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

kanga_brumby Not shoor where to go to from here
  • replies: 4

I have depression for years. I have tried to talk to my family and friends. Now most of my family ignore me , all my friends have moved and not given me there new addresses. One who really understood because she was going through similar stuff. Both ... View more

I have depression for years. I have tried to talk to my family and friends. Now most of my family ignore me , all my friends have moved and not given me there new addresses. One who really understood because she was going through similar stuff. Both of us would be there for each other. Unfortunately passed away. I found out her story and supported her and she me. Now I don't have anyone when I need to vent to vent off steam. I don't wish to lay it on my children.

Wild_ I thought I was through the worst of it, but I feel like I am about to slip backwards...
  • replies: 7

Hi, I'm new here. I have depression. I feel that there is not one person in my life that understands how I feel, and why I can't just "get over it." So here I am - now surrounded by you, who understands. So first of all, thanks. Quick background. My ... View more

Hi, I'm new here. I have depression. I feel that there is not one person in my life that understands how I feel, and why I can't just "get over it." So here I am - now surrounded by you, who understands. So first of all, thanks. Quick background. My depression became significantly worse about 8-10 months ago. I was at a workplace with a toxic culture where I was the new person, and the hierarchy said that I should be told I wasn't good enough for years before I got a permanent job (I was on very short term contracts). I know its not personal, its just the industry, but I couldn't keep taking the rejections and the negativity, but I definitely couldn't make it known to those at work, so I slid. I slid into a depression where I hated going to work. I was constantly told that I should be happy because, after all, I had the dream job. My boyfriend at the time kept saying he understood, but in reality he had no idea. If I was having a bad day, he would say that I'm inconsiderate because I'm not thinking about how he feels when I'm being difficult. I loved him, so of course, I told myself that it was my fault. I told myself that he was really supportive, because at times he did try and make me feel better, but in the long run, it wasn't good for me at all. I have two close friends. One is extremely kind and although she hasn't had depression so doesn't fully understand, she is always willing to listen . The other one is very judgemental about mental illness (I watched how she treated another friend with severe depression), so I don't really talk to her about this. I do have one other friend who suffers from anxiety who I am very grateful for. But these friendships have their limits. Fast forward. I am feeling better than 4 months ago, but I know I'm not there yet. The short-term contract work-I am now without a contract (no guarantees when the next contract will be), living in a home with a controlling sister (who does not understand depression, and unfortunately not willing to try), and a mum who has had mental health issues for 20+ years (who understands, however imagine us if we both have really bad days on the same day). I can't leave because I don't have a stable income. I am terrified that too much time home alone will allow me to get in my own head. To spiral backwards. To slip back into day-in, day-out, curled up on the couch feeling completely worthless. There are things to do, but I'm finding it hard to motivate myself.

Bluererer Go it alone or go along? Family is offering 'solutions' not support.
  • replies: 2

Hi all! This is a very condensed version of what has happened but I am in my 50's and had to leave work after being bullied. I got a small payout but after 18+ months not working, I have used up every bit of savings and am now living day to day finan... View more

Hi all! This is a very condensed version of what has happened but I am in my 50's and had to leave work after being bullied. I got a small payout but after 18+ months not working, I have used up every bit of savings and am now living day to day financially. I have tried working manual jobs because I don't feel like I could cope working in the industry I was in, but my body just cant handle it for long periods of time. I have set up a small business but the income is very inconsistent. One close family member has discommunicated me (is that a word?) after I went through a paranoid/delusional period which was more painful than I ever imagined and has given my family and friends their version of what my 'problem' is. So without consultation or discussing my needs with me or even my diagnosis, they arranged to bring me 'home' and offered to buy me a ticket. But this would mean giving up my very cheap accommodation, and my dog, the few friends I have and I would have no means of financial support. And now I am feeling a bit pressured because every time I talk to them I am asked if I miss home, I get a barrage of family pics and I get the impression they think I'm just mismanaging my life rather than coping with PTSD and severe depression (which is what the professionals say), not to mention my physical limitations which are also being minimised. I have worked so hard to stay out of hospital and have joined a support group, take my dog and therefore myself for walks, and generally am trying my hardest to get better. So I feel that this attitude is keeping me down rather than picking me up. Nobody asks how I am doing, or what will help, and conversations are cut short if I ever mention my mental health and steered back to general safe subjects. On the other hand, I have reconnected with a dear friend who is incredibly supportive. I'm now wondering if it is my depression that is making me think this way, or would it be better to avoid my family for a while?

