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Chris_B PLEASE READ: What this forum is for (trigger warning advisory)
  • replies: 2

The threads in this section have been created by longer-term community members, and have evolved over time into rich, complex discussions about many aspects of living with a mental health condition. They were originally started in one of our other to... View more

The threads in this section have been created by longer-term community members, and have evolved over time into rich, complex discussions about many aspects of living with a mental health condition. They were originally started in one of our other topic sections, and have migrated here once reaching the milestone of 100 posts in order to allow members to keep following the life story being shared as it happens day to day. This is not a place to start new threads - discussions here have reached a sufficient level of popularity and depth that they have been moved here by moderators. Long-term support here on the forums is defined in terms of receiving that support here in this space, which is why we have chosen the 100-post milestone to select threads that will appear here. Our research tells us that 55% of our members have been living with a mental health condition for ten years or more, so long-term support in the real world will not be a strange concept to many of you. If you're seeking long-term support on your journey, we'd encourage you to start a new thread in the section that best suits where you are at this point. Making a commitment to daily posting and supporting others will eventually see your thread join the wonderful stories here in this section. A few important points to note: 1. The "new thread" button has been disabled for this section - if you click on it, you will be redirected to the beyondblue home page. 2. Please be aware that threads in this section may contain discussion of suicide, self-harm, sexual abuse, domestic abuse and other trauma-related topics. 3. Threads in this section may be archived periodically (locked or unpublished) at the discretion of moderators.

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Sparkling2003 Long -term difference?
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone, Not sure if this is the right forum to be posting this on. Just wanting to hear from people who have struggled with mental health or know people that have struggled with mental health long-term. I would like to know if once they seek ... View more

Hello everyone, Not sure if this is the right forum to be posting this on. Just wanting to hear from people who have struggled with mental health or know people that have struggled with mental health long-term. I would like to know if once they seek help was there a positive change in them and their relationships with people. Just looking for a little bit of hope that when my loved one does finally decide to seek help that eventually they will be happy and the environment will be calmer. I understand that there will always be moments that aren't positive but I'm currently feeling very hopeless and the idea that our relationship will mend is seeming very impossible. Just looking for guidance and peoples experience that will give me hope that there is chance our relationships will better or if I just need to accept that this may be the new norm.

Hanna3 Anyone had to spend days alone without anyone to talk to?
  • replies: 3070

Hi all, apart from here and a brief visit to church last night (to make it feel Christmassy and to just be with people) I've had day after day for weeks now with nobody at all to talk to. This time of year especially it's really depressing. Old frien... View more

Hi all, apart from here and a brief visit to church last night (to make it feel Christmassy and to just be with people) I've had day after day for weeks now with nobody at all to talk to. This time of year especially it's really depressing. Old friends that live far away are gradually losing contact with me - I ring them but they don't ring me. I understand they're busy with their live elsewhere but still it's hard when you're lonely. I'm going to a Christmas Eve service at the local church tomorrow night to at least be with people for a little while... but otherwise all day I'm alone, just me and the dog. Sometimes I strike up a conversation on BB but then the other person disappears and that's the end of that... How are people meant to cope with prolonged periods of social isolation? I read, I watch DVDs, normally I'd go for long walks with the dog but thick smoke from bushfires and intense hot weather have stopped that. I go to a café alone sometimes. Any ideas/help?

monkey_magic Should I just suck this up?
  • replies: 2271

OK, this isn't easy for me to write bcas I respect police also but this is my situation. I aparantly unlawfully entered a friends property, that's right a friends property. He wasn't home and I wasn't believed. Anyhow I was put in a mental institutio... View more

OK, this isn't easy for me to write bcas I respect police also but this is my situation. I aparantly unlawfully entered a friends property, that's right a friends property. He wasn't home and I wasn't believed. Anyhow I was put in a mental institution. I preferred the hospital choice over the police station choice thinking I'll be in there for a couple weeks. 3 months later I came out overmedicated feeling like shite...misdiagnosed with a mental illness as a " safety net" seriously!!!! 3 months of my life where I couldn't work, and live my normal life. Inclosed in a small space, going crazy. Should I just " suck this up". ?

