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

Ciara I'm too scared to tell anyone how i feel.
  • replies: 4

There are so many depressing things going on in my life and i dont know hot to cope. I'm not good with expressing my feelings so what do i do. How do i have this conversation with my parents or my family. Im just so angry and frustrated. I need help ... View more

There are so many depressing things going on in my life and i dont know hot to cope. I'm not good with expressing my feelings so what do i do. How do i have this conversation with my parents or my family. Im just so angry and frustrated. I need help before it gets worse. Please can anybody help me.

white knight Newly diagnosed with depression? What to expect.
  • replies: 15

You’ve been diagnosed with depression possibly anxiety as well beforehand that led to depression. Your Doctor starts you on medication and you return home. You arrive home and the first thing you decide is to ring a friend. But your friend who has a ... View more

You’ve been diagnosed with depression possibly anxiety as well beforehand that led to depression. Your Doctor starts you on medication and you return home. You arrive home and the first thing you decide is to ring a friend. But your friend who has a good ear normally cant help you, that’s what they believe. After 15 minutes the conversation drifts off into talking about the nightclub she visited last weekend and the guy she met. You’re alone. The same thing happens with family members but they listen more intently. Over time they too feel the stress of not being able to reach into your mind to fix the problem. Even though they do their best it isn’t enough. You are still alone. You visit your club members. They have a BBQ at a park and show their cars off. You are so much under the dizziness of medication you are emotional. You begin to talk about this to a “friend” and the friend turns to you and says “I’m here for fun and more fun, not to listen to this…snap out of it”!! You prepare dinner and your defacto arrives home from work. He/she listens, you weep and you drink a cuppa. But it seems you cant get enough of their time and support. This process is likely what you are going to experience as a newly diagnosed person with emotional troubles. So here are some tips for those wandering around wondering about their future- 1/ Don’t expect anyone to understand Google- “Topic: they just wont understand, why?- beyondblue” 2/ Accept your illness. Fighting it wont work and that will be unfair to others in your life “Topic: depression a ship on the high seas- beyondblue” and “Topic: Do we expect a smooth road in life- beyondblue” 3/ Expect the future of your illness to be a lifelong management work in progress not something anyone will cure. 4/ Be sympathetic with your loved ones “Topic: who cares for the carer?- beyondblue” and “Topic: embracing the embracer- beyondblue” 5/ Realise you might need to revert back to some basic living “Topic: MELTDOWN, back to basics- beyondblue” 6/ Investigate the positives “topic: Depression, are there any positives?- beyondblue” 7/ Become positive “Topic: 30 minutes can change your life- beyondblue” 8/ Stick to your doctors orders and visit often “Topic: medication is a whirlpool- beyondblue” 9/ Rely on yourself “topic: the best praise you’ll ever get- beyondblue” 10/ Get on with life. “Topic: Getting depression into perspective- beyondblue” Can you add to this? Tony WK

topsy_ Is it always going to be this hard??
  • replies: 19

I'm nearly 60 & have had depression & PTSD since my late teens. I've had counselling, meds, even ECT. I am so much better than my worst years but the down times still come. If they're short lasting I can manage okay but when the depression really dec... View more

I'm nearly 60 & have had depression & PTSD since my late teens. I've had counselling, meds, even ECT. I am so much better than my worst years but the down times still come. If they're short lasting I can manage okay but when the depression really decides to hang around for longer than normal it's tough going. I have so many more coping skills than when I was younger. But when the time drags on I start to doubt - even forget! - that I will get better. Thoughts/tips anyone?? Please.

anamethathasntbeenused depression/anxiety causing alcoholism.
  • replies: 3

I've recently been looking into online help options. Nothing so far has been helpful. I need to talk to people that are fighting, or know what it's like. The AA chat room wasn't for me. Too many people talking about unrelated topics. Looking for some... View more

I've recently been looking into online help options. Nothing so far has been helpful. I need to talk to people that are fighting, or know what it's like. The AA chat room wasn't for me. Too many people talking about unrelated topics. Looking for some real advice and coping strategies. Face to face meetings just aren't for me yet.

sqzr Need short-term advice
  • replies: 9

I need some short term advice; should I find a counselor where I am right now or head home and find a counselor there? I am on a road-trip 'holiday' currently in Hervey Bay. It's a long story but I essentially decided to sell my place, quit my job, t... View more

I need some short term advice; should I find a counselor where I am right now or head home and find a counselor there? I am on a road-trip 'holiday' currently in Hervey Bay. It's a long story but I essentially decided to sell my place, quit my job, take the cash and just go on a road-trip up the east coast in hopes of finding somewhere to disappear to and maybe find a job but really I'm just wandering aimlessly. I've made it from Sydney to Cairns and now heading back down south. I've just given up, I'm sitting in a holiday park cabin and I'm literally struggling to move out of bed. I'm struggling to do everyday tasks right now. It's ludicrous and embarrassing. I don't want to sound like a drama-queen or stupid but the best I can describe is that I literally cannot bring myself to leave the cabin, to search online for jobs locally, to walk to the bathroom. I am feeling literally empty, not happy or sad or suicidal, just completely empty and given up. As dramatic as I sound, this is literally how I feel and I cannot bring myself to do anything. Is this depression or something. It would be great to know what the hell is happening to me right now and what I should do?

sami Lone Wolf
  • replies: 1

I had depression for many years after losing my parents, I had several disasterous relationships including a marriage that was devastating. I fled my marriage with nothing, changed my job, got a dog and started to rebuild my life. As silly as it soun... View more

