Support
Support

Depression

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

Start a conversation

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 conversation

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 conversation

Kozzie Why am I feeling like this
  • replies: 4

So confused ... I dont understand why Im feeling this way, all I know is that i am. Particularly bad today.

So confused ... I dont understand why Im feeling this way, all I know is that i am. Particularly bad today.

Starz Do you tell people? If so how?
  • replies: 8

37 year old female here who just started on AD's about 7 weeks ago (onto my 3rd different one as there have been some side effect issues). My question to people is in regard to telling people about your depression, close family, friends etc. I've tol... View more

37 year old female here who just started on AD's about 7 weeks ago (onto my 3rd different one as there have been some side effect issues). My question to people is in regard to telling people about your depression, close family, friends etc. I've told my mum, only because I was upset when my Dr suggested I take AD's and needed my mummy I haven't told either of my sisters, but we're very close and I feel like I am hiding something from them, we talk every week and it's a big change in my life that I haven't discussed with them. But I just can't think how to tell them. I've always played my part very well, my family don't live close and over the years I have worked out how to get around their questions of how I am by talking about work and changing the subject, or brushing the questions off, so they really have no idea. It would be a huge shock to them.

Mr_Notsostrong All of my depression is related to money
  • replies: 1

Hi, this is my first post. Iv been struggling with depression and anxiety for the past 10+ years, i have been on many different medications, visited many hospitals and mental health clinics but I'm still fighting a losing battle with the dreaded blac... View more

Hi, this is my first post. Iv been struggling with depression and anxiety for the past 10+ years, i have been on many different medications, visited many hospitals and mental health clinics but I'm still fighting a losing battle with the dreaded black dog! I had a treatment of ECT last year which helped short term but Im now back in the same dark place that i call my life. All of my depression is related to money (or the lack of) and this compounding with my depression is causing a very unhappy relationship with my wife and daughter even though they are very supportive. Every day at work is a massive struggle but I know I have to be there as we are on the verge of selling our house or becoming bankrupt. With this stress upon my shoulders I feel a tremendous amount of guilt that exaggerates my feeling of anxiety and depression. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist tomorrow and I'm afraid that I will be admitted to hospital again for more ECT which means 2 weeks off work (unpaid) and this will be the beginning of selling our home!

Saadie My employer made me see a psychologist
  • replies: 6

Hi, I've just discovered the forum aspect to beyond blue and thought I'd try be brave enough to get the advice I'm so desperately craving. I'm not sure how to write what I'm feeling but I'm going to give it a shot. Basically, I am terrified. So much ... View more

Hi, I've just discovered the forum aspect to beyond blue and thought I'd try be brave enough to get the advice I'm so desperately craving. I'm not sure how to write what I'm feeling but I'm going to give it a shot. Basically, I am terrified. So much has happened in the last few months and I'm struggling to make sense of it. It's all so overwhelming. Just before Christmas, I was confronted by a work colleague about my apparent change in behaviour. I insisted I was fine but a few days later was approached again. Since then, it has been a whirlwind of chaos. Anyway, earlier this year, my employer made me see a psychologist. That in itself was difficult. I refused to go back. I've been finding things getting harder and harder. I can't concentrate at work. I can't sleep. I wake up every hour. I'msad, all of the time. This has been going on for about 6 months but the last month has been the hardest. I spoke to the colleague again and found myself back at the psychologist. She now wants me to see a psychiatrist. I am literally terrified. I have never dealt with anything. I also grew up with a drug addicted sister, abusive brother, and alcoholic/absent father. I was abused as a child. I am drinking a lot. I am having thoughts about how easy it would be to just end everything. I don't want to. But I can't escape the thoughts. I am so scared. I'm completely numb to everything. Apart from the occasional tears. I catch myself thinking about how easy it would be to just, let go. To leave. Tonight has been hard. I've been anxious and scared. Sad and jumpy at the slightest noises. Please, someone tell me it will be ok. The only person I trust is my work colleague and I have leant on her too much already.