Tiredmummah Everything just feels like too much work
  • replies: 5

Good evening, I have little drive to accomplish anything. I have 2 beautiful kids. But some days I end up just zoning out watching crap on my phone instead of spending time with them. I feel like I'm failing, hubby works afternoons so 5 days a week i... View more

Good evening, I have little drive to accomplish anything. I have 2 beautiful kids. But some days I end up just zoning out watching crap on my phone instead of spending time with them. I feel like I'm failing, hubby works afternoons so 5 days a week it is all on me. To keep the house tidy, feed kids, bath kids, homework, additional homework from speech therapy for 1 kid. Walk the dog's (definitely not happening as much as it should). I only work casual, so it's not like I am struggling with time, just the will to get things done. I'm sick of things not happening, but not enough to commit to doing things about it. No idea what to do to get me out of this massive slump

quirkywords Now do you cope with someone who thinks they are always right.?
  • replies: 5

I live with someone who is always right.i have tried say nothing , I have tried calmly stating my view but the person can’t hand,e me having my own opinion. Then it mends up in me being called names. people tell me let it go and cwhy should it matter... View more

I live with someone who is always right.i have tried say nothing , I have tried calmly stating my view but the person can’t hand,e me having my own opinion. Then it mends up in me being called names. people tell me let it go and cwhy should it matter.

Guest_30759493 Mental health conditions supported by NDIS
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I have BPD, anxiety, sevre despressive diosrder, anorexia - restrictive eating (in remission, I slip up on keeping it under control from time-to-time), potentional PMDD (has been recommended by a Psychiatrist I saw for an ADHD disgnosis I g... View more

Hi there, I have BPD, anxiety, sevre despressive diosrder, anorexia - restrictive eating (in remission, I slip up on keeping it under control from time-to-time), potentional PMDD (has been recommended by a Psychiatrist I saw for an ADHD disgnosis I get tested for it), potential ADHD (one appointment with the Psychiatrist wasn't enough but she felt I showed symptoms, also very hard to dignosis as ADHD and BPD have many similarities that cross over) and am medicated for my sevre depression (but I'm getting swapped onto something else because its not working though). I'm looking for help or information around being eligible for Centrelinks Disability Pension and/or NDIS. Any help would be much appriciated, feeling very at a loss and finding work isn't something I have the capacity for and haven't for some time.Thank you!

Guest_98491364 Trusting the Journey
  • replies: 1

I've used BB in the past and want to share my experience and what has made me the version of me that strives to be the best version each day.I've battled addictions, anxiety, depression, and PTSD - all of which still impact me to this day, but I have... View more

I've used BB in the past and want to share my experience and what has made me the version of me that strives to be the best version each day.I've battled addictions, anxiety, depression, and PTSD - all of which still impact me to this day, but I have developed the tools to overcome them with a positive attitude. I'm an emotional support facilitator and a NDE survivor amongst many other things. I'm also a father of six that's lost a child.Please feel free to ask questions or reach out to me. I am a man that's always someone described as approachable and I love to help.We can do this, as a community we are stronger.I believe in you as I believe in myself.Trust the Journey.

mtc Imprisoned Families
  • replies: 1

I’m from the USA originally and started a life in AU over a decade ago. While I have been here, my sister’s son started to experience paranoid schizophrenia and sadly killed someone. He should be in prison, he was guilty, he needs medical treatment a... View more

I’m from the USA originally and started a life in AU over a decade ago. While I have been here, my sister’s son started to experience paranoid schizophrenia and sadly killed someone. He should be in prison, he was guilty, he needs medical treatment and should be under the care of a psychiatrist his entire life. He went into prison at 20, will be in prison for 45 years, we’ll all be dead by the time he gets out, so that means the remainder of my sister’s life is essentially over (for any mother who has a son in prison knows this). She’s not the strong type to move on (the guilt, the sense of failure, the anxiety of going out - it was in the news, the removal of any social media, the hiding, the complete identity change). Aside from that, how do families “move on?” Prison doesn’t just take the offender, it takes the entire family. Those who don’t want to be taken, leave the family, as in you never hear from them again (it’s like they died). The ones who comfort the mother, they walk the line of staying in prison with her. She never moves on. She would be happier if everyone in the family wrote to him or kept in touch somehow but because everyone has walked away, she feels compelled to remain for the daily phone call and can never move on. I don’t think my family can cope with 45 years, the remainder of our lives like this. My sister has tried to kill herself once, she’s turned to religion, as you do when you can’t find answers or others like you. I never cared about prisoners, prisons, any of that…until it came my way. I’ve never thought about what prison is there for and how it is supposed to “rehabilitate.” I presume just like his victim’s family will suffer generations, we shall as well and that’s the point of prison. It’s just insane, I can’t even explain the challenge of your soul to try to survive it.

