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

StefT Depression stir in mid age
  • replies: 2

I became depressed around a month ago. Working night shift and getting as little as 4 hours sleep in 3 days bought my repressed subconscious thoughts from years ago to the surface. The love of my life who left me, left me feeling gutted. It doesn't m... View more

I became depressed around a month ago. Working night shift and getting as little as 4 hours sleep in 3 days bought my repressed subconscious thoughts from years ago to the surface. The love of my life who left me, left me feeling gutted. It doesn't matter that she ticked most of the traits of a sociopath, I adored her, l always will. This coupled with being now years later middle aged and realizing that l have very little and have wasted years. Not addressing asocial behavior years ago has it's cost. The depression is ridable, it's not the first time, I know not to throw in your job. The freight train in the face for what I have wasted is stunning. Youth, time to develop, experience life, really enjoy life and stack bricks financially for comfort in older age.. wasted. It's been an interesting month. All these emotions awakened. Where I was cutting out drinking, I have been drinking heavily just to get to the next day, thats ok, whatever it takes. When I thought I was finally coming out the other side, I wasn't. I started researching how to gas myself in my car. Now I don't know if this roller coaster is slowing or not but I know when it does I have to change things. Falling back into a semi depressed comfort zone is toxic. Depression can be a wake up call, almost a rebirth, thats great except we retain our negative thoughts, our subconscious to haunt our dreams and impede our future. One help I found is the Internet, there are guides for everything including videos, articles for say positive thinking. I've started, it feels like a foreign language but if even a little sinks in thats good. I no longer want to feel like a reactionary victim. I hope someone gets some worth out of my post.

MisterM "you have no friends, nobody loves you"
  • replies: 18

"you have no friends, nobody loves you" How does one not get affected and feel hurt where their own mother says this to them? My mum just said this to me after an argument.

"you have no friends, nobody loves you" How does one not get affected and feel hurt where their own mother says this to them? My mum just said this to me after an argument.

Applee Is it depression?
  • replies: 5

I'm lost. I found myself googling the phrase "what to do when you don't know what to do" and arrived on a forum post here. Nothing seems to be great at present and I am finding myself spending every waking moment thinking about well everything. I can... View more

I'm lost. I found myself googling the phrase "what to do when you don't know what to do" and arrived on a forum post here. Nothing seems to be great at present and I am finding myself spending every waking moment thinking about well everything. I can't seem to get my mind to stop thinking. It's an odd feeling, thinking about what to have for lunch and end up asking myself why I haven't gone anywhere in life. Wondering to myself what's holding me back. Feeling worthless and ashamed. I have had bouts of depression in the past that have usually been triggered by an event of some kind. This feels different I'm not sad, I'm not angry... I just don't know. My partner often asks me what's wrong, why are you in such a bad mood and that is my answer " I don't know". I can't describe how I feel. Writing this is the closest I've come to being able to pen my emotions. Nothing in my life is worth being depressed over. I live a very privileged life. TrAvel a lot, do very little work, enjoy all of the finer things yet here I am. i don't know what I'm looking for here. I just thought I'd would try to say how I am feeling. kind regards M

Hopefullseeking Here I go again
  • replies: 19

I am so tired of the roller coaster that is depression and I am sure I am not alone in this. I have been working off and on with a psychiatrist for 20+ and at the begining of the year I agreed to work with a psychologist as well. My shrink and i felt... View more

I am so tired of the roller coaster that is depression and I am sure I am not alone in this. I have been working off and on with a psychiatrist for 20+ and at the begining of the year I agreed to work with a psychologist as well. My shrink and i felt I was stuck and no matter what we did nothing would shift it. So I have been seeing this psychologist every fortnight and touching base with my shrink every other fortinght. We all felt I was making progress with the different apporach that the psychologist has taken. I spent 10 days last month interstate staying with a cousin and had a terrific time came back about a week ago and have sunk to new lows. Why what went wrong. My shrink said people often are down after a holiday but I am more than down, back to old thought patterns, feel teary and lost. Dissappointed that I have gone back down agian. Yes I have a lot on my plate but that doesn't explain it. I had a lot on my plate before when I was feeling better. Does it ever end. The psychologist says the depression will be with me for life and I just have to learn to manage it. That doesn't make me feel very hopefull for a better frame of mind either.

janazantar A farewell note to a friend and the person I tried to be
  • replies: 3

I wrote a goodbye to a friend today knowing I'd never give it to them.I couldn't alter the actions of those last days or explain the thought patterns that seemed valid at the time.That cruelly caused me to react with emotion.I’m grateful I was able t... View more

I wrote a goodbye to a friend today knowing I'd never give it to them.I couldn't alter the actions of those last days or explain the thought patterns that seemed valid at the time.That cruelly caused me to react with emotion.I’m grateful I was able to keep my emotions contained for the entire last day in their presence, even when faced with the smiles of their child. A glimmer of hope that in such innocence, surely there was truth.But I managed to push that away and resist the urge to hold their beautiful child lest my dark shadow block their light. I don’t blame them for the distance that now exists between us.I let the illusion go freely that we were friends or that I was important in their life.I was not strong enough to contain my emotions or reactions at the time and wishing won’t allow me to erase those days.They will define me.I will be remembered for them.I have learnt the lesson not to voice my inner thoughts or outwardly display my inner emotion other than on this forum.I have found it particularly difficult this time around and am deeply disappointed in myself and I now know I may not make it back to the person I was trying to be before.I feel the pull of my old ways of thinking and choose to bury that side of myself as deeply as possible and return to detachment.I survived for a long time that way, having to fight for each day.Depression is always near if not actively stripping from me any joy I could know. So for now I’ll slip back on my mask and play the part that allows those around me to be at ease, ignorant of my daily torment.I will avoid shows of kindness that break down my walls and allow tears to flow; an echo of the hope that I can no longerentertain.I don’t want to feel remorse, guilt, confused or hurt.I will take every word, expression or actionat face value ensuring my interactions are limited to polite indifference.Expecting no more I will be able to smile if I pass you in a hallway, or come across you in the street.If I hear your name I will think on thisfarewell until all feeling remains unfelt.I’ve spent these long and lonely years trying to protect myself from hurt knowing of the demons I keep inside.I have felt too much sadness these past weeks.I have cried too many tears and been frozen in fear from knowing no other way to endure, to be better, to find peace. So I also say goodbye to those parts of me that are too broken to repair, but mercifully they sink deeper each day and will soon be out of my reach. 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.

