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

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Beers Feeling lost and worn out - a very blank feeling
  • replies: 4

I’m just feeling lost. Really worn out. Need to get this out of my system, onto the page, not sure why today is the day i type it out, after feeling this way for a long time. Through most of lockdown I just never really stopped to reflect on anything... View more

I’m just feeling lost. Really worn out. Need to get this out of my system, onto the page, not sure why today is the day i type it out, after feeling this way for a long time. Through most of lockdown I just never really stopped to reflect on anything, just put on a brave face and approached everything as some sort of puzzle, like I was expected to just get on with it and make it all work. There were some dark times but I would often just shrug them off, and continue working or doing whatever needed to be done. Now the lockdown is over - but while others are energised and planning exciting adventures like camping, shopping, dining, I’m left with this blank feeling of exhaustion. I actually am surprised by this feeling - i thought i would be amongst the celebrating crowd. Feeling torn between two worlds - I have so much that needs to be done and am running behind on my work, don’t feel like doing anything though - don’t feel like work, don’t feel like play - and only just realised I have wasted several hours in the last few days just staring blankly at the wall and feeling sorry for myself but having no idea why. Have been through much worse than my current situation, in fact the future looks bright and positive, but i just feel so so meh. Anyway just looking for a sign. I know it all sounds a bit vague but I am a private person.

Cro77 What direction to take
  • replies: 11

There is a lot rattling around in my head so i will try and get it all out there. I am on the spectrum too so not a great communicator and socialite at the best of times. Been with my wife for 18 years, married for 16 years. She has 3 daughters from ... View more

There is a lot rattling around in my head so i will try and get it all out there. I am on the spectrum too so not a great communicator and socialite at the best of times. Been with my wife for 18 years, married for 16 years. She has 3 daughters from a previous marriage and we don't have any together. She is now in her early 50's and I am 8 years younger. All the girls are now grown up and left home. We (or maybe more me) seem to have been getting more disconnected/distant as time goes by. There seems to be very little we want to do together now. She spends most of the time we are at home together either on Facebook or watching Netflix/Stan etc. I have said on numerous occasions this is really frustrating but I keep getting laughed off. I am an Operations Manager of a business and work has been really demanding and draining for a number of years but i have started to get very tired and am losing my normal high level of concentration to a point in the last few weeks/months where i have started to feel quite emotional at times. It never lasts long and only happens once every few days but it is a very strange feeling and leaves me fighting back tears. I don't know whether this is work related (i enjoy work), relationship related or a combination. I don't have a lot of friends and have lost interest doing things i used to enjoy such as camping, fishing etc. A couple of weeks ago i spent a night out with a few work colleagues and spent most of the night talking to another woman (never met here before) who has the same interests, is of similar age and made it a very enjoyable night just to talk for hours. This has me second guessing my life to date and where it needs to head. As all couples do, my wife and i argue occasionally and has happened on occasions before she said she is going to leave. Normally I do whatever i can to resolve the situation but after i spent some time processing this (emotions normally take some time for me to process) i am probably content to let this take its own course. In the past i think i have been very concerned about being alone but now i may feel a little differently. Am i out of line by willing to accept this and should i fight for my marriage. Torn about the reasoning for my low feelings. Is it work, relationship or a combination that is getting me down. I just dont know what to do.

Surreal_canvas Needing thoughts or advice on anti depressant to go with mood stabiliser and sharing
  • replies: 2

Quite depressed going to see gp tommorow. To ask for a anti depressant. I’m pretty low. Last episode was mania physchosis. Been stable for a while but after being crook with flu. Suddenly it’s hit me slow at first signs to now quite full on. All the ... View more

Quite depressed going to see gp tommorow. To ask for a anti depressant. I’m pretty low. Last episode was mania physchosis. Been stable for a while but after being crook with flu. Suddenly it’s hit me slow at first signs to now quite full on. All the thoughts that come with it. Energy and lack of joy in things etc. without getting into it really. I wonder how much to say. As I’m not thinking about doing my thoughts but they are increasing in how I feel. I have good things around me. But also a lot of difficult stuff but I have networks and support just wanted peer and other advice. And really a place where I know Others relate. I don’t have much of that. Actually not much social par support now. Trying to work on that but now I’m like this I’m struggling to even want to go out with a worker. Which is counter active. It’s hard when you know stuff but your depression is at war with you. If you get me. Anyway that’s me.

