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 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 discussion

Josh021 First time really seeking help for depression.
  • replies: 8

Hi this is my first post on here, i'm not sure if i'm meant to be introducing myself or not. This is a little bit confronting for me as i have difficulties discussing this at all. But I really feel like i need to be able to share this & maybe have so... View more

Hi this is my first post on here, i'm not sure if i'm meant to be introducing myself or not. This is a little bit confronting for me as i have difficulties discussing this at all. But I really feel like i need to be able to share this & maybe have somebody who cares enough to listen. I feel like it could do me a lot of good. To introduce myself a little, I've struggled with depression & nightmares for 6 years now, the year that I graduated from high school I began to feel extremely isolated. I had no one to talk to, I had no idea at all what i wanted in life & no real life skills. Without any idea what i wanted in life I kind of gambled on an interest i had at the time & jumped into a fitness Degree. This unfortunately turned out to be a horrible idea as my problems with Social skills really hit hard & inevitably caused me to fail leaving me $3,600 in debt with an entire year wasted with nothing to show for it as well as angering my parents enough that i was kicked out of home. For the next 2 years i bounced between degrading casual jobs, with no friends or family to support me what so ever. 3 years after graduating I finally made another friend, who later went on to become my girlfriend. Having her in my life led me to so much advancement in my life, I got an enjoyable well paying job, paid my debt back to my parents & made amends & overall felt significantly happier. Though for the past year since then I started to feel that same old sadness coming back, looking at my life I'd think to myself none of this is what i want. This was true for almost everything. However i told myself i was okay because I thought I at least had a partner for life & that was 1 thing that made me genuinely happy. Anyways, 3 months ago we broke up & this led us to stop talking as a whole. In that time i hadn't made any more friends & with her gone that 1 shred of happiness that remained is gone. I'm now stuck in what i feel to be a worst position than I ever have been before, I do not enjoy any of my previous hobbies anymore, I go to work & honestly feel like i struggle to not break down while I'm there now & every night i go to bed unable to sleep for hours because i am unable to stop thinking about how much i miss her. Im not particularly sure how to wrap this up. But for all those who have read & might have say something to say, thankyou so much for giving me your time. I apologise for how incoherent this probably comes across to read.

Santana feeling that no one likes me at work
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, I am feeling increasingly anxious about not being liked at work. I know that depression can cloud our thinking but I also think I am quite perceptive so I am not sure if I am right to feel this way or not. I am middle aged and for a while I ... View more

Hi guys, I am feeling increasingly anxious about not being liked at work. I know that depression can cloud our thinking but I also think I am quite perceptive so I am not sure if I am right to feel this way or not. I am middle aged and for a while I was mostly working with younger people (although now it's more of a mixed team), and finding it difficult to connect. I feel like I always say the wrong thing, even when I am genuinely trying to be nice, I feel that people think I am being patronising. One particular colleague is super smart and is always praised by our manager and I honestly feel inadequate. He is really nice and helpful to everyone but when I ask for help he either doesn't help me or says things like : 'Oh really, you don't know that?' in an arrogant tone. Now I feel like I am constantly replaying what I say in my head and worrying about what other people must be thinking. My anxiety is on the rise and depression usually follows. I don't know what to do. I am on medication but it's only ever just taken the edge off. I don't think I have truly felt happy and well for the longest time. I also see a counsellor and we have tried CBT and mindfulness. Just right now I am really struggling and I need to know if other people experience this sort of thing and how they cope. I'd be grateful for any thoughts on this thanks.

Making_it_right Depressed friend leaves depressed friend.
  • replies: 4

I am new to this, but I am struggling. My dear friend, who is in a deep state of depression, just asked me to no longer communicate with him because he feels it is imperative that he singularly focus on a new relationship with someone he met and fell... View more

I am new to this, but I am struggling. My dear friend, who is in a deep state of depression, just asked me to no longer communicate with him because he feels it is imperative that he singularly focus on a new relationship with someone he met and fell deeply in love with. He says that he is not able to have any friendship while he focuses on trying to make this work. We have been friends for many years, and there is a great amount of trust and respect between us, but I am not certain what to do, or what to expect, if anything, from this relationship going forward. he has had ups and downs over the course of our friendship, but he was seriously suffering for the last year. He has never found any clinician who he has been able to work with, and he is not taking any medication that I am aware of. I want to think that this is great news for him, and that he has found a partner who can help him, but I want to better understand if this is any sort of warning sign. I believe that I am one of the few, if not the only person in his life who is aware of what is going on, and I was not able to help him much. I think that out of respect, I want to honor his request, but I just don't know if this is what I should be doing. Is it reasonable for me to think that it is a positive step forward for him to suddenly fall deeply in love when he is clinically depressed without treatment? He was very clear in his request for no more communication of any kind from me. He said that he needed some sort of finality with me (we are only friends as mutually agreed upon), so that he could singularly focus himself on this new relationship. He said that this woman has been so directly good for him, and that she continues to be, every day. It sounds like this could be just what he needs. Since I was not able to really help him, and she seems to be able to, is it safe for me to leave it at that? There was no upset or bad moment (he was mostly sad and reserved, but there were no emotional outbursts or anger at that time) between us when I saw him last a few weeks ago, so I figure that if all is as he says, this is a good thing. I figure that if he needs to reach out to me, we have been friends long enough for him to know that he could do that. Does this sound reasonable?

