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

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Cabbage_Patch_Kid Dealing with the leftover effects of my depression
  • replies: 9

After 3 years I feel like I have almost got a handle on managing my depression which saw me hospitalised for 3 weeks in 2012. However I struggle every day with tiredness, lethargy and a lack of motivation which has a real impact on my ability to work... View more

After 3 years I feel like I have almost got a handle on managing my depression which saw me hospitalised for 3 weeks in 2012. However I struggle every day with tiredness, lethargy and a lack of motivation which has a real impact on my ability to work, get out of bed and fully lead my life. Does anyone have any tips on how I can deal with these issues?

Monoglot Wanting to connect, not sure what to post
  • replies: 3

Hi Everyone, I'm dealing with depression, and am looking to connect. My last post attempting to introduce myself was too long and wasn't published... and I don't know how to make my story concise. Anyway, hi everyone.

Hi Everyone, I'm dealing with depression, and am looking to connect. My last post attempting to introduce myself was too long and wasn't published... and I don't know how to make my story concise. Anyway, hi everyone.

Nivlac My first forum post
  • replies: 4

This is my first post on here. My story is that I'm 27, hold a good steady job and earning quite good money and "appear" to be in quite good physical shape and I smile to most people I meet. My colleagues and anyone that meets me would probably say I... View more

This is my first post on here. My story is that I'm 27, hold a good steady job and earning quite good money and "appear" to be in quite good physical shape and I smile to most people I meet. My colleagues and anyone that meets me would probably say I do quite well for myself and would probably say I'm a "nice guy". NO FRIENDS However, that's where people are wrong. Since moving to Melbourne in 2006 for uni I have struggled to maintain old friendships and have never really developed any close friendships. I've always been depressed over this. I put on a fake front that I'm doing OK, when I have no one in my life who I can truly call my friend. HEALTH ISSUES + NO SUPPORT = DEPRESSIONI injured my knee 18 months ago in 2013. I couldn't walk and was house-bound for 3 months. This included knee reconstructive surgery, which failed 4 months later. I had another surgery in 2014 and have worked really hard to be able to walk and even stand up and sit down. I will have another surgery again next month. I had my former best friend from high school say to me last year he had "no sympathy" for me when I caught up with him in Sydney (we don't see each other that often). Those words hurt really bad and I've since lost my friendship with him and pretty much everyone I know! I spend every night alone and I have no friends or family in Melbourne to help me. I messaged my closest friend from uni I am having my third surgery next month and all she replied was "Sorry to hear. Good Luck". I truly have no one. I take care and look after myself, even though I struggle with a permanent limp, permanent pain (physically and emotionally).A thought that runs through my head is "If I ended it all tomorrow, how many people will turn up to my funeral?" I would hope my Mum and Dad who live 3 hours away and my sister who lives in London would attend. I'm not close to anyone else. TRYING TO MEET NEW PEOPLEI've unsuccessfully tried to meet new people, through music (I play piano, guitar and do some songwriting), but this hasn't worked out. I've tried playing sports, but I can no longer do this due to my bad leg. I can also no longer play my favourite sport "tennis" and will probably never run again (I haven't run since the day Iinjured my knee). NEXT STEPSNot really sure what to do next. I will have my surgery again and will rehabilitate on my own without any help from anyone (with the exception of my physiotherapist which is a massive expense).

ricksimons Sick of getting no sleep
  • replies: 3

Hi,its 5 am and I cant sleep. So my story is I have recently been diagnosed with depression but I know I've always had it. I've never really been able to work and I'm approaching a point in life where I am struggling to find a purpose.I have an inher... View more

Hi,its 5 am and I cant sleep. So my story is I have recently been diagnosed with depression but I know I've always had it. I've never really been able to work and I'm approaching a point in life where I am struggling to find a purpose.I have an inheritance in the form of property which is where I live. Currently I'm facing a lot of debt because I didn't have parents around to teach me about money when I was younger and here I am ten years later with no clue. been thinking about selling it for a while as it only costs me money I will never have. I don't know how to live. beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Thinker Over It
  • replies: 1

