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

Strop23 Supporting a Partner with Depression
  • replies: 8

Navigating supporting a partner with depression and supporting yourself and your own needs and mental health can be incredibly challenging. My partner is struggling with depression, im doing my best to support them but they are not in a place to want... View more

Navigating supporting a partner with depression and supporting yourself and your own needs and mental health can be incredibly challenging. My partner is struggling with depression, im doing my best to support them but they are not in a place to want to help themselves. As the support person you experience so many emotions at once. You are worried for your partner because you want them to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and there are resources available to help. You feel frustrated and at times resentful, especially if they are not doing anything to help themselves - and then there's guilt for feeling frustrated with someone you love when you know they are struggling. And then there's you, trying to say and do all the right things, researching ways to be the best partner you can be, feeling as though everything you need is on hold, sometimes your partners behaviour can also be triggering if you fear loss of connection. Experiencing so many emotions at once and not necessarily knowing the answers can be a very lonely place and leave you feeling like nothing you are doing is right.

LostMojo23 LostMojo23
  • replies: 1

Does anyone feel the lost of motivation. Even with house choirs I feel like it's an effort these days. I was a very motivated person and everything I said I made it happened. These days I feel I have nothing to look forward to. I'm lost with my caree... View more

Does anyone feel the lost of motivation. Even with house choirs I feel like it's an effort these days. I was a very motivated person and everything I said I made it happened. These days I feel I have nothing to look forward to. I'm lost with my career and deep down I feel depressed about my life. I don't know why and I'm sure that many people would like to be in my shoes as it seems I have it all together. I'm usually a go getter but all of a sudden I feel I'm doing things because it has to be done or because i have to do it for someone. I don't feel the pleasure and the emotional reward physically and mentally that I used to feel when I do things for me or for someone. It's not that i don't get things done but majority of the time i dread doing them. Is this normal? Does this make sense? Is this also a depression.

Bee40 Up and down
  • replies: 3

Hi all , I guess I came here cause feel it good to talk wirh others n wonder if anyone been through what I'm going through atm . I think it's depression I'm not sure . One moment day starts off fine , I get kids to school and say good morning to part... View more

Hi all , I guess I came here cause feel it good to talk wirh others n wonder if anyone been through what I'm going through atm . I think it's depression I'm not sure . One moment day starts off fine , I get kids to school and say good morning to partner. But then once I'm alone I go through thoughts, like anxious to go back to work tomorrow, it great job wirh great staff but the children are stressing me out n then I don't want tobe there . Then there's the coming home and seeing the small messes around the house that saying see you can't organise yourself just like ya mum points out and then there's the thought of I should just call my sis snd tell her I've had it wirh life is to overwhelming and think all would be fine without me . The family be fine without me . Then that thoughts just upsets me . That's just today's thoughts

Loveanimals Yes..Me Again...
  • replies: 2

I have recently had a lot of dramas and issues with my son. I am also caring for my dear Dad after his surgery. I don't resent that at all. However I am feeling so down and depressed. My entire life revolves around my son and my Dad. I am exhausted, ... View more

I have recently had a lot of dramas and issues with my son. I am also caring for my dear Dad after his surgery. I don't resent that at all. However I am feeling so down and depressed. My entire life revolves around my son and my Dad. I am exhausted, suffering from nightmares and insomnia. Drinking too much. Just generally in a very bad place. It seems that everyone comes to me with their problems and issues (this is not at all about my Dad). I listen, empathise, offer sympathy and so forth. Then when they are ok again I am forgotten about. This happens all the time with the few people I allow into my life. My son is of course the biggest contender as he lives with me. I have to tolerate his tantrums, his emotional shifts, his selfishness and entitlement. I have NO CHOICE. I would never kick him out and there is absolutely nowhere else he could go. He is putting me into an early grave. As for the others...well.....I run around after them, help them. Look after their kids/pets etc. Then.....nothing. Due to this I feel totally numb and as if my life is not worth anything unless it is doing stuff for others. That is all good and well but I need help too. I am so miserable and tired of everything. Every bloody day is another crapfest. I only like sleeping as I have dreams that take me away from all of this. I will never understand why I am here. My entire life has just been one debacle after another. I am absolutely done.

