https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/welcome-and-orientation/ground-zero/m-p/392494#M20109 <P>Hi there.</P> <P>I'm new to beyond blue and found my way to these forums seeking help in understanding. </P> <P>I am profoundly hard of hearing and and suspect socially anxious and depressed. I have not yet found the courage to see someone professionally face to face and have realised recently that I am self medicating with drugs and alcohol. </P> <P>I am not sure what to expect from these forums, but I hope at least that it provides a sense of togetherness and community. Maybe I am not so lost in everything on my own. </P> <P>I currently find daily life a struggle on my own and my interpersonal relationships are crumbling. </P> <P>Several people close to me have expressed there concern which has prompted me to explore help options... which brought me here. </P> <P>How do you find a place to start when you feel so overwhelmed by so much? ... By what already feels like a lifetime?</P> Tue, 03 Apr 2018 23:15:16 GMT Fya91 2018-04-03T23:15:16Z https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/welcome-and-orientation/ground-zero/m-p/392494#M20109 <P>Hi there.</P> <P>I'm new to beyond blue and found my way to these forums seeking help in understanding. </P> <P>I am profoundly hard of hearing and and suspect socially anxious and depressed. I have not yet found the courage to see someone professionally face to face and have realised recently that I am self medicating with drugs and alcohol. </P> <P>I am not sure what to expect from these forums, but I hope at least that it provides a sense of togetherness and community. Maybe I am not so lost in everything on my own. </P> <P>I currently find daily life a struggle on my own and my interpersonal relationships are crumbling. </P> <P>Several people close to me have expressed there concern which has prompted me to explore help options... which brought me here. </P> <P>How do you find a place to start when you feel so overwhelmed by so much? ... By what already feels like a lifetime?</P> Tue, 03 Apr 2018 23:15:16 GMT https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/welcome-and-orientation/ground-zero/m-p/392494#M20109 Fya91 2018-04-03T23:15:16Z https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/welcome-and-orientation/ground-zero/m-p/392495#M20110 <P>Hey Fya91,</P> <P>Welcome to the forums and thanks for joining us!</P> <P>I'm glad that you decided to post. I've been a member for a few years now and I definitely see a sense of togetherness and community here. There are a lot of members here with anxiety or depression (or both) so you're not alone in what you're going through.</P> <P>You asked 'how do you find a place to start' and I think the answer is - you just did. You reached out. I understand that you're not ready yet to see someone professionally, but you reached out here; and sometimes that's not an easy thing to do.</P> <P>Whether you're a poster or a reader, you might find it helpful to browse some of the other threads with anxiety or depression; that way you can get an idea of what people are doing and what works/doesn't work.</P> <P>This might be helpful - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well (especially the threads on making goals, mindfulness, gratitude and inner critic)</P> <P>https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/treatments-health-professionals-and-therapies (in having that first conversation with your GP and what to expect)</P> <P>Hope this helps a little! Feel free to post back or let us know if there's anyway that we can be here for you or help you out in some way.</P> Wed, 04 Apr 2018 03:22:06 GMT https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/welcome-and-orientation/ground-zero/m-p/392495#M20110 romantic_thi3f 2018-04-04T03:22:06Z