Well it's 5pm & I'm already in my Pjs waiting till 9.30pm to take my night time medication so the tablets will just knock me out & my thinking stops. This wasn't how my life was meant to be, the feeling of worthlessness surrounds me & I wonder who ac... View more

Well it's 5pm & I'm already in my Pjs waiting till 9.30pm to take my night time medication so the tablets will just knock me out & my thinking stops. This wasn't how my life was meant to be, the feeling of worthlessness surrounds me & I wonder who actually knows how to help me? Tablets, small goals, doctors appointments, I even went as far as getting a life coach, it's consumed my life, yet l still wonder what is it I'm meant to be doing most days & ask myself why isn't this going away, I'm doing what they tell me, do they know what their doing? I feel nothing but a flatline, it's like I'm in slow motion, yet others are trained to live life to the fullest, no problems! Why can't l be that person? Why is my brain different? Why is everything such an effort, why does nothing including food ever full me up? It's like l want someone to finally turn my switch on, l want to feel, l want to belong without questioning myself constantly! Now here l am online searching for others because lm wondering if l can connect with them, I'm wondering if there is hope for a person with depression or if l will feel this way for life?

B_rad71 And so we crash back to earth
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, Firstly i wanted to thank everyone who has replied to any of my posts.Its great to see people still care about other people in this day and age. So yes i have crashed back to earth. Not in the biggest way. But my anxiety has returned. Iv... View more

Hi everyone, Firstly i wanted to thank everyone who has replied to any of my posts.Its great to see people still care about other people in this day and age. So yes i have crashed back to earth. Not in the biggest way. But my anxiety has returned. Ive been back to the psychiatrist and he has now given me some meds to "take the edge off" when i feel anxious. Im desperate to avoid taking them but sadly have been forced to a couple of times now because i honestly didn't know how to get through the day. The depression hasn't been as bad as before. I do sometimes feel like i dont want to leave the house which might be a mixture of depression and anxiety. Im now starting to realise that i need more help. But reliving my past experiences is so painful that im really not sure where to start. Im scared that when i seek further help i will revert back to where i was 6-8 months ago. I dont want to go back to that. So now im stuck. Once again i dont know how to move forward. I will be perfectly honest, although im very scared to write it down, but i have started wondering if its worth even going on. Wondering i have any reason at all for being. I really am just going through the motions. im starting to feel like a very empty shell. Its not a feeling i like. So i guess the depression is probably worse than i thought since i started the post. Im not suicidal but just unsure where i fit into the world. So i will sign off and just say thanks for reading and i hope to return again soon. Ps. i do have another appointment with my psychiatrist on Wednesday next week so it might be a good idea to tell him how im feeling. Take care everyone Brad

Zman outacontroll
  • replies: 3

Hi all,This is my first post...just a brief outline of myself. Im a 52 y/o male, lost parents in my 20,s. married 3 kids then divorced , then sole parent of my kids after the X fell into heavy drugs. Met a woman at 36 y/o we had twin girls,(now 14). ... View more

Hi all,This is my first post...just a brief outline of myself. Im a 52 y/o male, lost parents in my 20,s. married 3 kids then divorced , then sole parent of my kids after the X fell into heavy drugs. Met a woman at 36 y/o we had twin girls,(now 14). when twins were 6 months we separated and she moved 400km away.and dont see them much anymore. Now with the best woman in the world (5yrs) and we have one kid each living at home both males early 20s.I lose my temper more often at kids,and last time was physical wrestle with my son,ive lost interest in my landscape business and it has all but folded, lost interest in my m/cycle resto and Many other things, my son is moving out and im tired of feeling like the bad guy cos no one understands.I have been diagnosed with moderate depression... no meds, yet the sadness, moodiness,paranoia, and feelings of social isolation and fear of losing every thing is overwhelming. I think that over the last couple of years things have got progresively harder to deal with and i have built up a resentment to the young men in my house who are living for nothing dont have the understanding or care about the pressures or me, without sounding about ME im just so scared to deal with or face nearly anyone except my fiancee...i feel im a little out of controll and will try to work through this without meds,LIFE IS TOO SHORT, im gunna kick this black dog.Bye.

