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

jacq Never Safe
  • replies: 2

I'm writing here for the first time, I think mainly because I need to feel like I'm somehow connected to people who think, even remotely, like I do. I've suffered from depression and anxiety for a long time. I was first diagnosed last year but I can'... View more

I'm writing here for the first time, I think mainly because I need to feel like I'm somehow connected to people who think, even remotely, like I do. I've suffered from depression and anxiety for a long time. I was first diagnosed last year but I can't remember a time when I didn't have this feeling of sluggishness, discomfort, and most poignantly the feeling that I am unsafe. I've lived a perfectly good life, I'm from a middle class family, I've had a good education and now I'm approaching the end of my art degree. I paint, I sing, I teach music to children, I run a choir now, I have a partner, I live a perfectly good life. I do all the things people tell me will make me happy. I cannot mention that I am unhappy anymore because it feels like a burden and a bore. There's never change, unless it's getting worse, if it gets better I'm still sad and no one seems to understand. And besides, it doesn't add up, because I live a perfectly good life. There are trauma points in my history, but I'm starting to think I made them for myself to compensate for my internal unease. I'm filled with shame and confusion and a constant desire to be honest in a defiantly dishonest society, which is what I am trying to ease by posting some of my story here. I know nobody wants to know, because this is an anonymous forum. No one who will read this cares about who I am, or will be affected by any differences I make on the planet, presumably. I just don't know what to do anymore. I've taken all the steps. I've been on medication, and nothing works for me, and besides I want a long term fix, not to permanently be reliant on drugs that change my chemistry. I can't be sure if I like myself because I don't have confidence in my own opinion, and I am not sure who I am anyway. I can't identify as anything. I'm female, and I'm male. I have more than one will and voice in my head. But because I love my family and the people around me I can never reveal the extent of the collapse of information in my head. All I can be sure of is how I feel, because it's in the present. I feel love, I feel fear of losing that love. I am yearning for a purpose to my suffering. I need to know I am making something for this world that isn't negative, that contributes to humanity. But all I feel is loneliness. And shame. And then fear. And sometimes anger. But mostly it is just heavy, lethargic sadness. As soon as I am on my own, I am crushed. I can barely take this anymore.

thehiss NOTHING WILL HELP
  • replies: 4

I've been a depression victim for several years but the last couple of weeks have been awful since I have stopped taking my AD. I feel like I'm living the same day over and over again doing the same things at home and wasting my life away. I can't re... View more

I've been a depression victim for several years but the last couple of weeks have been awful since I have stopped taking my AD. I feel like I'm living the same day over and over again doing the same things at home and wasting my life away. I can't really go out by myself because of my anxiety and have to keep relying on my mum to take me places which is unfair on her. As it stands I'm so bleak and down and horrible it feels like no therapy, place, people, things or medication will ever help me, like I'm never going to get on top of this. I keep thinking about other people that are out enjoying their lives doing their own things feeling happy and I often wonder how they do it. I have been talking to my GP and Psychiatrist about it but its like they don't really understand. I have an appointment with a new Psychologist next week but I am kind of dreading it because it will just be the same stuff, I explain to them how I feel but they really don't understand. Has anyone else experienced this kind of situation?

150lashes Not fitting in
  • replies: 14

Has anyone ever felt that they just don't fit in anywhere? Maybe you don't fit in with their old best school buddies anymore, because they are still out there living the dream and you have settled down with a family and kids? Maybe ​you don't fit in ... View more

Has anyone ever felt that they just don't fit in anywhere? Maybe you don't fit in with their old best school buddies anymore, because they are still out there living the dream and you have settled down with a family and kids? Maybe ​you don't fit in with the business world anymore because you're no longer part of it? Because you quit. Because of circumstances. Maybe you don't fit in with the ​mums in your kids class at school pick up because they are stay at home mums and you can't relate to the same things? Maybe you feel jealous at people that have the life you could have had, the ones who got the good opportunities? Maybe you hate the so called "mentor" that you trusted, because they promised you an opportunity that you really wanted and they gave it to someone else. And everytime you turn up to their business it's in your face that it isn't your opportunity. And you have to live with that and pretend you don't care. Maybe you just don't fit in anywhere at all and you wonder if things will ever change.

