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 chats on this Forum having 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
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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

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a_long_time_lost Hello, I'm new and in a dark place.
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Hello.. I am not sure how I got to this point. I think back and see events in my life which have all contributed to the place where I now live. It is dark and lonely here and I feel invisible to the people around me. They are unsure how to act in my ... View more

Hello.. I am not sure how I got to this point. I think back and see events in my life which have all contributed to the place where I now live. It is dark and lonely here and I feel invisible to the people around me. They are unsure how to act in my presence and I constantly feel as though I irritate them and therefore they display annoyance and lack of patience with me. Inside I am filled with guilt, unbearable emotional pain, despair, hopelessness and deep anxiety that I may be like this for the rest of my life. At this time I visit a therapist whom does not seem to be taking me anywhere, I am also on antidepressants and yet still all my emotions and feelings about situtions remain the same. I am fighting a losing battle and lack any mtoivation whatsoever to help myself when those I thought would help me haven't. Yes.. I too have suicidal thoughts but I'm not quite at the point of carrying them out, my son is the only one that stops me right now. I feel like I am going crazy so here I am, I just want to feel like I belong somewhere as I have no friends. My husband says he has had enough and I realise where this train of thought is heading. I need a lifeline and I believe that this forum may just be that place. Thank you, I appreciate the opportunity to finally be myself without being judged.

zz101 Please, please help
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I know it's not the place to ask this but I am crying my eyes out writing this. I'm 16 and I hate my life. I can't even look in the mirror anymore. I hate how I look and half the time I hope I was never born because if I did decided to commit suicide... View more

I know it's not the place to ask this but I am crying my eyes out writing this. I'm 16 and I hate my life. I can't even look in the mirror anymore. I hate how I look and half the time I hope I was never born because if I did decided to commit suicide I wouldn't hurt anyone. I wish I was never born to never exist if you get me? Please,please help. This is torture. I need help with Orthodontic treatment. I cannot afford it as I am a full-time secondary school student with no medical card and my mother is a single widowed parent. I have been going through the pain of not having braces since as long as I can remember from being bullied in school to not being able to smile in photos or opting out of them altogether. I cannot carry on like this. I went to two separate orthodontist and even with the payment plan my mother and I would not be able to afford it. Does anyone have any suggestions? Chloe

Ike1965 confused
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Lately i am thinking what is the point of everything , i am in debt up to my ears and neever seem to get in front, All i do is work and constantly worry about how the hell i am going to pay my bills . I am married with 2 beautiful daughters but i can... View more

Lately i am thinking what is the point of everything , i am in debt up to my ears and neever seem to get in front, All i do is work and constantly worry about how the hell i am going to pay my bills . I am married with 2 beautiful daughters but i cant talk to my wife and frequently feel engulfed by overwhelming feeling of sadness . I feel i am just going around in curcles and getting no where . I dont know where to turn or what to do

Voice_Mail Feel Like I'm Having a Relapse
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I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago, and have been improving a lot with the help of medication and regular psychologist appointments, but I recently feel like I'm slipping again. My biggest issue is motivation, and it has definitely been ... View more

I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago, and have been improving a lot with the help of medication and regular psychologist appointments, but I recently feel like I'm slipping again. My biggest issue is motivation, and it has definitely been lacking lately. I've slowly stopped leaving the house except for work lately, and even going to work is getting more difficult. But at the same time, when I'm at home by myself I feel like I'm definitely the most vulnerable. Does anyone have any tips about how to get motivated into doing things again? I know that going out with friends and exercising will make me feel better, but I just can't seem to get myself to do it... Advice, please?

trying_to_assist_depresse Need Help!
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my live-in boyfriend of over 3 years has been experiencing symptoms of depression for the past 9 months and whilst he has acknowledged that he more than likely has depression he is yet to do anything about it. he refuses to see a doctor or psychologi... View more

my live-in boyfriend of over 3 years has been experiencing symptoms of depression for the past 9 months and whilst he has acknowledged that he more than likely has depression he is yet to do anything about it. he refuses to see a doctor or psychologist stating he will do it when he feels like it. most recently his reason is that he feels like he cant get better and maybe this is the way he is. he is self medicating with alcohol every sat night with his friends and I am at a loss as to help him anymore as he keeps pushing me away. i have tried to be optimistic and a supportive partner to him but it is effecting me constantly being pushed away from the one i love. he is highly iritable and says he dosnt know how he feels about me and isnt attracted to me with no physical activities occuring in over 10 months but he says he isnt attracted to anyone else either. he says he dosnt know why he feels this way and how to make it better. i am trying to be supportive to him and i only want him to feel better but i dont know how to help and am looking to know that this is a part of his depression or something else. i am also looking for looking for any ideas/suggestions on ways to cope and to not take it to heart so its not affecting me as negativly as it has been lately.