Turkeyman Section for people with financial difficulties?
  • replies: 12

Often I would like to seek assistance with the problems associated with having too many bills, no money and trying to get by in life with this problem. I'm sure I am not the only person struggling financially due to work problems or health issues and... View more

Often I would like to seek assistance with the problems associated with having too many bills, no money and trying to get by in life with this problem. I'm sure I am not the only person struggling financially due to work problems or health issues and was wondering if you could set up a forum that deals with the struggles of being broke and not coping with lack of money? I know there are places like CARE financial services and charities, but these folks don't want to talk about the emotional side of things, only the options [or lack of options] available and it'd be good to vent with others who understand the hardships.

Doolhof Struggling big time
  • replies: 12

I never did understand the "staying in bed all day, unable to do anything issue" but I do now! It seems to be all I want to do recently, that and cry, and feel really angry. I'm starting to really hate my husband too so that isn't helping much. Now I... View more

I never did understand the "staying in bed all day, unable to do anything issue" but I do now! It seems to be all I want to do recently, that and cry, and feel really angry. I'm starting to really hate my husband too so that isn't helping much. Now I am talking about wanting to leave him, he is telling me I have problems! I suggested that maybe if he took me away for a weekend instead of his beer drinking mates I might be a little happier with our relationship. He hasn't worked for nearly two years, just living off his payout, sitting in front of the t.v. and the computer all day. I am out working, keeping the house clean, looking after the garden and trying to fire proof our 5 acre property. I ask for help with the house work and he tells me that vacuuming hurts his back and he doesn't know how to mop! He told me off for buying $7.00 in postage stamps but he has just spent a week drinking and holidaying in Brisbane with some mates! Yesterday I was yelling and screaming abuse at a lady at a service station because she was buying up her groceries in the servo instead of paying for her fuel and moving her car first. I went into the servo yelling out like a lunatic as to who owned the car. I don't know what I would have done if it had been a huge biker looking dude! I probably still would have yelled abuse at him. This depression is a cruel and brutal illness. I've certainly had enough. Where is the OFF BUTTON, the ESCAPE ROUTE and the way out of this LIVING HELL? I don't know any more! I'm going to see my Dr again on Tuesday and dear hubby said he will come along as well. He thinks that pills are the only answer. That a tablet will fix everything. Medication does help, but so does TLC and a little attention form your husband. Why is he so damn blind to the fact that all I need is a little bit of his time and it will make a load of difference? Now I am hating him. I feel it is too late for our marriage. To stay or go is the next big question! I don't have the answer to anything right now. It is all too difficult. Mrs. Dools

gibby3794 does anyone else get bored?
  • replies: 18

im really bored with my routine... im unemployed and have no car so dont really leave the house all that often i get up in the morning have a coffee and smoke at about 10 i start cleaning the house finish that at about 12 depending how much needs doi... View more

im really bored with my routine... im unemployed and have no car so dont really leave the house all that often i get up in the morning have a coffee and smoke at about 10 i start cleaning the house finish that at about 12 depending how much needs doing then have lunch and watch a few shows until 3 when the 10 year old gets home from school make her a hot chocolate and some food if shes hungry, watch some more shows until about 6-630 have dinner go to the gym with a couple friends when i finish dinner and most nights we go fora drive to port or gong, then come back home watch some more shows until about midnight go to sleep and repeat all the next day... except for weekends where no cleaning or anything really gets done lol