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: 1

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

Guest_33224827 Giving up
  • replies: 2

My life was doomed to fail. So many bad decisions. Poor guidance. No direction. Nothing seems to quell this pain. I’m lost and confused. Feeble and self sabotaging. I feel like I can’t do anything by myself even when I can. I’m so useless. I feel lik... View more

My life was doomed to fail. So many bad decisions. Poor guidance. No direction. Nothing seems to quell this pain. I’m lost and confused. Feeble and self sabotaging. I feel like I can’t do anything by myself even when I can. I’m so useless. I feel like I’ve been failed by everyone in my life but in reality I did this all to myself. That’s why it hurts so bad, because I know it’s my fault. I didn’t try hard enough. I didn’t try much at all because I didn’t have to. Then when I did try some things I ultimately ended up quitting for stupid reasons, excuses I gave myself to feel better about being a failure. It doesn’t work though. I still dwell on every single failure, beating myself up for it constantly. My entire life has been nothing but failure and giving up. The slightest adversity makes me quit. Of course this has made my life much harder than it has to be. Not that it is actually that hard mind you, I’m incredibly privileged in many ways. Yet I still hate life and love wallowing in self pity all the time. It’s what I’m doing right now. But having failed so much doesn’t help your image. Having missed out on so much only makes it that much harder to try again. The boat I missed just keeps sailing further and further away and it’s getting harder to keep swimming. The only thing I live for is daydreaming and the internet. Screens have been my main coping mechanism in life, and it has equally destroyed my life. Even now, I’m on my phone. I spend everyday on my phone, it’s practically glued to my hand. Or I’m playing video games. It’s either a phone screen, computer screen, or game console screen that I’m focused on. Every day on repeat. So much time was wasted away like this, so much time I could have been doing something to better my future, work towards a goal, be a productive member of society. But I didn’t, and I won’t. I never even considered my future. I never really wanted to do anything else but waste time. And I still don’t. I don’t feel any motivation or drive to fix anything even though I’m so depressed. The best years of my life are gone and I didn’t even enjoy them while I was there. I’m a defeatist. Nothing is ever good enough. I can never be satisfied with myself or my abilities. I’m embarrassed of myself. I hate myself. I don’t like talking about myself or saying what I like out of shame. I’m not really sure what I even like anymore. I don’t talk to anyone, not even my own family if I can help it. I am ashamed to be in their presence. I am nothing but a burden to them. I know my negativity and constant low moods brings everyone around me down but I can’t help it. I just can’t pretend and fake a good mood like everyone else can. So I try to stay hidden and out of the way as best I can. That’s all there is to say really. TLDR; I’ve given up, I always give up. I barely even tried. I never put in any effort and quit in a heartbeat. I gave up years ago. And I’m so close to just throwing in the towel entirely. I’m basically screaming into the void here as a last resort no matter how fruitless. Because no advice is going to fix the fact that I have no discipline or self control. Truly the only person who can help me is myself, but I know I’m incapable of that and I’m never going to change. Because it’s too hard and I’m weak. Maybe I’m just looking for someone who can relate to this feeling of self hatred. But I guess when you’re at rock bottom the only way is up.

itsjustaj I'm trying to be better but today got the better of me.
  • replies: 2

So today was hard.Work was stressful but I asked for help instead of trying to deal with everything myself. I had an anxiety attack, but spoke with my manager and let her know so I could take a walk and deal with it. So.. all good right?Until I got h... View more

So today was hard.Work was stressful but I asked for help instead of trying to deal with everything myself. I had an anxiety attack, but spoke with my manager and let her know so I could take a walk and deal with it. So.. all good right?Until I got home and my husband and I had a fight. I HATE conflict. I will usually back off and not say how I am feeling. This time I didn't back off. I told my husband not to swear at me or talk down to me. He just couldn't see my side of things. I don't want to get into the fight. That isn't the point of this post. But after he left to go his friends place I got so angry! I was walking into our bedroom and I picked up our wedding photo and threw it. The glass smashed and the moment I did it, I felt like an absolute idiot. Now I am sitting here crying over broken freaking glass and feeling like I ruined everything. I want to text my husband and beg him to forgive me and tell him it's all my fault and just make it all go away. This is what happens whenever I stand up for myself, nothing changes and I just end up feeling like crap. I just want to give up some days because no matter what I do, I am always the arsehole. That's what my stupid brain is telling me right nowTrying so hard not to spiral.I hope one day I can come to these forums and say that I am doing better

JacintaMarie Depressed about work
  • replies: 6

Hi How are you? I'm an awful person, at times I think where I work the people are horrible.Well management are, but its just my head that's saying this. I can't seem to see anything good in them.I've tried but my head just thinks their stupid They ar... View more

Hi How are you? I'm an awful person, at times I think where I work the people are horrible.Well management are, but its just my head that's saying this. I can't seem to see anything good in them.I've tried but my head just thinks their stupid They are nice - just when their happy, when their stressed their horrible.My brain is stuffed I think - just stuffed & I've been reading mindfulness & everything to help me, but it doesn't work.Plus too, I can't talk to management, like a normal person, if I say something wrong, they get offended (though this is my brain that's telling me this)I'm just horrible- calling them stupid etc.