Lou88 Nothing is getting better
  • replies: 2

I have been struggling with anxiety for a while, and it’s getting worse & I’m very depressed. I’m getting help by seeing a counsellor each fortnight but it doesn’t seem to be helping and I feel like I’m spiraling out of control. I recently had a work... View more

I have been struggling with anxiety for a while, and it’s getting worse & I’m very depressed. I’m getting help by seeing a counsellor each fortnight but it doesn’t seem to be helping and I feel like I’m spiraling out of control. I recently had a work event & was internally upset at my best friend of 2.5 years (work mate) for spending more time with other girls, because I felt un-cool and not good enough for her (something I have been feeling for a while, due to anxiety). I ended up unfollowing her on Instagram when I shouldn’t have. She found out & told me since that these incidents happen too often (I have had anxiety before and unintentionally lashed out when I shouldn’t have - I never mean to and regret it so much). She said that she doesn’t know how to help me, and that I need help but she doesn’t think we can be friends anymore. My depression has got worse over the weekend, to the point where I won’t go into work tomorrow because I won’t be able to focus. I’m so upset about losing a friend and I feel like my world is coming to an end - I relied on her so much. I’m having some really dark thoughts & feel like the worst person in the world to lose such a beautiful friend when I never meant to. One work friend is really concerned about me and told me that she wants to tell someone at work so I can take some time off. I know that is probably a good idea, but I wouldn’t want to take time off unless I could see my parents and stay with them (they live overseas & I live with flatmates). However my parents are going on a 5 week holiday across the world on Wednesday, something that they deserve so much and I don’t want to take that away from them. My work friend said that my parents would come to see me over their trip, as they’d regret it if something happened to me while they’re gone (my parents know how I’m feeling and are very concerned). However I feel terrible ruining their holiday and the thought of doing that is making it even worse, even though I know I probably have to. I don’t have many friends and I don’t know what to do. I feel like my life is spiralling out of control. I need some help.

Firefox2311 Do I have depression?
  • replies: 2

Lately I have been struggling with some very new emotions. I have been feeling constantly down/sad as well as rapid change of emotions and huge reactions over little things. If anyone has any ideas of what this may be or anyways to help it would be m... View more

Lately I have been struggling with some very new emotions. I have been feeling constantly down/sad as well as rapid change of emotions and huge reactions over little things. If anyone has any ideas of what this may be or anyways to help it would be much appreciated. Thank you

Suet suet Depression and anxiety
  • replies: 12

I like to share my problems and hope someone will listen and give me some thoughts on it. Knowing that it’s not going to solve the problem. At least I can release my emotion a bit. i was diagnosed with moderate to severe depression and anxiety all at... View more

I like to share my problems and hope someone will listen and give me some thoughts on it. Knowing that it’s not going to solve the problem. At least I can release my emotion a bit. i was diagnosed with moderate to severe depression and anxiety all at once after doing the depression screen in late July. It was like a sudden heart attack. I could not believe the fact that i need to start taking antidepressant as well as seeing a psychologist. It’s such a mental health problem. I feel so ashamed to tell my husband about the condition. I wear a mask everyday pretending I am ok. I also wonder if I would ever recover. I had struggled for 10 days to finally get to a chemist to get the drug as after days of depression and unsleepless. It was a real torture! The antidepressant indeed has improved my sleeping. I started the first session with a psychologist last week, however not very useful! I told myself to think everything in a positive way and I will be ok. Last week, I decided to come off the drug although the psychologist warned me that it would take 6 full weeks for the antidepressant to come effect. I am not sure if its a good idea to stop now. But I only had drugs for 20 days. I do not want to rely on it to make me sleep! Everyday I feel so depressed and so tired. Expression has psuhed away my motivation and I found that everything I do is an effort. I don’t want to meet people. My brain has focused so much on negative thoughts. any idea how to change or divert my negative thoughts!

