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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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: 1

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

Scotty2013 Anyone know of another Planet i can go stay at for a while
  • replies: 3

Hi guys I'ts been sometime, just thought i would pop in say hi. I'm doing ok-ish but of late i been feeling a bit down /flat. Mostly because I'm so damn tired of the world, its always a struggle. Sometimes i feel like i am taking a pill because of li... View more

Hi guys I'ts been sometime, just thought i would pop in say hi. I'm doing ok-ish but of late i been feeling a bit down /flat. Mostly because I'm so damn tired of the world, its always a struggle. Sometimes i feel like i am taking a pill because of life the way it is.., not me does that make sense?. I look at news governments and think what a mess, why do people have to make this so much harder for others?. I'm tired of peoples attitudes around, their motives..I feel like everyone is trying to control one another.. or people are just to damn bossy!!! . Anyone know of another Planet i can go stay at for a while?? Thanks.TC...

Guest_3712 no more secrets and lies, i'm telling my husband about my depression
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, I have been really humbled by the responses to my post, "Depression is not a cold.....". It proved to me that no matter what our ethnicity , sex, age or social status we all have the one thing inn common- to be understood , not judged or pai... View more

Hi guys, I have been really humbled by the responses to my post, "Depression is not a cold.....". It proved to me that no matter what our ethnicity , sex, age or social status we all have the one thing inn common- to be understood , not judged or paid lip service. What I also read was that we all put ourselves last. We worry about how our depression affects our family, friends, partners, kids. We feel guilty for being sick. we put off treatment because our family won't cope without us and meanwhile we get worse. I have been very distresses for the last few days and have taken comfort in posting here. but it is not enough. Ican't do this anymore. I need to be able to tell my nearest and dearest I am sick. My psych has been trying to get me to see this for years - and I think I get it. you all have helped me see how wrong we are in how we view our illness and yes it is an illness just like, cancer or heart condition. it needs treatment and without it can be life threatening. guys tonight when my husband asks what is wrong as I know he will, ( I know he senses a shift in me as he's been thru it before) I am going to tell the truth. I am sick. I feel very sad, anxious scared and don't really know why. Let the chips fall where they may! I can't cope with the secrets and lies anymore. wish me luck be kind to your selves Stressless

Girl_Anachronism It's so hard just to keep up pretenses everyday
  • replies: 22

I am beyond tired and exhausted.It feels like effort to do anything..Everything I do blows up in my face, and to what end? It's so hard just to keep up pretenses everyday.GA

I am beyond tired and exhausted.It feels like effort to do anything..Everything I do blows up in my face, and to what end? It's so hard just to keep up pretenses everyday.GA

Lilyn feel completely invisible to the world
  • replies: 15

Today is not a good day. I feel very alone....I am finding it hard to express just how I am feeling. I don't have anyone in my life and that is making dealing with my illness even harder. Most people seem to have a partner/husband/friends/family arou... View more

Today is not a good day. I feel very alone....I am finding it hard to express just how I am feeling. I don't have anyone in my life and that is making dealing with my illness even harder. Most people seem to have a partner/husband/friends/family around in some capacity. I do not. And it is all at my own doing. I responded to someone on here a few days ago who expressed similar feelings but they talked about having a supportive husband and children. I suggested that their feelings of being a terrible person, unworthy and incapable of love and care could not be true as they had their husband and children- it would not be possible for them to have that if they were the way they felt they are. That has stayed with me as clearly I am unable to have a relationship of any kind. So that must mean that I really am just a terrible person, not worth anything to anyone. No one wants to be around me. I am completely alone. I sit in my home day after day with no interaction with anyone. No one calls to see how I am or ask me to spend time with them. I am just left to myself. I am completely isolated. I have nothing to look forward to. Nothing brings me joy. I don't know what I like or am interested in. I feel so lost. I feel so unloved. I feel so uncared for. I feel like I don't exist. I feel so pathetic. I am drowning in self pity but not having anyone who believes in me or even likes me makes it seem almost impossible to get out of. I have made so many mistakes in my life and it feels like this is what I deserve. I recently reached out to a couple of people from my past work. Neither of them has answered me. Being ignored like that just makes me believe even more how bad I am. I must be. It was and is very hard for me to reach out to anyone so that in itself was a huge thing for me. And being silently rejected by them has pushed me back to where I was. There is no one in my corner. I am all alone and feel completely invisible to the world.

