Immediate support
Immediate support

Depression

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

Start a discussion

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
Jump to
Start a discussion

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

Start a discussion

Violet_falls I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel
  • replies: 2

I'm acknowledging that I'm not actually ok and I feel very low and I'm so sad inside. I keep telling everybody I'm fine, I dont want loved ones to worry about me. But pretending I'm fine is not the same as actually being fine I've realised. It's been... View more

I'm acknowledging that I'm not actually ok and I feel very low and I'm so sad inside. I keep telling everybody I'm fine, I dont want loved ones to worry about me. But pretending I'm fine is not the same as actually being fine I've realised. It's been almost 12 months since separation with my husband and I thought I would be feeling better by now as some time has passed and I have tried to get on with things. Life is very difficult now on my own with the kids and I'm still carrying a heavy heart from the end of a marriage, disappointment, grief, stress, worry, sadness, dv trauma from the marriage and some financial hardships now. So I find it difficult alot of the time to want to or be able to do small tasks around the home. I'm not sleeping or eating. I avoid crowds and social settings now. I just want to be alone alot. I also feel like I don't have time to fall apart or sink any lower because I have young children that depend on me and I have to go to work and I have to keep moving and functioning. But I just don't feel ok and im struggling internally. Anxiety has severely heightened for me this week due to an incident involving myself that has caused me mortification and I feel like I'm at absolute rock bottom inside at this point.

PurpleOcean Defining self-worth
  • replies: 8

I can't seem to figure out how to define my self-worth outside of other people or other things. By myself, I keep feeling like I don't have any inherent worth. I constantly feel I need to achieve things, get things done, or be productive or helpful t... View more

I can't seem to figure out how to define my self-worth outside of other people or other things. By myself, I keep feeling like I don't have any inherent worth. I constantly feel I need to achieve things, get things done, or be productive or helpful to other people to be deserving of love or even of life. Objectively, I know this is unhealthy because it makes me lose self-esteem and faith in myself pretty quickly whenever I inevitably trip up or don't excel at something. But for as long as I can remember, this has been how I define myself and understand my worth as a human being. I have never been taught to think about myself in any different way, and I have no idea where to start. I am always terrified of failure because of this, and each time I make a mistake I am extremely hard on myself, even while acknowledging this is unfair and not helpful. In a way, this makes it worse, because now I am hard on myself because I am hard on myself. It's a never-ending cycle that makes me exhausted. I hope someone out there can understand this and let me know I'm not going crazy.

Sunny69 Protracted Withdrawal
  • replies: 1

Hi all, anyone else going through protracted withdrawal? The last 8 months has been tough. First 4 were fine then...bam anxiety & insomnia hit me head on I'm looking for some support & to share what I've tried.

Hi all, anyone else going through protracted withdrawal? The last 8 months has been tough. First 4 were fine then...bam anxiety & insomnia hit me head on I'm looking for some support & to share what I've tried.

protracted44 Partners
  • replies: 2

Hi- i am suffering from long term protracted withdrawal and this comes in waves and up and downs. I have the most loving supportive partner and really can find any support for them. Its great that we are supported but how can i make sure my partner i... View more

Hi- i am suffering from long term protracted withdrawal and this comes in waves and up and downs. I have the most loving supportive partner and really can find any support for them. Its great that we are supported but how can i make sure my partner is getting support so it doesnt get too much for them?

idk_what_to_put_here Why do I hate myself so much
  • replies: 3

you know the scariest thought to me is the fact i have to spend the rest of my life with myself. a person i couldnt hate any more a person i can even look at, talk about, think about and obiously be a part of. I hate everything about me EVERYTHING. a... View more

you know the scariest thought to me is the fact i have to spend the rest of my life with myself. a person i couldnt hate any more a person i can even look at, talk about, think about and obiously be a part of. I hate everything about me EVERYTHING. and i dont know what to do is so exhausting i jsut feel drained and hopeless and im nearing the point i just give up. how can i expect anyone else to love me let alone like me when i cant even like myself when im the one person in the whole world who really should. i just crave the feeling of happiness so much and i can never seem to get there no matter what i do. i jsut want to be normal. i jsut want to accpet myself and be able to live a somewhat decent life its so unfair why i did have to be stuck with myself and with these awful thoughts what did i do to deserve this. ive already wasted so much of my life i dont want to wast anymore. please i need help!

Coby_ Struggling with lack of motivation
  • replies: 5

Hi, over the past few years I have begun to struggle a lot with gaining motivation to do anything regardless of how big or small or taxing the task or activity is. I've started to reach the point where I no longer enjoy doing things I used to go out ... View more

Hi, over the past few years I have begun to struggle a lot with gaining motivation to do anything regardless of how big or small or taxing the task or activity is. I've started to reach the point where I no longer enjoy doing things I used to go out of my way to do, and spent a large chunk of my free time doing. I have goals and aspirations in life but I'm just never able to get up and work towards them or do the things I know I have to to achieve them. I'll occasionally have little bursts where I am up and about and do a few things here and there but that never lasts for long. I'm not sure if this is just a case of me being lazy as I've been told when I've tried to speak about it in the past or if anyone else has experienced it, so I'm not even really sure I'm looking in the right place for help but this is the only place I could think of outside of the people surrounding me. Never really had any issues in the past with mental health before this so maybe its something separate but any help or ideas would be appreciated, I'm really just sick of feeling this way and not seeing any way to escape the loop.