rhysiee Will the clouds ever go away in my head?
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Been feeling horridly depressed for the last few days. My meds aren't kicking in as usual and I work as a teacher. I was sick with a violent stomach bug last Friday and Satuday and the depression just tended to get worse since. I wish i could make an... View more

Been feeling horridly depressed for the last few days. My meds aren't kicking in as usual and I work as a teacher. I was sick with a violent stomach bug last Friday and Satuday and the depression just tended to get worse since. I wish i could make an appointment to see a doctor to get a referral but I don't know how to do that my regular doc is a "first in best dressed" type of service. ANyway, the bell has gone, I'll check this later today. So sad! need to perk myself up for year 2. Rhys

driftwood need help
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I feel someone here may empathise or be able to help.I think I have suffered depression for years. From my own perception I thought i could handle things ok - but I am a very lonely person without really any friend to talk or engage with. Its been li... View more

I feel someone here may empathise or be able to help.I think I have suffered depression for years. From my own perception I thought i could handle things ok - but I am a very lonely person without really any friend to talk or engage with. Its been like this for about 10 years and im just over 50. Before that life wasnt as bad but I never seemed happy. I dont have a close family to draw upon. I generally keep myself busy but often one day just vanishes into the next without really talking with anyone. I felt quite marginalised at work where I just didnt seem to fit in with the others and recently was made redundant. This opens a whole world of pain as I have so many financial commitments so its hard to fathom a way out. If there is a way back id like to know where to start because right now im very scared -inactive and withdrawn- Ive been to a GP twice in the last week and each time he gives me a few names of people to see - but if I want a rebate I have to be on a program- which is why I thought I went to him the second time. Apparently that requires a 30 min appointment .Why does it seem that when your in a crisis you just seem to get deflected and cant find the help you need. I want to change things- I want to connect with others and have a support network-I dont want to keep drifting further out to sea. If anyone has any positive ideas please let me know. Im at crisis point and cant think clearly.I have a partner and she is lovely but she cant absorb all this on her own and I want to be better for her if I am to offer her a future. Ive use alcohol recently way too much as pain relief- but it never helps and just makes situations much worse- I feel embarrassed and ashamed of where im at now at this point in my life. I feel scared I dont want to lose my home and whatever I have acquired-to this aweful abyss that im in.

jespancakes Help
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I just need help, I am experiencing feelings of wanting to end my life.

I just need help, I am experiencing feelings of wanting to end my life.

Paulc1990 Nothing seems to be working out for me
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My name is Paul, Im 23 years old. Im new to this site and would like to tell you how i ended up here in hopes of finding some advice/help.. in October 2012 I severely broke my left ankle Skateboarding which was very traumatic for me as i needed 3 sur... View more

My name is Paul, Im 23 years old. Im new to this site and would like to tell you how i ended up here in hopes of finding some advice/help.. in October 2012 I severely broke my left ankle Skateboarding which was very traumatic for me as i needed 3 surgeries I was in a cast and not able to walk for 5 months.. At first this didnt seem to bad but the novelty wore off quickly. The entire time was spent watching movies and playing video games by myself as I patiently waited for any of my so called friends to call/text and ask how I was or even hang out.. the entire time i didnt hear from anyone which really started to get me upset. I started smoking marijuana daily to pass the time and get my mind off why nobody cared, I then started feeling worthless and the horrible thoughts about death started. Time passed I did my ankle rehab and started skateboarding and seeing my friends at the skatepark again.. they all asked what i did the whole 5 months and just seem to find my response amusing even though I think it is very sad.things felt like they were starting to turn around until April 24 2013 I broke my right ankle, since this has happened yet again im sitting here alone smoking marijuana alone all day and have barely left the house. I feel worthless everyday and ask myself why it happened to me and most days end up in tears thinking about it all. I know this all sounds pathetic but Skateboarding was my passion for over 10 years and ive known all my mates for around this length of time.. surely you would think somebody I have met in this time would have been there for me at least once. I have been unemployed since the first break and am unsure if I will be able to return to my usual work as a labourer once im healed again, this is another reason for me to feel hopeless. I have nobody to talk to, im not good at anything except skateboarding which at this moment in time im unable to do. and have no hope for gaining work in any other industry as i have no experience. I am to embarrassed to go talk to somebody face to face about this all and dont no where to go for help.

jim It just keeps getting worse
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Ok where to begin... I know i have posted on here before but my depression is getting worse and thought that i would post in here again to try and get some help i am seeing a psychiatrist but all he seem to focus on is my being gay... Oh i am gay i s... View more

Ok where to begin... I know i have posted on here before but my depression is getting worse and thought that i would post in here again to try and get some help i am seeing a psychiatrist but all he seem to focus on is my being gay... Oh i am gay i should have said that. So all he seems to want to talk about is my homosexualty keeps saying i havent dealt with it witch i have.. just lately i cant seem to snap out of it i am sick of feeling this way nothing i do is helping i go for walks i go to work nothing is helping im at a loss and am really thinking of ending it i just can not cope any longer.