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: 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

Hidden Comfort in the sadness?
  • replies: 3

Hi, I've been seeing a psychologist recently and although I find it useful I still find it hard to completely open up about howI feel and ask questions openly. It's in my nature to want to know the answer to every question I ask and so I tend to do m... View more

Hi, I've been seeing a psychologist recently and although I find it useful I still find it hard to completely open up about howI feel and ask questions openly. It's in my nature to want to know the answer to every question I ask and so I tend to do my research online. However, there' s been one question I've found little information on. Depression has always been something I've battled with - more so in the past few months - and as much as it's consuming and distracting and I want nothing more than for it to disappear, I also find it comforting? Contradicting, I know. When I have good days I feel as if I shouldn't be and it's almost as if I'm waiting for the sadness to just settle back in. I know I should just 'enjoy it whilst it lasts' but It's so incredibly frustrating being in this frame of mind and I don't know if it's normal. When I'm okay i feel as if I've lied to my family and psychologist about how I feel when I'm bad and it makes me feel incredibly guilty, almost as if I faked the whole 'depression side of things (even though when I have bad days I know it can't be normal). I stuck between these two 'sides'. I know I need to get over it and just concentrate on getting better but i just can't. There's so much I don't understand and it consumes so much of my thoughts every second of the day. I feel as if I'm 2 different people fighting each other and accusing the other of being a liar. I don't know what to do anymore. It scares me that I feel comfort in my depression. I apologise if what I'm trying to say isn't clear, putting my feelings into words isn't my specialty. Hopefully someone will help me understand why I feel the way I do? Thank you.

Kaykay1994 I feel like a failure at life.
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I just need to vent, this has been eating at me... I feel like a failure.. By that I mean, life. I'm 22 years old, having a hard time finding employment and suffering from BPD and anxiety. My anxiety has been through roof lately.. As I'm just... View more

Hi all, I just need to vent, this has been eating at me... I feel like a failure.. By that I mean, life. I'm 22 years old, having a hard time finding employment and suffering from BPD and anxiety. My anxiety has been through roof lately.. As I'm just constantly so stressed, I can't sleep at night, I hardly eat and I'm just driving myself crazy. I have debt (car loan) and rego (due in sept) to pay off that I'm struggling with because I can't find a job at the moment, I've been out of work for almost 8 months now. I'm constantly on the look out for new jobs, constantly applying to anything and everything I can that I'm qualified in or think I have a chance in. I keep on thinking to things like " oh, if only I didn't stuff around at school", or "if only I stuck it out through my university degree", I keep on dwelling on the "what ifs" which I know is no use doing.. Whats the point in crying over spilt milk, right? But I can't help it. I feel like a loser, I feel like I'm letting my husband down, my mum down and everyone else around me. I can't keep relying on my husband, I honestly feel like I am a burden to him, even though he tells me that it's all okay and he is there to help me no matter what. I still feel like a sh*tty person. I always feel like that. I see everyone else around me, have good jobs, pay off their cars, starting to buy a house, and then theres me. I'm just pathetic really. I want my husband to be able to save his money. Buy things for himself that he deserves, but he can't because he's too busy handling all my crap, and all my expenses, because I'm too stupid to find a job for myself! WHY ? Not really a cry for help or anything, I guess I'm just really upset, I'm stressed and I don't have anyone to really talk too about this stuff. It's hard, I feel like I'm the only one.. When there is probably 1000s of others going through the same thing right now, but I just feel so alone. Thank you for taking your time out to read this xxxx I really do appreciate it xx

wolfphoenix New Diagnosis of BPD
  • replies: 5

This is my first post. I read something on here last night from someone else who is Borderline and it was helpful, so...I thought to write too I'm not sure what to say. I'm a 40 year old man. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago. It was a complete shock t... View more

This is my first post. I read something on here last night from someone else who is Borderline and it was helpful, so...I thought to write too I'm not sure what to say. I'm a 40 year old man. I was diagnosed a few weeks ago. It was a complete shock to me. I've always considered myself to be pretty self aware, but suffering from addiction and trauma issues....which I guess I do, but this has helped me to make sense of the suicidality, the way I do relationships....the list could go on and on..... I'm seeing a psychologist and medicating for depression and anxiety and sleep issues. The first week I just wanted to die. I feel completely delegitimated as a human being. I had some big dreams and i feel like they're toast. I'm really struggling with the stigma stuff around this disorder- like once you've got it, that's kind of it as far as ever being taken seriously. So....who do I tell? Or more importantly who do i NOT tell? I've just kept it to close friends and family I'm still in touch with. Also how do people deal with the overlap between your crazy and other people's crazy? Cuz I had a horrible experience with an ex who lied and had affairs, only now they seem to think that they've got a free pass on everything because of this diagnosis I started to feel like I was finding my feet with it after a week or so, but then I had therapy on Tuesday and....I don't even know WHAT got triggered. Something. Next thing I knew I'd drunk a six pack. I want to find other ways of managing to sit with that experience of pain or the void in myself, but I honestly don't know how to handle it. I'm an experienced meditator.....but some days it just engulfs me. I used to be a heavy smoker and hard drug user and I'm totally off all that for more than a year now, so....that's something I guess. It would be great to hear a little from other people with this condition who might advise on what's been helpful for them. I thank you in advance for your time and look forward to developing a bit of a peer group here. Wolf