Housegirl How do you shake it off?
  • replies: 5

Hi, I have a great life; a wonderful husband, kids, job I love, house I love, pets. From the outside I could look like I have it all. I'm so exhausted from battling the negative emotions and feelings of not being liked/accepted. I've done so much cou... View more

Hi, I have a great life; a wonderful husband, kids, job I love, house I love, pets. From the outside I could look like I have it all. I'm so exhausted from battling the negative emotions and feelings of not being liked/accepted. I've done so much counselling and self work through my life I know all the things I should be saying to myself and deep down I know how loved I am by my family. Why can't I stop these feelings of worthlessness?? it was pounded in to me by my mother - I'm worthless, I have a terrible personality, it's a wonder I have any friends... I cannot overcome these fundamental beliefs. I can make friends fine but can't seem to hold them. I think I'm too needy, overshare, clingy? Then every time I get dropped by a friend all the things my mother told me become reinforced. I beat myself up for ages about what I did wrong, how it was my fault. I wish I could just shake it off. i am currently feeling so worthless, disliked and ganged up on. How do you get all the mantras/work you've done to actually change your patterns? I'm feeling so hopeless.

SonjaKS7 music and some anxious and/or depressive thoughts? how to cope? any suggestions?
  • replies: 13

Anyone influenced by their music, or do they think their emotions, dictate their music? I'm feeling like sometimes my music dictates my mood, and other times my mood dictates what I want to hear. I sometimes listen to sad music, and it puts me in a s... View more

Anyone influenced by their music, or do they think their emotions, dictate their music? I'm feeling like sometimes my music dictates my mood, and other times my mood dictates what I want to hear. I sometimes listen to sad music, and it puts me in a space, UN-attached from my emotions, but I feel the mood and context of the music subjectively, other times, I hear the tonality, and it changes my mood/and, or perception of my 'self' mood, then there are times, I clearly perceive the difference between which is dictating which. and those days are really hard for me to get through, because I feel happy, I know things are good, and I just have a niggle that pushes me one way or another, and I then somehow, WHOLEHEARTEDLY fall into that grade in my mentality, and sometimes that can really put me into a week/month long mood of said period. Example; start Jan. Mediocrity, ensuing, personal AND family, AND best friend issues lead to mediocre end Jan, birthday call to dad. 1 wk before partners b'day, few drinks, next day kids, school, nothing SPECIAL, quick bite out with partner, time, between1-2:30, feeling loss of perception of self, something weird, loss of visual focus, to the point of grasping partners arm and making him stop to let me get my grounding. He was a total champ on HIS birthday for ME, because some kind of stress just GRIPPED ME, thankgod he drove home. then for a week or 2 after that, just didn't feel like myself, AT ALL, and felt like I was seeing everything from the outside perspective, and not understanding certain choices of my own making. then things STARTED getting better, and some skin condition on my hands errupted, now still falling a little behind in planning an 8 yr old's birthday, for fear of not having given her a fun-filled child-of own age- ridden party YET. the school mothers are mostly what scares me the most about that, I fear by April, I will be too burnt out for my own birthday to do anything other than sit in a corner rocking, and my partner love him, will do whatever I want, I know, but for now my freak-out is trying to help my child. HOW do parents cope with these situations towards their child? how do you handle the stress and then explain it to a 5 and 8 yr old, or not, but put it into their perspective, without awakening something that may haunt them? without making them worry or think they'll genetically inherit nuances? so does this pre-dispose them by nurture or nature? They more prone genetically or thought-influenced?

Skuz89 I don't know anymore
  • replies: 3

Hi my name is Brett i have just recently diagnosed with server depression, I don't know what really to say but my wife said to do something about and I'm trying my hardest. Don't want to lose her or my daugther. I've been on medication for two days a... View more

Hi my name is Brett i have just recently diagnosed with server depression, I don't know what really to say but my wife said to do something about and I'm trying my hardest. Don't want to lose her or my daugther. I've been on medication for two days and my thoughts are just relying on the medication, but I don't know what else to do. I don't know if anyone knows how to help but everyone is trying to. Just feel like crying all the time just feel like I'm a failure I'm not a good dad husband work, feel like I'm a failure as a person, I get angry with everything I do, feel like putting a few holes in the wall then I brake down and cry just want to b left alone just hate feeling like this, and it's to do with my past as well, and how I am financially with debt feels like I let my family down everyday with everything I say or do, I don't know what to say or do without thinking it's going to cause a problem or a fight or something that I'll hate myself more. That's y gave up football last year and gave up gym I just don't believe anymore. And I'm scared that I'm going to do the same to my family and don't want to do that my girls. But I can't stop the way I'm thinking and feel and how I get so angry with everything I do. Feels like I'm walking around on eggs shells waiting for someone to have a go at me every minute. If someone says I've done a good job I still think I could've done better and hate myself for it. I had a panic attack which I never had before signing happy birthday to a follow colleague had to walk out felt like I couldn't breath. I get angry during the night while I sleep my jaw hurts coz I clinch my teeth my wife says I get all tense and scared of waking me, I wake up angry one day or wake up upset another day. dont know what else to do Sorry