Esther123 Battling the black heavy mist
  • replies: 3

I feel that all to familiar black heavy mist consuming my soul, my body, my thoughts, my moods. I can't fight it now, I'm tired. My thoughts sit in my fatigued head, my heart physically hurts. I open my mouth but all those words spewing out of me lik... View more

I feel that all to familiar black heavy mist consuming my soul, my body, my thoughts, my moods. I can't fight it now, I'm tired. My thoughts sit in my fatigued head, my heart physically hurts. I open my mouth but all those words spewing out of me like I'm auto pilot are not me. Who am I anymore? Its been so long I can't remember who I was! Why does this dark pain never go to that place in my head that my heart, soul and me seems to be hiding. I have fought this for too long and I'm tired. I sit and think how I just want to get in my car and just disappear. I can't carry this pain anymore, I can't keep putting my family through me and my darkness. I want my children to not have a memory of their mum being this shell, I'm sure they look deep into my eyes and struggle to see my soul. But I smile and continue to be that strange person who looks at me in the mirror. How many more tears can fall silently from my eyes before I face what I know is the answer to all this pain becoming nothing more than a distant memory. My name is Esther, I have a husband that I feel everyday is drifting away from me, he is busy and constantly reminds me that he is so busy, too busy for me. The motions always move smoothly, he does support me. But I can't stand seeing his face again and again as he looks at me like I'm a wounded animal that he knows he can fix. I only show him parts of me now, and yet he does bit noticed that his wife is slowly dying inside. I can't remember the last time he gently held me and made me feel like no one else existed. My name is Esther , I have two children 8 and 15, I go through the motions but what use is a mum that can't get out of bed on her days off to be an active participant in their lives. This is the person they shall forever remember. My name is Esther, I work but I go through the motions there. My name is Esther and I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with this soul destroying debilitating illness depression. I was going ok and have gone down in the last 6 months. My dark thoughts are becoming more regular, I find my self whispering that my uselessness would not be missed. I have not posted on here for some time.

dunno I had to leave because I didn't want people to notice the tears
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I'll try to make this brief. I was diagnosed with a depressed mood a bit over 12 months ago. I was on medication for a short period and then went off as things were improving. But it may have returned tonight. I was at a the birthday par... View more

Hi everyone, I'll try to make this brief. I was diagnosed with a depressed mood a bit over 12 months ago. I was on medication for a short period and then went off as things were improving. But it may have returned tonight. I was at a the birthday party of closer family friend's daughter 5 year old daughter. Normally I would happily have a nice chat with the people around but even after 5 minutes seemingly listening to everyone talking about the holidays they had just come back from, were organising or the houses they were planning on buying. I'm under quite a bit of financial stress at the moment so it really got to me. But when people starting bringing out their presents and I knew mine was sitting back there that only cost me a couple of dollars I had to excuse myself when I started to tear up. In the end I had to leave early because I didn't want people to notice the tears. At this point I'm not adverse to going back to the doctor but I simply do not have time unless I miss work or study. And where I am with those at the moment would have significant consequences if I took time off. So any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

MyahLove1 How do I deal with the crushing feelings?
  • replies: 2

I was just wondering how do other people deal with the crushing feelings? Like, Why should I get out of bed? Why should I clean? Why should I leave the house? Why should I talk to other people? I'm struggling to deal.....x

I was just wondering how do other people deal with the crushing feelings? Like, Why should I get out of bed? Why should I clean? Why should I leave the house? Why should I talk to other people? I'm struggling to deal.....x

Lisa_C I can't be bothered being me
  • replies: 3

I don't want to do this anymore, I don't care anymore. I can't be bothered being me. I don't want to do anything, I can't do anything because everything makes me so anxious and its such an effort. Im hopeless and a useless mother and partner. I see n... View more

I don't want to do this anymore, I don't care anymore. I can't be bothered being me. I don't want to do anything, I can't do anything because everything makes me so anxious and its such an effort. Im hopeless and a useless mother and partner. I see no light at the end of the tunnel. Im only living on for those who I know love and care about me and I couldnt destroy them. Im selfish, I know. I just want to feel something other than this horrible feeling everyday. It's been too long and its all I know. 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.

MyahLove1 One of those days when I stop trying...
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm new at this. I am one of those people who keeps a wall up but underneath i am slowly wearing away, occasionally i have a period of time where my wall breaks down and i fall apart. Unfortunately when this happens, i have no one to turn to. Tod... View more

Hi, I'm new at this. I am one of those people who keeps a wall up but underneath i am slowly wearing away, occasionally i have a period of time where my wall breaks down and i fall apart. Unfortunately when this happens, i have no one to turn to. Today is one of those days..... I just need someone to talk to..... xx

SadboiArt Can depression affect love?
  • replies: 7

Do you think it's possible that depression, anxiety and mental health can effect your feelings for the people you love and care about? Can we drastically change the way we feel because our depression has changed? I'm interested in what people have to... View more

Do you think it's possible that depression, anxiety and mental health can effect your feelings for the people you love and care about? Can we drastically change the way we feel because our depression has changed? I'm interested in what people have to say on the subject.

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map