Queen_Elsa_of_Arendelle How can I stop abusing drugs
  • replies: 4

Hello! How's it going? Fine! Of course it is. Of course it it. Conceal, don't feel. Don't let them know. It's not going fine. Not at all. For 13 years now, since I was 17 (you do the math), I have been using drugs, weed mostly, to suppress how I feel... View more

Hello! How's it going? Fine! Of course it is. Of course it it. Conceal, don't feel. Don't let them know. It's not going fine. Not at all. For 13 years now, since I was 17 (you do the math), I have been using drugs, weed mostly, to suppress how I feel and to function generally. I suffer from autism, as well as depression, I was diagnosed with the former about 5 years ago, and the latter, when I was around 12. I have traveled around Australia, living in different cities, until settling in Brisbane, where I have been for the last 11 years. Don't come, it's a trap. I had some treatment when I was an adolescent, such as counselling, as well as medication, but was to little avail. Slowly, over the years, I have learned to cope with the feelings of self-hatred and general sadness by masking them with drugs and alcohol. I have been doing this for, as I said, 13 years, and it has somewhat amplified the difficulty in socializing, and increased feelings of paranoia generally. Also, it has cost thousands of dollars. Generally around $4,500 per year for your average Q-a-week smoker. That's probably around $58,000 I have spent on weed in my life. I mean, damn. And it is detrimental to, like, doing stuff, you know. Other than smoking weed, and getting more weed to smoke. Perhaps putting something on to watch while you smoke weed. Running out of weed and then stressin' about not having it, then having to go through the gauntlet of getting it, and then the cycle repeats. And I'm afraid. Of a lot of things, like that nothing really matters because we're all going to die and be forgotten. And even if we are remembered forever, the earth is swallowed by the sun, and that's it, everything we, and anyone ever, has ever done, has ever fought or died for, gone, boom, meaningless. Nothing remains of humanity but a few drifting satellites, some with golden records, "Greetings from Earth" it says, a brochure for a world that no longer exists. And that's it for us. So what's the point? And on top of that, we could all be in a simulation. Or this could all be in my head. I think, therefore I am? Can I ever prove the existence of myself? Please help me, I have been high for too long, and I'm scared of what is waiting for me when I come down. How can I stop abusing drugs, get over my existential crisis, and generally be happy and get on with it? I want to let it go, but I don't know how to escape this kingdom of isolation I have crowned myself the queen of.

the_big_fella feeling bad about myself again
  • replies: 6

Hi all as a 1st time user on here l don't really know how it works but lm in a real spot 12 months ago l found out I suffer from depression its been a bloody hard 12 months l was getting professional help and when my councillor asked me to bring my w... View more

Hi all as a 1st time user on here l don't really know how it works but lm in a real spot 12 months ago l found out I suffer from depression its been a bloody hard 12 months l was getting professional help and when my councillor asked me to bring my wife with me to a session my wife refused because she said it was my problem not hers so I then stopped all sessions and now lm about to lose the love of my life and my 3 kids because when l think that lm doing ok stop my medication get drunk and get all abusive and nasty I start yelling and screaming the kids hide because they are scared of me I think the whole world is against me lve have never hit any of my family but my wife says my voice is enough to scare them all so this week after my wife saying she is leaving me lm just shattered l have made an appointment to go back and see my councillor made the decision that I need to only have a social drink every now and then and try to keep my wife and kids so lm just wondering if there is any 1 out there that could help me out with some advice to try and help me get my life back as l am scared that if my family do leave lm unsure of what I will do cheers for listening

Will.i.am Loosing Myself
  • replies: 20

Up until this year I felt as though I had everything under control. Great family, solid support, great friends, the lot. Though a sufferer of deep depression I always managed to not destroy every part of who I am. I am naturally a very outgoing , bub... View more

Up until this year I felt as though I had everything under control. Great family, solid support, great friends, the lot. Though a sufferer of deep depression I always managed to not destroy every part of who I am. I am naturally a very outgoing , bubbly, life of the party kind of a guy and this year that has been taken away from me. This year my trauma is rampant, my depression has sky rocketed and I now suffer from anxiety which is a new one to the mix. I have so many mixed emotions and I've been turned upside down. I am not regularly unable to go to work at the last minute which is killing me and my finances. I hardly do any socialising and the activities I did regularly that were my life line I no longer live for or want. Worst of all my 2 year old son who I love and adore makes me realise how severe things have got. Even his smile and laugh can't break my darkness on the worst days which just breaks my heart. With this post I wasn't sure what I was looking for. A place to air a snipet of what I am experiencing but a thread where I hope you can share your experiences or maybe a similar situations and what your doing to deal with it and tips I can use with my family

Red1592 I just feel numb?
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm going to be honest I don't know how to go about this because I don't know whats wrong. So i havnt felt right for a while, I've always been happy and smiley and everyone came to me to feel better but lately I don't feel anything. I don't want ... View more