Ophelia_22 Desperate to talk to someone one
  • replies: 8

Hi I joined this site when I had nowhere to turn and desperately needed just to talk to someone. I honestly thought this was a support site where desperate people like myself could connect in desperate times but all I received was an email telling me... View more

Hi I joined this site when I had nowhere to turn and desperately needed just to talk to someone. I honestly thought this was a support site where desperate people like myself could connect in desperate times but all I received was an email telling me that I would be contacted soon....that contact from this site never came....not for me! Even this site finds me invisible.

Winnie31 Depressed and Shy
  • replies: 2

I am feeling really down & hve that emptiness feeling, I only hve a cpl of friends & they find it hard to understand what I'm going thru. I am now on my 3rd lot of medication this one taking 4wks to work now starting the 4th week I still feel like th... View more

I am feeling really down & hve that emptiness feeling, I only hve a cpl of friends & they find it hard to understand what I'm going thru. I am now on my 3rd lot of medication this one taking 4wks to work now starting the 4th week I still feel like there is no change. I cope thru the wk due to work but the weekends are the worst, I use to play indoor national netball but due to so many injuries I can't play anymore, I have a PT at the gym I go once a wk but I am so exhausted to go more times. I am tired when I go to bed but when I put my head down I am wide awake even with several sleeping pills. When I do go out with the cpl of friends I have it's normally really good as we do things (go to their place, go shopping - small outings) but I am feeling so low lately even my partner who I don't live with is supportive but at times finds it very frustrating. I am trying to save to move out of the parents in with my partner but being burnt from other partners I am very hesitant which I feel a burden to my partner that I am scared he will end it even thou he says he wont. I am very shy that in a large group I clam up but with one or two ppl I am ok, I want to get out and do something a hobby or a sport I can do with my injuries {knee and shoulder} but I do not know what to do ( I'm certainly not an arts & crafts person lol) When ppl do ask me to go out to say tupperware parties I am in one of my moods where I just dont want to go, they try & after several attempts of trying to get me to do things they give up needless to say they end up drifting away and most of the time it is just me & my partner which gets very boring as we always do the same things all the time. I like being around other ppl and by the time sunday comes around I long to be back at work to be around ppl to challenge my mind push myself etc. I find I am in a rut & have been for many years I have seen a physiologist but find it better if I am doing things surround myself with ppl doing small outings like going to the fireworks etc I am a very simple girl I just don't know what my interests are or what to do.

Bon Depression and anxiety took over my life completely
  • replies: 4

Hi guys I am now a member. I have been reading everyone forums on line and it made me feel a little better about my self knowing that there are actually people I can talk to going though the same thing as me. My name is Bonnie I'm 26 always knew I ha... View more

Hi guys I am now a member. I have been reading everyone forums on line and it made me feel a little better about my self knowing that there are actually people I can talk to going though the same thing as me. My name is Bonnie I'm 26 always knew I had a bit of a problem until one day it just took over my life completely. I wouldn't wish it apon anyone. The last couple of years I just shut everyone out of my life knowing I couldn't pretty much leave my house and that empty feeling inside feeling sad all the time over thinking things and sometimes feeling like your going crazy. I finally went to my doctor and admitted that something was wrong. I now have to go see a special doctor but haven't made the appointment yet I'm a little scared it about it is it going to help me.

MickT I need help, because I don't know what else to do.
  • replies: 2

I work in hospitality and am in my late 40's. My wife also works with me. Our General Manager has all the classical symptoms of a sociopath. Our staff are bullied and constantly abused. I have endured a fluctuating period that flows between being a r... View more

I work in hospitality and am in my late 40's. My wife also works with me. Our General Manager has all the classical symptoms of a sociopath. Our staff are bullied and constantly abused. I have endured a fluctuating period that flows between being a respected member of management to being an employee who feels that their days are numbered. This is a weekly cycle that I have endured for over 4 years. I must add that my actual workload is stressful enough. My days off now find me confined to bed so as to escape the reality of my world. I drink too much alcohol and look at suicide as a credible option because I don't know what I can do to escape this lifestyle without sacrificing income and at my stage of life I don't know where I can source income for the future. I wonder if my circumstance is unique in this industry but sadly it appears that it is not.