thestruggle My constant battle with depression.
  • replies: 38

Hi. This is my first post, I normally call support services or seek advice from my GP but today someone thought it may benefit me to join the forums. I have suffered with depression since the start of highschool. I'm 24 now and I feel well over half ... View more

Hi. This is my first post, I normally call support services or seek advice from my GP but today someone thought it may benefit me to join the forums. I have suffered with depression since the start of highschool. I'm 24 now and I feel well over half of my days are a real struggle. I find it hard to get excited about anything, nothing really gives me much pleasure and sometimes when it is really bad; I feel trapped and so alone. Stress is a real trigger for me. I feel incapable most of the time to help or look after myself. I don't have many friends and I feel that I am a constant burden on my family. I haven't felt "right" for a long time and I struggle to eat most days. I'm not sure how detailed I should get here, I don't see much point in typing out all of my personal issues or problems just yet. I just thought I should try to make contact with people who are also struggling with day to day life and maybe for once not feel so alone. Thanks for reading.

MissKima I think I am about to have a breakdown
  • replies: 3

I had a bad night last night. Usually I try to listen to music to get to sleep and let me relax. Last night I couldn't. All I could hear in my head was reminders and memories of times when I embarrassed myself, or when I was made fun of, when people ... View more

I had a bad night last night. Usually I try to listen to music to get to sleep and let me relax. Last night I couldn't. All I could hear in my head was reminders and memories of times when I embarrassed myself, or when I was made fun of, when people yelled at me. How I have noone to depend on and how noone understands. I have Anxiety as well and I felt so nervous and jittery I couldn't relax. It has been getting worse for days. My mister is great and supports me as best he can, but he doesn't understand and constantly worries he has done something and I am draining him... I haven't really left the house in weeks apart from food shopping. I don't have a job despite looking for one, I'm scared a lot of finding one too, and dealing with people. I don't like myself or where my life is at, and I feel like I am about to lose it completely. I want to see a psych but I am waiting on a call because my GP put in a plan because I am super broke right now. I don't know what to do.

Bobbi Here We Go Again!
  • replies: 14

It's been a while since I wrote a post on here (hear the guilt?). Depression has set in so far for over 2 weeks. Today is one of the worse days. I have housework to do, I need to order medication, I need sleep, I need to have a shower and so on and s... View more

It's been a while since I wrote a post on here (hear the guilt?). Depression has set in so far for over 2 weeks. Today is one of the worse days. I have housework to do, I need to order medication, I need sleep, I need to have a shower and so on and so on. The guilt and lethargy seems to be ruling my day today. I know lack of sleep (caused by fibromyalgia) is playing an integral part in the depression hanging around and yet I don't like feeling like I sleep all the time. I feel more guilty when I do sleep during the day even though I know its imperative for my health. I am struggling to do anything much at all. Even eating...again, imperative for my health. I have these tools I usually use when I am depressed and I don't even feel like using those. My brain is saying, put off the washing up until later, its not going anywhere. No one is coming over today, you don't need to shower right now. Take the rubbish out tonight when no one is around. Order the medication tomorrow, you have enough to last you 3 more days. Wow, just typing this down makes me feel even more guilty and more self critical. It makes me feel like I'm drowning and there's no steps on the side of the deep, dark pool. There's nothing under my feet to stand on. It's just dark and cold and dark and lonely and did I mention dark? Now for the tools..... Sitting at my desk is not going to help me to achieve what I need to do to help myself and no one else can do the things I need to. So first things first, set 1 or 2 goals for the day. My goals today are to do the washing up and to have a shower. Will I feel less depressed after doing these things? Probably not but at least there will be 2 things I've done that need doing. I also need to eat lunch and get something out for dinner. These are necessities to live and so do not go on my goal list. After doing the dishes, I'm going to reward myself by watching a movie. So on that note, I'm going to go make lunch. It's 1.10 pm here and the longer I sit and do nothing, the less likely it is that I will eat and/or achieve my goals. I hope you all have as best day as you can.

