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
Categories
Start a discussion

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 discussion

lisar Plummeting mood, please help....
  • replies: 5

Hi guys, I'm new on here & don't know what I'm really doing. I guess I just want to share my story in the hope that maybe someone out in the world cares. I have been in & out of hospital for the last 5 yrs with depression, anxiety & an eating disorde... View more

Hi guys, I'm new on here & don't know what I'm really doing. I guess I just want to share my story in the hope that maybe someone out in the world cares. I have been in & out of hospital for the last 5 yrs with depression, anxiety & an eating disorder. My husband left me yrs ago ( he was an abusive alcoholic). My eldest daughter suffers with Asperger's, depression & social phobia - she refuses to have anything to do with her father so I have to care for her 24/7. My other 2 girls share their time between us both but are very unhappy when with their father. My 61 yr old mum is developing early onset dementia - I came home the other day to find her cooking banana bread in a saucepan on the stove cos it was easier than using the toaster!! My eldest daughter companion rabbit ( the only way to manage her meltdowns was to give her the rabbit) died a couple of weeks ago & she still isn't dealing with it. My extremely allergic 9 yr old had her tonsils out a few days later & she had an anaphylactic reaction to the anaesthetic!!. Then to top it all off a wind storm went through & lifted the roof off my house! My mood has been spiralling down the last few months but right now has completely plummeted. My eating disorder has resurfaced in the form of bulimia & is out of control so I'm feeling quite physically unwell to. I'm just so tired, I just don't want to do life any more. I'm wallowing in self pity but I can't be bothered pulling myself out of it - it's all to hard. I won't bail on life - I have my girls to keep me alive, they mean the world to me. I know this is really disjointed to read but I have trouble thinking straight & I have so much I want to say but don't know how. Thank you for listening to me vent, i'm sorry for dumping all my crap out there. I'm doubting myself now if I should post this.....

John8787 lost and empty
  • replies: 7

Hey all, Thanks for reading this. I hit rock bottom about a month ago now after my partner of 4 1/2 years left me. It has been the hardest time of my life. I have been to my gp and I am now on antidepressants and going to see someone next week too he... View more

Hey all, Thanks for reading this. I hit rock bottom about a month ago now after my partner of 4 1/2 years left me. It has been the hardest time of my life. I have been to my gp and I am now on antidepressants and going to see someone next week too help me. My partner was my world she was everything to me including my best and ONLY friend I had in my life. I thought we were going too spend our lives together but like everything else in this world nothing lasts. Everyday I struggle to live I wake hop wondering why what's the point in anything the pain and hurt ii feel is just to much I am so lonely but somehow I drag myself to work. I don't want to be me anymore I wish I could cluck my fingers and change have friends and a new gf. It seems to hard I hate the weekends they are the worst Sorry but yeah I need to vent.

xrosex All alone
  • replies: 1

You know how people say they feel all alone? Well for me it's not just feeling like that, it's 100% true. I have a partner and a young daughter but as my partner is suffering from depression too he can't be my support. We have no family or friends wh... View more

You know how people say they feel all alone? Well for me it's not just feeling like that, it's 100% true. I have a partner and a young daughter but as my partner is suffering from depression too he can't be my support. We have no family or friends where we live. Both of us are unemployed and we have absolutely nothing to take our minds off our worries. every day is a struggle and we are finding it so hard looking after our daugther 24/7 with no help from anyone. Today I was suposed to clean the house but I can't get off the couch or stop crying so I'm writing this here cause I have no one else to talk to about how bad I feel all the time. I just don't know what to do or how to get better. I don't get along with other women, I can't connect with anyone. All I want is to live near my family but they're on the other side of the world.

