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

Dennis38 Ugg its back again and this time i know the triggers yet unable to do a thing about it
  • replies: 10

Well I have done the right thing again and it has bitten me hard this time! Been fighting this depression tooth and nail and I am still back sliding, and with this back sliding there is a HUGE amount of anger though I am not totally sure if the anger... View more

Well I have done the right thing again and it has bitten me hard this time! Been fighting this depression tooth and nail and I am still back sliding, and with this back sliding there is a HUGE amount of anger though I am not totally sure if the anger is aimed at me or at the cause of my depression sliding. You see a little over a year ago I got really stupid, my wife's nephew and his wife got kicked out of the place they were living, mostly for having to many animals and lieing about it, so after talking with the wife I told the kids (they are both 40..my age..but yet myself and wife call them the kids because that is how we see them as 4 yearolds on a good day!) that they could move in for a SHORT while, so they brought all their crap, and 4 dogs with them (so I now have 5 dogs on my properity and in my home) then we find out that the newphew's wife is end stage kidney failure, which does have some bareing on my situation, on top of them being kicked out of the place they were renting they owe the government a bit of money for defrauding the government and had a lot of other bills, which my wife and I payed most of their bills off..to date they have cost us over 45 grand easily, the nephew in law is an ungreatful SOB always whining and moaning about this or that and not even offering to do the dishes, heck they both have not even changed their bed sheets since they got here the wife and I (both of us being disabled) have to do it for them. And of course the nephew's wife has a lot of problems but yet she is not ungreatful, where as the nephew realy is ungreatful. Anyways as they do not pay ANY bills (other then one of their own storeage bills) I want to charge them rent 400 a month, that "rent" money is actually away to get them a bond saved up as the nephew spends all his money (he is on the dole and has a part time "job" on stupid little toys(expensive ones) and what not, but my wife is not wanting to listen to me on the rent issue as "they are family and no one understands the nephew like I do." Doesn't not help that my wife is going though menopause and can be a real nasty piece of work to ME, everyone else she is very happy and friendly but as soon as something goes wrong I am the one she snaps at. I love her and put up with this because its not her fault some days, yet all of this is boiling inside me the depression is sinking in deeper and worse off this ANGER has a hold of me and once again. Never do the right thing it will bite you in the end!!!

Tonah First time, looking for extra help please.
  • replies: 5

Not sure where to start... Have been feeling down a lot for a long time now and my life has really gone downhill. Have only just been and talked to my gp and talked about things. Appointments have been made to talk about my issues mentally. Am lookin... View more

Not sure where to start... Have been feeling down a lot for a long time now and my life has really gone downhill. Have only just been and talked to my gp and talked about things. Appointments have been made to talk about my issues mentally. Am looking for more help in the area of trying to get over the bad days or things or tricks that might make the bad days a bit easier. My relationship is suffering big time and my partner is over having me be so down. Trying to fix me and the relationship is not going the best. Feel like I'm getting sucked into a black hole. Only on the bad days though. It hits me really fast as well, is that normal??? Thank you.

anita24 Depression and losing friends
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, i have been struggling with severe depression for 10 years now it is a struggle to just keep on going, Ive noticed because of this i don't have many friends, i have 1 left now but even then she's quite a selfish person and needy and does... View more

Hi everyone, i have been struggling with severe depression for 10 years now it is a struggle to just keep on going, Ive noticed because of this i don't have many friends, i have 1 left now but even then she's quite a selfish person and needy and doesn't understand and i notice its hard for me to make friends as i'm not the happy person that people want to hang around, has anyone else had this happen to them? I feel quite alone because i've watched my close family die around me for the last few years so now i have barely anyone, what keeps me going is my mum, my dog and my bf ( but sometimes he doesn't understand but he does try to help) Has anyone been through sort of the same and how do you overcome this? cheers

anita24 im scared
  • replies: 3

i'm scared my boyfriend will leave me, he has said that he's unsure of our future because he helps me all the time but i dont help him back when he asks, and its true but i cant even help myself and also the fact that he wants to go out and do things... View more

i'm scared my boyfriend will leave me, he has said that he's unsure of our future because he helps me all the time but i dont help him back when he asks, and its true but i cant even help myself and also the fact that he wants to go out and do things with me but id rather sleep and then when he finally convinces me to come out i end up feeling numb and sitting in the car watching from the window. i don't know what to do.

Zetta Feeling unmotivated
  • replies: 10

Today is the mark of my seventh day on my AD's and i'm not motivated at all to clean the house and feel really tired. It's not even 7pm yet and i'm ready for bed. It's been a rough couple of weeks and my sleep pattern has been up and down lately. Thi... View more

Today is the mark of my seventh day on my AD's and i'm not motivated at all to clean the house and feel really tired. It's not even 7pm yet and i'm ready for bed. It's been a rough couple of weeks and my sleep pattern has been up and down lately. Thinking of watching a movie in bed and trying to go to sleep earlier. Just not feeling myself lately.

