Support
Support

Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

Start a conversation

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
Categories
Start a conversation

Pinned discussions

BeyondBlue Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started
  • replies: 0

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for ... View more

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for coming this far, we know it can be really hard to take these steps if depression is in your life - we see you and think this is a great step. To get the most out of this space we have a few tips: Get involved. The Forums work best for you when you get active and post where you can. Now, we know that can be really hard, especially when you are experiencing depression. So, if you can post something supportive to someone else here, that would be an incredible start. Speak from the heart. This community wants to know how YOU feel and what has worked for YOU. We trust that you have something unique to say and we can’t wait to hear it. Check in. Lots of the discussions in this section of the Forums have been going for years and they are some of the richest conversations we have. Keep checking in to get new ideas and offer your support. We know it can be tough to start, but when you are ready we want to hear your thoughts. If you need some time to get to know the community, that's okay! Have a look around and see where you want to get involved. Thank you for being here! Beyond Blue

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.

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 conversation

Shivers88 BIpolar - is it Hypomania/Mania?
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, so I've been diagnosed anxiety disorder, and I find myself my entire life becoming so overwhelmed at anything, whether it be from stress, from not getting things done on time and even excitement. can someone tell me the feeling of hypomania?... View more

Hi guys, so I've been diagnosed anxiety disorder, and I find myself my entire life becoming so overwhelmed at anything, whether it be from stress, from not getting things done on time and even excitement. can someone tell me the feeling of hypomania? Because my anxiety disorder gives me false beliefs that I may be Bi Polar even though my clinical osycologist saids I'm not.. Whenever i get tensed, stressed or evenly overly excited or overwhelmed I get panicky, my heart races and my fight or flight physical symptoms become present. And with this feeling, sometimes I'm feeling I am going through mania??? But I can calm myself down and I'll be ok again. It's like all my life I've always rushed to get things done and if they're not done I'm constantly going over in my head that I have to get it done to be satisfied. It's like maladaptive perfectionism. Can someone explain that hypomania and mania is the symptoms above? My husband rushes with everything so it's possible I've learnt his traits. Please let me know what your experiences are....

BeyondConfused Losing hope
  • replies: 6

Hello im new to this so sorry if i miss some things im a 24 yr old female and i have had depression for about 20 years now when i was a child i did see help but hardly remember most of it when i dont to my teenager years i was still seeing people to ... View more

Hello im new to this so sorry if i miss some things im a 24 yr old female and i have had depression for about 20 years now when i was a child i did see help but hardly remember most of it when i dont to my teenager years i was still seeing people to help with my depression but was also started on anti-depressants being a teenager i thought after awhile cool the meds worked i dont need them anymore but the depression did come back but didnt seek help for it until after my daugther was born when i was around 21 i went back to my doctors was sent to see professional help but was also put back onto anti-depressants but sadly 4 days after being on it i had seizures in my sleep and was placed into an induced coma after getting to hospital apperently i had a 10 minute seizure and now i have epilepsy after the i was put on a different anti-depressant and had more seizures my doctor explained it looks like the medication were causing my seizures so now i cant even taking any type of anti-depressants ever. I am in need of help i dont know what to do i have no family support at all and noticed seeing professional help dont help either. I know i have depression due to alot of abused in my life and cause of somethings that have happened to me which i just started opening up too. I just dont know what to do anymore everything i try to help me doesnt seem to work or wont its got to the point to were i have now become a recluse and i juat dont want to be like this anymore and i dont want my daugther to see me like this anymore she should see a happy person not the person that i have been betraying its hurts so much

GeorgieBelle Please help
  • replies: 2

I am stuck in a rut of frustration, stress and sadness and I cannot find my way out. I feel increasingly anxious and increasingly depressed. My self esteem has plummeted. I am constantly tired. I am tired of being invisible. I am tired of putting in ... View more

I am stuck in a rut of frustration, stress and sadness and I cannot find my way out. I feel increasingly anxious and increasingly depressed. My self esteem has plummeted. I am constantly tired. I am tired of being invisible. I am tired of putting in so much effort with people, and then not getting anything back. I look for the best in people and it continues to backfire and hurt me. It is taking me longer to get to sleep at night, yet always feel like I am about to fall asleep. I feel like I am always about to cry. I am so tired of trying. Please help me.

