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Sophie_M Meet your community champions!
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone, We wanted to share with you the way that our wonderful Community Champions are here to support you. You may have noticed that a few of our Forums members are labelled ‘Community Champion’. Community Champions are volunteers within the Be... View more

Hi everyone, We wanted to share with you the way that our wonderful Community Champions are here to support you. You may have noticed that a few of our Forums members are labelled ‘Community Champion’. Community Champions are volunteers within the Beyond Blue Forums who: have the time, skills and empathy to support other members regularly; help to welcome new members; are actively engaged members that help set the tone of our community. Our Community Champions are regular contributors to many conversations across the forums. They are a consistent and friendly voice that have committed to sharing their experience and expertise with this community. They are not health care professionals or clinicians. Like you, they have an experience with a mental health challenge or diagnosis – either for themselves or someone they care for. This forum is for people who understand what it feels like and have a lived and living experience of mental health challenges. Our Community Champions help everyone feel comfortable and confident by demonstrating what excellent peer support is all about. Click here to find out more about how you can become a Community Champion! This incredible team are excited to introduce themselves below, and we are sure you’ll see them around the forums in conversations important to you.

Aaronsis HELP..Am I posting in the right section?
  • replies: 10

Welcome to those who are considering posting for the very first time, welcome. Thought I would repost part of the words that Chris B posted awhile ago, (2014) as I can hear that people are unsure if they are posting in the right section or worried th... View more

Welcome to those who are considering posting for the very first time, welcome. Thought I would repost part of the words that Chris B posted awhile ago, (2014) as I can hear that people are unsure if they are posting in the right section or worried that they are posting "the wrong thing". 1.A good title makes the difference Just like a headline in a newspaper, when scanning the dozens of threads to click into, it’s only natural that people will choose the ones that resonate with them most. A title that entices the reader, or asks a question, is likely to get a better result than something non-descriptive like “Depression” or “I don't know what to do”. If you think you’re not good at choosing titles, leave it till last. Spend time writing your post, then perhaps choose a sentence from what you’ve written as the title. 2.Join in threads that have already been posted We all have our own unique stories, but part of the reason for joining a forum like this one is because you know that you will have a lot in common with others who are posting. Before starting a new thread, have a look through the current topics being discussed and see if there’s a conversation you can join in with. It can be quite common to have a handful of very similar threads happening at any one time, with members seemingly unaware that there are others right there who are going through the same thing. Talking to other members on their threads is a great way of getting yourself known so that when you post a thread of your own, people may respond quicker because they recognize your name. 3.Choose the most appropriate section for your post Many people browse the forums looking for stories specifically to do with pregnancy and parenting, employment, grief, loss, separation etc. Going straight for the “Depression” section may seem like the easiest option, but this section is often the busiest, so your post is more likely to get lost among the threads. Making good use of the different forum sections not only helps keep the forum relevant, but you’re more likely to find others who are going through the same experiences as you. Also, if you're wanting to discuss issues of trauma, abuse, suicidal thoughts or self-harm, it's really important you post in the designated section to avoid triggering others who may not wish to read about these topics. Mostly..just come and chat, we are here for you. Our amazing wizards in the background will see your message ends up in the right spot. Sarah

All discussions

Unwanted Feeling undesirable and lonely
  • replies: 12

Hey and I apologise if I am posting in the wrong place but am new I honestly don’t know what to do I have my own apartment, my own business and a stable life but no matter what I do I can’t get dates or even friendship. I have tried singles events, s... View more

Hey and I apologise if I am posting in the wrong place but am new I honestly don’t know what to do I have my own apartment, my own business and a stable life but no matter what I do I can’t get dates or even friendship. I have tried singles events, so many online sites and it always ends the same one date then a message saying they just want to be friends…I remember when personalities and a stable financial life was important now it’s just looks and money guess I don’t have enough money or good looks so am at my wits end I am hoping everyday I find someone but not sure how much longer I can keep fooling myself any advice is appreciated thanks for reading hope your all doing better then me

Flora25 No motivation
  • replies: 1

Hi, this is my first entry on any forum! I'm struggling to get out of bed, not showering, not interested in food, no cooking, no cleaning and lost all purpose. Yes, I know about strategies, yes, I see a psychologist, yes, I'm on medication but I can'... View more

Hi, this is my first entry on any forum! I'm struggling to get out of bed, not showering, not interested in food, no cooking, no cleaning and lost all purpose. Yes, I know about strategies, yes, I see a psychologist, yes, I'm on medication but I can't get motivated to do anything...