TheFarSide Blended family and BPD Wife
  • replies: 266

Unfortunately I find myself dealing with the fallout of separating from my BPD wife... I met my wife through online means. She was everything I wanted and more - her values, her wit, her looks, the sex, the similarities and instant compatibility. The... View more

Unfortunately I find myself dealing with the fallout of separating from my BPD wife... I met my wife through online means. She was everything I wanted and more - her values, her wit, her looks, the sex, the similarities and instant compatibility. The romance moved at record rates and seemingly without a hitch. We met each others children/family/lives and no alarm bells sounded. Then due to matters of coincidence I found myself need to move house (I was renting at the time) and she insisted we should be together. I moved to hers and it seemed so easy. Before too long we spoke of buying a place together and then marriage. After 12 months and one new house later we got married and this is where the fairy tale ended. The night of our wedding came the most illogical aggressive argument about nothing. Her venom laden words seemed to morph into new topics with no time to stop and evaluate what the issues were. It was like a 3 year old tantrum. The fight finally came to a close when she uttered the words 'it's me or your child - you choose' (I am an every second weekend dad). As soon as those words came I knew there was something much darker at work than simple unchecked emotions. From there my wife could barely go for much more than a week without firing up at me or her youngest daughter (living with us). I started to notice the same daughter suffering - little OCD's and hurting herself behind her bedroom door to silence the pain. The oldest daughter had already been kicked out by mum to live with her dad. The unpredictability escalated & I found out she used antidepressants. I started to research the symptoms and behaviours and stumbled upon countless BPD forums and guides - this was it without a doubt: the love bomb tactics, everyone else is to blame, distorted facts, lies and excessive anger, the changes of subject when confronted, not answering questions, the use of whatever shouted verbal weapon would get results & the quest for forgiveness and compassion when she'd ebbed down days later. I managed to get her to go to a Psychiatrist. She was at least honest (I was in the room). Although the assessment process seemed short the Doc said she showed enough traits to be considered mild BPD. Since then its only intensified. In moments I know she has tried to get better and I've loved, supported & been patient with her. I've not been mentally affected but I know its time to sell and say goodbye to the dream - it was never real anyway.

Quercus Feeling well enough at last to find my voice again
  • replies: 1302

Hi everyone! I have known for years there was a forum here and was too afraid to join because it would mean admitting I needed medication and just couldn't fix this by myself. So here I am at last! I hope this helps even one person if they are feelin... View more

Hi everyone! I have known for years there was a forum here and was too afraid to join because it would mean admitting I needed medication and just couldn't fix this by myself. So here I am at last! I hope this helps even one person if they are feeling like I did. Ok here goes..... I'm a 32 year old mum of 2, 15 months apart. I'm happily married, love my job, love my family and friends. I have support. Nothing bad has happened to me. So I thought I had no right to feel depressed. I have always been an anxious and emotional person. Mood swings were normal for me. I made every excuse to myself and the doctors to explain away my poor scores on the postnatal depression checklists. I admitted I constantly thought about suicide but that had been normal for me for years so it didn't feel like a big deal, it didn't mean I'd do anything. I was angry all the time and my moods were unpredictable. Hubby said constantly I don't care what the doctor said you perform for them and I know you. Something is wrong. After my second bub and the start of a new health condition (psoriatic arthritis) I saw a psychologist who said I was dealing with chronic pain and two small children and what I felt was normal. I practiced mindfulness. Family and friends gave me rest. Eventually I got medication to help my joints. I talked. I ate well, I went back to work. Everything was supposed to be better.... But I felt worse. I'd see the doctor and they'd say I was ok but I'd stand at the sink washing dishes and plan the steps of how to kill myself. If I wasn't busy I would find the thoughts repeating. They'd all be better off without you. You're worthless. They'll only put up with so much of your issues and then they'll leave you. So I'd plan how to die. And I was TERRIFIED. My husband told me to write down exactly what I felt on a bad day and he put it in an envelope and made me an appointment for the psychologist. We made a plan. I would go in and say I need you to read this. I don't feel like this now but this is how I've felt most days for years but I can't seem to communicate it to a doctor and get help and I'm so frightened. And finally! A crisis plan put in place until I could see the psychiatrist! Apparently I have had major depression for over 12 years. Only after starting an antidepressant did I notice how anxious and self destructive I had constantly been. I don't have suicidal thoughts anymore. I am happy again. It's the start of my journey but there is hope at last.