Support
Support

Depression

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

Start a conversation

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
Categories
Start a conversation

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 discussions in this section of the Forums have 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 conversation

nobody__1 Idk how long I can keep this facade up
  • replies: 1

I don’t know where els to put this, as I can’t talk to anyone els about this sort of thing. During the day, when with family or friends I’m this happy person who’s “always smiling” and making jokes, but when it’s just me alone with myself I just feel... View more

I don’t know where els to put this, as I can’t talk to anyone els about this sort of thing. During the day, when with family or friends I’m this happy person who’s “always smiling” and making jokes, but when it’s just me alone with myself I just feel like there’s a void inside me, I feel like I hate myself, I feel numb, I have no real other way to put it. I won’t stop living my life as it’s the life god gave me and I couldn’t do that to my family, but even when I smile I know it’s fake and deep down I feel nothing, I feel like I’m worthless and wanna die as I hate myself. It’s getting to the point where I won’t be able to cry anymore, I’ll just lay there emotionless, life lately has felt pretty dull. Sorry I just felt like I needed to share. I also hate how I write all this and then probably delete it bc I’d feel like I’m just trying to get attention.

randomxx depression - life
  • replies: 15

Sometimes l think what is this dream thing, happiness, should l just give up? lf l haven't got it by now later 50s l really must be dreamin right, ldk , but l wonder lately , a lot !l've had it,l've been so lucky through large periods in huge ways an... View more

Sometimes l think what is this dream thing, happiness, should l just give up? lf l haven't got it by now later 50s l really must be dreamin right, ldk , but l wonder lately , a lot !l've had it,l've been so lucky through large periods in huge ways and highs in life, but for some crazy reason things get lost or we stuff it up or they just pass and it seems the next faze comes along,like some yo yo.l take any time comes along through things, days and routines l like now, to enjoy whatever it is, been making a big point of that last few yrs. So many things l took for granted before or it was all about the end dream instead of the living in between, worst thing you can do is fall for that trap.lt really does help a lot too, big or small, mostly small atm but then life's made up of so many little things too isn't it you realize that we should've made sure we enjoyed long ago. lt's not all about the big stuff but the journey too, well, so l see now.And it does make a huge difference, sometimes l even chuckle to myself at just how beautiful and enjoyable the small things in life are now that l do. Buttttt, sadness unfortunately,depression from sadness, from the things giving you sadness, is usually all about the far far bigger things too unfortunately. Loneliness, or not where you wanted to be, or things lost.l'll have to move next yr and that's really messing with me too. l'd have been here 8yrs by then, longest l've stopped anywhere since l left home, even while married, we moved a lot.l don't know where l wanna go, l'll start browsing next yr, but l don't wanna buy another house straight away either, probably won't be able to at that time anyway so just as well l don't want to then right. Relationships looking lost, another thing l don't thing l took enough care of or to enjoy,my only true relationship since married 10yrs back. Brothers moved back to Melb 12mths ago, my main sort of mate too plus brother since l moved here. Haven't made one friend in 8yrs- another reason l have to move, enoughs enough. Although l have really enjoyed living here and this time though, the house itself type thing, views, the morngs,at least that's something. But everything just feels stupid and lost and aimless and do you even bother to care anymore seems like this is what you end up with anyway.ldk. rx

Sandra8889 I cant move
  • replies: 5

I dont know what to do. My only comfort is sleeping. This is an attempt to communicate with anyone

I dont know what to do. My only comfort is sleeping. This is an attempt to communicate with anyone

Alex_171717 Unfair
  • replies: 3

Why is everything in this world so unfair? Why am I always the wrong one? Why does nobody stand beside me? Nobody agrees with me nor think of me as anything significant.

Why is everything in this world so unfair? Why am I always the wrong one? Why does nobody stand beside me? Nobody agrees with me nor think of me as anything significant.

scardeecat "I'm just a little flat"
  • replies: 1

I feel like this is slowly becoming my "catch phrase".I'm either depressed and feel like I might cry for no reason, or I'm stupidly angry for no reason I don't want to be this sad, angry person anymore. I want to be able to put my anger and sadness i... View more

I feel like this is slowly becoming my "catch phrase".I'm either depressed and feel like I might cry for no reason, or I'm stupidly angry for no reason I don't want to be this sad, angry person anymore. I want to be able to put my anger and sadness in a box and leave it there. I feel so bad, I know I'm hurting people's feelings by not hanging around them, but I don't want to make them feel like they've done something wrong when it's my fault. I keep making mistakes at work, each day I mess up things a newbie would know not to do, and I just know I'm getting on everyone's nerves that I keep making these silly mistakes and forgetting things I should already know. Anyone else have any tips for this? I don't know what else to do.

Loveanimals Mystified by Life and the Tragedies that Occur to Decent People
  • replies: 12

Our police commissioner's son was run over on Friday night. The driver fled the scene but was caught. The dear son has died. I am heartbroken for this lovely man, his wife and family. He is an astounding person. He has dedicated his life to police wo... View more

Our police commissioner's son was run over on Friday night. The driver fled the scene but was caught. The dear son has died. I am heartbroken for this lovely man, his wife and family. He is an astounding person. He has dedicated his life to police work and the greater good. He lost a colleague on Thursday night due to a shooting incident. Then this the night after.....I am so upset and devastated for him. Both perpetrators are unharmed. How? Why? I just do not understand! This happens all the time! Good and decent people are killed and the criminals never get their come uppance! I am believing there is a better place where these poor innocent victims go when their lives are destroyed by these so called humans. I believe in karma. I can't deal with this world at present. Too many unbalanced and disgusting events occur and I never see justice. The same goes for the poor innocent animals and children who get abused and neglected and never get the response they need! I find this world a vile place. And it is all due to so called humans. The so called justice system. The 'people' who do not deserve a life. Agh. Sorry to vent but I am so seriously distressed and wonder how others deal with this constant bombardment of evil and despair.