Wishtobefree feeli like the system fails us
  • replies: 2

Hi, I feel like I've given up hope in life and our medical system. I'm just laying around the house and just waiting, waiting forever for appointments. I've had a long history, since childhood of depression and trauma. From growing up without a mum, ... View more

Hi, I feel like I've given up hope in life and our medical system. I'm just laying around the house and just waiting, waiting forever for appointments. I've had a long history, since childhood of depression and trauma. From growing up without a mum, to childhood abuse, and neglect, and a major loss at 25 of my sister and Nephew in a road accident, then my only support person, my dad moving to Perth. Along with lots of other things, too many to go into. I was also diagnosed with osteo arthritis and bone degeneration in my spine, hips and neck in my late twenties. Over the years I've worked in many jobs, including my main job which was as a personal care worker for over ten years. I cared for a man for over 4 of those years and then became unwell again. I have always been unwell but had it kind of manageable until then.I was a single mum of a teenage boy at the time. Had to quit my job and the last 9 years have been a constant struggle. My son left, I became homeless because couldn't afford my rent. Cut a long story short after lots of moving around, finally got a housing trust unit and after dealing with two and a half years of constant stress while living there, dealing with drunken people out the front of my unit constantly and all that goes with that, dealing with junkies, and eopke jumping my fences, being bashed twice while there, and numerous letters to council, HT and contacting police. I succumbed to the stress and gave my unit up. I also have CPTSD, fibro, CFS, osteo arthritis, and other ailments. Depression, anxiety, and I've been trying to get help for all this for over about 3 or so years. It's been a nightmare to say the least. I've had to apply for my second exemption for centerlink so I don't have to deal with all their bullshit. I've had at least 6 jobs in the last three years and every time I've had to leave either due to stress or chronic pain. Not to mention the chronic fatigue I suffer all the time. I was trying to get my last DR to help me to do the things I need to apply for the DSP but after her total lack of incompetence, I left there feeling deflated and so depressed I just gave up. Over several appointments trying to explain to her what I needed her to do and feeling like she's got dementia or something because she can't remember one thing from another between appointments. I honestly felt like life was a waste of time.I've tried to Pur in a complaint about her but had no response. I've found a new DR who seems nice but now I'm waiting for appointments. I've been referred to a pain clinic at the hospital which is different to the pain course they recommend you do which I've already done. They sent me a questionnaire which I answered the 1 to 5 questions with the highest rating for everything because that's how I feel. Thinking they would see how depressed I am that they would be in touch soon. After a few weeks of no response I called them to find out I had to wait because there in the middle of moving. It's been a couple if weeks since then. I feel like all these systems they have in place that are supposed to help people with depression and pain are useless. I pretty much have no family except my son, who is 23 and struggling with his own issues. I am in so much pain 247. I have constant numbness in my arms, feet and pain everywhere. I've gone to the hospital before and been sent away. I've called lifeline and felt completely dismissed and was told to call my DR????? What a joke that is. So sunk back into complete despair. I feel like our systems are a complete joke and wonder why there is so many people committing suicide because when you need help it's that hard to get it that hope flies out the door like a bird. I've pretty much given up all hope for my life improving because really no one listens anyway. You get a ten minute slot to try explain it to your DR, which I have to pay a $35 gap everytime. When your on jobserker payment that's almost that hard to have. I feel so sad all the time, don't even want to get out of bed most days..I don't see the point. I feel like no one really cares and our medical system is a joke. I hate life right now and can't see an end to all this any time soon. So just laying around wallowing. Our systems are laughable and I wish I could run away and be a nomad in the bush. It would be more enjoyable than this!