Dom72 In Need of Help
  • replies: 1

Hi allI’m new here to the Beyond Blue site...I’ve been struggling with what I think is depression for many years now though have never been diagnosed. I guess I’m worried about how my life will change if I am diagnosed with clinical depression.I am 4... View more

Hi allI’m new here to the Beyond Blue site...I’ve been struggling with what I think is depression for many years now though have never been diagnosed. I guess I’m worried about how my life will change if I am diagnosed with clinical depression.I am 42 now & my first feelings of depression were when I was 11, in the middle of the night in my parents kitchen. I thought about ending my life & just cried.This year has been probably my worst, I have been struggling at work & have had my darkest days & nights yet. I have a very supportive wife & 2 beautiful boys yet this doesn’t stop me from feeling as down as I do every day. The only person keeping me alive is my son, who I couldn’t bear to hurt by leaving him. I question my worth every single day....Especially since I have made a few mistakes at work which threaten my job..& it?s a career that I love. I question my contribution to my family, whether I’m a good dad & husband...I know that I am not the best at that either.I’m scared of what I might do to myself if things don?t ease..I’m scared that if I change jobs & I don’t feel any different will I have any worth any more? I am completely lost..Has anyone on here tried to deal with these feelings on their own?? What do I ask for if I go to one? 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;}

Zygote Ran out of my medication
  • replies: 4

I ran out of my antidepressant last Wednesday. My wife went out today and I'm stuck with children. I'm really a bit of a mess. I'm crying over nothing at all. I was watching Air Crash Investigation and started bawling when some lady thought her son w... View more

I ran out of my antidepressant last Wednesday. My wife went out today and I'm stuck with children. I'm really a bit of a mess. I'm crying over nothing at all. I was watching Air Crash Investigation and started bawling when some lady thought her son was killed but then she found him alive. And just random crying over nothing and thoughts of wanting to give up. There are certain things as well I'm having trouble with but I have anxiety, really bad, so I can't ring up to get help. I have a script but no money to buy till Wednesday though I don't think I'll make it unless this is the worst it will get. Don't even really know why I'm writing this. I can't get help because I'm a guy and no matter how nice people are I think they still just sort of wish we would harden up and be men or that's how I perceive things anyway. My wife controls all the money, she has a good job but she's a controlling person and I have anxiety thinking about asking her for the money for the medication. I amtired of irritable moods she gets into when I ask for money, they can last for days sometimes weeks over 5 dollars which is ridiculous. Not that I don't work I do work, 5 days a week 8 hours a day but I work for free because I don't feel worthwhile enough to ask for money in an actual paying job. I get extremely anxious about competing with people in interviews and sort of fall apart in front of people in those situations. Probably sounds insane but I guess that's why I have a mental illness because I'm slightly insane

ALL Getting worse and guilt is ripping me apart
  • replies: 2

For 8 years I have had anxiety and this year it has been a real rollercoaster. at one stage, I got it under control. but I missed it so much I brought it back upon myself. resulting from this I have suffered all this guilt and I started to question i... View more

For 8 years I have had anxiety and this year it has been a real rollercoaster. at one stage, I got it under control. but I missed it so much I brought it back upon myself. resulting from this I have suffered all this guilt and I started to question if I actually have anxiety and depression ( despite being formally diagnosed). this makes guilt worse and in turn the depression is getting worse. I haven't cried as much before as I have this week. I feel so flat, people are noticing. recent events I saw on the news trigger it too. I feel so bad for those people and It all just piles on. I cant do anything but sit and stare. any advice?

Worthless_amp_helpless Lost and unable to find my way
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am new here and I never really done this before, but i am going to give it ago. I have been suffering depression for a long time, but it was this year that it got really bad that I needed to get help . I find it hard to speak to anyone as i fea... View more

