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
Categories
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 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

All discussions

Start a discussion

Wanderlustress It's been 4 days. Recovery and how to deal with regression
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I am looking for advice from those who have recovered or are recovering from depression on how to cope when you feel the "pangs" of depression slowly come back. I had severe depression and anxiety for over a year, together with other health i... View more

Hi all, I am looking for advice from those who have recovered or are recovering from depression on how to cope when you feel the "pangs" of depression slowly come back. I had severe depression and anxiety for over a year, together with other health issues. With the right help - GP, therapy, self-care, I've gotten over the worst bits of it. Things are on the up, it seems. But a few days ago - IT came back. It was slow, like a python slowly swallowing up its prey after strangling it. I've tried my usual coping mechanisms...but it's getting worse. I feel like I'm slowly sinking and I don't want to go back there. I don't want to risk my job, health and mental health again. I've already binged for 3 days straight. Didn't go to work because I just...felt...so low. I changed all my appointments to see my therapist to the next week simply because I couldn't deal with meeting people. I increasingly notice I am slipping into obsessing over terrible things that at the height (or low) of my depression made me abuse myself mercilessly mentally and physically every minute/hour/day/week. As someone who's so far recovered and has never been in this position...how do I deal with this? I want to keep feeling.

Rockstar Love shy and Depression
  • replies: 5

I don't know if anyone has heard of the term loveshyness I'm not sure if it is formally recognised but I am a sufferer I am 41 and have never been on a date let a lone had a girlfriend they always reject me or put me in the creep zone, my last incide... View more

I don't know if anyone has heard of the term loveshyness I'm not sure if it is formally recognised but I am a sufferer I am 41 and have never been on a date let a lone had a girlfriend they always reject me or put me in the creep zone, my last incident got me banned from a major gym. I believe this is partly linked to my depression. I stared seeing another doctor for convenience of appointments I was very tired all the time and he sai it was due to the depression, he sent me to a psychiatrist who diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. I've tried heaps of medications, and just the last few times this doctor started getting into me about getting a girlfriend and that will fix all my problems I tried to explain the problems I have and he was giving me anxiety attacks he was doing more harm than good. I have since gone back to my old doctor Matthew

startingnew validating feelings?
  • replies: 9

Hi guys uhh so im in abit of a situation atm so im on another forums- not going to say which one but its a social forum for people with MI as well. Ive been told by 2 people on the forum and a 3 friends which I thought was a friend off the forum tell... View more

Hi guys uhh so im in abit of a situation atm so im on another forums- not going to say which one but its a social forum for people with MI as well. Ive been told by 2 people on the forum and a 3 friends which I thought was a friend off the forum tell me that im really annoying and that they are sick of validating my feelings. Firstly I had no idea I was doing that, considering most peoples stories and comments etc on where I am want you to also validate their feelings but they havent been plled up about it. I feel very targeted as im the youngest member on there. I feel really uncomfortable now and like I have to limit what I say, where I say it, how I say it and that I can no longer express my feelings openly. Secondly- how do I stop doing it

Lucy22 So concerned that my depression and anxiety has ruined my employment prospects.
  • replies: 6

Ok, first of all, I thank you for taking the time to read this. I've had i anxiety and depression since I was as young as 15, but now that I am 26 it has hit me the hardest in my life. Although mental health issues always loomed in the background, I ... View more

Ok, first of all, I thank you for taking the time to read this. I've had i anxiety and depression since I was as young as 15, but now that I am 26 it has hit me the hardest in my life. Although mental health issues always loomed in the background, I managed to get a degree, held a part time job for 4 years and had an active social life. I moved to a new city in 2016 as I wanted the change. I worked in a new job for 8 months but was not able to meet the targets of the job (KPIs) and it got to the point that my doctor had to sign me off of work due to a mental health decline. I felt like a total failure and spent 2 months of hell, unable to get out of bed, eat, shower and care for myself but I was lucky to find a fantastic psychiatrist who helped me get back on my feet. After two months of recovery, I landed a job in a large company and I finally felt this amazing turning point in my life & that all the darkness was finally over. After 2 months into the job, I was commended for my professionalism and work ethic. However, one week later (last week) I was pulled aside and told that I have 1 month to show performance improvements, or they'll make the 'executive decision' to terminate my employment. Apparently I made too many small mistakes and they are concerned that if I continue, that it would be a cost to the business. I was devastated as I had put my heart and soul into it and deferred my master's degree so I could focus on settling into the job. Today the pressure was so overwhelming and I was making many silly mistakes and it was at this moment I decided to resign as I had realised that I was not capable of working under these conditions. I have set up many plans to ensure I am safe and have the best support possible, but I am feeling so scared about the future. I am so concerned that I am getting older and my mental health issues are just robbing so many important years of my youth. What's more, I can't stop worrying that I am too incompetent to survive in the workplace, that I wont be able to find a workplace that is a good fit for me and that the gap in my resume (7 months so far and counting) as well as the short, 8 month stint in my last job will make recruiters reluctant to hire me. Has anyone been in a similar position and managed to come out of it the other side?

