Immediate support
Immediate support

Depression

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

Start a discussion

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
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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

Start a discussion

dwade3 How do I tell myself not to give up
  • replies: 6

Hey I'm a 19 year old guy. Today I really thought about ending it all. I've been going through some really long periods of feeling so worthless. occasionally there are some pockets of suprises that happen in my life , and for those brief moments I fe... View more

Hey I'm a 19 year old guy. Today I really thought about ending it all. I've been going through some really long periods of feeling so worthless. occasionally there are some pockets of suprises that happen in my life , and for those brief moments I feel like maybe just maybe it's still worth living. But I keep getting thrown back to this hole. One conversation one word or event is always enough to send me back. And sometimes I don't know how much more I can take feeling like this. Even though I got a new job started a new hobby with some people . Nothing quite seemed to fill the void. I'm so empty and it's as if no amount of goal, or moment of happiness ever lasts for me. And I've tried to maybe find something for myself to keep me going. But lately it just feels redundant. I hope someone can give me help to get through this

Poochlover So Alone
  • replies: 10

I am a single parent to an 18 year old son. I have had zero support from his father in the last 16 years since I left him (violent alcoholic) when my son was two years old. I sacrificed an 'easy' life and money to save my son. My son is now driving m... View more

I am a single parent to an 18 year old son. I have had zero support from his father in the last 16 years since I left him (violent alcoholic) when my son was two years old. I sacrificed an 'easy' life and money to save my son. My son is now driving me mad as he is lazy and unmotivated. He has been hanging out with losers and keeping me up at night worrying. I have set house rules and so far he is obliging however I know there will be another disaster soon. I suffer from major depression and anxiety. I am in my late fifties and my entire 'life' consists of running my son around and ensuring he has done what is the needful. I am going to be totally honest here and state that I have sought help for over 40 years and nothing is forthcoming. I am feeling I am wasting my time here already but I am desperate. Has anyone else had this situation? Years and years of being palmed off, given medications...given so called advice that is useless?All everyone asks is 'do you feel as if you might commit suicide'?! No I don't. But then you are back to square one. I just feel so alone and I hate life. I will not commit suicide! But it would be so good to actually get help from these so called assistance phone lines/groups. I fear it is all a sham. There is so much more but I am limited to space. Thankyou

white knight "snap out of it"? Living a less depressed life
  • replies: 10

It's the saying most used against us without ill intent but it is also the most naïve comment. I suppose the most ideal reply to this is "can you tell me how to do that... do you have an instruction manual because I'd be most interested in your sourc... View more

It's the saying most used against us without ill intent but it is also the most naïve comment. I suppose the most ideal reply to this is "can you tell me how to do that... do you have an instruction manual because I'd be most interested in your source of such valuable psychological intelligence". Yes, a little anger there but like all topics and information that flows through my mind I wonder if there is indeed any truth to the technique of "snapping out of depression". Well, sadly, there is no such thing as snapping out of it, however you can take all precautions and steps to overcome some symptoms and that is the way forward. Without doubt in my experience medication plays a most important role in maintaining a state of mind with far less depressive cycles that pre medication days. I was 53yo before I took medication for depression (and bipolar and dysthymia) so I had several decades enduring both clinical depression, depressive cycles from bipolar and constant low mood depression from Dysthymia. Last week I reduced my medication of anti depressants (approval from my GP) only to find myself in a poor state of mind and a big low period of a number of days until raising the medication restored my mood. So medication, if you are determined by medical staff that you need it, please remain steadfast with taking it. I look at it like democracy ... it is better than the alternative. Lifestyle- I had a friend that had depression. He worked in the Govt sector for 20+ years in the city. His lifestyle was the same 5 days a week- walk to station, catch train, work, return home, watch TV and sleep and repeat. Us depressed people are in control of our destiny and we are more at risk than non depressed people to poor mental health. My friend lasted another 5 years before he was retrenched, then he moved to a regional area and drove a school bus. His demeanour changed for the better. Sometimes we need to look outside the square for answers and a boring lifestyle can suppress us. Do you have ideas on how to lower your risk of depressing episodes? What works for you? A good relationship? People with empathy? Diet and exercise? Help others here consider them in their quest to live a less depressed life. TonyWK

