Depression

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

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

laura86 Need help
  • replies: 64

Hi everyone, I’m new to sharing here but really needed to reach out for help. I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for many years now and am currently in a massive low period. I recently left a horrible workplace for a better job- this i... View more

Hi everyone, I’m new to sharing here but really needed to reach out for help. I have been suffering from depression and anxiety for many years now and am currently in a massive low period. I recently left a horrible workplace for a better job- this is a good thing and I am proud of myself for moving on. However I now work for a very small business and don’t have anyone to really talk to on a day-to-day level and this had effected me more than I thought it would. I feel as though I have lost most of the friends I had despite trying to keep in contact and everyone else seems to be overseas, away with work or just too busy. A couple of weeks ago I had a big meltdown whileI was home alone. For the first time in years those truly dark thoughts came back where I couldn’t control my pain and emptiness and thought seriously about taking my life. The worst part was having no one to reach out to. I felt totally alone and worthless. Although those really bad suicidalfeelings are not as strong I wake up every day with horrible anxiety and sadness. I often don’t know how I’ll get through the day at work and cry whenever I’m alone. Since then my partner has come home from his business trip and has been really supportive even though I’m just sad all the time. I just wish it was over but I feel like it is just getting worse every day. I can’t afford to see a psychiatrist and in my local area there isn’t like a community-based service that is cheaper. I suppose I feel lost, alone and desperate. Anyway, I thought I should try to reach out here and see what happens. Thank you for listening and for your support Laurabeyondblue'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.

chaoscontrol Not worth it
  • replies: 3

I am sinking into depression, I have been suicidal before. I am in love with someone I cannot have and everything is just getting worse. Just need to talk to someone who would understand mebeyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline... View more

I am sinking into depression, I have been suicidal before. I am in love with someone I cannot have and everything is just getting worse. Just need to talk to someone who would understand mebeyondblue'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.

Chloekat84 Still sick and depression hitting hard
  • replies: 4

hey guys. Well ive been sick for a while and the doc has told me I have a bacterial infection in my throat and its been killing me. Anyways today my emotions got the better of me and I just started crying for no reason and couldn't control it. It was... View more

hey guys. Well ive been sick for a while and the doc has told me I have a bacterial infection in my throat and its been killing me. Anyways today my emotions got the better of me and I just started crying for no reason and couldn't control it. It was horrible and I was out in public which was worse. Its like this feeling came over me and it was all too much for me to handle. Prob is I never know when its gonna come on on and start or stop I just cry for no reason I just cant handle being sick anymore and its showing through my emotions. I just cant handle feeling neuseas especially that brings on a crying session. I just candle it anymore :'(

JessF Robin Williams
  • replies: 6

Hello everyone, well I haven't been on here for a little while but I had to stop in today after hearing about Robin Williams. I'm very shocked and saddened by it. Someone that for me had always been a symbol of happiness and heartfelt emotion, but he... View more

Hello everyone, well I haven't been on here for a little while but I had to stop in today after hearing about Robin Williams. I'm very shocked and saddened by it. Someone that for me had always been a symbol of happiness and heartfelt emotion, but he was struggling himself. If only if only if only he had been able to reach out. I know from my own experience that pain can cloud your judgment but there is always a way forward, always, even if you can't see it, please please reach out to the people around you and let them shine a light for you. Love and hope to anyone who may be feeling like this right now.

Cookie2929 Cant Handle Facebook
  • replies: 12

Hi I'm new here. After being what I feel was bullied on Facebook I have decided to delete my account. It has taken its tool on my family as I cannot stop thinking about what this person has been doing. Becouse this is a family member of my partner, I... View more

Hi I'm new here. After being what I feel was bullied on Facebook I have decided to delete my account. It has taken its tool on my family as I cannot stop thinking about what this person has been doing. Becouse this is a family member of my partner, I'm very torn. I tried to address the situation online by making a status not saying the persons name to bring it out in the open however that may have backfired on me. People say its just Facebook but why do they use it this way? My depression seems to cause me to obsess over things. Does anybody know strategies to not be so obsessive over people who don't like me? And how I can not react straight away, which gets me into trouble the most. I keep telling myself I'll get thru it but I feel like I'm just sinking into a bigger hole.

Greenz so tired of it all
  • replies: 1

I am very lonely and suffer social phobia - no friends that I can talk to.I have suffered depression most of my life due to my upbringing and anxiety has got worse and worse over the past few years. I feel like a huge failure. I have just turned 50 a... View more

I am very lonely and suffer social phobia - no friends that I can talk to.I have suffered depression most of my life due to my upbringing and anxiety has got worse and worse over the past few years. I feel like a huge failure. I have just turned 50 and am living on newstart and trying to raise my 2 children on my own. I have nothing - i live day to day and have no savings, my mother owns the house and I pay her rent. She is 77 and struggles to pay the mortgage on the house she bought 9 years ago so that the children and i would have somewhere stable to live. I am in my last year of uni studying law. This last year has been a particular struggle - I just don't feel i can go on with uni anymore at this point. I just need a rest or a holiday something I have not had for a long time as a single parent. What i really want is for someone to take care of me - silly - I am not cut out for this world. If i could i would live on my own in a hut in the bush with lots of animals around - animals are safe. I look at other people who have friends and partners and jobs and I feel such a failure as it all seems so hard for me and so normal for everyone else. My poor babies had to witness their mother crying and hopeless the other day. What a sense of security that gave them! Is there a world were people like me can live quietly without societies expectations and the pressures of a place that I do not want to be part of? I would like to sit in the sun and not feel guilty or that I am a failure - at 50 with nothing.