I had depression for many years after losing my parents, I had several disasterous relationships including a marriage that was devastating. I fled my marriage with nothing, changed my job, got a dog and started to rebuild my life. As silly as it sounds having my dog really helped lift my depression (I really worry sometimes about how I will cope if I lose her one day as I adopted her as an older dog) and while I am aware it can always come creeping back in it is nowhere near as intense as it used to be and I feel content most days now. What I am unable to do however is to form another relationship, I have no friends, family or partner. I tried to date but really just don't feel up for it, everytime anyone expresses any interest in me I just bail out afraid of coping with what could just become another emotional rollercoaster. I was always in relationships from 17 to 40 and I don't mind being on my own now, I have been alone for four years now and I have my pets and feel safe and settled, I'm afraid if I let someone in it will disrupt all the harmony and peace I have created, I feel like I am still in the process of rebuilding my life and finding out who I really am and what I really want. I don't have family and only one or two acquaintences, no real friends. I'd like to make a few friends but don't trust people much and seem to get used and treated badly by people I try to befriend. The last two people I have tried to befriend have borrowed money or items from me and not returned or repayed them, I just feel used so now I don't even bother trying. I love my pets and I run, swim, cycle and go bushwalking and sightseeing but everything I do I do alone. At work I get along with most of the people I work with but my field is male dominated and the only other female I work with is a really unpleasant person so I don't get along with her so have no female friends, just a few male acquaintences. Sometimes I feel a bit sad that I am so alone and have noone to 'shoot the breeze' with so to speak or talk over issues or see a movie or go out to dinner with but then I remember all the pain and turmoil and think I am better off safe and at peace. I wonder if how I am is okay, everyone else seems to have to have lots of people about and I don't. I'm not sure anymore if the way I live is healthy for my state of mind or not as it seems just normal to me now to be alone with noone and cope with absolutely everything on my own?

Stilloutthere Depression and anxiety after drinking
  • replies: 14

Hello all So on the weekend I had a family get together, which I brought my gf to. I love her dearly. After a couple of glasses of wine with lunch, I secretly went to the garage and skulled two bottles of wine. When my gf asked me what was wrong I li... View more

Hello all So on the weekend I had a family get together, which I brought my gf to. I love her dearly. After a couple of glasses of wine with lunch, I secretly went to the garage and skulled two bottles of wine. When my gf asked me what was wrong I lied and said nothing was wrong. I said I hadn't been drinking. I never lie other then when I drink and feel ashamed. Ieffectively abandoned her at my family get together, and she had to drive me home. She can no longer trust me when I am drinking, and I feel a have really betrayed her. I have historically been an alcoholic, and probably a drug addict. Now I hardly drink, but feel like I want to about once a month to check out from the world. I have changed my life incredibly, I meditate, go to gym, and engage with the world in a much more healthy manner. This slip up has made me feel very poorly about myself, especially how I lied to my gf and family. I regret my actions, and feel depressed and anxious about life in general.

150lashes Terrified of going back + No confidence
  • replies: 13

I've been struggling with depression and anxiety and over the last week made a big turning point where I am feeling a lot better. My thinking is clear I'd say about 85% back to normal, I'm eating and drinking properly and have kicked the alcohol. How... View more

I've been struggling with depression and anxiety and over the last week made a big turning point where I am feeling a lot better. My thinking is clear I'd say about 85% back to normal, I'm eating and drinking properly and have kicked the alcohol. However I feel terrified of going back to where I was and I feel like I'm desperately clinging on to how I feel now as I'm afraid if I let my guard down I'll slip back to the black wave I also have no confidence whatsoever. The fire I'm my belly to achieve and get out there whether it be work study or otherwise seems to be gone. I lead a simple life. I get up of a day go for a refreshing walk or bike ride, do some cooking, catch up with friends for lunch, do school pick ups, after school activities, take photos of the sunset and other scenic shots. Finish the day with a good meal, a good book and repeat. That's all I seem to be interested in. But I have mortgages, responsibility and a good career - I can't understand how I have no desire to do anything about this. Any suggestions? Is this normal?

Jess_bee Crying for help.
  • replies: 3

Tomorrow i am going to a beyond blue fundraiser for my friend who died last year. I wanted my partner to come with me enjoy the day out and most of all support me because i am falling apart. My kids are what make me get up each morning, if it weren't... View more

Tomorrow i am going to a beyond blue fundraiser for my friend who died last year. I wanted my partner to come with me enjoy the day out and most of all support me because i am falling apart. My kids are what make me get up each morning, if it weren't for them i don't know where i would be. Im crying out for his help and his closing the door. I cant keep doing this.

saviourseth how do you keep going ?
  • replies: 4

Hi. I am a 44 year old female who has been diagnosed with depression for 20 years. I have been on and off meds over the years and tried numerous drs also. No luck really. It never goes away. It's just some days I cope and a lot of weeks I don't. Most... View more

Hi. I am a 44 year old female who has been diagnosed with depression for 20 years. I have been on and off meds over the years and tried numerous drs also. No luck really. It never goes away. It's just some days I cope and a lot of weeks I don't. Most days i bite my lip and carry on. Recently i am finding that harder day by day. I have had recent relationship issues and broke up with a partner of 10 years and am now with an old partner who i have recently discovered is an alcoholic. Last week I was made redundant from my job and yesterday i found out my mum has 6 months to live. That tunnel of blackness seems to have no end in sight. Its hard enough to cope under normal circumstances and now i feel like i am terrified of every new day. So much so that i dont want to go to bed. any tips?