Mayweather11 I'm a Hard-working Failure
  • replies: 2

Looking for guidance, my mind is in a dark place atm. I'm a hard-worker who has spent over 10 years trying to make something of myself. I have 2 advance degrees in science but have struggled to get/maintain work in my field (mainly due to politics & ... View more

Looking for guidance, my mind is in a dark place atm. I'm a hard-worker who has spent over 10 years trying to make something of myself. I have 2 advance degrees in science but have struggled to get/maintain work in my field (mainly due to politics & unstable economy). I have a patchwork quilt of experience in any job that would have me despite my education and internships - all this work in my field and no pay off just deadend jobs and minimum wage. I tried to run a small side-hustle, that too has been a failure - moreso that I hoped it would help me find new purpose, an interest, a way out of my mind slump. It has proven to have made me worse. I'm financially worse off for it and I have decided to close it down...I hate giving up. I worked hard got dirty trying to make this work and like everything I touch it turns to ash and I am left worse. I dedicated my early 20s to my future career, I did not party or enjoy myself. I have no friends and my only social outlet is my family and my wonderful partner. My mental health is so declined that I'm scared of myself daily now. My last job was retail and due to increasingly impossible standards and abuse I had to leave. I left with no job before me and failing business that cannot support me. I gave up so much, I thought I was doing the right thing to never be here. I saw my parents struggle my whole life and swore never to get that low. But everything I do fails and I no longer know what to do. Now I'm forcing myself to return to study to become something I have no like or interest in but I have no choice...I worked so hard...I did everything right...I sacrificed so much and I have nothing to show for it. Lately I have been in a dark place worse than ever - I need help to convince myself to keep battling despite having no goals...no dreams. How do I keep going forward if my whole working life has been a waste? I'm burnt out with no purpose and nothing to give to my family for their unwavering support. Just disappointment and failure. How do I tell myself to keep living when my life is nothing to me but pain? Thank you for reading if you do.

MissJ94 Crappy week
  • replies: 1

Feel like ive come crashing right down this week. Almost to the point id actually believe that i did send an email to Centrelink that i had thoughts of suicide. Because really life is just too hard. I have had thoughts of self harm this week but have... View more

Feel like ive come crashing right down this week. Almost to the point id actually believe that i did send an email to Centrelink that i had thoughts of suicide. Because really life is just too hard. I have had thoughts of self harm this week but havent done anything because my usual spots are now covered in expensive tattoos that i dont want to ruin, plus its coming into summer. Which makes it hard because self harm just provides a release, a distraction that i dont think anyone would understand unless youve been there. So why am i feeling like this? Mainly because those who said they would be a reference for me for my next job havent done their checks and cant be reached. Because one job thinks that i have no right to work in Australia even though i was born here and have an Australian birth certificate. They said to prove my right to work here i need either a passport(no way in hell im spending hundreds to get a passport i wont even use), a citizenship certificate(im an Australian citizen by birth ffs), or a parents Australian birth certificate(like im some school kid needing my parents permission to go on an excursion, major breech in privacy too). So im feeling like absolute crap. This job hunt is just getting more and more ridiculous the more places i apply, im over it! Im sick to death of employers thinking theyre high and mighty that they can employ someone with 10+ years experience and a stupid amount of checks to do! Even my newest police check has been delayed now and needing an officer to check things through, likely due to the police showing up at my door last week. Before that, the police checks had no issue in progressing. So what? The police going to classify me as unfit to work? Hope theyre the ones going to pay me if they pull that shit on me... With my son back at school now too i just feel numb. I just sit or lay on the lounge all day wondering what i should do and nothing comes to mind. I loved piano and gaming and binging netflix and reading and learning japanese but now i just find no joy in it. I say something and forget ive already said it. The only thing im looking forward to right now is my weight loss surgery at the end of November, at least that will help me reach one goal ive spent years trying to reach. Just wish i was normal..