itsbyaxl i am having a big depressive episode and i need help
  • replies: 1

i was diagnosed with depression and anxiety when i was in my early teens and turned 18 just last year. i have been really struggling but recently it’s gotten very bad. i have drifted away from my high school friends so i currently don’t have any frie... View more

i was diagnosed with depression and anxiety when i was in my early teens and turned 18 just last year. i have been really struggling but recently it’s gotten very bad. i have drifted away from my high school friends so i currently don’t have any friends other than my boyfriend who i have been seeing for a few months. I want to be able to talk to someone about how i feel but my parents and i have a struggling relationship so it’s hard for me to talk to them about my feelings and i don’t want to feel like a burden to my boyfriend. i have a therapist but i haven’t been motivated enough to make a session with him and even if i did i already struggle opening up to him.i’ve just been stuck in my room for the past few month’s completely unmotivated to do anything. i’ve also been forgetting to take my meds or just missing them because i’ve been asleep. i occasionally have suicidal thoughts but no intention to act on them. and they pass by quickly. i cry almost daily. i want to talk to somone about this but. i just cant. showing my feelings is so hard for me. i just want to not feel sad anymore. i want to have some sort of goal in life but i’m completely lost

LVB Hello - I'm new!
  • replies: 7

Hello all. I'm hoping to be a part of the forum/s, as I'd like to be a part of some kind of circle of support. I'm female and over 60, and I've lived with depression since my 20's. I am a victim-survivor of childhood sexual abuse. No one, except a cl... View more

Hello all. I'm hoping to be a part of the forum/s, as I'd like to be a part of some kind of circle of support. I'm female and over 60, and I've lived with depression since my 20's. I am a victim-survivor of childhood sexual abuse. No one, except a close partner at one time in my 30's knew, because outwardly I present as competent and 'in charge' of myself.....that still continues today, though most of the time I'm a quivering mass inside! My last relationship ended 3 years ago, which broke my heart after 20 years being together. I do see a therapist, and I believe she has helped me to 'hang on' - and indeed, build on strengths. One thing I'm really missing though, is a social community who already know my stuff, my 'baggage', so I can just 'be'. I'd love to be able to support others too, and I know that is part of being a community - so maybe I can say 'Hello' again - it would be good to meet/talk with you!

Vitto I Don't Like Being Antisocial
  • replies: 3

I suffered with Social Anxiety all throughout my teens and 20s.It began very early into my High School years. I did not want to get on anybody's bad side, so I went into my shell and did not do much talking.I rarely spoke unless spoken to and had an ... View more

I suffered with Social Anxiety all throughout my teens and 20s.It began very early into my High School years. I did not want to get on anybody's bad side, so I went into my shell and did not do much talking.I rarely spoke unless spoken to and had an irrational discomfort sharing my like/dislikes fearing this would lead to ridicule. Obviously, this made it very hard to establish any sort of strong friendships.I had no real friends leaving school, which lead to bouts of loneliness and depression. I went to a GP for help and tried medication and therapy.Both worked, to an extent. I became less worried about what others thought of me.I got a job and joined a local sport club. I don't think Anxiety is an issue any more. However, I am depressed at my complete lack of social skills.Simply put - I don't know how to talk to people.I have nothing to say. I don't know what questions to ask. I've had friends for a couple of years now. They like and respect me for my character.I fear that they will eventually tire of my boring personality and inability to have a simple conversation.When one-on-one with someone I feel sorry for them, that I make it so awkward, having nothing to say.In a group, I sit with nothing to say. Conversation goes on around me, I think it would make little difference if I was there or not.When this happens I feel pathetic - I think I'd rather be alone, than feeling so useless.It is even worse with strangers.I feel I’ll never be able to have a romantic relationship, because I cannot communicate adequately, and that would frustrate a partner. I have always felt out of the loop.This may be because I am not big on Social Media.It's like everybody has the same interests and knows everything about everybody and everything, except me.Family/Friends have done a lot of travel - I have not.Family/Friends have the same list of restaurants they want to try - I have heard of none of them.This all makes it very hard to add to an ongoing conversation. I wish more than anything I could be more engaging.

JustanNPC How to stop feeling like my life is over?
  • replies: 2

Hi everybody. I've had depression for many years, and is currently at its worst. There's a underlying feeling of dread and despair, and it won't let up. When I turned 18 and the "training wheels" of high school came off, I became a recluse and my emo... View more

Hi everybody. I've had depression for many years, and is currently at its worst. There's a underlying feeling of dread and despair, and it won't let up. When I turned 18 and the "training wheels" of high school came off, I became a recluse and my emotional state has been low ever since. I feel like I missed my chance to live a fulfilling life by hiding from opportunities because it was too hard to face the world. I'm envious of those around me that took chances and found confidence through experience, and for a time I put them down (in my thoughts) to make myself feel better. I constantly compare what people have accomplished at what age to my own life and feel like a failure. I lacked the courage to ever try dating seriously and as a result do not have a partner. I see a psychologist, I take antidepressants, I have supportive parents. All I can feel despite this is a sense of loneliness and self loathing. Sorry to just dump all that info but I wanted to give some context for the question. If anybody has some advice I'd appreciate it.