Hi, I'm going to be honest I don't know how to go about this because I don't know whats wrong. So i havnt felt right for a while, I've always been happy and smiley and everyone came to me to feel better but lately I don't feel anything. I don't want to see anyone, or even get out of bed. most days I don't even get out of my pj's. I've never felt so off and I'm scared, even writing this all I want to do is cry because I don't know whats going on with me. For the last three months I've been working from home because the company i work for got kicked out of their office. I was put under emmence pressure to get work done that was never used and they are behind on not only my pay but my super and my course fees (tafe course) I think because I'm always at home it's putting stress on all of my relationships, especially my family. All these things are building up and getting to me, I feel like i have no one in my life which is ridiculous because I know I do! The idea of looking for a new job terrifies me! Ive managed to get a few resumes out but it gives me anxiety just thinking about it. Look I don't really know what I'm hoping to get from posting this, I think I just needed to get it all off my chest and maybe I'll feel better? However if anyone has any ideas on how I can shake this feeling I would be very grateful because I hate this version of me....I want to be the other me...the happy me! Thanks

Tired__Sad_and_alone Depression has destroyed my life
  • replies: 4

My name is Kad and I have been diagnosed with major depression disorder with anxiety due to a long battle of work place stress and bullying treatment. My life as I knew it has been totally destroyed and I have lost my desire to keep battling. I know ... View more

My name is Kad and I have been diagnosed with major depression disorder with anxiety due to a long battle of work place stress and bullying treatment. My life as I knew it has been totally destroyed and I have lost my desire to keep battling. I know friends, family and my doctors are trying to help but noone really knows the problems I am experiencing. When I try to explain what I am actually going through it is hard. I blame myself for where I am because I didn't have the courage to tackle my problems at the time. I chose to ignore it and push on as I am embarrassed that I have been too weak to manage it. I am seeing a pshciatrist, pshcologist and my GP on a monthly basis but I leave with no real solutions just words. I know it is their job and they are trying but once I leave they don't think of me again until my next visit so its just like a vicious cycle and my depression is strangling me so tight I can't breathe. It has been two years and i constantly think about my toxic work environment and what if I hadnt gone there or if I had left when the stresses of it all became to much. Now I have permanent scars that no one can see but they are so deep it hurts all the time. I am so sad and alone all the time with no light at the end of my tunnel. I don't know what benefit writing this has given me. Bye Kad​

Sharny More sharing of mental health
  • replies: 9

When I had extreme mania, my state of mind reached another level. The experience of euphoria still leaves me stunned to this day. My mind was unhealthy but the extreme state was so clear, it bought such clarity, I thought I had everything figured out... View more

When I had extreme mania, my state of mind reached another level. The experience of euphoria still leaves me stunned to this day. My mind was unhealthy but the extreme state was so clear, it bought such clarity, I thought I had everything figured out with precision. I'm lucky that I stayed safe, my turmoil stretched to ideas that were so illogical but I believed them. I've never had extreme mania again, I get hypo mania and can manage it, its not as extreme yet still difficult. After this experience I found myself wanting to explore it with the psychiatrist over and again. I also saw the psychologist once a week just to tell her my inner thoughts, share and off load. I started to feel once the down came I became very rigid, very fixed along with new symptoms. I could not seem to or have the energy for grooming myself. I remember yelling in fury at myself in the mirror and just how desperate that state of being was, how the illness ripped at my being. I viewed myself unworthy, someone needing punishment and wondered if other people suffered to. This forum is a wonderful place for people to off load, even if they feel compelled to share because mental health is isolating. When I was at my worst I looked like any other middle class woman in Melbourne and I still do. It makes me think, we pass people in our travels and never know their struggles if any. Society places stereotypes on certain mental illness through media etc but until you've gone through the illness it will never be exactly how they depict it. People can experience the illness differently as well. One of my main reasons for not opening up to people in my circles is because of threats to my immediate sense of dignity. Call me a pessimist but I do feel people label once they have knowledge of something. That's a shame because I know that there are lots of kind people out there but the risk to self and family is too great. Bipolar in media often gets shown as violent people, I know I'm not violent. My struggle is inner. I am aware of the desperation of the illness though. I remember searching shelves and book shops trying to identify with other peoples stories, support group seemed to hard, but I yearned to listen to others. I've come a long way in terms of putting myself out there so to speak. 5 years ago I would never have shared any of my journey on a board like this. Thank you for listening.

Pelayn I lost a friend due to my depression.
  • replies: 9

Hi. About 4 months ago i had a depression relapse after managing pretty well on medication for about 4 years. This time i had a close friend to help me through. Unfortunately just last week this friend pulled away and said she needed to take a step b... View more

Hi. About 4 months ago i had a depression relapse after managing pretty well on medication for about 4 years. This time i had a close friend to help me through. Unfortunately just last week this friend pulled away and said she needed to take a step back and put herself first. I Thought i had found a friend who understood my condition and how i was working through things with my therapist. I guess i was wrong. She always sounded so supportive but i saw the signs a while back and my therapist convinced me it was in my head. Had anyone had similar experiences? What did you do?