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

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 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?
  • 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 discussion

Yonnie Depression
  • replies: 1

I'm unsure what to do to help myself. I've been battling depression and anxiety for over 20 years. I fluctuate. I have good periods, and I have bad periods. I'm on a truck load of medication, and for the most part has kept me functioning. 3 months ag... View more

I'm unsure what to do to help myself. I've been battling depression and anxiety for over 20 years. I fluctuate. I have good periods, and I have bad periods. I'm on a truck load of medication, and for the most part has kept me functioning. 3 months ago we had a family incident which caused a flare up in my depression. I tried to do all the right things, I made sure I got up and got dressed, I had showers, I went for walks etc. Nothing helped. I spent 5 weeks in a psych hospital having TMS. I felt good for one week. Now I've been home for two weeks and I can feel myself sliding backwards. I have no motivation to do anything. I just want to sleep. I can't concentrate or make decisions. I'm eating to much. I have panic attacks when I try leaving the house. I feel scared. I don't know how to get myself out of this situation. My psych is overseas for the next three weeks, and I'm due for my next TMS top up in 4 weeks. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Needing_peace How to break a low?
  • replies: 2

I've had severe depression for 14 years and constantly have cycles of really dark lows.I have no motivation and feel so numb that I can't break the cycle.Can anyone give suggestions as to what helps them get back on track?I have no coping mechanisms ... View more

I've had severe depression for 14 years and constantly have cycles of really dark lows.I have no motivation and feel so numb that I can't break the cycle.Can anyone give suggestions as to what helps them get back on track?I have no coping mechanisms when it comes to dealing with stress and I immediately crumble.I'm so drained and tired of fighting this disease.I'm feeling so scared, it's like my mind and body is giving up.Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Zack_63 Partner issues
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone this is the first time I’ve had the courage to open up on a forum like this. I’m depressed and anxious about my partner’s spending on Afterpay. I am the sole wage earner in the family. For many years my partner has spent a lot on credit c... View more

Hi everyone this is the first time I’ve had the courage to open up on a forum like this. I’m depressed and anxious about my partner’s spending on Afterpay. I am the sole wage earner in the family. For many years my partner has spent a lot on credit cards. I paid the cards off and got spending under control but now she is racking large amounts on Afterpay around $1,000 a month. It’s making me depressed and I feel that I’m just being used as a cash cow. She hasn’t worked for 17 years and I have had to pay all the bills and the mortgage. I can’t sleep, have no energy and feel it’s all hopeless as she won’t change and I’ll just have to keep working forever to pay her bills. I’m 60 and can’t keep working forever. I’ve tried to get her to see it as an addiction and for her to get help but she doesn’t want any. I feel like breaking up with her but I’ll just lose everything in a property settlement. So what do I do? I’m just over it and it’s making me very depressed, sad and anxious. I think I’ll have to just take antidepressants and try and live my life just paying for her spending habits.

Belladonna123 Confronting a bad father
  • replies: 4

Hi, so I have a terrible dad. He and my mum divorced when I was 4. I won’t go into every terrible thing he did but he basically gave me, my mum and all my sibling trauma. I’ve been pretending that I don’t know about all the awful things he did and pr... View more

Hi, so I have a terrible dad. He and my mum divorced when I was 4. I won’t go into every terrible thing he did but he basically gave me, my mum and all my sibling trauma. I’ve been pretending that I don’t know about all the awful things he did and pretending I still love him, but I don’t know how much I can keep doing it. I would tell him how I feel but the thing is he still sends us money and I’m afraid if I cut ties with him, he’ll stop the money which will negatively affect not just me, but also my little brother. Everyone says there’s no point in yelling at him because he’ll never change. I know that and it’s not about him changing, it’s about me getting this burden off my shoulders. To anyone out there who’s had to deal with an abusive parent or family member, please give me thoughts. I’ve been in therapy for over 10 years because of this man but I’m scared of what might happen if I burn that bridge. Will I regret it?

Rae2944 Chronic illness and working full time
  • replies: 1

So I have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes around 6 weeks ago and I also work full time as a third year hairdresser apprentice (I just went into my third year this week so I have a year to go). Ever since I was diagnosed I have been reall... View more

So I have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes around 6 weeks ago and I also work full time as a third year hairdresser apprentice (I just went into my third year this week so I have a year to go). Ever since I was diagnosed I have been really emotional and mentally it’s been hard but not in a way where I’m angry I have diabetes, I’m just finding it hard to focus on my health and well-being while working full time. Although now I have been making time to go to the gym after work but if I go to the gym after work by the time I get home I have no other spare time left to do anything else that relaxes my anxiety. Some light say cut back in work but that adds time into my apprenticeship which I don’t want to do as I just want to finish so then I can cut back. I’m not keen on just quitting as I’ve just worked for two years in this apprenticeship and don’t want it to all go to waste even though I’m thinking about doing something else after I finish. I’m not sure what to do. I’m feeling very confused and emotionally unstable as this whole diabetes thing is a lot to take in and accept especially when I’m exercising