SD44 Not working off meds
  • replies: 4

Hi i am new to this forum. My story is too long to go into right now but i have been on antidepressants for 12 years and recently came off them over a6 month period in a possibly misguided attempt to support my teenage daughter who was also coming of... View more

Hi i am new to this forum. My story is too long to go into right now but i have been on antidepressants for 12 years and recently came off them over a6 month period in a possibly misguided attempt to support my teenage daughter who was also coming off hers. Suffice to say neither of us are doing well atm. I tried a natural antidepressant this past week but i seem to feel more anxious and have been having heart palpitations, so decided to stop this and thinking of going back on my regular medication. My daughter has been away at a youth rehab for 6 mnths and returned home about 6 weeks ago. They took her off meds while she was away as it is a very tough love program, but unfortunately seeing her so down and developing an eating disorder is bringing me down. Her father and i are divorced and although she sees him for 1 night a week, it is pretty much me dealing with it all alone and at the moment im not coping. Feel disappointed about going back on meds but i guess i need to do whatever it takes to be strong so i can help her also. Just needed to reach out to others who might understand as i dont like to talk about it much with others in my life who dont really know how im feeling. I have a pretty full on job and not feeling like im coping well with that either atm.I am going on a week long holiday with my daughter and son in a weeks time and hoping we are feeling ok to enjoy it. Any tips appreciated.

Pete81 Very broken today!
  • replies: 12

Not a good day Have cried for most of it. I've hidden from others so no one see's me cry and just moped about the farm. I feel very broken watching my ex wife take her and the kids stuff out of the house its gutting me to watch taking away fond memor... View more

Not a good day Have cried for most of it. I've hidden from others so no one see's me cry and just moped about the farm. I feel very broken watching my ex wife take her and the kids stuff out of the house its gutting me to watch taking away fond memories and good times on the farm. Have been catching up with a few people of late for Christmas and just to say goodbye before i move away for work and just in case things turn bad and i don't get the chance to talk to them again sounds pathetic i know but just don't have the strength or fight to battle too much at the moment. i know it sounds like I've given up just having a bad week i suppose, But i am really starting to scare myself and make myself believe it will be the last time i see many of these people. I have seen my doc again and went to the salvos to talk to someone but im just in a spot of feeling no matter what i do its not going change my situation and im still going to be alone and have nothing. All I can say is I'm very down and feel very broken and unfix-able today.

mini75 Want to help but can't
  • replies: 4

I currently help out by taking our neighbours child to school in the mornings along with my child. In recent times I have also been asked to take this child extra early. Some days have been ok and other days have not helped me out mentally. If I am s... View more

I currently help out by taking our neighbours child to school in the mornings along with my child. In recent times I have also been asked to take this child extra early. Some days have been ok and other days have not helped me out mentally. If I am struggling a few days in a row, the responsibility with an extra child puts me out. I feel the requests for looking after this child in the early morning before school is becoming more frequent too. How do I decline helping out without having to explain myself. I already take my child to school, so I feel the only way I can explain is to tell them about my struggles with my mind. I do not want to do this because this will leave me feeling vulnerable and looked upon as weak. I do not want to be treated differently and fell I will if people know. I am not ready for everyone to know. Only my husband knows and is always there for me and that's enough for now. mini75

Hepburn I don't even know what I want......so how can I get help?
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm new to BB but not really new to depression. I've suffered for around 6 years but it has gotten worse with time and now anxiety is a problem too. i do a lot of pretending. Pretending I'm doing better than I am, pretending I care about things I... View more

Hi, I'm new to BB but not really new to depression. I've suffered for around 6 years but it has gotten worse with time and now anxiety is a problem too. i do a lot of pretending. Pretending I'm doing better than I am, pretending I care about things I don't, and pretending I want to fix it......when the reality is I want it to be fixed, but couldn't be stuffed doing the work to fix it...you know?im a mum, a wife, a teacher, a daughter, a strong woman etc etc........that's the roles others have put on me.....I just want to be left alone and not have to deal with anything. I'm tired but I can only sleep cause I take large amounts of medications. I'm on strong anti depressants but they really aren't working well,I have issues that I apparently should be talking to a psychologist about but it just doesn't feel right to sit down with someone and chat about my past that can't be changed, and I have everything I'm supposed to want in life yet I'm still depressed and have anxiety.........what's the deal with that? i can't be the only person who hates the idea of seeing a psych. Can I?