StayingPos77 Just needing some support
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Feeling very overwhelmed by life at the moment, and just needing to reach out for some support. To give you some background im a 38 year old male and have struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life. At the moment feeling partic... View more

Hi all, Feeling very overwhelmed by life at the moment, and just needing to reach out for some support. To give you some background im a 38 year old male and have struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life. At the moment feeling particularly sad, stressed and anxious. I have a wife and two young children and facing a lot of challenges. My job is very stressful and the expectations are insurmountable. We are facing financial pressure, and managing the home finances are my responsibility, and finding it very difficult to make ends meet. Also struggling with my relationship with my wife. I feel quite disrespected and not supported much. My wife believes that depression is always solved through medication and says she has no sympathy because im not doing anything to help myself. Unfortunately ive been down the road of antidepressant medication in the past and with absolutely no effect. To seek professional help is financialy out of reach at the moment, hence why im here :-). Needing to make lots of decisions at the moment, trying to look for a new job, considering what to do about my relationship, trying to reduce my stress levels etc. Not a good time to do it when im teary, sad and the pressure makes my chest hurt. I just need some understanding and someone to work with me through the issues, rather than feeling alone in the struggle. I'm not feeling hopeful at the moment, i haven't had plan work out in a very long time. Oh well, must stay strong and keep trying. For my sake and that of my children, i need to find a happy place in life. A place where i can find myself again. Re-learn to like being me. To be able to sit in a quiet room and not feel the need to have my stressful, sad thoughts drowned out by tv etc. Just feel like staying in bed all day. Hiding from life. Burying my head in the sand. But as i said, im looking for a new job and trying my best to make changes. Lets hope a plan finally comes together. Thank you for listening! Any helpful, supporting words would be greatly appreciated. Thank you beyondblue for being such a wonderful organization! Keep up the awesome work. Cheers!

Frangipani Isolating myself
  • replies: 12

Such a struggle at the moment to talk about my feelings, it's so much easier to pretend to be ok. I have struggled with depression/anxiety for so long now, the main reason due to not being able to have a child I feel so angry at myself for getting so... View more

Such a struggle at the moment to talk about my feelings, it's so much easier to pretend to be ok. I have struggled with depression/anxiety for so long now, the main reason due to not being able to have a child I feel so angry at myself for getting so bad, watching friendships slip away, not being closer to family and not living my life to the fullest, the last few years feel like a blur It feels at the time so much easier to avoid certain situations/people but in the long run u r left even more isolated from how u feel, this whole thing has hurt me inside and out, I just wish the old me could come back Just needed to vent and someone to listen

smileym Living with Depression
  • replies: 2

Finally feel well enough to share my story I was first diagnosed with depression 7 years ago just as my marriage ended.I had been living with a textbook case of a narcissistic husband and had been subjected to 19 years of psychological abuse.My depre... View more

Finally feel well enough to share my story I was first diagnosed with depression 7 years ago just as my marriage ended.I had been living with a textbook case of a narcissistic husband and had been subjected to 19 years of psychological abuse.My depression rended me unable to work for over 12 months and included suicidal behaviour. During my recovery I finally realised what had been happening to me over the course of my marriage. I also came to discover that I could love another woman and now am proud to say I am a lesbian. Unfortunately my personality has made me susceptible to chosing another narcissistic person as my partner. We have been together for 6 years. I have been on regular medications for depression and at the beginning of this year I had suicidal behaviour and am lucky to say that my GP and psychologist were my saviours. As it came to light that my relationship was my trigger but at that point I was so defensive of my partner, I was displaying typical narcissistic victim behaviours. My depression resurfaced with a vengeance, I had the means and I had a plan to end my life. But I turned to the people that had helped me the most,first my psychologist, and inturn my GP that got me help.It required a 2 week stay in a mental health unit at a hospital.I am no stranger to hospitals as I work in one as I am a Nurse Manager. So I had to overcome the embarrassing feelings, self blame and guilt.The only way to do this was let people in to help, being honest and share what I was thinking.I have since continued with regular psychology sessions and GP visits to keep me going in the right direction. 4 months later I'm strong and clear headed enough to start dealing with the issues of my partner. We are still have sessions together. For this part I remain hopeful but am ready to make the decision,that to stay well, being in the relationship with a person who has no insight into there narcissistic behaviour is not right for me.I have support if need be and I also have a safety plan! I am determined to stay strong and actual look after my self for a change. I now know that it's not me to blame.it all will work out if we keep moving forward.smileym