Hi, I am new here and I never really done this before, but i am going to give it ago. I have been suffering depression for a long time, but it was this year that it got really bad that I needed to get help . I find it hard to speak to anyone as i fear being judged by others. I am married and I am my younger sisters legal guardian and they are not that supportive when it comes tomy depression. My hubby tells me it all in the head and just to toughen up. My sister is a teenager and its all about her and what she wants and doesn't really care about anyone else. I am a person that holds everything in and suffer in silence and just put a smile on my face even when i am suffering badly. I do see a psychologist but having to suffer in silence for so long and the things that happened in my past as a child I am finding it hard to open up to my psychologist. For the last few weeks I have been dealing with my sister and husband fighting non stop everyday, I have tried to explain how this effecting me etc but they are not listening nor do they care. I have gotten to the stage that i am giving up, I am over feeling this way and not having anyone to turn to for support. I have lost my way and have no idea where i am heading i see no future and I see no light at the end of the tunnel.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.

someone123 dont know what to do
  • replies: 2

Hi,I am new to this but here it goes...I have been suffering depression for as long as I can remember, as in life you have your ups and downs however lately the depression has been more frequent and to add to this I get anxiety at least twice a week.... View more

Hi,I am new to this but here it goes...I have been suffering depression for as long as I can remember, as in life you have your ups and downs however lately the depression has been more frequent and to add to this I get anxiety at least twice a week. I am married, have a beautiful 8 month daughter, my own house, have a job (mature age apprenticeship) My relationship with my wife now feels content as there is no more intimacy as she istired from looking after our daughter. She has now been back at work for a couple of months and still the same. I try and share the load of raising our daughter as much as I can however there are times where she just wants her mum. I work 6 days and anywhere between 8 to 11-12 hour days just so we can get by. I somewhat know why I feel the way I do and everytime I try and talk to my wife about things I get no response until after a few times we both go into waterworks, then things go good for a week or so and then back into this vicious cycle. At this current moment its at a point where we are not talking to each other.I dont want to divorce as my wife a nd daughter is all I have.I'm at a point now where I dont know what to do anymore, I have had alot of suicidal thoughts but I know that is wrong (or just to cowardly to act?) Besides this post and talking to my wife i have not told anyone amd kept it all bottled inside. I dont feel comfortable talking to anyone else about it as I dont want to put them in uncomfortable position.I dont know where this post is going, feels like I'm rambling but feels good to get of my chest.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.

Elises Fallen again
  • replies: 2

Hi I'm new here but Im certainly not new to the paralysing fear depression brings.Throughout most of my life I have felt detached from society, ashamed of myself, constantly fearing tomorrow etc and always ached to know why. I guess I convinced mysel... View more

Hi I'm new here but Im certainly not new to the paralysing fear depression brings.Throughout most of my life I have felt detached from society, ashamed of myself, constantly fearing tomorrow etc and always ached to know why. I guess I convinced myself that I must have deserved to feel like this.I finally partially got my stuff together after a drug fuelled and failed adolescence. Studied, got a good job then imploded. I was diagnosed with PTSS 4 years ago. Working in a job I loved helped to focus on something other than my own thoughts for 9 hours a day but the other 15 were tough.I began healing with meds and therapy but all too soon thought I'd be OK on my own. I've fallen down again for the 3rd time in a few years. I decided to take some me time as I was feeling great... but too much time alone for me turns into alcoholic binges, forgetting meds and the feelings return.I have only achieved very few things that were on my "to do list" and my breaks nearly over. I feel ashamed of that too. I guess this is my first step in getting back on the healing wagon. I feel a little lighter even now. Thanks.

Digital Not again …
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm new so I have no idea how to start this but I've been struggling through depression for 7 years which feels like forever this year I felt things were going well I moved in to a place and finally got out of a job that was making my mental spira... View more

Hi I'm new so I have no idea how to start this but I've been struggling through depression for 7 years which feels like forever this year I felt things were going well I moved in to a place and finally got out of a job that was making my mental spiral down within two weeks of my new job I was suddenly let go which was like a kick in the stomach I thought I was going good and from there I just seem to be going down hill. Even after these years and numerous psychologists I still can not figure out why I am this way I have an amazing family who are supportive and understanding i have always been a more suffer in silence type but the last time I felt this bad I was hospitalised After reading some of the stories I would just like to say thank you it means there could be a light at the end of the tunnel