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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BeyondBlue Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started
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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?
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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

Guest_36828030 I should have got a job years ago!
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Hello! Hey there fellow people on this wonderful forum! I am posting for the first time. I should have got a job years ago! Seriously if it wasn't for my oblivious thinking back in High school, I would have got one when I was like 14. That is what I ... View more

Hello! Hey there fellow people on this wonderful forum! I am posting for the first time. I should have got a job years ago! Seriously if it wasn't for my oblivious thinking back in High school, I would have got one when I was like 14. That is what I should have done, except I got one when I was 17, was there for like two shifts, then left because the idiots sent me to the wrong house! I was a delivery driver you see. I should have stayed but wasn't resilient enough and quit. Fast forward to now I have been looking back on life and concluded that I should have got a job literally a decade ago, I am 24 now, so when I was 14. I would have been in a much better financial state and had loads of cash to go towards a home loan. Instead I have less than five grand and I am 24! I have now only just managed to get two jobs, both of which I haven't started. This has deeply depressed me, but I am doing fine, thank god for job seeker payment!!! Also thank god for my good saving habits over the past decade or so. I really wish I got a job when I was 14 or even 15 and stayed with it! I would have had a much better Resume and found it easier to get other jobs. Is anyone else in this position when they look back and think to themselves 'I should have got a job sooner'? Is anyone else in a bad financial state? Luckily I am a good saver and what a good life for my self. I am willing to work hard and what the best for myself!!! Please feel free to offer up some advice for me, thanks in advance. Hopefully these two jobs work out!!! I do not want to be fired for any reason! For motivation what I do is go to carsales and dream of what cars I could own in the future, I love cars!!! I also look at property for sale and think to myself 'yeah I got to work hard so I can have a good life and have a nice townhouse or house". You know what I mean? Thanks in advance for all who reply! I will really appreciate it! Thanks.

Odijay Isolated by misophonia
  • replies: 11

Misophonia.. possible ADHD and definitely on the spectrum. This makes me hypersensitive and very literal but miso is Killing my marriage. Or is it already dead. My husband has been through hell and back with cancer, and continued health issues. The l... View more

Misophonia.. possible ADHD and definitely on the spectrum. This makes me hypersensitive and very literal but miso is Killing my marriage. Or is it already dead. My husband has been through hell and back with cancer, and continued health issues. The latest being coughing and snotting constantly - no end in sight - it’s been 5 months since it got bad. I cannot stand to be around him, and when I am I can’t help but tell him to shut up. Separate bedrooms now which I thought would never happenI want to be around him. I miss our previous relationship. But I can’t see things changing. I’m lonely, no one to talk to so bury myself in work, horses and art. I feel like I’m grieving, and feel also guilt all the time. I try to just go about life - I feel so sorry for him but that doesn’t help me to co trip how I feel when I’m around. just wish I could have someone to talk to when I feel like this. have had plenty counseling over the years and also recently. No real solution to my/our problem.

Sunflower23 Feeling low
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I've felt low this past week, not feeling like my usual self. I feel alone and isolated. My support system feels non existent. The people in my life who I could depend on to listen are not available. I feel like my life is unbalanced right now, like ... View more

I've felt low this past week, not feeling like my usual self. I feel alone and isolated. My support system feels non existent. The people in my life who I could depend on to listen are not available. I feel like my life is unbalanced right now, like the scales have been tipped and everything feels heavy and hard to face. Any small thing that goes wrong adds more stress to my body and is hard to process. Hoping that these feelings will pass and thinking of anyone else who is experiencing the same thing right now.

Guest_93784489 Ruptured ACL
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I have been playing sport for as long as I can remember and about a month ago I obtained an injury in one of my footy games. I ruptured my ACL, which meant that I required surgery. I am now 3 weeks post surgery and I just feel so lost. I feel like I ... View more

I have been playing sport for as long as I can remember and about a month ago I obtained an injury in one of my footy games. I ruptured my ACL, which meant that I required surgery. I am now 3 weeks post surgery and I just feel so lost. I feel like I can’t do anything and I find it so hard to talk about with everyone. My boyfriend has been my absolute rock during this period but I just don’t want to burden him with these feelings. I just don’t know what to do anymore

emila_03 I don't know any more
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im a school leaver, I left at the end of year 10 because of bullying and "friends throwing me in the trash" (discarding me) I was also bullied a lot about my weight even when I have managed to maintain that weight for 2 years, at the end of year 9 a ... View more

im a school leaver, I left at the end of year 10 because of bullying and "friends throwing me in the trash" (discarding me) I was also bullied a lot about my weight even when I have managed to maintain that weight for 2 years, at the end of year 9 a boy called me a hippo and made big belly hand motions, after that I left school that day only 10 mins into class, ever since then I was never concerned with my weight and how I look now and all the negative emotions and feelings settle in. I got bullied for my weight even more in year 10 including people starting rumour of me being lesbian (not saying anything bad, its just upsetting when people call you something your not and make a big deal about it). at the end of year 10 I left and am now in tafe doing childcare, I'm only 1 semester in and now I just don't know anymore, I feel empty and lonely, I no longer feel happy and cry everyday also having an emotional breakdown at my job the other day I had to leave and go home, I believe I'm also stressed from all the assignments (5 assignments due in same week) but I don't know how to identify it. I also don't have a free day to myself anymore 5 days tafe then weekends are work. iv tried to talk to my mum about it but she don't really listen saying its "adult life". I don't know what to do anymore. has anyone ever felt like this?

