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: 0

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

Circles Feeling empty and lost
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, I've never posted on here before but I have found myself feeling absolutely miserable lately and empty inside. I'm at a loss as to how to overcome these feelings of emptiness and feeling lost in life. I don't know if I have depresssion my Dr... View more

Hi guys, I've never posted on here before but I have found myself feeling absolutely miserable lately and empty inside. I'm at a loss as to how to overcome these feelings of emptiness and feeling lost in life. I don't know if I have depresssion my Dr has suggested anti depressants. I have had a lot of stuff happen over the last few months- I injured my knee and can't work and am awaiting surgery. I can't play sport because of it and am usually very active. I've had to move house and I find myself hating my new place. And I've also had issues with a guy who is constantly hot and cold towards me. Whenever I go to him for help he is cold yet if he comes to me on his terms it's a different story. He has helped me out financially and stuff but says he doesnt want a relationship with me. So I guess the past month or so I have found myself so miserable and feeling down. Even when around friends I feel teary and crap. I feel so alone and do lost and empty. Sorry for the long post. Just wondering if anyone has any tips as to how to het through feeling this way

janazantar People without it don't understand depression but I really wish that wasn't true
  • replies: 21

So I've had a tough week with my black dog nipping at my heels or lying on my chest weighing it down so I can't breath. At work I lead a close team and knowing I'm struggling right now thought I'd explained as best you can to people with happy lives ... View more

So I've had a tough week with my black dog nipping at my heels or lying on my chest weighing it down so I can't breath. At work I lead a close team and knowing I'm struggling right now thought I'd explained as best you can to people with happy lives why I may seem withdrawn, quick to tears and not my 'usual' bubbly self - you know to let them feel at ease so they don't think its them or they've done something wrong. Had a really bad morning and there I am in a car with a work mate trying to hold back tears, put some kind of expression on my face and find the energy to speak at all. After getting back to the office this same work mate who is moving to another department seems to be thinking its their leaving that is causing me to be withdrawn, asking whats happened in the last couple of days is seeking answers from other people and telling them that I'm giving them the cold shoulder. Funny since here I was totally embarrassed, humiliated for crying and feeling like a needy, high maintenance drama queen and thought I'd let them know its not them its just a tough time for me right now and I'm struggling but hope this isn't defining me. I'm trying to remember that people without depression have no idea what its like and I can't expect them to understand that once in the grip of depression it doesn't just go away overnight. I've spent the trip home this afternoon in the car both angry and crying wishing there was some way for non-depressed people to get the smallest insight into what's going on inside me right now - without judgement or criticism. The quick and repeated thoughts of self loathing with evidence my sick brain finds everywhere, the despair and panic that it isn't going to end, the lump in my throat, the ache in my chest, the feeling like something is squeezing my lungs from the inside and above all that all my decreased energy is being spent on trying to put one foot in front of the other, put some kind of expression on my face while desperately trying not to cry in public and stopping myself from running away from work as fast as possible and never ever going back there. I'm seeing my psychologist every couple of days but even there were I have felt such relief I don't want to talk, I don't want to try. I'm tired of trying to hide my depression so everyone else feels ok when all I want is someone to be strong for me and say its ok - i know this isn't the real you and I won't hold this against you.

Nickname_7CEF15EC-F10D-4A This can't be real
  • replies: 11

I've spent this whole year getting back on my feet and enjoying a slow paced romance. In the last few months I've gotten a new job, a car and grown even closer to my friend/lover. I suffer from depression and anxiety, I do not receive medical attenti... View more

I've spent this whole year getting back on my feet and enjoying a slow paced romance. In the last few months I've gotten a new job, a car and grown even closer to my friend/lover. I suffer from depression and anxiety, I do not receive medical attention and I'm not currently getting any therapy... I've said to myself many times to do so, but like most tasks it seems so hard to do. Mostly things have been getting better and it has been great to connect with someone I feel really understand and respects me... My friend/lover started with one bad day that seemed like a week. After a couple days of no contact which isn't normal, I reached out and asked how I could help... He asked me to forget about him. That he was depressed and hated himself. That he was gonna get help, but that asking me to forget him was harder than he could ever explain... I offered to give him space but revised to simply forget about him. I know that I have no control in this situation, but it has triggered every negative feeling in my while body. I'm a mother, a usually strong person, but I just feel so repeatedly rejected. This hurts even more because I've been so guarded and careful in this relationship and it was beautiful and felt very equally reciprocated... I don't know where to organize anything. I feel a little better than crash, right back destroyed... I pray and pray... This can't be happening

tulpa Apathy
  • replies: 7

I have no will or desire to get things done, sometimes I want things or want to get something done but then I just think why bother my psychiatrist tells me to develop an interest or a passion but I already have so many neglected interests and unfini... View more

I have no will or desire to get things done, sometimes I want things or want to get something done but then I just think why bother my psychiatrist tells me to develop an interest or a passion but I already have so many neglected interests and unfinished projects.

MisterM Is it true depression?
  • replies: 7

I have been diagnosed and am on medication but having read other peoples experiences of depression I feel like I am just being a sook. I don't have the depression where I am unable to get out of bed or eat or shower or dress. I am able to do all thes... View more

I have been diagnosed and am on medication but having read other peoples experiences of depression I feel like I am just being a sook. I don't have the depression where I am unable to get out of bed or eat or shower or dress. I am able to do all these things yet my mood is low, I feel bad about myself and the future.