Besty Body in pain daily, coping & pushing through the day is exhausting
  • replies: 1

Everyday l feel fatigued. Mornings l have enough energy to do my chores then l hit 11am & l stop sit down & think to much. I go for walks a little but l don’t push myself because l hit a brick wall in my head. Like that’s all don’t bust something in ... View more

Everyday l feel fatigued. Mornings l have enough energy to do my chores then l hit 11am & l stop sit down & think to much. I go for walks a little but l don’t push myself because l hit a brick wall in my head. Like that’s all don’t bust something in body. I am worried over my adult children daily. I cannot drive my car far because of a phobia.

Frb007 My break up with my girlfriend
  • replies: 2

I broke up with my girlfriend 2 days ago and I’m not taking it well at all!!! I’m extremely depressed and don’t know how to feel or how to act!!! I’m angry and confused and sad and scared!!!

I broke up with my girlfriend 2 days ago and I’m not taking it well at all!!! I’m extremely depressed and don’t know how to feel or how to act!!! I’m angry and confused and sad and scared!!!

K_Ley Scared
  • replies: 2

Hi.So, the past few weeks have been so up and down for me. I first accepted there might be something wrong with me about 7 weeks ago. Everyone at work was concerned with my changed mood and how often I was becoming irritable and stressed. Four family... View more

Hi.So, the past few weeks have been so up and down for me. I first accepted there might be something wrong with me about 7 weeks ago. Everyone at work was concerned with my changed mood and how often I was becoming irritable and stressed. Four family deaths in less than 2 years will do that right. I started therapy online about a month ago and so far, it seems to be going well. I tried to go to a doctor about a month ago to be assessed but things didn't work out and I was meant to go back about two weeks later. I didn't go. I feel like I hit rock bottom recently and after numerous attempts to self-harm (some successful), I made a new appointment at the doctor. That appointment is this coming Wednesday. I also have a welcome phone call next Thursday with SANE to see if I am eligible for their guided 12-week program. So much support is being put in place around me but deep down I am scared to death of visiting the doctor on Wednesday. I think because that makes it all so real. Once the doctor says yay or nay there is a problem there is no denying it. Even after 7 weeks I am struggling to accept that I might really have a mental health issue. I have never felt so vulnerable.

Meowface I miss my antidepressants
  • replies: 3

I was on mild antidepressants for four tests after my baby girl was born, it helped alot with those awful post partum feelings. I recently came off them after talking with my dr and weaned successfully (even though it was horrible to go through). I h... View more

I was on mild antidepressants for four tests after my baby girl was born, it helped alot with those awful post partum feelings. I recently came off them after talking with my dr and weaned successfully (even though it was horrible to go through). I have a four year old and 18 month old now, I’ve been off the antidepressants for about 6 weeks and my moods are atrocious. I feel like I’m in hell. But I am grateful not to be so sleepy and foggy headed. But the internal rage that I’m feeling is exhausting. But is that depression or life with small children?

Earth Girl Having trouble getting a job
  • replies: 9

Many people are mad with me for not getting a job and say "You could just get a job in a supermarket?" which is annoying because... you think I haven't already tried that - several times? I applied for every supermarket they have in my area more than... View more

