help wondering what if I was no longer here, the stress would be less for my parents Dad 74 & Mum 68, still living with them, work situation - dead end job where I'm ... View more

I write this knowing that there are far more people worse off than me - but I can't help wondering what if I was no longer here, the stress would be less for my parents Dad 74 & Mum 68, still living with them, work situation - dead end job where I'm expendable and devalued and forever worried that my job will end without much notice. No love life what so ever and no one seeming interested. Little money so would not be much of a catch anyway. Forever worried about myself or people around me dying suddenly. Feeling something is seriously wrong health wise with me but scared to go to doctors to find out. My only saviour is a gorgeous 4 year old Labrador but Im in constant fear of losing him - got him when I was long term unemployed and he saved my life, I had a purpose, wake up walk the dog, look for work during the day, and in afternoon socialise the dog at the park, lately I haven't been near dog park and miss the interaction with the people but my dog was attacked a couple of times and while okay does get very nervous in the parks now and if I lose him I won't have anything left Ironic hey, a dog that is just as anxious as its owner I don't want to talk to family about my issues as I will scare them too much if they knew how I was really feeling. Im a pretty guarded/ shy person and find it hard to make friends and even then, why would I lump them with my problems, I'm fearful of going back to work also, have a review coming up in the next couple of months and I'm unsure of how that will go. Have been there 3 years in Feb but don't get the sense that I'm liked. I'm a very strong willed person who lives by a set of rules that is a mixture of my upbringing and rules that I have made as I have gone along in life. Lots of people I work with don't have the same thinking or willingness to try and understand me and this puts me on the outside of the group. I have noticed over the last month or so that my thoughts are causing my sleep to be less and less although when working I don't have much nightly sleep anyway (about 4-5 hours a night). Lately though its been bad dreams and just a constant state of worry about money that causes disturbances in my sleep. Some nights I will go to bed and hours later I am still lying there thinking and worrying whats next: illness, car breakdown, loss of job, loss of family, I wish I could just jump out of my head for a while. Well I've wasted enough of your times, feel free to offer advice

Depressed24 My sad day
  • replies: 1

Hi I found out what anxiety I got and it is PTSD . I had to baby sit my nieces and they keep asking questions about Auntie Kylie my sister and I say to myself everyday will she ever come back home I cant live on my own and my mother Deborah might hav... View more

Hi I found out what anxiety I got and it is PTSD . I had to baby sit my nieces and they keep asking questions about Auntie Kylie my sister and I say to myself everyday will she ever come back home I cant live on my own and my mother Deborah might have breast cancer . I thought I had OCD it was PTSD all this time . my voices get annoying at night more distressing but I have a list of diversions / hobbies what I do and talking is one of them I m a chatterbox . I m sad cause I m not going to the clinic were I live anymore but I should be happy I know its bipolar 1 nothing makes me happy anymore . My sister left and I haven't been the same mentally

Littlevegannurse Having a bit of trouble
  • replies: 2

I can't seem to figure out how to shake this feeling. I'm usually down most of the time and when people continue there day not paying attention it makes it worse even though I'm glad they are happy it saddens me and makes me feel neglected and I cry ... View more

I can't seem to figure out how to shake this feeling. I'm usually down most of the time and when people continue there day not paying attention it makes it worse even though I'm glad they are happy it saddens me and makes me feel neglected and I cry for hours about this

JayEss Workcover making things worse
  • replies: 5

Now I'm not very good at expressing myself so im just gonna start typing and see what happens. Also if this is posted in the wrong area i apologize On the 6th of May 2016, 4 days into a new job working in a warehouse i suffered a left thumb injury. U... View more

Now I'm not very good at expressing myself so im just gonna start typing and see what happens. Also if this is posted in the wrong area i apologize On the 6th of May 2016, 4 days into a new job working in a warehouse i suffered a left thumb injury. UCL Tear and a bone abrasion. Essentially my thumb bent a way its not meant too, damaging ligaments and tearing a small chunk of bone off also. This new job was just after a period of time off work due to my mental health. I was put onto workcover by the employment agency i was hired through, and it has been one of the most horrible experiences of my life. The original diagnosis of my thumb was just extreme swelling which my gp advised me would be gone in 3 days. After a week of no improvement i went back to the doctors and saw a different gp. He reffered me to a local hand therapist and my thumb was put into a plastic splint, to keep the joint stable while the ligaments healed. I was immediately put onto 'light duties' in the employment agencies office, as I technically still had a capacity to work and the doctor/hand therapist where hopeful my thumb would recover with rest. It didnt. My light duties are shortened hours, sitting in a tiny room with a table and a laptop, doing work which they say is used, but nobody has ever even opened the spreadsheet. I dont receive my payments unless I do the hours specified each day. After 5 months of being in the splint, xrays, an inconclusive ultrasound, an mri and an independent medical examination, i was finally reffered to a surgeon and given an actual diagnosis; UCL tear. I was given 6 weeks off work fully after surgery, then put back onto light duties. Its been 3 months now since surgery, and while it 'went well' progress on movement and building strength has been painfully slow. Monthly hand therapy appointments are apparently enough, and while they say things are looking good its hard to believe that when i can barely move the joint. My motivation has hit rock bottom, and some days (like today) I get so anxious i just shut down. The thought of going to work and sitting in that room make me feel sick. I just feel lost. I've grown to despise anything to do with this place and i know its not helping me. Im thinking about asking my gp about a mental health plan again? Its now been over 9 months and I feel useless Has anyone else whos been through the workcover nightmare got any advice or help?

