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: 0

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

Freakles Depression
  • replies: 2

Hi, lm New to this so sorry.I've suffered all my life with this and had ups and downs, but right now it's feeling different.I had a rough upbringing and lots of different trauma in my life.For the last 10 years I've been suffering with an invisible i... View more

Hi, lm New to this so sorry.I've suffered all my life with this and had ups and downs, but right now it's feeling different.I had a rough upbringing and lots of different trauma in my life.For the last 10 years I've been suffering with an invisible illness called fibromyalgia, so I'm in chronic pain everyday. I also have osteoarthritis in my lower spine and other parts of my body.The last few weeks I'm struggling to put on this front that I always do, to act like life is great, but it's not. I'm lost, lonely and very emotional. I have a great supportive family. I just can't explain how I feel. How do I get myself out of this, never been so bad. I just want to shut myself away and not face it Please help with any advise.Thanks you for reading.BTW have been on regular meds for this.

SergeZ Share your story about coming off antidepressents
  • replies: 3

Hey guys my name is Serge and I decided to come ofd my antidepressants this is my share. Been slowly coming off anti-depressants from the storm I went through in the last 12 months. What an emotional rollercoaster while the brain gets used to normal ... View more

Hey guys my name is Serge and I decided to come ofd my antidepressants this is my share. Been slowly coming off anti-depressants from the storm I went through in the last 12 months. What an emotional rollercoaster while the brain gets used to normal functionality. One day I'm super happy, next day short fuse, can't pick it. But goes to show how anti-depressants just keep you stable. When I'm feeling happy, it's a good high and haven't experienced that level of happiness on anti-depressants. Almost there, the rollercoaster has lessened.

sad-bun Losing work.
  • replies: 1

I work casual, but I am losing shifts due to my chronic pain condition. My boss and superiors chalk it up to "looking after my health" but I can't live like this. I am losing shifts rapidly in favour of people who are less qualified, but simply don't... View more

I work casual, but I am losing shifts due to my chronic pain condition. My boss and superiors chalk it up to "looking after my health" but I can't live like this. I am losing shifts rapidly in favour of people who are less qualified, but simply don't have my issue. I am lost. In my spare time I read, write and create art, but most of those tasks are now fulfilled by AI. Besides, I can't live on zero income. Currently I'm leaching off of my successful partner and it feels horrible. I am becoming redundant in all my fields very fast. I don't know what to do anymore. Who I am, and what I do is collapsing before my eyes. The "normal" fascade I put forward is crumbling. I live in a small remote town, so I have nobody to turn to. My partner is increasingly stressed in his job and it's hard for me to be open about how miserable I've been since moving here. But, by the same token, I've been miserable no matter where I've been, so I feel like I shouldn't really have a say.I thought this could work, until I started losing shifts, until I lost all gusto to create. I'm sick of people telling me to "just learn to code" or something else of the sort. I have no interest in it. What I loved was my job. My job that I've essentially lost because of my chronic pain condition. Where do I go from here? Because of this condition I also make a crappy housewife. I am, in all respects, useless. The energy it takes each day to get up and do daily tasks is enormous. To not pull the plug, excuse myself forever. I'm seeing a psychologist but I don't know how to bring this up. I am a liar. I am my own worst enemy. I put on a brave face so people don't worry. I am the worst.

Man with no name Major Depression, nothing helps
  • replies: 3

Hi all, What do you do when nothing seems to help? I've suffered depression for many years, since my teens (now in 40's). I first went to my doctor in 2001, was put on AD's. Struggled with work, divorced and slid deep into a hole. I have a psychiatri... View more

Hi all, What do you do when nothing seems to help? I've suffered depression for many years, since my teens (now in 40's). I first went to my doctor in 2001, was put on AD's. Struggled with work, divorced and slid deep into a hole. I have a psychiatrist, my second, who helps a bit but mainly gives me prescriptions. Currently taking four different medications. They help but still get bad periods. I have tried CBT and a phycologist which didn't really help. I have a good life, good job that pays me well, good wife and 2 children under 10, no debt apart from mortgage. I work part time and do the school runs etc as my wife works full-time including 2 of 4 weekend a month. For a while our son (7) has been a huge handful and nothing i've tried has worked with him. He'll flip out over the smallest thing and kick and hit and throw things. I've read lots of info to try and educate myself with possible solutions but nothing's worked. I've reacted badly a few times which leads to more depression. I'm smoking again which my wife hates so that is causing friction. Feel like walking off into the sun set but never would because of our kids. Years ago when I was at a bad point I told my family about it but it got swept under the rug. I then admitted myself to hospital for fear of suiciding. I recently again told my mum and she hasn't even asked me if i'm okay since then. I have no one that I can talk to to get it off my chest, which I miss being able to do. I dream of moving back to the country and simplifying things. Get away from the 'must have all these new things' type of life most seem to live. Unfortunately it won't happen. What can you do when the depression never completely goes away? At times i'll go months feeling good but then something sets it off and 'bang' i'm depressed again.

naralle Depression
  • replies: 8

I had a good morning this morning but come lunch time my mood had changed and now my depression is hanging around like a bad smell. It also doesn't help that the weather is crap and it's been raining too. I'm just struggling with it this afternoon View more

I had a good morning this morning but come lunch time my mood had changed and now my depression is hanging around like a bad smell. It also doesn't help that the weather is crap and it's been raining too. I'm just struggling with it this afternoon