Kirby Am I depressed or just having that 'phase'?
  • replies: 1

Since the end of last year I have been feeling very down on myself and sometimes feeling a sense of loneliness and mainly depression. I often wake up in cold sweats and frequently battle to get to sleep unless I am extremely tired from work and what ... View more

Since the end of last year I have been feeling very down on myself and sometimes feeling a sense of loneliness and mainly depression. I often wake up in cold sweats and frequently battle to get to sleep unless I am extremely tired from work and what not. After the end of year exams last year I've been under a lot of stress and it has really been getting to me. I have had thoughts of suicide because I've just gotten to the point of thinking that everyone would just be better off not worrying about me and just going about their business. I haven't spoken to any friends or family because I feel like I'll be laughed at and or told that people have much bigger issues than I do. Please help me figure out what I need to do to get some help before my schooling plummets along with my social life.

samanthakate_lorna R&R - "relapse & recovery"
  • replies: 1

I've found myself stuck in a never ending loop of what i like to call "R&R". Not your typical R&R... i wish it was restful & relaxing... but a physically & emotionally draining process of falling, recovery & repeat. my life at the moment is a cocktai... View more

I've found myself stuck in a never ending loop of what i like to call "R&R". Not your typical R&R... i wish it was restful & relaxing... but a physically & emotionally draining process of falling, recovery & repeat. my life at the moment is a cocktail of problems with shots on the side every second i have a chance to take a minute to breathe... i feel as if i'm drowning & have lost any kind of control over anything. Anyone relate?

Purple818 I work up the nerve to get help then chicken out
  • replies: 1

Why is it so hard for me to get help? I always think to myself ' tomorrow the day' but then when I work up the nerve to do it, I chicken out. I really don't understand. I am just so tired of it.

Why is it so hard for me to get help? I always think to myself ' tomorrow the day' but then when I work up the nerve to do it, I chicken out. I really don't understand. I am just so tired of it.

binjyb How did you come by your diagnosis?
  • replies: 2

First post in this forum: *scatters hugs and squares of chocolate* Depression snuck up on me ..bit by bit- year by year , until it had me covered in a thick cloak which weighed me down , physically and mentally . Finally a doctor's appointment was ma... View more

First post in this forum: *scatters hugs and squares of chocolate* Depression snuck up on me ..bit by bit- year by year , until it had me covered in a thick cloak which weighed me down , physically and mentally . Finally a doctor's appointment was made when I had trouble literally putting one foot in front of the other ! The diagnosis was a complete shock .. OTHERS had depression .. I knew family/friends with it .. this wasn't it, was it? Surely this was MS or a virus , or something... Nope ..just depression & anxiety ... and so began the search for professional people and medication to aid in managing this .'Tis an interesting journey ...it hurts,it is debilitating,it is confusing,and it is the thing which has led me to think more and do things differently.

Mares73 I'm broken, not just my heart
  • replies: 17

Hi all I posted after my dreadful pysch appointment yesterday but it hasn't shown up. Maybe because I mentioned my Psychiatrists only response to how I'm feeling. She wants me to be hospitalised to receive what I believe to be an extreme form of trea... View more

Hi all I posted after my dreadful pysch appointment yesterday but it hasn't shown up. Maybe because I mentioned my Psychiatrists only response to how I'm feeling. She wants me to be hospitalised to receive what I believe to be an extreme form of treatment usually reserved for few cases. My husband and I are in total dear. He's making me go to my mums for the week. But I have to get there myself and its an hr away. I can't even seem to pack a a bag as I'm so afraid of what power my psych has. Can she force this on me? I also saw mt GP to get a referral to a did rent Pyschiatrist but I can't afford her-$470 per session!! I'm frightened, crying, feel no hope, don't know how ill get thru this. I know I have to get to my mums before I do anything which gives my Pyschiatrist reason to do what she would do ie hospitalise and force draconian treatment. I'm so so scared. I just want to be held & told it will be ok. But it won't. I won't have computer at mums just iPhone so I can still come on here. What else can I say? Never ever beloved I could ever be in this situation & I'm self aware etc-the treatment she wants me to have is I thought-only used in extreme cases. I'm so lost now. My spirit that holds up my heart & gives me strength is too damaged. Mares x

slownews Does anyone else have problems in discussing their issues on a face-to-face basis?
  • replies: 7

I have huge self esteem issues that is placing my quest to get better. I was trying to get a referral from a GP however I either couldn't answer their questions or was just simply meandering in my answers. I have been feeling awful about my life, wor... View more

I have huge self esteem issues that is placing my quest to get better. I was trying to get a referral from a GP however I either couldn't answer their questions or was just simply meandering in my answers. I have been feeling awful about my life, work and studies for some time and I fear it is getting worse. I sleep too much and I question everything about myself. I feel isolated and unintelligent. I'm constantly anxious while contemplating the uselessness of my life. I fee utterly worthless, unaccomplished and stupid; beliefs that I think are the root of my increasing anxiety and depression. Does anyone else have problems in discussing their issues on a face-to-face basis? And what are some simple tips to alleviate such awful self esteem?