Lillianj Unsupportive friends making me feel much worse
  • replies: 10

Has anyone ever been extremely disappointed by lack of support from people they had considered friends? Realising how selfish my friends are and how unsupported I really am has left me feeling so much worse. On the odd occasion I work up the courage ... View more

Has anyone ever been extremely disappointed by lack of support from people they had considered friends? Realising how selfish my friends are and how unsupported I really am has left me feeling so much worse. On the odd occasion I work up the courage or energy to put something out there to someone I consider(ed) to have my back I get almost nothing in reply. And a very delayed reply. Like they can't be bothered. And this is someone I normally talk to every day. In what might be an even more disappointing revelation, a friend that in the past I have gone to great effort to support through trauma (flying out of the country, moving her into my house, organising her various therapy and medical appointments over weeks and months) told me she was there for me and then simply didn't reply again. Meanwhile I believe she is now surrounded by friends and I am here alone in what is the worst period of depression I've ever been through. Just putting this out there in case anyone can relate or ... anything. Thanks for reading

How_To_Live_This_Life I am tired, I need help....
  • replies: 3

I am tired, i need some advice on how i can better live this life. For the longest time, I've been trying to live a straight life. But I know i'm not straight, i get attracted to the same sex but I'm trying my best to fight it. Almost all my relation... View more

I am tired, i need some advice on how i can better live this life. For the longest time, I've been trying to live a straight life. But I know i'm not straight, i get attracted to the same sex but I'm trying my best to fight it. Almost all my relationships were with a female, the only time i got to be with a guy was back in the university, never really lasted long. I was abused when i was a child which is probably why I hate being gay or bi or whatever i am called (i'm so lost that i cant even properly identify myself). I feel like life robbed me of the chance to live a normal life because of that abuse and so I resorted to trying to deny my true nature. But I am already getting consumed by the depression, by the loneliness, by not having a clear direction in life. I feel that my life is just wasting away. There's this big void in me that keeps getting bigger and bigger. I am so scared of what the future holds. Please help me....

hiiamsam I tried
  • replies: 2

I tried to eat healthy, I tried exercising, I tried meditation, I tried yoga, I tried listening to music, I tried to brush my teeth every night, I tried to get a good night sleep, I tried to stay away from alcohol and gambling, I tried to be a good s... View more

I tried to eat healthy, I tried exercising, I tried meditation, I tried yoga, I tried listening to music, I tried to brush my teeth every night, I tried to get a good night sleep, I tried to stay away from alcohol and gambling, I tried to be a good son, brother and friend, I tried to be happy. I tried speaking to you, I tried speaking to a professional, I tried everything you said to be happy, now I am tired of trying.

jonny09 I am feeling Very Lonely in Life
  • replies: 3

I am a solo entrepreneur. I work in front of my computer, i don't have any employee or team member, i work alone. the thing is that, i find it very difficult to make friends. I am an introvert, so, i find it difficult to walk to a stranger and start ... View more

I am a solo entrepreneur. I work in front of my computer, i don't have any employee or team member, i work alone. the thing is that, i find it very difficult to make friends. I am an introvert, so, i find it difficult to walk to a stranger and start a conversation. Many times when other people have fun and talk in groups, i get jealous. I always feel, why can't i have that fun. Reason for loneliness is that i have very few friends. I have noticed that, friends is someone who has same interests and liking. I am someone who does (online marketing by profession), and i get very intrigued when someone talks about my field or job. But on the other hand, i find it very difficult to make normal conversation with people. Most of the time, i am not confident and not interested in the topic. And i find it very suffocating and awkward when i try to act as an extrovert. Because it doesn't matches my mannerism and personality. Due to my personality, i attract only 1% of the crowd. 90% of the crowd is more attracted towards an extrovert and socially confident people. So, shud i change my personality in order to be acceptable by majority of the crowd? Or shud i be myself and try to find good friends in that 1% crowd. And not having many friends does feel pretty lonely and sad.

Justin95 Will I ever find love
  • replies: 2

I feel depressed and hopeless. I’m 22 and single. I’m a fairly good looking young man but I think I’m missing something. I’ve been reject 5 times by directly asking girls out, mostly are strangers. I’m holding on to a crush I had 5 years ago, I’m sti... View more

I feel depressed and hopeless. I’m 22 and single. I’m a fairly good looking young man but I think I’m missing something. I’ve been reject 5 times by directly asking girls out, mostly are strangers. I’m holding on to a crush I had 5 years ago, I’m still interested in her but I don’t know if she feels the same way, and I don’t know where she is now. Maybe some stalking in my part. At the moment I’m unemployed and depressed. I don’t know if I will end up married or not, or married to someone ugly. It’s natural for me to have some standards. Since I’m handsome I want someone beautiful. I’ve been battling anxiety at the moment so it’s harder for me when it comes to dating. I don’t think woman wants men with social anxiety. Right now I feel depressed and I’m binge watching SPONGEBOB. How do you think I can fix myself.