KC12 Depression and close family overseas - anyone else in the same situation?
  • replies: 63

Hi all, I have been depressed from some years now and I have been struggling to find my place here in Australia. I moved here for love as my husband is Australian. He knows how I am feeling and although we speak about it a lot he can't really empathi... View more

Hi all, I have been depressed from some years now and I have been struggling to find my place here in Australia. I moved here for love as my husband is Australian. He knows how I am feeling and although we speak about it a lot he can't really empathise as all his family and friends are 1 hour away and mine are 30 hours on a plane... Due to the travel restrictions and my PR status, I am not able to leave the country which I thought it was okay during the worst times but seeing all the information about being trapped here until next year,2 years or waiting for the vaccine(?) is making my anxiety go wild. My close family(parents and sister) are overseas and not knowing when I can see them is really affecting me. I really struggle to keep my worry under control and it doesn't help all the news about it. My home country and family got hit really bad, and Australia's number is nothing comparing to what Europe went through but they were never stripped from their right to leave their country. Sorry for the rant, just want to see if anyone else is in the same situation and it would be helpful to hear how are they coping. Thanks

Guest_1206 bipolar disorder.
  • replies: 1

Hi. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2018, I had flown to Queensland to celebrate my best friend's birthday. I had a psychotic episode and was displayed symptoms not known to my friend in the 25 years she had known me. She called the police w... View more

Hi. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2018, I had flown to Queensland to celebrate my best friend's birthday. I had a psychotic episode and was displayed symptoms not known to my friend in the 25 years she had known me. She called the police who then handcuffed me as I was being aggressive towards my friends and family. She must have called an ambulance also, where I was sedated and taken to hospital. She only visited me once during my stay, on Mother's Day. My parents to see how I was. I stayed in hospital for about 10 days. My husband had to fly up, to escort me home as I wanted to commit suicide. I spent the best part of about two years in a manic low. I had lost a lot of weight during this time. Nowadays, I see my psychiatrist every six weeks and my medications are stable. I still have manic episodes, but not the same extent. I am good when I'm not manic.

Nay_23 Feeling trapped
  • replies: 2

I’ve been feeling trapped by with my depression, by the anxiety I feel to speak out about it. What do you do when you feel as though every aspect in your life is triggering your depression anxiety? The only thing keeping me grounded is my partner and... View more

I’ve been feeling trapped by with my depression, by the anxiety I feel to speak out about it. What do you do when you feel as though every aspect in your life is triggering your depression anxiety? The only thing keeping me grounded is my partner and kids but I don’t feel like I can burden them with the way that I’m feeling

Earth Girl My parents didn't teach me personal hygeine
  • replies: 2

When I was in Primary school, my parents only taught me to brush my teeth at night time (not in the morning as well). They also never flossed my teeth or taught me how to. I didn't start flossing my teeth regularly and properly until my dentist taugh... View more

When I was in Primary school, my parents only taught me to brush my teeth at night time (not in the morning as well). They also never flossed my teeth or taught me how to. I didn't start flossing my teeth regularly and properly until my dentist taught me when I was in year 9. They only got me to have a bath every 2 weeks or so (I think it might have been about a month sometimes) and they only changed my sheets after I had a bath (which wasn't very often so yeah). They didn't teach me how often I needed to wash my bath towels or clothes. Whenever there weren't any clean clothes to wear in my drawers, (which was often) they would tell me to just get clothes out of the basket (full of dirty clothes) and wear them. They only regularly washed my undies, but I can't say that for the rest of my clothes. I actually liked school uniform when I was a child because my parents bought me hardly any other clothes. On weekends, my sisters and I would fight over clothes because it was so hard to find reasonably suitable ones. In year 6, a friend was talking to me about how she was having a shower one morning when something happened and after that I thought, okay I probably should shower more often so when I started year 7, I started showering every second day and soon after that everyday, but most of my clothes (my undies were clean) were still dirty. I washed my hair every second day then, but it still looked really bad until I got a haircut later on that year. (I had never been to the hairdresser before then, my parents would sometimes cut my hair when I was little though). A few years after that, I started washing my bath towels every three washes and my parents told me that I was washing them too much even though I think you're suppose to wash them at least that much. It got so bad that the school had to intervene and teach me personal hygiene which was humiliating! To this day, I still have to get fillings on the first four teeth at the top of my mouth and I sometimes still smell even though I'm pretty sure I'm doing everything right now. (Showering everyday, regularly washing my hair, using good quality deodorant, washing all my clothes enough, brushing and flossing my teeth, etc). I calmly asked my parents last year "I was just wondering why you didn't teach me personal hygiene" and my Mum got very cross and said "Oh Earth Girl, we're not perfect!" I told them that I had the right to be upset because I got bullied in school because of it and they said "Okay, I understand. Well, I guess we just weren't very organized." I was just wondering, do I have the right to be upset at my parents for this? They weren't doing it to abuse me, but it's still upsetting. My Mum told me that she doesn't think children need to shower very often because she didn't when she was a child, but I don't know why they didn't wash my clothes and help me more with my oral care.

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map