here Fed up
  • replies: 1

I'm an aspiring actor and musician. I work odd jobs to pay my way in between artistic pursuits. I like working - a lot. It gives one a feeling of belonging and accomplishment. Unfortunately, a lot of the jobs involve working in less than inspiring en... View more

I'm an aspiring actor and musician. I work odd jobs to pay my way in between artistic pursuits. I like working - a lot. It gives one a feeling of belonging and accomplishment. Unfortunately, a lot of the jobs involve working in less than inspiring environments and with some vicious personalities. I'm quite a sensitive soul. I don't mind hard work, in fact I like it, as long as there are positive people around me. I don't belittle people and when someone belittles me I find that after all this time, I shouldn't have to put up with someone judging me and making me feel small. I think I have depression. Or anxiety. Or a mixture of the two. I exercise - intensely. But I'm easily tired of late, and I think it's down to the dire financial situation I'm in. To think that there's an audition round the corner which will propel me into a successful acting career seems highly unlikely. I don't want to be the result of a typical failed actor who ended up a drop out. But I'm in such a solitary position. And there's only so much rejection a person can take. Especially in a big city where money is king and without it one is a useless tramp. I don't drink alcohol anymore. I thought this may help. I don't know where to turn. I don't know if there's anywhere to turn anymore. I'm sick of being a second rate citizen.

Emgirl Flat!
  • replies: 2

I'm sure everyone has found times where they are having continuously flat and emotionless periods of depression? What are ways you cope with this? What helps you get out of these periods?

I'm sure everyone has found times where they are having continuously flat and emotionless periods of depression? What are ways you cope with this? What helps you get out of these periods?

Karl23 Just saying hello/needing support
  • replies: 9

Hi I'm Karl. I'm in my late 20s and have suffered from bouts of depression since I was 13. Just in the last few days I have decided that I need to reach out and get some support because it's terrible that I have spent nearly 20 years being sad. It's ... View more

Hi I'm Karl. I'm in my late 20s and have suffered from bouts of depression since I was 13. Just in the last few days I have decided that I need to reach out and get some support because it's terrible that I have spent nearly 20 years being sad. It's been a vicious cycle. I've lost 2 friends to cancer in the last year and a family member passed away in January. I'm having a hard time coping and I'm not looking after myself properly. i am so lucky to have a girlfriend that loves and cares for me so much and she is always there for me. But I need to give her some relief and need support from others. I want to own my life. If anybody from Perth knows of any support groups that may be of help I would very much appreciate it. I just want to be happy. Like we all do and deserve to be!

DWR Nightmares and unpleasant dreams - how to cope?
  • replies: 10

For a few weeks now I have been having nightmares and unpleasant dreams all through the night, usually more than 2 a night. I get to sleep at a decent hour and wake up completely drained and in a terrible mood. A lot of them I don't remember yet they... View more

For a few weeks now I have been having nightmares and unpleasant dreams all through the night, usually more than 2 a night. I get to sleep at a decent hour and wake up completely drained and in a terrible mood. A lot of them I don't remember yet they've put me in a bad mood all day. Sometimes its about people from work, if we had a fight or they said horrible things to me or about me. The dream felt so real its hard to forget the fact it was a dream. Which makes me analyse over everything they say to me and how they say it. On top of this, my nail biting habits have gone a bit far. I have been biting the skin on my fingers to the point they bleed. Its an unconscious habit that I'm finding hard to stop. I am seeing a therapist next week (first time with this person), which is making me nervous, which will most likely fuel these dreams and habits.