Cye I keep failing my wife and family
  • replies: 2

So the last couple years I think I've retreated into myself more and more and now I don't think I know how to get back. My memory is terrible, my sleeping is worse and this all ends up with me failing to be the husband and father my family deserves. ... View more

So the last couple years I think I've retreated into myself more and more and now I don't think I know how to get back. My memory is terrible, my sleeping is worse and this all ends up with me failing to be the husband and father my family deserves. I'm so tired of failing them at every turn, we're currently trying to apply for a mortgage and I need my business tax return done but I kept forgetting or putting it off because I was to tired, saying to myself I'll do it tomorrow, but then not do it because I forgot or some other more immediate problem presented itself. I've finally submitted all the forms but it's like 3 months after the we first talked to our broker and accountant. She is understandably mad.I don't know why I'm like this, everything I touch seems to turn bad because I just can't get on top of things and I don't know how to.I love my wife and daughter more then anything else in the world so why can't I just do the thing that will help them have an easier life? In short why am I such a waste of space? I'm honestly starting to feel like they would be better off if I wasn't in their life, surely they'd have an easier life if they didn't have such huge weight around their necks? We're going to see a couples counsellor hopefully next week so hopefully that will help but I just feel so tired, lost and lonely and all I feel is me retreating further into myself again

nwish-iejd Anxiety, depression, mood
  • replies: 2

I’m experiencing really high anxiety and moderate depression lately. I’ve always had anxiety since I was 10 so it’s been almost a decade of me dealing with it. Though I have never been diagnosed with either depression or anxiety I feel like I greatly... View more

I’m experiencing really high anxiety and moderate depression lately. I’ve always had anxiety since I was 10 so it’s been almost a decade of me dealing with it. Though I have never been diagnosed with either depression or anxiety I feel like I greatly have them. I have experiencing depression for the last 4 years that fluctuates in intensity. I don’t want to get mental health treatment because that’s really expensive and I simply don’t have the money for that. I feel hopeless and so lost in my life. I have no direction, no goals to look forward to, my anxiety is always on, my sleeping and eating habits are horrible from it. I hate my job that I work while I’m at uni, and I don’t even think my uni course is for me. But I don’t even know what to do with my life so I’m just doing it. On a deeper level I have past trauma that has not been addressed and I just feel alone even tho I have people around me who love me. I used to self harm a while ago but I don’t anymore but sometimes when my anxiety is really high I feel a lot of self hatred and feel the urge to do it. My mood is also just out of whack, I experience periods of feeling extremely high and then I have a massive crash, but I was just told that that’s just my mood swings from being a female with a period. I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to deal with feeling this lost and helpless. I feel like I have no control over my life, I feel like I’ll never amount to anything. I feel like a burden, I feel like I self sabotage a lot, and I get irritable and angry quickly. I just feel like a mess and these feelings have been exacerbated this year particularly in the last few months

memory57 Morning Depression
  • replies: 3

I was diagnosed with depression 10 years ago. Some days are good others not so much. My depression is worse of a morning and I have been really struggling this last week. I have been trying to keep busy to stop me ruminating..

I was diagnosed with depression 10 years ago. Some days are good others not so much. My depression is worse of a morning and I have been really struggling this last week. I have been trying to keep busy to stop me ruminating..