Jmp33 Feeling hopeless
  • replies: 4

Hi all, This is my first post do here goes. I broke up with my partner of 8 years 3 weeks ago. Ever since my life feels like it's falling apart. I think I've always suffered mild depression but the past couple of months and then the breakup have got ... View more

Hi all, This is my first post do here goes. I broke up with my partner of 8 years 3 weeks ago. Ever since my life feels like it's falling apart. I think I've always suffered mild depression but the past couple of months and then the breakup have got me to the point that I don't even know who I am anymore. I cry all the time, I don't have family support as they hated my partner. I feel like he has left and is off travelling the country courtesy of his dad who basically bribed him out of our relationship with money and travels, while I'm left here to pick up the pieces of my life. He has disconnected his phone yet had called several times from a private number which only leaves me feeling more upset and confused. I can't eat, have no motivation to get off the couch and I'm sooooo tired from not being able to sleep. Ive just started antidepressants but they take time to work I know. I'm alone, scared and feeling so overwhelmed with how to move on. It's like I'm in a daze.

Cowboy_Artist Just stuck
  • replies: 1

It's so hard to take the step to ask for help and sometimes it feels extremely embarrassing but I just feel very stuck and like its ground hog day again and again. I have anxiety and depression and can remember it for a young kid the anxiety. a lot o... View more

It's so hard to take the step to ask for help and sometimes it feels extremely embarrassing but I just feel very stuck and like its ground hog day again and again. I have anxiety and depression and can remember it for a young kid the anxiety. a lot of time I live alone as I have my children 12 and 14 every second week and my partner of 18 months is a corporate in Sydney 3 1/2 hrs away and we normally only get to catch up weeks ends and sometimes it can be weeks to we do. I really enjoy when the kids are with as there is a conditional love. We enjoy each others company's as much as you can with teenagers. The hardest thing is I work mostly alone with my business and also at night I make sculptures when inspired and this is my real happy place. The biggest struggle is my over active mind and the roller coaster of emotions I can go on in just one day would make others very surprised I'm sure, I have tried and worked my guts out all my life and been quite successful the last 3 yrs has been tough and I lost the lot with a invention and I took my eye of the ball with my business. No one to blame and at least I tried my guts out having a good go. Since then it's been the depression and anxiety and the stigma of been a failure and was very tough to lose everything and been a small town most knew and after 2 marriage break ups as well one of 20 yrs ( the love died ) and the second of only 2 yrs it's been tough. I've always manage to be there for everyone and been the peace maker for a dysfunctional family , as my dads a alcoholic who tried to take his live 3 yrs ago at the age of 72 and my mum still lives with the man who sexually abused me and my brother as a child which is pretty hard to cop. I have made my peace with my mum and it will never be great but I have put it behind me, it's hard with my dad as we get on great but when my phone rings after 6pm I'm always dreading what's happened again. Besides all that it doesn't play on my mind that much as I've done my share of time with the shrinks and it's help a heap. My big thing is I'm slowly isolated myself as I get so disappointed in many peolpe with there actions towards others as it's such a dog eat dog world, but then I wonder is it just me and I do think I'm maybe I'm the one who doesn't fit in, when I do go out everyone loves seeing me,I'm well respected and honest as the day is long but I feel like robin williams as they see the different person to what's on the inside, I don't know I just feel real stuck

Simply_Lost No identity, totally lost..
  • replies: 1

It all started when my fiancé said, you should enter this competition! - Tell us about yourself.. - 3 words that describe you.. - What makes you fun to be with? - Why would we chose you, how would you make our audience keep watching and say "wow" and... View more