Nunna_Y Need to find balance
  • replies: 2

On the outside I look normal (I think ). Inside I’m consumed with anxiety. In the last 18 months my partner i found my partner unconscious at home with a head injury. No known cause but fractured skull and brain bleed. After 12 months he has made exc... View more

On the outside I look normal (I think ). Inside I’m consumed with anxiety. In the last 18 months my partner i found my partner unconscious at home with a head injury. No known cause but fractured skull and brain bleed. After 12 months he has made excellent progress only to have a bike accident resulting in broken bones, depression and weight gain.At the same time my daughter had her first baby and I tried to support her while dealing with man with head injury. Daughter & partner have separated acrimoniously and are having financial and custody battles. I look after our grandson 3 days a week.i feel so lost in all of this. I’m trying my best to keep up with everyone’s needs and feel squashed in a box with so many expectations and worries. People outside of my circle say I’m doing so well, you’ve got a lot on your shoulders, I don’t know how you do it.I want to feel better about myself. My partner says I overreact (and I probably do). But I feel scared and pressured.

Guest_81325604 Where do I start?
  • replies: 3

Wow....I am new to this site, and this may be my only post as I'm not sure if I will gather the nerve to come and post again. I think Beyond Blue does great things to provide mental health support. I'm stuck emotionally. I lack motivation both physic... View more

Wow....I am new to this site, and this may be my only post as I'm not sure if I will gather the nerve to come and post again. I think Beyond Blue does great things to provide mental health support. I'm stuck emotionally. I lack motivation both physically and mentally and thought, heh, I should seek help. I have come here and it's good to see that so many people feel free to share. I hope that is helpful for them. I suppose just writing this is therapeutic. Well, I'm not going to share my problems as there is too much to tell and feel it is not beneficial for me, but, for those who are gaining something here, well done to you. Thanks to the counsellors on the site as you are also likely reading some really sad stuff and it must get difficult to see so many people with mental health issues. Well, since I don't feel I am gaining anything from this, I will end it here. Thanks.

amd1953 Owed to Solitude
  • replies: 438

I owe a lot to my current situation in life. In fact, it's probably as close to heaven on earth that I will ever get. I've served my apprenticeship in the School of Hard Knocks. It was actually a life sentence with no time off for good behaviour. I t... View more

I owe a lot to my current situation in life. In fact, it's probably as close to heaven on earth that I will ever get. I've served my apprenticeship in the School of Hard Knocks. It was actually a life sentence with no time off for good behaviour. I think it was Mr. W. Shakespeare who said "All the world's a stage". And that is precisely what we are - actors on a stage. Some of us play our parts really well and fool the audience into actually believing what we say we are. Then there are those who find it impossible to be anything other than what they are. Not good actors at all. That's where I make my entrance. But I don't play to the audience any more because it is a complete and utter waste of time and effort. Now that I have settled into retirement, I can stop the acting and the pretence and be whatever I choose to be. It's a great pity that we have to spend the greater part of our lives playing to an audience. Some people get away with turning their backs on the bright lights and sink into blissful anonymity. This is what I am trying to do now so that I can gather a little happiness around me before I drop off the perch. When I think back, I seem to have spent so much time trying to keep everyone else happy and giving in to do things when I don't want to. I never had the nerve to say no so I guess I was a real pushover. I think it's time to turn the page on the script and write my own dialogue for a change. Or is that asking too much? I'm not really sure myself. Maybe I am expecting too much. Shame on me eh? But there will come a time when I run out of choices and that will be the end of it. The curtain comes down on another production. I only hope it doesn't come too soon. If we do what we want to when we want to do it, we are called selfish. I have nothing left to give. It's all gone. The audience have gone home and the stage is a dusty platform waiting for the next deception. Sorry, production.

Rye Feeling lost
  • replies: 2

Hi all, my names Ryan. For some time I've been feeling extremely lost. Last year I was diagnosed with PTSD, Health/Generalised Anxiety and was told I showed symptoms of a personality disorder but not enough to diagnose. I've struggled with my mental ... View more

Hi all, my names Ryan. For some time I've been feeling extremely lost. Last year I was diagnosed with PTSD, Health/Generalised Anxiety and was told I showed symptoms of a personality disorder but not enough to diagnose. I've struggled with my mental health since I can remember as I grew up in a DV household from a family that wasn't very close. Ever since I can remember I've struggled with my thoughts. More often than not I feel trapped inside of my head, I have thoughts racing all the time about anything and everything. It feels hard to quiet these thoughts most of the time and It's become so overwhelming that I'm feeling extremely unmotivated in my day to day life. I've been to therapy before, but I've gotten to the point where I even feel useless in therapy as I know most of the things they're telling me.I've struggled to keep a job, I inevitably feel pressured in every single job I've been in so much to the point where every job I typically leave for mental health reasons. It was a similar thing to school - I always struggled attending as I'd often find myself with this massive anxiety and lack of motivation.I'm truly at a standstill on where to go from here, I'm so lost and feel so behind my peers, I feel like I'm disappointing every person around me.I'm on anti-depressants, I exercise daily and meditate but even still I feel miserable most days & have to mask and pretend I'm doing better than I really feel.Any tip's on where to go from here for me?