Arayofsunshine Feeling like everything is going wrong
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone. I'm new to this. I just rang the 1300 number and they were very helpful. Unfortunately had to cut the phone call short as my flatmate came home.. Ive been emotional in the last couple of days. The last few years have been a blur. I think... View more

Hi everyone. I'm new to this. I just rang the 1300 number and they were very helpful. Unfortunately had to cut the phone call short as my flatmate came home.. Ive been emotional in the last couple of days. The last few years have been a blur. I think things came crashing down yesterday and today. I don't know if its the "monthlys", family stress, work stress or the fact that my ex won't share custody with my dog. I think it's a combination of the above and that I do shift work and haven't had proper sleep in 4days! Work- there's a little bully... I've been transferred to a different workplace but same company. Family- obligation to send money to overseas family.. helping out my sibling with his own demons. My father was abusive. I miss my dog. He's a beautiful furchild. Boundless love. Lots if cuddles... Sorry I'm ranting... aimlessly. Hard to type on my phone I cried all day after work. I worked 5am till 1300. Sobs. Tears. A ray of sunshine one day. Is there a higher power.. a "god". Sometimes I feel so lost.. so alone. Yet I feel guilty... cos I'm an adult and should know how to handle my emotions. I need a new job. I need my dog.

Long_neck_19 need help
  • replies: 6

I need help, I know I need help, but I cant make myself get it. I cant go through the breakdowns around someone else and trying to make sense of my thoughts enough to tell someone what im actually trying to say or am feeling. I just cant do it. I don... View more

I need help, I know I need help, but I cant make myself get it. I cant go through the breakdowns around someone else and trying to make sense of my thoughts enough to tell someone what im actually trying to say or am feeling. I just cant do it. I don't know how to make myself. I cant get my partner to understand so how am I supposed to talk to someone else about it all???

Claroque Desperate to Connect
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone. This is strange, and I'm sure this is the third time in my life I have attempted to post something on here. Don't get me wrong, it's not deleted by the monitoring staff - rather it is deleted my myself as I usually come to the conclusio... View more

Hey everyone. This is strange, and I'm sure this is the third time in my life I have attempted to post something on here. Don't get me wrong, it's not deleted by the monitoring staff - rather it is deleted my myself as I usually come to the conclusion that my problems are insignificant and no one wants to hear about it.. so I end up deleting what my heart just poured out. I have been sitting here, starting out the window for the past hour. Just in silence, watching the world go by without me. I need help. I am 26 years old and from Sydney. I am living in a tiny apartment with my partner of four years. I have suffered with depression since high school. I became heavily into drugs shortly after leaving as I felt for the first time I felt happy on them - but the come down made me suicidal. I was able to quit after purging my life of my friends who were also heavily in this scene, but since then though I have also been lonely. I went to university and developed severe anxiety - I dropped 10kg in 3 months and had a BMI if 16. This continued over the next 5 years and I sacrificed everything because the fear of getting below my expectations of 'HD' was debilitating. My depression continued underneath this, although I felt I didn't have time to have these feelings.. than I needed to push on and focus. Many anxiety attacks followed. Now, I'm working in an unstable profession (not much I can do about this), in a horrible workplace (no much I can do about this) and have limited friends (I pushed them all away over the past 5 years). I saw a therapist who was helpful, although I am unable to see her within my working hours. I feel as though I am wasting away. I have no purpose, I have no desire, I have no passion. I feel as though there is nothing for me to do or live for except the happiness of others. Things that used to make me happy seem just to skim across my face in a smile but don't touch my heart. I have tried so many times to reach out to people - I get responses such as 'oh.. that sucks.. anyway how's work?' or 'there's a lot of people in the world that are worse off than you. Be grateful.' My partner listens, but doesn't really know what to say or what to do. I'm just desperate in my moment of clarity for someone to understand, to connect to someone. I want help, and I don't know what to do. I'm tried of being this way. I'm tired of being alone all the time (mentally and physically). I hope this place will help. Ideas? Thanks for reading.

Florrie_Jo Good evening
  • replies: 3

Hi, I am new to the forums however not new to depression and anxiety. I have suffered for about 16 years but probably been at my worst this past year. I do what I can to keep on track and am aware of the signs when I'm heading for the lows. Exercise,... View more

Hi, I am new to the forums however not new to depression and anxiety. I have suffered for about 16 years but probably been at my worst this past year. I do what I can to keep on track and am aware of the signs when I'm heading for the lows. Exercise, meditation, reasonable eating, medication ...unfortunately due to a chronic illness, some of that medication makes it difficult to stay on track. I've have fallen in a heap but don't feel like explaining to anyone..mostly due to the fear of being perceived as weak. Even as I typed that I know it's unreasonable and unfair to make that judgment of others. My family are loving but have enough on their plates without worrying about me. My husband, well he goes fishing to avoid dealing with crying. My two girls keep me going. I know it will pass and it's one foot in front of the other. I'm hoping the forums will make the teeth grinding a bit more bearable during my low.

BB89 Mum with depression..how do other mums cope?
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm a mum to two gorgeous boys 4(almost 5) and 2 and I have depression. I have my good and bad days. It can be so hard to cope with everyday things. Having depression makes me not have as much patience as I use to have I used to be so calm and ha... View more

Hi, I'm a mum to two gorgeous boys 4(almost 5) and 2 and I have depression. I have my good and bad days. It can be so hard to cope with everyday things. Having depression makes me not have as much patience as I use to have I used to be so calm and happy. Now I'm on edge all the time and find it hard to relax. Every few months I reach my limit and break down into tears then I pick myself up again. I just wish I didn't have depression so I could be a happy fun mum. anyone else have a similar story?