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

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Bella_Louise From one extreme to another in a matter of days
  • replies: 4

I want to put it out there.Last Wednesday morning realization hit me like a ton of bricks in regards to my Parents and the lies that had been told by everyone around me. I spent the next two days crying and in bed. By Friday I had hit rock bottom, th... View more

I want to put it out there.Last Wednesday morning realization hit me like a ton of bricks in regards to my Parents and the lies that had been told by everyone around me. I spent the next two days crying and in bed. By Friday I had hit rock bottom, thinking that if I had succeeded in my suicide attempt in July this year I wouldn't be feeling this way. I was feeling numb and empty. I knewI needed help. I presented to the ED department and I was assessed by a member of the mental health team 7 hours later. By this time I had started to calm down and didn't want to be there. Thankfully a member of the team kept in contact with me over the weekend but I was managing to keep my head above water.Sunday and Monday I managed to start feeling slightly better and started to dust myself off and regain control of all the negative thoughts and feelings.Today, I woke up early and went and walked along the beach at sunrise trying to stay in the here and now, not easy as my mind goes at a million miles an hour. I sat on a rock and closed my eyes for 10 minutes breathing and trying to clear my mind. When I next opened my eyes a whale was breeching about 100 metres out to sea. It was magic.Is it possible to go from a huge depressive episode with suicidal thoughts one day to a day of total peace and contentment within a few days and how do others deal with this? According to my psychiatrist I don't suffer from Bi Polar but to me the pendulum swings quickly between me being able to cope with life and wanting to check out of life as it is. 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;}

tryinghope Libido? What libido?!
  • replies: 5

I have been with my husband for 16 years. I was diagnosed with depression during my pregnancy with my second child 4 years ago and despite trying countless treatments have only slowly gotten worse. My main concern at the moment, as per the title, is ... View more

I have been with my husband for 16 years. I was diagnosed with depression during my pregnancy with my second child 4 years ago and despite trying countless treatments have only slowly gotten worse. My main concern at the moment, as per the title, is my complete and utter lack of libido or ability to achieve any sort of arousal. There is nothing there. Zip. Zero. Nada. I feel numb. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do to improve the situation? I am at a complete loss. This is tearing my marriage apart and I don't know what to do. Please help.

Jo3 It's all getting too much again
  • replies: 33

I am feeling very stressed, crying and not too good. Depression is so horrible, i hate it so much. I have a shocking headache - all I want to do is hide away forever and ever or to run away as fast as I can and never be found. Going to bed after i fi... View more

I am feeling very stressed, crying and not too good. Depression is so horrible, i hate it so much. I have a shocking headache - all I want to do is hide away forever and ever or to run away as fast as I can and never be found. Going to bed after i finish here, my head hurts. There is too much on my mind - this saturday is the auction of our home. I am stressing about finances again, work issues and I feel I am not coping. I need to tell someone that i am not coping, my head hurts and i just want to go away. I had a terrible emotional day yesterday at the hospital doing a session. Everything seems too hard at the moment. It's day 10 of not speaking to my mum or dad - see they don't care about me. I may as well go, not thinking need some sleep Jo

Indigo77 Trust and depression
  • replies: 2

New to Beyond Blue and hope I am able to shed some light & help myself also...21 months ago due to backyard accident, I sustained severe head trauma, resulting in hospitalisation & rehabilitation and a late diagnosis of Dissociative Amnesia in where ... View more

New to Beyond Blue and hope I am able to shed some light & help myself also...21 months ago due to backyard accident, I sustained severe head trauma, resulting in hospitalisation & rehabilitation and a late diagnosis of Dissociative Amnesia in where I lost my entire and complete memory, which also led to severe depression. along with other issues....I remembered no one in my family what so ever, not my children or siblings or even my partner, or my life but due to my family and my children, they were able to fill in the blanks for my medical team of my past history of depression, which I found out I had suffered on and off for many many years....Most recently due to dissociative amnesia, my depression has a strong hold, and often there are days when walking out the front door is just not an option, I would shut myself away from the world and refuse to talk about things..I had problems dealing with just day to day stuff, relearning my life how to walk, look after myself, relearn about the world outside, relearning technology, learning about my past life and discussing it....and that was my worst enemy!!... I had no memory of my past life and what I did learn or what I had memory flashes of I had not dealt with in the past ...so they were carried into the future, which along with D.A has caused my severe depression..So...relearning how to open up and try to explain exactly how and why I feel this way is not easy....why you feel you are in a deep darkened hole unable to see any light above let alone found a way out....I was very lucky to have my daughters help and found a very lovely GP with a mental health back ground but still my biggest problem was trust and dealing with my depression by going on medication ( which at first I refused to do as I was unable to grasp the concept of what had happened to me....my hardest battle besides the D.A. is remembering to trust people enough to be totally honest with how I am coping and confide in them with my daily battles...Opening up and trust is a massive step, some days are darker than others and some days getting out of bed is a struggle, I honestly know that without the help & understanding from family, friends, mental health team and specialists I would be in a darker deeper hole with no way out at all....I do know its a constant battle but its a battle that can be won with trust and the right people on your side....talk ...talk to who ever will listen to you...get it off your chest..open up....

mousehouse Where has the real me gone?
  • replies: 7

Hi all, I've been 'lurking' on the forums for a while and I love reading everyone's posts and I've learnt so much and it's been heartening to discover I'm not alone in that so many other people's stories resonate so much with my experience. I suffer ... View more