It all started when my fiancé said, you should enter this competition! - Tell us about yourself.. - 3 words that describe you.. - What makes you fun to be with? - Why would we chose you, how would you make our audience keep watching and say "wow" and "cool" Safe to say, I couldn't answer any. I can't beleive a stupid competition entry made me realize how pointless and worthless both me and my life are. I have no purpose in life. I wake up, go to work, come home, yell at my kids, clean obsessively, then go to bed. Most days I just sit at work and stare blankly at my screen for 8hrs. As a mother, I have no idea what I'm doing. I literally ignore them because I have no idea what to do with them. My relationship is failing because I don't know what I want, I don't know who to be and I don't have any dreams or goals to contribute - in fact I don't really contribute anything in any respect. I've found I no longer have emotions. Like say if something bad happened, I can't feel sadness or hurt. The same goes when something good happens, I can't feel joy or even smile. We set a wedding date. I don't really care. I'll show up on the day and pick up a white dress from Kmart on my way. I don't care for hair or make up because I have no idea what I like and doubt I'll look ok anyway. I make people in a room uncomfortable. I don't even have to say anything. If I do speak, while reasonably intelligent, I can see people trying to wish me out of the room, or wish themselves out.. I have no friends. Like none at all. Not one. I have a Facebook account with 12 people. All family. I had a friend for almost 30 years. Now I don't exist. My only friend, couldn't even call or text to let me know she and her husband had split up. I don't know how to make friends, she and I were together since before we could crawl. I can't even remember people's names let alone know how to create a lasting friendship. I struggle with perfectionism. But nothing is ever perfect and I beat myself up about it every minute of everyday. I'm exhausted, I never have time to do anything normal. I'm always checking that everything is perfect - the couch is straight, the wine glasses are exactly the same width apart, the lines on the tablecloth match to exactly the edge of the table, I yell at my toddler when he pulls something out of the cupboard to play with..I can't leave the house anymore. I'm really lost and I need help

macadamianut Coping with life
  • replies: 8

Hi peeps, I need advice and I don't really feel comfortable opening my soul up to my family or friends. I'm a 26 year old year old female with a full time job, healthy/fit, financially independent and not someone you'd expect to be having a tough tim... View more

Hi peeps, I need advice and I don't really feel comfortable opening my soul up to my family or friends. I'm a 26 year old year old female with a full time job, healthy/fit, financially independent and not someone you'd expect to be having a tough time. I am an upbeat, bubbly person who runs a health and wellbeing blog and loves anything creative. I dig self improvement and motivation and all that good vibe shiz. I lack confidence (but hide it well) and have struggled with anxiety (general and social) throughout my life as I am quite a perfectionist/control freak/ocd/bubbly introvert. But my world has been turned upside down lately and I'm struggling to cope. In 6 weeks I: - Found out my mum has lung cancer. - Thought she was going to die. - Found out it was operable through surgery. - Went to Thailand with my now ex and got a nose job (lol - this had been booked for 6 months). - Recovered from said nose job (ups and downs due to meds etc). - Happy about nose job but too stressed to be overly phased. - Overall had 5 weeks annual leave. - Went through break up with ex upon arriving home. Not too sad about it because I wasn't that into it anyway (nor was he) and more concerned about Mum. - Moved into my own studio apartment. Very expensive process. - Mum started chemo and she isn't coping well at all. Very stressful. - Went back to an absolutely chaotic, horrendously managed workplace and slammed with an unmanageable workload. Every day this week has been horrible and my managers are incompetent. It's a massive, dire mess. - Applying for jobs at my ideal employer (a uni) and getting continually rejected (3 times). - Ex is refusing to give back bond until he gets a housemate despite him being the full bond owner (he kept my bond in his accounts) I know my problems are first world issues and could be worse, but it doesn't change the fact I am struggling to cope with life. I have been through a lot of change and am struggling personally, professionally and financially. I feel a drastic change to the positive, motivated, happy person I was a year ago, and as a control freak/perfectionist I am finding it hard to cope with the emotional and situational chaos. Does anyone have any tips on getting out of this darkness? With work spiralling, Mum sick, my ex saying horrible things to me, my finances looking worse than they have in a long time and an all round feeling of despair, I am failing at "staying positive" and "being strong". Thanks

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright © 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map