Many people are mad with me for not getting a job and say "You could just get a job in a supermarket?" which is annoying because... you think I haven't already tried that - several times? I applied for every supermarket they have in my area more than once each and none of them want me. I've also heard people say "These places really want more people", but they don't seem to want people like me.I applied for a lot of retail jobs and I actually have better luck with that because I sometimes get interviews with them, but I never even get to the interview stage with supermarket jobs so I feel I have more hope in the retail industry than I feel I do in a job like a supermarket. I'm on the pension which I'm really thankful for and you have to apply for a lot of jobs to get to this stage so I don't know why people just assume that I don't apply for "ordinary jobs." If you get offered a job in Centerlink that you can do, you HAVE to take it so I'm not just getting offered "ordinary jobs" that I apply for and saying no to them. I have WANTED to get a job for a long time, but no job seems to want me.I've also been told that I can't work over 15-18 hours without my pension being affected, but I think it might be hard to not go over that time even if I do part time? I tried CIT and I found it extremely stressful and I needed so much help with my assignments. I have a job cleaning in an office, but it's not a job-job and it's only one day a week. I'm thinking about adding a few more hours in, but lots of other people who work here say mean things about me behind my back so it's uncomfortable working here. I also don't think people realize how much discrimination I receive as someone with a disability. Even at an Op shop I was volunteering at, most of the people working there would say really nasty things about me behind my back and they would do the same to other volunteers there as well and they would complain about them over the tiniest things that weren't even wrong. It surprised me because the people working there seemed so nice. I don't even want to shop at that place anymore let alone try to help them when they are so rude to us. I had a few other jobs as well that I also left due to bullying because it was so stressful. I know people aren't always nice when you work with them but the level of the bullying was too much. I get paid $5 an hour (which is okay since these jobs aren't that hard), but if I'm getting bullied, than I feel it's not really worth it. I have volunteered at two other Vinnies stores and also worked at one, but I only worked at that place for a week because I couldn't keep up. I got paid well, but it was too hard for me. I think I have both mental and social disabilities (possibly physical as well) so I find it really hard to get any job and I have applied for a lot of different jobs including a lot of "ordinary jobs". Apparently I don't seem like I have a disability because my disabilities are hidden so people can't tell that I need help.

React Chemical Imbalance?
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone ! I'll try to keep this short, 20 years ago i was diagnosed with MDD, i took an antidepressant for 6 months and got better after about 1 year -the antidepressant didn't really do much and i put most of my healing down to going to the gym ... View more

Hi everyone ! I'll try to keep this short, 20 years ago i was diagnosed with MDD, i took an antidepressant for 6 months and got better after about 1 year -the antidepressant didn't really do much and i put most of my healing down to going to the gym and hanging out with friends, thinking back it was all a bit of a haze. At the start of last year i was suffering a lot with anxiety, i was also getting heart palpitations (pvc's pac's) and suffering with bouts of insomnia, all stress related. I woke up one morning in August 2022 and started to feel what i felt 20 years ago, it's very hard to put into words, here are some of my symptoms: waking up feeling hungover when i haven't been drinking, feeling like part of my brain is not working and clamped, unable to focus or think clearly, listening to some melodies/songs will make me feel sad/happy sometimes all at the same time, wanting to cry, feeling suicidal and not knowing why (i have no plans i love life), and persistent rumination which goes something like this-do i have a brain tumor? is it dementia? am i ill? etc, also if my gf says something like "why are you rearranging your pets cage again'? i automatically start thinking oh my god she must think i'm crazy or bi-polar and get that intense anxiety/depressed feeling, also i keep trying to figure out what's wrong with me which only makes things worse, i just can't seem to snap out of it, i just want to add that all of this happens only during a depressive episode, this has been going on for over a year now, i do feel like i'm recovering and get about 18-19 good days out of each month where i feel fairly normal and motivated, what's strange is that at night i feel close to being normal again, it's only during the daytime i feel worse (during episodes). Can anyone relate to this? does anyone have up and down periods like this? is this part of "recovery" ? i remember 20 years ago it was a roller coaster ride but it seems to be taking longer this time. I was on antidepressants for 9 months but ditched it cold turkey as it didn't really help, i've been off meds now for 6 weeks, this month i've only had 2 down day's at the start of the month and yesterday the low's seemed to have started again and have continued today, it's 10pm now and i'm feeling a lot better, any thoughts? Is this depression? I did get an evaluation and got diagnosed with MDD again. I exercise and eat healthily.