42 lady Recovery not linear or predictable
  • replies: 4

Hi there, it's mental health day so why not seek support here. I have been off work since May due to depression, PTSD. I was in hospital for 7 weeks (had TMS). My employer not satisfied with my doctors responses to 'fitness for work' letter (had to d... View more

Hi there, it's mental health day so why not seek support here. I have been off work since May due to depression, PTSD. I was in hospital for 7 weeks (had TMS). My employer not satisfied with my doctors responses to 'fitness for work' letter (had to disclose my diagnosis) . I now have to go to an independent medical examination, to be evaluated by another psychiatrist (my Dr does not have a crystal ball to tell him when I can work again). I'm really dreading this. I want to resign but feel I need to see it through. Anyone been through this? I hope you are all being kind to yourselves today.

Mr K Overcoming apathy
  • replies: 4

So, the other day, out with some people for dinner and I'm sitting across the table from someone I know, but don't really know. So he comes out with what should be a great conversation starter "So, tell me what you like to do, what are you into?" and... View more

So, the other day, out with some people for dinner and I'm sitting across the table from someone I know, but don't really know. So he comes out with what should be a great conversation starter "So, tell me what you like to do, what are you into?" and BAM, I'm immediately utterly and horribly blank. I've realized that I have absolutely no idea what I like to do, I will tag along with others' plans but I just utterly lack the motivation to make any plans of my own. Things I used to enjoy seem too hard, or just not fun anymore. I can't think of things I would like to do, I can't even decide what I would like to watch on TV, and I literally can't watch TV without someone else watching with me otherwise I lose interest and start the whole "What am I going to do" stuff again. Desperately need some practical and achievable advice to get me out of this before I waste much more life. K.

Jetty75 Moving forward
  • replies: 2

G'day folks Well I've signed up to something and it's the first time I have actually expressed my feeling. Living the good life we were until my beautiful wife is diagnosed with cancer. Years pass , we beat it , it returns and takes her life in 2019 ... View more

G'day folks Well I've signed up to something and it's the first time I have actually expressed my feeling. Living the good life we were until my beautiful wife is diagnosed with cancer. Years pass , we beat it , it returns and takes her life in 2019 3 days after Xmas... from that morning my lights all turned off. Left with mortgage, etc and a beautiful then little 5 yr old daughter. I prayed a few times to be dug next to my wife. Life's hard right, it's just so hard . We had it all ... and it was taken , in the prime of our lives .. I mean how's a then 44 yr old bloke suppose to handle all this, let alone a little 5 yr old. Almost 3 yrs has past and I'm still stuck, I have a sole trader business that suits my life with school Drop off and pick up . But it isn't consistent so I started looking for work. But trying to find something to suit our life is impossible and that pays well so we can live ! Has anyone been through this ? I've just has the worse 2 weeks with zero income. Trying to build it up but my mind just goes blank and I almost give up. I use to have a saying ' I wouldn't wish this on anyone.'. But you know what I do wish it because I've had enough, why did it happen to us. Life was good we f-ing beat it once why would it come back . Why us !!! People keep saying I'm doing a great job with my child , but am I? I don't know if I am. I have no choice apparently but to wake each day and look after her. Why do I am times wish I wasn't here ?

BlueArt I have no idea what to do, I'm struggling
  • replies: 2

I'm 26 years old and really struggling. I've been dealing with depression and anxiety for a long time but lately, it feels like it is winning. I've had some rough things happen with my dad being diagnosed with cancer and losing someone close to the f... View more

I'm 26 years old and really struggling. I've been dealing with depression and anxiety for a long time but lately, it feels like it is winning. I've had some rough things happen with my dad being diagnosed with cancer and losing someone close to the family and I feel like I am falling apart. I'm really struggling at work with the level of work but the business is so small there is no one to ask for help or give tasks to. I feel like I just can't bring myself to do anything. I'm not doing the washing, I'm barely doing my job, I'm not cleaning, I'm not eating properly, and I'm just so exhausted and angry. I guess I just don't really know what to do. I'm very lonely and have been single for a long time. I have one close friend but she has severe social anxiety so we barely spend any time together. Does anyone have any advice? I feel like I am barely functioning anymore and no one to turn to.