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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

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MollySydney Looking for support..
  • replies: 2

Hi I’m a mum with 3 young kids and not getting along with husband fir a long time. I have no family in Sydney and regardless they offer little to no support. I have tried reaching out to my mother, father and brother and either get ignored or call re... View more

Hi I’m a mum with 3 young kids and not getting along with husband fir a long time. I have no family in Sydney and regardless they offer little to no support. I have tried reaching out to my mother, father and brother and either get ignored or call returned several days later. None of them are in lockdown. I guess it’s making me feel even more isolated. I think everyone thinks I’m ‘strong’ and have my husband but he is absolutely no support and you can be very lonely in a marriage. I am putting on a brave face for my kids and making sure they are ok but just looking for some help and support for myself too. Any tips or kind words very much appreciated!! I have one lovely friend in Newcastle who I speak to daily and she is literally my lifeline but don’t want to put pressure on her to be my only support. Thank you

Goose Pushing Water Uphill - Getting Nowhere
  • replies: 8

Hello All. I really don't know what to write to make an introduction if anything makes sense anymore. i suffer from severe depression/anxiety/ptsd along with a whole host of other disorders that comes with the package. Goose

Hello All. I really don't know what to write to make an introduction if anything makes sense anymore. i suffer from severe depression/anxiety/ptsd along with a whole host of other disorders that comes with the package. Goose

JellyBeanTickTock How do I help other if I can’t help myself?
  • replies: 2

Hi, I’m currently new to Beyond Blue so I’m probs doing this wrong but oh well. I was diagnosed with severe depression earlier this year, although my therapist/doctor believes I’ve had it for years now. Anyways, my mother has severe PTSD, and I can’t... View more

Hi, I’m currently new to Beyond Blue so I’m probs doing this wrong but oh well. I was diagnosed with severe depression earlier this year, although my therapist/doctor believes I’ve had it for years now. Anyways, my mother has severe PTSD, and I can’t help her without becoming severely depressed myself. My dad is stuck over seas after flying for a work meeting, and can’t come home due to restrictions. My older brother is studying for his ATAR all the time, and my little brother is very young, and unable to understand. At the moment, I’m charge of pretty much everything, and it isn’t helping my condition. I have depression after 4 years of bullying, plus suffering from things like racism at school, and now that I’m Identifying as Pan, most of my old friends think I’m a walking sin of God and my local church doesn’t even let me in. What do I do? How do I help my family, while taking care of myself too? How do I stop all of the negative thoughts?

Apple_and_banana Just joined
  • replies: 4

Hi I’ve decided to join to chat with others who may understand me I’m 49 am a nurse nice home nothing I should complain about. I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression for years on medication which keeps things stable most of the time. I alwa... View more

Hi I’ve decided to join to chat with others who may understand me I’m 49 am a nurse nice home nothing I should complain about. I’ve been struggling with anxiety and depression for years on medication which keeps things stable most of the time. I always feel so guilty when I have an episode then I worry about feeling guilty then I get stressed and worry about that and the cycle continues. Sometimes I hate it and even as an educated health professional I shouldn’t feel the way I do then I dump on my self and this makes me worse. Don’t really talk to any one due to the fact I don’t want to bring them down. Any way that’s me be nice to chat with people who get me

Koko20 Alone
  • replies: 3

Hi I’m new here my husband has been admitted a mental health hospital for depression We are a family of 3 and my husband was the rock my daughter has a intellectual disability and does not understand fully what’s happening to her dad I feel so lost a... View more

Hi I’m new here my husband has been admitted a mental health hospital for depression We are a family of 3 and my husband was the rock my daughter has a intellectual disability and does not understand fully what’s happening to her dad I feel so lost and scared and heartbroken I have no support as we live away from family I’m alone

scorch artwork
  • replies: 3

HI, This might be a stupid question - but the topic came up in a thread and now I'm curious. Is there a way that we would be able to share artwork on this site? I know a lot of people like to paint, draw, write creative pieces or take photographs to ... View more

HI, This might be a stupid question - but the topic came up in a thread and now I'm curious. Is there a way that we would be able to share artwork on this site? I know a lot of people like to paint, draw, write creative pieces or take photographs to help them deal with the things they go through. I know I like to write and take photos. Is there a way we can show each other what we create to get us the through the day? I know they would still have to be monitored like our forum posts are, but I think it would be so cool to see someone's painting or read their short story. Would something like that be possible? Or is it too ambitious? -Scorch : )

forgetmenot1 How do I know if I have an actual Mental Health Disorder?
  • replies: 2

I'm new here. Regularly told I'm evil, horrible, mental by others. Told my reactions aren't normal. Too many feelings. Told my comprehension & concentration are off. Told I need to get help. How do I know if I'm not just cursed with a bad personality... View more

I'm new here. Regularly told I'm evil, horrible, mental by others. Told my reactions aren't normal. Too many feelings. Told my comprehension & concentration are off. Told I need to get help. How do I know if I'm not just cursed with a bad personality or there is something deeper going on?

Rumer Son in remand again
  • replies: 1

Hi. Just need to be among people who get it. I really don't know what to say right now. But I'm tired.

Hi. Just need to be among people who get it. I really don't know what to say right now. But I'm tired.

ayoen Hi I'm new here, I have depression and I am also struggling with lockdown.
  • replies: 6

I don't know exactly how to word this, it's my first time posting here so I'll try my best. I've been struggling with mental health issues for years now. I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in my late teens but in the last 10 or so y... View more

I don't know exactly how to word this, it's my first time posting here so I'll try my best. I've been struggling with mental health issues for years now. I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in my late teens but in the last 10 or so years I've found that I don't feel like that diagnosis fits me exactly. I do have depression and anxiety and when my mental health is very bad I do tend to experience paranoia and social anxiety. I've found in the past year my symptoms have gotten worse due to covid lockdowns and I've been crying and feeling very helpless. I don't have many friends at all and am no contact with family, out of the few friends I have there is one person who is very kind and helpful but they also have their own issues and I don't like to feel like a burden to them. I thought I was doing so well in the last year but it's just all come crashing down for me in the last 3 months or so and I'm just exhausted and fed up with feeling sad all the time. I hope that I'm not rambling too much here, I also don't want to give too many identifying details away in my post as I'd like to remain anonymous, if that makes sense. I hope that I can find someone to talk to here in the forum or on the phone line when I eventually have the courage to call.

ChrisCou Newby
  • replies: 4

I am new member here but keen to be involved in helping out. I am a 'mature age' person with lots of 'life skills' and experiences. While I have some tertiary training in mental health (Counselling), I want to put that to one side and respond at a gr... View more

I am new member here but keen to be involved in helping out. I am a 'mature age' person with lots of 'life skills' and experiences. While I have some tertiary training in mental health (Counselling), I want to put that to one side and respond at a grassroots level.