Welcome and Orientation

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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 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.

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 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

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Don’t fit in

replies: 1

Hey everyone, my name is kaz and I’m 24. I’m a rare breed and am liked minded. I have my own house and am career motivated and not into partying or drinking. I figured I’m not normal and am very unique. It feel like I have a lot going for me but sometimes I feel alone depressed because I don’t have someone to talk to. I don’t have any close friends and when I do try to make new friends, I feel disconnected because I’m very different and can’t relate to others. I’m just missing out the social aspect.

Help and guidance needed...

replies: 6

Hi everyone, I hope all will be well eventually. I am no longer able to sleep due to anxiety. I have just recently hit rock bottom or very near it. I am struggling financially due to bad loans and maxed out credit cards. I do not live a lavish lifestyle at all but I am single income earner of a family of four. I am at a stage now that I am counting days to the next salary comes in because I only have like 30 dollars in my pocket as I write this with 5 more days til my next salary comes in. Compounding to my issues are that the place am renting is falling apart and the landlord looks to be putting the blame on me. I want to get out of here but can't since of financial issues. My wife is struggling with anger issues and refuses to work and I can't get her to seek any help or talk to anyone. My health has deteriorated so much that I have ED issues. I can't get any government financial support because as per criteria I still don't qualify but yet the anxiety and pressure has been building up so much recently that I can't sleep anymore. I am looking to getting a second job but struggling to find one that allows such arrangement. I don't have anyone to talk to about all this. We have no relatives in Australia. The few friends that we have aren't really close enough yet to listen and care about all of this. It honestly felt so good just about writing this and expressing my problems in this forum. What can I say, if it rains, it pours. Faith is keeping me sane these days but God knows for how long. I know that my situation isn't as bad as others but still I need help (and guidance).

First post

replies: 7

Hi, nice to meet you all, I hope all is well. I decided to join here to contribute helping others and hopefully gain insight and discuss what I can about myself with you. I'm not here for anybody to pity or feel sorry for me, I joined to get some different views on how I can go about tackling my problems and how I can start being a positive person. I'm currently in my early twenties and have seen psychologists since I was about 8 years old, when I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety plays massive part in my life due to the fact it's always influenced my decision making, behavior and health. I've been prescribed many medications but find most have more downsides then upsides and have completely stopped taking medication all together. Been a few things happen over last few years left me in a hole that I can't seem to climb out of, Look forward to hearing back

New here and currently struggling

replies: 2

Hi everyone, Was searching for a way to be able to connect and talk with others, currently really struggling with my PTSD, Anxiety and Depression. Kind of ramped up a few nights ago when my wife said that she no longer felt romantic love for me. Someone who has been my best friend and soulmate kind of rejecting you is really hurting at the moment. The relationship isn't over but in my PTSD mind it feels like whole world has now come crashing down, and questioning what the point of living is. Hoping to hear from others who might be in a similar boat and can chat. As those with PTSD will know it can be hard to maintain friendships, so don't really have anyone else to share how I'm feeling with

Hi fellow humans

replies: 9

Hi all. How are you doing? I have been studying psychology for some years now - in honours (4th year) at the moment. I joined this community actually because I want to help others (hence the username), and then it occurred to me that this is a reciprocal forum, and thus I should share my own story, or something...... I have had terrible generalised (towards everything) and social anxiety since.... well ever since I remember being able to remember really. Small bouts of depression here and there but generalised anxiety mainly and the social anxiety developing around 9 years of age. I have just entered my 30s this year. I have two wonderful children and work full time and still study at uni part time and have various creative projects I am trying to do at the same time as well. ... Sitting in a coffee shop writing this thinking gee I really should be home studying.. Apart from creative endeavours and my ambitions, I want to help alleviate some of the suffering for others in this world - Lord knows people’s lives are just overflowing with psychological suffering... If this thread finds you, I wish you health and happiness.

Undiagnosed and hurting

replies: 3

I have been isolating and watching things online after I have an episode, I hate that I can't control my emotions. I feel like a dog that's got a switch immediately to anger from being happy. I can't focus on a damn thing, I obsess over things until it quickly becomes numb to me even if I've enjoyed it. I don't even know where to begin but I know something isn't right and I just want to know what, for my own benefit or vindication that I'm not a bad person. I'm just a guy who wants to be a good dad and an even better husband. why does everything have to be so hard.

Site Maintenance - Brief Forum outage 26 May

replies: 0

Dear Community members, There will be a brief website outage on the 26th of May from 12am - 4am in order to upgrade and maintain our online systems. This maintenance is expected to take approximately 4 hours, however due to the nature of the work, may take a little longer. During this maintenance access to the forums will be down - we apologise for any distress this may cause and will be working to make this as short a disruption as possible. If you need support while the forums are not available, please call Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline 13 11 14. You are not alone if you need help, we are here to support you. If at any time you feel that you are unsafe, please know that this is an emergency and you should call 000 immediately. Thank you for your understanding as we continue to improve the online experience. Kind regards, Sophie M

Becoming overwhelmed with many chronic illnesses

replies: 3

I’m becoming overwhelmed with so many chronic illnesses 10 years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and whilst having x-rays for that they also noticed I had bladder cancer and I had multiple operations for both a little time after that I found my kidneys were failing functioning fair at the moment and then I was told I have glaucoma which I’ve been treated for and now I’m struggling to get around I need a knee replacement everything is just getting on top of me I live alone haven’t got any family and I want to talk

Stuggling Single Mum who needs help!!!

replies: 4

Hey there everyone not really sure if this what you say or even where to begin or if this is even the right place for what I need but here I am, im a single mum with a beautiful young two year old boy. I love him so much and would never ever hurt him so please keep that in mind. I’m struggling so much to want to hang out with him recently. He has become so cheeky and just throws everything and spits every where. He screams and shouts and just constantly being a cheeky boy. I work three days a week and take him to child care on one of those days, the rest of the time he stays with family. I live at home with all my family memebers, it’s just constant arguing A LOT not sure if that play a major roll. I have no authority for him anymore (what ground rules I set for him eg no chocolate the rest of my family meme era just ignore and give him everything). basically I’m just not happy being a mum at the moment in my life I’m struggling a lot, and it makes me feel even more guilty feeling this way. I have no patience at all and just have become more angry. Please help in desperate need.

Anxiety

replies: 6

Hi not sure how this is going to go but I have been suffering with anxiety for about 8 years but just lately I have been getting really dizzy and feeling full in the head just wanted to know if anyone else feels this and what they do to try and get t... View more

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Don’t fit in replies: 1

Help and guidance needed... replies: 6

First post replies: 7

New here and currently struggling replies: 2

Hi fellow humans replies: 9

Undiagnosed and hurting replies: 3

Site Maintenance - Brief Forum outage 26 May replies: 0

Becoming overwhelmed with many chronic illnesses replies: 3

Stuggling Single Mum who needs help!!! replies: 4

Anxiety replies: 6