Debzmite Weekly.... help
  • replies: 3

So I notice lately that every week I seem to hit a massive downer on one day and I'll sleep for 15 hours! I'm a uni student and yesterday I had an incident at a hostel I'd wanted to stay at and I bluntly told them their hostel was overpriced crap, th... View more

So I notice lately that every week I seem to hit a massive downer on one day and I'll sleep for 15 hours! I'm a uni student and yesterday I had an incident at a hostel I'd wanted to stay at and I bluntly told them their hostel was overpriced crap, they didn't even have soap and I was surprised they had toilet paper! I was told I didn't need to be rude, well I asked nicely last week and was brushed off twice. I came home and was so depressed I slept 15 hours and missed classes today. I'm frustrated at how strong my meds are yet weekly this happens and I'm so down. Should I go tell my Psychiatrist? I'm not meant to see him for 3 weeks. He frustrates me because he doesn't say anything unless I ask a direct question. Advice please.

NatRay Feeling lost
  • replies: 2

I'm feeling lost, been recently diagnosed with depression it's been a struggle and I never would have thought it would happen to me. I've had a really hard year, from relationship to work issues. Having those days were I feel useless and hopeless and... View more

I'm feeling lost, been recently diagnosed with depression it's been a struggle and I never would have thought it would happen to me. I've had a really hard year, from relationship to work issues. Having those days were I feel useless and hopeless and I'm not sure what else to do!

luke_c Attacking people online randomly
  • replies: 8

It's been a few years since I've posted on here, mainly cos I've self-managed my depression and anxiety issues, but I still have some issues that I still need to work on. One is having a go at people on Facebook or email randomly when I have a bad da... View more

It's been a few years since I've posted on here, mainly cos I've self-managed my depression and anxiety issues, but I still have some issues that I still need to work on. One is having a go at people on Facebook or email randomly when I have a bad day. I tend do it when I feel disconnected and I feel a person isn't communicating with me and I don't see them much or if I have a problem with their life. One example was the other day where I had a go a girl who said I was too nice and too sweet a couple of months ago when we were sparring in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), it bothered me on and off for a couple of months. I was feeling pretty ordinary the other day (too much exercise I reckon, I go pretty hard at MMA and BJJ) and I finally had a go at her by asking "Too nice and sweet huh? I'm not as nice as you think." She didn't respond by her friend deleted the comment cos he didn't want an argument to start and he said he was pretty disappointed in my actions and that she was one of his best mates. I told him yeah I didn't like it when people said I'm too nice and thought she was criticising me personally. After a few back and forth exchanges, I finally told him that I probably shouldn't have done it and that I didn't know her from a bar of soap. I suppose I didn't like it when people said I'm too nice because when I was training at a another gym a couple of years ago, one of the instructors said I was too nice and that it was holding me back and told me to go 100% (but this bloke was a twit to be fair) and I didn't like what he said. Anyway, I'm generally pretty laidback 95% of the time and people describe me as pretty easygoing but it's just that 5% where I feel really low and isolated. I tend to drop people from social media who don't really communicate with me and I've attacked people in the past when I'm in my 5% moods where I felt like I wasn't being treated fairly.

Sara41 Depressed mum
  • replies: 5

I have three children under five and I'm so flat. I hate waking up in the morning and I'm exhausted with "faking it". I have been self medicating with alcohol. Help.

I have three children under five and I'm so flat. I hate waking up in the morning and I'm exhausted with "faking it". I have been self medicating with alcohol. Help.

Harpmum New baby and not liking it
  • replies: 7

Hi I am a first time mum and it's been hard, I knew it would be but I'm not handling it like I Thought I would. my baby is 5 weeks old but I feel like Iv been doing this for months already.....the past week Iv gone with finding it hard to not wanting... View more

Hi I am a first time mum and it's been hard, I knew it would be but I'm not handling it like I Thought I would. my baby is 5 weeks old but I feel like Iv been doing this for months already.....the past week Iv gone with finding it hard to not wanting to be a mum anymore, not wanting to deal with the same thing daily. My baby has had feeding problems and he screams whenever he is awake and he doesn't like sleep. Iv had thoughts of not wanting to do this, getting frustrated with baby and even watching him cry cos I don't know wat else to do. I'm crying and feel like I'm slowly drowning

Bluebird2492 Lost, Tired, Empty
  • replies: 2

I am walking bad luck. Nothing good happens in my world. I work a crappy part time job that abuses my hard working ethic while everyone demands to know when I'll get a "real job". I have no friends left where I live. My partner is very sick so we can... View more

I am walking bad luck. Nothing good happens in my world. I work a crappy part time job that abuses my hard working ethic while everyone demands to know when I'll get a "real job". I have no friends left where I live. My partner is very sick so we cannot do as much together as we use to - we were trying to be more active. I have no life prospects. I cannot find a line of work that captivates my enthusiasm. I'm so bitter about the world I see nothing in it but endless crap. I have fought my whole life to gain half a step, I'm sick of working so hard for nothing. I'm going nowhere! I'm trying so hard to claw out of this pit. I stay up til early hours everyday trying to make something of my miserable self. I cry myself to sleep - I'm so stressed. I'm panicked, I'm worthless unremarkable. I hate myself for being such a failure. I'm lost, I don't know what to do or where to go with my life. I'm scared. I'm tired, and burnt out. I'm desperate to make changes but I'm unmotivated or faced with my stupid empty head. I'm all over the place. I feel thinly spread. I really need some guidance from people that have been here - talking to a GP won't help, I'm very rational but very stressed and blue and angry. I'm not even sure if this depression I feel - I could be completely spastic and wasting your time. I apologise.:/