Maxiewolf Looking for support....
  • replies: 7

Hi All, I've come here for some support as I usually just take this 1 problem at a time, I've been depressed for over half my life, And suffered anxiety for the past few years since I became a bit of a recluse due to having severe spinal issues, I'm ... View more

Hi All, I've come here for some support as I usually just take this 1 problem at a time, I've been depressed for over half my life, And suffered anxiety for the past few years since I became a bit of a recluse due to having severe spinal issues, I'm in pain 24/7 so my threashold for everything is low. I also have Existential Death Anxiety. These kind of things deprive me of sleep, I also have night terrors. I've got so many issues I don't know where to begin,Or where to post. If there's an edge to be driven to that isn't suicide, Then I think I've reached it. Just some of the things I've had going on Abused sexually as a child by a family member. I have only just started to pick at this.eg Told my dad for the first time. Arguing and disagreeing about said family members inheritance with my mother after I was cut out of the will. Mother loans me money from inheritance, has hounded me ever since. Coming to grips with the fact my mother is a Narcissist and I've had to go no contact for my sanity. Disowned by a best friend of several years, no contact no reason given. Was told "you know what you did" Was never told what. Mothers family takes their side and spends Christmas with them. I spent that year feeling more worthless and suicidal. With anxiety getting worse I decided to move from QLD to NSW to live with dad so we (hubby) could save money to buy a house. Moving made me breakdown for weeks later I have now been told I have bipolar2 disorder, told I've had it most of my life and that it's affected every crazy decision I've ever made, So this has left me feeling even more depressed and lost as I can no longer trust my own thoughts. Psychologist feels she has diagnosed me and all will be ok when I take enough meds One of our 2 Dogs died suddenly in November Dad has been off work with no income due to a knee injury in December so we are paying our bills and his I'm on DSP and hubby on carers. On Friday the 10th one of our indoor cats was accidentally let out Friday the 13th My 9 year old Dog collapsed of a heart attack and died in my arms. We rushed him to the vet in vain but he was too gone. While on the floor saying my goodbyes to my dog, I get a call from the neighbour. Telling me our missing cat had been mauled to death by his dog 3 days ago. he had left him to rot in the sun and gave him back to us in a garbage bag. I feel like everything has been pulled from under me Where should I go from here?

Depressed24 Depressed24's history of mental health
  • replies: 2

Hi at 15 years old I did not want to be around anymore I got hurt in primary and high school primary school it was another student who hurt me and in high school it was a teacher . My sister Kylie doesn't call me a sister at all I try to talk to her ... View more

Hi at 15 years old I did not want to be around anymore I got hurt in primary and high school primary school it was another student who hurt me and in high school it was a teacher . My sister Kylie doesn't call me a sister at all I try to talk to her on face book but she does not reply . And I had to put up with my sister come and then go that's why I don't call her a sister she had a bad boyfriend who did not treat her right t all. And ever since she left home at 16 years of age I haven't been the same mentally . And I live with my parents there the only ones who care . I m sadly single as well no guy wants to accept me just because thanks to the voices I hear . I cant live on my own cause I got 2 serious mental disorders and OCD Anxiety as well . I m just angry in high school and primary everyone teased me more than my sister. And I was annoying to her she wanted to call other high school students her sister.

happyannie Inside Struggle
  • replies: 4

Hi Im writing to have a whinge because today Im having a really bad day, Im just so down and depressed, my anxiety is out of control. I have been sick with the flu as well, which isnt helping. I haven't left the house for over a week and when I did i... View more

Hi Im writing to have a whinge because today Im having a really bad day, Im just so down and depressed, my anxiety is out of control. I have been sick with the flu as well, which isnt helping. I haven't left the house for over a week and when I did it was for a appointment with my GP. My agoraphobia is really taking a hold of me now, its out of control. My psychiatrist comes back at the end of the week, so hopefully going on the emergency waiting list will get me to see him, as I dont want to go back to Hospital again. Just wondering if anyones got some ideas that I could try. I haven't even wanted to go on my computer until now... Thanx Annie

Poppy24 Hormones and Depression
  • replies: 3

Hi, This is my first time on a forum so please be kind. I have suffered depression and anxiety for many years. I have seeked help and spent thousands and I am at a loss. I have two extremely supportive people in my life but they don't seem to underst... View more

Hi, This is my first time on a forum so please be kind. I have suffered depression and anxiety for many years. I have seeked help and spent thousands and I am at a loss. I have two extremely supportive people in my life but they don't seem to understand. My partner who I have been in a long and committed relationship of 8 years is a wonderful man but we are polar opposites. I over think he does not, I over obsess he does not. My mother is beautiful and I love her but she only knows the basics as I am afraid of judgement. I need help and I don't know where to go. I suffer terrible hormonal issues and find doctors don't quite understand how to help me. I just feel I am alone with it all and I am suffering silently yet I know I don't have too. I love and am loved so not all is negative but I feel this unstable feeling is putting immense pressure on the ones I love. Thank you for reading and I hope someone can give some wise words. I really appreciate any help x