SilvaLady Depression
  • replies: 1

Am not sure if I posted on this before. Is it normal to feel constantly stressed and depressed? I feel like that I don’t have control over my thoughts and emotions. I feel like that I am constantly on edge and my thoughts interfere with my daily life... View more

Am not sure if I posted on this before. Is it normal to feel constantly stressed and depressed? I feel like that I don’t have control over my thoughts and emotions. I feel like that I am constantly on edge and my thoughts interfere with my daily life. Doesn’t matter what I do, it makes me feel sad and down. Am seeing a psychologist once a week, but in between I’m feeling really sad. I’m not sure how to cope anymore. Thanks for reading. SilvaLady

Noone Depressed
  • replies: 2

How do you like with a depressed alcoholic husband 

How do you like with a depressed alcoholic husband 

Guest_29956636 Just feel so lost
  • replies: 1

I awake every morning feeling drained like I don't know what to do with my life feel so depressed over losing my kids and wife I was addicted to nearly every drugs and alcohol growing up grew up around domestic violence just wanna try get myself toge... View more

I awake every morning feeling drained like I don't know what to do with my life feel so depressed over losing my kids and wife I was addicted to nearly every drugs and alcohol growing up grew up around domestic violence just wanna try get myself together for my family

Guest_58645588 Older single mother
  • replies: 2

Hi I am an older single mother of three and have spent the majority of the last decade in bed. I see the kids as being a demand on me that I can’t manage and the house a demand on me that I can’t manage. I don’t have any emotions no highs or lows. I ... View more

Hi I am an older single mother of three and have spent the majority of the last decade in bed. I see the kids as being a demand on me that I can’t manage and the house a demand on me that I can’t manage. I don’t have any emotions no highs or lows. I get up to feed the kids, I do the laundry, I take the kids places. I don’t feel any love inside. My mum told me she didn’t feel love either. My whole family are estranged I have been on and off antidepressants for years. I isolate from all my friends. I feel like I can’t wait for the kids to grow up and leave home so I can go and live in a van and be transient.

Taiji Seeking a support partner
  • replies: 1

Hey so I posted this on the Young People space but figured it'd also be appropriate posting here as well. I'm a 22 year old guy living in Sydney whose been working through mental health stuff (depression, anxiety, potential ADHD) for the past year. I... View more

Hey so I posted this on the Young People space but figured it'd also be appropriate posting here as well. I'm a 22 year old guy living in Sydney whose been working through mental health stuff (depression, anxiety, potential ADHD) for the past year. I've recently wanted to start working on rebuilding my life by working on academic, fitness and general health goals. While I think there's a lot of merit in getting support through online spaces I think in person support will always be the gold standard. I don't think humans were made to deal with our problems alone so when I read on forums about people struggling to stay afloat I see it as partially a symptom of our modern way of living. So I've been looking for a support/accountability partner who also lives in Sydney where we can support each other with mental health, chatting about life stuff, holding each other accountable, gyming together etc. If anyone is also interested in finding a support partner and lives in Sydney feel free to reach out!

Goldee Getting things done
  • replies: 4

I have had depression since I was 13, am now in my 50's, and I really struggle to get things done. This hasn't always been the case but since I left full-time work due to physical injuries five years ago I can't seem to finish anything. Now I work ca... View more

I have had depression since I was 13, am now in my 50's, and I really struggle to get things done. This hasn't always been the case but since I left full-time work due to physical injuries five years ago I can't seem to finish anything. Now I work casually and even though I have more than enough time to complete things, not much gets finished. If something is urgent it gets done, however, the rest of the stuff I have partly done gets pushed aside and rarely completed. Now there are piles of uncompleted tasks lying around everywhere. Instead of finishing off something I watch tv, watch YouTube videos or play computer games. I take medication which may explain some slowness but the piles of uncompleted tasks continues to grow and it's just getting worse. Any suggestions on how to overcome not getting things completed would be helpful.

Anon2852 Is life supposed to be this hard?
  • replies: 6

Hello, I’m in my early 30’s work full-time as a chef and study full-time, so roughly 60-80 hours a week for study and work. Working as a chef is incredibly tiring and exhausting, my diet consists of mostly Red Bull, whisky, cigarettes and one meal a ... View more

Hello, I’m in my early 30’s work full-time as a chef and study full-time, so roughly 60-80 hours a week for study and work. Working as a chef is incredibly tiring and exhausting, my diet consists of mostly Red Bull, whisky, cigarettes and one meal a day. Sadly it’s not to my choosing, considering some days I work up to 14 hours straight (no break), if I had a choice I’d love to live a three meal day, work appropriate hours, with appropriate breaks. But sadly it’s not in the cards, due to ridiculously high rent and tafe payments. I live with my partner and cat, my partner works a 9-5 office job, and other than that she does very little. Maybe cooks once or twice a month, unfortunately all the domestic jobs fall on to me when I have time (cooking, cleaning, bills, budgeting, maintenance). The sad truth about being a chef is you learn to say yes to everything and if something upsets you, you never get to voice your opinion. It’s been my lifestyle for such a long time, I thought after all this pain and suffering something good would come of it. But the brutal life I’ve been living for the past 10 years is earning me just enough to pay the bills. Everyday is a struggle, and every night I’m terrified of what might/ will happen the next day.