Lost_Girl What to say to my "helpful" friend? - feeling harrassed
  • replies: 12

I have major depression and have just had a visit from one of my closest friends after avoiding everyone for some time. She has started sending me messages every songle day asking if I have showered, if I have gone outside in the sun for at least 5 m... View more

I have major depression and have just had a visit from one of my closest friends after avoiding everyone for some time. She has started sending me messages every songle day asking if I have showered, if I have gone outside in the sun for at least 5 minutes because you know vitamin d is good, did I eat the dark choc she gave me, etc. If I write back and say no but I made it out of bed into the lounge room and ate a piece of bread she still emphasises how good it would be to shower and go outside. I feel like someone should be throwing a party that I moved but it's not enough for her. Don't get me wrong, I know it would be great to do those things but I just can't. I also know she is trying to show she cares but the end of the day when she is "just checking in again" I just feel annoyed and I can't help thinking she will end up annoyed with me. What can I say to her?

Abc1238 My partner is picking up on my depression and tells me he feels sad and pushed out
  • replies: 7

Hi I'm 25 years old, I have suffered from depression and mild ptsd. I am on medication and I'm going to cbt therapy. I live with my partner who is very supportive however I keep having dips, sometimes I'll be buzzing and be in an amazing mood and the... View more

Hi I'm 25 years old, I have suffered from depression and mild ptsd. I am on medication and I'm going to cbt therapy. I live with my partner who is very supportive however I keep having dips, sometimes I'll be buzzing and be in an amazing mood and the next day I'll just dip. I feel empty and low, I don't speak and don't feel like I have anything to say anyway. My partner is picking up on this and tells me he feels sad and pushed out and asks if I still love him, I love him more then anything but I think in the back of my mind I'm doing it on purpose as I believe he can be so much happier with someone else rather then having to deal with me. I don't show him any affection and we haven't had sext in months which is down to me as I just can't deal with that at the moment. Any advice would be appreciated, I feel like everything is getting worse and I am struggling to cope! Thankyou

Elizabeth CP When determination & motivation become a problem by interfering with self care
  • replies: 38

I was doing well for a while. After motivating sessions with psychologist & psychiatrist and life stresses easing somewhat I set some goals and started working towards them. I kept a daily record of how I was going with each of the different goals an... View more

I was doing well for a while. After motivating sessions with psychologist & psychiatrist and life stresses easing somewhat I set some goals and started working towards them. I kept a daily record of how I was going with each of the different goals and this proved helpful by focusing on what I had achieved rather than what I hadn't done. I had a couple of bad nights sleep one due to my husband being unwell but still kept myself going. Unfortunately I remained tired and was unable to sleep in to catch up. My problem now is that I am in the middle of a project at home which is taking longer than expected partly because pushing myself to work when tired has led to mistakes and inefficiency. I either push myself as I did last night and then when I stop I can't relax which then stops me sleeping creating ongoing problems or I give in and rest but then I keep noticing all the stuff needing doing so can't get the rest I needed. I have had long term problems with pushing myself too hard and not caring for myself. If I am not being productive I feel worthless which makes my depression worse but fatigue is also a huge trigger for depression. This pushing myself has been a pattern since a traumatic event as a child which left me feeling guilty for doing nothing to help so feeling useless is a trigger for very negative self talk. Does anyone else have problems balancing being motivated & productive & carrying out more relaxing activities / self care to remain well

Leaba I Don't Fit the Profile
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am new to this forum. I was diagnosed with severe depression 2 years and it has been an ongoing battle ever since. There is a lot of help out there for the young, males and elderly but very little for middle aged divorcees. My psychologist has ... View more

Hi, I am new to this forum. I was diagnosed with severe depression 2 years and it has been an ongoing battle ever since. There is a lot of help out there for the young, males and elderly but very little for middle aged divorcees. My psychologist has cast me off in case I develop "dependency" which made me feel a fraud so I haven't been back to my doctor.

Unforgettable_fire It has come back again
  • replies: 1

After 7 years without being on a medication, I'm in a state that I'm feeling pretty low. I think everything has got the better of me. I've been trying to fight it for a few months but I realized I can't continue on this path. I've been feeling like s... View more

After 7 years without being on a medication, I'm in a state that I'm feeling pretty low. I think everything has got the better of me. I've been trying to fight it for a few months but I realized I can't continue on this path. I've been feeling like something is wrong or is about to happen. I've been worrying about my 14 year old son who last year has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and my 84 year old father has been suffering from depression and is about to go into surgery next week for his kidney to be removed. I'm currently struggling to find permanent accommodation as well in the city that I moved to nine months ago as my flatmate decided to up and leave. I feel like at best I'm existing, not actually living

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