Joe_the_Innocent27 Am I doomed guys?
  • replies: 2

I am 28 and now I've been treated for longer then a decade for not having Schizophrenia because I was destructive and made regretful suicidal behavior three times over three years and I'm on involuntary treatment against my wishes, I can't have secon... View more

I am 28 and now I've been treated for longer then a decade for not having Schizophrenia because I was destructive and made regretful suicidal behavior three times over three years and I'm on involuntary treatment against my wishes, I can't have second opinions, tribunals or change psychiatrist's in my situation their convinced I'm suffering from Schizophrenia when I'm not actually I am pre diabetic meaning I have suffering with my dietary satisfaction and eating I am without a gallbladder meaning I'm more likely to gain weight because I can't process fats as well I was bullied greatly in high school and treated without respect and kindness for a few years after high school by school kids too, even though this all ended seven years ago the memories are with me still I'm behind with my driving independence but almost together and I'm fortunate their not discriminating me from driving freedoms due to my mental health drama I have no direction for any suitable entry jobs or personality for study and confidence to follow creativity because I live with a father that makes me with reduced emotional, social and psychological confidence, I sometimes question wither I want to sing or rap music but then other times I feel I don't and times I feel maybe it's confidence it's complicated

m1yalomiu Pressure from parents being oversea and getting older
  • replies: 1

I have a lot of pressure being the single child in my family, and I’m oversea. Parents are blaming me every time I called them, saying they have no one to look after them. And they divorced when I was around 10 years old too. What can I do? I hate li... View more

I have a lot of pressure being the single child in my family, and I’m oversea. Parents are blaming me every time I called them, saying they have no one to look after them. And they divorced when I was around 10 years old too. What can I do? I hate living in this world.

Mickfor Impending bad thoughts
  • replies: 5

I know most people go through these thoughts once and a while but I have never felt like this before, constant thoughts of impending doom

I know most people go through these thoughts once and a while but I have never felt like this before, constant thoughts of impending doom

Fathiyma I felt like I was dead inside but I was alive
  • replies: 7

When my son was 8 months old I had a Mental break down I just stopped believing I was Mental capable to do anything I question everything even common things I was like I shower wrong everything I do was wrong, I stopped eating and sleeping I was worr... View more

When my son was 8 months old I had a Mental break down I just stopped believing I was Mental capable to do anything I question everything even common things I was like I shower wrong everything I do was wrong, I stopped eating and sleeping I was worried my son had iron problems I just believe it in my head, eventually my son got older then it affected him as a toddler he got sick too he wouldnt sleep and lost weight, no one really new I reached out to the doctor but they wouldn't help. I honestly felt dead, some how I wanted to go out but I wasn't mentally stable but I took my son playground we would turn up late, messy dressed, I suffered from postnatal depression, as he got older it affected him in his age he was so behind the child health nurses referred him to child development and he had have Autism test I tried explaining what was going on but they insisted that it's still Autism. Now my son is 9 years old and only 3 years ago I got better with no help but when I had a 3rd child I finally went to a Mother and baby unit for Mental help but it didn't help me at all.Eventually my kids got older and I went to adult Mental health unit the only thing that helped was they give so much food big portions and desert because I suffered postnatal depression I was so weak I wouldn't eat, if I didnt start eating no one knew not even doctors I was barely surviving my stomach I would get intense pain I used just drink water and coffee no food it felt like I was in labour pain and I would vomit so much.I eventually had surgery the doctors thought it was from my belly button from birth. After the surgery I only got better because I started eating. After being in Mental Health unit for Adults I had time for myself no children eventually I helped my self no medication no Mental health unit helped me I got better because I started doing things for me and life begun again inside of me. Just small things painting my nails, wearing make up on my face, wanting to look nice in my clothing. Taking my children on outings. Mental Illiness takes a long time go away but at one point I said my self I just have get used to it because it doesn't always go away it's like a disability. I hope this story helps everyone with there journey, Dreams do come true.

Puddles1974 Lost partner suddenly to cancer/eating disorder/control
  • replies: 3

I did post a while ago. I lost my partner to cancer earlier this year and now I find my eating disorder has come back as I cant control anything else in my life nor can I control the fact he left this earthly plane so suddenly. I've suffered an eatin... View more

I did post a while ago. I lost my partner to cancer earlier this year and now I find my eating disorder has come back as I cant control anything else in my life nor can I control the fact he left this earthly plane so suddenly. I've suffered an eating disorder for years (diagnosed) and now I feel I'm falling into that same path again. Its the one thing I can control. Its his NV birthday Wednesday and I'm feeling so sad as he should still be here.