Unsureperson98 Unsure of Myself and Worth - Anxious and depressed
  • replies: 2

Hello, I'm new to this. This is my first post. I'm not quite sure how this works but I need to give something a try cause I'm so tired of feeling this way! I think I have a severe anxious attachment style. Especially to my partner. I grew up learning... View more

Hello, I'm new to this. This is my first post. I'm not quite sure how this works but I need to give something a try cause I'm so tired of feeling this way! I think I have a severe anxious attachment style. Especially to my partner. I grew up learning love is conditional and never safe. I feel like I constantly have to search and look for the danger because it might help me feel more in control, it doesn't really I just feel hurt. I'm getting really bad at the moment, overthinking everything down to absolute ridiculous scenarios that don't even exist. I get very upset at these scenarios like it's actually happened and I can feel myself reacting and trying to take out my emotions others. I feel like I'm obsessed and can't stop. I'm so miserable that I don't want to be around people or leave the person I'm anxiously attached to most. It's affecting my behavior at work also. I don't know what to do? I feel like I'm worth nothing and I hate myself. Like I'm not truly loved or no one truly loves me. That they're only nice to me or with me until the next best thing comes along then there's no use for me. Why do I feel like this? Why am I so hateful to myself? Why don't I think I'm worth more? Why can't I believe I'm loved and that others truly love me? Why are the emotions so strong that it feels like I'm dying inside? I feel like I can't talk about it to him (my partner). I feel like if I say it he will think I'm crazy or too much and he will leave. He's not said or shown anything to prove that he would but my stupid brain and heart make me feel it. Especially when he hangs out with other friends that are girls. I don't think he would cheat on me like my last partner did but I don't know why my brain always thinks he will find better and want to leave me. I know loves me, he says it all the time, he tries to show me the best he can ( I think he does, he's told me he's not great with expressing emotions and it makes him feel uncomfortable). My brain sees small things that he does and goes to such extreme scenarios that brutally hurt me and cause me pain. But they're not even real! It's all me doing it to myself. Just because he hangs out with a friend from work, or texts someone on his phone, or has his phone screen facing down. I automatically assume the worst. I don't know why and it kills me. I don't want him to think I don't trust him, that I think he's being unfaithful and hurtful. Why do I think like this? Sorry that is a lot, I just needed to get it out.

gremlinrx7 Hello All
  • replies: 2

Just wanted to introduce myself. I was actually here a few years ago when I was first diagnosed with anxiety. I managed to get through that and have been pretty good for the last few years with just one time having to go back on medication. Unfortuna... View more

Just wanted to introduce myself. I was actually here a few years ago when I was first diagnosed with anxiety. I managed to get through that and have been pretty good for the last few years with just one time having to go back on medication. Unfortunately I’ve now had another relapse due to the stress of my father being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and then my cat being diagnosed with diabetes. The worry has prompted me back on medication and I’ve taken a decent amount of leave from work. I’m home a lot by myself which is fine but I thought I’d wonder back on here for support and company.

Guest_24969889 Finally admitted I’m struggeling
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Hi, all. After feeling down and unmotivated for quite some time, I finally admitted that I wasn’t coping with how I was feeling. It finally came to a head when people’s toxic behaviour at work finally tipped me over the edge. I’m the boss, and althou... View more

Hi, all. After feeling down and unmotivated for quite some time, I finally admitted that I wasn’t coping with how I was feeling. It finally came to a head when people’s toxic behaviour at work finally tipped me over the edge. I’m the boss, and although I have tried to manage them, it has finally taken its toll. Admitting that I have depression to my wife, sons, boss and colleagues has been both scary and a relief. I look at my life and think, what I have got to be depressed about? I have a great life, but this head of mine just focuses on the silly, negative aspects of my life and work and blows them up 100 fold. I’m hoping that now I have acknowledged my depression I will be able to take the right steps to control it. This 57yr old male is discovering it’s okay to ask for help. thanks all.