Bombastus I don't know what to do, struggling to try and stop hoping I die.
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I am a 32 year old male, 33 tomorrow. I am going to spend my birthday alone, as I spend most days. I work full time 5 days a week, and every second Saturday. I am suffering from extreme loneliness, I do not have a single person I would call my friend... View more

I am a 32 year old male, 33 tomorrow. I am going to spend my birthday alone, as I spend most days. I work full time 5 days a week, and every second Saturday. I am suffering from extreme loneliness, I do not have a single person I would call my friend, even co-workers behave more like adversaries or bullies even threatened to kill me (jokingly I think). I have no family to spend time with either, they are either disinterested, busy or contribute to negative mental health. I am really struggling to navigate what it is to be entirely alone as an adult, I don't really know how to enjoy anything because my depression and loneliness takes up the majority of my mind while I'm trying to be present.

Lost_Alone Feel like I’m always wrong
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I feel like I’m trying to constantly accept and or validate how others feel and to help them. My own thoughts and feelings are often challenged or feel like they are being dismissed as less important. I know I’m not always right but surely I’m not al... View more

I feel like I’m trying to constantly accept and or validate how others feel and to help them. My own thoughts and feelings are often challenged or feel like they are being dismissed as less important. I know I’m not always right but surely I’m not always wrong either. When I try to share my feelings or thoughts about how im coping ir my concerns about issues I often get I'm too controlling or judgemental ir that other people have much worse. Even my partner says that mental health stuff is just a form of spontaneous nonsense or he says that even with all of his challenges in life he’s never felt that way and that I should just think about all I have to be grateful for. Which I know has a place but….I still feel. he constantly rants on about negatives and I don’t feel supported emotionally or trying to help my children emotionally. My youngest has spent 2 nights in a mental health ward and I feel like lots of it is my fault because I don’t approve of some of her friends - I don’t see them as being a positive influence in her life and worry that they are leading her into a troubled life…which is kind of where we are now. I don’t want her to have to go through this but I am powerless.

Skylar feeling numb or stuck?
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I don't know how I am going to explain this so it makes sense to read but I'll try.I have been feeling very plain and flat lately, I do suffer from extreme anxiety and depression and I am in tough with a psychologist on a regular basis to discuss a l... View more

I don't know how I am going to explain this so it makes sense to read but I'll try.I have been feeling very plain and flat lately, I do suffer from extreme anxiety and depression and I am in tough with a psychologist on a regular basis to discuss a lot of things. But recently I have just had this feeling of nothingness, like I sit in my room and will binge watch movies, or TV and I laugh and really enjoy them, I laugh and make jokes with family and co-workers all day long, but personally I don't feel anything at all. I have always been a sensitive person, too much so, I am a sympathy cryer and I stress about everything very easily but lately when people around me have been having a hard time or struggling I have been struggling to connect or even care about their problems, I try to fake it and do what I can to talk to them but I feel I am not a great help because I am genuinely struggling to connect with them or with anyone. I occasionally feel random moments of discomfort, and on high alert for no reason, like I feel a shiver go through my body as if my blood has run cold, and then nothing. Usually I am pretty good at determining my issues and I know what to do to fix them, but I can't quite get a grasp of this flat feeling.

Nothing Left I’m lonely and lost and close to giving up completely
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I had an episode of major depression and anxiety almost 4 years ago. Fought on for 18 months before the family had enough and the marriage ended. Divorce going through now. I’m 51. I’ve lost a lucrative career and my home, my grown up sons hate me an... View more

I had an episode of major depression and anxiety almost 4 years ago. Fought on for 18 months before the family had enough and the marriage ended. Divorce going through now. I’m 51. I’ve lost a lucrative career and my home, my grown up sons hate me and won’t speak to me. I have no friends at all and no family in Australia. I literally go to my new crap paid job or sit at home with my cat. I never go out or do anything. My meds keep stuff in check to a point but I’m constantly sad and lonely. I wish I was still with my wife but that’s gone, I can’t imagine I’ll ever get someone else and see no point in life now. My self esteem and confidence is zero. I hate myself. What can I do? Right now I’m just existing and I hate life.

JJJ I don't know what to do
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm a second year university student, and recently I've been experiencing a lots of negative emotions that I'm struggling to cope with. The constant anxiety I'm having with my studies is really impacting me day to days. I'm cyring all nights, nea... View more

Hi, I'm a second year university student, and recently I've been experiencing a lots of negative emotions that I'm struggling to cope with. The constant anxiety I'm having with my studies is really impacting me day to days. I'm cyring all nights, nearly everyday. I would be eating and suddenly think of the assignments dueing soon, and immediately lose appetite, with that weird, disguting feeling emerging from my stomach, urging me to continue on study. But when I get to my desk I'd start procrastinating, franctically scrolling through social medias and kpop vids while torturing with the stress of assignments. Every morning I'd wake up and know that I'd need to study but am struggling to even get up off bed. I know I should stop procrastinating and take action immediately but I just can't Things had gotten worse yesterday when I was taking my break from study. Standing on top of the stairs, I had such a strong urge off throwing my self down the stairs so I can get a broken limb as an exemption or a medical condition to apply for an extension. My self destructive thoughts had becoming more and more frequent. But what really confuses(?) Me is that these depressed and anxious moods usually occur during time at school. Like I'd be fine during the holidays, having regular appetite and no trouble falling asleep. But as soon as I get caught up with too much works I'll experience a super strong sense of eagerness of self harming. A few weeks ago I had an instructive thought about crushing myself into the traffic when I was waiting for my bus just to end and take a break I don't want to share this to anyone since I'm sounding psychotic. My sister had a severe case of depression and I don't want to add any more burden to my family. I also fear the efforts to reach out to a psychologist