Dana90 Rebelling against life
  • replies: 8

4 hours agoI am really struggling again . It was a very bad year last year where I seriously thought of taking my life . There is so much shame for me to not be ok . It’s like another failure . I have had depression my whole life off and on . I can b... View more

4 hours agoI am really struggling again . It was a very bad year last year where I seriously thought of taking my life . There is so much shame for me to not be ok . It’s like another failure . I have had depression my whole life off and on . I can be doing great and then suddenly fall into a very dark whole . It only lasts a couple of days but feels like a lot longer . So I am ok and then I am intensely not ok. It’s within that space that it is really scary.I am very tired of this pattern year after year .I am 53 and have been holding on a long time . I have been to psychologists , meditations and psychiatrists but this darkness always returns . It feels like I have no control when I comes back . I have to say I am very depressed by the world I live in . Especially by the widespread cruelty to other animals. It’s too much to bear knowing what I know about this subject let alone everything else that is going on . I really don’t know how most people can be ok ? I guess I am too sensitive for this world . I wish I was ignorant.

Stacie85 Feeling sad and lonely
  • replies: 4

Hi, my name is stacie.I'm 37 yrs old and have always felt out of place.For the year and abit ive lived by myself.Which I've never done before because I have always lived with my parents.I've always had helping me with daily tasks or having family doi... View more

Hi, my name is stacie.I'm 37 yrs old and have always felt out of place.For the year and abit ive lived by myself.Which I've never done before because I have always lived with my parents.I've always had helping me with daily tasks or having family doing things for me as I am always worried or scared I will mess up or make a fool of myself or failing at something. Its has always stopped me from growing and exploring anything.Living on my own was fun at first but then my car decided to poop its self. After that I begun to not want to do anything or want to look after myself or change my habits.I think im addicted to junkfood to comfort myself or entertain myself.Its taken a toll on my mental and physical health.

Dazza73 Loneliness
  • replies: 5

How do people deal with loneliness? I had a long distance relationship that went sour in February. Even though I’m passed the grief, the feeling of having some company is growing stronger. I’m not afraid to talk to people. I’ve started reaching out t... View more

How do people deal with loneliness? I had a long distance relationship that went sour in February. Even though I’m passed the grief, the feeling of having some company is growing stronger. I’m not afraid to talk to people. I’ve started reaching out to women on internet dating and they don’t respond. Do I look boring?Are women just afraid to chat online?Like I say in messages “Even if there isn’t a spark, you could still find yourself a good friend “But then they complain there are no good men when it comes to online dating. I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever meet Miss Right. And that is starting to depress me. I reckon if I sent out 100 messages, I’d be lucky to get one response. At the risk of sounding like an overreaction, it’s starting to make me think I’m unworthy.

Mental_Illness_Innit Working with Bipolar/BPD
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, This is my first time posting here so I hope I'm doing this right haha. I recently got diagnosed with Bipolar (type 2) and have been diagnosed with BPD since 2020. For reference, I'm 22 years old. I really struggle with mood changes. The... View more

Hi everyone, This is my first time posting here so I hope I'm doing this right haha. I recently got diagnosed with Bipolar (type 2) and have been diagnosed with BPD since 2020. For reference, I'm 22 years old. I really struggle with mood changes. They can be quite jarring and my depressed self tends to suffer as a result of all the things my hypomanic self has committed to. I have struggled with maintaining a consistent work schedule since 2020. I think that covid really messed me around if I'm being honest. I mean I've always struggled but it's gotten to the point where I am constantly calling in sick. I lost a really great job in 2020 because I took on a full-time workload when I shouldn't have, and started calling in sick constantly. I think for my employers it's very confusing. Because when I'm in an 'up' period I'm a really great worker and often receive a lot of praise. But when I'm in a depressed period I all of a sudden lose all motivation to try. I went for a period without work, and then ran out of savings so got a job as a tutor (I am studying teaching at the moment). I only work about 6 hours a week. These hours are spread out over several days so I end up only having an hour a day most days. This does work well for me but lately, I have found myself really struggling to have the motivation to go in and I have been rescheduling a lot of my student's appointments. I feel really bad about myself because I'm struggling even to do this tiny workload. It's like there's this block in my head that's just like "you're going to be stuck there and you don't have the energy and it's gonna suck" ect ect. Even though when I get to the appointment it's never as bad as I think. Does anyone have any tips for how I can get through these low periods where work seems such an effort? I really want to be able to have a career as a teacher in the future. So if anyone has been working with bipolar/depression for years - I'd love your advice. I'm only 22 so I'm at the start of my mental illness journey. And I'm finding it really hard.

2023- Young and Riddled with Anxiety and Depression
  • replies: 9

Hi, new here. Not the type to express my feelings online but, in need of support as I am struggling deeply with anxiety and depression. 22 years old. Female. Was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder when I was 14 years old. Had it ever since and ha... View more

Hi, new here. Not the type to express my feelings online but, in need of support as I am struggling deeply with anxiety and depression. 22 years old. Female. Was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder when I was 14 years old. Had it ever since and have become depressed especially in the last 2 years. In a nutshell, I am feeling so deeply screwed up and stuck in a rut that's gotten worse each day, everything feels pointless to me. I'm severely touch starved and lacking everything I need to even feel that little bit better because I feel I don't deserve to take care of myself. I just can't control my mind. It's that bad I cannot describe it. I've always been alone even though I have a loving family but have not found my people and had a best friend since I was a young kid. My walls are so high and I've never known how to connect with anyone since I became a teen. Just can't handle the loneliness anymore....