Voice_Mail What to do?
  • replies: 6

I'm supposed to be looking after my elderly grandmother for a week from this Thursday, but my depression is very bad at the moment and I feel like I can't even look after myself, let alone have someone else relying on me. Getting out of bed, having a... View more

I'm supposed to be looking after my elderly grandmother for a week from this Thursday, but my depression is very bad at the moment and I feel like I can't even look after myself, let alone have someone else relying on me. Getting out of bed, having a shower or getting dressed are hard enough at the moment. I don't know what I should do or how I'm going to cope. I've already had two panic attacks just thinking about it coming up.

No_one Can't find decent help
  • replies: 7

Ok so my life's a mess my nan died in February more like a mother to me than anything I have female problems on top and keep getting knock backs for a gono appointment I have no money so help is hard to find and waiting lists are over a year I'm worr... View more

Ok so my life's a mess my nan died in February more like a mother to me than anything I have female problems on top and keep getting knock backs for a gono appointment I have no money so help is hard to find and waiting lists are over a year I'm worried if I wait a yr for gono I'll already be gone, I suffer anxiety untreated for most of my life but now I think my grief has sparked it into overdrive it's now September I've lost the whole yr and don't really care I'm getting aggressive impatient and I feel I need help, doctor just refers me around and I get nothing no help at all in the end what do poor people do for help ? I'm losing my mind I just want to function again, please don't say have you got friends or fam that support you . No I don't I've been alone for many years it was just me and nan now it's just me and I don't feel I belong anywhere I'm 31 live in Melb am overweight lonely depressed feeling insane does loneliness affect people like that I'm unsure. P.s I've done the mental health plan and am waiting for an appointment with some fresh outta uni student who will think I'm nuts cause I've never spoken too or had a friend since kinder. And over the years I've seen the health care system fail so many who seek help where to go what to do is the question I spose, sorry if it's a jumble first time here

zamir Depressed all my known life
  • replies: 3

Hi. I am 35 yrs old. Immigrant from Pakistan. since i was 10 years old i was bullied in school, by classmates, teachers and neighbours. As growing up in pakistan, people over do not know even the word "Bully". but bullying was not the only thing that... View more

Hi. I am 35 yrs old. Immigrant from Pakistan. since i was 10 years old i was bullied in school, by classmates, teachers and neighbours. As growing up in pakistan, people over do not know even the word "Bully". but bullying was not the only thing that contributed to my depression, i guess i inherited it, but bullying enhanced my already depressed nature. I never knew that depression is an illness, till i arrived to australia 10 years ago. Now knowing that Depression is an illness, made it a bit easy to face it. But in Australia the thing that refrained me of seeking psychologist or psychiatrist advice was the stigma attached to depression. I do not seek it, because anywhere you apply for job you come across with this question in the applying form, "Are you suffering from depression?". Now an immigrant from a third world country with a family to support you will never take this risk of seeking the advice and then not been able to work to support your family. As depressed person the last thing you would want, is your family suffer because of you. So i take it all on me. never sought any professional advice, and living with it. Thanks

Tyke_Talty A song from me
  • replies: 2

HelloI am a singer/song writer, with a song I have written over 16 years ago that you may be interested in using to highlight or help raise awareness about depression.It was a song I have written to help me externalise the demons I have to battle wit... View more

HelloI am a singer/song writer, with a song I have written over 16 years ago that you may be interested in using to highlight or help raise awareness about depression.It was a song I have written to help me externalise the demons I have to battle with.It is one of many such songs I have written to help me cope with my depression. I don't believe I have any serious depression, just your average type that one may easily, (or not), find a road out of.But my two teenage daughters are struggling, with medication, to find a way forward from their unhappiness.My brother has had severe depression and has to take a constant cocktail of drugs to keep himself in a happy state.And so the list goes on.It is a song that talks about the horrible things that go through my mind, what I believe causes the horrible downward spiral, and what I believe one must do to find a way out.Yours sincerely,Tyke Talty

Astara Feel like a failure
  • replies: 9

So I went to my GP to get a script for something to help me sleep and left with a referral to see a psych and a script for anti depressants. It wasn't even my regular GP. I don't understand how that happened and how she could see what I apparently co... View more

So I went to my GP to get a script for something to help me sleep and left with a referral to see a psych and a script for anti depressants. It wasn't even my regular GP. I don't understand how that happened and how she could see what I apparently couldn't and says I'm back in the middle of severe depression. I feel like an absolute failure. I've had the medication before. I went to counselling before. Intellectually I know how to make myself better. So why am I here again? What is the point in going through all this treatment again if it's just going to sneak on me again when I don't even know. I just feel even more depressed for recognising I'm depressed. Hate this life.

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