Hi all, I've been 'lurking' on the forums for a while and I love reading everyone's posts and I've learnt so much and it's been heartening to discover I'm not alone in that so many other people's stories resonate so much with my experience. I suffer depression, but I've never sought professional help for it. I manage OK most of the time. I have a pretty good quality of life on the whole and I can’t complain much. I have worked out some strategies for caring for myself through the tough times. But one thing I hate about depression is that I think it turns me into someone I don’t like and don’t want to be. It makes me negative, pessimistic, cynical, a bit mean even, I suppose, down on people and situations, assuming the worst. And that’s not me at heart. I was talking to someone today about a mutual acquaintance who was described as someone “very genuine” and “who doesn’t have a mean bone in her body”. And this girl is, she is truly delightful, always has a kind word to say. But the comment just struck a nerve with me. It made me feel old and mean and horrible, and grieving for the old me. I used to be like that. People would describe me as someone without a mean bone in my body. Even now, I’m hardly an “awful” person, but I just long to rediscover the ‘real me”, this girl who is kind and sweet and friendly and a good friend. I feel like she’s gotten lost along the way! Many thanks xxx

Gibbo81 Hard times
  • replies: 3

Well have been suffering from a depressed state i made my way to doctor to try and get help after talking to friend. The doctor put me one medication the first 2 week where hard but stared to feel stronger in myself after 3 weeks my doctor increase t... View more

Well have been suffering from a depressed state i made my way to doctor to try and get help after talking to friend. The doctor put me one medication the first 2 week where hard but stared to feel stronger in myself after 3 weeks my doctor increase the dosage. Then all down hill I had trouble sleeping even if I did sleep felt like I didnt. Felt like something was in my head. I don't want to eat because of hunger but becouse of pure tast so just want sweet and salty food. I returned to doctor after 3 weeks on new dosage doctor said need to stick with it . I have felt my life get more down and foggy I have exteamly vivid dreams I wake up and think it's realy then few times I have been at work and I have felt like I'm some where else (feels like 10 min but no one notices) so get confused what and where I'm. As I was unhappy with my doctor so I decided to try a new one he basically was confused what I wanted he said you got medication you will get better stick with it. So again I feel like there no help. after a few weeks I opened up to my friend that not having luck with doctors so she recommended one so here I go again. He sound very understanding and ask questions and was genuine and said that medication need change from evening to morning. And also had blood tests for few basics so after one week felt had some better sleep got my blood results back nothing out of ordinary. So I asked for further help so he said he would send a referral away and they will contact me it's been like 3 weeks. Mi feel like I try but don't get anywhere I just feel like want stay a sleep and dream of a better life

white knight Depression- our ultimate goal.
  • replies: 32

We have quite a large community here. So many people suffering depression. Most have several symptoms in common, lack of motivation, worthlessness, sleep and more sleep, moodiness and the list - well I've only scratched the surface. Sadly (and I wont... View more

We have quite a large community here. So many people suffering depression. Most have several symptoms in common, lack of motivation, worthlessness, sleep and more sleep, moodiness and the list - well I've only scratched the surface. Sadly (and I wont ignore it) many mentioning they want to give up on life. And of course, that there is nothing left that stimulates them. Yet, this is so totally wrong. We know in our hearts and logic that there are things you can do in life that will leave you breathless with excitement, place a smile on your face for days with you ringing all your friends to tell them and some experiences that will be lifelong memories. Yet for the deeply depressed this sadly is all irrelevant. Either their depression is so deep they dont want to even entertain the ideas or physically they are drained by meds. What I want from this thread is for you to dream, to open up your cloudy mind to what is possible when you are in the depths of sleep or despair. As you lie there in bed have simply thoughts, simply plans to chase those experiences when your cycle has run its cruel course. So you wait till then. And a day comes when you are feeling not bad. you look at your partner and tell them to find the nearest hot air ballooning business "we are gunna fly". Or hire a speed boat, light aircraft or helicopter flight, lunch at a revolving restaurant anything for that "buzz". Totally out of your comfort zone? you bet ya. On the wrong tram? tell me, criticise me, suggest anything, talk, say it, I dont care, I am willing to take anything on the chin with this. Frankly, I will do anything to make progress with one person and I hope that person is you. Why? Because yes, I've been there, I've come out the other side and managed my depression to a more stable level but I never forget those times and I will fight like hell to never return there. I want you, the reader to do the same, to travel on the same journey I've endured, to hold the hands of your family and run with them ....into the sunlight as one, laughing and loving. You will not give up hope. You will wait for that day of calm and end of cycle peace to arrive and you will show that black dog where to go. And your partner/children/family members will look at you in awe, because you would have done activity that is not parallel to the symptoms of your illness. You will do it because you can, you will never give up. Your kids will love you for trying. You will fight like you've never fought before.

Clotilde Feeling empty
  • replies: 16

Hi Geoff, Thank-you for showing me how to start a new post. I have replied to the previous one, but I will continue writing on this one. Clotilde

Hi Geoff, Thank-you for showing me how to start a new post. I have replied to the previous one, but I will continue writing on this one. Clotilde

RajeshK Depression affecting decisions which could help come out of it
  • replies: 3

Hi Does depression affect decision making so badly that when presented with an opportunity to come out of it, I cant. The mind become so negative that cant see any positive even in the best opportunity and then decide against taking it. It is terribl... View more

Hi Does depression affect decision making so badly that when presented with an opportunity to come out of it, I cant. The mind become so negative that cant see any positive even in the best opportunity and then decide against taking it. It is terrible, what to do?