LarkAscending A complex day
  • replies: 6

I'm not after support as such right now; I just wanted to share what happened to me this weekend, because a lot of it was new to me. I'm going through a heavy-drinking-at-home-on-weekends phase to deal with boredom and loneliness. (I know that's a te... View more

I'm not after support as such right now; I just wanted to share what happened to me this weekend, because a lot of it was new to me. I'm going through a heavy-drinking-at-home-on-weekends phase to deal with boredom and loneliness. (I know that's a terrible reason to drink.. I'm going to just cut it out altogether for a month or two starting today.) I was feeling relaxed and comfortable enough last night to check in with my ex on social media. She's just had a baby with her new partner, and given it the same name she and I had chosen for our prospective kids.. ouch! Anyway, some part of me knew exactly when she was due and it had been hanging over me, so I'm glad it's happened, and that I saw the baby photos at a time of my choosing, rather than having them pop up unexpectedly. This morning I was pretty wobbly and thought I'd perk myself up with a couple of strong coffees. Unfortunately the cafe was playing Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, which is a) my ex's favourite song; b) about a devastating breakup and coping by drug abuse; c) by someone who had a heartbreaking life and died far too young. The whole thing tipped me into a full-scale panic attack, the worst I've ever had. My parents dropped around with a care package (I'm in my early 40s, but I ain't too proud to turn down free homecooked food!) and talked about potplants. Trying to distract me with smalltalk when I'm trying to avoid being crushed by the elephant in the room. It was a disaster and I almost told them to leave. I broke the family taboo on admitting to mental illness, which is causing me a lot of (undeserved) shame. But they did offer to drive me to a national park, where I walked by myself for a few hours. It's nice - there's a lot of wildlife, flowers, other walkers to say hello to - and movement and nature (and a couple of benzo tablets) were exactly what I needed. I called my parents once I'd calmed down and explained how to better support me if/when that happens again. I finished the day with a (non-dodgy) massage, to ease the loneliness through physical contact. And now I'm back on an even keel. Lessons? * Just don't drink * Organise Friday and Saturday night social activities in advance * I'm gradually developing intuitions about self-care, which is a good step * Being witnessed to is a powerful need. My parents' mis-step completely broke me.

L_J1 How do I just accept that I am for the lack of a better word a loser
  • replies: 18

Sorry I am in a weird mood. But I've come to the realisation that life isn't going to get any better. My life's not terrible, but I have never really achieved anything, that I can say is my own. I'm stuck in retail, something I have been in since I w... View more

Sorry I am in a weird mood. But I've come to the realisation that life isn't going to get any better. My life's not terrible, but I have never really achieved anything, that I can say is my own. I'm stuck in retail, something I have been in since I was 17. I have ever wanted to do was study. Unfortunatly I am not intelligent enough for this considering no matter how hard I work I usually behind everyone in terms of grades and understanding. Most of my schooling invovled extra tutition because I was so slow and stupid. Studying overseas (course to study in Greece - archeology) not an option my grades weren't good enough. Didn't get in to study Masters, cause I was according to a potional supervisor too stupid (that was the most painful email of my life). I have had to watch everyone I know get better jobs and better grades. I moved from NZ to Australia because I was unemployeed. I even tried to go back to Uni to study info management but only to fail, again. How do I just accept that I'm staring at 40, and all I good for putting things through a checkout. Once you have retail on your CV that is it, you are good at nothing else. Just soft skills nothing concret. No matter how much I have volenteered not matter what else I have tried or applyed for. It doesn't any better. Why am I this usless? I feel like I am running out of options. How do I just accept that it is not going to change and I am just slow and stupid. Because I don't want to be me anymore. I hate being in the same room as myself.

JohnSmith42 Struggling with Motivation to do Assignments
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone. I'm new here and reaching out for the first time. I've got a lot of stuff going on at home which I won't go into right now and I've been dealing with depression for a while now. I'm in year 11 and the workload is starting to overwhelm... View more

Hello everyone. I'm new here and reaching out for the first time. I've got a lot of stuff going on at home which I won't go into right now and I've been dealing with depression for a while now. I'm in year 11 and the workload is starting to overwhelm me. I've never had problems with getting work done before but now I just can't seem to get motivated to do anything. I have two assignments each due over a week ago but I still can't focus. Also feeling a lot of self hate to do with this procrastination. Just wanted to put it out there and see if anyone has some advice on how to stay motivated.

manoody92 This awful feeling.
  • replies: 6

Hi all. Ive suffered depression for many many years. Lately it has reared its ugly head again due to some marriage issues I’m having. I’ve got that sensation again where I am detached from the world. Like I am walking around in a dream and feel like ... View more

Hi all. Ive suffered depression for many many years. Lately it has reared its ugly head again due to some marriage issues I’m having. I’ve got that sensation again where I am detached from the world. Like I am walking around in a dream and feel like there’s a screen between me and everyone else... I know there’s a word for this feeling. I believe it’s called derealisation. I was just curious as to how many of you suffer from the same thing and when does is tend to dissipate? Thank you.